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Biomedical subjects

J Herzog

Publications and source records attributed to J Herzog.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Slow-release sodium fluoride in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether intermittent treatment with slow-release sodium fluoride and continuous calcium citrate supplementation inhibits vertebral fractures without causing fluoride complications. DESIGN: A placebo-controlled, randomized trial. SETTING: Outpatient setting of specialty clinics in Dallas and Temple, Texas. INTERVENTIONS: Slow-release sodium fluoride (25 mg twice daily) in repeated 14-month cycles (12 months on treatment followed by 2 months off treatment) compared with placebo. Both groups took calcium citrate (400 mg calcium twice daily) continuously. PATIENTS: 110 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were randomly assigned to two groups. In the slow-release sodium fluoride group, 48 of 54 patients completed more than 1 cycle of treatment (mean, 2.44 cycles/patient), whereas 51 of 56 patients in the placebo group completed at least 1 cycle (mean, 2.14 cycles/patient) in this interim analysis. MEASUREMENTS: Vertebral fracture rate and lumbar bone mineral content. Vertebral fractures were quantified from yearly radiographs. Bone mass was determined annually by densitometry. RESULTS: In the sodium fluoride group, the mean L2 to L4 bone mineral content increased by 4% to 6% in each cycle and the mean femoral neck bone density increased by 4.1% and 2.1% during the first two cycles, but the radial bone density did not change. The placebo group showed no statistical change in bone mass at any site. Compared with the placebo group, the sodium fluoride group had a lower individual new vertebral fracture rate (0.057/patient cycle compared with 0.204/patient cycle, P = 0.017), a higher fracture-free rate (83.3% compared with 64.7%, P = 0.042), and a lower group fracture rate (0.085/patient cycle compared with 0.239/patient cycle, P = 0.006). The side-effect profile was similar for the two groups; no patient developed microfractures, hip fractures, or blood loss anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent slow-release sodium fluoride plus continuous calcium citrate, administered for about 2.5 years, inhibits new vertebral fractures, increases the mean spinal bone mass without decreasing the radial shaft bone density, and is safe to use.

Aged

Provider-patient communication and metabolic control.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether nurses' and NIDDM patients' communication styles during consultations are related to subsequent metabolic control and to examine factors influencing patterns of communication in these consultations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 47 NIDDM patients participated in the study and completed the following procedures: 1) assessment of baseline HbA1, 2) attended 3.5 days of diabetes education, 3) returned in 1 mo for a follow-up consultation with a nurse, and (4) returned in 9-12 wk for a follow-up HbA1 assessment. The communication variables coded from the consultations were the frequency with which nurses produced controlling, informative, and patient-centered utterances and the frequency with which patients sought information, engaged in decision making, and expressed negative affect. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) patients experienced poorer metabolic control after interacting with nurses who were more controlling and directive in their communication with patients (r = 0.39, P < 0.01); 2) the nurses' use of patient-centered responses was directly related to the degree to which patients expressed feelings (r = 0.34, P < 0.01) and exhibited decision-making behavior (r = 0.62, P < 0.01); and 3) several of the nurses' and patients' communicative behaviors were related to patient characteristics such as age, sex, education, and baseline HbA1 levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that providers' attempts to exert considerable control during consultations with NIDDM patients may be counterproductive and contribute to poorer outcomes. The findings also indicate that patient-centered behaviors (e.g., encouraging the patient's involvement, respecting the patient's opinion, and offering support) facilitate the patient's ability to be an active participant in the consultation.

Age Factors

Endoneurial fluid pressure in the facial nerve of guinea pigs and rabbits.

Endoneurial fluid pressure (EFP) was measured in the facial nerve in rabbits and guinea pigs using a servo-controlled micropipette system. EFP in the tympanic segment was 5.3 +/- 1.2 cm H2O in rabbits and 4.1 +/- 0.9 and 4.2 +/- 0.9 cm H2O in the tympanic and mastoid segment respectively in guinea pigs, while EFP in the sciatic nerve was around 2 cm H2O. The higher pressure in the facial nerve may be related to the proximo-distal flow of the endoneurial fluid in peripheral nerves.

Animals

Lesions of Rathke's duct: another indication for the infratemporal fossa approach.

Rathke's duct is a midline structure, arising from the primitive stomodeum and extending upward to the hypophysis. The duct, which normally involutes in utero, may persist on occasion. This most frequently results in intracranial disease. Occasionally, disease may become manifest in the extracranial skull base. We present three such cases: cystic craniopharyngioma, Rathke's cleft cyst, and a persistent cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea caused by a patent craniopharyngeal canal. Each lesion involved the clivus and the parasphenoid region. Surgical management of such lesions requires not only extirpation of disease, but also the ability to recognize and preserve the many important regional structures. The procedure that best allows for the wide exposure necessary to accomplish these goals is the infratemporal fossa approach to the lateral skull base.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

Serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles of the genetically obese ob/ob mouse.

The lipid transport system of 3-month-old male C57BL/6J obese (ob/ob) mice was investigated. Serum lipoproteins were separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation and characterized by their chemical and electrophoretic properties as well as their relative apolipoprotein contents, defined according to molecular weight and charge. Obese, ob/ob mice exhibited a marked hyperlipoproteinemia resulting from large increases in low-density lipoproteins (LDL, d 1.021-1.058 g/ml) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL, d 1.058-1.137 g/ml), particularly, the HDL2 subclass (d 1.058-1.109 g/ml). This increase in lipoproteins was entirely responsible for their hypercholesterolemia and hyperphospholipidemia. By contrast, these obese mice had a net decrease in very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL, d less than 1.016 g/ml) and intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL, d 1.016-1.021 g/ml), which accounted for their moderate hypotriglyceridemia. The chemical composition of heterogeneous light LDL (d 1.021-1.040 g/ml and dense LDL (d 1.040-1.058 g/ml) overlapped by HDL-like particles was highly modified. These modifications consisted of increases in the percentages of cholesteryl ester and phospholipid and decreases in that of triacylglycerol. There were also marked changes in the relative values of the apolipoproteins of VLDL, but principally, IDL and LDL. IDL and light LDL were poorer in apolipoproteins BH (Mr 340,000-320,000) and eventually in apolipoprotein BL (Mr 220,000-200,000) and enriched in apolipoproteins E (Mr 37,000-35,000) and C-A-II (Mr approximately equal to 12,000). A similar and very significant change occurred in VLDL for both the apolipoproteins BL and C-A-II. Dense LDL, mainly poorer in apolipoprotein BH and enriched in apolipoprotein A-I (Mr 28,000-27,000), closely resembled HDL2 in all the groups, and were enriched in apolipoproteins C-A-II in only the obese mice. We suggest that ob/ob mice are probably protected against atheromata because of the low VLDL and IDL levels, and the increase in HDL2.

Adipose Tissue

Genetic variations in serum lipid levels of inbred mice and response to hypercholesterolemic diet.

The serum lipid contents of a number of inbred and congenic strains of mice were measured. There were inter-strain variations in each of the lipid fractions in mice fed a normal diet. Male and female C3H mice had the highest total cholesterol level; AKR mice showed the lowest values. Serum phospholipids were correlated well with cholesterolemia. The greatest variations between strains were in the triglyceride levels. There also was significant variation in the high density lipoprotein cholesterol serum levels (from 73-88% of the total cholesterol). The response to a hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol) was tested in seven inbred strains. All strains showed changes in serum cholesterol and in the proportions of the lipoproteins fractions. There was a large increase in the low density lipoprotein + very low density lipoprotein fractions. Feeding the diet revealed marked interstrain differences in the responses of the serum cholesterol and electrophoretic lipoprotein profiles. The C57BL/6 and B10.D2 strains were hyperresponders to the hypercholesterolemic diet with 71% and 63% of their serum cholesterol in the low density lipoprotein plus very low density lipoprotein fractions, respectively.

Animals

Milk tester's dermatitis.

Hand dermatitis is a frequent problem among workers in milk testing laboratories. An epidemiologic study was conducted at the Pennsylvania Dairy Herd Improvement Association Milk Testing Laboratory, where more than 300,000 milk samples are examined monthly for protein, butterfat, and "somatic" cells. These samples are preserved with potassium dichromate for transport from the farm to the laboratory. A survey of the laboratory was conducted and workers were interviewed. Eight of 16 subjects reported a history of occupationally exacerbated hand dermatitis. Three of 16 subjects had positive patch test results to potassium dichromate. Two of 15 subjects who underwent patch testing to milk preserved with potassium dichromate had positive reactions. None reacted to milk alone, bronopol, or Kathon CG. Two workers are receiving workers' compensation because of severe allergic contact dermatitis of the hands to potassium dichromate. We conclude that milk testing laboratory workers are at substantial risk for acquiring allergic contact dermatitis from milk preserved with potassium dichromate.

Animals

Serum lipoprotein profiles in mice: effects of early over- and undernutrition.

Effects of early over- and undernutrition on lipoprotein profiles of adult Swiss male mice reared in litters of different sizes were investigated. Lipoproteins were isolated by density gradient ultracentrifugation and defined by chemical composition. Protein moieties were defined by their changes. The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in epididymal adipose tissue, heart and diaphragm was measured. Early feeding patterns induced permanent body weight differences in adult mice. Serum phospholipid content was significantly higher in obese than in control mice. Overfeeding led to significantly higher activity of LPL in adipose tissue; inversely, undernutrition induced a lower LPL activity. There was a trend toward variations of lipoprotein concentrations in relation to litter size, with significant differences being observed only between obese and undernourished mice for LDL-HDL1 (low density lipoprotein--high density lipoprotein) and HDL2 concentrations. Compared with normally fed mice the most notable alterations in plasma lipoprotein composition were, in LDL-HDL1, greater cholesteryl ester in obese and less phospholipid in undernourished mice. In contrast, tetramethylurea-soluble apolipoprotein distribution was unaffected by litter size. Although moderate differences were observed in lipoprotein compositions and levels in over- or undernourished mice, further investigations of lipoprotein metabolism and metabolic abnormalities in this animal model are required.

Adipose Tissue

Hepatic hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in inbred strains of mice.

Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) activity is a major factor in the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis. Enzyme activity is known to vary with age, sex, diurnal cycle, and dietary properties in rats. Mice are available in numerous genetic strains and could be a useful inexpensive animal model for studying diet and genetic interactions in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism. Obese and non-obese C57BL/6J, CBA/J, and obese and non-obese DW dbPas mice were subjected to variations in light cycle, feeding schedule, and pectin and fat composition of their diets. They were then killed by decapitation, and hepatic microsomal HMGR analyzed. The mice responded in the same ways as rats to light cycle, feeding pattern, and sex difference. They exhibited marked differences in HMGR activity due to age, genotype, strain, and diet variations. We conclude that mice will, indeed, offer an excellent animal model for the study of cholesterol metabolism regulation.

Animals

[Te place of radiotherapy in the treatment of local recurrences of rectal cancer].

A retrospective study was conducted on 67 patients irradiated between 1976 and 1983 at the Medical Radiologic Institute of Tübingen for local recurrences of primarily operated carcinomas of the rectum. Generally, a total dose of 50 to 60 Gy was applied partially in form of a rotational therapy with individual doses of 2 Gy each. The irradiation was well tolerated by most of the patients. The troubles which were mostly severe and progressive before radiotherapy could be relieved by the irradiations in 91% of the patients. This palliative effect lasted for twelve months on an average. The prognosis quoad vitam is unfavorable with a median survival time of 21 months and a three-year survival rate of 15%. A clear dependence on the dose was not found for any of these parameters. Our own results are compared to those communicated by other authors. It is shown that better results can only be achieved by re-operation performed in sano.

Adult

[Neuroblastoma of the olfactory nerve. Radiotherapy experiences in 6 patients].

Six patients with neuroblastomas of the olfactory nerve (esthesioneuroblastoma) are presented who were irradiated between 1983 and 1986 at the Medical Radiologic Institute of Tübingen. Clinical manifestations, diagnostics, histology, therapy, and courses are compared and discussed with regard to a survey of literature. An attempt is made to find out the value of radiotherapy in the treatment of this rare disease. In stage A (tumor restricted to the nasal cavity, 1 patient), a local tumor control of up to now 28 months could be achieved by a treatment combination of surgery and radiotherapy. A treatment consisting of surgery or radiotherapy alone should even in this stage only be performed in connection with a close follow-up because of the increased local recurrence risk. Tumors of stage B (manifestation in the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses) did not occur in this group of patients. Five patients suffered from tumors of stage C (tumor extent beyond the paranasal sinuses). A good palliative effect was obtained temporarily by radiotherapy alone in three out of these patients showing large inoperable tumors and rapidly progressing clinical symptoms. A complete remission now lasting 16 months was achieved only in one patient by radical surgery with unilateral evisceration of orbit and homogeneous postirradiation. In case of stage C tumors it is recommended to perform, if possible, a radical tumor excision with evisceration of orbit in case of unilateral manifestation in the orbit and a postirradiation applying a radical, large volume technique. In order to reduce the risk of radiogenic cerebral necroses, it should be attempted to avoid dose maxima as they can occur when applying a combined ventro-dorsal and lateral irradiation technique.

Adult

[Preoperative short-term irradiation in rectal cancer].

From 1979 through 1983, 78 patients underwent short-term preirradiation before primary operation for rectal carcinoma at the Medical Radiation Institute of Tübingen. A hyperfractionated total dose of 16 Gy was applied within a maximum time of 36 hours in four fractions of 4 Gy each. Surgery was performed at the last irradiation day. The medium observation time of the total group of patients was five years and three months, at least 40 months. The local recurrence rate of all patients followed up is 9% (7/78), for stage Dukes A it is 6% (2/32), for stage Dukes B 0%(0/25), for stage Dukes C 27% (3/11), and for stage Dukes D 20% (2/10). In the group of 68 patients showing no metastases at the moment of surgery, the rate of formation of remote metastases amounts to 21%, in stage Dukes A to 13% (4/32), in stage Dukes B to 24% (6/25), and in stage Dukes C to 36% (4/11). The relapse-free survival during the follow-up period is 66% (45/68), for stage Dukes A 69% (22/32), for stage Dukes B 68% (17/25), and for stage Dukes C 55% (6/11). There were no acute or late radiogenic complications. Compared to publications about cases treated only by surgery, the present preirradiated patient's group shows a considerable lower local recurrence rate and an increased relapse-free survival rate. These improved treatment results are probably due to preoperative irradiation. The incidence of perioperative complications was not increased by preoperative irradiation.

Combined Modality Therapy

Description of a new model of genetic obesity: the dbPas mouse.

A new strain of genetically obese mouse, the dbPas mouse, has been studied in terms of fat pad cellularity, serum parameters and thermogenesis. This obesity was observed in the inbred DW strain of mice at the Institut Pasteur-France, and is due to a recessive mutation on chromosome 4 at the diabetes locus. The mice became grossly obese, gaining weight until at least 16 mo of age. By 6 mo of age they exhibited hyperphagia, hypercholesterolemia, severe hyperinsulinemia, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipocytes, and impaired fertility. In contrast with other diabetic strains of mice, glycemia was normal in females and slightly elevated in males. This result indicates that the mutation of the db locus does not necessarily lead to a frank diabetes. Body temperature was normal either at 22 degrees C or after a cold exposure at 4 degrees C. GDP (guanosine diphosphate) binding to brown adipose tissue mitochondria was normal in obese mice as compared to lean. These data differentiate this model from other genetic obesities in mice and rats. This new model of genetic obesity offers interesting characteristics for the study of obesity.

Adipose Tissue

The effect of neoplasia-induced hypercalcemia on the neuroendocrine axis of the Fischer rat.

The effects of neoplasia-induced hypercalcemia on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of the Fischer rat were determined by measuring the responses of TSH to TRH, PRL to TRH and haloperidol, and LH to LHRH in 3 groups of 8 rats prior to and at 4 and 8 days after transplantation of a Leydig cell tumor. The mean serum calcium was 8.2 +/- 0.2 mg/dl in 8 Fischer rats pretransplantation; had risen at 4 days posttransplantation to 9.8 +/- 0.2 mg/dl; and at 8 days was 11.2 +/- 0.1 mg/dl. TSH response to TRH was greater in the pretransplant rats than in the groups studied at 4 and 8 days posttransplant. Basal PRL levels and PRL responses to TRH and haloperidol were less in the groups studied at 4 and 8 days posttransplant. Basal LH values were similar in all 3 groups, but the LH response to LHRH was less for the posttransplant groups. The TSH response to TRH, PRL responses to TRH and haloperidol, and LH responses to LHRH were less in the 8 days posttransplants than in the groups studied at 4 days posttransplantation. There were significant negative correlations between TSH (r = -0.79) and PRL (r = -0.80) responses to TRH, PRL responses (r = -0.94) to haloperidol and LH responses (r = -0.91) to LHRH and the serum calcium. The results indicate that increasing levels of serum calcium following Leydig cell tumor transplantation are associated with suppression of adenohypophysial release of TSH, PRL, and LH; the degree of suppression is related to the magnitude of hypercalcemia achieved in this model.

Animals