Biomedical subjects

J Haffner

Publications and source records attributed to J Haffner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1987

Determination of the optimum period of interview for retrospective collection of data. An empirical study based on reported and documented outpatient contacts of depressive patients.

On the basis of reported and documented data on outpatient contacts of depressive patients, the reliability of data on the use of services, and the possibilities and sources of errors in the retrospective collection of data are presented and discussed. The results show an increase in errors the longer the period of inquiry is removed from the time of interview. The retrospective collection of data about ambulatory care more than 6 months ago has to be questioned from a reliability point of view. The correct dating of outpatient contacts succeeds substantially more reliably when questioned about periods of 3 months than about monthly periods, which leads to implications for the definition of patterns of care.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

PubMed1987

The immediate effect of human renal transplantation on basal and meal-stimulated levels of gastrointestinal hormones.

Elevated serum levels of gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide, and glucagon were found in 10 uraemic patients, whereas gastric inhibitory polypeptide and somatostatin levels were normal. After renal transplantation there was a significant reduction in serum gastrin (median, 5 pmol/l; p = 0.05, n = 9), pancreatic polypeptide (145 pmol/l; p less than 0.01, n = 9), GIP (9.5 pmol/l; p = 0.02, n = 7), and glucagon (92 pg/l; p less than 0.02, n = 9), whereas no alteration was seen in the somatostatin level. Meal stimulation produced consistent increases in serum levels of all hormones, and the response appeared to be unchanged after renal transplantation.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Beta-adrenoceptor blockade in the treatment of postoperative adynamic ileus.

Abdominal trauma, such as surgery and peritonitis, leads to inhibition of intestinal motility, partly mediated by alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. To investigate the effect of nonselective beta-blockade on adynamic ileus, propranolol was compared with placebo in the postoperative course after elective colonic surgery in a double-blind randomized study. Ten patients received 4 mg propranolol intravenously twice daily, and ten received 10 mg intravenously twice daily. Nineteen patients received placebo. The time to first passage of stool was 110 +/- 9 h in the placebo group and 82 +/- 11 h in the 4-mg propranolol group. In the 10-mg propranolol group, the time was 79 +/- 8 h. The difference between the placebo-treated group and the propranolol-treated groups was significant (p less than 0.01). The effect of propranolol was most marked in older patients and after surgery on the distal colon. In patients older than 60 years the time to first stool in the placebo group was 127 +/- 13 h (n = 8), compared with 73 +/- 8 h (n = 11) in the propranolol group (p less than 0.01). In patients who had undergone surgery on the distal colon the time to first stool was 125 +/- 13 h (n = 8) in the placebo group and 76 +/- 8 h (n = 11) for propranolol (p less than 0.01). Adverse effects on the respiratory or cardiovascular system were not seen during medication. It is concluded that propranolol shortens the period of adynamic ileus after colonic surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The effect of ranitidine on oesophageal motility.

Ranitidine is used to treat symptomatic oesophageal reflux; its effect is probably to a great extent due to reduced gastric secretion. Whether it also affects oesophageal motility is a matter of controversy. In a randomized double-blind study oesophageal motility was recorded in 21 healthy individuals after 3 doses of 150 mg ranitidine or placebo given over 36 h. Ranitidine increased the pressure in the lower oesophageal sphincter from 14 to 18 mmHg (p = 0.05) but otherwise did not influence oesophageal motility.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1987

[Culture specific or universal depressive diseases? Comparison of depressive symptoms of WHO/SADD (Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders) in Mannheim, West Germany and Addis Abeba, Ethiopia].

In an international comparative study the symptomatology of depressive patients from psychiatric services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (N = 52) and in Mannheim, Federal Republic of Germany (N = 136) was investigated with the WHO Schedule for Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders (WHO/SADD). Controlled for differences in the sex-, age- and diagnostic-distribution of the two samples, depressive patients in Addis Ababa showed significantly more somatic symptoms, hypochondrias, psychomotor restlessness and delusions of reference and persecution, but markedly less feelings of guilt. Nevertheless, the same core of symptomatology was found to build in both samples the first and most important factor of 17, mainly psychological complaints. Only "feelings of guilt" did not belong to this core in Addis Ababa. In contrast to what is often believed to be the case in African patients, the more frequently expressed somatic complaints came in addition to, but did not replace the core-psychological symptomatology. The investigators stress the importance of a separate analysis of the frequencies of symptoms and of dimensions these symptoms build.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗

PubMed1986