Hopping transport in the three-site model in the presence of electric and magnetic fields: Rate equation and transport phenomena for small polarons.
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Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
F Schulz
Publications and source records attributed to F Schulz.
A phase I-II study of epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
BACKGROUND: To determine the maximum tolerated dose of epirubicin for use in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and low-dose leucovorin (LV), a Phase I-II trial was conducted in 37 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. METHODS: The doses of 5-FU (425 mg/m2) and LV (20 mg/m2), both given intravenously on days 1-5, were held constant while the dose of epirubicin was escalated in cohorts of patients (beginning dose, 50 mg/m2 on day 1). Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Significant gastrointestinal symptoms and myelosuppression were observed infrequently at the initial dose level. At a dose of 60 mg/m2 of epirubicin on day 1, however, five of eight patients had significant mucosal toxic effects during the first cycle of therapy. In addition, two patients treated at this dose level had Grade 4 granulocytopenia with insufficient recovery to permit a second course by day 28, and one patient each had severe diarrhea and nausea and vomiting. Among 37 patients with assessable disease, there were 3 complete and 11 partial responses (response rate, 38%). CONCLUSIONS: LV modulation of 5-FU can be incorporated safely into combination chemotherapy with epirubicin and provides a relatively active regimen for treatment of disseminated gastric cancer.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Perioperative TNF alpha and IL-6 concentrations correlate with septic state, organ function, and APACHE II scores in intra-abdominal infection.
OBJECTIVE: To find out if concentrations of tumour necrosis factor a (TNF alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) play a part in the pathophysiology of intra-abdominal infection, and try to identify patients who would benefit from immunotherapy against TNF alpha. DESIGN: Prospective open study. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS: 19 consecutive patients (septic shock, n = 4; sepsis syndrome, n = 6; and no sepsis syndrome, n = 9, classified by the APACHE II score and the criteria of the Methyl-prednisolone Severe Sepsis Study Group) who were to undergo their first operation for intra-abdominal infection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation between median (interquartile) concentrations of TNF alpha and IL-6 (pg/ml), and APACHE II score, plasma lactate concentration, and organ function. RESULTS: Perioperative concentrations of both TNF alpha (p = 0.001) and IL-6 (p = 0.006) were significantly higher in patients with septic shock. Preoperative cardiovascular and respiratory failure were associated with significantly raised TNF alpha (p < 0.001 in both cases) and IL-6 concentrations (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). The preoperative APACHE II score correlated with the increased TNF alpha concentration (r = 0.5, p < 0.001) and plasma lactate concentration with that of IL-6 (r = 0.7, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Perioperative TNF alpha and IL-6 concentrations correlated with the severity of intra-abdominal infection, so it is possible that patients who present with either septic shock or the sepsis syndrome may benefit from immunotherapy against TNF alpha.
Abdomen↗
[Bile duct injuries in laparoscopic cholecystectomy].
We report on three patients with iatrogenic lesions of the common bile duct after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In one patient, an additional occlusion of the hepatic artery was found. The leading postoperative signs were jaundice and cholangitis. Endoscopic and radiologic intervention failed to correct the common bile duct stenosis in all three patients. Surgical correction by hepaticojejunostomy was successful, although the postoperative follow-up is still short.
Adult↗
Combined sclerotherapy and operation for the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices.
OBJECTIVE: To identify prognostic factors in a consecutive series of patients with bleeding oesophageal varices and develop an optimum regimen of treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: I Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria. PATIENTS: 301 consecutive patients with bleeding oesophageal varices. OUTCOME MEASURES: Median survival and survival at one year after sclerotherapy alone (n = 213), or sclerotherapy with portosystemic shunt (n = 54), Hassab's devascularisation (n = 29), or liver transplantation (n = 5). RESULTS: Prognosis was dependent on the severity of liver damage at the start of treatment. Median survival for Child's class A was 47 months, for Child's class B 54 months, and for Child's class C 2 months. The overall one year survival for patients in Child's class C was 33%, for sclerotherapy alone 28%, and for sclerotherapy and portosystemic shunt 42%, Hassab's devascularisation 50%, and liver transplantation 80%. CONCLUSION: Despite the small number of patients who underwent liver transplantation and their poor initial prognosis (Child's class C, n = 4; class B, n = 1) our results suggest that liver transplantation should be considered for the treatment of patients with end stage cirrhosis and bleeding varices.
Adolescent↗
[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy--evaluation of a prospective follow-up study].
A report is presented on 105 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy because of symptomatic gallstone disease. Preoperative and intraoperative findings, complications and results were prospectively documented. In four (3.8%) patients the laparoscopic procedure had to be converted into open cholecystectomy. There were only minor surgical complications such as wound infection and a subhepatic haematoma. On average, patients were discharged on the second postoperative day. The operating time decreased from a median of 98 minutes in the first half to 73 minutes in the second half of the study, despite augmentation of the number of surgeons and of the indications to include patients with acute cholecystitis (n = 11), previous upper abdominal surgery (n = 7) and cirrhosis (n = 2).
Aged↗
[Necrosectomy and laparostoma as a surgical therapy concept of acute necrotizing pancreatitis].
121 patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis were treated according to a surgical regimen of necrosectomy, drainage by laparostomies and repeated revisions. Changing the protocol from revisions on demand to scheduled reexplorations resulted in an improvement of mortality from 53% to 28%. The high incidence of gastrointestinal fistulas (30%) associated with this regimen could be decreased to 5% by a more individual protocol with longer intervals of revisions in the later course. Mortality was 21% following this regimen.
Acute Disease↗
[Etiology and consequences of postoperative wound infection].
The incidence of postoperative wound infection ranges between 4.6% and 36% after gastrointestinal operations respectively. To evaluate the factors which influence the postoperative wound infection we prospectively analyzed our patients between 1/1989 and 1/1990. 444 patients from three general surgical units of our clinic entered this study. The overall wound infection rate was 6.3%. We classified the patients into 3 operative groups: Group I: subcutaneous operations; Group II: intraabdominal operations without opening the GI-tract; Group III: gastrointestinal operations. Wound infection rate in group I was 1.8%, in group II 7.3% and in group III 13.7%. The differences were highly significant. Both univariate (chi 2-test) as well as a multivariate (Cox-Model) analysis were done. We figured out that classification of patients (p = 0.000), operation time (p = 0.009), operating room (p = 0.000), intensive care unit (p = 0.026), long-term antibiotic prophylaxis (p = 0.001), subcutaneous haematoma (p = 0.000) and length of closed drainage time (p = 0.001) are of significant value. In the Cox model the classification of patients into 3 groups surpassed all the other factors. Postoperative hospital stay was lengthened in patients with wound infection significantly (p = 0.0025).
Austria↗
Intraoperative estimation of endotoxin, TNF alpha, and IL-6 in orthotopic liver transplantation and their relation to rejection and postoperative infection.
The course of endotoxemia, TNF alpha, and IL-6 during orthotopic liver transplantation was studied in 28 transplantations performed in 27 patients to evaluate their impact on early postoperative rejection and infection. The preoperative levels of endotoxin, TNF alpha, and IL-6 were not different in patients who did or did not develop postoperative rejection and/or infection within the first 10 postoperative days. At the end of surgery, TNF alpha levels increased in patients who developed rejection (median 100 pg/ml vs. 11.5 pg/ml, P = 0.004). A TNF alpha level of greater than 100 pg/ml at the end of transplantation predicted rejection in 82% of the patients. During surgery, IL-6 levels increased significantly in patients with subsequent postoperative infection, reaching significance after revascularization of the graft (median 975 pg/ml vs. 185 pg/ml, P = 0.006). An IL-6 cutoff level of 800 pg/ml predicted postoperative infection in 75% of the patients. Endotoxins were elevated intraoperatively in patients with postoperative infection, but the difference did not reach significance. There was no prognostic relevance with respect to the intraoperative values of TNF alpha and infection or IL-6 values and rejection. An intraoperative elevation of TNF alpha seems to precede early postoperative rejection, and highly increased IL-6 may be a predictor of subsequent infection in human liver transplantation.
Adult↗
Reoperation after cholecystectomy. The role of the cystic duct stump.
The so-called "Postcholecystectomy Syndrome" may be due to various pathological biliary causes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of the cystic duct stump syndrome and if so, how often a long (greater than 1.5 cm) cystic duct stump was an indication for reoperation on the bile ducts after cholecystectomy in our patients. Three hundred and twenty two patients underwent a second operation on the bile ducts after cholecystectomy in the last ten years. In 35 patients (10.8%) a striking findings was a long cystic duct stump (greater than 1.5 cm). In 24 of these patients, a pathological finding, in addition to the long cystic duct stump, was found on exploration. Out of these 24 patients there were 14 with common bile duct stones; 6 with stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi; 3 with chronic pancreatitis and in one patient hepatitis was the cause of the symptoms. From the remaining 11 patients 8 had a stone in a partial gall bladder or cystic duct stump. One patient had a fistula between the cystic duct stump and duodenum and one a suture granuloma. There was only one patient where a 1.5 cm long cystic duct stump remnant was the only pathological finding. Four years after reoperation this patient is still suffering from the same intermittent gastrointestinal symptoms. We conclude that the cystic duct stump is hardly ever a cause for recurrent symptoms in itself. Total excision of the cystic duct does not eliminate the existence of postcholecystectomy symptoms.
Cholecystostomy↗
Thyroid hormone binding inhibition in critically ill patients--who is the inhibitor?
In 31 severely ill patients of our intensive care unit an increased thyroid hormone binding inhibition detected by quantitative measurement of the effect of ether extracts of patients' sera on thyroxine tracer binding to TBG was found. As free fatty acids in serum were diminished in these patients, their postulated role as binding inhibitors in the "low T4 syndrome" of critically ill patients must be questioned. It cannot be excluded that THBI assays demonstrating this inhibition measure artefacts caused by heparine-induced in vitro lipolysis.
Acute Disease↗
Endoscopic tube implantation for the palliation of malignant esophageal stenosis.
One hundred endoscopic tube implantations were carried out on 95 patients with malignant esophageal stenosis. Palliative treatment was performed in 43% of cases because of the advanced stage of the tumor, and in 57% of cases because of risk factors which made resection inadvisable. Clinical mortality was 16%, with six deaths caused by technical complications (perforation, arrosion bleeding), and ten by cardiopulmonary problems. Dislodgement or obstruction of the prostheses was observed in 20% of cases, but could readily be corrected. The median survival time was two months, with 17% of the patients still alive after six months. Poor general health, advanced age and the presence of distant metastases were established as unfavorable prognostic indications with a significant influence on postoperative mortality. Functional results were good: 87% of patients were able to eat solid or pulpy food post-operatively.
Adult↗
Patency rate of implantable devices during long-term intraarterial chemotherapy.
Intraarterial implantable drug delivery systems have been considered as an alternative method for treating patients with unresectable liver malignancies. However, catheter problems with external implanted devices have resulted in limited application of chemotherapy. The introduction of subcutaneous devices offers an opportunity for long-term locoregional chemotherapy. Twelve external intraarterial catheters were implanted into 12 patients and 52 subcutaneously placed devices into 51 patients, all with various hepatic malignancies. Retrospective analyses comparing those two intraarterial systems were conducted taking into account the function and complication rate (hepatic artery thrombosis, infection, leaking, hemorrhage, and dislocation). The follow-up time for the external system was two to eight months (median five weeks), the thrombosis rate 33.3%, and the infection rate 25%. One instance of severe bleeding from the hepatic artery occurred during chemotherapy. One catheter dislocated. For the subcutaneously implanted intraarterial devices the follow-up time was five to forty-one months (median sixteen months), the thrombotic complication rate 17.3%, and the infection rate 7.6% (all patients with simultaneous bowel surgery). Catheter dislocation one year later required reimplantation; in 1 patient therapy had to be discontinued because of a catheter leak. The overall function rate was 71.3% with a median follow-up time of eight months. Anticoagulation therapy for subcutaneously implanted devices starting from the beginning of intraarterial chemotherapy is recommended to achieve long-term patency. No implantation should be preformed simultaneously with bowel surgery. The subcutaneously placed intraarterial devices had a higher function rate and were available for a longer period as compared with external implanted catheters.
Equipment Failure↗
The therapy of iatrogenic lesions of the bile duct.
Forty-three patients were operated on for iatrogenic lesions of the bile duct. Only one patient had a biliary lesion which occurred in the course of distal gastric resection. All other lesions were observed during cholecystectomy. Injury of the bile duct was detected intraoperatively in sixteen cases. In 10 patients, lesions were observed in the postoperative period and in 17 patients, the post-operative diagnosis was made on the basis of symptoms of stenosis of the bile duct. Satisfactory results can be obtained by suturing the common bile duct and splinting with a T-tube where the lesion is partial and detected in the course of surgery. In the case of patients with strictures, an anastomosis (choledochojejunostomy Roux-en-Y loop) should be performed. Strictures involving hepatic bifurcation and the right hepatic duct have a higher incidence of restenosis, and transhepatic splinting of the anastomosis can therefore produce better results. Long-term transhepatic drainage has the advantage that replacement of the drain is relatively straightforward and complete dislocation impossible. Four of our patients died postoperatively, three of multiple septic organ failure due to preoperative biliary peritonitis or cholangitis, and one of a pulmonary embolism. Satisfactory long-term results after correction of an iatrogenic lesion of the bile duct can be obtained if the corrective procedure is undertaken immediately, prior to the onset of biliary cirrhosis.
Adult↗
[The value of 2 distinct prognosis scores in patients with peritonitis. The Mannheim Peritonitis Index versus the Apache II score].
Seventy patients suffering from purulent peritonitis entered this study, 31 of them were taken in prospectively, to contrast two different prognostic scores, the Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) vs. the Apache II (APS II). The MPI is shown as a prognostic index for peritonitis with high accuracy in individual prognosis. The simultaneous use of both scores, the MPI as well as the APS II, leads to a negligible improvement of prognostic accuracy. Moreover, sensitivity and specificity with the MPI are of higher accuracy than calculated with the APS II.
Adolescent↗
Immediate graft function after OLT clears endotoxins.
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Blood Pressure↗
The prognostic value of plasmaproteins in patients with abdominal sepsis.
In the course of the history of patients with severe peritonitis, opsonins, complements and other proteins of the plasma showed no significant difference between the data of the patients who later died or survived. We conclude that simple parameters like platelet count, creatinine and respiratory function are more sufficient.
Adult↗
[Free fatty acids in the serum in critical diseases: do they play a role in the protein binding of thyroid hormones?].
As a contribution to the question if the elevated concentrations of free fatty acids in sera of critically ill patients described in literature play a role in the decrease of thyroid hormone levels in these patients, serum levels of the important free fatty acids were measured in 31 patients of our intensive care unit in the course of their disease using gas chromatography. After admission to the ward, only palmitoleic acid was significantly increased compared with 174 control persons, arachidonic acid was not different from the controls, palmitic, stearic, linoleic and linolenic acid were significantly decreased. In the course of the disease, no relevant changes were observed. The 21 patients not surviving their disease showed significantly lowered levels of palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid before death compared with the surviving patients at the end of the observation period. The hypothetical role of single free fatty acids as inhibitors of the binding of thyroid hormones to their transport proteins must be questioned because of the results.
Adolescent↗