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Biomedical subjects

R Lauer

Publications and source records attributed to R Lauer.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of diet and sexual maturation on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol during puberty: the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC).

BACKGROUND: The Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC) is a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial designed to examine the efficacy and safety of a dietary intervention to reduce serum LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in children with elevated LDL-C. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effects of dietary intake of fat and cholesterol and of sexual maturation and body mass index (BMI) on LDL-C were examined in a 3-year longitudinal study of 663 boys and girls (age 8 to 10 years at baseline) with elevated LDL-C levels. Multiple linear regression was used to predict LDL-C at 3 years. For boys, LDL-C decreased by 0.018 mmol/L for each 10 mg/4.2 MJ decrease in dietary cholesterol (P<.05). For girls, no single nutrient was significant in the model, but a treatment group effect was evident (P<.05). In both sexes, BMI at 3 years and LDL-C at baseline were significant and positive predictors of LDL-C levels. In boys, the average LDL-C level was 0.603 mmol/L lower at Tanner stage 4+ than at Tanner stage 1 (P<.01). In girls, the average LDL-C level was 0.274 mmol/L lower at Tanner stage 4+ than at Tanner stage 1 (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: In pubertal children, sexual maturation, BMI, dietary intervention (in girls), and dietary cholesterol (in boys) were significant in determining LDL-C. Sexual maturation was the factor associated with the greatest difference in LDL-C. Clinicians screening for dyslipidemia or following dyslipidemic children should be aware of the powerful effects of pubertal change on measurements of lipoproteins.

Body Mass Index↗

Salvage therapy in recurrent germ cell cancer: ifosfamide and cisplatin plus either vinblastine or etoposide.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of the addition of ifosfamide to cisplatin plus etoposide (VIP), or vinblastine (VeIP), in patients with recurrent germ cell tumors. DESIGN: Nonrandomized, prospective phase II trial. SETTING: Tertiary referral university hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-six of fifty-eight entered patients with measurable and progressive recurrent germ cell tumors of testicular (46 patients), ovarian (1 patient), and extragonadal (9 patients) origin were evaluable for response after not being cured with cisplatin, vinblastine, and etoposide regimens. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were administered cisplatin (20 mg/m2 body surface area daily for 5 days), ifosfamide (1.2 g daily for 5 days), plus either etoposide (75 mg daily for 5 days) or vinblastine (0.11 mg/kg body weight on days 1 and 2). In addition, vigorous intravenous hydration therapy with normal saline (100 to 125 mL/h) was administered during the treatment course. Uroepithelial protective agents, N-acetylcysteine (orally) or mesna (intravenously), were administered. Four courses were administered to responding patients every 3 weeks. When complete excision was feasible, surgical resection of residual tumor was done approximately 6 to 8 weeks after chemotherapy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twelve of fifty-six evaluable patients had a complete remission with chemotherapy alone, whereas 8 additional patients were free of disease after resection of teratoma (3 patients) or carcinoma (5 patients) for a total disease-free rate of 36% (95% CI, 23.4 to 49.6). The 95% CI median duration of remission for these patients is 34 months (range, 3 to more than 42; 95% CI, 9 months to infinity), and the median survival for all eligible patients is 12.7 months (95% CI, 10 months to 26 months), with 15 of the 20 patients who achieved disease-free status alive 18 to 53 months or more. Nine of fifty-eight patients remain free of disease, including 7 patients for 2 years or longer. Hematologic and nephrotoxicity were the predominant drug-related toxicities, with one drug-related death secondary to pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Ifosfamide combination chemotherapy as third-line or greater therapy can produce durable complete remissions in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent germ cell tumors.

Adolescent↗

Cutaneous inoculation tuberculosis secondary to 'jailhouse tattooing'.

Cutaneous inoculation tuberculosis is rare in the United States today. When seen, it usually occurs in individuals whose occupations or environments place them at increased risk for exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The reaction of the skin to M tuberculosis infection is polymorphous and depends upon the interplay of bacterial virulence and host immunity. Thus, both a high index of suspicion and positive cultures are required to make the diagnosis. Herein, we report a case of cutaneous inoculation tuberculosis occurring in a tattoo.

Adult↗

Actin distribution and synthesis in human fibroblasts infected by cytomegalovirus.

"Early functions" of human cytomegalovirus were found to induce a loss of microfilaments as revealed by indirect immunofluorescence and by the use of fluorescent phalloidin. Actin synthesis in infected cultures, on the other hand, appeared to be largely unchanged as estimated from the specific radioactivity of cytoplasmic actin.

Actins↗

Coping with grim news from genetic tests.

Clinicians need to recognize and respond to stress response syndromes that may occur after patients have received genetic testing for inherited susceptibility to serious diseases. For patients whose test results convey high risk, increased attention to prevention, surveillance, and early medical treatment may be possible, but the grim news may also lead to a formation of symptoms ranging from extreme denial to unwelcomed intrusive ideas and feelings. Genetic counseling alone may be insufficient for some people, and evaluation and psychotherapy for stress response syndromes may be indicated for them.

Adaptation, Psychological↗