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Biomedical subjects

M Faber

Publications and source records attributed to M Faber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Demonstration of bacteriuria in elderly hospitalized patients. Comparison between leukocyte and nitrite strips and culture].

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of test strips for urinary nitrite and leucocytes for detection of bacteriuria in elderly patients. The material consisted of 213 urine samples from 85 women and 26 men (median age 79 years, range 60-93 years) within the first two days in hospital. The results of the test strip reactions were read in the department and in the laboratory. The strip test results and symptoms of UTI were compared with culture results. 27% of the samples showed significant bacteriuria on culture (> or = 10(5) colonies/ml urine). 21% of the 102 patients who had submitted two urine samples within the first two days had significant bacteriuria in both samples. Less than half of these patients had symptoms of UTI. The false negative rate of test strips (defined as the number of proven laboratory UTIs not demonstrated by the test strips, expressed as a percentage of the total number of proven UTIs) was 29% in the department and in the laboratory it was 13%. 15% of the test strips at the laboratory failed to detect significant E. coli infections which were predominant. In conclusion, we found that it is advisable to perform urine culture if symptoms of urinary tract infections are present.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Endemic goitre among undernourished schoolchildren in eastern Caprivi, Namibia.

A cross-sectional study on a 20% random sample of 380 children, aged 6-18 years, from 8 primary schools in the Cuando River area of eastern Caprivi, Namibia, was done to determine the prevalence of goitre and to investigate related hormonal and nutritional factors. Of the children 34.5% had goitre. Reduced plasma free thyroxine concentrations in the more severely goitrous children, compared with matched non-goitrous children (P = 0.0007), implicated dietary iodine deficiency as the causative factor. Their diet was inadequate in energy and most nutrients according to World Health Organisation criteria. Retarded growth, indicated by their low body weight and height in relation to age, were observed in a large proportion (45.6-73%) of the children. These findings suggest that dietary iodine deficiency was the most likely cause for the endemic goitre in these children, who were predisposed to nutritional disorders by long-term undernourishment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Hepatitis A and a grill bar].

A small outbreak of hepatitis A infection in October 1988 involving 11 patients is described, together with the history of the suspected index case. Six to eight weeks before the onset of disease, all patients had consumed one or several meals containing elements of uncooked food in a local grill bar in the Copenhagen county area. The virus had probably been imported from Egypt. Public sanitation authorities were alerted immediately after the first suspicion was raised.

Denmark↗
PubMed1992

Atherogenic effects in a non-human primate of Fusarium moniliforme cultures added to a carbohydrate diet.

Adding less than 0.5% w/w of culture material of strain MRC 826 of the fungus Fusarium moniliforme to a carbohydrate diet low in fat resulted in an atherogenic plasma lipid profile in a non-human primate. Simultaneously increased plasma fibrinogen and activity of blood coagulation factor VII could enhance atherogenesis. This unique potential for promotion of atherosclerosis was probably secondary to chronic hepatotoxicity as indicated by liver fibrosis and elevated cholesterol, albumin and the enzymes AST, ALT, LD, GGT and ALP in serum. The cholesterol and enzymes responded in proportion to the calculated doses of fumonisin mycotoxins in the F. moniliforme MRC 826 cultures. Fumonisins are water soluble and heat stable. Thrombotic, hepatotoxic, carcinogenic and cerebral effects of MRC 826 culture material and fumonisins are well known in non-primates. The estimated fumonisin concentrations tested fall within a range due to natural contamination of human foods. The results suggest that all maize grain products should be analysed for fumonisins.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Changes in plasma lipoprotein levels during a hiking expedition in South America.

Eleven males participated in a hiking expedition over a period of 6 weeks during which they walked an average of 15 km per day, resting days included. The participants completed a seven-day estimated dietary record before and during the expedition. Their habitual dietary intake before the expedition was typical of a Western diet. During the expedition most animal products, with the exception of canned fish, were excluded from the diet. The dietary intake of fat and carbohydrate changed from 36.9% and 40.6% to 14.0% and 76.4% respectively. Cholesterol intake dropped from 557 mg to 92 mg. Mean plasma total cholesterol (TC) decreased from 190.9 mg/100 ml to 142.0 mg/100 ml. These changes were mainly due to changes in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Although high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) did not change, the ratio of HDL-C to TC increased significantly. It can be concluded that drastic dietary changes, together with increased physical activity and weight loss resulted in major plasma lipoprotein changes. The expected fall in HDL-C due to a high carbohydrate diet was counteracted by the increased physical activity and weight loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Single center success with a high risk peritoneal dialysis population.

A large end stage renal failure population treated by chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was examined for rates of infection, CAPD modality failure and patient survival (N = 347). Nearly half were considered high risk for survival for reasons of age (39% older than 60 years), diabetes mellitus (33%), hemodialysis access failure (10%), poor cardiopulmonary reserve (16%) or technical challenges (30% had morbid obesity, history of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or multiple abdominal surgeries). Hence, CAPD was often initiated by default rather than choice in the 347 patients studied (mean age: 51 +/- 17 years). Infections greatly outnumbered technical failures as grounds for cessation of CAPD. Over 5521 patient-months, 51% of patients developed infection with peritonitis predominating (80%) when compared to exit site infections (20%). The frequency of infections was 1.9 mean episodes per patient; however, 55% of these patients had only one episode of peritonitis. A rate of 0.75 infections per patient per year was seen with an average interval of 16 months between infections. Technique and patient survival rates at 4 years were 50% and 61% respectively. High risk status does not preclude successful CAPD and should not preclude its implementation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Dietary patterns and nutritional status in free-living older white men with established vascular disease.

Thirty-nine white men aged 51-84 years with established vascular disease were studied to investigate the effect of fish oil capsules on the regression of these lesions. This article deals with the baseline data of the study. The subjects completed a 7-day dietary record, weight and height were measured and a fasting blood sample was analysed for proteins, haematological values and certain vitamins. Dietary analysis indicated that the mean energy intake was 8,552 kJ (SD = 2,095). The energy distribution was 15.5% protein, 33.6% fat and 46.4% carbohydrate. In the light of the recommended dietary allowances the diet was lacking in zinc, vitamin B6 and folic acid, which suggests that the subjects might be deficient in these micronutrients. Although the diets were lacking in these nutrients, no clinical stigmata were observed. The subjects averaged a body mass index of 26.1 and could therefore be classified as overweight. The mean haematological values as well as the plasma vitamins were within the normal range. In conclusion it can be said that the men consumed a diet that was too high in fat and that the diet lacked certain micronutrients.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Use of bioelectrical impedance for the nutritional assessment of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Although malnutrition poses a significant risk to the well-being of chronic hemodialysis patients, their nutritional assessment is usually empirical. We studied body composition by bioelectrical impedance (BEI) prospectively in 39 patients followed for 5-12 months. BEI correctly discriminated between underweight and overweight patients in terms of fat mass (21 +/- 5 vs. 34 +/- 10%; p = 0.002), lean body mass (78 +/- 4 vs. 67 +/- 10%; p = 0.004) and total body water (57 +/- 3 vs. 49 +/- 7%; p = 0.002), respectively. Serial body weights did not correlate with changes in lean body mass (LBM) as measured by BEI. While 28% of patients lost weight, 41% lost LBM. Most striking is the contrast between the patients who showed no change in LBM by BEI and those whose body weight remained neutral (3 vs. 28%). BEI is a most sensitive clinical tool for assessing changes in LBM in hemodialysis patients.

Body Composition↗
PubMed1991

Mineral and vitamin intake in field athletes (discus-, hammer-, javelin-throwers and shotputters).

Thirty field athletes (discus-, hammer-, javelin-throwers and shotputters) were studied. Dietary intake was determined by using the seven-day estimated dietary record. Analysis of the dietary intake indicated that on average, the males (n = 20) consumed adequate amounts of micro-nutrients. The mean intake for the females (n = 10) were adequate for phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin C. Some of the females did not consume adequate amounts of calcium, iron, and magnesium. These dietary deficiencies can be corrected through proper food choices and by consuming a great variety of food. Athletes (especially the females) should be educated on their nutritional needs, good dietary practices, and planning adequate diets for training and performance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone for the CCAAT transcription factor EFIA reveals a novel structural motif.

Enhancer factor I (EFI) is a trans-acting factor which binds to the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat enhancer and promoter at two inverted CCAAT-box motifs. We demonstrate that two forms of EFI DNA binding activity exist in nuclear extracts of avian cells. One form requires two heterologous components (EFIA)(EFIB) for high affinity, specific DNA binding activity, whereas a second form is not dependent on EFIB for binding and may be composed solely of EFIA, perhaps as a multimer. Both forms give rise to the same mobility shift in gel retardation assays, but the two forms can be separated chromatographically under buffer conditions which stabilize the two DNA binding activities. A cDNA for EFIA has been isolated from a rat liver cDNA expression library. The 1489-base pair EFIA cDNA encodes a 322-amino acid protein which is nearly identical to two previously described human DNA binding proteins. These are dbpB, a DNA binding protein of unknown specificity which binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor enhancer and c-erbB-2 gene promoter (Sakura, H., Maekawa, T., Imamoto, F., Yasuda, K., and Ishii, S. (1988) Gene (Amst.) 73, 499-507), and YB-1, a protein which recognizes the Y-box (inverted CCAAT motif) of the HLA-DR alpha chain gene (Didier, D. K., Schiffenbauer, J., Woulfe, S. L., Zacheis, M., and Schwartz, B. D. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 85, 7322-7326). EFIA/dbpB/YB-1 share a highly conserved region of 100 amino acids with dbpA, another protein identified by Sakura et al. (1988) which binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor enhancer and c-erbB-2 gene promoter, and with two Xenopus CCAAT binding proteins, FRG Y1 and FRG Y2 (Tafuri, S. R., and Wolffe, A. P. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., in press). This highly conserved domain among all six proteins is presumed to represent or contain a DNA binding domain for the CCAAT motif. In addition, we note that the EFIA/dbpB/YB-1 polypeptide contains a novel arrangement of alternating clusters of positively and negatively charged amino acids not yet reported for any trans-acting factor. The functional significance of this novel structural motif, which is also conserved in dbpA, FRG Y1, and FRG Y2, will be discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Rous sarcoma virus enhancer factor I is a ubiquitous CCAAT transcription factor highly related to CBF and NF-Y.

We have characterized enhancer factor I (EFI), a trans-acting factor present in avian nuclear extracts which binds to the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat enhancer and promoter. Through deletion and point mutagenesis, we show that EFI is a member of the CCAAT family of transcription factors. Although the CCAAT motif is essential for protein-DNA recognition, EFI shows surprising latitude in the nucleotide sequences flanking the CCAAT motif to which it will bind with high affinity. EFI will cross-bind to the binding sites of a number of previously described CCAAT factors, including CBF, NF-Y, CP2, CP1, CTF/NF-1, and c/EBP, with a range of affinities that is at most 10-fold lower than the high affinity binding site for EFI in the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat. We present evidence, however, that EFI is probably identical or very closely related to CBF and NF-Y. This is based on the fact that EFI in avian nuclear extracts binds with equal or 2-fold greater affinity to the binding sites of NF-Y and CBF, despite less than 50% homology (outside the CCAAT motif) between the EFI, NF-Y, and CBF recognition sequences. Moreover, radiolabeled EFI, NF-Y, or CBF DNAs give rise to identical gel retardation patterns in extracts from a variety of different cell types. EFI, CBF, and NF-Y appear to fractionate identically upon ion exchange chromatography, separating into two heterologous components (A and B) which must be recombined to recover substantial DNA binding activity. Molecular weight estimates for the two heterologous components of EFI, CBF, and a Y-box binding protein (Celada, A., and Maki, R.A. (1989) Mol. Cell. Biol. 9, 3097-3100) are very similar. EFI DNA binding activity has recently been shown to be induced by serum and the oncogene v-src (Dutta, A., Stoeckle, M.Y., and Hanafusa, H. (1990) Genes & Dev. 4, 243-254). The close relationship or identity between EFI, CBF, and NF-Y, thus has important implications regarding the mechanisms by which serum or the oncogene v-src may affect changes in gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Mitotic index, influx and mean transit time in the hamster cheek pouch epithelium, a partially synchronized cell system. Presentation of a mathematical model based on a non-stationary probability density function for the transit time in a compartment.

Mitotic activity was followed in the epithelium of the hamster cheek pouch for about 12 hr in two experiments under different conditions of noise and light intensity. A mathematical model based on a non-stationary probability density function for the transit time through mitosis was developed, making an analysis of this partially synchronized cell system possible. The most important result of the two experiments is the indication of a non-stationary mean transit time for cells in mitosis. In the first experiment (70 dB, 103 lux), which produced high mitotic indices (maximum 2.0%), the influx changed from 0. to 0.9%/hr (mean of 7-hourly determinations: 0.4%/hr), and the mean transit time from 1.9 to 5.5 hr. In the second experiment (70 dB, 265 lux), which had a lower level of MI (maximum 1.3%), the influx changed from 0 to 1.8%/hr (mean of 13-hourly determinations: 0.4%/hr), and the mean transit time from 0.3 to 3.3 hr. It was difficult to say precisely whether the variation in influx or in mean transit time was the main factor in the increase and decrease of MI. The data could not be simulated with a stationary mean transit time. It is suggested that changes in MI due to different external circumstances are mainly the result of variation in the mean transit time.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Morphological study of the ovaries of leukaemic children.

The ovaries of leukaemic children were studied in 31 specimens obtained at autopsy. Twenty-eight ovaries from normal children of the same age who died from misadventure served as control. All ovaries from normal childred showed follicle growth and contained several large antral follicles. Follicle development was inhibited in all ovaries of leukaemic children; 22% showed no follicle growth (quiescent ovaries), and in the ovaries in which there was follicle development, the number and size of antral follicles was significantly smaller than in the control. All children had been treated with cytotoxic drugs, the duration of the treatment being correlated with the stage of ovarian development. The ovaries of children treated for only 1 week were near-normal, while those treated for more than 2 months showed inhibition of follicle growth. It is argued that the disturbance in follicle development is an effect of the cytotoxic drugs, and not an effect of the disease itself.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Follicular development in ovaries of children with Down's syndrome.

Ovaries of children with Down's syndrome were examined histologically in order to determine in what way the ovarian development differed from the normal. Twenty-six specimens obtained at autopsy at various ages between birth and 14 1/2 years were available and compared with ovaries from normal children of similar ages. All ovaries from normal children were characterized by active follicle growth. The ovaries of the children with Down's syndrome, however, showed absence or retardation of follicle growth. Furthermore the number as well as the size of the antral follicles differed from those in the normal ovary. The decrease of the number of small follicles occurs earlier in life in the ovaries of children with Down's syndrome than in the control. The possible relationship between an abnormal ovarian growth pattern and hormonal imbalance is discussed.

Adolescent↗