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Biomedical subjects

M Brock

Publications and source records attributed to M Brock.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome--surgical therapy--prognostic factors and results].

Patients submitted to bilateral section of the transverse carpal ligament suffer from predisposing diseases, hormonal alterations or have wrists exposed to increased occupational strain more frequently than patients with unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition, in this group of patients the results of neurophysiological tests are more markedly pathologic. The good initial operative results are frequently followed by a relapse of symptoms. There is no appreciable difference between the operative results for the right versus for the left hand nor between the hand operated on in the first versus in the second place. A long-term improvement of opposite side symptoms following the first operation only occurs in exceptional cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy (PELD). A new surgical technique for non-sequestrated lumbar discs.

Basic features and techniques of percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy are described and the results in 6 patients reported. Indications are: discogenic radicular symptoms, caused by disc protrusions, which do not respond to conservative treatment. Contra-indications are: major neurological deficit, segmental instability and spondylolisthesis, extruded disc prolapse, narrow spinal canal or lateral recess.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The form and structure of the extruded disc.

There are no detailed data in literature concerning the histologic nature of the sequestered (extruded) lumbar disc, and on the frequency with which an extruded fragment, a prolapse or a protrusion are found at surgery. A prospective analysis of 100 consecutive cases of sequestered lumbar disc herniation submitted to surgical treatment revealed this group to represent 28.6% of all cases operated on for lumbar disc herniation. Patients (both male and female) with sequestered lumbar discs are significantly older than those with prolapsed (P < 0.01) and protruded (P < 0.001) discs. Single extruded fragments (n = 68) were twice as frequent as multiple ones (n = 32). The general belief that a 'sequestered (extruded) disc' is almost invariably composed of nucleus pulposus is not substantiated by this study: In 54 cases the extruded fragment consisted predominantly of nucleus material, whereas in 44 cases it consisted mainly of end-plate material. Multiple as well as recurrent sequestered fragments almost always consist of end-plate material. These findings may reflect the result of metabolic alterations in the course of disc degeneration.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A plan to suppress or prevent the immune rejection of allografted organs.

Progress in the resolution of allograft rejection and associated complications has been hampered by the nonselective nature of current immunosuppressive therapy. In the following protocol, we proposed instead of broadly suppressing immunoreactivity to remove selectively from the bloodstream supplying the transplanted organ only those T lymphocytes and/or antibodies capable of reacting with and destroying the allograft. This goal is to be accomplished by offering them (T cells and/or antibodies) a decoy of antigenically identical tissue. The proposed procedure has the added advantage that it may activate suppressor T cells specific for the allogenic tissue, thereby further promoting acceptance of the graft while providing the host immune system the opportunity to recognize the allograft as autochthonous.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The results of "lumbar disc surgery" following unsuccessful chemonucleolysis.

A group of 100 patients submitted to microsurgical treatment for herniated lumbar disc following unsuccessful chemonucleolysis with chymopapain were retrospectively compared to a statistically comparable group of patients primarily submitted to microsurgery. This comparison demonstrated that previous unsuccessful chemonucleolysis has no influence on either the short-term or the long-term results of subsequent microsurgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Surgical treatment of iatrogenic lesions of the accessory nerve following lymph node excision].

Excision of lymph nodes on the lateral margin of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle may result in damage to the accessory nerve. Most commonly the branch to the trapezius is involved. The treatment in five cases of iatrogenic lesions is described. Contrary to the widespread assumption that these lesions are irreversible, there was significant improvement in all cases.

Accessory Nerve Injuries↗
PubMed1990

[Acute progressive paralysis caused by intraneural ganglion--a neurosurgical emergency].

Intraneural ganglia, particularly of the peroneal and ulnar nerves may produce rapidly progressive paresis after minor trauma, for instance, following a sport injury. The chance of recovery of nerve function depends on the timing of surgical treatment. A patient with a ganglion of the peroneal nerve is reported in order to stress the relevance of intraneural ganglia, the danger of missing the lesion and the importance of early treatment. It is stressed that in the presence of rapidly progressing paralysis and the clinical suspicion of an intraneural ganglion, early decompression offers the best prognosis for recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Pituitary metastases.

Over the past 12 years we encountered three histologically confirmed pituitary metastases. Primary cancer had been diagnosed and treated previously in only one patient. In the remaining two a transsphenoidal operation provided the initial diagnosis of metastasis, and the primary lesion was subsequently detected at autopsy in one. In two of the three patients symptoms and signs of pituitary dysfunction were the first manifestations of the malignant disease. The main symptoms and signs were impairment of visual acuity, visual field defect, headache, adenohypophyseal insufficency and diabetes insipidus. A sellar mass was demonstrated by CT or MRI in all patients. The tumours were all completely extirpated by subfrontal route in one case and transsphenoidally in the remaining two patients. Following surgery the presenting symptoms improved satisfactorily in all patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

[Intramedullary neurinoma. Case report].

The case of a 36-year-old patient with an intramedullary neurinoma of the thoracic spine without Recklinghausen's disease is presented. The intramedullary neurinoma is a very rare condition. Only 33 cases have been reported in the literature. To our knowledge, the case presented here is the first in German literature. The treatment of choice is tumor removal. The case described here was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Histologically, the tumor showed all features characteristic of a neurinoma. Postoperatively, the patient is nearly without complaints.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lumbar disk compliance and degeneration.

Comparison between 242 intradiscal pressure/volume recordings and corresponding diskograms (performed at the same occasion) has shown a significant (p less than 0.01) correlation between disk compliance and the degree of diskographic degeneration. Intradiscal pressure/volume testing is a simple, reliable, and risk-free procedure that should precede every diskogram and be incorporated into the preoperative diagnostic routine of patients undergoing chemonucleolysis or percutaneous diskectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Initial experiences with implanted drug pumps for continuous intrathecal calcitonin therapy in therapy-resistant pain].

The hormone calcitonin has proved itself for some years in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. In addition to its known influence on calcium exchange it gives vise to an analgesic effect within the central nervous system and this follows systemic administration or after bolus intrathecal injection. Two patients with chronic non malignant pain are presented in whom continuous delivery pumps have been used for intrathecal Lachs-Calcitonin (Karil, Fa. Sandoz).

Brachial Plexus Neuritis↗
PubMed1989

[Differential therapy of lumbar intervertebral disk protrusion].

Surgical treatment for protrusion of intervertebral disks in the lumbar region has been considerably optimised. Progress in imaging techniques has enabled representation and recording of intervertebral disk disorders at various pathogenetic stages. Backache has become endemic in industrial countries, in the course of time, and is often accompanied by pseudoradicular ischialgia. It is quite often uncritically attributed to intervertebral disk damage on the basis of findings recorded from computed tomography. With patients increasingly suffering pain, this has in many cases led to rash surgical decisions. -Principles of differential diagnosis by which the complexity of morphological findings underlying clinical symptoms is taken into due consideration are absolutely necessary to counter the above developments. Indications for neurosurgical differential therapy for protrusion of intervertebral disks at lumbar level should be individually established with due consideration of therapeutic procedures available and of the severity of complaints. The percutaneous and microsurgical techniques described in this paper are likely to suggest that procedures, such as hemilaminectomy and laminectomy are no longer justified unless exceptional cases are to be handled.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

IL-4 regulates differentiation and proliferation of human precursor B cells.

The mechanism by which precursor and pre-B cells undergo differentiation is unclear; however, it is known that growth factors play an important role in this maturation process. The lymphokine, IL-4 has been shown to increase expression of class II Ag on B cells and induce B cell proliferation. In the murine system, IL-4 induced differentiation of precursor B cells into pre-B cells. In order to analyze growth factors on B cell development we have established an in vitro culture system for human bone marrow cells. We found that in the presence of IL-4, normal human precursor and pre-B cells can be induced to differentiate in the absence of cell proliferation with four days of culture. Furthermore, IL-4 depressed proliferation induced by supernatant from a T cell line. The differentiation was measured by an increase in both the number of cytoplasmic mu and surface IgM-positive cells. The effect of IL-4 on precursor and pre-B cell differentiation was detected as soon as 14 h of exposure to the lymphokine in the absence of an adherent feeder layer. These data suggest that IL-4 directly affects the differentiation process of normal human precursor and pre-B cells, and may antagonistically affect cell proliferation.

Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte↗