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Biomedical subjects

L Havelec

Publications and source records attributed to L Havelec.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The human tumour cloning assay in the management of breast cancer patients.

A tumour cloning system was used to cultivate breast cancer specimens. Fifty-six percent of 87 samples were adequate for evaluation, showing clonal growth in about one third (35%). Effusions yielded significantly better growth than solid specimens, the median colony numbers being 64 and 18 respectively. An attempt was made to examine whether there was any association between parameters accepted as prognostic factors for breast cancer and clonal growth in vitro. No correlation was found between preoperative tumour burden, histopathologic grading, menopausal status or overall survival and clonal growth in vitro, whereas we observed an inverse trend between progesterone receptor content of the tumours and their growth potential (P less than 0.01). In those few cases where in vitro and in vivo data could be compared, a high accuracy of the predicted sensitivities was found with respect to chemotherapy, but not in relation to hormonal treatment. A statistically significant higher overall chemosensitivity was associated with the absence of oestrogen receptors (P less than 0.01).

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1985

Measurement of adenine uptake as an in vitro screen for antitrichomonal agents.

A semi-automated microdilution test was adapted for the in vitro testing of potential antitrichomonal agents. Washed cell suspensions of the pathogenic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis were incubated in microtitration plates for 4 h at 37 degrees C in the presence radiolabelled adenine and serial dilutions of the test compounds. After automatic harvesting of the cells onto filter paper discs, the extent of adenine uptake was estimated by scintillation counting. From the dose-response data it was possible to quantify accurately and rapidly the antitrichomonal activity of a range of compounds based on the inhibition of adenine uptake.

Adenine↗
PubMed1985

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) plasma level determination in the management of gastric cancer patients.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels of 161 patients with gastric cancer and of 12 patients with noncarcinomatous diseases of the stomach were retrospectively analyzed. In this study, we examined the correlation between CEA level and histologic type, T and N stage, and the value of the preoperative CEA determination for diagnosis, operability and prognosis for patients with gastric cancer. Summarizing our results: There exist significant higher CEA levels in patients with gastric cancer in comparison with patients with noncarcinomatous disease of the stomach (p less than 0.01), but the absolute CEA titer is not a reliable parameter for the prediction of the existence or absence of gastric cancer for the individual patient. A positive correlation between the CEA level and the histologic type in the subgroup of radically operable patients was found, the intestinal type having lower titers (p less than 0.05). The operability of two different histologic entities (diffuse or intestinal type) was equally high. No conclusion can be drawn from CEA plasma levels concerning the operability of the individual gastric cancer patient; on one hand, 30% of the patients with normal preoperative CEA titers could not be radically operated, whereas 34% of the patients with elevated preoperative CEA titers (greater than 5.0 ng/ml) had radical surgery. Furthermore, the absolute value of the preoperative CEA level does not predict the course of the disease, whereas continuously rising postoperative CEA levels are indicative of tumor progression.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Transfer factor as adjuvant immunotherapy in invasive cervix cancer. Report of a double-blind study].

From 1977 to 1982 a prospective randomized double-blind study comparing transfer-factor (TF) versus placebo was conducted in invasive cervical cancer patients after radical surgery and irradiation. The husbands of the cancer patients were selected as leukocyte donors for TF preparations. 60 patients entered the study; 28 patients received placebo and 32 patients received TF. The comparability of both collectives was excellent concerning age and tumor stage. One patient treated with TF died intercurrently. The rate of recurrence of cancer was 5 in the 31 TF-treated patients and 11 in the 28 patients receiving placebo, which was significantly different (p less than 0,05). This difference was even greater when only patients treated for at least 3 months were compared (3 recurrences in the TF-group and 11 recurrences in the placebo-group). Further aspects of this clear clinical results are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Corneal sensitivity in diabetes mellitus].

We measured corneal sensitivity in 30 eyes of juvenile and 70 eyes of maturity onset diabetics by means of the esthesiometer developed by Draeger. We found a significant decrease in corneal sensitivity in both juvenile and maturity-onset diabetics with a positive correlation between the decrease of corneal sensitivity and duration of symptoms in juvenile diabetics. In addition, the decrease in corneal sensitivity was more marked in diabetics with insufficient blood sugar control. Only 43% of diabetics with fundal changes had a concomitant decrease in corneal sensitivity. Diabetic retinopathy therefore seems to precede a polyneuropathy demonstrable by measurements of corneal sensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Gonadotropin responsiveness to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone in prepubertal and pubertal patients with growth hormone deficiency.

Gonadotropin response to 100 microgram/m2 LHRH was determined in 31 patients with growth hormone deficiency. According to their bone ages the patients were divided into a "prepubertal" (n = 18) and a "pubertal" (n = 13) group. The results were compared with the LHRH tests from 16 healthy prepubertal boys and girls and 32 healthy adult probands, respectively. The maximum increment of LH and FSH was evaluated. In the "prepubertal" group five patients had an insufficient rise of LH and FSH, four of them having additional anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies. In the "pubertal" group nine patients were found to be gonadotropin deficient, all of them had additional hormone deficiencies, TSH being the most frequently affected hormone. Only one of 14 gonadotropin-deficient patients had no other than growth hormone deficiency in addition. An isolated decreased FSH increment without LH deficiency was found in 6 male and 2 female patients and is not thought to be of diagnostic value. No influence of growth hormone treatment or growth velocity on the gonadotropin responsiveness was found. Patients with an additional thyreotropic defect could be classified as pituitary or hypothalamic disorder due to their reaction in the TRH test. These groups could not be differentiated by a single bolus LHRH test, indicating the need of prolonged stimulation to recover the pituitary hyporesponsiveness. Due to methodological problems the diagnosis of gonadotropin deficiency in an individual patient of the prepubertal age group might be questioned. However, a normal gonadotropin response to LHRH can be expected in prepubertal patients with growth hormone deficiency and may indicate a normal gonadotropin function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[The clinical efficacy of the copper-containing intrauterine devices Nova T and Copper-T-200 Ag in a randomized study (author's transl)].

In a randomized study the clinical efficacy of the traditional intrauterine device. Copper-T-200 Ag was compared with the recently developed model Nova T. Altogether 93 women with regular menstrual cycles were examined; 45 women had a Nova T inserted and 48 the traditional Copper-T-200 Ag. The biosocial data of the women in the two groups did not differ from one another. No pregnancies occurred in either group within the first 12 months. Expulsion occurred in 2 women with Nova T and removal of the device had to be undertaken for bleeding and pain in 3 women with a Copper-T-200 Ag. At 12 months the two models did not differ in the number of recorded incidents. The reliability of randomized studies is discussed, as well as problems arising from the fact that the mode of insertion is not identical with both devices and requires practice in the case of the new model.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Effect of tracheal suction on oxygenation, circulation, and lung mechanics in newborn infants.

Transcutaneous PO2, heart rate, and aortic blood pressure were measured i 10 mechanically-ventilated newborn infants to assess the degree and course of hypoxaemia, and to monitor the cardiovascular and respiratory changes during tracheal toilet. Five infants weighed less than 1250 (mean 994), g and 5 infants weighed greater than 1750 (mean 2216) g. During tracheal suction the TcPO2 fell from 68 +/- 27 (mean +/- SD) to 43 +/- 23 mmHg, and the heart rate from 144 +/- 8 to 123 +/- 25 beats/minute, but the blood pressure increased from 44 to +/- 24 to 49 +/- 24 mmHg. Hypoxaemia (TcPO2 less than 50 mmHg) occurred in 7 of 8 initially well-oxygenated infants when suctioned. The decrease in TcPO2 was similar for both groups of infants. It was greater in infants with controlled ventilation and an F1O2 greater than or equal to 0.8 than in infants with intermittent mandatory ventilation and an F1O2 less than 0.8. The TcPO2 fall correlated well with the TcPO2 during the control period but not during the time that the infants were disconnected from the respirator. A critical re-evaluation of routine tracheal toilet is needed.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1981

Total glycosylated hemoglobin in mothers of large-for-gestational-age infants: a postpartum test for undetected maternal diabetes?

Total glycosylated hemoglobin has been evaluated postpartum using a colorimetric (thiobarbituric acid: TBA) method in 50 mothers of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants (greater than 90th percentile by weight). 30 women without potential risk factors for chemical diabetes who gave birth to appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants formed the control group. When compared to the control mothers, mean total glycosylated hemoglobin (TBA color) levels were significantly higher in the mothers of LGA infants (p less than 0.01). 4 of the latter had an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) done within 5 days postpartum and significantly elevated glycosylated hemoglobin compared to mothers of LGA infants with normal GTT (p less than 0.001). Furthermore, a significant linear correlation was found for mothers of LGA infants between TBA color levels and each of the following: fasting serum glucose (p less than 0.001), 1-hour serum glucose (p less than 0.001), 2-hour serum glucose (p less than 0.001), and infant birth weight (p less than 0.05). Analysis of TBA color levels early postpartum might be an alternative method for detecting unsuspected chemical diabetes in pregnancy.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1981

[A radiologico-anatomical study of the bones of the foot].

110 x-ray films of young adults were examined. A line connecting the medial end of the articular cleft between naviculare and medial cuneiform bones with the lateral end of the calcaneo-cuboidal joint was used as transverse basis line. The angles between that line and the axes of the metatarsal bones were measured and discussed. A further investigation concerned the valgus position of the hallux. It showed that even in young feet--especially of females--it much more pronounced than was described hitherto. So in this respect our concept of the "normal foot" has to be revised. Further it could be shown that in not too few cases the transverse vault is distinctly flattened, a fact which has hardly been considered in the usual descriptions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Comparison of the surface tension of the amniotic fluid with the compliance of the respiratory system of the newborn (author's transl)].

In 51 deliveries between the 27th and 41st week of gestation amniotic fluid was collected ante partum and surface tension measured with the Wilhelmy-balance. The values obtained was compared with the respiratory compliance of the newborns determined immediately post partum. A highly significant correlation (r = -0.83, p less than 0.001) was ascertained. This finding permits a precise prediction of the pulmonary function of the newborn, especially of the especially of the severity degree of a respiratory distress syndrome already by means of amniotic fluid analysis. The less significant correlation between surfactant activity in the amniotic fluid and gestational age (r = -0,48, p less than 0.01) permits the conclusion that pulmonary maturation represents a dynamic process depending upon a variety of known and unknown factors besides the duration of gestation. On the basis of the results of this study the intrauterine and extrauterine fetal risks associated with placental insufficiency can now be estimated more accurately.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1980

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAtc) and plasma lipoproteins in juvenile onset diabetes mellitus.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and hemoglobin Atc estimates of diabetic control were measured in 19 juvenile-onset diabetics (8 girls and 11 boys) upon admission (day 1) and at the end (day 25) of a 4-week summer camp, where the patients were put on a controlled diet with a daily linoleic acid intake of about 16g. Lipoproteins were also measured in 64 healthy controls. When values on day 25 were compared with those of day one, a slight but significant decrease in mean hemoglobin Atc (10.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 9.8 +/- 0.4% of total Hb; M +/- S.E.M.; p < 0.05) was noted, as well as in increase in mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.0 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.1 mmol/l; M +/- S.E.M.; p < 0.02) and a decrease in mean triglycerides (1.2 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.04 mmol/l; M +/- S.E.M.; p < 0.001). A linear correlation was found between hemoglobin AIc on day 25 and urine glucose excretion during the camping period (p < 0.01). However, no relationship was noted between hemoglobin AIc and either lipids or lipoproteins. Other factors, e.g. the controlled intake of saturated fat or physical activity could have responsible for the changes in triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels noted by the end of the camp.

Child↗
PubMed1979

[Therapy of duodenal and prepyloric ulcers with cimetidine (author's transl)].

In a double-blind randomized trial 91 patients with endoscopically confirmed duodenal and/or prepyloric ulcers received either 1000 mg cimetidine daily (44 patients) or placebo (47 patients) for 4 weeks. At 2 weeks complete ulcer healing was significantly increased in patients receiving cimetidine (45%) in comparison with those treated with placebo (15%) (p less than 0.01). At 4 weeks 73% of the patients on cimetidine and 32% of those on placebo showed complete healing (p less than 0.001). Ulcer size decreased more rapidly with cimetidine than placebo (p less than 0.05). With respect to the number of pain-free days and nights cimetidine was significantly superior to placebo during the days of the second week only (p less than 0.05). Cimetidine patients consumed significantly less antacids than those receiving placebo (p less than 0.01). There was no significant correlations between ulcer healing and freedom from pain at the end of either cimetidine or placebo treatment in this study. No specific side effects referable to cimetidine were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Measles antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (author's transl)].

30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 19 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 34 controls were investigated with regard to measles antibodies (AB). The titres were compared with clinical and immunological parameters. As previously reported by several authors we found increased measles AB titres more frequently (kappa 2-test, p less than 0.05) in patients with SLE than in those with RA and controls. No significant correlation was found between immunoglobulins, antinuclear antibodies, CH50 or rheumatoid factor, and an elevation of the measles AB titre. A trend was noted, however, towards a positive correlation between measles antibodies and IgM. An elevated measles AB titre in SLE can be explained on the basis of several mechanisms. However, hyperimmunoglobulinaemia with non-specific, secondary AB elevation can be ruled out as a cause of elevated measles AB titre according to our results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Cerebral blood flow and social prognosis after cerebrovascular ischaemia (author's transl)].

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured in 180 patients one to eight weeks after sustaining an acute episode of cerebrovascular ischaemia. The patients were divided into four groups in relation to their performance of daily activities at the time of CBF study: score 0 - full previous activities; 1 - slight; 2 - moderate; and 3 - severe disability. There was a statistically highly significant difference between the flow values of these groups. The patients were regrouped according to their rehabilitation status (score 0 to 3 as above, score 4 - dead) after a mean observation period of 34 months. The differences between flow values were even higher now, significant contingency coefficients being found between flow values and final social scores. When the patients were grouped according to changes in performance scores there again were statistically significant differences in flow values between the groups. The relationship between flow values and social re-integration after cerebrovascular ischaemia indicates the value of CBF measurements for prognosticating a patient's rehabilitation ability after stroke.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Serum oestriol: a parameter of the function of the feto-placental unit (author's transl)].

The determination of serum oestriol is known to be a useful parameter of the function of the feto-placental unit. In order to derive the normal range on application of the radioimmunoassay technique, the serum oestriol level was determined in 242 gravidae during the second half of pregnancy. The pregnancies were all uncomplicated and ended with the delivery of a healthy baby at term. The statistical mean and 4 confidence intervals were calculated for each gestational week individually. During the second half of pregnancy there was a continuous gradual increase in serum oestriol; between the 34th and 38th gestational week there was a further steep increase, followed by a decrease from the 39th gestational week onwards. The usefulness of this method is illustrated on the basis of case reports of 10 high-risk pregnancies in which oestriol determination is compared with the clinical findings and HPL determination.

Adult↗