Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Zimmermann

Publications and source records attributed to P Zimmermann.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Doppler umbilical artery velocimetry in pregnancies complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis.

Doppler umbilical velocimetry is a useful clinical tool for antepartum fetal surveillance of pregnancies at risk of fetal compromise. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of fetal death, which might due to the toxic effect of elevated maternal serum concentrations of bile acids. To study a possible effect of the concentration of bile acids on the umbilical circulation we performed pulse-wave Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery in 15 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis between 34 and 38 weeks of gestation. The findings were compared to the Doppler flow velocities of the umbilical artery of 129 normal pregnancies. Peak-systolic (A) and end-diastolic (B) velocities of two to three cardiac cycles were measured by electronic calipers and the Pourcelot (PR)-index (PR = (A - B)(A)) was calculated. Two of 29 Doppler measurements in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis were above two standard deviations (2 SD) of the values in normal pregnancies. No significant correlation was found between Doppler flow velocities and serum levels of bile acids (r = 0.20) or the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) (r = -0.05). The mean level of bile acids was 24 mumol/l with a maximum of 98 mumol/l. The mean level of ALAT was 165 IU/l with a maximum of 576 IU/l. Since even high levels of bile acids do not influence umbilical circulation, Doppler investigations of the umbilical artery seem to be of little value in studying the disease-specific risk of fetal compromise in pregnancies complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1991

[Comparative study of various perimetry strategies].

The conventional 4/2 dB bracketing strategy with fixed steps was compared with the "dynamic step unit strategy" (DSU strategy), which is characterized by an increase of step size with defect depth. In order to analyze the intraindividual variability, 6 eyes of 3 normal subjects were tested ten times with both strategies using the PERISTAT 433. The reproducibility of the DSU strategy is better by a factor of approximately 1.1 The comparative examination of 40 eyes of 40 patients with visual field defects resulting from various pathologic conditions using both the Humphrey-Field-Analyzer (program 30-2, 4/2 dB bracketing strategy) and the Peristat 433 (DSU strategy) yielded a clear advantage (by a factor of 3) in time and a lower number of exposures for the DSU strategy. In order to analyze the reproducibility, 15 eyes of 15 patients were tested three times with both methods. The reproducibility of the DSU strategy for relative defects is worse by a factor of 1.6. Overall, the DSU strategy is substantially faster than the conventional 4/2 dB bracketing strategy; this is achieved, however, at the expense of accuracy in relative defects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Results of computer-assisted studies of population structure and burial practices of adults of the late Roman burial ground in the Minshat Abu Omar (east Nile delta)].

The results of 1448 skeletons met the requirements (database) for the completed examinations. Statistical correlations between situation of the skeletons in view of compass directions, position of the skeletons, grave type and mumification traces were calculated. More than 90% of the analyzed individuals were buried in west-east direction (head-feet). In 69% of all cases the skeletons were buried with their hands on or next to the pelvis. 98% of all mummies examined were found in the position hand/hands on shoulder. Special grave architecture was given in 15.8% of the examined individuals. The average life-expectancy for the group between 20 to 29 amounted to 14.65 years. The cluster-analysis showed clear differentiation of the male group in 3 to 4 subpopulations. For the female group a mathematical probability for 3 subpopulations was given. Connecting the data of cluster and burial types a significant distinction between the four male clusters - according to the distribution of the skeleton positions - could be seen. Within the female group a clear correlation between clusters and common characteristics could be found in 7 subgroups. Differentiated distribution was revealed in the different alignments of the skeletons.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

GTP-induced fusion of isolated pancreatic microsomal vesicles is increased by acidification of the vesicle lumen.

Using the 'fusogen' polyethyleneglycol (PEG), Dawson et al. have concluded that both guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-induced calcium efflux and the enhancement of IP3-promoted calcium release from rat liver microsomal vesicles could be attributed to a GTP-dependent vesicle fusion. We have studied GTP-induced fusion of microsomal vesicles from rat exocrine pancreas using light scatter and fluorescence dequenching methods. In the presence of PEG (3%), GTP (10 microM) induced a decrease in light scatter and an increase in fluorescence in the fluorescence dequenching assay (GTP-effect) indicating fusion of the vesicles. Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (10 microM) had no effect on its own and inhibited the GTP-induced signals. Preincubation of the vesicles with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (4 mM) increased the GTP-effect by 80%, whereas bafilomycin B1, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar type H(+)-ATPases, and the protonophore CCCP (10 microM) inhibited only the ATP-dependent part of the GTP-effect. Inhibitors of the vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase, which are also SH-alkylating reagents such as N-ethylmaleimid (100 microM) and the tyrosine-, cysteine- and lysine-reactive reagent 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-exa-1,3-diazole (10 microM), abolished the GTP-effect in the absence or presence of ATP. We conclude that GTP induces fusion of pancreatic microsomes which is increased by an H+ gradient established by a vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed1990

Parkinson's disease patient's behaviour in a covered maze learning task.

A computerized maze task was constructed that allowed only partial vision of the maze structure and produced measurements for separate analysis of cognitive processes described as impaired in Parkinson's disease. Eighteen patients suffering from mild Parkinson's disease and 18 individually matched normal controls were investigated. Baseline task response times were found to be identical for both groups. Differences between patients' and controls' performance could be related to (a) a response bias in Parkinson patients that favoured repetition of the previous action and slowed down shifting and (b) an impairment of multistep plan generation. It is speculated that the response bias reflects the disinhibition of cortico-thalamo-cortical reverberation loops which results from striatal dopamine depletion.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Does an information booklet on gastrointestinal endoscopy reduce anxiety for these examinations? Results of a randomized study with 379 patients].

A randomized controlled trial was performed between June and December 1989 in 379 outpatients to evaluate whether a patient information booklet is able to reduce anxiety levels before gastroscopy or colonoscopy. Anxiety levels were measured by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in all patients entering the office. Half of the patients received the information booklet about the endoscopic investigations and half did not. VAS was measured again directly before endoscopy in each patient. All patient groups were comparable. The median anxiety level of gastroscopy patients before and after reading the information booklet was 5.3 (2.5-10) and 4.9 (0.8-10), and for colonoscopy patients 6.0 (2.5-10) vs 5.0 (0.7-10). So not much difference concerning the anxiety level before and after reading the patient information booklet was found. Thus better than an information booklet, for every patient an individualized technique of the endoscopist may reduce patient anxiety before gastroscopy or colonoscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effect of amine fluoride/stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthrinsings on dental plaque, gingivitis, plaque and enamel F-accumulation.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of an amine fluoride/stannous fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash on dental plaque and gingivitis, plaque F- accumulation, F- content and acid solubility of dental enamel. Participants in the 12-week double-blind study were 92 schoolchildren, with a mean age of 12.4 years, randomly distributed to four groups: (1) AmF/SnF2 toothpaste, (2) placebo toothpaste, (3) AmF/SnF2 toothpaste plus AmF/SnF2 mouthwash, (4) placebo toothpaste plus AmF/SnF2 mouthwash. Analyzing the results, the mean values of dental plaque (Silness-Löe index) and of the sulcus bleeding index decreased statistically significantly in all groups except the placebo toothpaste users. Plaque F- and enamel F- content increased considerably only in the two groups using the AmF/SnF2 toothpaste. A decrease in acid solubility was significant only in the group of both test toothpaste and test mouthwash users. Thus the clinical efficacy of the tested AmF/SnF2 toothpaste might be increased by the combined use of mouthrinsings containing the same substances.

Amines↗
PubMed1989

Changes of acid solubility and fluoride content of the enamel surface in children consuming fluoridated milk.

Changes of the acid solubility and fluoride content of the surface layer of the enamel of the first incisor of seventy-nine 9 to 10-year-old children living in a closed community were measured by the method of enamel biopsy at the 6th and 12th months of the consumption of fluoridated milk. Half-year after the beginning of consumption of fluoridated milk the acid solubility decreased significantly, while one-year-long consumption led to significant increase of the fluoride content of the enamel surface.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Gastroduodenal complications of hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy of hepatic metastases of colorectal origin].

Fifty-eight patients with colorectal liver metastases were treated by intra-arterial hepatic chemotherapy (IAHC) containing 5 FU (n = 42) or FUDR (n = 16). Twenty-three patients (39.6 p. 100) complained of abdominal pain. In three of these patients, the course was complicated by digestive hemorrhage. Endoscopic explorations and angioscintigraphy were normal in 4, showed oesophagitis in 3, superficial gastritis or duodenitis in 8 (34.7 p. 100) and gastric (2) or duodenal ulceration (6) in 8 (34.7 p. 100). The duodenal ulceration was extensive and considered to be cause of hemorrhage in two cases. Duodenal perforation due to the catheter was discovered in two other cases, one of which was secondary to tumoral extension revealed by forceps biopsy. This patient died 3 months later. Surgical treatment was mandatory in the other case due to digestive hemorrhage but did not prevent death. Angioscintigraphy performed in 15 patients with gastroduodenal inflammation or ulceration was normal in 7 patients, revealed arterial thrombosis in 5 and an extra-hepatic perfusion in the gastroduodenal area in 3 : this was related to a small pyloric artery which was occluded secondarily. IAHC was continued there after. This experience underlines the importance of exploring patients with digestive symptoms during IAHC so that it may be temporarily discontinued while an inadequately positioned infusion catheter may be corrected should gastroduodenal ulceration occur.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1988

Neuropsychological assessment of the transcallosal approach.

The long-term consequences of partial callosal lesions were examined in 7 neurosurgically treated patients. Detailed clinical and neuropsychological assessment of the interhemispheric transfer (multimodal sensory and motor tasks) as well as memory and attention tests were used. The results revealed some disconnection symptoms with minor clinical significance, which could not be attributed to particular sites of the corpus callosum, except the splenium. It is questionable whether the reported memory and attention impairments are caused by the callosal lesion or by extracallosal pathology. The results indicate that the transcallosal approach is a safe and feasible alternative in the management of pathological midline processes in the brain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Schizophrenia--an emotional hypersensitivity of the right cerebral hemisphere.

While modern neuropsychological and electrophysiological studies claim a functional disturbance of the left hemisphere (LH) in schizophrenia, historical clinical and anatomical work rather points to the right hemisphere (RH) as the main site of psychosis. In the light of an interhemispheric functional balance of inhibition and release, LH-dysfunction in schizophrenia could be interpreted as a consequence of an overactive and inhibiting RH. Since the RH is especially activated by emotional stimuli, and exaggerated distractability and sensitivity to emotional stimuli are hallmarks of schizophrenia, we compared the emotional irritability of the RH and LH in 35 acute schizophrenics and 22 matched controls. Using tachistoscopic half-field presentation we found in acute schizophrenics a selective impairment of RH-function with simultaneous improvement of LH-performance induced by emotional distractors. We therefore suggest that a right hemispheric dysfunction and hypersensitivity to emotional material plays an essential catalytic role in acute schizophrenia.

Acute Disease↗