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Biomedical subjects

L Huber

Publications and source records attributed to L Huber.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The chronically stimulated muscle as an energy source for artificial organs. Preliminary results of a basic study in sheep.

In 5 adult sheep the psoas muscle of one side was electrically stimulated through the muscle nerves with an implantable stimulation unit for more than 5 weeks. In the final experiments the isometric tetanic tension of the stimulated muscles was reduced to 50-70% of the contralateral normal muscle. The use of only 15 Hz as a stimulation frequency led to a transformation of the originally fast muscle into a slow muscle with more resistance to fatigue. Future application of the chronically stimulated psoas muscle for driving artificial organs is discussed.

Animals↗

[A comparison of low dose heparin and oral anticoagulants in the prevention ot thrombo-phlebitis following gynaecological operations (author's transl)].

In a randomized series of patients who underwent gynaecological operations, the prophylactic effect on thrombophlebitis of low dose Heparin was compared to that of oral anti-coagulants. One group (n = 221) received Heparin (Liquemin Roche) subcutaneously in a dosage of 5000 units 2 hours pre-operatively and every 12 hours until the eighth post-operative day. The control group (n = 237) continued to receive the conventional prophylactic medication with Sintrom by mouth from the second post-operative day to complete ambulation keeping the quick test between 20 and 30%. The two groups were more or less identical regarding several risk factors and the following results were obtained: 1. The number of cases of deep thrombophlebitis diagnosed by the I-125-Fibrinogen test was significantly less in the group receiving Heparin than in the group receiving Sintrom. Clinical examination showed the same correlation but only detected 30% of all cases of deep thrombophlebitis. 2. The clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism was more frequent in the group of patients receiving low dosage Heparin. Most of the symptoms were mild and none of the patients died. 3. During the anti-coagulant treatment the incidence of secondary bleeding was the same in both groups. The prevention of deep thrombophlebitis by low dosage Heparin is a very effective and simple method with few side effects and is superior to the post-operative prophylaxis with oral anti-coagulants.

Anticoagulants↗

Smoking influences the atherogenic potential of low-density lipoprotein.

The possible influence of smoking on the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and its biological activity was investigated. Plasma LDL was prepared from healthy male smokers and nonsmokers, and oxidized with Cu (II) as prooxidant. Oxidized LDL from smokers generated significantly more lipid peroxidation products, so-called thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), when compared to oxidized nonsmoker LDL. Analysis of vitamin E levels in LDL obtained from both smokers and nonsmokers revealed that the vitamin E content of smoker LDL was significantly less than that of nonsmoker LDL. The amounts of cholesteryl esters formed in cultured P388. D.1 macrophages were greater in the presence of smoker LDL than with nonsmoker LDL. The data suggest that some of the proatherogenic effects of smoking may be related to oxidative modification of LDL and alteration of its biological activity.

Adult↗

A seroepidemiologic study of hepatitis A in Spanish children. Relationship of prevalence to age and socio-environmental factors.

Three child population groups from the Madrid area were studied for anti-HAV antibodies. Analysis was carried out with respect to age and socio-environmental factors. The population understudy was composed of 156 children, with ages ranging from 1 to 14 years; they were stratified in three socio-environmental groups (white-family unit, gypsy-family unit and orphanage), and also divided into subgroups according to age. As a whole, an age-related increase in prevalence was found. The overall seroprevalence by socio-environmental groups was: gypsy-family unit 63%, orphanage 46%, and white-family unit 23%. Significant differences between groups appeared from seven years on, being more marked among the eldest subgroups. Among the factors evaluated, hygienic-sanitary conditions and overcrowding influenced the high prevalence rate found in the gypsy-family unit subjects, whereas overcrowding appeared to be responsible for the higher prevalence in orphanage residents, as compared to white-family unit children.

Adolescent↗

Effect of stationary guiding vanes on improvement of the washout behind the rotor in centrifugal blood pumps.

In centrifugal pumps, there always exists an area of stagnation between the rear of the rotor and the rear housing wall that promotes thrombus formation around the axle. Some current devices overcome the problem by using holes in the rotor plane, leading to increased hydrodynamic losses and shear stress. In this study, a simple apparatus was developed to overcome this problem. Guiding vanes were fixed to the rear housing wall. These vanes decrease the tangential velocity of the fluid and thus the centrifugal force, leading to an increased secondary flow toward the axle. The effect of such vanes was studied in videographic and ultrasound studies. An increase of washout and mixing between the flow layers could be demonstrated (stay time < 200 msec versus several seconds without vanes). In the first animal experiment using nonoptimized vanes, there was no thrombus at the back plane or the seal, and only a small thrombus at the transition between axle and rotor. Hemolysis was slightly elevated (3.2 mg/dl versus 2.5 mg/dl in control experiments). In conclusion, it is highly likely that this simple system will improve the flow characteristics in centrifugal pumps.

Animals↗