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Biomedical subjects

W Michel

Publications and source records attributed to W Michel.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Management of indoor air pollution by polychlorinated biphenyl compounds exemplified by two Hagen schools].

An indoor pollution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) of about 4000 ng/m3 could be reduced by an average amount of 68% by temporary sealing of the primary source in combination with intensive cleaning. The costs were around DM 100,000.- for the school building containing 12 classrooms. Due to this procedure a continued usage of the building is possible until a concept of decontamination is available. In another building the PCB indoor pollution was reduced by 73% in a representative trial restoration, whereas the stripping of the paint with a chemical caustic substance induced a significant reduction of the PCB concentration. The usage of special air conditioners--called "Luftwäscher"--in the classrooms did not reduce the PCB concentration. The realisation of disturbing factors such as the fluctuation of the temperature is of great importance for judging the efficiency of decontamination procedures. The possible misinterpretation regarding the results and the data of decontamination procedures can be excluded by parallel measurements in control rooms. Costs induced by these additional analyses will be reduced by the early realization of ineffective steps.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Early Western observations of moxibustion and acupuncture].

Earlier research has maintained that the earliest passage of written information about acupuncture and moxibustion to Western Europe took place around the middle of the 17th century. But an investigation into the letters, 'historias', dictionaries, grammars, etc. of the Jesuit mission in Japan, which started in 1549, shows that the missionaries there already enjoyed a considerable knowledge of both methods of treatment. These sources also reveal indications of the use of needles and moxa on horses as well as the use of 'hammer-needles', a Japanese invention which was later described in detail by Willem ten Rhijne and Engelbert Kaempfer. Furthermore some central Sinojapanese terms of anatomy, physiology and pulse diagnosis in the light of their European interpretations, and a hitherto unknown outline of Japanese medicine found in an early French book on Chinese sphygmology are presented.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1992

Responses of single facial taste fibers in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, to amino acids.

1. Amino acids and nucleotides stimulate taste receptors of teleosts. In this report, responses to these compounds of 105 facial taste fibers (79 fully characterized) that innervate maxillary barbel taste buds of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were analyzed. 2. The fully characterized facial taste fibers that responded to amino acids (n = 68) were generally poorly responsive to nucleotides and related substances (NRS), whereas the fibers responsive to NRS (n = 11) were poorly responsive to amino acids. Spike discharge of the amino acid-responsive fibers to the most potent amino acid stimulus tested per fiber increased 44-fold from a mean spontaneous activity of 2.1 +/- 3.5 to 92.1 +/- 42.4 (SD) spikes/3 s. Spike activity of the NRS-responsive fibers to NRS increased 11.5-fold from a mean spontaneous activity of 3.4 +/- 5.9 to 39.1 +/- 27.4 spikes/3 s. There was no significant difference between the spontaneous rates, but stimulus evoked spike rates for the amino acid-responsive fibers were significantly greater (P < 0.05; Mann-Whitney test) than those for the NRS-responsive fibers. 3. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on the 3-s response time identified three major groups of neurons. The identified clusters comprised neurons that were highly responsive to either L-alanine (i.e., Ala cluster; n = 39), L-arginine (i.e., Arg cluster; n = 29), or NRS (NRS cluster; n = 11). Fibers comprising the Arg cluster were more narrowly tuned than those within the Ala cluster. This report further characterizes the responses to amino acids of the individual facial taste fibers comprising the Ala and Arg clusters. 4. Subclusters were evident within both of the amino acid-responsive clusters. The Arg cluster was divisible into two subclusters dependent on the response to 1 mM L-proline. Twelve neurons that were significantly (P < 0.05; Mann-Whitney test) more responsive to L-proline than the remaining 17 neurons within the Arg cluster formed the Arg/Pro subcluster; these latter 17 neurons comprised the Arg subcluster. However, there was no significant difference (Mann-Whitney test) in the response to L-arginine between fibers within either subcluster across four different response times analyzed. Fibers within the Ala cluster were generally poorly responsive to L-proline. Four alanine subclusters were suggested on the basis of their relative responses to L-alanine, D-alanine, L-arginine, and the NRS; however, of the 39 fibers comprising the alanine cluster, two alanine subclusters comprised only two fibers each, and the third subcluster consisted of four fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1991

Responses of single facial taste fibers in the sea catfish, Arius felis, to amino acids.

1. Taste buds in catfish are found not only within the oropharyngeal cavity, as in mammals, but are also located along the external body surface of the animal from the barbels and lips to the caudal fin. Because these taste buds are innervated by the facial (cranial VII) nerve, the extraoral taste system of catfish is analogous to the mammalian taste system of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, which contains taste buds innervated by the chorda tympani nerve, and of the soft palate and nasoincisor ducts, which contain taste buds innervated by the greater superficial petrosal nerve. 2. The majority of information concerning the specificity of individual taste fibers in vertebrates has been obtained primarily in mammals to stimuli representing the four basic human taste qualities (i.e., salty, sweet, sour, and bitter). In the present report, we examine the evidence for gustatory fiber types within the stimulus class of amino acids, compounds known to be especially relevant gustatory stimuli for catfish and other teleosts. 3. Action potentials were recorded from 60 individual facial taste neurons obtained from 28 sea catfish (Arius felis). Stimuli were 10(-4) M concentrations of L-alanine, D-alanine, glycine, L-proline, L-histidine, and L-arginine, compounds selected from an original stimulus list of 28 amino acids. Responses were quantified as the number of action potentials evoked at various time intervals from the first 0.5 s up to 10 s of response time. 4. The spontaneous activity of 42 fully characterized neurons was 0.8 +/- 2.1 SD spikes/3 s. The average rate of spike discharge increased 50-fold during stimulation with the most effective amino acid (42 +/- 31 spikes/3 s, mean +/- SD). The majority of the sampled neurons were not narrowly tuned to the amino acid stimulants tested (mean breadth of responsiveness, H = 0.60; range 0-0.95). 5. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the fully characterized neurons identified two large and two small groups of cells. The largest group (n = 22) of neurons was stimulated most by L-alanine and glycine; the other large group (n = 17) was stimulated most by D-alanine. For this latter group, the response to glycine was relatively low, whereas the responses to L-alanine varied from 0 to nearly 100% of the D-alanine response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

[Follow-up of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy of advanced bladder cancer using magnetic resonance tomography. Initial results].

A combination of cis-platinum and radiotherapy was applied in five patients with advanced bladder carcinomas. The patients were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging prior to and following therapy. Corresponding to cell-kinetic considerations regarding tissues with slow cell turnover, a maximum therapy effect is shown about nine months after the end of local therapy. Smaller control intervals are recommended in case of bladder carcinomas with lymph node metastases. Due to the possibility of multiple slice imaging, the nuclear magnetic resonance technique is particularly suited for the monitoring of bladder carcinomas. Sagittal and coronary slices show a better image of tumoral extension at the roof and floor of the bladder than axial computed tomography. Lymph node metastases are represented relatively late by both methods.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Pyelocalyceal diverticula.

The aim of the present paper is to report on the frequency of pyelocalyceal diverticula and the relation to other renal abnormalities in 5000 routine IVPs. Pyelocalyceal diverticula are mostly occasional findings and they usually cause symptoms when complicated by inflammation or stones. These complications will characterize the symptoms. There is an indication for surgical treatment when the diverticula are complicated by stones or inflammation which fail to respond to simple antibiotic treatment. According to our experience, the removal of the diverticulum bearing renal segment is a safe procedure with good postoperative results.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of a cystic abdominal tumor--liver cyst and its differential diagnosis].

A report is presented on the prenatal development of a solitary hepatic cyst in a fetus of the 39th week of pregnancy. Sonography revealed that nearly the entire abdomen was filled by a cyst that caused displacement of the stomach and intestine as well as elevation of the diaphragm. Abdominal distension necessitated delivery before term by cesarean section. The laparotomy subsequently performed because of increasing dyspnea of the newborn showed the left lobe of the liver to be the point of origin of a solitary hepatic cyst that could be removed in toto. Possibilities of post partum therapy are discussed in addition to obstetrical management. The incidence, localisation and size of solitary hepatic cysts as well as their differential diagnosis are also described.

Adult↗