Biomedical subjects

E Klar

Publications and source records attributed to E Klar.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Measurement of blood flow in the main arteriole of the villi in rat small intestine with FITC-labeled erythrocytes.

Changes of blood flow in the intestine occur under various pathological conditions. The mucosa of the intestine is especially sensitive to tissue damage resulting in swelling, loss of tissue integrity, and ulceration. Changes of blood supply to the mucosa may contribute to local tissue damage. Therefore, the quantification of the perfusion of the intestinal mucosa in an animal model may help to elucidate the involved pathophysiological mechanisms. In our study, autologous erythrocytes were labeled with fluorescein-isothiocyanate and used for the evaluation of erythrocyte velocity in the main arteriole of the villi in the distal part of the ileum using intravital microscopy. In addition, the arteriolar diameter was determined, and the arteriolar blood flow was calculated. Under stable cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, blood flow ranged between 6.6 +/- 0.3 and 5.9 +/- 0.3 nl/min (means +/- SEM) during the observation period of 120 min. Our results suggest that this approach is a feasible method to quantify blood flow in the main arteriole of the villi and is therefore a suitable method for further investigating changes of mucosal blood flow in acute and chronic states of bowel disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Managed care--an example for future structural developments in health care. Reflections on a informational visit on direction and administration of medical centers in east USA].

While the different national health systems merge structurally, cost expansion in health care is a global challenge. Structural reforms have been developed during recent years in the USA which can be summarized as "managed care". They are characterized by the evolution of an economically orientated system, in which units of medical therapy are generally handled like conventional economically goods. In managed-care models, patients are deliberately directed to the most economic forms of therapy. The spectrum of medical interventions as well as diagnostic or therapeutic patterns are predefined by a system of contracted guidelines, which lead to a standardization of processes. Financing and medical executive responsibilities fuse. The autonomy of medical decisions is clearly reduced to enforce and integrated and economically oriented steering of the health system. Leadership is no longer primarily confined to doctors or scientists. It is progressively shifting to financing institutions, managing directors or insurance companies. Structural changes currently are expanding rapidly in the U.S. and have meanwhile led to marked regional reductions of medical costs. Nevertheless, the US model is still far more expensive compared to the German system. Historical development, current concepts of US-managed care, its potential influence and general applicability to the German situation are discussed in an overview.

Academic Medical Centers↗

PubMed1998

[Conversion of experimental research findings to treatment of acute pancreatitis].

Performing prospective, randomized controlled studies in patients with severe acute pancreatitis is limited due to low disease incidence and organizational and financial problems. Thus, animal models simulating the clinical condition have been developed for testing innovative therapeutic procedures. Despite objections regarding the applicability of data obtained from animal experiments to clinical practice, the experience gained from these studies could not only be used in clinical study proposals but also, in part, directly influenced the clinical management of acute pancreatitis. This is illustrated by studies regarding the influence of contrast medium, isovolemic hemodilution and various antibiotics.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Hydro-CT in detection and staging of pancreatic carcinoma].

PURPOSE: To document our experience with spiral hydro-CT of the pancreas based on a combination of pharmacologic intestinal paralysis and water distension of the stomach and duodenum with specific reference to tumor detection rate, differentiation of malignant versus benign tumors and assessment of tumor resectability in a prospective study on 211 consecutive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between May 1994 und September 1997, 211 patients with suspect of pancreatic neoplasm from clinical, laboratory or other imaging data were examined. Our Hydro-CT techniques were based on intravenous injection of 40 mg N-butylscopolaminiumbromid (Buscopan) for intestinal paralysis, gastric and duodenal wall distension by oral administration of an average of 1.5 l warm tap water, 30 degrees RAO patient's positioning, individualized contrast injection technique using portal vein enhancement as reference and thin slice spiral CT (3 mm slice thickness, 6 mm table feed and 3 mm secondary reconstruction). Examined parameters were: (1) tumor detection rate, (2) differentiation of malignant versus benign disease, (3) differential diagnosis and (4) accuracy of assessment of resectability by identification of infiltration into adjacent organs and vessel structures relevant for resectability such as splenic, superior mesenteric, portal vein and celiac trunk, superior mesenteric, splenic and hepatic arteries. As gold standard for positive tumor detection and description surgery (of potentially resectable tumors) and microscopic diagnosis (of clearly unresectable tumors) were used and for negative tumor detection an event-free survival of six months, respectively. RESULTS: 96% of the examinations were well tolerated. In only 4% was on-site administration of a gastric tube required because of vomiting. In 2% of the patients a slight allergic reaction to the contrast medium was seen. The prevalence of a pancreatic neoplasm was 37.8%. In tumor detection Hydro-CT reached an overall accuracy of 94.8% with a sensitivity of 93.7% and a specificity of 95.2%. 52 patients underwent surgical exploration 34 of whom with tumorfree resection margins (RO resection) corresponding to a resection of 42.5%. In those assessment of resectability reached an overall accuracy of 94.6% with a sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 95.6%. CONCLUSION: The new technique of Hydro-CT based on the slice and spiral methodology including pharmacologic intestinal paralysis and water distension results in a high tumor detection rate and reliable assessment of resectability.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine as a hepatoprotective agent in liver transplantation.

One of the most common complications after liver transplantation is primary graft dysfunction which results from severe deterioration of the microcirculation. The data obtained from our experimental studies indicate that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is able to reduce the severity of ischemia/reperfusion injury and improves postoperative graft function after liver transplantation in rats. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of NAC as a hepatoprotective agent under clinical conditions. A group of 30 liver transplanted patients were treated with NAC, and 30 patients (control group) were treated with a 5% solution of glucose only. In the NAC group we observed a distinct reduction in ischemia/reperfusion injury and improved liver function with less elevated peak transaminases, better macrocirculation, improved liver synthesis function and a lower incidence of primary nonfunction compared with the control group. We conclude that NAC is a very promising substance for reducing graft dysfunction in clinical liver transplantation.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1998