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Biomedical subjects

R Sommer

Publications and source records attributed to R Sommer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Monitoring of laboratory parameters during carbamazepine therapy in psychiatric patients.

In recent years, carbamazepine has increasingly also been used in psychiatric indications. However, the manifold action of this drug also manifests itself in a number of adverse effects. In a prospective study including 46 patients, who were given carbamazepine for psychiatric indications and most of whom were also treated with one or several other psychotropic drugs, the following laboratory parameters were determined at two-weekly intervals: red and white blood count, platelets, SGOT, SGPT, gamma GT, alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium, serum sodium, IgA, IgG, IgM. Statistically significant changes were found in erythrocytes, leucocytes, platelets (decrease), Gamma GT (increase), serum calcium (decrease), IgA, IgM (decrease). The clinical relevance of these changes is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Collaborative research with a family support organization.

Technical assistance on seven self-surveys was provided to a statewide family support organization. The collaborative approach increased client involvement, offered significant economies, and reduced barriers to dissemination, at the same time requiring trade-offs between methodological rigor and utility to the group.

Communication↗
PubMed1992

Results of the multicenter evaluation of the CEDIA cortisol assay.

The present paper describes the multicenter evaluation of the CEDIA Cortisol test for total cortisol. The observed linearity of the test was between 1.2 and 50 micrograms/dL cortisol. The limit of detection was calculated as 1.2/dL. Imprecision studies covering the diagnostically relevant range (5-20 micrograms/dL cortisol) yielded coefficients of variation between 1.7-8.9% (within-run) and 2.7-10.5% (between-day). An interlaboratory survey using 41 human samples and three control sera demonstrated that the new CEDIA Cortisol assay has a good interlaboratory transferability. Method comparison studies between the CEDIA Cortisol test and EIA, FIA, FPIA, and various RIAs yielded an acceptable level of agreement and concordant results in most cases. Low cross-reactivity of the antibody used in the new cortisol assay was observed with precursors or metabolites of cortisol. Especially, dexamethasone did not cross-react. However, prednisolone, 6-methylprednisone, and corticosterone showed cross-reactivities. No limitation by endogenous interferences was observed. The CEDIA Cortisol assay permits the precise, fast and sufficiently specific determination of cortisol. Furthermore, it offers the advantages of a non-radioactive assay and can be performed conveniently on Boehringer Mannheim/Hitachi analyzers in combination with routine clinical chemistry.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

[Long-term therapy of immune neutropenia with high-dose 7S immunoglobulin in a child].

A 15 month old girl with suspected immune neutropenia was treated with high dose immunoglobulin because of recurrent infections over a period of 9 months. Before therapy her neutrophil counts were below 0.5 G/l. With monthly intravenous immunoglobulin her neutrophils remained above 0.5 G/l with one exception. Even after 9 months the patient responded well to therapy, she did not experience new episodes of infections. We suggest that in case of recurrent infections high dose immunoglobulin therapy should be considered in patients with immune neutropenia before the occurrence of life threatening infections.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1992

[The role of serum gliadin antibodies in the diagnosis of celiac disease].

Gliadin antibodies (IgA and IgG) have been determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in our laboratory since 1987. 25 AU (arbitrary units) is recommended as the upper limit of the normal range. Here we report the results of the determinations of gliadin IgA antibodies in 70 patients suspected of having coeliac disease (CD), who underwent a small bowel biopsy for the first time. In 15 untreated patients with proven CD gliadin IgA antibodies ranged from 105 to 765 AU (median = 232 AU), in contrast to the findings in 55 patients with other gastrointestinal diseases (range from 0 to 175 AU, median = 9 AU; p less than 0.0001). The calculated sensitivity was 100% and the specificity reached 62% using 25 AU as a cut off. The recommendation of a higher cut off (50 AU) to achieve a higher specificity (82%) with equal sensitivity is discussed using the ROC curves and the Youden Index. Gliadin IgG antibodies were simultaneously determined in 29 out of the 70 patients. Taking 25 AU as a cut off the sensitivity was also 100% but the specificity was lower (29%) in comparison with gliadin IgA antibody testing. The determination of gliadin IgA antibodies by a standardized EIA is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool for screening candidates for small bowel biopsy suspected of having CD. The number of jejunal biopsies can be greatly reduced by using this test. It can also be used for monitoring patients under gluten-free diet or gluten challenge.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1991

Asterixis as a side effect of carbamazepine therapy.

A patient developed asterixis 13 weeks after starting a therapy with carbamazepine. Serum concentration of carbamazepine was within the therapeutic levels. Further factors which might have provoked asterixis were an impairment of pulmonary function and the combination with a neuroleptic and lithium. Since the latter risk factors had already been present for a long time, it may be assumed that the addition of carbamazepine triggered the development of asterixis.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1991

Segmentation gene expression in the housefly Musca domestica.

Drosophila and Musca both belong to the group of higher dipteran flies and show morphologically a very similar early development. However, these two species are evolutionary separated by at least 100 million years. This presents the opportunity for a comparative analysis of segmentation gene expression across a large evolutionary distance in a very similar embryonic background. We have analysed in detail the early expression of the maternal gene bicoid, the gap genes hunchback, Krüppel, knirps and tailless, the pair-rule gene hairy, the segment-polarity gene engrailed and the homoeotic gene Ultrabithorax. We show that the primary expression domains of these genes are conserved, while some secondary expression aspects have diverged. Most notable is the finding of hunchback expression in 11-13 stripes shortly before gastrulation, as well as a delayed expression of terminal domains of various genes. We conclude that the early developmental gene hierarchy, as it has been defined in Drosophila, is evolutionary conserved in Musca domestica.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Thrombolysis in acute occlusion of cerebral blood vessels].

Thrombolysis may achieve recanalization in cases of occlusion of the cerebral vessels. If therapy is initiated in good time, development of cerebral infarction may be at least partially prevented. Thrombolytic treatment was performed in 14 patients at the Wagner-Jauregg Hospital within a period of one year. Urokinase was given locally, while rtPA was applied locally and/or systemically. 4 patients had an occlusion of the internal carotid artery, 6 an occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, and 4 an occlusion of the basilar artery. Complete recanalization was achieved in 6 patients, partial recanalization in 4, and no recanalization in 4. The neurological outcome of the cases with complete recanalization was good with the exception of one patients who died. Partial recanalization resulted in a fair outcome in 2 patients, while the other 2 died. 3 out of the 4 patients in whom no recanalization was achieved died. Our findings show that this form of therapy may considerably improve the natural history of the disease, provided recanalization is achieved in good time. They encourage us to continue this form of therapy and to work at improving the therapeutic criteria.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Family advocacy and the mental health system: the recent rise of the alliance for the mentally ill.

The family consumer movement arose as a response to deinstitutionalization and the removal of stigma from parents of mental health clients. In many states the families are a dynamic force in mental health policymaking. If mental health professionals are to collaborate in support and advocacy programs, they should be aware of the origins and goals of the movement. Through their national organization (AMI), families advocate a biological view of mental illness causation and increased power for the mental health system. If the system is unable to meet parent expectations, it is likely that families will place themselves in competition with existing agencies for available resources.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[New formation of fructosamine in patient serum following blood collection].

The stability of fructosamine has been analysed in sera of 24 patients. Fructosamine concentrations increased daily with a constant rate of formation. Synthesis of fructosamine in vitro strongly depended on the incubation temperature and was directly proportional to the glucose concentration of the sample. It is recommended to store sera for the determination of fructosamine at 4 degrees C or - 20 degrees C.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1989

Atypical epithelial thymomas in rats.

The histopathological features of 2 atypical epithelial thymomas found in female Han: SPRD rats are described. The neoplasms were characterized by well-circumscribed epithelial nests and islands. One tumour showed local invasion in lymph vessels.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[UV-inactivation of microorganisms in water].

UV-Inactivation of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis spores, Staphylococcus-Phage A 994, Poliovirus type Mahoney and Rotavirus SA 11 was tested under controlled physical conditions. B. subtilis-spores were found to be the most resistant of these microorganisms, followed by Rotavirus, Bacteriophage and Poliovirus. E. coli required the lowest irradiation dose for inactivation. Causes and meaning of these dose-survival-reactions are discussed.

Bacillus subtilis↗