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Biomedical subjects

J Kraft

Publications and source records attributed to J Kraft.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Maintenance of remission in acute myeloid leukemia by allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation].

Over a 10-year period 120 patients (58 women, 62 men; median age 33 [14-53] years) with acute myeloid leukaemia were treated by allogenic (n = 90) or autologous bone marrow transplantation to maintain remission. After a median observation time of 41 (11-126) months 64 patients (53%) remain alive without recurrence of leukaemia. Ten years after allogenic transplantation performed during the first complete remission the probability of disease-free survival is 50 +/- 8%, as compared with 50 +/- 9% at 4.5 years after autologous transplantation. Significant factors influencing disease-free survival after allogenic transplantation during the first complete remission were the time interval up to the onset of remission and the length of the remission before transplantation. The chance of disease-free survival after allogenic transplantation in the second complete remission does not so far differ from the results achieved by transplantation in the first complete remission. The risk of recurrence after autologous transplantation in the first complete remission (47 +/- 10%) is significantly higher than that following allogenic transplantation (18 +/- 10%, P less than 0.0001). Acute graft versus host reactions occurred in 16% and chronic reactions in 36% of patients after allogenic transplantation. The mortality was 38% after allogenic transplantation and 7% after autologous transplantation.

Acute Disease

Effects of verapamil on anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy: preliminary results of a prospective multicenter trial.

Previous investigations in animals and one retrospective study in man suggest that verapamil can prevent anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy. In the following study, patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with double induction and consolidation chemotherapy (AML COOP study 1986, [3]) were randomized in a group with and without accompanying low-dose oral verapamil treatment. Since July 1986, 64 patients have been included. Thirty patients have been evaluated for pre- and posttreatment cardiological investigations. So far, no significant difference in cardiotoxicity has been observed either between the verapamil and nonverapamil group or between the two induction chemotherapy regimens (TAD/TAD - TAD/HAM).

Adolescent

[Prophylaxis and therapy of fungal infections with fluconazole in patients after bone marrow transplantation].

In an open study 31 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for various haematological diseases received fluconazole as prophylaxis or treatment of fungal infections. In 26 of these patients an antecedent oral prophylaxis with polyene antimycotics had failed to prevent infections with Candida species. Five of the 31 patients received fluconazole as primary prophylaxis because of non-compliance for polyene antimycotics. Fluconazole was administered orally at a daily dose of 100 mg and 200 mg, respectively (n = 29), or intravenously at a dose of 100 mg and 400 mg (n = 2). Cure or efficient prophylaxis was achieved in 22/31 patients (71%) after a median of 52 (9 to 546+) treatment days. In three patients (10%) Candida was eradicated but the infection reappeared 14-28 days after cessation of the drug; in 6 patients (20%) the infection was persistent or progressive. Four patients developed lethal Aspergillus infection while on fluconazole medication. A moderate and reversible elevation of liver function tests under therapy was observed in 9 patients and was possibly attributable to fluconazole in 3 of them (10%). One patient developed tremor which resolved after cessation of fluconazole. No other adverse drug reactions could be noted. We conclude that fluconazole is a relatively safe and effective drug for the prevention and treatment of superficial and, possibly, deep Candida infections in severely immunocompromised patients. It is presumably without preventive value in Aspergillus infections.

Adult

[Biometric studies on implanted and natural abutments].

The mobility of 50 osseointegrated implants, inserted for improvement of the support of dentures in edentulous lower jaws, was studied during a period of up to 3 years by means of mechano-electronic measurements. The results showed that 3 months after implantation osseointegrated implants have less quasi-static mobility than natural teeth without periodontal lesions. Under the stresses of mastication the mobility of osseointegrated implants continuously increases. After 2-3 years, implants show a similar mobility as natural teeth supporting comparable denture constructions. The Periotest readings of implants were significantly lower than those of natural teeth, largely independent of the date of mobility measurement. A prognosis of functional properties as well as predicting the impending loss of osseointegrated implants is possible with the aid of long-term mobility measurements.

Aged

Fine structure of identified neurons in the primate hippocampus: a combined Golgi/EM study in the baboon.

The hippocampi of two 1-year-old female baboons (Papio anubis) were used for a combined Golgi/electron microscope (EM) study of characteristic cell types in the hippocampus proper and fascia dentata. Results were compared with previous Golgi/EM studies of hippocampal neurons in small laboratory animals. Cell bodies of pyramidal neurons in CA1 were more loosely distributed than known from studies on the rat or guinea pig. Numerous basal and horizontal dendrites originating from the perikaryon filled in the space between neighboring cell bodies. Apical stem dendrites were varying in length, depending on the position of the parent cell body in outer or inner portions of the pyramidal layer. Dendrites were densely covered with spines which in the EM showed very complex synaptic contacts. In contrast to our observations in rats and guinea pigs, CA3 pyramidal cells in the monkey hippocampus exhibited numerous large spines or excrescences not only on apical dendrites but also on basal dendrites running through stratum oriens. These excrescences appeared to be more complex than in small rodents. They often branched, protruding deeply into presynaptic mossy fiber boutons, and formed multiple asymmetric synaptic contacts. Granule cells of the monkey fascia dentata, in contrast to those of the rodent, occasionally had basal dendrites extending into the hilar region. In the EM, granule cells either with or without basal dendrites exhibited fine structural characteristics that were very similar to those described in Golgi/EM studies of granule cells in the rat fascia dentata. Of the various types of nonpyramidal neurons the horizontal cells in stratum oriens with dendrites parallel to the alveus were analyzed. As seen in rats, these cells exhibited large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, indentations of the nuclear membrane, and nuclear inclusions. Numerous terminals formed synaptic contacts on dendritic shafts. In contrast to rodents, numerous spines arose from dendrites and cell bodies of these neurons. In the EM, often single spines were found to establish synaptic contacts with several presynaptic boutons. In summary, our correlated light and EM study of four characteristic cell types, which are present in both nonprimates and primates, demonstrates a much more complex dendritic pattern and synaptic organization of these neurons in primates than in commonly studied small laboratory animals.

Animals

[The airways in sarcoidosis].

In a retrospective study of 152 patients with histologically proven sarcoidosis (stage I: 76 patients; stage II: 70; stage III: 6) clinical pointers towards respiratory involvement were found in 45%, morphological evidence in the form of epithelioid cell granulomatosis of the mucosa in 20%, and histological findings in the form of nonspecific inflammatory and degenerative mucosal changes in 90%. In 30% of patients there were indications of respiratory tract obstruction in the lung function tests. Circumscribed central granulomatous lesions with stenoses of a segment or lobar bronchus and resulting atelectasis were rare, seen in only three. Generalized central respiratory tract obstruction, diagnosed by an increase in airway resistance, was present in 8-17% and was stage-dependent. It correlated in a statistically significant manner with the occurrence of epithelioid-cell granulomas. Peripheral airway obstruction with involvement of the small airways, of which there was functional evidence, can be caused by peribronchial formation of granulomas, as typically seen in transbronchial lung biopsies. But these findings were not of any clinical significance nor required changes in the therapeutic regimen. Functionally precipitated airway obstruction caused by bronchospasm was not demonstrated in the inhalation carbachol provocation test. On the other hand, a subgroup of sarcoidosis patients with raised serum IgE levels had a significantly lower stimulation threshold of the respiratory tract to carbachol.

Adolescent