Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A F Muller

Publications and source records attributed to A F Muller.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Thyroid autoimmunity and abortion: a prospective study in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an association exists between the presence of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies before pregnancy and miscarriage in women without a history of habitual abortion. DESIGN: Prospective study and nested case-control study. SETTING: Inner-city teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Four hundred eighty-nine women in an IVF program. INTERVENTION(S): In the prospective study, we measured levels of TPO antibodies and TSH. In the nested case-control study, we also measured levels of anticardiolipin antibodies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Miscarriage. RESULT(S): One hundred seventy-three women were observed, of whom 31% (54/173) became pregnant. Pregnancy occurred in 48% (12/25) of the antibody-positive women and in 28% (42/148) of the antibody-negative women. Among those who became pregnant, miscarriage occurred in 33% (4/12) of TPO antibody-positive women and in 19% (8/42) of TPO antibody-negative women. The TSH level was abnormal (<0.2 microIU/mL) in only one of the TPO antibody-positive women who miscarried. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies was not associated with miscarriage. CONCLUSION(S): No association was found between the presence of TPO antibodies before pregnancy and miscarriage in women without a history of habitual abortion. The presence of TPO antibodies did not adversely affect a woman's chances of becoming pregnant.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1999

Malignant acanthosis nigricans: potential role of chemotherapy.

Acanthosis nigricans is an uncommon skin condition characterized by hyperkeratosis and skin hyperpigmentation. Most causes are benign, but it may also be associated with gastrointestinal and other malignancies. When associated with malignant disease, the skin pathology may be more severe and treatment often unsuccessful. We describe a 66-year-old man with acanthosis nigricans associated with carcinoma of the stomach, with distressing generalized cutaneous, perioral and perineal disease, whose skin condition resolved completely with combination chemotherapy. In patients with malignant acanthosis, chemotherapy may relieve many of the distressing cutaneous symptoms. A close liaison between gastroenterologists, dermatologists and oncologists is required.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗
PubMed1996

Effect of allopurinol, sulphasalazine, and vitamin C on aspirin induced gastroduodenal injury in human volunteers.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of aspirin induced gastroduodenal injury are not fully understood. Aspirin induces the release of reactive oxygen metabolites in animal models, which may contribute to mucosal injury. AIMS: To investigate the effects of aspirin administered with placebo or antioxidants on gastric mucosal reactive oxygen metabolite release and gastroduodenal injury in human volunteers. SUBJECTS: Fourteen healthy volunteers participated in the study (seven male; mean age 27 years, range 20-40). METHODS: In a double blind, randomised, crossover study, volunteers received aspirin 900 mg twice daily and either placebo, allopurinol 100 mg twice daily, sulphasalazine 1 g twice daily or vitamin C 1 g twice daily for three days. Injury was assessed endoscopically and by quantifying mucosal reactive oxygen metabolite release by measuring chemiluminescence before and after each treatment. The effect on prostanoids was determined by measuring ex vivo antral prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2). RESULTS: No drug reduced any parameter of gastric injury but vitamin C reduced duodenal injury assessed by Lanza score (p < 0.005). Chemiluminescence increased after aspirin both with placebo (p < 0.05) and vitamin C (p < 0.05). Post-treatment chemiluminescence was lower in subjects taking allopurinol (p < 0.05) or sulphasalazine (p < 0.005) than in those taking placebo with aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, aspirin induced gastric injury was associated with reactive oxygen metabolite release. This was reduced by sulphasalazine and allopurinol, although macroscopic injury was not affected. Vitamin C, however, was shown to have a previously unrecognised protective effect against aspirin induced duodenal injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

'Relapse' of chronic active hepatitis--not always what it seems.

Immune chronic active hepatitis is a disease notorious for its unpredictability. In a patient with chronic hepatitis who has already suffered relapses a search for a second cause of jaundice is not usually necessary. This report emphasises the essential role of liver biopsy.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1996

Neurological complications of celiac disease: a rare but continuing problem.

Neurological complications are a recognized but unusual manifestation of celiac disease. We present here our experiences with four current cases. Age of patients at presentation with neurological signs varied from 7 to 67 yr. In one patient, the neurological disability developed before the diagnosis of celiac disease, whereas, in the other three, it occurred from months to 16 yr after the diagnosis had been established. One patient died of rapidly progressive neuromyopathy. The other three patients had combinations of cerebellar and posterior and lateral column abnormalities. All four patients developed neurological complications despite a strict gluten-free diet. In three of four patients, there was no improvement in duodenal histology on this diet. Treatment with vitamin B12, folic acid, or vitamin D failed to reverse the changes. No other nutritional deficiencies were found. Vitamin E levels were normal in two of three patients. One patient had no response to treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. The mechanisms responsible for these neurological complications are poorly understood, although patients whose duodenal histology fails to improve on a gluten-free diet may be at greater risk. There have been no real advances in the understanding of this condition since the original description nearly 30 yr ago.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Basic ethical considerations in intensive care--Switzerland, a pluralistic country].

The basic ethical considerations surrounding intensive care are analyzed from the historical perspective, with particular reference to the two doctrines still of greatest importance: Kantianism and utilitarianism. They are correlated with the four essential principles of medical ethics: autonomy of the patient, quality, nihil nocere, and equal distribution of medical resources. The inevitable conflicts, particularly arising from pluralism, are reviewed. Finally, the absolute need is stressed for a global medical ethics taking into consideration not only the patient but society as a whole.

Critical Care↗
PubMed1995

Primary gastric lymphoma in clinical practice 1973-1992.

This study assessed the presentation, treatment, and prognosis of primary gastric lymphoma in general hospital practice and its relation to infection with Helicobacter pylori. The number of patients that would on the current recommendations have been suitable for H pylori eradication therapy was also examined. All lymphomas were graded according to a standard classification of gut lymphoma into high and low grade disease. Forty five patients (mean age 65 years) were identified. The overall five year survival was 40% with a trend in favour of an improved prognosis for low grade and stage I disease. H pylori was present in 80%. Only one of 18 patients with a low grade mucosa associated lymphoid tissue tumour had mucosal disease alone, which responded to omeprazole and amoxycillin. All other patients had bulk disease. These patients were treated by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy or a combination of these treatments. In district hospital practice, most cases of primary gastric lymphoma have bulk disease at presentation. Even in patients with low grade gastric lymphoma on histological examination, many on the current evidence would not be suitable for anti-H pylori therapy alone.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Functional hyposplenism in alcoholic liver disease: a toxic effect of alcohol?

Functional hyposplenism, seen in some patients with alcoholic liver disease, may contribute to the increased susceptibility to infections. As hyposplenism does not complicate non-alcohol related chronic liver disease, it is probably secondary to a toxic effect of alcohol. Over a two year period the case notes of 82 patients with alcoholic liver disease, whose splenic function had been assessed by the counting of pitted erythrocytes using differential interference microscopy, were reviewed to monitor mortality and the effects of hyposplenism. Thirteen patients (seven with hyposplenism) had serial measurements of pitted erythrocyte count made to assess the effect of abstinence from alcohol on splenic function. Thirty one of the 82 alcoholic patients had pitted erythrocyte counts greater than 2%. Eighteen of 82 (16%) patients died over the two years and 11 of these had been unable to stop drinking. Only one patient died of sepsis. Five patients (6%) had pitted erythrocyte counts comparable with those in splenectomised patients. In 12 of 13 patients who had abstained from alcohol for two months, the pitted erythrocyte count fell from a median of 3 to 1.3% (mean: 8.1 to 2.6%. p = 0.01). The pitted red cell count in two patients increased. One had abstained, the other had continued to drink heavily. Short term mortality in alcoholics is high, particularly if they continue to drink heavily. Only a few of these deaths are secondary to infection. Splenic function, as assessed by these methods, improves in most patients with abstinence, suggesting that the functional hyposplenism may be a result of a direct toxic effect of alcohol on the spleen.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Splenic function, assessed by quantification of erythrocyte membrane pits, is normal in chronic active hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.

Splenic hypofunction has been described in a number of diseases in which autoimmune mechanisms are believed to play a part. It has been reported in association with chronic active hepatitis although this relationship has not been systematically investigated. Twenty patients with chronic active hepatitis and 22 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, together with an equal number of age-matched controls for each group, were studied. Splenic function was assessed by counting pits on erythrocytes viewed under differential interference contrast microscopy. There was no difference between splenic function in either chronic active hepatitis, or primary biliary cirrhosis, and normal controls. In both groups of patients splenic hypofunction was significantly related to age.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Pneumoblastoma in neurofibromatosis.

Pneumoblastoma is a rare tumor composed of two histologic cell types, arising from epithelium and stroma. Patients with von Recklinghausen's disease are known to develop certain types of tumors. A rare, and possibly first case of pneumoblastoma arising in a patient with neurofibromatosis is described.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Splenic function in inflammatory bowel disease: assessment by differential interference microscopy and splenic ultrasound.

The role of the spleen in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease was assessed by counting pitted erythrocytes with differential interference microscopy and by splenic ultrasound. The findings were compared with those from age- and sex-matched controls and a group of splenectomized patients. The incidence of hyposplenism was lower than previously reported, being found in six of 29 patients with ulcerative colitis (of whom five had relapsed pancolitis and one had quiescent pancolitis) and two of 21 patients with Crohn's disease. Pitted erythrocyte counts were significantly higher in patients with ulcerative colitis compared with age- and sex-matched controls (p < 0.001), but there was no difference in counts between patients with Crohn's disease and controls. Patients with relapsed but not quiescent ulcerative colitis had significantly smaller spleens than controls. Patients with the highest pitted erythrocyte counts had the smallest spleens on ultrasound. More effective medical and surgical therapy may account for the lower incidence of functional hyposplenism observed in this study. Nonetheless, patients may show marked hyposplenism and remain at risk of overwhelming infection and operative complications. Differential interference microscopy is a simple technique that can be used to assess splenic function in patients thought to be susceptible to infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Food in chronic heart failure: improvement in central haemodynamics but deleterious effects on exercise tolerance.

Food has been known to have significant central haemodynamic effects for over half a century; it causes an increase in cardiac output and a fall in systemic vascular resistance. These changes are potentially desirable in patients with chronic heart failure but how they relate to exercise tolerance is unknown. This study was designed to examine the haemodynamic effects of food with changes in exercise capability in a group of patients with chronic heart failure. Fifteen patients with chronic heart failure and 10 normal control subjects were studied. They underwent treadmill exercise testing whilst fasting and after a standardized meal. Measurements were made of symptom-limited exercise tolerance, cardiac output, limb blood flow and respiratory gases. Superior mesenteric artery blood flow was measured fasting and postprandially only. Despite an increase in cardiac output, at rest and during exercise, which was not, however, as great as that in the control subjects, the symptom-limited exercise tolerance of the patients fell by 37 s postprandially (P < 0.05). Superior mesenteric artery blood flow increased postprandially by a mean of 133 ml.min-1 (P < 0.05) in the patients and 424 ml.min-1 (P < 0.01) in the control subjects. Calf blood flow increased in both groups during exercise, but there was no change in limb blood flow when comparisons were made between the fasting and postprandial states. The normal postprandial increase in oxygen consumption did not occur in the patients although their minute ventilation was higher than the control subjects (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗