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Biomedical subjects

H de Boer

Publications and source records attributed to H de Boer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The influence of octreotide treatment on pulsatile growth hormone release in acromegaly.

The pulsatile release of GH was investigated in eight active acromegalic patients before and during a subcutaneous infusion of 300 micrograms octreotide/24 h for 4 weeks. The number of GH pulses increased from a basal value of 14.4/24h to 16.3/24h during octreotide therapy. At the same time the mean GH concentration, valley concentration, peak height and amplitude decreased significantly. The inhibitory effect of octreotide on pulse characteristics did not depend on the time of day. IGF-I levels also decreased significantly; in five patients normal levels were reached. IGF-I levels correlated significantly with the mean GH level (r = 0.714, P less than 0.001), mean valley concentration (r = 0.697, P less than 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, area under the curve (r = 0.436, P = 0.033), but not the number of pulses. Plasma octreotide levels did not correlate with pulse parameters. In all but one patient a circadian rhythm was present during both the basal study and octreotide therapy. Compared with surgically treated acromegalics, the number of GH pulses was higher in untreated and octreotide-treated patients. This study demonstrates the pulsatile release of GH in active acromegaly both before and during octreotide therapy. This result suggests that endogenous GHRH is important for the generation of GH pulses in this disease.

Acromegaly↗

The A-R interval as exercise indicator: a new option for rate adaptation in single and dual chamber pacing.

We investigated the possibility to use the interval from an atrial stimulus to the ventricular R wave (A-R interval) as an indicator of physical stress, in 16 patients with pacemakers implanted for severe atrial bradycardia but with intact AV conduction. The A-R interval was studied during incremental atrial pacing at rest and during exercise with a constant workload. In addition, the atrial pacing rate was kept constant just above spontaneous sinus rate and the dynamics of the A-R interval were studied during exercise with a low constant workload and during a maximal exercise test with increasing workload. Incremental atrial pacing prolonged the A-R interval and this response was blunted during exercise (P less than 0.003). Atrial pacing at a constant rate and during a constant workload resulted in an almost direct shortening of the A-R interval. When the workload was increased but the atrial rate kept constant, a pronounced shortening of the A-R interval was noted (P less than 0.0001). It is concluded that changes of the A-R interval during different kinds of exercise were prompt and predictable in patients with sinus node dysfunction but intact AV conduction. In these patients the shortening of the A-R interval during exercise may be a suitable indicator for rate adaptive atrial pacing.

Adult↗

Differences in the intestinal microflora of normal and dystrophic BIO 8262 Nij Syrian hamsters.

The microflora of the gastro-intestinal tract of dystrophic BIO 8262 Nij Syrian hamsters and Kun:Sh Syrian hamsters as controls was investigated by means of culturing techniques and scanning electron microscopy. The oesophagus, forestomach, stomach, small intestine, coecum and faeces were assessed for the presence of Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococci, Lactobacilli, Streptococci, Clostridia, Bacteroides and yeasts. The normal hamsters showed low levels of yeasts in the oesophagus, forestomach and stomach; yeasts were not present in the other compartments. Relatively low levels of Staphylococci and Enterobacteriaceae were found in all gut segments; also Bacteroides was found in low levels in the upper part of the gut. The other groups of bacteria showed relatively high levels in all segments. In dystrophic BIO 8262 Nij hamsters no Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts have been detected in the gut. Scanning electron microscopy showed no difference in adhesion between both hamsters strains.

Animals↗

Circadian and pulsatile thyrotropin release in treated acromegalics.

We studied the 24-h TSH profiles of 16 treated male acromegalic patients (age range 26-68 yr) in clinical and biochemical remission. Eight had undergone transsphenoidal surgery, the others surgery and pituitary irradiation. Blood samples were taken at 20-min intervals; circadian rhythms were established by cosinor analysis, pulsatile release with the Cluster programme. All patients, except one irradiated subject, were euthyroid. TSH reserve was diminished preoperatively in 7 subjects and at the time of the profile study in 10 subjects, one of whom was biochemically hypothyroid. A significant circadian rhythm was present in 14 subjects and absent in the hypothyroid patient. The acrophase occurred at 2.46 +/- 0.51 h in nonirradiated patients and at 3.37 +/- 0.38 h in irradiated patients (NS). About 10 TSH pulses/24 h (range 6-13) were detected; there was no significant difference between irradiated and non-irradiated patients. With cross-correlation techniques synchronous release of TSH and PRL was demonstrated in 7 out of 8 nonirradiated patients in contrast to only 2 of the irradiated patients. This study demonstrates a qualitatively normal TSH secretion pattern for treated acromegalic patients, but the absolute TSH levels are clearly low compared with published data on normal subjects. The present findings can be explained by a diminished TSH cell mass; in addition radiation therapy causes a disturbance at the hypothalamic level, as indicated by the loss of synchronism between TSH and PRL release.

Acromegaly↗

Prolactin and luteinizing hormone profiles of cured acromegalic subjects.

The 24-h PRL and LH hormone profiles were analysed of 16 cured male acromegalic patients who had undergone selective transsphenoidal surgery 4-9 years previously. Eight of these patients also underwent pituitary irradiation. Blood samples were taken at 20-min intervals; the PRL and LH data were analysed with the cluster program. ARIMA modelling, cross-correlation techniques, Fourier analysis, and cosinor analysis. About 10-11 PRL and LH peaks were demonstrated for both non-irradiated and irradiated patients. The absolute heights of PRL pulses and the mean valley levels were significantly greater for irradiated patients than for non-irradiated patients, but the increment in amplitude did not differ. A significant diurnal rhythm for PRL was found for all non-irradiated patients but for only one irradiated patient. LH pulse area and amplitude were lower in the group of irradiated patients. The incremental responses of LH and PRL to GnRH and TRH, respectively, were lower in irradiated patients than in non-irradiated patients. During the night (0200-0800 h) the number of PRL pulses decreased in non-irradiated patients but not in irradiated patients. Pulse nadirs and amplitudes increased during the evening and night in non-irradiated patients but were constant in irradiated subjects. Bivariate modelling of the data for 14 patients revealed significant cross-correlations between LH and PRL pulses in nine subjects. This study demonstrates that the pulsatile secretion of PRL and LH in treated acromegalics is basically normal. Additional radiation therapy, however, may lead to damage of the hypothalamus, as reflected by the absence of a circadian PRL rhythm. A direct influence on the pituitary by radiation is indicated by the decreased magnitude of LH pulses and the diminished response of LH and PRL after injection of GnRH and TRH, respectively.

Acromegaly↗

Plasma growth hormone profiles and sleep: a study of 13 treated acromegalics.

The plasma growth hormone profiles and sleep patterns of 13 treated male acromegalic patients, aged 29-67 years, were studied. All patients had undergone selective pituitary transsphenoidal surgery 4-9 years previously; five patients had also undergone supplemental pituitary irradiation. Blood samples were taken at 20-min intervals; the sleep patterns were obtained by EEG. GH reserve was assessed after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and GHRH (1-44) with and without pyridostigmine. The profiles were analysed with the aid of the Pulsar program. Seven out of eight non-irradiated patients had 1-3 nocturnal GH peaks; in the irradiated group only one patient had a normal profile. The GH reserve after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia was normal in seven out of eight non-irradiated patients, and subnormal in all five irradiated patients. In the latter group the GH reserve was diminished when tested with GHRH. One patient from each group had a severe apnoea syndrome; in both cases there was no nocturnal GH increase. The percentage sleep stage 1 was lower for irradiated patients when compared with non-irradiated patients, but the 14 other sleep parameters did not differ. From this study we conclude that the physiological regulation of GH secretion is restored in surgically treated patients. Radiation therapy may lead to pituitary and hypothalamic damage, which could affect spontaneous GH secretion.

Acromegaly↗

Differential bipolar sensing of a dual chamber pacemaker.

Differential bipolar sensing was evaluated in 10 consecutive patients with symptomatic heart block managed with dual chamber pacing. During pacemaker implantation atrial and ventricular electrograms were recorded using unipolar (UP) and differential bipolar (DBP) sensing amplifiers. The mean peak-to-peak amplitudes of the UP and DBP atrial electrograms were 3.3 +/- 1.2 mV and 4.2 +/- 1.2 mV, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The mean peak-to-peak amplitudes of the ventricular electrograms were, respectively, 6.8 +/- 1.5 mV and 7.5 +/- 1.4 mV (p less than 0.01). Within 6 weeks after pacemaker implantation, patients visited the outpatient clinic. Isometric exercise tests were performed during UP and DBP sensing of the pacing system. Myopotential sensing in the ventricle occurred in nine patients during UP sensing and in none of the patients during DBP sensing (p less than 0.01) at a sensitivity setting of 0.5 mV. In addition, chest wall stimulation was performed to assess the effects of far-field signals on the ventricular sensing circuit of the pulse generator. Chest wall stimuli inhibited ventricular output during UP sensing in all 10 patients, whereas during DBP sensing inhibition of the ventricular channel occurred in three patients and then only at high output (greater than 8 V) settings. The susceptibility of the pacing system to crosstalk was also determined. However, neither during UP sensing nor during DBP sensing could cross-stimulation or cross-inhibition be demonstrated. In conclusion, DBP sensing is superior to UP sensing in terms of myopotential and far-field sensing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Prevalence of retrograde conduction in heart block after DDD pacemaker implantation.

Electrophysiologic studies were performed before DDD pacemaker implantation in 50 patients with symptomatic heart block. The patients were separated into 2 groups. Group I consisted of patients with intact retrograde conduction and group II consisted of patients with blocked retrograde conduction. After pacemaker implantation, postventricular atrial refractory periods in patients in group I were programmed at 50 to 100 ms, in excess of the retrograde conduction times measured during electrophysiologic studies. In group II patients, postventricular atrial refractory periods were routinely programmed at 300 ms. During follow-up, patients visited the outpatient clinic at 3-month intervals for noninvasive assessment of the prevalence of retrograde conduction, and to test the inducibility of pacemaker-mediated tachycardias. The mean follow-up of group I (15 patients) was 27 +/- 10 months, whereas the mean follow-up of group II (35 patients) was 19 +/- 9 months. The mean number of noninvasive tests performed during follow-up was 8 +/- 3 per patient for group I and 5 +/- 3 per patient for group II. In group I, retrograde conduction remained intact in 12 patients (p less than 0.01). In 29 of 31 patients in group II, retrograde conduction remained absent (p less than 0.01). In 4 patients in group II, chronic atrial fibrillation occurred during follow-up. Chronic atrial fibrillation did not occur in any patient in group I. During serial electrophysiologic testing, no pacemaker-mediated tachycardias could be induced in any patient in group I or II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Failure to sense P waves during DDD pacing.

ECG tracings of three patients in whom AV universal (DDD) pacemakers were implanted intermittently demonstrated dropped P waves. In one patient, true atrial undersensing was present; in the others, sensing of the atrial electrode was appropriate, but sensing of sinus P waves was intermittently blocked by normal pacemaker operation. In this report we discuss the electrocardiographic diagnosis of atrial undersensing in order to avoid unnecessary reinterventions.

Aged↗

[1,000 pancreolauryl tests: evaluation of sensitivity, specificity and use in clinical routine].

1115 examinations with the Pancreolauryl-Test (PLT) were carried out and assessed on 918 non-selected patients with various gastro-enterologic diseases. Depending on the severity of the exocrine insufficiency, sensitivity varied in confirmed chronic pancreatitis (n = 54). Overall sensitivity was 69%, in chronic pancreatitis with steatorrhoe 100%, and 54% in moderate insufficiency. In all patients not suffering from pancreatic diseases (n = 789) specificity was 77%. Since the PLT was frequently pathological in patients with subtotal gastrectomy (gastric resection) and active peptic lesion, specificity was also determined excluding these cases (29% of all patients without pancreatic disease). This resulted in a specificity of 86%. Gastric hyperacidity should be taken into consideration as a possible source of errors (for example, in the condition following an ulcer). Age, weight and alcohol consumption as well as diseases of the bile duct and liver, had no influence on specificity. Urine collection errors, occurring in 10% of the patients investigated, could be avoided by determination of fluorescein in the serum. Our results from a series of examinations on non-selected patients with a 6% prevalence of chronic pancreatitis indicated that PLT is likely to increase predictive value in selected application. If the oesophagus-gastro-duodenoscopy is non-pathological but the PLT gives a pathological result, further pancreatic investigative procedures should be carried out.

Adult↗

Composition of renal basement membranes isolated under various conditions.

GBM isolated from a surgical biopsy directly or after a 22 hr incubation period--to imitate the usual interval between death and isolation--appeared to be nearly identical in amino acid composition. Sonication and detergent procedures for isolation of GBM and TBM lead to preparations of different chemical composition. Phosphorus analysis and electron micrographs indicate the presence of material of supposedly cellular origin in sonicated but not in detergent-treated bovine and human GBM. Detergent-treated bovine and human GBM preparations are more enriched in the collagen-typical amino acids than sonicated samples. SDS-PAGE analyses show a nearly identical polypeptide pattern. Sonicated and detergent-treated bovine TBM preparations are free of cellular material. They show in SDS-PAGE a similar heterogeneous polypeptide pattern, but with lower intensities of three components with molecular weights between 30 and 60 kdalton. Sulfated GAG's are present in higher concentration in sonicated than in detergent-treated GBM and TBM. Collagen is not extracted from glomeruli and tubules by detergent treatment.

Aged↗

Pacemaker electrocardiography of rate smoothing during DDD pacing.

A rate smoothing option is available in a new bipolar AV universal (DDD) pacemaker. In three patients, two with intact retrograde conduction and one with retrograde block, rate smoothing values of 3% and 6% were programmed. Irregular pacemaker-mediated tachycardia occurred in one patient and AV synchrony was temporarily lost in the other two patients. In this report, we describe the pacemaker electrocardiography of rate smoothing during DDD pacing.

Aged↗

Responses of an AV universal (DDD) pulse generator (Cordis 233D) to programmed single ventricular extrastimuli.

To evaluate factors playing a role in initiation and perpetuation of pacemaker-mediated tachycardias (PMTs), 22 consecutive patients with symptomatic conduction disorders were studied after implantation of an AV universal (DDD) pulse generator (Cordis 233D). Patients were divided into two groups, depending upon the presence or absence of ventriculo-atrial (VA) conduction during electrophysiological study (EPS) performed before pacemaker implantation. PMTs could be initiated in six of eight patients of Group I and in none of 14 patients of Group II. Initiation and perpetuation of PMTs during DDD pacing were dependent upon the capacity of the patient to conduct ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and subsequent paced ventricular beats retrogradely to the atria, and upon three programmable parameters of the pulse generator (AV delay period, upper rate limit, tachycardia response). Programmed single ventricular extrastimulation demonstrated that: (1) merely the presence of VA conduction during EPS, although necessary, was not sufficient to induce PMTs after DDD pacemaker implantation; (2) VPBs introduced late rather than early in the cardiac cycle initiated PMTs in a different way; (3) the initiation of PMTs could be prevented during study by adjusting the programmable parameters (AV delay period, upper rate limit, tachycardia response); (4) one of the two available tachycardia responses of the pulse generator (gradual fall-back response) was able to terminate and initiate PMTs consistently. These observations helped in understanding the responses of the Cordis 233D pulse generator to ventricular premature beats. They indicate that additional refinement of the pulse generator is necessary to solve the problem of PMT.

Aged↗

Atrioventricular and ventriculo-atrial conduction in patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction.

In 14 patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction--sinus bradycardia, sino-atrial exit block, or sinus arrest--electrophysiological studies were performed before implantation of a pacemaker. In 8 patients incremental high right atrial pacing showed AV-nodal Wenckebach at pacing rates equal to or above 130/min (group I); in 6 patients AV-nodal Wenckebach was reached at pacing rates less than 130/min (group II). During ventricular pacing at a rate 10-15% faster than the existing sinus rate, ventriculo-atrial (VA) conduction was present in all patients of group I, while VA conduction was present in only 2 patients of group II (p less than 0.05). Patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction but with intact AV conduction frequently show VA conduction during ventricular pacing and thus are particularly at risk for developing a pacemaker syndrome when a ventricular demand (VVI) pacemaker is implanted. This complication can be avoided by atrial demand (AAI) pacing or AV sequential (DVI) pacing. When adequate experience has been gathered with AV universal (DDD) pacemakers, the indications for selection of a pacemaker in patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction will probably change.

Adult↗