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Biomedical subjects

K Kraus

Publications and source records attributed to K Kraus.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Surgical stapling technique for radical hysterectomy: survival, recurrence, and late complications.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct a long-term follow-up of the surgical stapling technique of radical hysterectomy to determine survival, recurrence, and late complications. METHODS: One hundred consecutive eligible patients treated with the surgical stapling technique of radical hysterectomy were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Median operative time was 3.2 h. Median blood loss was 500 ml. There was an 18% acute postoperative complication rate and a 10% long-term complication rate. There was a 6% recurrence rate and a 92% disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: The surgical stapling technique of radical hysterectomy results in acceptable survival, recurrence, and complication rates, which appear similar to those of the traditional type of radical hysterectomy, while operative time and blood loss appear to be reduced.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prospective trial of early feeding and bowel stimulation after radical hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: In an attempt to decrease hospital stay we performed a prospective trial of aggressive bowel stimulation and early postoperative feeding after radical hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective trial of 20 consecutive patients undergoing class 3 radical hysterectomy, feeding of a clear liquid diet and bowel stimulation with oral 66% sodium phosphate solution (Fleet Phospho-Soda) were instituted on postoperative day 1. Patients were discharged after passage of flatus or stool. RESULTS: Median time to discharge was 3.5 days. No patient had emesis, ileus, or bowel obstruction. The decrease in hospital stay with respect to those in our previous trial with traditional postoperative feeding and our original study on postoperative bowel stimulation was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Aggressive bowel stimulation with Fleet Phospho-Soda and early feeding after radical hysterectomy resulted in early return of bowel function and early discharge without significant intestinal complication.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Biomarker studies in reversed Barrett's esophagus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use biomarkers to assess for cancer risk in Barrett's esophagus patients with either squamous islands or complete reversal of their intestinal metaplasia to squamous epithelium. METHODS: The biomarkers included proliferation characteristic using Ki-67, p53 abnormalities using immunohistochemical methods with two antibodies, DO-1 and DO-7, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. RESULTS: Eleven patients had complete reversal produced by a combination of acid suppression and thermal injury (multipolar electrocoagulation). Ki-67 staining was indistinguishable from that of normal squamous esophageal epithelium, i.e., basal layer staining only. All 11 cases were negative for p53. ODC activity was low and in the range for normal squamous epithelium. Fourteen patients had squamous islands (partial reversal) after prolonged proton pump inhibitor therapy. Multilayer Ki-67 staining occurred in nine cases (64%), and six (43%) had areas of positive p53 staining. CONCLUSIONS: Initial biomarker studies suggest that completely reversed squamous epithelium is biologically similar to normal squamous epithelium and of low cancer risk. In contrast, partial reversal, manifest as squamous islands, is accompanied by biomarker abnormalities.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Gel matrix vehicles for growth factor application in nerve gap injuries repaired with tubes: a comparison of biomatrix, collagen, and methylcellulose.

The repair of nerve gap injuries with tubular nerve guides has been used extensively as an in vivo test model in identifying substances which may enhance nerve regeneration. The model has also been used clinical nerve repair. The objective of this study was to compare three different gel matrix-forming materials as potential vehicles for growth factors in this system. The vehicles included a laminin containing extracellular matrix preparation (Biomatrix), collagen, and a 2% methylcellulose gel. The growth factor test substance consisted of a combination of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). An 8-mm gap in rat sciatic nerve was repaired with a silicone tube containing each of the vehicles alone or with a combination of each vehicle plus PDGF-BB and IGF-I. At 4 weeks after injury, the application of the growth factor combination significantly stimulated axonal regeneration when applied in methylcellulose or collagen, but not in Biomatrix. A similar trend was present between the vehicle control groups. By 8 weeks after injury, nerves repaired with methylcellulose as a vehicle had significantly greater conduction velocity than either collagen or Biomatrix. It was concluded that a 2% methylcellulose gel was the best of the three matrices tested, both in its effects on nerve regeneration and flexibility of formulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Special considerations concerning regulatory requirements and drug development for peptides and biotech products in the EU.

The marketing authorization for a new medicinal product is based on the scientific assessment of its quality, safety and efficacy. The marketing authorization application (MAA) which covers all the relevant documentation can be filed in the EU via different application procedures. For peptides and biological products special issues have to be taken into consideration during drug development. Due to special production procedures and the complexity of the active substance itself, peptides and biotech products are subject to specific regulatory requirements. This leads to the necessity to discuss the development program of a new peptide or biotech product with the health authorities on a case by case basis. This article will focus on the special regulatory requirements for peptides and biotech products including the registration procedures as well as technical, preclinical and clinical issues.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed1995

A Drosophila male accessory gland protein that is a member of the serpin superfamily of proteinase inhibitors is transferred to females during mating.

Accessory gland peptide 76A, (Acp76A), belongs to the serpin superfamily of proteins (serine protease inhibitors). Acp76A is a secreted protein synthesized only in the Drosophila melanogaster adult male accessory gland. Accumulation of the protein in males is first detected with polyclonal antibodies at 1 day after eclosion. The level of the protein in virgin males reaches a peak 5-8 days post-eclosion, and remains constant for at least 20 days. Upon mating the amount of Acp76A in males drops dramatically, but recovers by 24 h after mating. Immediately after mating the Acp76A is found in the female uterus. By 6 h after mating the amount of Acp76A detected in females is drastically reduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Success and quality control in prolapse and stress incontinence operations--comparative use of urodynamics and transrectal endosonography].

We evaluated the significance of urodynamic parameters versus transrectal ultrasound with regard to postoperative outcome-control after operation for procedentia and urinary stress incontinence. We studied 30 continent women and 84 women with purely stress induced urinary incontinence. All had a pre- and postoperative urodynamic testing including urethral profilometry and cystometry, paralleled by a transrectal ultrasound examination. From the urodynamic parameters only the transmission ratio is suitable to judge the surgical outcome, although it is less correlative to the patient's complaints (p = 0.033) than the bladder neck mobility (p < 0.0001, Tab. 5). Within the rather short time of follow-up, each of the operation-techniques was able to improve the bladder neck mobility significantly. Nevertheless, anterior colporrhaphia is not suitable for incontinence-surgery (Fig. 2/Tab. 5). Concerning operative results, transrectal endosonography was found to be an adequate or even superior method as compared to urodynamic studies, because it can likewise demonstrate the function of the bladder neck, but furthermore can show the morphologic aspects of bladder, urethra and pelvic floor. As a result, for the first time, this minimal invasive method offers quality control for the individual surgeon as well as for long-term follow-up studies after operation for procedentia and stress induced urinary incontinence without using much time or causing great discomfort to the patient.

Female↗
PubMed1986

Length polymorphism in rDNA indicates somatic alterations in the genome of Triturus vulgaris.

We have analyzed the EcoRI restriction pattern of ribosomal genes (rDNA) isolated from several organs of single individuals of the newt Triturus vulgaris by Southern blotting and hybridization with corresponding Xenopus probes (r11 and r12). Using length polymorphism of rDNA spacers as a molecular marker, it became evident that in individual newts the pattern of ribosomal genes is not always constant but varies between different tissues of the same animal suggesting the occurrence of genome alterations during ontogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Are there insertions in the ribosomal DNA of vertebrates?

We have analysed the Eco RI restriction pattern of rDNA of the newt Triturus vulgaris and of some other amphibian species by Southern blotting and hybridization with nick-translated Xenopus rDNA prepared from the recombinant plasmids pXlr11 and pXlr12 (21). After hybridization with r11, the 28S coding fragments become visible in two bands, a prominent one of 5.3 kb and a weak band of 5.9 kb representing about 8% of the 28S genes. The evidence obtained so far by additional digestions with Bam HI and Bgl II indicates that in this species and in Triturus helveticus the coding regions of the 5.9 kb fragments are interrupted by an insertion 0.6 kb in length located in a 1.6 kb Bgl II fragment at the 3' end of the Eco RI fragment, which we believe to be the first described in a vertebrate.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

[Cholesteatosis of gallbladder (author's transl)].

741 cholecystektomies were examined for cholesterosis. In 92% gallstones were present and in 8% there were no stones. Cholesterosis of the gallbladder was found in 0,9% of 4417 autopsies. It was combined with gallstones in 25% and in 75% it was not. There was no difference concerning the clinical symptoms between cholesterosis with and without stones in the surgical patients. Cholesterosis without stone presented the same picture as gallstones. In the autopsy material however no typical symptoms could be found indicating either cholesterosis with gallstones or without. In the histological examination 80,5% of the cases with gallstones in the surgical and autopsy group had inflammatory changes of the gallbladder wall whereas only 22% of the cases with stoneless cholesterosis showed these alterations. Fibrosis of the gallbladder wall however was found in 86,1% in cases with cholesterosis without stones and in 88% in cases with stones. From these findings the conclusion is made that cholesterosis is no well defined disease. Clinical symptoms seem to appear only when other factors, such as stones, inflammation or functional disturbances probably because of fibrosis of the wall, become manifest in addition.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

All-or-nothing character of DNA degradation in bacteria after ionizing radiation.

The response of single cells of Escherichia coli B(s-11) and 15JG151 to radiation-induced DNA degradation has been observed by autoradiography. For both cells it is concluded that the event which causes DNA degradation is of an all-or-nothing character. The unit which suffers degradation is not the whole cell, but each cell has between two and four such units. The results suggest that there is some resynthesis of degraded DNA. Evidence that this occurs is shown by examining the degradation of mass cultures of 15TAU/t3 and t7 below and above the permissive temperature for DNA synthesis. The results on the all-or-nothing character are in agreement with previous studies made by completely different techniques.

Autoradiography↗