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Biomedical subjects

N Becker

Publications and source records attributed to N Becker.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Risk of cancer for arc welders in the Federal Republic of Germany: results of a second follow up (1983-8).

An extended follow up of 1221 chromium and nickel exposed welders in the Federal Republic of Germany confirmed an increased relative risk of 1.6 for all cancers compared with an internal reference group of 1694 turners. In an external comparison an excess of deaths from malignant tumours compared with that expected from the national mortality rates was found (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 109), which was clearly related to both time since first exposure and duration of exposure. Mortality from lung cancer was increased among welders (SMR = 113) but also among turners (SMR = 108). The difference remained when the subgroups were compared according to smoking information. A large excess of mesothelioma as a cause of death could be attributed to exposure to asbestos. The significantly increased SMR seen for urogenital tumours and "other or unspecified tumours" showed, however, an inverse relation with time since first exposure. This and other inconsistencies in the analysis by type of welding do not permit conclusive statements. Thus a further extension of follow up seems warranted.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1991

A historical prospective study of European stainless steel, mild steel, and shipyard welders.

A multicentre cohort of 11,092 male welders from 135 companies located in nine European countries has been assembled with the aim of investigating the relation of potential cancer risk, lung cancer in particular, with occupational exposure. The observation period and the criteria for inclusion of welders varied from country to country. Follow up was successful for 96.9% of the cohort and observed numbers of deaths (and for some countries incident cancer cases) were compared with expected numbers calculated from national reference rates. Mortality and cancer incidence ratios were analysed by cause category, time since first exposure, duration of employment, and estimated cumulative dose to total fumes, chromium (Cr), Cr VI, and nickel (Ni). Overall a statistically significant excess was reported for mortality from lung cancer (116 observed v 86.81 expected deaths, SMR = 134). When analysed by type of welding an increasing pattern with time since first exposure was present for both mild steel and stainless steel welders, which was more noticeable for the subcohort of predominantly stainless steel welders. No clear relation was apparent between mortality from lung cancer and duration of exposure to or estimated cumulative dose of Ni or Cr. Whereas the patterns of lung cancer mortality in these results suggest that the risk of lung cancer is higher for stainless steel than mild steel welders the different level of risk for these two categories of welding exposure cannot be quantified with precision. The report of five deaths from pleural mesothelioma unrelated to the type of welding draws attention to the risk of exposure to asbestos in welding activities.

Europe↗
PubMed1990

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Use of radiation therapy.

A patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is presented. The patient had a localized lesion on his scalp. Evaluation for systemic lymphoma was negative. A biopsy specimen showed superficial and deep dermal infiltrates of pleomorphic lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry was consistent with T-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated successfully with local irradiation. He remained free of further systemic and cutaneous recurrences of the lymphoma until he died 8 months after treatment of pneumonia. This case is the first to our knowledge to describe a localized CTCL in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Identification and characterization of an enhancer in the coding region of the genome of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Transcription of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is regulated by cis-acting DNA elements located in the viral long terminal repeats, by viral transregulatory proteins, and by cellular transcription factors acting in concert to modulate the degree of viral expression. We demonstrate that a DNA fragment corresponding to the central portion of the HIV-1 genome exhibits enhancer activity when cloned upstream of the thymidine kinase promoter of herpes simplex virus. This enhancer is inducible by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in HeLa cells and is independent of its position and orientation with respect to the promoter. We have mapped the activity of the enhancer to two independent domains encompassing nucleotides 4079-4342 (end of the pol gene) and nucleotides 4781-6026 (vif gene and first coding exon of tat). This intragenic enhancer and its subdomains demonstrate cellular specificity because they are only active in specific cell lines. The presence of similar intragenic enhancer elements in other retroviruses suggests that they might be a conserved feature of this family of viruses.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Epilepsy at a psychiatric hospital].

Epilepsy was surveyed in the largest psychiatric hospital in the Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. This establishment was designed for one thousand long-term beds but at the time of the survey there were 1126 inpatients. Diagnosis ranged from anxiety neurosis to schizophrenia although patients with epilepsy, with or without psychiatric symptoms were also admitted. The following aspects were analyzed: prevalence of epilepsy, seizure types, antiepileptic drug treatment and psychiatric diagnosis. 171 patients with epilepsy were identified (prevalence 152/1000), generalized tonic clonic attacks were the commonest seizure type and polytherapy was the standard treatment. In at least 85 of the epileptic patients there was no reason for prolonged institutionalization in a psychiatric environment. Moreover, most of the sample were prescribed large amounts of sedative drugs. A multidisciplinary approach and outpatients services are urgently required to improve the prognosis and well-being of patients with epilepsy who are referred to psychiatric care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Safety of intravenous ciprofloxacin. A review.

Data from 1,878 courses of intravenous ciprofloxacin therapy, administered to 1,869 patients in 59 clinical trials, were analyzed for drug safety. The 985 men and 884 women had a mean age of 50 years, and more than one third were over 60 years of age. An overwhelming majority had at least one accompanying systemic illness, and the condition of more than half the patients was only fair or poor at the onset of therapy. Ciprofloxacin was administered in a unit dose of either 200 mg (68 percent of the patients) or 300 mg (28 percent) by intravenous infusion, generally over 30 minutes every 12 hours, at a mean daily dosage of 456 mg. The duration of intravenous therapy ranged from one to 57 days, with a mean of seven days; over 1,000 patients were treated for more than five days. Adverse events considered probably or possibly related to intravenous ciprofloxacin were reported in 15.8 percent of the courses; therapy was discontinued prematurely in 3 percent. Local reactions at the site of infusion were the most common, occurring in 4.4 percent of the courses. Changes in blood chemistry values (4.1 percent) included increases in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. Reports of adverse effects referable to the gastrointestinal tract (3.0 percent) were primarily nausea and diarrhea. Central nervous system reactions (1.8 percent) included convulsive seizures, headache, and dizziness. In comparative trials, events considered probably or possibly drug related were reported for 17.3 and 13.6 percent of the ciprofloxacin- and ceftazidime-treated patients, respectively. The incidence of adverse events other than local reactions at the infusion site was not significantly different between the ciprofloxacin- and ceftazidime-treated patients (12.7 percent versus 11.0 percent, p greater than 0.2).

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Time trends in cancer mortality in the Federal Republic of Germany: progress against cancer?

In accordance with a previous analysis of US cancer mortality, this report also indicates that cancer mortality in the FRG over the last 3 decades (1952-1985) has not shown any decline commencing in a given period and prevailing in all age groups. If present, such effects could have been interpreted as a manifestation of improvements associated with cancer treatment. The absence of such an effect, derived by using data up to 1985 and age-specific mortality rates, supports the view expressed in the US analysis that improvements in cancer treatment are unlikely to have an impact on overall cancer mortality statistics and that efforts toward prevention may be more rewarding.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

A survey of clinical experience with ciprofloxacin, a new quinolone antimicrobial.

Ciprofloxacin is a new quinolone antimicrobial agent with activity against a broad spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant strains of staphylococci. The efficacy and safety results of 80 clinical studies of the oral form of ciprofloxacin are reported. Drug safety was assessed in 2236 courses in 2203 adult patients treated primarily in the United States. Data from 1676 courses were suitable for analysis of drug efficacy. The unit dose for most patients ranged from 250 mg to 750 mg (median, 500 mg), usually given every 12 hours. The duration of treatment ranged from 3 to 231 days (median, 10 days). Predominant among 1722 infections were those of the urinary tract (43%), skin structures (29%), and respiratory tract (19%); the remainder were bone and joint infections (5%), bacteremias (2%), and intra-abdominal (1%), gastrointestinal (1%), and pelvic infections (less than 1%). Signs and symptoms of infection resolved in 79% of all cases; a further 15% improved, and 5% failed to improve. Pathogens were eradicated in 89% of urinary tract infections and persisted in 5%; 80% of patients still had sterile urine at the 3-to 6-week follow-up. In 81% of nonurinary tract infections, pathogens were eradicated; they persisted in 11%, and superinfection occurred in less than 5%. After treatment, 89% of the 2253 causative organisms were eradicated and 2% were reduced to clinically insignificant counts; 8% persisted. Of 411 isolates of P. aeruginosa, 77% were eradicated, as were 97% of 421 Escherichia coli and 80% of 248 Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Also eradicated were 95% of 166 Klebsiella, 96% of 139 Proteus mirabilis, 100% of 20 other Proteus, 94% of 123 Enterobacter, 100% of 68 Haemophilus influenzae, 96% of 49 Citrobacter, 89% of 45 Serratia, 95% of 41 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 91% of 43 Salmonella, 100% of 38 Morganella morganii, and 100% of 35 Providencia isolates. Adverse reactions were judged probably or possibly drug-related in 14.8% of courses; drug treatment had to be stopped prematurely in 3.5%. The most frequent reactions were gastrointestinal complaints (chiefly nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting), metabolic disorders (elevated SGOT, SGPT, serum creatinine, or blood urea nitrogen), and nervous system effects (dizziness, light-headedness, restlessness, tremor, and headache). Crystalluria, judged to be related to ciprofloxacin, occurred in two patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Mylicon drops in the treatment of infant colic.

The efficacy of simethicone (available in liquid form as Mylicon Drops) in the treatment of infant colic was assessed in 51 healthy infants between 2 and 12 weeks of age. The open-label trial consisted of a one-week study period. Care-givers were to report on the infant's response to treatment after one day and one week of treatment, and in terms of the overall quality of life of both infant and family. Symptoms of colic improved or resolved in 38 infants (78%) after one day of treatment and in 44 (86%) after seven days. On both days, caregivers also noted that the quality of family life was noticeably improved. Mylicon Drops, in a dose of 0.3 ml with each feeding, can cause improvement or complete resolution of the symptoms of infant colic in the vast majority of patients and a better quality of life for both infant and family.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Ciprofloxacin: an update on clinical experience.

This report presents the results of 146 clinical trials of the oral form of ciprofloxacin, a new quinolone antimicrobial agent active against a broad spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant strains of staphylococci. The safety of ciprofloxacin was assessed in 2,829 patients, most of whom were treated in the United States, and the analysis of efficacy was based on data from 3,981 patients evaluated through June 1986. In general, the patients received ciprofloxacin at a dosage of 250 to 750 mg every 12 hours; the median dose was 500 mg twice daily. Dose-ranging studies in male patients with urinary tract infections indicated that a regimen of 500 or 750 mg twice daily was not substantially more effective than a regimen of 250 mg twice daily. Forty-four double-blind, controlled trials were conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of oral ciprofloxacin with those of standard therapeutic agents in the treatment of infections of the urinary tract, skin and skin structure, respiratory tract, and bone. Ciprofloxacin at 250 mg twice daily was as effective as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole at 160/800 mg twice daily in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Orally administered ciprofloxacin in a regimen of 750 mg twice daily was shown to be as effective as cefotaxime administered intravenously at 2 g three times daily in the treatment of infections of the skin and skin structure. When compared with ampicillin for the treatment of respiratory tract infections, ciprofloxacin was as effective in resolving or improving markedly the signs and symptoms of infection and eradicated a higher percentage of causative organisms. Adverse reactions considered probably or possibly related to the drug were reported for 16.2 percent of the patients treated; most were of only mild or moderate intensity and resolved after therapy was completed. Emergence of resistant organisms associated with ciprofloxacin therapy has been reported infrequently.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1987

Sjögren's syndrome: severe upper airways obstruction due to primary malignant tracheal lymphoma developing during successful treatment of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis.

A wide spectrum of respiratory tract involvement may be seen in Sjögren's syndrome, however, multiple manifestations in one patient are unusual. A 65-year-old woman with a 5-year history of Sjögren's syndrome presented with hoarseness and pulmonary infiltrates. Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis, tracheobronchitis with subglottic edema and obstructive small airways disease were initially documented. Dramatic radiographic improvement of the lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis occurred during 14 months of corticosteroid therapy. However, a rare primary malignant lymphoma of the trachea developed and presented with steroid refractory, upper airways obstruction. Subsequent patient management and the dichotomous behavior of the lymphoid infiltrates are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Clinical experience with ciprofloxacin in the USA.

This interim analysis of the efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin is based on case reports of 1241 adult patients treated primarily in the USA; 1026 were suitable for analysis of drug efficacy. The daily dose ranged from 500 to 1500 mg, the unit dose being given every 12 h. Duration of treatment ranged from 5 to 211 days (mean 12.6 days). In 1046 cases of infection the site was the urinary tract (514), skin structures (218), respiratory tract (215), blood (43), bone (27), abdomen (13), gastrointestinal tract (13) and pelvis (3). Organisms responsible for infection were Escherichia coli (282), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (238), Staphylococcus spp. (149), Streptococcus spp. (107), Klebsiella spp. (105), Proteus spp. (97), Haemophilus spp. (71), Enterobacter spp. (58), Salmonella spp. (44), Citrobacter spp. (27), and Serratia spp. (22). Signs and symptoms of infection resolved in 84% of all cases; 12.6% improved and 3.4% failed to improve. Pathogens were eradicated in 91% of urinary tract infections and in 87% of all other cases of infection combined; superinfections occurred in 5.3% of all patients. At the four-week follow-up 83% of patients with urinary tract infection still had sterile urine. Adverse reactions during therapy were considered probably or possibly drug-related in 166 patients. Nausea (37), diarrhea (25), vomiting (15), nervousness (28), and rash (9) were the most frequent; in only 2% of cases was it necessary to discontinue the drug. Results of ophthalmologic studies were generally unremarkable. Occasional elevations of SGOT and SGPT, and rare elevations of NPN related to ciprofloxacin therapy were seen.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1985

Cancer risk of arc welders exposed to fumes containing chromium and nickel.

A retrospective follow-up study among chromium- and nickel-exposed welders, which took into consideration welding procedures, duration of exposure, and smoking habits, yielded an increased cancer risk in a comparison with an internal reference group of turners, milling cutters, and drillers, as well as in a comparison with the general population of the Federal Republic of Germany. Due to the cohort size (1 224 welders, 1 694 turners) and the fact that the observation period is still too short, confirmed statements as to the target cancer sites cannot yet be made. However, it emerges that welding with coated electrodes shows a higher cancer risk as compared to the other welding processes observed. This finding may be explained by the fact that the share of hexavalent chromium compounds in the welding fumes is greater with coated electrodes than with other processes so that a follow-up study observing the health risks of chromium and nickel fumes separately would be warranted. For the confirmation of a more favorable outcome with gas-shielded welding, a larger investigation group or a longer observation period would be required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Failure to thrive associated with chronic ulcer disease in a 9-year-old boy.

Chronic peptic ulcer disease is not generally considered to cause failure to thrive. We are reporting a 9-year-old child who suffered from chronic recurrent abdominal pain and failure to thrive. Investigation revealed that the child also had bacterial overgrowth and evidence of malabsorption. These findings were considered to be due to chronic peptic ulcer disease which caused intermittent small bowel obstruction and gastric outlet obstruction. Successful treatment of the ulcer alone resulted in catch-up growth and an end to the chronic recurrent pain. Recurrent abdominal pain when associated with atypical features or failure to thrive should be adequately investigated. Although rare, chronic peptic ulcer disease with its sequelae should be considered in the differential diagnosis of failure to thrive.

Abdomen↗