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Biomedical subjects

M Nolte

Publications and source records attributed to M Nolte.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Systemic effects of implanted prostheses made of cobalt-chromium alloys.

Systemic effects of Co-Cr alloy/polyethylene hip joint prostheses were investigated using instrumental neutron activation to determine the concentrations of up to 16 elements. First, in a prospective study whole blood and serum taken from 10 patients from 1 day before to 90 days after implantation were analyzed. Secondly, in a retrospective study whole blood and serum from 23 patients who had had prostheses in place for up to 18 years were analyzed. For comparison, normal trace element levels in humans were determined by analyzing whole blood and serum from 21 patients. Finally, various tissues and organs from two decreased implant patients were analyzed and compared with normal concentrations obtained from the analysis of five "normal" patients without implants. In agreement with other recent investigations, our analyses of normal serum, whole blood, tissues, and organs show that most previously defined "normal" trace element concentrations were too high, chiefly owing to contamination and insufficient blanks. A detailed discussion shows that for many elements the ranges of normal concentrations have to be revised. This conclusion is of particular importance with respect to the sometimes conflicting earlier reports of systemic effects of metal prostheses. In the work reported here, both the prospective and the retrospective investigations of serum and whole blood showed massive Co enrichments as a consequence of implant corrosion. The data show a wide range of individual burdening, ranging from practically no effect to the most extreme values. The analyses of tissues from the vicinity of the implants in the two deceased implant patients showed strong local effects of Co, Cr, Zr, and Hf, the latter two elements originating from the X-ray contrast media in the bone cement. The analyses of organs revealed significant Co and Cr enrichment in several tissues and organs. Consequently, it can be seen that implant corrosion is not an occurrence of merely local significance, but one that affects the trace element status of the entire organism.

Bioprosthesis

Rapid decrease of insulin-specific IgG antibody levels in insulin-dependent patients transferred to semi-synthetic human insulin.

A multicenter, open trial was designed to examine the efficacy and safety of semi-synthetic human insulin (SSHI; Novolin R and Novolin L, SQUIBB-NOVO) in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who were transferred from other commercially-available insulins. Whether such a change in therapy would reduce circulating IgG antibodies to antibovine insulin was also evaluated. A total of 68 males and females, 8-62 yr of age, were maintained on their original insulin therapy for 4 weeks, when both glycosylated hemoglobin and fasting blood glucose were assessed. IgG antibody titers to antibovine insulin were also measured. All patients were then transferred to SSHI for a period of 20 weeks. The same variables were evaluated at Weeks 2, 4, 8, and 20. Mean fasting blood glucose levels rose monotonically from 189-226.3 mg/dl over the course of the 20-week clinical trial. There was a slight but insignificant increase in glycosylated hemoglobin by the end of the test period. The average value for antibovine insulin IgG antibodies decreased from 2.54 mu/ml at baseline to 1.32 mu/ml by the completion of the trial. Significant decreases were first observed 4 weeks after the patients were placed on SSHI therapy. After transfer to SSHI, 43.3% of the patients achieved some improvement in glycemic control and only 16.4% were worse than at baseline. A decrease in weekly hypoglycemic reactions occurred during the course of the SSHI therapy. It appears that SSHI provides safe and effective treatment for insulin-dependent diabetic patients and that its use results in a rapid and significant decrease in insulin antibody formation.

Adult

Splenic cysts.

Benign non-parasitic cysts of the spleen are very uncommon, with a total of 651 cases having been described in the literature to date. Because of their uncommon nature, and the fact that their symtoms may be vague, a high index of suspicion is necessary if they are to be diagnosed. The therapy of choice is surgical excision by splenectomy and the accompanying cystectomy. The prognosis following such therapy is excellent.

Adolescent