PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Grabowski

Publications and source records attributed to M Grabowski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Cardiovascular effects of domperidone in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with apomorphine.

OBJECTIVES: The cardiovascular effects of the peripheral dopamine D2-receptor antagonist domperidone were studied in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease treated with continuous subcutaneous infusion of apomorphine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood pressure and heart rate of 10 patients were monitored for 24 h before and after treatment with domperidone using an automatic device for blood pressure recording. RESULTS: Blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly during 24 h of domperidone treatment. When day and night values were analysed separately, a significant difference of blood pressure between the groups was found only during the day whereas heart rate was significantly increased during both day and night. Domperidone shifted blood pressure and heart rate upwards without affecting the drop of blood pressure in the erect position. CONCLUSION: Domperidone increases blood pressure and heart rate without inducing nocturnal hypertension in apomorphine treated patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Increased heart rate by domperidone is a new finding but the clinical significance is unclear and requires further investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Mutations in the gene encoding epsilon-sarcoglycan cause myoclonus-dystonia syndrome.

The dystonias are a common clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of movement disorders. More than ten loci for inherited forms of dystonia have been mapped, but only three mutated genes have been identified so far. These are DYT1, encoding torsin A and mutant in the early-onset generalized form, GCH1 (formerly known as DYT5), encoding GTP-cyclohydrolase I and mutant in dominant dopa-responsive dystonia, and TH, encoding tyrosine hydroxylase and mutant in the recessive form of the disease. Myoclonus-dystonia syndrome (MDS; DYT11) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by bilateral, alcohol-sensitive myoclonic jerks involving mainly the arms and axial muscles. Dystonia, usually torticollis and/or writer's cramp, occurs in most but not all affected patients and may occasionally be the only symptom of the disease. In addition, patients often show prominent psychiatric abnormalities, including panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive behavior. In most MDS families, the disease is linked to a locus on chromosome 7q21 (refs. 11-13). Using a positional cloning approach, we have identified five different heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the gene for epsilon-sarcoglycan (SGCE), which we mapped to a refined critical region of about 3.2 Mb. SGCE is expressed in all brain regions examined. Pedigree analysis shows a marked difference in penetrance depending on the parental origin of the disease allele. This is indicative of a maternal imprinting mechanism, which has been demonstrated in the mouse epsilon-sarcoglycan gene.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A risk management procedure for the Washington state ferries.

The state of Washington operates the largest passenger vessel ferry system in the United States. In part due to the introduction of high-speed ferries, the state of Washington established an independent blue-ribbon panel to assess the adequacy of requirements for passenger and crew safety aboard the Washington state ferries. On July 9, 1998, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Washington State Ferry Safety engaged a consultant team from The George Washington University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/Le Moyne College to assess the adequacy of passenger and crew safety in the Washington state ferry (WSF) system, to evaluate the level of risk present in the WSF system, and to develop recommendations for prioritized risk reduction measures, which, once implemented, can improve the level of safety in the WSF system. The probability of ferry collisions in the WSF system was assessed using a dynamic simulation methodology that extends the scope of available data with expert judgment. The potential consequences of collisions were modeled in order to determine the requirements for onboard and external emergency response procedures and equipment. The methodology was used to evaluate potential risk reduction measures and to make detailed risk management recommendations to the blue-ribbon panel and the Washington State Transportation Commission.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Breakpoint within the nucleolus organizer region resulting in a reciprocal translocation t (4;14)(q21;p12).

Reciprocal translocations involving a break in the nucleolus organizer region (NOR) are rare. A balanced translocation in a mother and her fetus with breakpoints in the NOR at 14p12 and on the long arm of a chromosome 4 at band 4q21 is described. The rearrangement was characterized by Ag-NOR staining, multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH), and FISH with rDNA probes. This and other cases with breakpoints within NORs are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Importance of dietary sodium in the hypercalciuria syndrome and nephrolithiasis].

The studies involved 20 children with idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH). An influence of urinary sodium excretion, and reflection of its intake, on urinary calcium excretion has been assessed. Children who were normocalciuric had significancy lower values of urine sodium excretion when compared with those with persisting hypercalciuria. The main factor responsible for hypercalciuria in children seemed to be urine sodium excretion. As urine sodium excretion reflects its intake, reduction dietary salt, rather than calcium intake, may be useful in the management of children with hypercalciuria and nephrolithiasis.

Calcium↗
PubMed2000

[Quality of life assessment 3 months after surgical treatment of acquired heart valve disease].

The quality of life in 114 patients with acquired heart valve disease 3 months after surgical treatment was estimated. The significant improvement of quality of life in the matter of physical, psychical and social factors after mitral, aortic and double valve replacement was noted. It was accompanied by increase of exercise capacity measured in 6-minute walk test and changing of NYHA functional classes. No correlation was found between age of patients, selected echocardiographic parameters and quality of life improvement.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in stenotic bioprosthetic valves].

There are only a few therapeutic indications that require implantation of bioprosthetic heart valves. To implant bioprosthesis is rare, because malfunction of the bioprosthesis occurs as a result of tissue degeneration in long-term follow up. The dysfunction is bioprosthesis insufficiency with or without stenosis. The degenerated bioprosthesis requires reimplantation, but every subsequent operation carries a higher risk. Stenotic bioprosthesis can be treated effectively by balloon valvuloplasty. The aim of the paper is to establish indications, coindications for the treatment, to present the complications and long-term follow up.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed2000

[Antiphospholipid syndrome in valvular heart diseases, ischemic heart disease and vascular thrombosis].

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) leads to venous and arterial thrombosis, cardiac diseases, neurological, gastroenterological and dermatological complications. The role of antiphospholipid antibodies in genesis of thrombi by interaction with plasma clotting factors is well known. There is no evidence of their influence on valvular heart diseases or atherogenesis. This paper presents views and opinions about APS and related cardiovascular complications.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome↗
PubMed1998

[Does vaccination protect a child of an HBs Ag carrier mother against HBV infection?].

The aim of the study was to determine the degree of protection provided to the children born from HBs antigen carrying mothers, by vaccination administered according to the 0-1-2-12 scheme (Engerix B, SmithKline Beecham) as well as the level of HBs antibodies after a booster dose given 5 years later. The examination was conducted in 52 children. The level of HBs antibodies as well as the remaining serological markers of HBV infection were assessed at the age of 6. Four to six months after booster dose administration the level of HBs antibodies was assesed again. The markers of HBV infection were determined with the IMx-AUSAB test (Abbott Laboratories). After 5 years from the vaccination, 3 (5.8%) children were found infected with HBV; the performed assessment of their immune system did not reveal any significant compromise. Values of anti-HBs < 10 mlU/ml were found in 4 (8.2%) of 49 infection-free children and low levels (11-100 mlU/ml) in other 4 (8.2%) children, moderate (101-1000 mlU/ml) in 29 (55.8%), and very high (> 1000 mlU/ml) in 9 (17.3%). Four to six weeks after a booster dose, only one child did not respond to the vaccination. High levels of anti-HBs antibodies were obtained in the rest of the children. In our opinion there is a justified need to administer a booster dose 5 years after completing the vaccination in the risk group children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

The relationship between three-dimensional imaging and group decision making: an exploratory study.

This paper describes an empirical investigation of the effect of three dimensional (3-D) imaging on group performance in a tactical planning task. The objective of the study is to examine the role that stereoscopic imaging can play in supporting face-to-face group problem solving and decision making-in particular, the alternative generation and evaluation processes in teams. It was hypothesized that with the stereoscopic display, group members would better visualize the information concerning the task environment, producing open communication and information exchanges. The experimental setting was a tactical command and control task, and the quality of the decisions and nature of the group decision process were investigated with three treatments: 1) noncomputerized, i.e., topographic maps with depth cues; 2) two-dimensional (2-D) imaging; and 3) stereoscopic imaging. The results were mixed on group performance. However, those groups with the stereoscopic displays generated more alternatives and spent less time on evaluation. In addition, the stereoscopic decision aid did not interfere with the group problem solving and decision-making processes. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential benefits, and the need to resolve demonstrated weaknesses of the technology.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

[Recording of nocturnal penile tumescence using the Rigiscan device].

Nocturnal spontaneous erections occur in healthy men being strictly correlated with paradoxal sleep phases with rapid eye movements (REM). There are simple methods of NPT recording like stamps test or erectiometers. Rigiscan-Plus device has 2 tensiometric loops and records all changes in tumescence and rigidity also as a response to visual or pharmacological stimulation. In this paper Rigiscan is presented and the role of rigidometry as an additional method in diagnostic of impotence is stressed.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1996

Fetal neocortical tissue blocks implanted in brain infarcts of adult rats interconnect with the host brain.

The purpose of the present study was to study if the connectivity of fetal neocortical tissue blocks placed in ischemic brain infarcts of adult rats would be enhanced in rats housed in an enriched environment. We also investigated whether the enriched housing conditions could enhance the postischemic and postgrafting functional outcome, in terms of motor behavior. This part of the study has been published recently. The middle cerebral artery was ligated on the right side in 37 inbred, adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats. The rats were placed at random either in an enriched environment (groups A and B) or in standard laboratory cages (group C). Three weeks after the artery occlusion, blocks of fetal sensorimotor cortex (embryonic day 17) were transplanted into the infarct cavity of rats from groups B and C. After 9 weeks all transplanted rats received an injection, into the graft, of a mixture containing the two tracers Fluoro-Gold and biotinylated Dextran amine. The transplants revealed a structured morphology with whorls and bands of cells reminiscent of normal neocortex. Tracing of efferent transplant to host fibers with biotinylated Dextran amine showed pronounced intrinsic transplant projections, as well as fibers, although significantly fewer, to the host ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex, striatum, and thalamus. Host to transplant projections were revealed by Fluoro-Gold-labeled cells found in the ipsilateral host sensorimotor cortex, the basal nucleus of Meynert, the thalamic ventrobasal, ventrolateral and posterior nuclei, and in the dorsal raphe nuclei. We conclude that fetal frontal neocortical block grafts placed in brain infarcts of adult rats develop a morphology reminiscent of normal neocortex and that both afferent and efferent neural connections, although sparse, are established with the host brain, whether the rats are reared under enriched housing conditions or not.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Fetal neocortical grafts placed in brain infarcts do not improve paw-reaching deficits in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The aim was to study if neural grafts placed brain infarcts could improve functional recovery. The middle cerebral artery was occluded (MCAO) in 19 spontaneously hypertensive rats. Nine rats were sham operated. Twelve to 16 days after the ischemic insult, 9 of the MCAO rats received transplants of dissociated fetal neocortical tissue (MCAO-T) and 1, 3 and 6 months after transplantation surgery, the rats were behaviorally evaluated by a test for forelimb function. Infarct and transplant sizes were measured morphometrically. The remaining volume of the infarcted hemisphere was 66 +/- 7% (mean +/- SD) in the MCAO group and 71 +/- 9% in the MCAO-T group of the non-operated hemisphere. All grafted rats had surviving transplants. Contralateral to the lesion, paw-reaching was highly impaired in both infarcted groups compared with sham-operated controls with no significant difference between MCAO and MCAO-T. The lesion size correlated significantly with contralateral paw-reach performance at all test periods. We conclude that neocortical grafts did not alleviate the impaired forepaw function.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Influence of an enriched environment and cortical grafting on functional outcome in brain infarcts of adult rats.

The purpose of this work was to study if enriched housing conditions and fetal neocortical transplantation could enhance the functional outcome after focal brain ischemia in adult rats. The right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was ligated in 34 inbred, spontaneously hypertensive male rats, which were then randomly divided into three groups. Groups A and B were transferred to an enriched environment, i.e., a large cage with opportunities for various activities but not forcing the rats to do any particular tasks; group C was kept in standard laboratory cages. Three weeks after the MCA occlusion blocks of fetal neocortical tissue (Embryonic Day 17) were transplanted to the infarct cavity in groups B and C. Rats in group A (n = 11) and group B (n = 11) performed equally well and significantly better than rats in group C (n = 10) when placed on an inclined plane and when traversing a rotating pole 6 and 9 weeks after the MCA occlusion and in a leg placement test at 9, but not 6 and 12 weeks. Skilled forelimb function did not differ between the groups. Infarct size and thalamic atrophy did not differ between the groups and graft size was similar in group B and C. There was no correlation between infarct size and motor function in any of the tests in rats housed in an enriched environment. Since the environment can significantly alter functional outcome without reducing infarct size we suggest that more attention should be given to the role of the laboratory environment and to long term behavioral outcome in experimental stroke.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Neocortical grafts placed in the infarcted brain of adult rats: few or no efferent fibers grow from transplant to host.

The present study examines the capacity of fetal neocortical grafts placed in a brain infarct to exchange axonal projections with the host brain. Five to 7 days after a middle cerebral artery occlusion in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats, dissociated neocortical primordium from fetuses of gestational age 15-16 days was implanted into the infarcted area. Four to 11 months later, the neural tracers Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin and Fluoro-Gold were injected in the grafts and host neocortex. An extensive axonal network was present in the transplants but only one of eight rats with appropriate placed injections displayed efferent connections from transplant to host. The sparse axonal outgrowth indicates major limitations for fetal rat cortical grafts to form connections with host neural circuitries after an ischemic insult.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Survival of fetal neocortical grafts implanted in brain infarcts of adult rats: the influence of postlesion time and age of donor tissue.

We have previously found that fetal cortex taken from 16- to 18-day-old donors survives grafting to the infarcted cortex 5-7 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect on graft survival of varying the age of the fetal donor tissue and the time between vessel occlusion and graft implantation. First, a cell suspension of neocortical tissue was grafted from fetuses aged 15, 17, or 20 gestational days to the infarcted cortex of hypertensive rats which had undergone arterial occlusion 5-7 days earlier. There were no significant differences in the mean size or general morphology assessed in Nissl- and acetylcholinesterase-stained sections between the groups. Second, neocortical tissue was grafted from fetuses aged 15 gestational days to the infarcted cortex at different times following arterial occlusion. When surgery was delayed until 5-7 days, 3 weeks, or 8 weeks postocclusion, graft survival was significantly better than when implanted 1 day postocclusion. Implantation after 3 weeks yielded grafts that also were significantly larger than those in rats grafted 5-7 days after cortical infarction. The results indicate that there is no crucial upper donor age limit for dissociated fetal neocortical grafts in terms of graft survival and volume. Furthermore, a delay between lesion and transplantation is desirable in this stroke model. The host brain environment seems to be most hospitable around 3 weeks after arterial occlusion.

Acetylcholinesterase↗