Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Moser

Publications and source records attributed to G Moser.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Globus sensation: pharyngoesophageal function, psychometric and psychiatric findings, and follow-up in 88 patients.

BACKGROUND: The globus sensation has been widely regarded as psychogenic, but organic disorders were found to be etiologically significant. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the structural, functional, psychological, and psychiatric factors possibly eliciting the globus sensation and influencing its course. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients, 67 women and 21 men (aged 22-71 years), referred to 2 tertiary care centers underwent history taking, otolaryngological examination, pharyngoesophageal videofluoroscopy and manometry, psychosocial evaluation, psychometric tests, psychiatric interview, and when indicated, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, esophageal bolus transport, gastroesophageal reflux, and gastric emptying studies. According to revealed disorders, therapy was initiated, and the outcome was studied. RESULTS: Only 15 patients had normal pharyngoesophageal function; of these 15, 6 had chronic tonsillitis or pharyngitis, 3 had thyroid adenomata, 4 had cervical spondylosis, and 1 each had dry oropharyngeal mucosa and chronic bronchitis. Of the other 73 patients, 2 had pharyngeal dysfunction, 24 had achalasia, 1 had diffuse esophageal spasms, 3 had "nutcracker esophagus," 30 had nonspecific esophageal motor disorders, and 13 had gastroesophageal reflux. Psychometry revealed no more anxiety and depression than in general medical outpatients. Of 58 patients interviewed, 37 met criteria for psychiatric disorders. Psychometric scores and psychiatric characteristics were unrelated to the sensation's course. Therapy was recommended, but only 26 patients were treated accordingly; 22 received nonspecific treatment. Follow-up 3 to 59 months later revealed that the sensation had vanished in 13 patients who had received specific treatment, 5 who had received nonspecific treatment, and 6 who had received no treatment; it was alleviated in 10 who had received specific treatment, 13 who had received nonspecific treatment, and 9 who had received no treatment; and it was unchanged in 3 who had received specific treatment, 5 who had received nonspecific treatment, and 23 patients who had received no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngoesophageal disorders may be sensed only vaguely, inducing the globus sensation. Psychological and psychiatric characteristics could be relevant to the discomfort experienced but are unlikely to be etiologically significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Significance, pathomechanism and prevention of risk factors in first-dose-hypotension in the therapeutic use of ACE inhibitors].

A number of megatrials gave convincing evidence concerning the beneficial effect of ACE inhibitors in acute myocardial infarction. But according to the trials mentioned above, the phenomenon of first dose hypotension is unfavourable by all means, especially in the subgroup of patients with borderline hypotension. The arising question is whether the first dose hypotension is an inevitable concomitant of the ACE inhibitor therapy. The authors review in details the results of experiments and clinical experiences concerning the pathomechanism of first dose hypotension, as well as the potential explanation of the lack of this phenomenon as regards perindopril therapy. The authors render account of their experiences gained with reference to administrating perindopril to 78 patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1998

Influence of topically and systemically active steroids on circulating leukocytes in Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Budesonide, although only topically active, is effective in the treatment of Crohn's disease. This study was performed to compare the clinical efficacies of budesonide and prednisolone in relation to the activation status of circulating leukocytes. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with active Crohn's disease were randomized to treatment with either budesonide or 6-methylprednisolone. Clinical response was monitored by the Crohn's disease activity index, C-reactive protein, and orosomucoid. Expression of CD25 and CD71 on T cells and CD64 on neutrophils was determined by flow cytometry. The release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: After 2 wk of treatment a clinical response was observed in both groups, but it was more accentuated in patients treated with prednisolone. At baseline an upregulation of CD71 and CD64, but not CD25, was found in active patients. Prednisolone significantly decreased the expression of CD64 and the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, but did not alter the expression of CD25 and CD71. Budesonide treatment failed to exert any effect on circulating leukocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The inability of budesonide to downregulate activated circulating leukocytes may contribute to the somewhat lower clinical efficacy of this topical steroid in the treatment of active Crohn's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Diagnosis in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases--report of the Austrian Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study Group].

Diagnostic procedures in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) serve to secure the diagnosis and to optimize treatment. Upon initial diagnosis endoscopy up to the terminal ileum is mandatory including multiple step biopsies. When diagnostic guidelines are followed and adequate clinical information is available, IBD will be correctly classified in about 80 to 90% of cases upon first examination. In contrast endoscopic studies are only of limited value in monitoring treatment. The decision if and when to perform endoscopy during exacerbation of disease must be an individual one. When disease activity is evaluated, a distinction must be made between degree of activity as reflected by laboratory parameters and severity of illness as reflected by the clinical presentation with abdominal complaints, fistulas, abscesses, etc. Distinct activity indices are useful in clinical studies to obtain an objective evaluation of activity and severity of disease. At clinical routine visits questions should not only concern the basic illness but also ask for quality of life and psychosocial status. Only a small number of laboratory tests are needed for basic diagnosis and follow-up. A small bowel enteroclysis should always be performed upon primary diagnosis of Crohn's disease and during the course of disease when there is suspicion of small-bowel involvement. Double contrast barium enema should be limited to special indications as incomplete colonoscopy e.g. due to stenosis or suspected fistula. Sonography is the primary investigation when complications are suspected. CT is useful as an adjunct or when the afore mentioned methods do not show clear findings. NMR is the procedure of choice for detection of pararectal fistulas and abscesses. Transrectal endosonography is comparably good but limited to the experience of the investigators and by patient's tolerability.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1997

Reanimation of the paralyzed face with new gold weight implants and Goretex soft-tissue patches.

Although dynamic reconstruction procedures are preferred for treating patients with complete facial paralyses, static procedures are useful for various conditions. One such technique involves the implantation of gold weights into the upper eyelid. We have reported our experiences with 58 patients who underwent gold weight implantation for rehabilitation of eyelid closure with satisfactory results. To obtain better cosmetic results we developed newly shaped thinner weights. Four instead of three perforations in each weight enable better fixation to soft tissue. Since 40% of all cases also required additional surgery to rehabilitate other portion of the face, polytetrafluoroethylene (Goretex) soft-tissue patches were used for suspension to help correct midfacial and perioral asymmetry. From 1990 to 1996, 22 patients underwent this technique under local or general anesthesia. Except for 2 patients, no complications were observed. Overall, both gold implants and Goretex patches were found to provide good results in patients selected for facial reanimation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

No evidence of activated blood coagulation in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolism seems to be a significant and serious complication in Crohn's disease (CD), and multifocal microvascular infarction of the intestinal mucosa may be an important effector mechanism in the pathogenesis of CD. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that an increased activation of the blood coagulation system may favour thromboembolic complications. OBJECTIVES: To assess the activity of blood coagulation as a potential index of thromboembolic risk in CD using thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT). DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of TAT. SETTING: Out-patients at the gastroenterological department of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty patients with CD, 47 with inactive (Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) < 150) and 33 with active disease, and 80 healthy controls were investigated in this study. METHODS: TAT and fibrinogen were used as parameters of blood coagulation. C-reactive protein and orosomucoid were used as serum inflammatory parameters. RESULTS: Fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients with active CD (median 535 mg/dl; interquartile range 402-620 mg/dl) than in patients with inactive CD (357 mg/dl; 300-467 mg/dl) or controls (268 mg/dl; 231-299 mg/dl). Fibrinogen correlated with CDAI, C-reactive protein and orosomucoid. TAT did not show any difference between patients with active CD (3.2 ng/ml; 2.5-4.6 ng/ml), inactive CD (3.0 ng/ml; 2.4-3.9 ng/ml) and controls (3.1 ng/ml; 2.3-3.6 ng/ml). Correspondingly, TAT correlated neither with serum inflammatory parameters and CDAI nor with fibrinogen. CONCLUSION: We could not find evidence of activation of the blood coagulation system as determined by TAT plasma levels in CD, not even in patients with active disease. TAT is not, therefore, a potential index of thromboembolic risk in CD and of microvascular infarction as an effector mechanism in the pathogenesis of CD.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Associations of GH gene variants with performance traits in F2 generations of European wild boar, Piétrain and Meishan pigs.

The role of the porcine GH gene was investigated in 292 F2 animals of mating Wild Boar x Piétrain and in 310 F2 animals of mating Meishan x Piétrain. Forty-three traits of fattening, carcass composition, meat quality and stress resistance were recorded. For the analysis of associations between GH gene variants and quantitative traits, two restriction fragment length polymorphisms were examined. In the Meishan x Piétrain family eight traits related to fatness were significantly associated with GH genotypes, while in the Wild Boar x Piétrain family no significant associations were found. In the Meishan x Piétrain cross, the GH locus explained 11.7% to 17.7% of the total phenotypic variance in the F2 population. The possibility of multiple alleles at the GH locus is discussed. Based on these results, we conclude that the GH locus should be further investigated in commercial breeds to determine its suitability for use in marker-assisted selection programmes.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1997

Increased gastric and intestinal permeability in patients with Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with Crohn's disease exhibit marked changes in intestinal permeability that can be assessed by lactulose and mannitol. Sucrose is a novel marker for gastric permeability. We combined these three sugars to investigate whether patients with Crohn's disease demonstrate changes in gastric permeability and if so, whether these changes are matched with altered intestinal permeability. METHODS: Fifty patients with Crohn's disease and 30 healthy subjects each drank a solution containing 20 g of sucrose, 10 g of lactulose, and 5 g of mannitol. Patients' and subjects' 5-h sugar urinary excretion levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and an enzymatic method (sucrose). Furthermore, patients with Crohn's disease underwent endoscopy of the upper GI tract and were grouped according to endoscopic and histological findings. RESULTS: Patients with Crohn's disease showed higher gastric and intestinal permeability compared with healthy control subjects. Gastric permeability was correlated with intestinal permeability. Patients with granuloma had more pronounced changes in both gastric and intestinal permeability than patients with various endoscopic and histological lesions. Patients with normal mucosa had normal permeability. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in gastric mucosa caused by Crohn's disease are reflected by changes in gastric permeability and can be used to noninvasively screen for Crohn's disease involvement of the upper GI tract.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Relationship between the use of unconventional therapies and disease-related concerns: a study of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

We studied the use of unconventional therapies of a well-defined population of 105 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; 72 with Crohn's disease and 33 with ulcerative colitis) who were attending a university out-patient clinic. The following items were used to compare those patients who used unconventional therapies with those who did not. We compared disease-related data, sociodemographic variables, patients' disease-related concerns, and their perceived level of information about IBD. Concerns were measured with the Rating Form of IBD Patient Concerns (RFIPC), inflammatory disease activity was assessed by physicians with the Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) and the clinical activity index (CAI). Of the 97 (92.4%) patients who answered all questions, 33 (34%) reported using unconventional therapies in addition to conventional therapy. In their level of information about IBD and in their clinical and sociodemographic data, they were not different from the IBD patients who were not using alternative treatments. In their duration of disease, there was a significant difference (p < 0.0002). The longer the disease duration, the more often patients used unconventional therapies. The most important differences between users and nonusers were the following: patients who used unconventional therapies were more concerned about having surgery (p < 0.001), being treated as different (p < 0.04), and feeling out of control (p < 0.05). We conclude that there is a relationship between the use of unconventional therapies and some disease-related concerns, which should be considered in clinical practice. This may help these patients avoid using unproven and expensive alternative therapies.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Globus sensation: value of static radiography combined with videofluoroscopy of the pharynx and oesophagus.

Pharyngo-oesophageal abnormalities are found in a high proportion of patients with globus sensation. This study compares the diagnostic value of static single- and double-contrast radiography of the pharynx and oesophagus with videofluoroscopy and with videofluoroscopy combined with static radiography in these patients. Pharyngeal and oesophageal morphology and motor function were studied in 130 consecutive patients with globus sensation (46 males, 84 females; mean age, 47 years) by means of static single and double-contrast radiography and by videofluoroscopy. Videofluoroscopy revealed significantly more functional and structural abnormalities compared to static radiography. Pharyngeal and/or oesophageal disorders were found in 89 vs. 47 patients (chi2 [1] = 19.82, P = 0.0001), pharyngeal abnormalities in 54 vs. 27 patients (chi2 [1] = 13.5, P < 0.0002), and oesophageal abnormalities in 72 vs. 27 patients (chi2 [1] = 28.13, P < 0.0001). Videofluoroscopy combined with static radiography revealed significantly more abnormalities than videofluoroscopy alone (chi2 [1] = 4.23, P < 0.05), and assessed mucosal details more reliably than videofluoroscopy alone. The most frequent abnormalities found were nonspecific oesophageal motor disorders, pharyngo-oesophageal sphincter dysfunction, pharyngeal stasis, achalasia, and laryngeal penetration or aspiration of barium. In most patients with globus sensation, pharyngeal and/or oesophageal abnormalities can be detected radiographically. Videofluoroscopy revealed significantly more functional but not morphological abnormalities than did static radiography. Videofluoroscopic studies combined with static radiography had a higher diagnostic value than videofluoroscopic studies alone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Changes in blood rheology caused by Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are at increased risk for thromboembolism, and multifocal microvascular infarction has even been suggested as a pathogenetic mechanism in CD. Abnormalities in blood rheology may contribute to the thromboembolism. OBJECTIVES: To assess blood rheology in CD patients. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of rheological parameters. SETTING: Out-patients at the gastroenterological department of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-seven patients with inactive CD (Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) < 150), 31 patients with active CD (CDAI > 150), and 39 control subjects with no CD were included in the study. METHODS: C-reactive protein and orosomucoid were used as serum inflammatory parameters. Fibrinogen, red cell aggregation (low shear, 3/s) and plasma viscosity were used as rheological parameters. RESULTS: Fibrinogen (active CD: median 530 mg/dl (interquartile range 410-630); inactive CD: 377 (316-499); and controls: 246 (220-280)), red cell aggregation (active CD: 9.97 arb. units (8.58-11.77); inactive CD: 9.03 (7.25-10.37); controls: 7.58 (7-8.52)); and plasma viscosity (active CD: 1.82 mPa.s (1.68-1.95); inactive CD: 1.72 (1.65-1.82), controls: 1.61 (1.58-1.64)) were all significantly higher in patients with active and inactive CD than they were in controls. Additionally, fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients with active CD than it was in patients with inactive CD. The rheological parameters correlated with serum inflammatory parameters. CONCLUSION: Changes in blood rheology seem to be associated with inflammatory activity in patients with CD. These changes may be involved in the development of thromboembolism and the pathogenesis of mucosal inflammation, especially in patients with high inflammatory activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Chromosomal assignment of porcine EAD, EAO, LPR and P3 genes by linkage analysis.

A two-point linkage analysis was performed between blood group (14), allotype (8), polymorphic protein (11), DNA type I (2), and microsatellite (2) loci in Wild Boar x Pietrain and Meishan x Pietrain three-generation families. The following new pairwise linkages were detected: LPR-EAN (Zmax = 60.68, theta = 0.055), EAD-GH1 (Zmax = 17.43, theta = 0.246), EAO-P3 (Zmax = 15.81, theta = 0.239), and P3-S0003 (Zmax = 5.43, theta = 0.312). This study and published mapping data enabled the localization of LPR (LPR allotype) to chromosome 9, EAD (erythrocyte antigen D) to chromosome 12, and EAO (erythrocyte antigen O) and P3 (P3 allotype) to the q arm of chromosome 6 with gene order S0003-P3-EAO, EAO being the most distal.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Clinicopathologic variation in raccoons infected with different street rabies virus isolates.

Ten raccoons were divided into two random groups (groups 1 and 2) of five animals each. Group 1 raccoons were inoculated intramuscularly in the masseter muscle with a raccoon rabies virus isolate obtained from a natural case of raccoon rabies from the northeastern USA. Group 2 raccoons were infected by a similar route with a Latin American canine isolate of rabies virus. Raccoons either died suddenly or developed neurologic signs compatible with rabies. Clinical signs of rabies in group 1 raccoons were more severe than in group 2. Raccoons in group 1 either died acutely or were euthanized within 25 days (mean +/- SD = 20.6 +/- 2.7 days) postinfection, whereas all group 2 raccoons showed neurologic signs and were euthanized within 17 days (14.2 +/- 2.2 days) postinfection. Light microscopic findings revealed extensive nonsuppurative encephalitis predominantly located in the cerebrum and brain stem of raccoons in group 1, whereas in group 2 raccoons the lesions were confined to the brain stem regions. In group 1 raccoons, Negri bodies were commonly seen on hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections of brain and in ganglion cells of 5 other tissues (trigeminal nerve, salivary glands, duodenum, pancreas, adrenal gland). Negri bodies, however, were either absent or were only occasionally observed in corresponding tissues of raccoons infected with the canine strain (group 2). Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were also examined for Negri bodies by an immunoperoxidase test, which revealed results similar to the HE findings. Results of this study are compared with histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings in raccoons naturally infected with rabies.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Globus sensation].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Conversion Disorder↗