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Biomedical subjects

H Kaufmann

Publications and source records attributed to H Kaufmann.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Treatment of orthostatic hypotension due to autonomic failure with a peripheral alpha-adrenergic agonist (midodrine).

The therapeutic efficacy of midodrine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, was investigated in a double-blind crossover trial in seven patients with orthostatic hypotension due to autonomic failure. We identified two groups of patients: those in whom upright mean arterial pressure significantly increased (group I, n = 3) and those in whom upright mean arterial pressure decreased (group II, n = 4) during midodrine treatment. Body weight changed in a parallel manner with upright blood pressure, increasing in patients of group I and decreasing in patients of group II (p less than 0.05). Autonomic cardiovascular reflexes were significantly more impaired in patients of group II than in patients of group I. We conclude that midodrine is effective in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension only in those patients with significant preservation of autonomic reflexes. Conversely, in patients with markedly impaired baroreceptor mechanisms, treatment with midodrine may produce extracellular fluid volume depletion and exacerbate orthostatic hypotension.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1988

Length-tension curves of human eye muscles during succinylcholine-induced contraction.

We have made intraoperative, continuous-registration, length-tension diagrams of detached eye muscles in 80 strabismus patients under general anaesthesia. In 47 of these we repeated the measurements after contraction evoked by succinylcholine chloride. In contracting horizontal and vertical rectus muscles, we found a linear relation between length and tension. In contracting oblique muscles, however, the relation between length and tension was frequently nonlinear. In superior oblique palsies, the superior oblique was found to be stiff after elongation and before injection of succinylcholine, and it did not contract after injection of succinylcholine. The ipsilateral inferior oblique did contract after injection of succinylcholine, but with a higher spring constant than usual (ie, contracture of the ipsilateral antagonist). In three cases the superior oblique contracted vividly after administration of succinylcholine despite the presence of excyclotropia, stereopsis, torticollis (two cases) and a hypertropia that increased in adduction, in down-gaze, in adduction and down-gaze and on ipsilateral head-tilt. In a case of general fibrosis syndrom we found almost normally contracting vertical recti, which is compatible only with a supranuclear or misdirectional cause. These cases demonstrate the usefulness of the assessment of the length-tension diagram of an eye muscle during surgery, before and during contraction evoked by succinylcholine chloride.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Complications in eye muscle surgery.

Strabologists consider postoperative loss of visual function as a severe and extremely rare complication. Other complications in eye muscle surgery are demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Chronic fatal vitamin A poisoning with hemolytic anemia].

A case of chronic, lethal vitamin A intoxication is reported, the diagnosis of which was not established intra vitam. The patient presented with chronic mixed prehepatic and hepatic icterus and hypersplenism with hemolytic anemia. On post mortem histological examination, abundant deposits of neutral lipids in the reticuloendothelial cells of liver, spleen and bone marrow were found. Chemical analysis of the lipids extracted from these organs revealed esterified fatty acids. Triglycerides could be ruled out since the triglyceride content of the patient's liver was significantly lower than that of a normal control. By means of thinlayer chromatographic analysis it was possible to identify retinol, i.e. retinylester (vitamin A) in the deposits. Vitamin A was determined photometrically and found to be very elevated in the liver and, to a lesser degree, in the spleen of the patient. These findings lead to a definite diagnosis of chronic hypervitaminosis A. Unique features of the case presented are both hemolytic anemia and the lethal outcome of the chronic hypervitaminosis A.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗
PubMed1985

[The course of pregnancy in a representative Swiss sample (Aarau Pregnancy and Newborn Infant Study). II. Stimulants in pregnancy].

Within the framework of a study on the course of pregnancy, a cohort of 996 Swiss mothers was interviewed upon admission for delivery at Aarau Maternity Hospital regarding nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and narcotics consumption. The data are presented and compared with analogous data on the entire female population of the same age group in Switzerland and with epidemiologic reviews of pregnancy events from other countries. The relationship between these data and effects on the newborn is also discussed. This group of mothers aged 20-40 years had, even prior to pregnancy, below-average alcohol and nicotine consumption. During pregnancy nicotine use in the last trimester, though reduced, was still admitted by 18% of the gravidae despite the fact that about 3/4 of the mothers were well informed about detrimental effects on the offspring. Nicotine use by the mother had several somatic effects on the newborn, in contrast to consumption of caffeine and small amounts of alcohol. The behavioral assessment was altered by previous use of nicotine and caffeine.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Cancer and dysplasia of cervix in relation to reduced lymphocytic cortisol metabolism-enhancing effect.

In previous studies we found that the plasma of carcinoma patients shows a reduced capacity to enhance lymphocytic cortisol metabolism. In the present study this capacity was assessed in the plasma of patients suffering from cervical carcinoma (Ce. Ca.) and of patients suffering from cervical dysplasia (Ce. Dis.) regarded as being at high risk to develop cancer. Known concentrations of human lymphocytes from healthy donors were incubated with cortisol in media containing 50% phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and 50% of one of the following additions: 1) homologous plasma (HP), 2) plasma from the patients being tested or from healthy controls, or 3) additional PBS. The cortisol conversion rate was measured and compared with that obtained with lymphocytes immersed in HP. Previous findings showed that the plasma of cancer patients has a mean metabolism-enhancing rate 62% of that obtained with HP. In the present study the results were as follows: Ce. Ca., 60%; Ce. Dis., 70%: controls, 93%. The percentage of "cancer-positive" results were as follows: Ce. Ca., 91%; Ce. Dis., 45%; controls, 25%.

Female↗
PubMed1983

Basal cell carcinomas, gastrointestinal carcinomas, and ulcerative colitis in relation to the disappearance of a plasma factor.

Our previous findings have shown that the plasma of cancer patients lacks a factor (LCMEF) that is characterized by its ability to enhance lymphocytic cortisol metabolism. In the present study we have examined whether this phenomenon also appears in patients suffering from basal cell carcinoma, a seldom metastasizing disease, and in patients with ulcerative colitis regarded to be at high risk of developing cancer. Known concentrations of human lymphocytes from healthy donors were incubated with cortisol in media containing 50% phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and 50% of one of the following additions: 1) homologous plasma, 2) plasma from the patients being tested, or 3) additional PBS. Previous findings showed that the plasma of cancer patients has a mean metabolism-enhancing rate of 62% of that obtained with homologous plasma. In the present work the results were as follows: basal cell carcinomas--98%, gastrointestinal carcinomas--63%, ulcerative colitis--95%, and healthy donors--90%. The results with regard to cancer patients show that lack of LCMEF does not characterize basal cell carcinoma and ulcerative colitis. Hence, it is possible that the disappearance of LCMEF 1) does not characterize ulcerative colitis as long as a malignant tumor does not appear and 2) does not characterize seldom metastasizing disease (basal cell carcinoma).

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

First isolation step of a plasma factor which enhances lymphocytic cortisol metabolism and which is reduced in cancer patients.

Our previous findings show that cancer patients' plasma lacks a factor (LCMEF) which is characterized by its ability to enhance lymphocytic cortisol metabolism. In the present study, using the dialysis method, we tried to evaluate the size of that factor. Plasma of healthy donors (HP) was dialyzed against water. Human lymphocytes from healthy donors were incubated with cortisol in media containing buffer (PBS) and one of the following additions: 1) dialyzate, 2) dialyzed HP (DP), 3) reconstituted HP (DP + P). The cortisol conversion rates were compared with that obtained with untreated HP and with PBS. The results showed no significant differences among the conversion rates obtained with HP, dialyzate, and reconstituted HP. Dialyzed plasma, however, showed a significantly lower rate, which was equal to that obtained with PBS. This implies that the factors are smaller than 10,000 daltons.

Humans↗
PubMed1982

[Results of Cüppers' Fadenoperation (author's transl)].

Of 157 patients with non-accommodative convergence excess who were examined, 29% presented with a varying squint angle of more than 5 degrees. The deviation was measured by alternate cover testing at distance fixation (5 m) and near fixation (0.33 m) with an object requiring full accommodation. In all patients a bilateral Cüppers' Fadenoperation (posterior fixation suture) of 12, 13, 14, 15 mm (distance between insertion and posterior fixation suture) on the medial rectus was carried out, without any other surgery such as recession of the medial rectus or resection of the lateral rectus. The results showed that it is possible to reduce the non-accommodative convergence excess and the variation of angle by this method.

Esotropia↗
PubMed1981

[Retraction syndrome (author's transl)].

A report on 70 cases of retraction syndrome (Stilling-Türk-Duane). The patients presented with typical symptoms: severe limitation of abduction, slight limitation of adduction and convergence, which is always accompanied by retraction of the globe, narrowing of the palpebral fissure, vertical deviation and elevated intraocular pressure, and a remarkable motility of the globe in the orbital axis. All symptoms are explicable by fibrosis or coinnervation of the lateral rectus muscle. Usually, single binocular vision is present with or without a forced attitude of the head. This forced attitude is such that the affected eye utilizes the reduced abduction fully and does not avoid the abduction (as in typical abducens-paresis), but retraction. In cases of single binocular vision, surgery is indicated only when the forced attitude of the head is intolerable. We restrict surgery to recession of horizontal rectus muscles according to the forced attitude.

Adult↗