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Biomedical subjects

J Fuhrer

Publications and source records attributed to J Fuhrer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Isolated pulmonary microangiitis mimicking pneumonia in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

We describe the first case, to our knowledge, of apparently isolated pulmonary vasculitis mimicking bacterial pneumonia in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients presenting with fever, cough, and pulmonary infiltrates present a diagnostic challenge. As a result of severe T cell mediated immunosuppression and humoral dysregulation, the differential diagnosis is diverse. One must consider both noninfectious and infectious etiologies. Noninfectious etiologies such as pulmonary lymphoma, endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma, and adverse drug reactions are common. Recent recognition of the paradoxical association between HIV and systemic vasculitis requires additional acknowledgment of this problem in diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator].

In 1980, therapy with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in survivors of cardiac arrest was introduced by Michael Mirowski. Over the last 15 years technology in these devices has dramatically improved. In this overview we give a short historical perspective and discuss, briefly aspects of generators, lead systems, sensing and detection algorithms as well as the main therapies of the ICD. Several studies have demonstrated that ICD therapy nearly eliminates sudden cardiac death and that device- and procedure-related mortality has become very low. Despite these impressive results, the overall benefit in terms of mortality has to be assessed; therefore, several randomized studies comparing ICD and competing pharmacological therapies have been started. Because of the rapid growth in popularity of these devices, guidelines for their use have been developed.

Bradycardia↗
PubMed1996

[Diagnostic electrophysiological studies].

Clinical cardiac electrophysiology has evolved over the last decades as a technique to study arrhythmias. Programmed stimulation is a potent tool in assessing the detailed mechanisms of most brady- and tachyarrhythmias as well as a method to judge the efficacy of antiarrhythmic therapy and to stratify patients at risk for the development of life-threatening sustained ventricular arrhythmias. We give an overview of the physiologic mechanisms responsible for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias, pre-excited tachycardias as well as sustained ventricular tachycardia in coronary artery disease. Benefit and limitations in assessing the risk for life-threatening tachyarrhythmias in clinically important situations are briefly discussed.

Atrial Flutter↗
PubMed1996

Wasting in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome is associated with multiple defects in the serum insulin-like growth factor system.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to characterize the GH-IGF axis of patients with AIDS associated wasting. A special emphasis was placed on determining whether IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) of patients who have lost more than 10% of their ideal body mass are structurally different from the IGFBPs of patients with no weight loss. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A cross-sectional study of 11 AIDS patients was performed to determine whether the IGF system is abnormal in AIDS patients with wasting. Seven additional AIDS patients were followed longitudinally to determine whether AIDS patients experience long-term changes to their IGF system. MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels of GH and IGF-I were measured by radioimmunoassay, IGF-II was measured by radioreceptor assay, and IGFBP-1 was measured by an enzyme linked immunoassay. IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-3 protease activity were measured by ligand blotting and a BP-3 protease assay, respectively. IGFBP-3 ternary complex formation and IGFBP-1 phosphovariants were analysed by non-denaturing PAGE. RESULTS: AIDS patients who had lost more than 10% of their ideal body mass demonstrated a 55% reduction in serum IGF-I (81 vs 179 micrograms/l) and a 70% reduction in IGF-II (226 vs 776 micrograms/l), compared to healthy HIV negative subjects. IGF-I levels were depressed, in some patients, despite high serum levels of GH. AIDS patients who had lost more than 10% of their ideal body mass had low levels of IGFBP-3 and a reduced ability to form the IGFBP-3 ternary complex. The IGFBP-3 ternary complex could be restored only upon addition of pure IGFBP-3 and acid labile subunit to serum. Serum IGFBP-1 was increased more than threefold compared to control subjects (90 vs 24 micrograms/l). IGFBP-1 was present as a free phosphoprotein in AIDS patients with low levels of IGF-I and in a bound form when serum IGF-I levels were normal. Changes in the GH-IGF axis were sustained for up to 25 months in AIDS patients with wasting. CONCLUSIONS: AIDS wasting is associated with a GH resistant state that results in low levels of serum IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3, elevated levels of phosphorylated IGFBP-1, and a reduced ability to form the IGFBP-3 ternary complex.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

[Initial clinical results with a novel implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: a prospective evaluation in 3 Swiss university hospitals].

The most important technical improvements of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) of the latest generation comprise more sophisticated antitachycardia pacing options, stored intracardiac electrograms and biphasic shock capabilities which virtually always allow ICD implantation without thoracotomy. The present study summarizes the first clinical experience with these new devices. In 37 consecutive symptomatic (near sudden death 17, syncope 16, pre-syncope 4) patients aged 56 +/- 10 years with refractory ventricular arrhythmias (presenting arrhythmia: ventricular fibrillation 14, ventricular tachycardia 22, not documented 1), an ICD (Jewel PCD 7219, Medtronic) was implanted. Coronary artery disease was present in 21, dilated cardiomyopathy in 5, valvular heart disease in 2 and various conditions in 8 patients; the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 43 +/- 18%. In 29 patients (78%), the ICD was inserted in a pectoral and in 8 (22%) in an abdominal position. A non-thoracotomy lead (NTL) configuration was successfully implanted in 36/37 patients (97%) (purely transvenous systems in 30, in combination with subcutaneous patch electrode in 6). Surgical complications comprised one pneumothorax, one hemorrhage and one death due to sepsis; during a mean follow-up of 5 +/- 3 months, another patient died of heart failure and 2 revisions (5.4%) for lead problems (1 connector, 1 SQ-patch) became necessary. In 23/37 patients (62%), the ICD was activated after 74 +/- 89 days post implant. 22 of these 23 patients (96%) received one or more appropriate shocks (9 +/- 22 shocks per patient). The actuarial survival was 95% at 6 months. In the present study, an ICD of the newest generation was successfully implanted without thoracotomy in > or = 97% and with purely transvenous systems in > or = 84%. Compared to older systems, this has made the implantation procedure remarkably easier and will most likely lead to a further reduction in mortality and morbidity. Despite the relatively short follow-up, the high incidence of appropriate ICD utilization underscores the high recurrence rate of arrhythmias in this population and suggests that the ICD may be very effective in preventing unnecessary rehospitalizations.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Beta blockers in arrhythmias].

Beta blockers are effective antiarrhythmic agents. In this survey we discuss the indications of beta blockers in supraventricular tachycardias as well as in ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Clinical studies of beta blockers in myocardial infarction are reviewed. In patients with suspected infarction and without contraindications, early treatment with an intravenous dose is of paramount importance. Oral therapy should be continued for at least a year or two. Although only few data are available on the effects of beta blockers in preventing sudden death in patients who have not suffered a myocardial infarction, it may be reasonable to treat all patients with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation--irrespective of etiology--unless there is a strong contraindication. Nevertheless, the favorable results of treatment with cardioversion defibrillators must be considered.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1994

In situ detection of PCR-amplified HIV-1 nucleic acids in lymph nodes and peripheral blood in patients with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection and advanced-stage AIDS.

This study determined the in situ detection rate of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA and RNA in lymph nodes and peripheral blood CD4+ cells in six patients with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection and from six people who died of advanced AIDS. The lymph nodes of patients with asymptomatic infection showed expanded germinal centers where, on average, 20% of the CD21+ dendritic cells contained HIV-1 DNA. From 5 to 80% of the CD4+ cells in these lymph nodes contained HIV-1 DNA, as compared with 1-11% of the CD4+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The infection in most cells was latent in the asymptomatic group. In contrast, the lymph nodes of patients with advanced AIDS showed marked depletion of both dendritic and CD4+ cells. The majority of the remaining CD4+ cells in the lymph nodes and blood showed PCR-amplified viral DNA and cDNA sequences suggesting the presence of genomic and multiple spliced transcripts. It is concluded that asymptomatic HIV-1 infection is associated with a wide range of latent to active viral-positive CD4+ lymphocytes and dendritic cells in the lymph nodes. Progression to AIDS is characterized by active viral replication in many of the remaining CD4+ cells in the lymph nodes and blood.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Cytomegalovirus colitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The spectrum of presentation of complications in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is changing, in line with their improved survival. Infection of the colon with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is now more commonly encountered in clinical practice. We have reviewed the medical records of eleven patients with clinical and pathological evidence of CMV colitis. The clinical presentation, endoscopic and histological findings, and simultaneous infection of other organs with CMV are discussed. Diarrhoea in association with abdominal pain is the most frequent symptom complex in these patients and should raise the clinical index of suspicion for CMV colitis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Toxoplasmic encephalitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Members of the ACTG 077p/ANRS 009 Study Team.

BACKGROUND: In patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), toxoplasmic encephalitis is usually a presumptive diagnosis based on the clinical manifestations, a positive antitoxoplasma-antibody titer, and characteristic neuroradiologic abnormalities. A response to specific therapy helps to confirm the diagnosis, but it is unclear how rapid the response should be. We studied the course of patients treated for acute toxoplasmic encephalitis and evaluated objective clinical criteria for this empirical diagnosis. METHODS: A quantifiable neurologic assessment was used prospectively to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with AIDS and toxoplasmic encephalitis who were treated with oral clindamycin (600 mg four times a day) and pyrimethamine (75 mg every day) for six weeks. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 49 patients (71 percent) responded to therapy, and 30 of these (86 percent) had improvement by day 7. Thirty-two of those with a response (91 percent) improved with respect to at least half of their base-line abnormalities by day 14. Improvement in neurologic abnormalities within 7 to 14 days after the start of therapy was strongly associated with the neurologic response at 6 weeks. The four patients in whom treatment failed and the two patients with lymphoma had progressing neurologic abnormalities or new abnormalities during the first 12 days of therapy. Nonlocalizing abnormalities (headache and seizure) improved regardless of the clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Oral clindamycin and pyrimethamine are an effective treatment for toxoplasmic encephalitis. Patients who have early neurologic deterioration despite treatment or who do not improve neurologically after 10 to 14 days of appropriate antitoxoplasma therapy should be considered candidates for brain biopsy.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

[Dangerous arrhythmias].

The usual frequent tachyarrhythmias well known to the specialists in internal medicine, such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, are not discussed in this publication; nor are the bradycardias connected with the sick sinus syndrome or with atrioventricular block of higher degrees (with one exception). In the first section a stratification of the risk after myocardial infarction is presented including the therapeutic implications. Severely reduced left ventricular function is of most negative prognostic value. After the poor results of the CAST study, which revealed a threefold greater mortality of patients with myocardial infarction and severely impaired left ventricular function under treatment with some antiarrhythmic agents of class I (Vaughan Williams), compared to patients on placebo, cardiologists have resorted to beta-blocking agents again or, in patients with severely reduced left ventricular function, to amiodarone (Cordarone), based on preliminary results of current amiodarone studies. For selected patients, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) devices seem to have a promising future. In the second part some rare and persistent arrhythmias are mentioned that may induce heart failure in an otherwise healthy heart, such as ectopic atrial tachycardia, atrioventricular junctional tachycardia with RP > PR, His bundle tachycardia and idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (this arising only in infants). In the third section some infrequent forms of tachycardia are discussed that may be sporadically encountered in a medical office. Ventricular tachycardia of the type "torsades de pointes" is associated with on a prolonged QT or QTU time in the ECG and is mainly due to drugs (especially antiarrhythmic agents). The therapy consists in withdrawal of the drug and may include magnesium intravenously and even a temporary pacemaker. The tachycardias associated to the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome have gained more practical importance since it has become possible to localize the accessory pathway involved by mapping with subsequent interruption by surgery or ablation. In atrial fibrillation with an ECG pattern of delta waves at the beginning of QRS complexes, digitalis and verapamil are contraindicated since they may induce ventricular fibrillation. The Mobitz type is one, and the most rare, form of the three atrioventricular blocks of second degree. It is almost always combined with an infra-His-bundle conduction disturbance in the conducted beats, and is an immediate precursor of complete atrioventricular block. Patients with the Mobitz block usually need a pacemaker. Finally, two case reports are presented to show that superficial and incorrect diagnosis of an arrhythmia is followed by incorrect and dangerous therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Myocardial infarct without classical Q-waves in the ECG].

In this article the ECG pattern of myocardial infarction not associated with the commonly seen pathologic Q waves (greater than 0.03 s) or QS waves is discussed. In a short introduction the differential diagnosis of pathologic Q or QS waves is recalled. Thereafter, the authors insist on their experience, that the diagnosis of infarction should generally be based on the combination of RIsk factors, THOracic pain, a pathologic ECg and elevated cardiac ENzymes. Therefore, the diagnosis of a myocardial infarction should be made only, if it is 'RITHOCGENE' (abbreviation of the above-mentioned combination). The typical or possible 'non-Q-wave infarction' ECG patterns are listed, including a normal ECG.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Luetic cervical adenitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

The clinical course of syphilis may be altered in some patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. We report two cases of syphilis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection who presented with marked unilateral anterior cervical adenopathy after engaging in oral-genital sex. Neither of the patients had evidence of oropharyngeal chancres. One patient developed a cutaneous rash of secondary syphilis soon after the cervical adenopathy developed. Both patients responded well to antibiotic therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pilot study comparing the salivary cationic protein concentrations in healthy adults and AIDS patients: correlation with antifungal activity.

This investigation compared the salivary cationic protein concentrations of 12 healthy adult controls with those of 12 hospitalized patients with AIDS. Salivas were quantified by capillary electrophoresis using purified cationic protein standards. In parotid saliva, histidine-rich polypeptides (HRPs) 1-6, histatin 6, and lysozyme concentrations were determined. In addition to these eight cationic proteins, submandibular-sublingual saliva was also quantified for histatin 2 and the histatin 2 degradation product. When comparisons were made on the basis of individual proteins, the HRP-histatin concentrations in the AIDS patients showed either statistically significant decreases or a decreasing trend compared with healthy adult controls. When HRP-histatin concentrations were summed for each patient, there were statistically significant differences between the healthy adult controls and the individuals with AIDS in both parotid and submandibular-sublingual salivas. Closer examination revealed that some individuals with AIDS had HRP-histatin concentrations that fell within the normal range of the healthy adult controls. For these individuals, lower than expected salivary antifungal values were obtained. Either decreasing histidine-rich protein concentrations and/or an inability of these proteins in saliva to interact with Candida albicans may contribute to the defective salivary antifungal activity seen in AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Determination of salivary anticandidal activities in healthy adults and patients with AIDS: a pilot study.

This investigation compared the salivary anticandidal activities of 12 healthy adults with 12 hospitalized patients with AIDS. Stimulated parotid, submandibular-sublingual, and whole salivas were collected during a period of 10 min, immediately acidified, boiled, and then centrifuged to isolate salivary supernatants. Supernatants were then tested for antifungal activity against Candida albicans in blastospore viability inhibition and germ tube formation assays. A unit of blastospore or germ tube antifungal activity was established as that activity yielding 90% or greater inhibition during a defined time period in each salivary assay. Each of the patients with AIDS were found to be defective in one or more of their salivary antifungal activities, and in comparison with healthy adults the differences in antifungal units per milliliter of saliva and total antifungal units were statistically significant for each saliva and each antifungal assay. Defective salivary antifungal activity may contribute to the oral candidiasis seen in patients with AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Factors determining pulmonary deposition of aerosolized pentamidine in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Although aerosolized pentamidine (AP) has recently been approved for prophylaxis and is undergoing clinical trials for treatment of pneumocystis, pneumonia (PCP), factors important in the deposition of AP have not been described. Using radioaerosol techniques, deposition was measured in 22 patients receiving AP for prophylaxis or treatment of PCP. In all patients total and regional deposition of pentamidine, breathing pattern, pulmonary function (PFT), regional ventilation, and type of nebulizer were analyzed. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed 24 h after inhalation to assess the relationship between pentamidine levels in BAL fluid and measured aerosol deposition. The nebulizers tested were the Marquest Respirgard II and the Cadema AeroTech II, both previously characterized in our laboratory. The aerosol particles consist of water droplets containing dissolved pentamidine and technetium 99m bound to albumin. Analysis of particles sampled during inhalation via cascade impaction confirmed a close relationship between radioactivity in the droplets and the concentration of pentamidine as measured by HPLC (r = 0.971, p less than 0.0001; n = 18). Deposition was measured by capturing inhaled and exhaled particles on absolute filters and measuring radioactivity. This technique allows the determination of the deposition fraction (DF, the fraction of the amount inhaled that is deposited), which provides information on factors strictly related to the patient. To confirm the filter measurements, pentamidine deposition was also measured by gamma camera. The camera measurement was possible because each patient's thoracic attenuation of radioactivity was determined by a quantitative perfusion scan (mg pentamidine deposited via both techniques, r = 0.949, p less than 0.0001; n = 26). Regional lung volume and ventilation were determined by xenon 133 equilibrium scan and washout. Pentamidine deposition varied markedly between patients, but BAL levels of pentamidine significantly correlated with measured deposition (r = 0.819, p less than 0.01; n = 9). DF averaged 0.621 +/- 0.027 (SEM) and did not correlate with any measured lung parameter, including breathing pattern and PFT. Regional deposition did not correlate with regional ventilation. The major factor influencing pentamidine deposition was aerosol delivery (mg deposited versus mg inhaled; r = 0.963, p less than 0.0001; n = 26). The nebulizer was an important determinant of aerosol delivery, with the AeroTech delivering between 2.5 and 5 times more drug than the Respirgard. These observations are important in assessing treatment failure and cost of therapy.

Aerosols↗