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Biomedical subjects

U Hess

Publications and source records attributed to U Hess.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with cytokines and cytotoxic drugs.

Clinical trials with hematopoietic growth factors (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF], granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF], interleukin-3, erythropoietin] have been done in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Treatment with GM-CSF or G-CSF has resulted in an increase of neutrophil counts into the normal range in the vast majority of patients. Progression to acute leukemia does not appear to occur more frequently in the patients receiving GM-CSF or G-CSF. Increases in platelet counts and hemoglobin levels have been reported after treatment with interleukin-3 and erythropoietin, respectively, although the response is only seen in a minority of treated patients. Combination therapy with GM-CSF and low-dose cytosine arabinoside has been studied, but present data do not indicate an advantage over other treatment strategies. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses demonstrate that both normal and malignant precursor cells are stimulated by cytokine therapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[BEP-chemotherapy in patients with testicular tumors--is it worthwhile?].

Since 1985 44 consecutive patients with testicular cancer have been treated with a modified BEP regimen. 70% had metastatic disease and 30% received adjuvant therapy. After mean follow-up of 26 (8-56) months, 91% of patients are alive and all are in remission. Chemotherapy-related side effects were alopecia (100%), myelosuppression (100%), nausea/vomiting (89%) and fever (66%). Patients reported nausea has been rare. It is concluded that BEP chemotherapy is a highly effective treatment which secures complete remission or cure even in patients with advanced metastatic disease. In retrospect the patients considered the treatment worthwhile despite the stress involved.

Adult↗

Pathogenetic role of HIV infection in Kaposi's sarcoma of equatorial East Africa.

Thirty residents of north-central Tanzania with various forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were evaluated. The absolute number of peripheral blood OKT4 lymphocytes in patients and Tanzanian control subjects tended to be low (in comparison with healthy young American adults), and many had inverted T4/T8 ratios. Plasma polyclonal beta- and gamma-globulin concentrations were increased in many patients with KS and in control patients in Tanzania with chronic dermatopathies, but not in African hospital employees and patients undergoing elective surgery. Three of nine patients with locally aggressive KS possessed antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lyphadenopathy-associated virus (HIV), but none had evidence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the AIDS-related complex. Three patients with disseminated, rapidly progressive KS and high HIV-antibody titers had an immunologic and clinical picture consistent with AIDS. Two of 13 patients with the classic plaque/nodular form of KS had low plasma titers of HIV antibody, but the significance of these serologic findings is not known. The evidence suggests that HIV plays a role in the pathogenesis of some cases of KS in East Africa, but most patients with KS in East Africa have no evidence of overt immunologic deficiency or HIV infection.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Combined chloroquine/Fansidar-resistant falciparum malaria appears in East Africa.

The first two cases from East Africa of RII chloroquine- and Fansidar-resistant falciparum malaria are described. The first case occurred in a non-immune Swedish expatriate 2 weeks after arrival in Tanzania, and the second in a semi-immune Tanzanian soldier. Fansidar has not yet been marketed in Tanzania. The significance and etiology of the occurrence of combined chloroquine/Fansidar resistance in East Africa are discussed.

Adult↗

Apurinic endonuclease from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

An endonuclease cleaving depurinated and alkylated double-stranded DNA has been purified 500-fold from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain MB 1052. The enzyme has an Mr of 31 000 +/- 2000, a sedimentation value of 3.2S and a diffusion coefficient of 9.5 X 10-7 cm2/s. The enzyme was active only at apurinic/apyridiminic sites, regardless of whether they were produced by heating the DNA at acidic pH or by alkylation with the ultimate carcinogen methyl methanesulphonate. Native DNA was not acted upon. U.v.-irradiated DNA and DNA treated with the ultimate carcinogen N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene were cleaved to an extent related to the extent of apurinic/apyridiminic sites. Enzymic activity was not dependent upon Mg2+, but was stimulated approx. 3-fold by 4mM-Mg2+. The enzyme did not bind to DEAE-cellulose or CM-cellulose at KCl concentrations greater than 160 mM. The endonuclease was obtained free of exonuclease and 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase activity in five chromatographic steps.

Chromatography, Gel↗

[Soft radiotherapy of lip cancer].

Reported are 107 patients with 109 carcinomas of the lip. Histologically 83 per cent of the patients had well or moderately well differentiated tumors. With total tumor doses between 6,000 and 9,500 R, in some patients with more than 10,000 R, 92 per cent of patients were cleared, in 88 per cent with a good cosmetical, and in 77 per cent with a good functional result. The used radiation methods are discussed under consideration of time-, dose- and fractionation-factors of Orton and Ellis. Patients should be controlled for a longer period than five years, because recurrences or second tumors are possible even after this time.

Humans↗

[Immunofluorescent diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica trophocoites in preserved stool specimens of patients (author's transl)].

A fixative and examination technique is described for identification of Entamoeba histolytica trophocoites in faeces with the aid of the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Magnaforms in bloody-dysenteric specimens and Minutaforms in spontaneous or saline purged specimens give equally good fluorescence. The specifity of the rabbit antiserum against axenically grown E. hist. is good: There is strong positive reaction only with trophocoites of E. hist. Weak crossreactions are encountered with trophocoites of E. coli, E. hartmanni and E. polecki. Negative reactions are encountered with trophocoites of Endolimax nana, Jodamoeba bāutschlii, and Dientamoeba fragilis. Amebic cysts, flagellates, leucocytes, epithelial cells and Blastocytis give negative reactions, too.

Animals↗

Detection of the Echinococcus granulosus diagnostic arc 5 in sera from patients with surgically-confirmed E. multilocularis infection.

The Echinococcus granulosus diagnostic arc 5 was revealed by sera from an Alaskan and a Swiss patient with surgically confirmed E. multilocularis infections. The possibility of each patient harboring a concurrent infection with both parasites may be disregarded on the basis of radiologic, scintillographic and surgical data. This conclusion is compatible with ecologic and epidemiologic considerations. These observations suggest that the immunoelectrophoresis test based on arc 5 positivity is not E. granulosus-specific as originally described.

Adult↗

Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of beta-methyldigoxin after multiple oral and intravenous doses.

To obtain true half lives, glycoside elimination from six healthy subjects was studied for 14 days after multiple intravenous doses or oral administration of a daily maintenance dose of beta-methyldigoxin 0.3 mg. After oral or intravenous administration of beta-methyldigoxin ceased, the plasma concentrations declined from the 14th to the 16th days with a half life of 1.7 days. From the 16th to the 20th day a change from a shorter to a longer half life of 2.8 and 2.9 days was observed. Similar half lives were found in urine: after the last dose the initial slope from the 14th to the 16th day had a half life of 1.8 days, and the terminal slope had one of 3.2 days. The results indicate release of the glycoside from slowly equilibrating tissues.

Administration, Oral↗

[Pulmonary echinococcus cysticus].

A 23-year-old Spanish male presenting with hemoptysis, fever and radiologic signs of lung tumor was found to have hydatid disease of the lung with rupture into the bronchial system. Diagnosis was possible only by demonstration of scoleces in the sputum. The cyst was totally enucleated by surgery. The epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of this quite rare disease are briefly reviewed with special reference to immunology, radiology and cytology.

Adult↗