PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Koenig

Publications and source records attributed to H Koenig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Operating the European Drawer Rack on the ISS.

The Erasmus User Centre, located at ESTEC in Noordwijk, will have overall responsibility for the preparation and execution of operations for the European Drawer Rack (EDR) facility in the European Columbus laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS). Together with the national User Support and Operations Centres (USOCs) involved in the operation of experiments on the ISS, it will form the network conducting the decentralised payload operations baselined for the European elements of the ISS.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed2001

[Laboratory diagnosis of visceral mycoses].

Prognosis of visceral mycosis depends on an early and well-adapted treatment. So, diagnosis must be done as early as possible. The clinician must first think of mycosis in front of a fever resistant to antibiotics or an unusual symptomatology, particularly in patients at risk for this opportunistic infection. The laboratory role is then essential. Isolation of the responsible fungus must be the first step. It leads to confirmation of diagnosis and to the choice of the best antifungal treatment. The search of antibodies and, in immunocompromised patients, of circulating antigens, is of precious help when no fungus is isolated or to confirm its pathogenicity. Unfortunately, diagnosis is often difficult. New molecular biological techniques should improve the quality and delay of mycological diagnosis.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1999

Isolated renal Aspergillus abscess in an AIDS patient with a normal CD4+ cell count on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Isolated renal Aspergillus abscess is a very rare complication of HIV infection. It usually occurs in patients with severe immune deficiency. The case of a 29-year-old HIV-infected homosexual male, a nonintravenous drug abuser, who developed a right renal Aspergillus abscess despite normalization of the CD4+ cell count after highly active antiretroviral treatment is described. When antimicrobial treatment failed (amphotericin B followed by itraconazole), he was cured by right nephrectomy and remains in good health 3 months later with no recurrence. In cases of Aspergillus renal abscess in HIV-infected patients, surgery is the treatment of choice, especially in the current era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

Candida catenulata fungemia in a cancer patient.

We report the first case of fungemia due to Candida catenulata, a contaminant of dairy products. C. catenulata was isolated from three blood cultures of a patient with gastric cancer. The patient failed to respond to fluconazole but recovered after treatment was switched to amphotericin B. In vitro, C. catenulata was susceptible to amphotericin B and itraconazole and was also susceptible to fluconazole in dose-dependent manner. The likely portal of entry was the digestive tract, as the patient often ate cheese and had multiple gastric ulcerations.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Pastoral care for the person with dementia.

We discuss the various stages of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) and present a psychosocial model which spiritual caregivers can use in their ministry, the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) model. We argue that religious activities are very important to these patients and that spiritual caregivers can make an important contribution.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Reduction of radiation exposure for patient and investigator in interventional radiography].

PURPOSE: In a retrospective analysis of vascular interventional procedures, relations between parameters of the examination and radiation exposure of patient and medical personnel are examined. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 1208 vascular interventional procedures are evaluated. Interventional procedures are divided into three groups: percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, implantation of a stent, thrombolysis. RESULTS: Mean values of the radiation dose of patient and radiology personnel are reported for these examinations. The mean value of the radiation dose of the physician was 7 microSv (maximum 24 microSv), that of the patient 1548 cGy.cm2 (maximum 8485 cGy.cm2). CONCLUSION: The quantity of X-rays to the patient may be lowered by using pulsed fluoroscopy and by reducing the number of radiographs. Reduction of the number of radiographs may be achieved by using the last-image hold and the road mapping mode. The operator's dose can be decreased by using additional radiation protection systems like a MAVIG-radiation protection wall. The radiation dose reduction was 61% for the physician and 17% for the patient.

Angiography↗
PubMed1997

Religion/spirituality and health among elderly African Americans and Hispanics.

1 It is important to view elders in a multicultural sense and also understand that there may be great heterogeneity within cultural or ethnic groups. 2 Knowledge of the impact of religion and spiritual beliefs for ethnic groups can help health care professionals design interventions that are culture-specific to the beliefs of individuals. 3 The psychiatric nurse is in a unique position to encourage the patient to use healthy religious practices to deal with their illness, whether mental or physical.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Progesterone as a neurosteroid: actions within the nervous system.

1. Some progesterone is synthesized within both the central and the peripheral nervous systems, where it regulates neurotransmission and important glial functions, such as the formation of myelin. Progesterone can thus be designated a "neurosteroid." 2. Steroids act not only on the brain, but also on peripheral nerves, which offer many advantages to study the biological significance of locally produced neurosteroids: their remarkable plasticity and regenerative capacity and their relatively simple structure. 3. By using the regenerating mouse sciatic nerve as a model, we have shown that progesterone synthesized by rat Schwann cells promotes the formation of new myelin sheaths. Progesterone also increases the number of myelinated axons when added at a low concentration to cocultures of Schwann cells and sensory neurons. 4. These findings show a function on myelination for locally produced progesterone and suggest a new pharmacological approach of myelin repair.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Mucormycosis-actinomycosis and caseous dental sinusitis associated with sinusal foreign body].

The authors report an uncommon case of caseous dental sinusitis with infection or superinfection by mocorales and actinomycetes. The patient was healthy, without diabetes mellitus, but was treated for lymphoma 18 years before. This observation leads to a discussion of nosologic, diagnostic and therapeutic features of caseous sinusitis, dental or not, fungal or not, which are often or too often called aspergillosis sinusitis. The recovery of the patient was complete after surgery, amphotericin B and hyperbaric oxygen.

Actinomycosis, Cervicofacial↗
PubMed1994

Polyamines mediate coronary transcapillary macromolecular transport in the calcium paradox.

This study addresses the role of polyamines and their rate limiting enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase in regulation of macromolecular transport of two macromolecules, fluorescein and horseradish peroxidase, across coronary capillaries. Rat hearts were isolated and retrogradely perfused through the aorta (Langendorff method), stabilized by 10 min perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit medium containing Ca2+, followed by 5 min perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit medium without Ca2+ and an additional 30 s to 2 min with Krebs-Henseleit medium containing 1 mg/ml horseradish peroxidase. alpha-Difluoromethylornithine, the only known function of which is inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase, and putrescine were added as needed. Perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit medium without Ca2+ caused a two-fold increase in fluorescein transport but a decrease in horseradish peroxidase transport. Reperfusion with Krebs-Henseleit medium caused a four-fold increase in fluorescein transport and a ten-fold increase in horseradish peroxidase positive intraendothelial cell vesicles over control values. alpha-Difluoromethylornithine inhibited these increases and putrescine negated the alpha-difluoromethylornithine effect. Other morphological measures of horseradish peroxidase transport and associated membrane activities including modulation of endothelial cells luminal and abluminal pits were effected in the same manner. Transport of macromolecules through coronary capillaries, over the short term studied, appears to be regulated by the ornithine decarboxylase/polyamine pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor excitotoxicity involves activation of polyamine synthesis: protection by alpha-difluoromethylornithine.

We investigated the role of polyamines and their regulatory enzyme ornithine decarboxylase in N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced excitotoxicity in embryonic chick retina. N-Methyl-D-aspartate (200 microM) produced an early increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity, putrescine concentration, and Ca2+ entry, leading to selective neuronal death by 30 min. This response was attenuated by the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor alpha-difluoromethylornithine and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist 5-aminophosphonovaleric acid. Exogenous putrescine increased intracellular putrescine and spermine levels and reversed neuroprotection by alpha-difluoromethylornithine, but not by 5-aminophosphonovaleric acid. N-Methyl-D-aspartate-receptor stimulation of putrescine/polyamine synthesis mediates abnormal Ca2+ entry and acute excitotoxic neuronal death. Postreceptor inhibition of the ornithine decarboxylase/polyamine cascade by alpha-difluoromethylornithine may provide neuroprotection against N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced excitotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Asymptomatic oral Candida albicans carriage in HIV-infection: frequency and predisposing factors.

Many studies have focused on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of oral candidiasis in HIV infection. Little is known on the incidence and predisposing factors of asymptomatic oral candida carriage in this setting, obviously an important issue in view of prophylaxis. To address this question, 261 consecutive HIV-infected individuals without clinical evidence of candidiasis were investigated. C. albicans was isolated from cultured oral cavity swabs of 63 subjects (24%). Colonization was significantly more frequent in IV drug users, CDC groups IV, and in subjects with lymphocytopenia, CD4+ cell depletion, or elevated beta-2 microglobulin. These data further suggest that oral candidiasis occurs in HIV infection as a result of C. albicans overgrowth and raise the question of primary antifungal prophylaxis in subjects with low CD4 counts and asymptomatic oral Candida carriage.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

[Uncommon caseous maxillary sinusitis of dental origin caused by Microsporum canis].

The authors report an uncommon case of maxillary sinusitis due to Microsporum canis. To their knowledge this is the first observation in which a zoophilic dermatophytic fungus which grows usually on keratin has been isolated in a dental maxillary sinusitis in human. This observation makes it possible to discuss nosologic and diagnostic features of dental caseous sinusitis and fungal sinusitis which are often or too often called aspergillosis sinusitis.

Aspergillosis↗
PubMed1992

Capillary NMDA receptors regulate blood-brain barrier function and breakdown.

Polyamines and their regulatory synthetic enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) have been implicated in blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown following cryogenic injury. ODC activation and BBB breakdown are prevented by MK-801, indicating involvement of NMDA receptors. Studies in isolated rat cerebral capillaries supports the presence of NMDA receptors linked to ODC. NMDA (1-50 microM) stimulated capillary uptake of horseradish peroxidase, 2-deoxy-[14C]glucose, and 45 Ca in a receptor-, concentration-, polyamine- and Ca(2+)-dependent manner. We suggest that NMDA receptors may couple capillary transport of nutrients to glutamate-mediated neuronal excitation, and when overestimated disrupt normal BBB function.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Rare opportunistic fungal diseases in patients with organ or bone marrow transplantation].

Candidiasis, aspergillosis and cryptococcosis are the most common fungal infections in transplant recipients. However other fungal infections have been reported. Mucormycosis, Scedosporium infections, fusariosis and trichosporonosis represent the largest part of these rare mycosis. The clinical and mycological features are described here. In addition, cases of very uncommon mycosis, most of them only once reported, have been reviewed. Overall the diagnosis is difficult as mycological examinations are often negative till the disease is disseminated. Amphotericin B remains the reference treatment except in Scedosporium infections which respond more likely to azole antifungal agents. Despite the treatment the outcome is usually fatal.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1992

[Invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. An analysis of 57 patients].

Fifty seven cases of invasive aspergillosis have been analyzed. Most patients were severely neutropenic. The main underlying diseases were acute leukemia, malignant lymphoma and bone marrow transplantation. The clinical and radiological manifestations and the mycological data rare presented. A dramatic increase of the annual incidence has been observed since 1986. The main causes appear to be the increase in intensity of chemotherapy regimen for acute leukemia and the progressive colonisation of a part the department. Overall mortality is especially high (74%) but the mortality rate appears to decrease since 1989.

Adult↗