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Biomedical subjects

H Hirsch

Publications and source records attributed to H Hirsch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Expression cloning and characterization of a pupal cuticle protein cDNA of Galleria mellonella L.

Epidermal mRNA of freshly ecdysed pupae of Galleria mellonella was used to establish a cDNA library in phage lambda gt11. A cDNA clone was isolated by means of a pupal cuticle protein (PCP) specific antibody. Nucleic acid sequence data show an insert of 1212 bp with an open reading frame of 1062 bp. The presence of start, stop, and polyadenylation sites suggests, that this insert represents a full length transcript. Conceptual translation resulted in a protein of 353 amino acids including a signal peptide. The final processed protein product is rich in alanine and charged amino acids like glutamic acid. It has a calculated pI of 4.19 and a molecular mass of 34.272 kDa. In hybrid selection/in vitro translation and in vitro transcription/translation experiments a translational product of 54 kDa was synthesized. The difference between apparent and calculated molecular mass is thought to be due to the relatively high amount of glutamic acid residues clustered in two regions. The developmental profile of expression of the corresponding gene was analyzed by northern blot hybridization using a cDNA probe. The time course of expression is coincident with developmentally regulated metamorphic changes in the integument.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

[Laser-induced thermotherapy of liver metastases with MRI control. Prospective results of an optimized therapy procedure].

In a prospective study MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) of liver metastases was optimized and the clinical parameters evaluated. Seventeen patients (4 women, 13 men) with a total of 29 lesions underwent LITT in 25 sessions through 1 March 1994. Twelve of them suffered from colorectal carcinomas, 5 from other primary tumors. Under local anesthesia a maximum of 5 lesions per patient were treated. For MR-guided LITT a neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Nd-YAG 1064 nm) with energy varying from 3 to 7.5 W was used. Energy and application time were defined through a computer program; they varied, dependent on the lesion size, location and consistency. To monitor the progress of LITT two special thermosensitive MR sequences (Thermo-Turbo-FLASH and FLASH-2D sequences) were individually optimized, whereby the increase in temperature correlates with an increase in signal loss. All procedures were well tolerated without significant early or late side effects. In only one patient was minimal air documentated in the pleural cavity with spontaneous resorption. Patients were dismissed without complaints after 24-h hospitalization. The control parameters of the contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI documented at optimal response a hypointense signal around the tip of the laser applicator, in accordance with laser-induced necrosis. In lesions 20 mm or smaller, nearly 100% tumor necrosis was achieved and in lesions larger than 20 mm, only 50%. Follow-up evaluation 6 months after treatment shows a significantly better response in lesions with a diameter of 20 mm or smaller, with a local tumor control rate of 66%. In lesions larger than 20 mm only a local tumor control rate of 35% could be achieved. Laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) represents a new, minimally invasive technique for tumor destruction and a high response rate in small liver metastases.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

HCG contamination of alglucerase: clinical implications in low-dose regimen.

Alglucerase (Ceredase) is currently the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic Gaucher disease. The contamination of this placental enzyme with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has raised concern regarding possible endocrinological complications. We examined 32 patients treated with low-dose alglucerase and 27 untreated patients as controls, and found no significant clinical differences between the two groups: no prepubertal children were affected, no menstrual irregularities were reported, and all hCG levels were well within normal range. Conversely, our finding of a statistically significant difference between the groups underscores the importance of initiating parallel studies of hCG contamination in patients receiving high-dose protocol.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Enhancement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation by low-dose nitroglycerin in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Since organic nitroesters and endothelium-derived nitric oxide mediate vasodilation through a final common pathway, that is, by activation of soluble guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle, nitroglycerin (NTG) could specifically enhance the endothelium-dependent vasodilatory response to acetylcholine (Ach) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and endothelial cell dysfunction. Accordingly, the net effects of an intra-arterial infusion of NTG (10(-9) mol/L) on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation were assessed in the forearm circulation of patients with CHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: The forearm blood flow responses to intra-arterial administration of graded concentrations of Ach (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L) were determined by venous occlusion plethysmography (mL/min per 100 mL) in 18 patients with CHF and 5 age-matched normal subjects before and during intra-arterial infusion of NTG (10(-9) mol/L) for 20 minutes. In eight patients, the duration of the infusion of NTG (n = 5) or vehicle control solution (n = 3) was extended to 12 hours with measurement of the forearm blood flow responses to Ach at 20 minutes, 4 hours, and 12 hours. In five additional patients, forearm blood flow response to intra-arterial administration of two doses of phentolamine (0.05 and 0.5 mg) were determined before and during a 20-minute NTG infusion. Regional administration of NTG 10(-9) mol/L did not change resting forearm blood flow in either normal subjects or patients with CHF. Before administration of NTG 10(-9) mol/L, intra-arterial infusions of Ach 10(-7), 10(-5) and 10(-5) mol/L increased forearm blood flow to 14.7 +/- 6.2, 20.2 +/- 4.7, and 38.4 +/- 7.9 mL/min per 100 mL in normal subjects and to 4.1 +/- 0.8, 5.0 +/- 1.1, and 10.6 +/- 2.3 mL/min per 100 mL in patients with CHF. After administration of NTG 10(-9) mol/L for 20 minutes, the vasodilatory response to Ach significantly increased to 5.6 +/- 1.0, 6.9 +/- 1.6, and 17.7 +/- 3.4 mL/min per 100 mL in patients with CHF but did not change in normal subjects. The enhanced forearm blood flow responses to administration of Ach observed after 20 minutes of NTG administration in patients with CHF were sustained throughout a 12-hour NTG infusion. In contrast, regional administration of NTG did not change the vasodilatory responses to phentolamine. CONCLUSIONS: NTG, when administered intra-arterially for 20 minutes at a dose that does not affect resting forearm blood flow, specifically increased the vasodilatory response to intra-arterial administration of Ach in patients with CHF but not in normal subjects. The vasodilatory response to Ach was consistently enhanced by low-dose NTG throughout a 12-hour period. The vasodilating effects of organic nitroesters on the peripheral vasculature of patients with CHF may result in part from an interaction with the vascular endothelium.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Recovery of auditory evoked potentials after long-term complete brain ischemia.

Complete cerebral ischemia lasting 20 and 30 min was produced in dog brains. Before and after complete ischemia early and middle latency auditory evoked potentials were recorded simultaneously. In all cases of complete ischemia for 30 min amplitudes of evoked potentials were diminished during the reperfusion period of 8 to 12 hours. In some cases evoked potentials reappeared only temporarily. After complete ischemia of 20 min duration, the amplitude of evoked potentials varied within a wide range. They could reach nearly normal values.

Evoked Potentials, Auditory↗
PubMed1986

Effect of hormones on phospholipid metabolism in human cultured fibroblasts.

The effect of hormones on phospholipid metabolism, pool size, 32P labeling and changes in fatty acid of human adult fibroblasts was determined. Simultaneously the change in membrane fluidity of single cells was recorded via fluorescence recovery after photobleaching under the influence of hormones. From all substances tested (isoproterenol, phenylephrine, adrenalin, histamine, angiotensin II, dansylcadaverine, propranolol) only isoproterenol and adrenalin slightly decreased total amount of phosphatidylcholine (PC). The amount of the other phospholipids analyzed remained unchanged. The 32P incorporation rate into phospholipids (PC, phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)) was affected basicly different analyzing either PC, PI or PE. Histamine and propranolol provoked the highest incorporation of 32P (240% increase in PI labeling). Isoproterenol and adrenalin decreased PC labeling (45% and 18%) whereas isoproterenol decreased 32P incorporation into PI (18%), and adrenalin led to an increase (37%). PE labeling showed no or a slight increase in 32P incorporation applying the other agonists or antagonists. The fatty acid pattern of the respective phospholipids changed only to a minor extend. A decrease in hexadecanoic acid content of PI was found after administration of either isoproterenol, adrenalin or histamine. Parallel determination of membrane fluidity of single cells by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching showed an increase in the diffusion coefficient of a fluorescent lipid probe sticking in the membrane, following administration of isoproterenol and adrenalin, other substances tested exerted no effect. A relationship to changes in phospholipid metabolism became obvious. These results are discussed considering known mechanisms of receptor coupling and change in phospholipid metabolism and fluidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Abnormal communication between the left atrium and the coronary sinus. Presentation of 2 cases and review of the literature.

A large communication between coronary sinus and left atrium is a rare cardiac anomaly. Twenty-four cases from the literature and 2 of our own observations are presented. In most cases a considerable left-to-right shunt may exist on the atrial level that can be misinterpreted as an atrial septal defect. The anomaly may be isolated or in combination with an atrial septal defect or complex cardiac malformations. It is difficult to diagnose this abnormality by cardiac catheterization and even during surgery. Continuous oximetry during a fiberoptic catheter pull-back in the coronary sinus ensures the diagnosis in the case of atrial left-to-right shunt. The anatomy, hemodynamics, diagnostic procedures, and the therapy of the cases reported are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Comparison of 2 theophylline delayed-action preparations of different galenic forms].

Serum concentrations of Theophylline were measured in patients with reversible airways-obstruction during oral and intravenous treatment. The comparison of two sustained-release preparations of Aminophylline (Euphyllin retard 350 mg, Mundiphyllin retard 225 mg), administered according to a randomised study, shows no significant difference. Plasma levels from 5 to 20 mg/l were measured after five days of treatment with either preparation given in average dosage of 10 mg Theophylline per kg body weight. Similar plasma levels, which are associated with therapeutic effects, were measured after the intravenous application of the same dose of Theophylline over 24 hours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Recovery of the electrocorticogram of canine brains after complete cerebral ischaemia at 37 degrees and 32 degrees C.

Complete cerebral ischemia was produced in totally isolated dog heads, perfused from a donor dog. The temperature of the isolated brain was kept constant before, during and after the complete ischaemia, at either 37 degrees C or 32 degrees C. At a brain temperature of 37 degrees C electrocortical potentials were found to reappear spontaneously as long as complete ischaemia did not exceed 50 min. In canine brains kept at a temperature of 32 degrees C no reappearance of spontaneous electrical activity occurred if ischaemia exceeded 100 min.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Recovery of the electrocorticogram after incomplete and complete ischaemia of the brain.

Incomplete cerebral ischaemia of 10 to 60 minutes duration was performed by reducing the perfusion pressure of completely isolated canine heads at brain temperatures of 37 and 32 degrees C. Complete cerebral ischaemia of the same duration was performed by complete stopping of the perfusion. The latency of recovery of the electrocorticogram, i.e. the time interval from the end of the cerebral ischaemia until reappearance of the first spontaneous cortical potentials, was shorter after incomplete ischaemia than after complete ischaemia. At 37 degrees C brain temperature the latency of recovery of the electrocorticogram was zero after a perfusion of the brain with a perfusion pressure of 22 mm Hg for 1 hour. After an incomplete ischaemia of 1 hour produced by a perfusion pressure of 20 mm Hg the latency of recovery was 0 to 4 minutes. Lower perfusion pressures increased the latency of recovery considerably. Reduction of brain temperature to 32 degrees C decreased the latency of recovery. At perfusion pressures of 22 mm or more there was no difference in the latency of recovery between 37 and 32 degrees C brain temperature.

Animals↗