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Biomedical subjects

M Neumann

Publications and source records attributed to M Neumann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Topical flurbiprofen decreases burn wound-induced hypermetabolism and systemic lipid peroxidation.

We studied the effect of the topical application of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, flurbiprofen, on postburn hypermetabolism and systemic lipid peroxidation. Twelve sheep with a 15% total body surface third-degree burn were monitored over a 4-day postburn period. In six sheep, a single application of a 5% flurbiprofen cream was placed on the burn wound on day 3. Data were compared to both burned and nonburned controls (n = 6). All animals were killed on day 4. Oxygen consumption was increased at day 3 by 28% +/- 10% over the preburn value in all animals. Flurbiprofen significantly attenuated the increase in oxygen consumption, returning the value essentially to baseline by 12 hours after application. Lung and liver peroxidation, as measured by malondialdehyde, was significantly increased in the burned, nontreated sheep at day 4 from a control value of 45 +/- 9 and 110 +/- 12 to 60 +/- 6 and 310 +/- 71 nmol/gm tissue, respectively. In flurbiprofen-treated animals, values were 42 +/- 8 and 160 +/- 18 nmol/gm at day 4, significantly attenuated from burn alone. Protein-rich burn lymph flow remained fourfold increased in both groups, indicating a persistent increase in burn tissue vascular permeability, not modified by flurbiprofen. Burn wound biopsies revealed bacterial contents of less than 10(4) organisms/gram tissue in all animals. We conclude that topical flurbiprofen significantly decreases burn wound-induced systemic hypermetabolism and oxidant-induced lipid peroxidation seen at 3 days after burn injury, but does not attenuate the remaining local burn-wound vascular permeability.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1991

[Quality assurance in dynamic radiotherapy techniques].

Compared with conventional radiation treatment techniques, quality assurance for dynamic techniques has to consider additionally the variability of the movement parameters of the treatment unit. In this context the exactness and the reliability of the computer control are of special interest. In this paper the results of quality assurance for dynamic treatment techniques are reported. At first investigations concerning the reproducibility are carried out. Another test is the simulation of conventional moving beam techniques by external computer control. Further the differences between measured dose distributions of dynamic techniques and the distributions resulting from the sequence of fixed fields approximating these techniques are determined. Finally we compared measured and calculated dose distributions. The results of the investigations justify the introduction of dynamic radiation treatment techniques into clinical use.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Susceptibility of multidrug-resistant human leukemia cell lines to human interleukin 2-activated killer cells.

Considering the possibility to overcome drug resistance by other treatment strategies than chemotherapy we investigated the susceptibility of three independently selected multidrug-resistant sublines of the T-lymphoblastoid leukemic cell line CCRF-CEM to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. We found that two of the multidrug-resistant sublines were significantly less susceptible targets to LAK cells. A third one, however, was as susceptible as the parental CCRF-CEM cell line. Moreover, a multidrug-resistant subline that reverted to an almost drug-sensitive phenotype was observed to be also revertant for resistance against LAK cells. We found an inverse relationship between the expression of the mdr1 gene (P-glycoprotein) and the susceptibility to LAK cells. Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, while increasing the drug sensitivity of a multidrug-resistant subline, did not induce a reversal of the suppression of LAK susceptibility. The possibility of enhanced resistance to LAK cells of multidrug-resistant cells should be taken into account when one is looking for therapy strategies to overcome multidrug resistance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1990

Incorporation and effects of dietary eicosapentaenoate (20:5(n-3)) on plasma and erythrocyte lipids of the marmoset following dietary supplementation with differing levels of linoleic acid.

The effect of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5(n-3), as the ethyl ester) on plasma lipid levels and the incorporation of EPA into erythrocyte and plasma lipids were investigated in the marmoset monkey. Marmosets were fed high mixed-fat diets (14.5% total fat) supplemented with or without 0.8% EPA for 30 weeks. Markedly elevated plasma cholesterol (16.4 mmol/l) was induced by an atherogenic-type diet but with EPA supplementation, plasma cholesterol increased to only 6.6 mmol/l. Plasma triacylglycerol levels were not elevated with an atherogenic type diet. Substantial EPA incorporation was evident for plasma phospholipid, triacylglycerol and cholesterol ester fractions. The proportion of docosapentaenoic acid (22:5(n-3)) but not docosahexaenoic acid (22:6(n-3)) was also elevated in these plasma lipid fractions. Greatest incorporation of EPA occurred when it was administered with an atherogenic type diet having a P:M:S (polyunsaturated:monounsaturated:saturated) fatty acid ratio of about 0.2:0.6:1.0 in comparison to the control diet of 1.0:1.0:1.0. Incorporation of EPA and 22:5(n-3)) into erythrocyte phospholipids was also apparent and this was at the expense of linoleic acid (18:2(n-6)). These results in the marmoset highlight both the cholesterol-lowering properties of EPA and the extent of its incorporation into plasma lipids and erythrocyte membrane phospholipids with far greater incorporation occurring when the level of dietary linoleic acid was reduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Serum neuron-specific enolase is a useful tumor marker for small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) may be potentially curable. A correct diagnosis of cancer cell type is important and serum markers are of great value. Although several markers have been suggested, they have been of limited value because of insufficient specificity. To assess the value of serum neuron-specific enolase (S-NSE) as a possible marker of SCLC, the serum levels of 81 patients with SCLC (59 patients with extensive disease and 22 patients with limited disease) were compared with the serum levels of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (N-SCLC) and 93 patients with nonmalignant lung diseases. The S-NSE level also was measured in 104 patients with extensive disease of various other malignancies, including 71 solid tumors and 33 malignant hematologic disorders. From 105 healthy control subjects, the upper limit of the normal range (x + 2 standard deviations [SD]) was determined as 12.3 ng/ml. The S-NSE level was elevated in 78% of patients with SCLC, including 11 of 22 (50%) with limited disease and 52 of 59 (88%) with extensive disease. In contrast, the S-NSE level was raised only in 18% of patients with advanced N-SCLC (nine of 50) and 6% of patients with nonmalignant lung diseases (six of 93). Twelve patients (17%) with other solid malignant tumors and two patients (6%) with malignant hematologic disorders had raised S-NSE levels. Serial N-NSE levels were obtained in 13 patients with SCLC. S-NSE levels fell in all patients responding to chemotherapy and increased again with progression of disease. Our results indicate that S-NSE seems to be specific for SCLC (85%), whereas sensitivity seems to be dependent on the stage of disease. Further, S-NSE may be a useful marker for monitoring treatment and predicting relapse in patients with SCLC.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1990

High-frequency pulsation (HFP) in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) developed a respiratory crisis despite recurrent treatment with plasma exchange. Thus mechanical ventilatory support became necessary. As an alternative to conventional ventilatory techniques high-frequency pulsation (HFP), a modified high-frequency jet-ventilation technique was used. According to the observations HFP may be a valuable technique for the continuous adaptation to the patient's individual respiratory demands in GBS.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The secretion of human growth hormone stimulated by human growth hormone releasing factor following severe cranio-cerebral trauma.

Patients suffering from severe cranio-cerebral trauma show alterations of the secretory patterns of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and human growth hormone (HGH) which may be of prognostic significance. We studied 10 patients following severe brain injury and prospectively compared a new synthetic human growth hormone releasing factor (HGHRF) test with the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) test. On admission, all patients had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 or 4. All patients had a low T3 syndrome. In the patients who died the TSH response after stimulation with TRH was also absent. In the patients who survived a significant TSH increase was observed (p less than 0.05). In comparison to the patients who died those who survived showed a significant (p less than 0.001) HGH increase after HGHRF stimulation. This test might be useful as an additional tool in establishing early prognosis in patients with severe brain injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Reconstruction of high-energy bremsstrahlung spectra by numerical analysis of depth-dose data.

The determination of the spectral distribution of a photon beam is important for exact dosimetry and for the calculation of dose distributions. Direct measurements are not possible because of physical reasons. The approximation described uses a numerical reconstruction method based upon depth-dose data measured in water. The basic idea of the method is that a measured depth-dose curve can be thought of as a weighted superposition of monoenergetic depth-dose curves. The monoenergetic data are obtained by convolution of Monte Carlo generated energy deposition kernels. They were fitted to the measured data by means of a least squares method. Several constraints were applied to the superposition coefficients. The optimization algorithm uses the Wolfe reduced gradient method. The results were compared to Monte Carlo generated thick target spectra.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1990

Microdissection of the Prader-Willi syndrome chromosome region and identification of potential gene sequences.

The Prader-Willi syndrome chromosome region on the long arm of human chromosome 15 was microdissected and microcloned from 20 GTG-banded metaphase chromosomes, and 5000 recombinant clones were obtained. Of these clones, 39% identify single-copy human DNA sequences, most of which map to the dissected chromosome region and are evolutionarily conserved in other species. Three of eleven clones studied in detail are deleted in several patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. The microclones will be useful for the physical characterization of the Prader-Willi syndrome chromosome region and the identification of the affected genes in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The effect of dietary fish oil supplement upon the content of dihomo-gammalinolenic acid in human plasma phospholipids.

Patients (n = 23) with definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis were given 18 g/day fish oil in gelatin capsules which provided 3.2 g/day EPA and 2.0 g/day DHA. The treatment period was 12 weeks followed by a 4 week washout period. Fish oil supplementation to the diet resulted in a substantial increase in the content of EPA and DHA in each of the plasma fractions examined (PL, TG, and CE). Little change was seen in the AA level of the TG and CE fractions but a modest decrease in AA was seen in PL. However the intake of fish oil caused a significant depression in the content of DGLA in the PL (p less than 0.005) and CE (p less than 0.01) fractions relative to baseline values. All changes had reverted to near baseline levels 4 weeks after dietary intervention. Since DGLA is the precursor of PGE1, which has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, our findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil consumption could be mitigated by an associated reduction in DGLA.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗
PubMed1990

The apparent ileal and faecal digestibilities of amino acids and carbohydrates of rye, barley and triticum grains in pigs.

Six pigs of initial weight 40 +/- 1.7 kg with a T-piece cannula fitted at the terminal ileum were given diets composed of 96.3% of rye, barley or triticum grains ground to pass the 2.6 mm mesh, 3.3% mineral and vitamin mixture and 0.4% Cr2O3. Each diet was given to all pigs in a Latin square design, and faeces and ileal digesta were collected on 7, 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12 day of feeding each diet, respectively. The grains varied widely in the content of pentosans, polyuroids, beta-glucan and monosaccharides. The antitrypsin activities were 0.84, 2.73 and 1.62 TUI/g in barley, rye and triticum, respectively. Ileal and faecal apparent digestibilities of nitrogen and amino acids were higher (P less than or equal to 0.01) in Triticum than in barley and rye. The digestibility of carbohydrates (pentosans, beta-glucan, polyuroids and non-structural carbohydrates) were lower in pigs fed a rye diet than of those fed a Triticum diet. The results are discussed with respect of the role to non starch polysaccharides, especially pentosans in digestibility of nitrogen and energy in animals receiving a rye diet.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Gamma scintigraphic imaging of lung microvascular permeability in adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The sequence of lung microvascular permeability (LMVP) changes in early direct posttraumatic and late indirect pancreatitis-induced adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was studied and compared with that of a control group, as well as non-ARDS ICU patients. A computerized large field of view gamma camera was used to measure LMVP simultaneously over both lungs by In 113m-labeled transferrin and Tc 99m-labeled erythrocytes. The LMVP index (LMVPI) (%/h) was used to quantify LMVP in the dynamic scintigraphic measurement. In the control group the LMVPI was 2.6 +/- 2.8%/h for the right and 2.0 +/- 2.8%/h for the left lung. Similar values were found in mechanically ventilated ICU patients without ARDS (group A) on admission (right LMVPI 3.2 +/- 2.6, left LMVPI 2.6 +/- 2.7%/h) and 4 days later (right LMVPI 3.9 +/- 2.6, left LMVPI 2.3 +/- 1.8%/h). Interestingly, the initial evaluation of patients with direct early posttraumatic ARDS (lung contusion) (group B) showed significantly (p less than .01) elevated LMVP for the contused side (LMVPI 10.8 +/- 5.1%/h), but normal values for the nontraumatized lung (LMVPI 3.9 +/- 3.4%/h), whereas 4 days later the LMVP increased significantly (p less than .05) on the primarily healthy side (LMVPI 8.0 +/- 5.0%/h) while remaining elevated for the traumatized lung (LMVPI 10.9 +/- 6.0%/h).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Effects of traffic-induced emissions on the pediatric respiratory tract].

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between paediatric pulmonary function and air pollution. For this purpose, 511 primary schoolchildren (mean age 9 years) from areas with different emission data in Austria were submitted to pulmonary function testing every 2 months in the period 1987/1988. Emission data were provided for NO2, SO2, and O3 by permanent measuring stations for the whole of the period under observation. Statistical analysis using the Mantel-Henzel procedure revealed an independent significantly significant effect of NO2 concentration 2 to 6 hours before the function test on the prevalence of obstructive function.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1990

The effect of diagnosis and educational level on therapists' treatment decisions in a regional psychiatric outpatient clinic.

The aim of this study was to investigate a random sample of psychiatric patients referred for treatment at a psychiatric out-patient unit with the purpose of evaluating their demographic structure, epidemiological data, therapist's decision-making process and the interaction between these factors. Positive correlations were found between diagnosis and variables connected to therapeutic decisions. Variables associated with therapeutic decision were found to be influenced by diagnosis at intake as well as by educational status of the patient. Other findings and possible explanations for correlations observed are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Should electroconvulsive therapy be used as an ambulatory preventive treatment?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has often been withheld from patients in many instances, even when it was the preferred form of psychiatric treatment. From clinical, social, and legal points of view, it is associated with many negative connotations. This paper reviews the use of ECT as a "legitimate" form of long-term ambulatory preventive treatment for psychiatric patients who have previously received it during hospitalization. Attempts to terminate or reduce the frequency of ECT treatments may well be the cause for readmission or exacerbation of an acute attack in patients already in remission who have been discharged.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1990

[Decision-making in the psychiatric emergency room].

The decision-making process in the emergency room is evaluated in accordance with the literature and our growing experience. Research until now emphasized correlations among different variables, demographic, clinical, and the individuality of clinicians and systems, on the decision to admit. Many subtle and difficult-to-describe variables were not considered in most of the studies; we have tried to describe some of them. There is a place for clinical research in the decision-making process.

Decision Making↗