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Biomedical subjects

U Querfeld

Publications and source records attributed to U Querfeld.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Intravenous iron treatment of renal anemia in children on hemodialysis.

Treatment of anemia in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been greatly facilitated by the introduction of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). A major limiting factor in the treatment of renal anemia is sufficient iron supplementation. Eight children (aged 10-17 years) receiving hemodialysis were treated with intravenous iron (1 mg/kg per week) for 3 months. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and serum ferritin levels were measured regularly. The mean Hct increased from 25% to 30%, the mean Hb increased from 7. 8 g/dl to 9.2 g/dl, and the mean ferritin level from 200 to 395 mg/dl. The mean EPO dosage could be tapered from 6,500 IU to 6,150 IU. No adverse side-effects were noted. Hence, in this uncontrolled study intravenous iron was an effective treatment for iron deficiency during rHuEPO therapy in children with ESRD on hemodialysis.

Adolescent↗

Long-term treatment with growth hormone has no persisting effect on lipoprotein(a) in patients with Turner's syndrome.

Treatment with recombinant human GH (rhGH), alone or in combination with the anabolic steroid oxandrolone (OX), has been recommended for girls with Turner's syndrome to improve final height. Several cardiovascular risk factors have been described in patients with Turner's syndrome, but the effect of therapy with rhGH and OX on lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has not been investigated. Lp(a) serum levels and apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes were determined in 46 girls with Turners syndrome (aged 6-15 yr) during treatment with different combinations of rhGH and OX for 24-36 months (median, 27 months). Lp(a) serum levels showed little variation during 30 months of treatment in all treatment groups. Lp(a) levels showed no significant change in 25 patients receiving only rhGH and in 21 patients receiving rhGH and OX in combination. Treatment effects were independent of apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes and were not influenced by pubertal status. These data indicate that long term administration of rhGH has no significant impact on serum Lp(a) levels in girls with Turner's syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Antagonistic effects of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone on lipoprotein lipase in cultured adipocytes.

The effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) (calcitriol) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) on synthesis and secretion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were studied in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Expression of the vitamin D receptor was demonstrated by saturation kinetics with radiolabeled calcitriol. Incubation with calcitriol (10(-8) M) for up to 4 d resulted in a time-dependent significant increase in heparin-releasable LPL activity (LPLa) accompanied by a significant increase in LPL mRNA. In contrast, incubation with intact (1-84) PTH (10(-6) to 10(-9) M) produced a time- and dose-dependent significant decrease in LPLa, but no change in LPL mRNA. The effect of PTH (24-h incubation, 10(-8) M) could be prevented by the calcium channel blocker verapamil. Coincubation with both calcitriol and PTH at equimolar concentration (10(-8) M) resulted in an increase in LPLa and LPL mRNA. These data indicate an antagonistic role for calcitriol and PTH in the regulation of LPL, possibly mediated by intracellular calcium, which may contribute to the alterations in lipoprotein metabolism occurring in uremia.

Adipocytes↗

[Personality and rehabilitation in young adults with renal replacement therapy].

To evaluate the personality structure of young adults treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT) since childhood, we studied 36 patients who had commenced RRT before age 18. At the time of investigation 17 patients were dialyzed and 13 had a functioning renal transplant. Of the dialysis patients, 7 had been transplanted previously. These patients were compared to 26 young adults (minimum age 16) with diabetes mellitus type I (DM) of comparable duration. We used the FP1 test (half-form R; 138 items) by J. Fahrenberg to evaluate personality structure in patients and controls. The results show in general very little difference compared to published normal values and only slight differences between the groups studied. However, there was a trend for RRT patients to feel more aggressive and inhibited than patients with DM. Transplanted patients tended to feel more worried about health problems, while hemodialysis patients felt more self-assured than DM patients. Although it is difficult to assess the psychological burdens of chronic illness and the influence of continuing psychosocial support, it seems remarkable that a better than expected psychiatric adjustment has also been reported in other studies of patients with RRT. In conclusion, adult patients with RRT since childhood have a favorable personality profile as measured by self-evaluation with the FP1-R test, inspite of the well-known multiple medical and social handicaps of this patient population.

Adolescent↗

Lack of large, homozygous deletions of the nephronophthisis 1 region in Joubert syndrome type B. APN Study Group. Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pädiatrische Nephrologie.

Joubert syndrome type B (JSB) is a developmental disorder of the nephronophthisis (NPH) complex with multiple organ involvement, including NPH, coloboma of the eye, aplasia of the cerebellar vermis, and the facultative symptoms of psychomotor retardation, polydactyly, and neonatal tachypnea. In isolated autosomal recessive NPH type 1 (NPH1), homozygous deletions have been described as causative in more than 80% of patients. Since different combinations of the extrarenal symptoms with NPH occur in JSB, a contiguous gene deletion syndrome in the NPH1 genetic region would seem a highly likely cause for JSB. We therefore examined 11 families with JSB for the presence of extended deletions at the NPH1 locus. Genomic DNA was examined using four consecutive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers that are deleted in NPH1 and three PCR makers flanking the NPH1 deletion. In all seven markers examined, there was no homozygous deletion detected in any of the 11 JSB families studied. Since these markers saturate the NPH1 deletion region at high density, this finding excludes the presence of large homozygous deletions of the NPH1 region in these JSB families, making it unlikely that deletions of the NPH1 region are a primary cause for JSB.

Cerebellar Diseases↗

Levamisole treatment in steroid-sensitive and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Since 1992 we have treated 11 children with frequently relapsing steroid-sensitive (n=6) or steroid-resistant (n=5) nephrotic syndrome with levamisole. All had been non-responsive to other immunosuppressive medication before levamisole treatment. All steroid-sensitive patients had signs of steroid toxicity. At least 1 kidney biopsy had been performed prior to study in each patient. Five children had minimal glomerular changes and the other 6 focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. The patients were treated with levamisole (2.5 mg/kg per 48 h) for at least 2 months (up to 18 months, median 10 months). Two patients had additional immunosuppression (cyclosporine A) during levamisole treatment. All patients with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome became free of proteinuria within 2 months and have remained in remission after discontinuation of levamisole (follow-up time 8-50 months, median 24 months). None of the children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome experienced a remission. Side effects were observed in 2 patients and included a granulocytopenia and a severe psoriasis-like cutaneous reaction; both were reversible after discontinuation of levamisole. We conclude that levamisole is of benefit in steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome but not in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

A 12-year-old boy with fatal hemolytic-uremic-syndrome, excessive neutrophilia and elevated endogenous granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor serum concentrations.

We report the case of a 12-year-old boy with fatal enteropathic hemolytic-uremic syndrome who developed excessive neutrophilia in the course of his disease, his leukocyte count exceeding 200,000/mm3. Neutrophilia, as it was observed in this case, is an extreme manifestation of a phenomenon, that is commonly observed in hemolytic-uremic syndrome [Salzmann et al. 1991]. Neutrophilia is suspected to be correlated with a bad prognosis [Walters et al. 1989], but further explanation of this phenomenon is needed. Other underlying diseases related with neutrophilia, especially hematologic malignancies, could be ruled out by far. We examined endogenous G-CSF serum concentrations of the HUS patient from day 6 to 13 in the course of the disease. The assayed concentrations were found to be elevated in the first two samples taken (peak level 340 pg/ml). In the samples taken after plasmapheresis had started, G-CSF concentrations were not found to be elevated. The peak of neutrophilia was reached short before death on day 13 of the disease. We also measured the serum G-CSF concentrations of 28 children aged 3 months to 12 years, who were treated with various infectious and noninfectious diseases in our hospital. In none of the examined samples was there a G-CSF serum concentration exceeding 50 pg/ml. The reported case shows evidence that the commonly observed coincidence of leukocytosis and HUS may reflect the role of G-CSF (and other cytokines) in the inflammatory process underlying the HUS.

Child↗

Cerebral complications in Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia.

UNLABELLED: Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia is a multisystem disorder consisting of spondylo-epiphysial dysplasia, progressive renal insufficiency due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and immunodeficiency. Cerebrovascular complications have only been described in five patients. Here we report a patient with prominent neurological symptoms most likely caused by transient ischaemic attacks. CONCLUSION: Neurological symptoms consisted of repeated brief spells of hemiparaesthesia, motoric aphasia and diplopia. MRI studies of the CNS revealed progressive white matter lesions. Morphological changes as well as neurological deficits are compatible with cerebral ischaemia.

Brain↗

Ultrasound findings in juvenile nephronophthisis.

The ultrasound finding of renal medullary cysts associated with increased echogenicity has been suggested to be diagnostic of juvenile nephronophthisis. The lack of cysts in several of our patients with juvenile nephronophthisis lead us to review the ultrasound findings at presentation in our patient population. Of 11 children with the diagnosis of juvenile nephronophthisis, 10 demonstrated increased echogenicity with loss of corticomedullary differentiation on initial ultrasound. Only 2 children had a single cyst each. On follow-up ultrasound, 2, 4.5, and 7 years later, 3 patients developed visible renal cysts. We conclude that at presentation the ultrasound finding consistent with the diagnosis of juvenile nephronophthisis is most often that of hyperechogenic kidneys without cysts; namely the lack of cysts does not rule out the diagnosis of juvenile nephronophthisis.

Adolescent↗

Case of the month.

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Antibodies, Viral↗