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Biomedical subjects

G Feifel

Publications and source records attributed to G Feifel.

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

IgG, albumin, and sCD44 in whole-gut lavage fluid are useful clinical markers for assessing the presence and activity of pouchitis.

Pouchitis is the most significant long-term complication in patients with ileoanal pouch anastomosis (IAP) and is especially frequent in patients with ulcerative colitis. There is an urgent need for simple and objective parameters to assess the presence and activity of pouchitis. Whole-gut lavage fluid (WGLF) was collected from 34 patients [8 with pouchitis (PDAI > or = 7 points) and 26 without pouchitis (Pouchitis Disease Activity Index, PDAI, < 7)]. Patients with active ulcerative colitis (n = 8) served as controls. Concentrations of IgG and sCD44 in WGLF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and those of albumin by immunoturbidimetry. Similar to the case in active ulcerative colitis, concentrations of IgG, albumin, and sCD44 in WGLF were significantly increased in acute pouchitis and reached high specificity (IgG 96%, albumin 96%, sCD44 100%) and acceptable sensitivity (75%) for the diagnosis of acute pouchitis. These parameters were also closely correlated with disease activity as determined by PDAI and endoscopic scoring indices. Assay of protein concentrations in WGLF is thus a simple and objective means for grading inflammation of the pouch and may be useful as a quantitative index of disease activity in clinical studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

High rates of appendicectomy in a developing country: an attempt to contribute to a more rational use of surgical resources.

OBJECTIVE: In view of the high appendicectomy rate in a university teaching hospital in a developing country, we investigated the regional epidemiology of appendicitis. DESIGN: Prospective clinical and pathological study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Madagascar. SUBJECTS: 165 patients who underwent appendicectomy during a two month period. INTERVENTIONS: Clinical investigation and histopathological examination of removed appendixes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Appendicitis score, local incidence of appendicectomy, appendicitis, perforation, and negative appendicectomy. RESULTS: There was a high incidence of primary appendicectomy (51.1/10,000 population/year) in relation to the incidence of histologically confirmed appendicitis (7.7/10,000), resulting in a negative appendicectomy rate of 85% (43/10,000). There were considerable sex related differences in the incidence of primary appendicectomy (81/10,000 women/year; 22/10,000 men), appendicectomy for appendicitis (12/10,000 women/year; 4/10,000 men) and non-perforating appendicitis (8/10,000 women/year; 2/10,000 men), but much less in that of perforating appendicitis (4/10,000 women/year; 2/10,000 men). CONCLUSION: There is potential for more economic use of medical resources by reducing the rate of negative appendicectomy. The incidence of non-perforating appendicitis depends on the number of appendicectomies done, which may explain the differences observed in the incidence of appendicitis between industrialised and developing countries.

Appendectomy↗
PubMed1999

[Laparoscopic-transperitoneal and lumboscopic-retroperitoneal surgery of the spine. Developments from animal experiments for use in clinical practice].

With the use of an in vivo porcine training model we established the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach for the instrumentation of anterior lumbar spine fusion with Bagby-and-Kuslich (BAK) interbody implants as well as "Brantigan" cages. The transperitoneal laparoscopic approach caudally from the aortic bifurcation allows the spine fusion procedure of the caudal but not of the cranial part of the lumbar spine. Because ventral stabilization of the upper lumbar spine is frequently necessary, in particular in trauma patients with spine body fractures, an additional retroperitoneal minimal-invasive (lumboscopic) approach was established using again the in vivo porcine training model. We demonstrate that via this approach spine fusion can easily be performed including the Th12 segment after fenestration of the diaphragm. With the experience from the in vivo experiments, both techniques could safely and successfully be transferred to clinical practice with the advantage of markedly reducing the extent of operative trauma compared with the corresponding open approaches.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Minimally invasive surgery and Crohn disease].

Patients with Crohn's disease are operated on with a morbidity of 15% and a mortality of 0% if the indication for surgery is decided in good time. After ileocecal resection the probability of having a second resection in 15-20 years is about 50%. When elective surgery is done at an early disease stage, ileocecal resections and reoperations for anastomotic stenosis can be performed by assisted laparoscopy assisted. Laparoscopic colonic resections are done more rarely. Acute and life-threatening conditions such as obstruction, perforation and sepsis are excluded from the laparoscopic approach. In a combined series of 222 laparoscopic resections for Crohn's disease, the following types of surgery were included: ileocecal resections (75), anastomotic resections (26), small intestinal resections (4), loop ileostomies (17), gastrojejunostomies (3), partial colonic resections (15), colectomies (16), loop colostomies (2) and one adhesiolysis. Two patients who sustained intraoperative bleeding underwent conversion of laparotomy. The conversion rate ranged from 0 to 22%. Reasons for 32 conversions were: large inflammatory mass (14), severe inflammation (5), fistula (3), abscess (1), perforation (1), small intestine dilation (1) and mesenteric thickening (1). Mean operative time for ileocecal resections ranged from 105 to 200 min. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 to 8 days. As more experience is gained and technical improvement is achieved, additional procedures such as resolution of severe adhesions, fistula closure and resections of colonic segments will be offered to the majority of patients who require elective surgery for localized Crohn's disease.

Cecum↗
PubMed1998

Decreased expression of CD44 splicing variants in advanced colorectal carcinomas.

CD44v6 expression appears to be associated with adverse prognosis and propensity for metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. However, expression of CD44 variants in different tumour stages has been poorly characterised. CD44 variant expression was investigated in normal colonic mucosa (n = 36), colorectal adenomas (n = 15), carcinomas (n = 62) and metastases (n = 6) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blotting with exon-specific probes. High frequencies of CD44 standard (CD44s) and CD44 epithelial (CD44e) were observed in normal and neoplastic tissue. CD44v2 was seen predominantly in adenomas (27%) and UICCI carcinomas (29%). CD44v5 expression was low in normal mucosa (3%), higher in adenomas and carcinomas (29-33%), independent of tumour stage. CD44v6 expression was low in normal mucosa (6%) and higher in adenomas (47%) and carcinomas (42%). Surprisingly, a significant decrease of CD44v6 was observed in metastatic primary tumours (8%) and metastases (17%) (UICCIV) (P < or = 0.05). Therefore, the concept of CD44v6 conferring metastatic potential to malignant cells cannot be supported by our data.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

Somatostatin attenuates microcirculatory impairment in acute sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis.

Using in vivo microscopy, red blood cell (RBC) velocities, functional capillary density (FCD), and overall changes in capillary blood flow (PI) were estimated following intraductal infusion of sodium taurocholate (0.8 ml; 4%) alone or in combination with systemic administration of somstostatin (single bolus SMS 100 microg/100 g body wt). Sodium taurocholate mediated a significant transient decrease in RBC velocities and a sustained decrease in FCD, which were paralleled by dramatic flow heterogeneity. Therefore, a significant reduction in overall capillary blood flow was calculated. Additional SMS treatment reduced microcirculatory impairment as expressed by reduction of blood flow heterogeneity, a less rarified functional capillary density, and a recovery of RBC velocities and acinar capillary overall perfusion to control values. As a result of this microcirculatory improvement, pancreas histology revealed slightly less severe tissue damage compared to the non-SMS-treated pancreatitis group. These findings demonstrate that exogenous SMS infusion can improve microcirculatory failure in acute biliary pancreatitis, which should have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Esophageal involvement in cicatricial pemphigoid.

We report on a 17-year-old male patient with dysphagia, cachexia, and physical underdevelopment. Despite a known esophageal stenosis, the patient received several months of psychiatric treatment, which failed to improve the clinical picture. After systematic diagnostic procedures, including repeated biopsies of the esophageal stenosis, a cicatricial pemphigoid was diagnosed and adequate therapy could be initiated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Soluble CD44 and CD44v6 serum levels in patients with colorectal cancer are independent of tumor stage and tissue expression of CD44v6.

OBJECTIVES: Tissue overexpression of CD44 variants, especially CD44v6, and elevated serum concentrations of soluble CD44 variants (sCD44) have been demonstrated in patients with colorectal cancer and several other tumors. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical value of their measurement in colorectal cancer. METHODS: To examine the suitability of sCD44 and sCD44v6 as tumor markers in colorectal cancer these parameters were analyzed in serum of patients with colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic renal failure, and controls. Tissue expression of CD44v6 in colorectal carcinomas was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: sCD44 and sCD44v6 levels were significantly elevated in most of the patient groups (medians, sCD44: 330-709 ng/ml; sCD44v6: 125-160 ng/ml) compared to controls (sCD44: 346 ng/ml; sCD44v6: 106.5 ng/ml). No difference was seen between colorectal cancer patients of different UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) stages and between patients with CD44v6-positive or -negative primary tumors. CONCLUSIONS: sCD44 and sCD44v6 concentrations showed no correlation to tumor burden or CD44v6 tissue expression. Sensitivity and specificity were low, compared to CEA. Therefore, in our view sCD44 and sCD44v6 measurement in screening or follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer is of very little clinical value.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Increased state of activation of CD4 positive T cells and elevated interferon gamma production in pouchitis.

BACKGROUND: Immunoregulatory abnormalities of T cells might be of importance in the pathogenesis of pouchitis after ileoanal pouch anastomosis (IAP). AIMS: To characterise T cell subsets, their state of activation, and production of cytokines in inflamed and non-inflamed pouches in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The influence of T cell activation on mucosal transformation was also studied. PATIENTS: Mucosal biopsy specimens were taken from 42 patients with IAP (33 with UC and nine with FAP). METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated by standard techniques and characterised by three colour flow cytometry. Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production was studied using the ELISPOT technique. RESULTS: In patients with UC with pouchitis there was a significant increase in the CD4:CD8 ratio, expression of activation markers on CD3+ cells, and number of IFNgamma producing mononuclear cells compared with patients with UC without pouchitis (CD4:CD8 ratio 1.3 (range 0.7-2.7) versus 0.6 (0. 1-1.0), p=0.012). In addition, a positive correlation between increased crypt depth and the number of CD4+ cells (r=0.57) was shown. CONCLUSION: The observed increase in activated mucosal CD4+ T cells and IFN-gamma production might lead to mucosal destruction and crypt hyperplasia as seen in pouchitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Surgical treatment of Crohn disease based on the inflammatory pattern].

286 patients with Crohn's disease were classified on the basis of the inflammatory pattern at their first operation as type 1 (Ileitis: n = 116), type 2a (segmental colitis: n = 60), and type 2b (total colitis: n = 108); 2 patients remained unclassified. At the same age at operation of 31.9 +/- 10.7 yrs symptoms were known in type 1 for 3.4 +/- 3.9 yrs, but for 7.5 +/- 5.7 yrs in type 2b. Main indication in type 1 was stenosis (56.9%), whereas in type 2b intractabilitiy (68.5%) predominated. Type 2a was intermediate concerning duration of symptoms and relationship of indications including fistulas. Standard-procedures were ileocecal resection (92.2%) in type 1, and colectomy (90.7%) in type 2b. In type 2a ileocolic resections and partial colectomies were mostly done. During the following 3.9 +/- 3.8 yrs reoperation rate due to disease progression was 13.6% in type 1, 25.5% in type 2a and 18.5% in type 2b. The cumulative risk of ileal resection at ten years due to new inflammation was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the case of ileocolic/ileorectal anastomosis than of ileostomy (38% vs. 11%). In contrast, cumulative probability of a colorectal resection was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in type 2 (16%) when compared to type 1 (1.5%). Primary ileal loss was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in type 1 (37 +/- 23 cm) compared with type 2a (25 +/- 28 cm) and type 2b (17 +/- 21 cm). Loss of continence occurred in 0%, 3.3% and 53.7% respectively. With reoperations additional loss of ileum decreased in all types, whereas in type 2 loss of anorectal function increased. Including reoperations the rate of major complications was 9.8% and lethality was 0.8% (3/386). Resections in Crohn's disease are unavoidable due to shrinking therapeutical alternatives in the course of the disease. Owing to limited resections, loss of bowel may not exceed ileum in type 1, whereas the same resectional policy cannot avoid the total loss of the colorectum eventually in type 2. Both limited surgery and repeated resections help to maintain function as long as possible. Due to the high safety-standard the number of operations does not impair the success of the surgical concept.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Laparoscopically assisted surgery in Crohn disease].

UNLABELLED: From Jan. 1993 to Apr. 1997 intestinal resections in Crohn's disease have been performed in 275 patients. 89 patients have been operated on laparoscopic assisted. The following parameters were analyzed: previous laparotomies, extent of resection, steroid medication, conversionrate, complications, operative time and postoperative stay. Endpoints were: conversionrate, complications, reconvalescence and overall satisfaction with the laparoscopic technique. RESULTS: The duration of the disease ranged from 1 to 16 years (x = 6). 47 patients were under steroid medication at the time of surgery. 30 patients had undergone previous laparotomies. In 10 patients the operation had to be converted into open surgery. The following procedures have been performed: ileocaecal resections (45), anastomotic resections (14), small bowel resections (4), hemicolectomies (12), colectomies (9), loopileostomies (4), adhesiolysis (1). Minor complications occurred in 6.7% of patients, major complications in 5.6%. Operative time ranged from 70 to 420 minutes (x = 173.7). The postoperative hospital stay was 13.3 days in the average. CONCLUSION: The morbidity of 12.3% is not higher than in open surgery. When complications do not occur the patients benefit from early convalescence, better cosmetics and shorter hospital stay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Changes in colitis surgery. I: Is there a standard in primary surgical treatment?].

In a 15 years period surgery of ulcerative colitis expanded from ileostomy (IS) via Kock's pouch (KP) and ileoanal pouch (IAP) to ileorectal anastomosis (IRA). Interactions between availability of methods and frequency of operations are investigated retrospectively in order to establish an optimal primary procedure. With an overall amount of 80 operations the yearly operative frequency raised in correlation to the introduction of continence reconstructive procedures. As a consequence of this fact history of disease was shortened to less than 8 year and global colitis-associated morbidity markedly decreased. For patients readiness to undergo operation Kock's pouch was only important at the beginning (n = 9/11.3%). Most decisive was IAP (n = 49/61.3%) which could be realized last even in an one-stage-procedure with better early results due to improved patients conditions and simplified technical modifications. IRA (n = 7/8.8%) played only a limited role in the last years for selected patients, whereas IS (n = 15/18.8%) kept reserved for contraindications to reconstructive surgery. For all procedures operative complications decreased from 46.1% (12/26) to 11.0% (6/54) and lethality to 0%. Late complications were related to proctectomy (nerve damage) and construction of IAP (pouchitis in 34.8% and defunctioning of the pouch in 10.4%), whereas IRA was free of specific morbidity so far. Surgery of ulcerative colitis is characterized today by restoration of anal continence. The advantage of the changed surgical concept lies within the ability to perform colectomy at an earlier stage of the disease. Safe construction of IAP is the most important technical progress. Early operation of colitis and late morbidity of pouch justify (preliminary) IRA. Thus, surgical standard in colitis-surgery is defined more individually.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Changes in colitis surgery. II: Corrective interventions and conversion operations].

Over a period of 9 years in 48 patients already operated on for ulcerative colitis secondary surgical interventions had to be planned. 25 patients had an ileostomy (IS), 10 a Kock-pouch (KP), 11 an ileoanal pouch (IAP) and 2 an ileorectal anastomosis (IRA). Whereas in 4 patients only the subjective wish for another procedure with better quality of life predominated, in 44 patients (91.7%) also objective, sometimes multiple indications for reoperation existed. In 37 patients main indications were complications or dysfunctions of the preexisting procedures, combined with the need for further resection of the colitis in 6 of them. Resection of the residual colitis was the main indication in the remaining 7 patients. The aim of the reoperation in all patients was both complete elimination of the eventually persisting colitis and restoration of quality of life in the best way wished or possible. Our of 25 IS 3 remained, 3 were reconstructed, 17 were converted to KP and 2 to IAP. Out of 10 KP one remained and in 9 corrective surgery of the nipple valve was performed. Out of 11 IAP 2 had to be resected with construction of IS, 5 were converted to KP and 4 were corrected. Two IRA were converted to IAP. The rate of early complications was 8.3% (n = 4), lethality was zero. Late complications occurred in 13 cases (27.1%) and were associated ten times with KP. Complications of KP decreased with time to zero due to technical modifications. They could always be corrected restoring function. Since only one KP had to be resected due to severe pouchitis, KP was an important secondary procedure for 31 out of 48 patients also in the long-term course ensuring both complete elimination of colitis and good quality of life owing to voluntary fecal control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Laparoscopically-assisted proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch in ulcerative colitis].

Laparoscopic assisted proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch is a technical alternative to the conventional open procedure. The aim of this technique are better cosmetics. Mobilisation of the colon is achieved laparoscopically. Rectal resection, J-pouch creation, and pouchanal anastomosis are performed via a Pfannenstiel incision. Laparoscopic assisted proctocolectomy has been performed in five selected patients, three female and two male aged 17 to 36 years. Operative time ranged from 305 to 420 minutes. Intra- and postoperative complications were not encountered. Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 13 to 16 days. On a scale from 1 to 10 the average quality of life was graded 9 and the overall satisfaction level with the results of surgery scored 10. Function was identical to open surgery in not selected patients.

Adolescent↗