Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Thormann.
Forty-eight patients with a positive patch test to potassium dichromate 0.5% were retested after 4-7 years; 38 patients (79%) still had a positive patch test. Chromate allergy seems to be persistent. In 72% of the cases a history of occupational exposure to chromates could be proved.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Observations were made of 12 cases of psoriasis that developed and three cases of psoriasis that became exacerbated during treatment with lithium compounds. Only two patients had a family history of psoriasis, and results of a search for increased frequencies of the histocompatibility antigens seen in psoriasis vulgaris were negative. The clinical features were identical to severe psoriasis vulgaris and the diagnosis was confirmed by histologic examination performed in six cases. However, the skin changes disappeared or returned to pretreatment level after withdrawal of lithium compounds. A positive provocation test result was obtained in two cases, the secondary latency time being shorter than the primary. We suggest that the psoriasis was induced or exacerbated by lithium compounds.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A congenital syndrome affecting the skin, oral mucosa and bulbar conjunctiva is reported in father and son. Skin lesions consisted of brownish papules with central keratotic plugs. Trauma was able to provoke lesions. In addition, changes of oral mucosa with premature loss of the teeth, and recurrent eye symptoms with conjunctivitis were present. Histological examination of specimens from skin, oral mucosa and conjunctiva revealed a uniform picture of dyskeratosis (single cell keratinization). The symptoms reported do not seem to fit into any of the existing muco-cutaneous syndromes. An autosomal dominant mutation is suggested as the cause of the disease.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Left ventricular hypertrophy and function were studied in 27 consecutive patients with chronic aortic valve disease before and 6.4 +/- 2.2 (S.D.) months after aortic valve replacement with Björk-Shiley prostheses. Four patients were excluded because of postoperative paravalvular regurgitation. Five patients had aortic stenosis (AS), seven patients AS plus insufficiency (AS-AI), and 11 patients aortic insufficiency (AI). Left ventricular muscle mass (LVMI), ejection fraction (EF), mean circumferential fiber shortening rate (VCF), mean normalized systolic ejection rate (MNSER), and peak systolic wall stress (PSWS) were determined angiographically. LVMI fell significantly after corrective surgery, whereas EF, VCF, and MNSER increased. PSWS decreased after the operation. Comparison of stress ventriculograms before and after surgery in six patients with predominant AS (isoproterenol infusion, 0.3 microgram per kilogram of body weight per minute) showed an increase of EF, VCF, and MNSER and a decrease of PSWS. We conclude that hypertrophy in chronic aortic valve disease regresses after aortic valve replacement, and thereby depressed cardiac function and reserve recover.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Under investigation in this study were the role of vagal tone in symptomatic sinus node dysfunction and the relationship between hypersensitive carotid sinus reflex (HCSR) and sick sinus syndrome (SSS). In 168 symptomatic patients (pts) resting heart rate (HR), maximal corrected sinus node recovery time (CSRTmax) and maximal carotid sinus pressure results (CSPmax) were determined before and after Atropine, 1 mg i.v. (A). According to test results, 103 pts had HCSR (1), 33 had HCSR + SSS (II), 30 pts had isolated SSS (III) and 20 pts with normal test results served as controls (IV). Mean age was the same in groups I--IV (p greater than 0.05). Groups I--III had a HR less than or equal to 60 bpm, rising 31% after A in groups I--IV, but absolute values were below those in group IV. In groups I--III CSP normalized after A and CSRT remained unchanged (p greater than 0.05). We conclude that increased vagal tone plays but one role in groups I--III and the combination HCSR + SSS seems rather frequent. Specific testing clearly separated HCSR from SSS.
Under investigation in this study were the relationship between hypersensitive carotid sinus reflex (HCSR) and sick sinus snydrome (SSS), the significance of clinical symptomatology versus electrophysiologic test results and the natural course of both syndromes. In 186 symptomatic patients (pts) resting heart rate, maximal corrected sinus node recovery time (CSRTmax) and maximal carotid sinus pressure results (CSPmax) were determined. According to test results, 103 pts had HCSR (I), 33 had HCSR + SSS (II), 30 pts had SSS (III), and 20 pts with normal test results served as controls (IV). Mean age was the same in groups I--IV (p greater than 0.05). Groups I--III had a heart rate less than or equal to 60 bpm. There was no correlation between patients test data and the occurrence of syncopes in each of groups I--III (p greater than 0.05). In 16 pts with SSS, test results remained unchanged 16 months later (p greater than 0.05). More pts (31%) in group II died in a shorter period of time after pacer application (1.4 +/- 1 year) than pts with AV III degrees block (25%, 1.8 +/- 1.6 years) after pacer application. We conclude that the combination HCSR + SSS seems rather frequent. Specific testing separated HCSR from SSS, but failed to predict syncopes and thereby cannot aid in the indication for pacer application. The 16 months prognosis of SSS proved unfavorable. Mortality after pacer application in HCSR + SSS seems less favorable than in AV III degrees block (p less than 0.05), but depends largely on the severity of associated diseases.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Photochemotherapy with psoralen and long-wave ultraviolet light, so-called PUVA-treatment, is currently being evaluated in many dermatologic departments. Side effects such as nausea, pruritus and erythema are well known. Recently the development of acneiform eruptions was reported in a British patient treated with PUVA (3). We found that 4 out of 80 patients treated in our clinic with 8-methoxy-psoralen according to the usual weight schedule (6) and long-wave ultraviolet irradiation developed perioral dermatitis, in 2 cases, together with acneiform eruptions localised to the forehead.
Electrophysiological studies were performed in a patient with a short P-R interval and a small delta wave. The findings suggest that ventricular pre-excitation resulted from an infranodal bypass (Mahaim type). As the functional properties of the pathway were evaluated, impaired conductivity (suggested by rather long refractory periods) became apparent at frequency stress. The pathway could easily be blocked by Ajmaline. This demonstrated an unexpected early diastolic improvement in conductivity; i.e. a supernormal phase of conduction. Due to this supernormal phase, Mahaim-fiber conduction was present when block in the anterior division of the left bundle branch, or even trifascicular block occurred. Thus the effects of exclusive Mahaim-fiber conduction on ventricular activation were documented.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.