PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Fuchs

Publications and source records attributed to T Fuchs.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Immediate allergic reaction to natural latex with special reference to surgical gloves].

There is an increasing incidence of contact urticaria (CU) and systemic reactions to rubber products. 34 patients are presented: Most were atopic (22/34) and women (29/34). 24 worked in the medical field. 13 patients showed signs of hand dermatitis. In 31 patients, rub and/or pricktests with liquid latex in different dilutions and with latex gloves led to positive reactions. The allergen(s) appear in part to be watersoluble: 23 of 31 patients revealed positive test reactions to an aqueous glove extract. In two patients, urticarial test reactions to TMTD, Mercapto-Mix, and PPD-mix were considered as possible contributing factor of CU. Scratch tests with corn-starch were negative in all patients. 17 of 29 sera showed RAST (radioallergosorbent test) class 0 using latex allergen disks. SDS-PAGE (sodiumdodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide-electrophoresis) determined protein bands of less than or equal to 14 kD (not allergen specific) and approximately 28 kD. The Western Blot detected the 28 kD protein as allergen in the sera of three patients. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) proved no protein bands. Immunoprinting performed with sera of five patients presented allergen bands in an pH range between 3.8 and 4.55. This shows that radiostaining (immunoprint) is more sensitive than the Coomassie Blue staining. Although three sera showed RAST class 0, immunoblotting detected allergen bands. In these cases the immunoblot appears to be more sensitive than the RAST. A cross reactivity between latex and banana could not be established. Alternative gloves are Neolon (neoprene) or Elastyren (styrene-butadiene polymer).

Adult↗

The tRNA(Tyr) multigene family of Nicotiana rustica: genome organization, sequence analyses and expression in vitro.

Tobacco tRNA(Tyr) genes are mainly organized as a dispersed multigene family as shown by hybridization with a tRNA(Tyr)-specific probe to Southern blots of Eco RI-digested DNA. A Nicotiana genomic library was prepared by Eco RI digestion of nuclear DNA, ligation of the fragments into the vector lambda gtWES.lambda B and in vitro packaging. The phage library was screened with a 5'-labelled synthetic oligonucleotide complementary to nucleotides 18 to 37 of cytoplasmic tobacco tRNA(Tyr). Eleven hybridizing Eco RI fragments ranging in size from 1.7 to 7.5 kb were isolated from recombinant lambda phage and subcloned into pUC19 plasmid. Four of the sequenced tRNA(Tyr) genes code for the known tobacco tRNA1(Tyr) (G psi A) and seven code for tRNA2(Tyr) (G psi A). The two tRNA species differ in one nucleotide pair at the basis of the T psi C stem. Only one tRNA(Tyr) gene (pNtY5) contains a point mutation (T54-->A54). Comparison of the intervening sequences reveals that they differ considerably in length and sequence. Maturation of intron-containing pre-tRNAs was studied in HeLa and wheat germ extracts. All pre-tRNAs(Tyr)--with one exception--are processed and spliced in both extracts. The tRNA(Tyr) gene encoded by pNtY5 is transcribed efficiently in HeLa extract but processing of the pre-tRNA is impaired.

Base Sequence↗

[Visual hallucinations in elderly patients with reduced vision: Charles Bonnet syndrome].

The authors report on a 81-year-old-lady with Charles Bonnet-syndrome. This syndrome is a special form of a visual hallucinosis, which affects typically otherwise healthy, elderly people, who mostly suffer from reduced vision. Ophthalmologic and psychiatric findings are demonstrated in detail, in particular a reduced left-occipital perfusion in this syndrome is shown with a spect (single photon computed tomography) and discussed with the published literature.

Aged↗

Life-threatening allergic reaction to clozapine.

Clozapine, an 'atypical' antipsychotic drug, rarely induces allergic complications, which usually present as cutaneous reactions. We report the case of a 69-year-old woman, suffering from chronic schizophrenia, who developed an allergic asthmatic reaction following clozapine therapy. Intensive-care treatment was necessary. The reaction could be repeated by further exposure to the drug. Skin tests for hypersensitivity were negative.

Aged↗

Consumer's attitude to hysterectomy. The experience of 678 women.

A total of 678 women were interviewed about symptoms before as well as advantages and disadvantages after abdominal hysterectomy. Medical complications, side effects, days of hospitalization and some possible differences between supravaginal hysterectomy (SVH) and total hysterectomy (TH) were also investigated. TH had been performed in 79% and SVH in 21% of the women. Leiomyoma was the most frequent diagnosis (79%). Heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea were the dominant symptoms before surgery. After the operation, 71% of the women had no subjective gynecological complaints. Relief from heavy bleeding and pain was considered the major advantage and as many as 29% of the women experienced no disadvantage at all with the operation. Regarding sexual life, 39% experienced intercourse as much improved or better and 40% as unchanged. An intraabdominal abscess was more often found postoperatively in patients operated with TH than with SVH but with this exception no objective finding favoured one method more than the other. When new, alternative treatments such as endometrial ablation and GnRH analogues are introduced and promoted they should be subjected to careful evaluation and compared with the therapeutic efficacy of hysterectomy.

Adult↗

[The hypochondriacal delusion].

Hypochondriacal delusions are not bound to a specific mental disorder, but occur in the whole spectrum of psychoses. In spite of the implicitly wrong conception of reality, the significance of these delusions as an attempt to express, interpret and cope with mental illness should not be neglected if an approach to the patient's own experience is sought. On the one hand, hypochondriacal delusions are based on altered body perceptions in mental illness, characterized by primary local or general dysaesthesias to the point of depersonalisation, or caused secondarily by the patient's increased attention to his own body. This alienated bodily experience is named in (lay) medical terms by the delusional hypochondriac. On the other hand, "illness" with its manifold cultural and psychological meanings stands as a polyvalent metaphor for the incomprehensible alteration of the patient's self-experience in general: thus, the feeling of exposure to external attacks, of guilt, sinfulness, shame, loss of self-esteem or even the experience of a disruption of personality may find their expression in the hypochondriacal delusion.

Adult↗

[Looking into the past. Psychological and gerontologic aspects of memory].

Reminiscence is characterized by a dialectical relation of past and present which is of fundamental importance for personal identity. Moreover, it shows a double aspect, implying both the private recollection of one's past and the social dimension of narration, instruction and self-disclosure. This will be illustrated by a consideration of the different forms and functions of reminiscence in general, and by the results of research on the role of reminiscence in later life. An investigation into these aspects of reminiscence may also further a therapeutic approach to the crises resulting from unresolved conflicts in the life history.

Aging↗

Role of combination drug therapy with a class IC antiarrhythmic agent and mexiletine for ventricular tachycardia.

The combination of mexiletine and a class IC antiarrhythmic agent (encainide, propafenone or flecainide) was evaluated by electrophysiologic testing in 14 patients with a history of sustained ventricular tachycardia whose tachycardia remained inducible during therapy with the class IC drug alone. During the control drug-free state, all patients had inducible ventricular tachycardia, with a mean cycle length of 260 ms (range 190 to 400). During monotherapy with the IC agent the tachycardia remained inducible in each patient, but there was a significant increase in the cycle length to 340 ms (240 to 500) (p less than 0.001). The effective refractory period of the ventricle was not altered. Treatment with mexiletine (oral in 13 and intravenous in 1) was begun and electrophysiologic testing was repeated. Ventricular tachycardia in one patient was rendered noninducible and one patient had arrhythmia aggravation. The tachycardia in the remaining 12 patients remained inducible but its average cycle length increased further to 392 ms (340 to 460) (p = NS). Nine patients had rate slowing and the average cycle length of the ventricular tachycardia in this group was significantly increased (302 to 388 ms, p less than 0.05). The average effective refractory period was significantly increased during combination therapy (267 ms) compared with no drug therapy (235 ms) and therapy with the class IC drug alone (247 ms) (p less than 0.05). After a mean follow-up interval of 22 months, seven patients continue on the combined treatment and have no ventricular tachycardia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Isolation and properties of the RepA1 protein of the IncFII replicon, RepFIC.

The initiator protein RepA1 of the IncFII replicon RepFIC derived from the enterotoxin plasmid EntP307 has been cloned under the control of the lambda PL promoter. This has enabled us to overproduce this protein and study its properties. Here we show that RepA1 is a soluble basic protein with an experimentally determined molecular weight of 40,000. Deletion analysis indicates that the overproduced protein originates from the open reading frame which we previously designated as coding for RepA1. We have also shown that the replication function of the replicon RepFIC depends on the intact RepA1 coding frame.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Role of benzodiazepines in neuroanesthesia].

For the induction of anesthesia in neurosurgical patients, the choice between thiopental and midazolam cannot be done on the basis of their respective cardiovascular, respiratory or cerebral effects, since they are similar. Among the advantages of midazolam are the absence of histamine release and excitatory effects. On the contrary the onset and the duration of action as well as the intensity of sedation are less predictable with midazolam when compared to thiopental. Therefore thiopental remains the first drug of choice in this clinical setting. For preoperative sedation in neurosurgical patients, the use of benzodiazepines should be limited, since they can induce respiratory depression mainly in patients with cranial trauma or with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The preoperative administration of a benzodiazepine in neurosurgical patients who are under chronic treatment should be decided individually, according to the level of the conscience of the patient and on the half life of the drug.

Anesthesia, Intravenous↗

[Time perspective in the treatment of elderly depressed patients].

Coping with depressive illness in old age is impeded by particular strains: an increasing incidence of loss events, physical constraints, lack of social support and narrowing prospects for the future may lead to relapse as well as retarded recovery or chronification. Treatment directed toward long-term rehabilitation therefore requires, in addition to medical measures, psychotherapeutic and social interventions which help the patient cope with past loss, solve current problems and open up new perspectives for the future. This integration would overcome a dichotomy, still prevalent in psychotherapy for the elderly, between retrospection and life review on the one hand, activation and extension of competence on the other--or "involution" versus "evolution". A therapeutic approach which thus integrates personal aspects of the past, present and future may also combine various methods such as reminiscence therapy, interpersonal therapy, behavioral and social interventions.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Role of the sympathetic nervous system in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmia.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is an important factor in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with impaired ventricular function. Such patients have an appropriate substrate that is capable of generating rhythm abnormalities, which may be related to enhanced automaticity, triggered automaticity, and reentrant mechanisms; all three mechanisms are markedly potentiated by the action of catecholamines. Additionally, the sympathetic nervous system can provoke the development of hypokalemia and ischemia (which can independently lead to the occurrence of rhythm disturbances), and catecholamines may negate the beneficial electrophysiological actions of antiarrhythmic drugs. A substantial amount of experimental data implicates the sympathetic nervous system as a potent stimulus for ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, especially in the setting of myocardial ischemia. Two important mechanisms that have been identified include 1) enhanced sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system and 2) nonuniform myocardial denervation resulting in beta-receptor up-regulation and catecholamine hypersensitivity in the infarct zone. Disruption of sympathetic neural innervation of the heart and the use of beta-blocking agents may reduce the occurrence of sudden death and improve survival in animal models of arrhythmias and in some subsets of patients, including those with the long QT syndrome, a recent myocardial infarction, and perhaps those with a cardiomyopathy. The mechanism of this beneficial effect remains to be defined.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

[Contact allergies to CN and CS ("tear gas") in participants in demonstrations].

56 occasional demonstrators were interviewed with regard to former skin contact with omega-chloroacetophenone (CN) or ortho-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS). 33 persons (59%) reported skin reactions of various kinds. Patch testing with CN, the structurally related preservative chloroacetamide, and CS revealed clinically relevant reactions to CN in 3 cases and questionable positive reaction to CS in one case. 8 further patients showed mild reactions to CN and CS. We did not find any indication of cross reactions between CN and chloroacetamide.

Adult↗

[Contact urticaria caused by rubber gloves].

We present 9 patients with contact urticaria due to rubber gloves. Others have reported an increasing incidence of the disease among females, patients with atopic dermatitis, and hospital personnel. Our data confirm these results. Scarification with water, in which the suspected glove was incubated, is a simple diagnostic method, both reliable and cheap, in order to test the solubility of the allergen(s) in water. In one of our patients, we proved a type-I allergy caused by tetramethyl thiuram disulfide.

Adult↗