Biomedical subjects

E Stenager

Publications and source records attributed to E Stenager.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

[Psychosocial aspects of disseminated sclerosis].

Using multiple sclerosis as a model, it is demonstrated how a chronic neurological disorder has psychosocial consequences during the period between onset and diagnosis, at the time of diagnosis, and in the post-diagnostic period. The impact of the disorder on self-esteem, civil status, habitation, economy, social and leisure activities and need for help is described. It is concluded that it will increasingly be expected that the physician has knowledge of these relations.

Denmark↗

PubMed1995

[Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy].

Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) is a rarely occurring demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by a neurotropic papovavirus named JC virus (JCV). The most frequently affected areas are the cerebral hemispheres, especially the parieto-occipital region, followed by the cerebellum and brain stem. The disease occurs predominantly in individuals with an immunocompromised state and impaired cellular mediated immunity (CMI) due to other underlying illness. More extensive use of irradiation and immunosuppressive therapy in relation to increased transplantational activities as well as treatment of autoimmune diseases and malignancies, in addition to the appearance of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as a consequence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has caused a considerable increase in the occurrence of PML. The course of the disease is still most often rapidly progressive and fatal, but several cases with prolonged survival and even remission have been reported, and various antiviral treatments have been tried. The only drug that until now has shown favourable results is cytosine arabinoside. In HIV-infected PML-patients immunomodulation with AZT/zidovudine may alleviate the course and improve the prognosis in some patients. Suspicion of PML should lead to an extensive immunological investigation before considering of brain biopsy, which is still the only specific test. On the basis of the increased frequency of PML in relation to HIV-infection, it is likely that our knowledge of the pathogenetic aspects will increase, which, hopefully, may lead to an effective therapeutic strategy. A review of this disease, based upon studies of the literature, is presented.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed1995

Acute and chronic pain syndromes in multiple sclerosis. A 5-year follow-up study.

Forty-nine (22 males, 27 females) patients with definite multiple sclerosis were examined twice with 5 years interval regarding acute (less than 1 month duration) and chronic (more than 1 month duration) pain syndromes. From the first to the second examination a significant increase was found in the number of acute and chronic pain syndromes, including tension and pain in the extremities, spasms, low back pain, Lhermitte's sign and neuralgia. The increase included both men and women. The increase was especially found in patients with deterioration of disability.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

Sexual problems in young patients with Parkinson's disease.

The purpose of this study was to describe sexual function in a representative group of young patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty-five patients (15 men, 10 women; age range 36-56 yrs) participated in a structured interview on sexual function. Forty percent of the men and 70% of the women reported changed libido while 33.4% of the men and 80% of the women experienced changed sexual activity after onset of PD. A tendency to changes in libido and sexual function was seen with increasing time of treatment and advanced Hoehn-Yahr stages. It is concluded that changes in libido and sexual function occur more frequently than previously reported, especially in women, and more attention should be paid to these problems.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Mortality in patients with Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: After the introduction of L-dopa the mortality rate in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients has changed, but is still higher than in the background population. MATERIAL & METHODS: Mortality, age at death and cause of death in a group of PD patients compared with the background population were studied. The diagnosis on the death certificate were registered. The material consisted of 458 patients who in a period 1.4.1973-31.10.1991 were registered as having PD. RESULTS: Death in the period amounted to 253 patients. Median age of death was 77.29 years for men and 79.11 years for women. In the background population the median age at death was 80.69 years for men and 84.37 years for women. The SMR for men was 1.92 and for women 2.47. Infections, in particular lung infections, and heart diseases were the most common causes of death. Seventy percent of the death certificates had PD as a diagnosis. CONCLUSION: It is likely that several factors can influence the changed mortality of PD: more effective treatment, changing diagnostic practice, and inter-disease competition.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

The use of non-medical/alternative treatment in multiple sclerosis. A 5 year follow-up study.

Forty-nine patients (22 males, 27 females) were examined and interviewed with 5 years interval in order to determine the extent of the use of non-medical (alternative) treatment and whether the use influenced the natural course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Using clinical course, Kurtzke Disability Status scale, bladder and bowel function, neuropsychological tests, psychological tests, divorce and self-assessment score as parameters, it was found that non-medical treatment did not alter the course of MS. To confirm this result a clinical trial in a controlled design is needed. The use of non-medical treatment declined over the 5 years from 55% to 27%. The use of non-medical treatment could be interpreted as an indicator of psycho-social difficulties in MS patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Multiple sclerosis: correlation of anxiety, physical impairment and cognitive dysfunction.

The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between anxiety and physical impairment and to discover whether anxiety correlated with specific forms of cognitive dysfunction. Ninety-four patients (42 females, 52 males) with definite MS entered the study. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, physical impairment by means of the Kurtzke Disability Status scale, and cognitive impairment by using the Trail Making, Symbol Digit Modalities, Auditory Verbal Learning, Story Recall and the Recurring Figures tests. Moderately handicapped patients (DSS 4-5) showed signs of anxiety, and physical impairment correlated with anxiety (p < 0.05; d.f. 1.92). Trail Making also correlated with anxiety (p < 0.01; d.f. 1.86). On the basis of the results of this and previous studies, it is concluded that anxiety can be a sign of cognitive dysfunction, physical impairment or social strain.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Effect of pregnancy on the prognosis for multiple sclerosis. A 5-year follow up investigation.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of pregnancy and childbirth on the longterm prognosis for women with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHOD AND MATERIAL: A cohort of 39 women with definite MS were identified on 1.1.1986 using a reproducible selection method. The investigation was initiated in 1986 when handicap was evaluated by Kurtzke Disability Status Score (DSS). At a 5-year follow up 4 had died and 6 could not participate. There were 29 women in the investigation of whom 7 were childless, 10 had onset of MS at least 6 months after last childbirth, and 12 had onset of MS before or in connection with childbirth. Age and disease duration of the group was uniform. RESULT: At follow up the DSS significantly deteriorated (p = 0.008). The deterioration was seen particularly for childless women (p = 0.03) and women with onset of MS before or in connection with childbirth (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: On the basis of this prospective investigation and the literature, it may be concluded that it is unlikely that pregnancy and childbirth have an influence on the longterm prognosis for MS. However, the conclusion must be interpreted with caution as the number of patients is small.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Suicide in patients with Parkinson's disease. An epidemiological study.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of suicide for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in Denmark compared with that in the background population. The study involved 458 patients with a PD diagnosis, 226 men and 232 women. The follow-up period to either death or end of follow-up on December 31, 1990 was 0 to 17 years, mean 5.7 years. Deaths in the follow-up period amounted to 254, 135 men and 119 women. Two women committed suicide. The number of expected suicides was 1.06 for men and 0.55 for women, a total of 1.62. Neither for men nor for women was the difference between expected and observed suicides statistically significant.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

Attempted suicide, depression and physical diseases: a 1-year follow-up study.

In the period January 1, 1990 to March 31, 1991 a sample of suicide attempters admitted to the Department of Psychiatry, Odense University Hospital, underwent a structured interview. In the study 52% of the patients interviewed were found to suffer from a somatic disease, and 21% were daily on analgesics for pain. Patients that suffered from a somatic disease differed from other suicide attempters in depression score, age, pain and the presence of psychosis. Fewer of the somatically ill suicide attempters had a psychosis. Patients complaining of pain were more often depressed and abused medicine. Statistically, the risk of repetition of parasuicide for patients with a somatic disease but without depression was significantly less. The 7 patients committing suicide were older and a tendency was found towards painful somatic diseases and depression as risk factors for suicide.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Multiple sclerosis: methodological aspects of cognitive testing.

In a cross-sectional study of 94 patients (42 males, 52 females) with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) in the age range 25-55 years, the correlation of neuropsychological tests with the ability to read TV-subtitles and with the use of sedatives is examined. A logistic regression analysis reveals a significant correlation between results of an attention and perceptual motor speed test i.e. Symbol Digit Modalities test and the ability to read TV-subtitles, but no correlation was found with another attention and perceptual motor speed test, or verbal or visual memory. No correlation between the use of sedatives and results on neuropsychological tests was found. Anxiety was not correlated with the ability to read TV-subtitles. It is concluded that visual deficits but not the use of sedatives may be a confounding factor in neuropsychological testing in MS.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Attempted suicide, suicidal intent, and alcohol.

The purpose of the present study was to relate suicidal intent to the suicide method chosen and the medical lethality of the suicidal act, and to discuss how ingestion of alcohol impacts these three factors. The study was based upon interviews with 139 suicidal patients admitted to the Department of Psychiatry of Odense University Hospital. The results indicated a tendency for suicide attempters using wrist-cutting to score low on the Suicidal Intent Scale. Patients using kinds of self-injury other than self-poisoning or wrist-cutting scored high. In the case of self-poisoning, suicidal intent did not influence the choice of toxic agent, nor was the choice of method and/or choice of toxic agent affected by alcohol ingestion. A correlation between suicidal intent and the lethality of the suicide attempt was seen only among patients without a diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Alcohol-dependent patients who made highly lethal attempts scored relatively low on the Suicidal Intent Scale. The results indicate that the lethality of the suicidal act is only an incomplete guide to a patient's suicidal intent. However, it should be stressed that, despite the fact that alcohol-dependent suicide attempters may not strongly wish to die, they are nonetheless at high risk for making fatal suicide attempts.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Painful syndromes connected with disseminated sclerosis].

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is frequently regarded as a painless condition. A review of the literature reveals that approximately 2/3 of the patients with multiple sclerosis will experience painful syndromes during the course of disease and that these are associated with the disease. Acute syndromes are described: Trigeminal neuralgia, Lhermitte's sign, optic neuritis and tonic seizure. Chronic syndromes: Dysaesthesia, pain in extremities, muscular spasms, low back pain and headache. The frequency, causes and suggestions for treatment are mentioned. A Danish investigation has revealed that only 42% of a representative section of DS patients received adequate treatment for pain. It is thus concluded that optimal treatment of pain in MS patients is necessary.

Back Pain↗

PubMed1992

Suicide and patients with neurologic diseases. Methodologic problems.

OBJECTIVE: The suicide risk in patients with many neurologic diseases has been reported to be greater than that in the general population. Studies on the subject are, however, often encumbered with methodologic problems. We appraised these problems and, based on an evaluation, reappraised knowledge of the suicide risk in patients with specific neurologic diseases. DATA SOURCE: Using the computerized database MEDLINE, we identified all published reports with the key words suicide, attempted suicide, and neurologic diseases. STUDY SELECTION: We assessed and reviewed studies concerning the most common neurologic diseases for methodologic problems in the study design. DATA EXTRACTION: The following methodologic problems emerged during our review: (1) choice of study type, ie, autopsy study or follow-up study; (2) choice of study population; (3) choice of control groups; (4) epidemiologic/statistical methods used; and (5) validity of statistics reported. DATA SYNTHESIS: We analyzed the methodologic problems in studies of patients with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington's chorea, spinal cord lesions, cranial trauma, brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, vascular disorders, and migraine. In most of the studies, the methods used gave rise to uncertainty about the conclusion presented. CONCLUSION: An increased suicide risk was found in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and spinal cord lesions as well as in selected groups of patients with epilepsy. In other neurologic diseases, the suicide risk may be increased, but the results are uncertain due to the methodologic problems in the study design.

Brain Injuries↗

PubMed1992