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Biomedical subjects

R Wolff

Publications and source records attributed to R Wolff.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Tuberculous spondylitis--a contribution to the differential diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the posterior mediastinum].

This report describes a 27-year-old male patient with advanced spondylitis tuberculosa, who, being suspected of having a malignant tumour, was submitted to a CT-guided biopsy. Treatment comprising CT-controlled insertion of a permanent drain, and antituberculous chemotherapy and dorsal stabilisation, was administered. A high-risk intervention (diagnostic and therapeutic thoracotomy with the attendant acute danger of paraplegia was avoided through the use of the most up-to-date imaging procedures available.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Tolerability of long term clozapine treatment.

Tolerability of long term clozapine treatment (7-8 years) was investigated in 27 female patients (age 34-77 years). Diagnosis according to ICD 9 was schizophrenia in 21 patients, severe psychomotor agitation with mental deficiency in 4 patients and an "endogenous" depression in 2 patients. All patients had previously been treated with different neuroleptics but with inadequate response or distressing side effects. The duration of the disorder was 10-36 years, duration of hospitalisation 10-36 years. At the day of investigation the total dose of clozapine ranged from 52-826 g, the average total dose being 385 g. The daily dose of clozapine ranged from 75 to 600 mg, the average daily dose being 225 mg. Only 2 patients were treated exclusively with clozapine, the other 25 patients were also receiving other neuroleptics. Seventy eight per cent of the investigated patients complained about hypersalivation and 63% showed overweight. In 37% of the patients the EEG demonstrated abnormalities. Mild parkinsonism was reported in 15% and akathisia in 11% of the patients, all these patients being on combined treatment. Clozapine did not induce tardive dysakinesia (TD) in any of the patients within a treatment period of 7-8 years. It is concluded that a potential benefit of clozapine includes a low incidence of neurological side effects even after long term administration.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

One-step extraction of human erythrocyte lipids allowing rapid determination of fatty acid composition.

A one-step extraction procedure to directly quantify cholesterol, phospholipids, and fatty acids in red blood cell membranes has been developed. The method uses a single solvent, isopropanol, which extracts lipids and allows the rapid formation of isopropylic esters of fatty acids by acid catalysis. The efficiency of this new technique has been confirmed by comparing yields of cholesterol and total and individual phospholipids with yields obtained following conventional extraction procedures. Moreover, in comparison to the formation of methyl esters, we demonstrate that directly obtained isopropylic esters immediately allow the quantitative determination of fatty acids, without involving the hydrolytic degradation of fatty acids and the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids.

Chloroform↗
PubMed1989

Molecular dissection of a contiguous gene syndrome: frequent submicroscopic deletions, evolutionarily conserved sequences, and a hypomethylated "island" in the Miller-Dieker chromosome region.

The Miller-Dieker syndrome (MDS), composed of characteristic facial abnormalities and a severe neuronal migration disorder affecting the cerebral cortex, is caused by visible or submicroscopic deletions of chromosome band 17p13. Twelve anonymous DNA markers were tested against a panel of somatic cell hybrids containing 17p deletions from seven MDS patients. All patients, including three with normal karyotypes, are deleted for a variable set of 5-12 markers. Two highly polymorphic VNTR (variable number of tandem repeats) probes, YNZ22 and YNH37, are codeleted in all patients tested and make molecular diagnosis for this disorder feasible. By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, YNZ22 and YNH37 were shown to be within 30 kilobases (kb) of each other. Cosmid clones containing both VNTR sequences were identified, and restriction mapping showed them to be less than 15 kb apart. Three overlapping cosmids spanning greater than 100 kb were completely deleted in all patients, providing a minimum estimate of the size of the MDS critical region. A hypomethylated island and evolutionarily conserved sequences were identified within this 100-kb region, indications of the presence of one or more expressed sequences potentially involved in the pathophysiology of this disorder. The conserved sequences were mapped to mouse chromosome 11 by using mouse-rat somatic cell hybrids, extending the remarkable homology between human chromosome 17 and mouse chromosome 11 by 30 centimorgans, into the 17p telomere region.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1989

[Report of experiences with 31 surgically treated patients with deformity of the femur shaft].

In 1986/1987 we made a follow-up of 31 patients having undergone a surgical treatment of a deformity of the femur shaft in 1971 through 1981. For a better interpretation of the results we divided these patients into three partly overlapping groups: Patients with deformities of the angel or rotation, patients being shortened in case of length-differences and those being elongated. Finally we investigated, that in nine out of ten cases we got a good result by correcting angle-and rotation-deformities and by the shortening osteotomy. The extension osteotomy caused more complications and not so good results than those of the first two groups. We recognized, that the follow-up treatment was very long, and the method of the operation was not standardized but was adapted to the circumstances of the single case.

Bone Diseases↗
PubMed1989

[Sarcomas with orofacial localization. A monocentric retrospective study].

It is presented a retrospective study of patient with sarcomas, treated in a hospital of oral surgery in the time of 15 years. The authors give conclusions for the stomatological practice. The exact knowledge of clinical symptoms is important for early diagnosis and treatment, because it is decisive for the prognosis of patients with sarcomas in the orofacial region.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Leishmania braziliensis panamensis: increased infectivity resulting from heat shock.

Promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis were subjected to a heat shock transformation yielding an amastigote-like stage. During the process of conversion, the heat-induced differentiating form displayed an increase in infectivity (as determined by lesion size) accompanied by a total protein composition unlike that of the promastigote and a morphology resembling that of the amastigote. These biological/functional changes may be related to an involvement of a heat shock response in the differentiation of leishmania, thus having important implications in the development of prevention and treatment stratagems.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Neurinoma of the L3 spinal nerve root as a cause of stress-induced lumbo-ischialgias].

Degenerative diseases of the lumbar vertebral discs or the vertebral joints are the main causes of low back pain and sciatica following overstraining during sports activities. However, they are rarely seen in sportsmen engaged in competitive sports because these persons are mostly young and well-trained. Other neurological diseases are even rarer as possible causes of sciatica. That is why we report on a young athletic who is a short-distance hurdler (110m hurdle race) and has been suffering from a neurinoma of the spinal nerve root L3 with sciatica and pain in the knee as initial symptoms. Attention is drawn to the importance of neurological examinations as part of medical examinations conducted by sports physicians for the purpose of obtaining an overall guiding picture of the subjects' health status.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A flagellar pocket membrane fraction from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense: immunogold localization and nonvariant immunoprotection.

In contrast to the abundance of detailed information on variant-specific surface coat antigens of African trypanosomes, data on possible common or nonvariant antigens within these protozoa are surprisingly limited. In this study, the cellular localization and protective potential of a previously characterized flagellar pocket membrane (FPM) fraction were determined. Immunogold staining of live trypanosome suspensions at 0 to 4 degrees C by using anti-FPM hyperimmune serum raised in rabbits as the primary antibody revealed specific staining of the parasite surface at the emergence of the flagellum from the flagellar pocket. The same specificity of immunogold localization was obtained for each of three distinct variable antigenic types (VATs) of a serodeme of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Wellcome strain. Products of translated mRNA preparations from each of the VATs were precipitated by the FPM antiserum and revealed identical banding patterns when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by autoradiography. Immunization of mice with FPM fraction protected them against infection by two of the VATs; the third VAT was afforded poor protection. This is the first demonstration of the combined cellular localization, nonvariant nature, and protective potential of a membrane fraction from African trypanosomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) markers for human gene mapping.

A large collection of good genetic markers is needed to map the genes that cause human genetic diseases. Although nearly 400 polymorphic DNA markers for human chromosomes have been described, the majority have only two alleles and are thus uninformative for analysis of genetic linkage in many families. A few known marker systems, however, detect loci that respond to restriction enzyme cleavage by producing a fragment that can have many different lengths. This polymorphism is due to variation in the number of tandem repeats of a short DNA sequence. Because most individuals will be heterozygous at such loci, these markers will provide linkage information in almost all families. Ten oligomeric sequences derived from the tandem repeat regions of the myoglobin gene, the zeta-globin pseudogene, the insulin gene, and the X-gene region of hepatitis B virus, were used to develop a series of single-copy probes. These probes revealed new, highly polymorphic genetic loci whose allele sizes reflected variation in the number of tandem repeats.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of a human 'midisatellite' sequence.

We have examined the structure and DNA sequence of a human genomic locus that consists of a large hypervariable region made up of repeats of a simple sequence. With several restriction enzymes, the locus shows many restriction fragments that vary quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Other restriction enzymes produce only a single, high-molecular-weight fragment at this locus. Almost all of the fragments are revealed with a simple sequence probe. Southern transfers of the high-molecular-weight restriction fragments produced by the restriction enzymes NotI and SfiI, resolved by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, gave at most two fragments, demonstrated to be allelic, showing that the majority of the restriction fragments seen in the complex patterns are at a single locus. The estimated size of the region homologous to the probe varied from 250 to 500 kilobases. DNA sequencing indicated that the region consists of tandem repeats of a 40-base-pair sequence. Some homology was detected to the tandem repeating units of the insulin gene and the zetaglobin pseudogene hypervariable regions, and to the "minisatellite" DNA at the myoglobin locus.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

[Theoretical principles of cemented prostheses].

Today total hip replacement has become a routine procedure in older patients all over the world. A good result is to be expected only, if the device will meet the following requirements: adequate force transfer to the bone, adequate stiffness and elasticity, sufficient range of motion, biocompatibility of the material, low friction, low rate of wear, sufficient lubrication and a secure anchorage. Up to now, the weak point is the bone cement. Advancements in its composition and improved cement techniques will guarantee good function without pain during a long enough period of time.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1987

[Apophyseal rupture of the pelvis and lower extremity caused by sports].

Apophyses are secondary ossification centers and serve as the insertion or origin of tendons. They are under a dynamic but not static load. During sexual maturity, they represent a weak point in the locomotor system. Apophyseal injuries can apparently be attributed to an incongruity between load tolerance and increased strain on the seam of the apophysis. The majority of these injuries occur during sports and involve men more frequently than women. The injury is often primarily misinterpreted as a pulled-muscle. The treatment method is dependent on the localization of the injury and the extent of the fragment dislocation.

Adolescent↗