Showing papers by "Peter L. Gross published in 2006"

Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Chronic Renal Insufficiency

Abstract: There is growing evidence for a role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the repair of damaged endothelium. It remains unclear which cell populations are most useful for clinical trials. Administration of drugs increasing EPC numbers and/or improving functional properties seems attractive. Further basic research is necessary to understand the mechanisms of mobilization, differentiation and homing of EPC in general and in particular under uremic conditions. Nephrologists should search for strategies to ameliorate EPC dysfunction of uremia. In this way it might be possible to test whether improved EPC biology is associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality in uremic humans. In any such studies the difficulties are going to be related to the complex procedures for EPC isolation, the testing of their identity and differentiation and their propagation before use.

Resumption of peritoneal dialysis after transcutaneous treatment of a peritoneal leakage using fibrin glue

Abstract: Torulopsis famata and Debaryomyces hansenii, the yeast is found in many dairy products like cheese. It is an opportunistic pathogen that is commensal in the oral cavity. The fungus has been implicated in sporadic case reports as causing onychomycosis, systemic blastomycosis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, systemic fungaemia and endopthalmitis. Candida famata has been very rarely isolated in the culture of peritoneal fluid in peritonitis. The first and only documented case report in existing literature was reported in 1994. The yeast is increasingly isolated from patients and was found in 1.45% of urinary tract infections and in about 1–2% of patients with fungaemia [6]. Recently we reported a case of mediastinitis with Candida famata [7]. Rigby and Hawley [5], while reporting the Australian experience, noted that in most patients in whom sclerosing peritonitis was complicated by peritonitis, bowel function did not recover and the patient usually died of ongoing sepsis. This was exactly our experience, in that all efforts at treatment failed and the patient eventually succumbed to his illness. To conclude, sclerosing peritonitis complicated by fungal peritonitis is a serious complication. Newer strains of candida are being implicated. Candida famata is currently emerging as a significant pathogen in humans.

An old patient with end stage renal disease and sudden onset of confusion and lethargy

Abstract: The patient, a 97-year-old Caucasian male, was found in a lethargic and confused condition in his apartment. He was admitted to the emergency room of our hospital. Past medical history included end stage renal disease secondary to hypertension – treated by haemodialysis for the last 5 years, symptomatic bradycardia – treated with a permanent cardiac pacemaker and hypothyroidism. Prescribed medication included levothyroxin, calcitriol, furosemide, captopril, erythropoetin, calciumacetate and iron. According to the patient’s nephrologist, the patient had been well. He did not use alcohol or tobacco. There had been no problems during haemodialysis so far. On physical examination the patient was indeed lethargic and confused. His blood pressure was 150/80mmHg; heart rate was 68 bpm, body temperature 36.58C and respiratory rate 16 breaths per minute. The patient was diaphoretic, the skin turgor was normal and there was no oedema. He had neither neck stiffness nor any paralysis. The cardiac auscultation was unremarkable and breathing sounded normal. There were a few crackles over the base of the left lung. The remainder of the examination was unremarkable. The results of the laboratory evaluation are given in Table 1. Questions

Use of an active biological substance in abnormal cellular and viral membrane physiologies

Abstract: An active biological substance is disclosed for use in abnormal cellular and viral membrane physiologies in human and mammal organisms. The active substance has diagnostic and/or therapeutic properties and contains or consists of at least one component selected from the group of substances including: histones, covalently modified histones, histone-like polypeptides, biologically active histone sequences and histone-like polypeptides as agents for stopping the supply to solid tumours over their blood vessels, for killing cells infected by virus and for killing tumour cells with disturbed lipid asymmetry.