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Biomedical subjects

O Müller

Publications and source records attributed to O Müller.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Re-infection in human schistosomiasis mansoni: a prospective field study 18 months after praziquantel therapy.

Twenty-eight Zairean patients with Schistosoma mansoni infection were investigated and treated with praziquantel. Of these, 22 were re-examined 18 months later and 13 were found to be re-infected. Eighteen uninfected Zaireans were monitored concurrently to control for variations unrelated to schistosomiasis. Pathophysiological changes related to liver fibrosis were assessed by the determination of serum cholylglycine and procollagen-III-peptide. Circulating T-cell subsets were quantitated, and shedded T-cell antigens were measured in sera. In patients initially presenting with hepatomegaly, the biochemical indicators for egg-induced immunopathology became normal after therapy and remained normal even after re-infection, when the parasite load attained about 50% of the pretreatment level. Among T-cell phenotypes, CD4+ cells transiently increased by three months after treatment, but after 18 months the CD4/CD8 ratios both in patients then re-infected and in those not re-infected had reverted to the respective balances which had been observed at the start of the investigation. Both soluble CD8 antigen and interleukin 2 receptor in patients' sera were significantly elevated throughout the study period. The results indicate a dissociation of factors regulating fibrogenesis and immunomodulation after treatment and re-infected.

Adolescent↗

The impact of AIDS mortality on children's education in Kampala (Uganda).

The socioeconomic impact of the AIDS epidemic in Uganda has been evaluated through carrying out a household survey in central Kampala. A chronic disease with fever and weight loss, occurring mainly in young adult, caused about 1% mortality in 1988 in the area studied. There was a negative relation between being orphaned and access to school education. It is suggested that community-based AIDS patient care activities should put special emphasis on educational support of these children.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Pediatric HIV-1 disease in a Kampala Hospital.

Data of pediatric patients screened for HIV-1 infection between 1985 and 1989 were studied retrospectively in one of the major mission hospitals of Kampala (Uganda). Symptomatic HIV-1 infection was mainly acquired perinatally and was diagnosed in 87 per cent in children under 2 years of age. The mortality rate was 40 per cent in pediatric in-patients with symptomatic HIV-1 infection as compared to 12 per cent in overall pediatric inpatients. Symptoms included in the WHO clinical case definition for pediatric AIDS were mainly insensitive, unspecific and demonstrated a low positive predictive value. There was no difference in the prevalence of malaria and measles between HIV-1 positive and HIV-1 negative children.

Child↗

Differences in hepatic drug accumulation and enzyme induction after chronic amiodarone feeding of two rat strains: role of the hydroxylator phenotype?

1. It has previously been shown that the extent of hepatic phospholipidosis induced by chronic amiodarone treatment correlates with the degree of drug accumulation in liver tissue. 2. To investigate a possible influence of pharmacogenetic factors, biochemical and morphological investigations were carried out in two rat strains differing in debrisoquine hydroxylation. 3. Plasma and liver tissue concentrations of amiodarone and its main metabolite, desethyl-amiodarone, were significantly higher in rats with deficient hydroxylation. Microsomal enzyme induction, drug cytochrome P-450 complex formation and typical ultrastructural features of phospholipidosis were only seen in rats with deficient hydroxylation and in a more sensitive species, the guinea-pig. 4. It remains to be seen whether deficient debrisoquine hydroxylation in man is associated with an increased susceptibility to amiodarone side effects.

Amiodarone↗

[Non-invasive detection of asymptomatic coronary disease].

The prevalence of silent ischemia is reported to be 1.5-2.5% in middle-aged men. We have calculated the incidence of silent ischemia in a low-risk population consisting of all Norwegian male pilots. During the period from January 1983 to May 1988 54 pathological exercise-ECG were found among 3,430 recordings made on 3,800 individuals. The risk estimate for coronary artery disease was calculated on the basis of clinical history and findings, exercise-ECG, tallium myocardial scintigraphy and measure of the ejection fraction by technetium scintigraphy by means of conditional probability analysis. 30 persons had a low probability estimate, whereas 24 had a high probability estimate. The findings show that non-invasive criteria for coronary artery disease are observed infrequently in a male low-risk population. In our material the annual incidence was 0.10%.

Adult↗

The impact of the AIDS-education programme on Ugandan schoolchildren.

The knowledge and attitudes of young people towards AIDS prevention and AIDS patient care have been evaluated through an investigation of posters sent to a nationwide poster competition by urban schoolchildren in Uganda. The contents of these posters may reflect the current state of the AIDS education campaign and the understanding of the main messages. The schoolchildren were knowledgable about the subject and had a positive attitude towards AIDS-patients. One problem seems to be the understanding of the carrier state of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Homolateral episcleral metastasis or surgical seeding of a proton-irradiated ciliary body melanoma?].

In an eye with a proton beam-irradiated malignant melanoma of the ciliary body a second melanoma appeared episclerally on the opposite side of the globe. Microscopic examination did not show any connection to the primary tumor. The different possibilities of pathogenesis (bloodborn metastasis to the same globe, episcleral metastasis by conjunctival lymphatics, surgical dissemination due to the suturing of tantalum marks around the primary tumor) are discussed. The ciliary melanoma has spread over the iris despite the irradiation, probably as a result of insufficient irradiation of its anterior border. The results of histologic examination of the partially necrotic, partially viable irradiated tumor are considered with regard to the conservative tumor therapy administered.

Ciliary Body↗

Ovarian cancer and tumor markers: sialic acid, galactosyltransferase and CA-125.

In an effort to correlate the serum values of potential markers, including CA-125, galactosyltransferase, and total sialic acid, with residual tumor mass after initial surgery, 43 patients with FIGO stage IIb and c, III and IV ovarian cancer were studied. The sensitivity of galactosyltransferase and sialic acid levels was sufficient to correlate their serum values with the corresponding residual tumor mass. Furthermore, 28 patients were histopathologically evaluated for their response to chemotherapy. Determination of these tumor markers did not permit discrimination between small residual disease (less than or equal to 1 cm) and a state of 'no evidence of disease'. Conversely, progression of disease has been associated with a sensitive increase in the level of all three markers. CA-125 has been found to be the most useful of the three for distinguishing between responders and nonresponders.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Liver involvement in human schistosomiasis mansoni. Regression of immunological and biochemical disease markers after specific treatment.

Peripheral blood cholyglycine and procollagen-III-peptide were measured in 22 Zairean patients with hepatomegaly caused by S. mansoni before and after treatment with praziquantel. Circulating T-cell subsets and cutaneous in vivo delayed type hypersensitivity were assessed; serum neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin served as indicators for macrophage/lymphocyte activation. The results were compared to age and sex matched patients with S. mansoni infection limited to the intestinal tract and schistosomiasis free controls with equal socioeconomic background. Abnormal serum cholyglycine and neopterin levels and alterations of circulating T-cell subset frequencies were associated with hepatomegaly in schistosomiasis. Normalization of these parameters reflected a regression of egg-induced immunopathology as early as two months after specific chemotherapy. Serum procollagen-III-peptide concentrations rose significantly after treatment, suggesting release of propeptide previously incorporated without cleavage into tissue collagen. The combination of these biochemical and immunological parameters may allow assessment of the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for liver disease in individual patients.

Adolescent↗

[Studies on the biological function of the nucleotide base of vitamin B12].

Studies on the coenzyme activity of some nucleotide base analogues of adenosylcobalamine in the dioldehydratase and methyl-malonyl-CoA mutase systems resulted in fundamental differences: Contrary to dioldehydratase the coenzyme activity remains in the methyl-malonyl-CoA mutase system when adenosyl-cobamides with a strongly modified nucleotide base are studied. The analogues give a good growth response with Escherichia coli. In the growth test with Lactobacillus leichmanii only the cobamides that do not have substituted nucleotide bases in the positions 2 or 3 of their imidazole ring are active.

Escherichia coli↗

[Conservative cholelitholysis in the calculus-congested gallbladder].

Daily administration of 500 mg ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid (divided into two doses, morning and evening, corresponding to 8.5 mg per kg body-weight and substance), all concrements in the gall-bladder were dissolved over a period of 14 months in a 60-year-old man for whom surgical treatment was contra-indicated because of severe coronary heart disease. This case illustrates that, in the face of a high operative risk, the attempt to dissolve stones in the gall-bladder by drugs is justified.

Chenodeoxycholic Acid↗

[Possibilities and limits of marking the visual axis of the cornea using the surgical microscope].

In procedures involving refractive corneal surgery, as in the fitting of conventional optical devices for visual correction, the question of correct centering arises, i.e., the surgeon has to determine and mark the point of intersection of the visual axis on the cornea. The operating microscope, which is in any case used for the surgical procedure, provides the simple means of performing this task. The practical application of this procedure, the theory behind it, and suggestions as to possible instrumentation are the subject of this paper.

Cornea↗

Erythrocyte sodium transport in normotensive and hypertensive patients on chronic hemodialysis, acute effect of treatment.

Patients on chronic hemodialysis were divided into two groups: normotensive patients (group I) and renal hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensives (group II). The sodium and potassium contents in red blood cells ([Na+]i, [K+]i), ouabain-resistant net sodium uptake (ORNa+ uptake, phi Na), the relative ORNa+ uptake (k), the mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and acid-base status were examined just before and after dialysis. The results indicate that in treated renal hypertensive patients k is stimulated and causes lower red blood cell sodium content. The reason for this increase remains obscure: the pattern of alterations of the sodium transport components during dialysis is similar in all patients: [Na+]i and phi Na increase significantly during dialysis, and the increases in [Na+]i are closely related to increases in pH and bicarbonate.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

[Effectiveness and tolerance of metipranolol--results of a multi-center long-term study in Switzerland].

The results of this continuing multicenter study revealed a good efficacy and tolerance of Metipranolol used in patients with ocular hypertension and chronic open-angle glaucoma. After 4 weeks' treatment a reduction in average intraocular pressure of 5.6 mmHg could be observed. This favorable effect on pressure values could be confirmed during long-term treatment up to 16 weeks (average reduction in intraocular pressure of 5.9 mmHg equal to 25%). More than 90% of patients treated with 0.1% Metipranolol showed very good or good tolerance. In conclusion, it can be established that 0.1% Metipranolol has also confirmed its value in daily practice and offers an interesting possibility for low-dosage beta-blocker therapy.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

The portacaval and splenocaval shunt in the normal rat. A morphometric and functional reevaluation.

Consequences of a portacaval and a distal splenocaval shunt on the liver were examined in normal male rats with measurements of the fractional clearance of ICG, of aminopyrine demethylation and of the hepatic ultrastructure with morphometric techniques. Twenty days after a portacaval shunt liver weight/100 g body weight was 30% smaller than in sham-operated controls. The most pronounced reduction of 50% occurred with surface area of the RER, whereas hepatocyte volumes, SER-surface area, mitochondria and peroxisomes were reduced between 30 and 40% hepatogenic lysosomes and non-hepatocytes/100 g b.wt. remained unchanged. The loss of liver mass is therefore compatible with the hypothesis, that it is the consequence of a decrease in synthetic and an increase in catabolic processes. The rate of elimination of ICG from plasma was proportional to the liver weight (r = 0,79, n = 20) and 14C-exhalation derived from [14C]aminopyrine was correlated with the surface of the SER (r = 0.72, n = 20), confirming that the morphometrically observed changes are functionally relevant. The lack of morphological and functional sequelae following distal splenocaval shunt suggests that blood drained by the splenic vein is not essential for the integrity of the liver in rats.

Aminopyrine↗

Effect of exercise training in patients with essential hypertension.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of regular exercise training in moderate essential hypertension. Twenty subjects (one woman and 19 men) trained for 45 minutes three times a week for 12 weeks, to 60% of their maximal heart rate. Blood pressure was measured at rest and during a maximal exercise test on bicycle ergometer. All subjects achieved training effect measured as a significant reduction in heart rate at comparable submaximal work level and a significant increase in duration of exercise. Diastolic blood pressure at rest decreased from 107 +/- 7 to 101 +/- 5 mmHg (P < 0.01), and at corresponding submaximal exercise level 116 +/- 11 to 106 +/- 11 mmHg (P < 0.01). No significant reduction in systolic blood pressure was found. Exercise training might in some patients with moderate essential hypertension be an alternative to pharmacological treatment.

Adult↗