PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Bernstein

Publications and source records attributed to K Bernstein.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Expression of a membrane protease enhances presentation of endogenous antigens to MHC class I-restricted T lymphocytes.

We find that expression of the membrane dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) enhances presentation of certain endogenously synthesized peptides to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes. ACE appears to function only in an intracellular secretory compartment of antigen-presenting cells. ACE-enhanced antigen presentation requires the expression of the putative antigenic peptide transporters, TAP1 and TAP2. These findings demonstrate that a protease can influence the processing of endogenously synthesized antigens and strongly suggest that longer peptides can be transported from the cytosol to a secretory compartment where trimming of antigenic peptides to the lengths preferred by MHC class I molecules can occur if the appropriate protease is present.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1992

A prospective randomized trial of plasma exchange as additive therapy in idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis. The Canadian Apheresis Study Group.

Sixty-three patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis (cellular crescents in greater than 50% of glomeruli) were considered for a prospective randomized trial comparing intravenous methylprednisolone, prednisone, and azathioprine with and without plasma exchange. Of 32 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study, 16 were randomly assigned to receive drug therapy (control) and 16 to receive plasma exchange as well. The randomization was stratified for initial need of dialysis, and the presence of oliguria and sclerosis. Renal pathology was similar in the two groups of patients. There was no significant difference in the number of patients initially on dialysis who were able to discontinue it during the study (2/7 control v 3/4 plasma exchange), whereas no control but two plasma exchange-treated patients started dialysis during the study. Serum creatinine at randomization was similar in the two groups: 769 +/- 486 mumol/L (8.7 +/- 5.5 mg/dL) in the control group versus 643 +/- 275 mumol/L (7.3 +/- 3.1 mg/dL) in the plasma exchange group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in mean serum creatinine, change in serum creatinine, change in reciprocal, or change in logarithm of serum creatinine at 1, 3, 6, or 12 months following randomization. Power calculation, assuming a 20% difference would be clinically relevant, was 0.94 at 12 months. There was significant morbidity in both groups; there were two deaths within 1 year of randomization, both of pulmonary infection and both in the plasma exchange group. We conclude that plasma exchange offers no additional therapeutic benefit to patients with idiopathic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) who are not dialysis-dependent at presentation.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Efficacy of mupirocin nasal ointment in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in chronic haemodialysis patients.

Topical 2% mupirocin ointment eradicated chronic Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage immediately post-therapy in 17 (77%) of 22 haemodialysis patients. Mean time to recurrence was 3.8 weeks. Similar pre-therapy and post-therapy phage types occurred in 12 (71%) of 17 patients. Staphylococcus aureus infections developed in none of 17 successfully treated patients, two of five treatment failures (P = 0.05), and 10 of 46 untreated patients studied concurrently (P = 0.03).

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1990

Oxygen free radical scavenger system intermediates in essential hypertensive patients before and immediately after sublingual captopril administration.

Oxygen-free radical intermediates/scavengers were measured in 43 patients with essential hypertension who, although under antihypertensive therapy (without angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), still had high blood pressure values. Measurements were taken before and 30, 60 and 120 min after sublingual administration of 25 mg captopril. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced significantly. Twenty normotensive healthy volunteers were used as controls. The hypertensive patients had lower glutathione peroxide activity (GSHPx), higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum glutathione reductase activity (GSHRx) compared with the controls. After captopril (30, 60 min) the glutathione and GSHPx increased compared with the pretreatment values. SOD and GSHRx remained high compared with the controls, while whole blood glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase remained low. Another group of 19 essential hypertensive patients, free of any antihypertensive medication (for at least 3 weeks), had lower GSHPx, SOD and higher GSHRx than the normal control group. Our results show significant differences in the oxygen free radical scavenger system of hypertensives compared with the normal subjects. It may be that captopril has a concomitant scavenging action together with its antihypertensive effect. Our study raises the question whether cell/organ damage will occur in hypertensive patients exposed to oxidative stress during periods of low antioxidative capacity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Anesthesia with alfentanil and methohexitone for short gynecological surgery. A comparison with thiopentone/nitrous oxide.

An anesthetic technique in which alfentanil hydrochloride, an ultra-short-acting opioid, was used as a substitute for N2O/O2 was evaluated in outpatient gynecological surgery. Methohexitone was used as a hypnotic agent. The following parameters were studied: blood pressure (BP) and heart rate before, during and at the end of surgery; the incidence of apnea longer than 20 s at induction; the awakening phase; immediate postoperative complications and later postoperative complications according to a questionnaire, including signs of thrombophlebitis. Eighty-nine patients were randomly allocated to three groups. Twenty-nine patients received alfentanil 7 micrograms/kg plus methohexitone plus O2/air (Group A7). Thirty patients received alfentanil 15 micrograms/kg plus methohexitone plus O2/air (Group A15). Thirty patients received thiopentone 5 mg/kg plus N2O/O2 (Group P, reference group). Neither in the A7-group, nor in the A15-group was there any increase in peroperative BP, while in the P-group both systolic and diastolic BP rose. The awakening phase was significantly shorter in both the A7- and A15-groups compared to the P-group. Apnea of clinical importance was only seen in the A15-group. There were few immediate postoperative complications in all groups, but the incidence of dizziness was significantly higher in the P-group. According to the questionnaire, the overall incidence of complaints the day after surgery was somewhat higher in the P-group. On the other hand, there was a somewhat higher incidence of thrombophlebitis in both A-groups. We may thus recommend the use of a combination of alfentanil 7 micrograms/kg plus methohexitone and air/oxygen for anesthesia in patients subjected to short gynecological procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Description of neurocutaneous melanoblastosis].

Description of a rare case of neurocutaneous Melanoblastosis. In a 25 year-old man there was an extraordinary massiveness of the tumor in the field of the cerebrospinal soft membranes. Tumor cells, relevant for diagnosis, from lumbal and suboccipital liquor could be shown. Nomenclature and pathogenesis of the disease are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Influence of two different anaesthetic agents on the newborn and the correlation between foetal oxygenation and induction-delivery time in elective caesarean section.

The PO2 and acid-base balance (pH, PCO2 and base deficit) of the newborn, determined at the moment of birth and at 10 and 60 min after birth, were compared in two series of elective caesarean section, anaesthesia being induced with thiopentone in one series (n = 12), and with ketamine in the other (n = 16). The PO2 and acid base values of umbilical cord blood at birth were correlated with the induction delivery (ID) times of the total series of patients subjected to elective caesarean section (n = 28). The ID-times were varied between 2 and 10 min. The PO2, acid-base values and Apgar scores did not differ between the thiopentone and ketamine groups. A significant negative correlation between the PO2 of the newborn at the moment of birth and the ID-time was found in the thiopentone group. The study suggests that ketamine is a good alternative to barbiturate as an induction agent for caesarean section.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1977

[Myocardial infarctions without stenosing artery selerosis of thrombosis ofthe coronary arteries (author's transl)].

At autopsies between 1951 and 1969, 246 of 2393 cases with myocardial infarctions and heart muscle scars showed no thrombi and no artery sclerosis to be worth mentioning. The 7 comprehensive morphologically investigated observations of a second case group were discovered in a prospective study from 1970 to 1973. This study included 255 cases with myocardial infarctions or heart muscle scars. Comparatively to the investigations with sclerosis of the coronary arteries, myocardial infarctions without occlusive coronary disease were stated more frequent in woman than in men. Furthermore, more young people were affected from these infarctions. In 3 of 7 cases without sclerosis or thrombosis of the coronary arteries the infarctions were located more frequent subendocardial that in these cases with coronary sclerosis or thrombosis. Respectively to the size the 246 infarctions of the first group, they did not differ from those taken in a respecting group of 2147 cardiac infarctions with stenosing processes of the coronary arteries. Infarctions without sclerosis or thrombosis of the coronary arteries were located more frequently in the ventricular septum and in the wall of the right ventricle. For these infarctions a coincidenceof several, separate not relevant factors in supposed to be the cause. Theinfarctions without stenosing processes of the coronary arteries occupy insome respects an exceptional position, but on principle they do not differ in the morphological findings from the other myocardial infarctions.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Experimental coronary thrombosis in dogs. Morphologic investigations (author's transl)].

By means of electric induction without opening the chest in 23 dogs coronary thromboses were produced with the aid of a standardized method based on a test model of Salazar (1961). The morphological results are reported. 13 of the dogs showed coronary thromboses. At the same time in 12 animals a myocardial infarction could be registered. Altogether, we observed 17 myocardial infarctions. The electric field led to differently severe lesions in the walls of the coronary arteries. The significance of this test model is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

[Morphologic investigations on experimental coronary thromboses in pigs (author's transl)].

With the aid of a standardized method basing on a report of Salazar (1961) coronary thromboses in pigs were produced by means of electric induction without opening the chest. 12 of 13 pigs showed thromboses in coronary arteries, in 8 animals with embolization of the thrombotic material. At the sametime in 8 pigs a myocardial infarction could be registered. The significance of these experiments discussed.

Animals↗