Biomedical subjects

R Klopp

Publications and source records attributed to R Klopp.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Microcirculatory effects of a homeopathic preparation in patients with mild vertigo: an intravital microscopic study.

The effects of the homeopathic preparation Vertigoheel on variables related to microcirculation were investigated using vital microscopy techniques in patients with vestibular vertigo. In a non-randomized, open study, 16 patients given Vertigoheel were compared with 16 untreated patients. Measurements were carried out in two areas (defined by selecting 60 blood-cell perfused nodal points of arterioles, venules, and capillaries with a mean diameter > or = 40 microm): the cuticulum/subcuticulum of the inside left lower arm and an area 5 mm behind the left earlobe. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients receiving the homeopathic preparation exhibited an increased number of nodal points, increased flow rates of erythrocytes in both arterioles and venules, increased vasomotion, and a slight reduction in hematocrit vs. baseline. None of these changes were observed in the control group and the differences between treatment groups were statistically significant. Partial oxygen pressure increased significantly in the Vertigoheel group compared with the control group. In addition, in Vertigoheel patients, significantly increased numbers of cell-wall adhering leucocytes were observed, accompanied by increased local concentrations of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1. The microcirculatory changes were associated with a reduction in the severity of vertigo in the actively treated patients, both as assessed by the treating physician and by the patients themselves. The data support a pharmacological effect on microcirculation from the treatment.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Nutrient removal in the river basin of the Ruhr--a German case study.

In the catchment area of the Ruhr, restructuring and upgrading measures in the domain of wastewater and stormwater treatment have been under way since 1990 to successively implement the currently applicable legal requirements for nutrient removal. With 2.1 million inhabitants and a design capacity of 3.7 million population equivalents (PE), it is expected that approximately DM 2 billion still have to be invested from 2000 onward. With this it will be possible to further cut the nutrient load in the Ruhr River, that has been declining consistently since the 1970s: by about 25% for Ntotal and about 10% for Ptotal. The anticipated decrease in ammonia-nitrogen in winter is particularly important for drinking water production from the river water (bank filtration). Whether and to what an extent the expected decline in phosphorus concentrations will curb eutrophication in the Ruhr with its several impounded stretches remains to be seen. Further nutrient load reductions cannot be achieved by sewage treatment-related measures. Load balances underline the adverse impact of diffuse or non-point sources, in particular, for nitrogen. Some potential to further improve the situation is seen in minimizing the nutrient releases from agricultural practices.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2000

Effect of four treatment variants on the functional and cosmetic state of mature scars.

A randomised, intra-individual, comparative study demonstrated that both qualitative improvements and significant changes in skin functional condition can be achieved in the tissue of older, mature scars. Four treatment modalities were studied in an intra-individual comparison involving 12 volunteers with 2.5 to 4-year-old scars. The treatments were: a self-adherent, hydroactive, polyurethane dressing alone; polyurethane plus compression; silicone sheeting plus compression; and compression alone. Evaluation criteria were changes in the microcirculation, roughness and the skin temperature of the scar tissue. All treatment modalities were found to have significant effects both on tissue function and scar tissue surface structure. The most pronounced effects were achieved with the combination of polyurethane dressing plus compression or silicone sheeting plus compression. The positive effect of the polyurethane dressing alone on scar tissue was even slightly superior to that of compression therapy alone.

Cicatrix↗

PubMed2000

Water management for development of water quality in the Ruhr River basin.

On the Ruhr, a small river running through hilly country and with a mean flow of 76 m3/s, 27 water works use the method of artificial groundwater recharge to produce 350 million m3 of drinking water annually. On the basis of a special act, the Ruhr River Association is responsible for water quality and water quantity management in the Ruhr basin. The present 94 municipal sewage treatment plants ensure that the raw water is sufficiently good to be turned into drinking water. In the Ruhr's lower reaches, where dry weather results in a 20% share of the entire water flow being treated wastewater, comparatively high concentration of substances of domestic or industrial origin are likely, including substances which municipal wastewater treatment measures cannot entirely remove. These substances include ammonium, coliform bacteria or pathogens, boron and organic trace substances. Although water treatment measures have greatly contributed to the considerable improvement of the Ruhr's water quality in the last few decades, it is desirable to continue to aim at a high standard of drinking water production technologies since the Ruhr is a surface water body influenced by anthropogenic factors. However, in the case of substances infiltrating into drinking water, legislation is required if a reduction of pollution appears to be necessary.

Germany↗

PubMed1999

Bladder infection in the menopausal monkey.

PURPOSE: The highest incidence of urinary tract infection in females occurs in elderly women. This study was done to determine whether this is due to the declining immune response that occurs during advancing age, or the menopausal state in the aged. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult female monkeys (average age 19 years) were studied, half being subjected to bilateral oophorectomy to produce the menopause. In addition, old females (average age 29 years) already at menopause were studied before and after hormonal replacement with estradiol and progesterone. Bacterial adherence to vaginal cells was studied prior to and after urethral infection with E. coli. Plasma estradiol and progesterone levels were done, as well as white blood counts, plasma cytokine assays and serum antibody titers. RESULTS: Bacteriuria was not prolonged, nor was there a significant difference in bacterial adherence to vaginal cells due to menopause. Interleukin-1 levels were depressed after surgical menopause but not as much as found in the old menopausal females and this low level was not corrected by hormonal replacement. The initial interleukin-2 levels were higher after spontaneous menopause, but the increasing plasma levels seen in cycling animals after infection did not occur in the aged menopausal females following infection even after hormone replacement. The antibody titers to the E. coli infection showed a trend to a lessened response to infection after menopause but were not significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The deficient Il-1, Il-2 and antibody response following infection was not corrected by hormone replacement and thus appears to be due to aging rather than lack of female hormones. These facts may be explained by the T cell senescence known to occur in aged individuals.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1995

Changes in the microcirculation of the intact rat heart after iodinated and gadolinium-containing contrast media.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: A new model was developed to study microcirculation in the intact heart of the anesthetized rat, and the effects of roentgenography and magnetic resonance imaging contrast media were investigated. METHODS: Roentgenography contrast media (600 mg iodine/kg), gadopentetate (0.25 mmol/kg), or physiological saline were injected intraarterially into anesthetized rats (N = 10) whose chests had been opened in a pressurized container. The effects on arterial and venous vasomotion and microhemodynamics of the capillary network were determined in vivo by combined incidental light-fluoroscopic microscopy using continuous 35-mm cine film and video recordings from 5 minutes before until 20 minutes after injection. The amplitude and frequency spectra were evaluated according to the Prony method and by Fourier analysis. Additionally, the number of perfused vessel bifurcations were counted. RESULTS: Gadopentetate exhibited no effects on microcirculation, and diatrizoate exhibited the largest ones. The deformation of the vasomotion spectrum reached 28%, and bifurcations were reduced by 21%. The effects were reversible within 10 minutes of injection. Iotrolan showed minimal disturbance. The other contrast media (iopromide, iopamidol, ioxaglate) fell between these two extremes. CONCLUSION: High-osmolar ionic roentgenography contrast media resulted in a transient deregulation of vasomotion and in a disturbed microcirculation in the rat heart. Isotonic or low-osmolar nonionic roentgenography contrast media or gadopentetate did not show this effect or showed it only to a minimal extent.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Elimination of the diatrizoate-induced effects on the microcirculation by the prostacyclin derivative, iloprost.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Contrast media, especially high-osmolar ionic compounds elicit drastic effects on the microcirculation. In some areas of the microcirculatory network, blood flow decreases up to total stasis; in other areas, blood velocity increases. The authors studied the effect of the stable prostacyclin derivative, iloprost, added to the diatrizoate formulation on the number of perfused microvessels in the rat intestine. METHODS: Diatrizoate (600 mg iodine/kg) and increasing concentrations of iloprost, ranging from a total dose of 0 to 560 ng/kg, were injected intravenously into groups of four anesthetized male rats. The number of unperfused microvessels in the intestine were determined by in vivo microscopy. Each animal received two treatments at an interval of 35 minutes. One treatment consisted of diatrizoate alone, the other treatment consisted of diatrizoate plus iloprost. Two animals of each group received first diatrizoate alone and then diatrizoate plus iloprost. The other two animals first received diatrizoate plus iloprost and then diatrizoate alone. RESULTS: Diatrizoate alone reduced the number of perfused microvessels by 45%. The addition of iloprost resulted in a dose-dependent improvement of microcirculation. At a dose of 280 ng/kg, the effects of diatrizoate were completely abolished. Increasing the dose further diminished this effect. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of iloprost to diatrizoate eliminates the deleterious effects of diatrizoate on microcirculation.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

[Animal experimental studies on the microcirculation of ionic and nonionic x-ray contrast media].

In vivo microscopic (video) investigations on the variability of flow conditions in the myocardium and intestines of anaesthesized normal tension rats after application of various ionic and non-ionic contrast media (Amidotrizoate, Ioxaglate, Iopromide, Iohexol, Iotrolan). Amidotrizoate causes heterogeneous microperfusion and functional shunt vessels (distribution disorder) with the typical symptoms of disturbed microcirculation. Ioxaglate, Iopromide, Iohexol and Iotrolan influence microcirculation differently but always to a far less degree.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

[Experimental studies of the vascular reactions in selected microcirculatory areas as affected by various x-ray contrast media].

After application of various ionic and non-ionic contrast media in the myocardium and intestine of rats, significant changes of flow conditions in the terminal vascular bed were observed with intravital microscopy: Amidotrizoate causes severe disorder in microcirculation distribution (heterogeneous perfusion, functional shunts), while Ioxaglate, Iopromide, Iohexol, Iotrolan cause significantly less microcirculation reactions.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Transplantation of cultured thymus fragments. III. Induction of allotolerance.

Balb/c nude mice were transplanted with cultured thymic fragments from C57BL/6, hybrid (C57BL/6xC3H F1 or BALB/cxC3H F1) or 2 separate strains simultaneously. Tolerance to H-2 of the thymus donor strain(s) was assessed by skin-graft acceptance and was seen in all cases except where 2 thymuses, each of differing strains, were transplanted simultaneously. Examination of mixed leukocyte culture and cell mediated lympholysis revealed blunted reactivity against thymus donor strains when skin graft tolerance was seen. Demonstration of a suppressor cell population was unsuccessful although a decreased cytotoxic T-cell potential was suggested by decreased GVH activity. These studies showed a unique dependence upon the thymus gland for the phenomenon demonstrated and are taken to be an example of a more generalized process in which effector cell function of the thymus is controlled by intrathymic events during the early maturation of precursor effector cells.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in immunological characteristics of white blood cells after administration of standardized mistletoe extract.

After administering standardized mistletoe extract, Viscum album L, (Iscador injections of 0.1 mg twice and 1.0 mg in defined intervals) the functional characteristics of microcirculation and immunological behavior of the white blood cells in different target tissues (derma, intestine) were investigated in healthy volunteers by vital microscopic investigation over 13 days of observation. The investigations showed a temporarily improved function of the microcirculation and an increased adhesion and transmigration of white blood cells in the target tissue areas. This observation was evaluated as a biologically relevant immunomodulation. Further investigations under pathophysiological conditions with regard to complementary administration of the test substance (e.g. to cancer patients) appear promising.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of complementary Viscum album (Iscador) administration on microcirculation and immune system of ear, nose and throat carcinoma patients treated with radiation and chemotherapy.

With the techniques of vital microscopic and reflection spectrometric imaging, representative characteristics of microcirculation and immunology of white blood cells were evaluated before, during and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy of patients suffering from ear, nose and throat carcinomas. Adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on the microcirculation and the immune system were decreased and reconstitution processes were accelerated by complementary administration of a standardized mistletoe extract (Iscador).

Aged↗