PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

R Hartung

Publications and source records attributed to R Hartung.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Modulation of in vitro cell growth of human and murine urothelial tumor cell lines under the influence of interleukin-3, granulocyte-, macrophage- and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor.

To elucidate possible growth-modulating effects of interleukin 3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines T24, RT112, EJ and 647 V were solitarily and continuously exposed to these hematopoietic growth factors at concentrations of 1-100 ng/ml. The murine line MBT-2 was used as a negative and the colon carcinoma cell line HTB38 as a positive control, because of species specificity and known proliferation in response to growth factors, respectively. In the T24 TCC-line solitary and continuous exposure to IL-3, GM-CSF and G-CSF at the highest concentration of 100 ng/ml led to a significant proliferation of cell growth in vitro. Significant proliferation in the RT112 line was only achieved with continuous exposure to IL-3 and GM-CSF (100 ng/ml); G-CSF failed to induce growth modulation in the RT112 line. No significant proliferative effect of any of cytokines administered was observed in the 647V line. Exposure of the EJ line to cytokines at the highest activity levels had a proliferative effect only in suboptimal growth conditions.

Adenocarcinoma

Adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate in human semen: correlation with sperm count and motility.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) have been correlated with traditional semen parameters such as forward motility and sperm count. ATP and ADP were determined by a bioluminescence assay using the luciferin-luciferase reaction. Short boiling of the ejaculate was performed to inactivate phosphatases (ATPases) in the seminal plasma and the sperm tails. Fresh and deep-frozen semen samples from 45 men with oligozoospermia (n = 22) and normal sperm count (n = 23) were evaluated. Freezing of the sperm for 12 weeks did not effect the ATP or ADP content in the spermatozoa as compared to fresh semen. ATP and ADP concentration was in the range of picomoles/microliter and showed a significant correlation with the number of normal sperm per milliliter and a less marked correlation with the sperm motility. ATP and ADP concentration in the spermatozoa can be measured relatively easy and is reproducible. Unlike the monotonous evaluation of sperm motility by a technician, this biochemical method provides an objective parameter for semen quality. These qualities suggest that this method could be a way to determine the fertilizing potential of semen and to relate this to actual pregnancy rates.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Implantation metastasis after a suprapubic catheter in a case of bladder cancer.

We report about a patient who was treated with a percutaneous suprapubic cystostomy in order to relieve repeated urinary retention. Two hours later a bladder tumor was found and the suprapubic catheter was removed. After transurethral resection of the bladder tumor the histological specimen showed a pT3 G3 squamous cell carcinoma. Because of the age and reduced performance status of the patient a radical cystectomy was contraindicated. In a second approach we performed again a transurethral resection of the bladder tumor simultaneously with a resection of the prostate. Eight weeks later the patient was admitted to our hospital because of reduced performance status and gross haematuria. We found a widespread bladder tumor with an implantation metastasis in the abdominal wall at the site where the suprapubic catheter was placed and multiple lung metastases. The patient died within one week after admission. The literature is reviewed and therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Aged

Effect of digital rectal examination on serum concentration of prostate-specific antigen.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is used for screening and follow-up of patients with prostate cancer. The effect of certain diagnostic procedures on PSA serum levels is not well defined. Therefore, the effect of digital rectal examination (DRE) on PSA serum levels was investigated. No significant difference was observed in PSA values before and after DRE when blood samples were taken 1-3 min after palpation of the prostate. Kinetic studies demonstrated a significant increase in PSA values up to the factor 3.2 in 14 of 19 patients 2-6 h after DRE. In 9 of 14 cases, PSA was within the initial range 24 h after DRE. That means that a urologist is allowed to take blood samples for the determination of PSA at least within 3 min after palpating a suspicious prostate without getting false-positive results.

Aged

Patterns of ploidy in renal cell carcinoma.

In a prospective study the patterns of ploidy in 119 kidneys from patients with renal cell carcinoma were analyzed by flow cytometry. A rate of DNA aneuploidy of 53% was observed in the investigated tumors. However, in 4% of the kidneys aneuploid cell distributions were also proven in macroscopically intact tissue far away from the tumor. Although we do not know at present, if these were benign, premalignant or malignant cell alterations, this observation should be considered for decisions regarding conservative renal surgery.

Aneuploidy

[Pedicled penis skin flap for unilateral correction of extensive urethral strictures including meatus reconstruction].

Many techniques have been described for the repair of recurrent urethral strictures. We report our experience with the use of vascularized island skin flap repairs of urethral strictures as a one-stage procedure in 24 patients and describe the rationale for selection of the procedure, surgical technique used, results and complications. Using the pedicled penile island flap and the inner preputial skin one-stage correction is possible in urethral strictures up to the tip of the penis. The combined use of scrotal skin increases the risk of complications and thus should be avoided. Meatal reconstruction as described by De Sy gives excellent functional and cosmetic results.

Adolescent

[Initial studies of the possibility of selective ablation of arteriosclerotic vascular changes using laser-induced shock waves].

We studied the effect of laser-induced shock waves in 94 arterial segments from freshly obtained autopsy material. In analogy to the well-established method of shock-wave based lithotripsy, the new principle of our treatment depends on an indirect interaction of the laser energy with the arterial wall via laser-induced mechanical shock waves (angiotripsy). We used a Nd:YAG laser, 1064 nm, 8-20 ns pulse-length to create shock waves that effected smooth craters in arteriosclerotically affected arteries. The histological examination found no thermal damage. Shock waves applied to the healthy and normal arterial wall only resulted in focal intimal ablation and in a minor loosening of the medial structures. The examination of the irrigation solution by means of a laser-guided, high-resolution analysis of the particles revealed that, in 97%, the particles created by our shock wave angiotripsy showed a diameter of less than 5 mm and an area of less than 25 mm2. Based on these first in vitro results, it seems possible to ablate arteriosclerotically affected tissue without significant damage to normal wall segments. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to evaluate the clinical implications of this new therapeutic approach.

Angioplasty, Laser

Laser-induced shock wave lithotripsy. Influence of laser pulse energy and irrigation solutions on stone disintegration.

With a high intensity Q-switched Nd-YAG laser shock waves can be generated in a liquid close to the calculus. Up to 80 mJ single pulse energy with 8 nsec pulse duration can be transmitted through flexible quartz fibers. Energy conversion and enhancement can be accomplished at the fiber tip with optical focussing of the light at the quartz tip, with irrigation solutions and with high pulse energies. Iron-III-dextran solutions (1 mg Fe3+/1) and magnesium chloride (50 mmol/l) increased the pressure in the laser induced breakdown up to ten times (8,000-10,000 bar). Smaller stone particles and higher efficacy in stone fragmentation could be achieved.

Humans

[Laser lithotripsy with the neodymium YAG laser].

Laser-induced shock wave lithotripsy (LISL) with a Q-switched neodymium-YAG laser depends on the generation of a laser-induced breakdown in the fluid surrounding the stone. An oscillating plasma bubble is created, directing shock waves towards the stone. These cavitational effects fragment the calculus into small particles. A new bifunctional laser is introduced: this allows both nanosecond pulses for shock wave generation and disintegration of urinary calculi and millisecond pulses for biliary stones and tissue coagulation. It can be supplied with 320-, 400-, and 600-micron fibers. We have treated 189 ureteric stones in 185 patients with laser lithotripsy utilizing flexible ureteroscopes (n = 26) or rigid ureteroscopes (n = 159). It proved possible to fragment 179 stones into small pieces. In eight patients LISL was not successful. A rigid cystoscope that can be dismantled into an upper and lower hemisheath for the introduction of flexible endoscopes into the ureter without prior dilatation of the ureteral orifice was used in 15 patients.

Cystoscopes

First clinical experience with a Q-switched neodymium:YAG laser for urinary calculi.

Animal studies using a high intensity nanosecond pulsed neodymium:YAG laser did not reveal any serious tissue damage. Following these investigations patient treatment was begun in June 1987. Laser energy of a neodymium:YAG laser with an 8 nsec. pulse duration and a repetition rate of up to 50 Hz. was coupled into a flexible 600 resp. 400 micron. quartz fiber. Laser-induced breakdown was created with 35 to 50 mJ. at the fiber tip, resulting in a shock wave that disintegrated the calculus into tiny fragments. A total of 56 patients with 58 calculi (54 ureteral and 4 kidney stones) was treated from June 1987 to March 1988. Of the calculi 48 could be fragmented completely, while 6 others were reduced to a size small enough to be removed with forceps. Four stones composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate could not be disintegrated. The combination of laser stone disintegration with flexible ureterorenoscopy implies the possibility of an atraumatic, 1-step procedure for fragmentation of ureteral and kidney calculi.

Endoscopy

Phosphatidylcholine-fatty acid membranes. I. Effects of protonation, salt concentration, temperature and chain-length on the colloidal and phase properties of mixed vesicles, bilayers and nonlamellar structures.

The phase and colloidal properties of phosphatidylcholine/fatty acid (PC/FA) mixed vesicles have been investigated by optical methods, acid-base titration, and theoretically as a function of temperature (5-80 degrees C), molar lipid ratio (0-1), lipid chain length (C14-C18), headgroup ionization (1.5 less than or equal to pH less than or equal to 10), vesicle concentration (0.05-32 mumol vesicle.dm-3, and ionic strength (0.005 less than or equal to J less than or equal to 0.25). Increasing the fatty acid concentration in PC bilayers causes the phase transition temperatures (at 4 less than or equal to pH less than or equal to 5) to rise until, for more than 2 FA molecules per PC molecule, the sample turbidity exhibits only two transitions corresponding to the chain-melting of the 1:2 stoichiometric complexes of PC/FA, and pure fatty acid. The former transition is into a nonlamellar phase and is accompanied by extremely rapid vesicle aggregation (with association rates on the order of Ca approximately 10(7) dm3.mol-1.s-1) and massive lipid precipitation. Fluid-phase vesicles with less than 2 FA per PC associate much more slowly (Ca approximately 10(3) dm3.mol-1.s-1), their aggregation being comparable to that of the ordered-phase liposomes. Under no conditions was the relation between the fatty acid concentration and the vesicle association rate for the fluid-phase vesicles linear. In contrast to the X-ray diffraction data, optical measurements reveal a 'pretransitional region' between the chain-melting temperature of the PC component and the temperature at which the gross transformation into a nonlamellar phase sets in. This is seen for all lipid mixtures investigated. On the relative temperature scale, lipids with different chain lengths behave qualitatively similarly; however, the effective association constants determined for samples of constant lipid concentration seem to decrease somewhat with the number of CH2 groups per chain. Fatty acid protonation, which yields electrically neutral bilayers, invariably increases the rate of vesicle association; we have measured, for example, Ca approximately 10(2) at pH approximately 7 and Ca approximately 10(7) dm3.mol-1.s-1 at pH approximately 4). Protonation of the phosphatidylcholine phosphate groups, which causes a net positive charge to accumulate on the lipid vesicles, initially increases (Ca approximately 10(8) dm3.mol-1.s-1) but ultimately decreases (Ca approximately 10(7) dm3.mol-1.s-1) the rate of association between PC/FA (1:2) mixed vesicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Chemical Phenomena

Laser induced shock wave lithotripsy--biologic effects of nanosecond pulses.

Laser energy of a Nd-YAG laser (1064 nm. wave length, 8 nsec pulse duration) was directed against various tissue cultures and the urothelium of the ureter, bladder and kidney parenchyma in pigs. Single pulse energy was 50 to 120 mJ with a repetition rate of 20 Hz. Urothelium and kidney parenchyma were irradiated in seven pigs. Tissue samples were examined histologically and electron microscopically directly, two, four, eight and 12 days after irradiation. No macroscopic lesion could be found. Maximum energy caused a small 'rupture cone' of 40 micron. depth. No thermic effects or necrosis resulted, so that no harm is to be expected with unintentional irradiation during laser stone disintegration.

Animals

Use of pulsed Nd:YAG laser in the ureter.

An Nd-YAG laser of 1064-nm wavelength, 8-nanosecond pulse duration, and single-pulse energy of 20 to 80 mJ can create shock waves with a peak pressure of 1000 bar in less than 4 nanoseconds. The safety of this laser has been demonstrated in cultured cells, whole blood, and porcine urothelium. Clinically, ureteral calculi have been removed from 24 of 27 patients.

Animals

[Special aspects of right colon cancer].

752 patients with colon carcinoma of the years 1966-1985 were studied retrospectively. 189 tumors were located in the right and 563 in the left colon. There was no difference in the 5-year survival rate, Dukes classification and operative mortality in both groups. Considering the higher median of tumor diameter, the three months longer diagnostic delay and the twice higher rate of undifferentiated carcinomas the prognosis of the right sided tumors is relatively better. In our opinion the cause of this more efficient local tumor defence is the better blood and lymph supply of the right colon and mucosal mechanisms. Expression of this better tumor defence is the distinct tumor colitis in the right colon. Improvement of the right colon carcinoma prognosis is to be expected of earlier tumor diagnosis. Routine endoscopic evaluation of hemoccult positive subjects is most helpful.

Adult

Animal experiments on hemostasis with a collagen-fibrin tissue-adhesive sealant in the nephrostomy tract.

After a median laparatomy, nephrostomy was performed on 22 porcine kidneys: puncture, dilatation and introduction of a 26-French operating sheath through the parenchyma into the renal pelvis. At the end of the operation, an 8-French nephrostomy catheter prepared with a collagen-fibrin tissue-adhesive sealant was introduced through the operating sheath and the sheath was afterwards extracted. The hemostasis in the nephrostomy tract was very good in all 22 cases. There were no complications such as wound infection or stone formation during a post-operative period of between one and 95 days. Experimental investigations showed severe bleeding in nontamponade of the nephrostomy tract, in tamponade with an 8-French nephrostomy catheter and in tamponade of the nephrostomy tract with the collagen fleece wrapped around an 8-French nephrostomy catheter but not coated with the fibrin glue.

Animals