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Biomedical subjects

R Frey

Publications and source records attributed to R Frey.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Decrease of basal plasma histamine levels by application of atropine in man.

The influence of atropine sulfate on plasma histamine levels was studied in 28 oral surgery patients with no history of allergy. 11 patients were given atropine sulfate for premedication (atropine group), and 17 patients were not (non-atropine group). The measurement of histamine in blood plasma was made using high speed liquid chromatography which was available for quantifying the trace elements. The concentration of histamine of the atropine group was 0.32 +/- 0.17 ng.ml-1 and that of the non-atropine group was 0.68 +/- 0.20 ng.ml-1, showing that atropine sulfate can suppress the release of histamine into human blood.

Adolescent↗

[Coronary artery spasms with normal coronary arteries as the cause of recurrent ventricular fibrillations].

Coronary arterial spasms are thought to be responsible for acute myocardial infarction in some patients with normal coronary arteries. A report is presented on a patient with a history of Prinzmetal angina pectoris involving ST-segment elevations in the electrocardiogram and recurrent ventricular fibrillation. Selective coronary arteriography revealed normal coronary arteries. Administration of nifedipin and isosorbide dinitrate brought about prompt relief of pain. One year after cardiac catheterization the patient developed recurrent ventricular arrhythmias when administration of nifedipin was discontinued. It is concluded that coronary arterial spasms may occur in patients with normal coronaries and may cause transient myocardial ischemia with severe ventricular arrhythmias. A history of Prinzmetal angina pectoris is usually present and medical treatment consists in administration of nifedipin and isosorbide dinitrate.

Angina Pectoris↗

[Haemodynamics of blood supply to the pulmonary or body circulation via a patent ductus arteriosus in infants (author's transl)].

To control the cardiopulmonary functioning of high risk newborn with congenital heart defects the authors apply computergenerated recording of vital parameters predominantly measured by non-invasive methods. It was found that periodic variations of the arterial partial oxygen pressure occur with occlusion of the outflow from both the right and the left ventricle, associated with patent ductus arteriosus. The authors interpret these periodic variations as intermittent contractions of the arterial duct. The pathophysiology of this phenomenon is discussed.

Blood Circulation↗

[Computer aid in pediatric intensive care (author's transl)].

The application of computerized intensive care in pediatrics is described. After adaption of commercial software and the development of several processing units, it was possible to control the circulatory and pulmonary function, reliably and continuously almost only by noninvasive methods. The graphical drawing of the trend of the controlled vital parameters will give better informations about the patients condition than the indication or registration of the momentary values. Moreover typical trend patterns of the measured parameters are hereby recognizable, so that critical situations will be detected, treated and - if possible - abolished earlier than in the past.

Computers↗

[Circulatory pattern under electro-stimulation-analgesia and neurolept-anaesthesia in the same patient. A comparative study during retinal and vitreous body operations (author's transl)].

The present paper reports a comparative study on circulatory conditions of patients who underwent both electro-stimulation- and neurolept anaesthesia. Investigations were carried out in 20 patients who had operations on the retina or vitreous body, either under neurolept or electro-stimulation anaesthesia, and who had to undergo a second of those, so that both types of anaesthesia were administered in each patient. 50% of the patients were showing polymorbidity which is often observed in elderly persons; 5 of the cases were patients suffering from hypertonia which had previously been treated unsatisfactory. As measure for judging the circulatory conditions under either anaesthetic method, the plain measurable values of systolic and diastolic pressure and heart rate were registered. A statistical evaluation of the anaesthetic records was carried out with special consideration of circulatory stability and each method of anaesthesia in the individual group of patients. Concerning circulatory changes, significant variations on 1%- level were found.

Aged↗

Emergency medical care on space stations.

This Note emphasizes the need, in a space station, of an emergency room, especially equipped with regard to clean air and competent paramedical personnel. The establishment of some degree of artificial gravity is desirable.

Aerospace Medicine↗

The action of inhalation anesthetics upon the lower oesophageal sphincter.

The lower oesophageal sphincter plays an important role as a gastro-oesophageal blocker. Its proper function as a reflux barrier for the prevention of regurgitation and aspiration during anesthesia is very important. Therefore the effect of inhalation anesthetics upon the lower oesophageal sphincter is of great interest. In 10 healthy volunteers we studied the action of various inhalation anesthetics upon the lower oesophageal sphincter, the distal oesophagus and the stomach. The inhalation of nitrous oxide-oxygen alone or in combination with 2 Vol. % halothane or enflurane resulted in a highly significant pressure drop (p < 0.001) at the lower oesophageal sphincter. All three anesthetics (nitrous oxide-oxygen, nitrous oxide-oxygen-halothane and nitrous oxide-oxygen-enflurane) caused a pressure rise at the distal oesophagus and a pressure decrease at the stomach.

Adolescent↗

[Recommendations for transfusion therapy. Volume substitution, raising oxygen transport capacity and replacement of clotting factors (author's transl)].

The principal aims of whole blood transfusion therapy are simultaneous volume substitution, raising the oxygen transport capacity and the replacement of clotting factors. The necessary control factors for volume substitution are described. It must be borne in mind that the blood undergoes changes during storage which among other things affects the ability of the blood to transport oxygen and the clotting potential. Not only the destruction of thrombocytes must be considered but also the loss of activity of the proaccelerin and the antihemophilic globulin A. For this reason for massive blood transfusions using older blood conserves it is recommended that the loss of activity be compensated by antihemophilic cryoprecipitate.

Biological Transport↗

[Infusions emergencies following the administration of plasma substitutes -- analysis of case reports to the committee on drugs. The problems of medical statistics, prophylaxis and immediate therapy (author's transl)].

In the period 1967 to 1976 the Adverse Drug Reaction Committee of the Medical Association of the Federal Republic of Germany (AMK) received 323 reports of transfusion emergencies following the administration of colloid plasma expanders (dextran, gelatin, starch). The reports ranged from medium to severe cases. Nine percent of the reported cases had a fatal outcome. The data contained in these case reports could only be statistically analyzed within certain limitations as the reports were incomplete and other parameters necessary for a definite statistical evaluating were missing. Furthermore the results do not cover the following points: 1. What percentage of reactions to plasma expanders in W. Germany was reported? --2. What percentage can be attributed to the individual colloids within the entirety of these undesirable side effects? --3. What percentage of the individual colloids can be allocated to the varying degrees of severity of these reactions? -- Further limitations which complicated the analysis of the case reports are discussed individually. Despite these difficulties an attempt was made to analyse the parameters necessary in the diagnosis of acute transfusion emergencies and to compile a guide for the clinical symptomatology. Grading of reactions into four degrees of severity has proved useful both in terms of diagnosis and immediate therapy. The medical statistical evaluation presented in this paper gives an indication as to the significance of the observed side-effects and confirms the statement and recommendations made elsewhere in the literature. In these emergency cases life-threatening incidents appear to be more common than is generally assumed and the user is aware of. The incidence of product-specific emergencies can only be determined to some degree of accuracy by randomized prospective studies. These would have to be conducted with numerous strict guidelines. On the basis of the results presented here, these studies should be attended to with a sense of urgency. Regardless of the difficulties encountered in the evaluation of the case reports, guidelines as to the recognition of reactions, prophylaxis and immediate remedial therapy could be established. These would appear to suffice as urgently required comprehensive information for the nursing staff as well as all doctors. Recognizing side-effects and instituting immediate remedial therapy along the principles laid down in these guidelines can in most cases of severe reactions remove the acute threat to life.

Adolescent↗

[The circulatory system in patients under electrostimulation anaesthesia during ophthalmological operations (author's transl)].

Anaesthesia by electrostimulation and its effects on the circulatory system were investigated in 65 elderly patients, in whom operations on the retina and vitreous body were performed. Stimulation of the dermatomes of the first and second trigeminal nerve as well as of C3 and C4 was performed using stimulating needles in 25 patients and adhesive electrodes in 40 patients. All patients were intubated after injection of thiopentone and a muscle relaxant. Anaesthesia was maintained by continuous electrostimulation, intermittent relaxation and normoventilation with N2O/O2 in a ratio of 1/1. During this anaesthesia technique, marked stability of the circulatory system was observed. This was noted in 32 normotensive and 33 hypertensive patients, the latter being partly under antihypertensive medication. Electrostimulation anaesthesia therefore may be recommended for elderly and high risk patients.

Adult↗

[Plasma-catecholamines under electrostimulation and neurolept anaesthesia for retina and vitreous body operations (author's transl)].

We determined in two groups of patients with normal circulation and metabolism during operations on the retina and vitreous body the concentration of plasma catecholamines. The intensity of stress was compared between electrostimulation anaesthesia and neuroleptanaesthesia. Venous blood was sampled 1) before premedication, 2) 30' after premedication, 3) at the start of surgery, 4) 45' after the start of surgery, 5) 30' after extubation. Plasma catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) were determined using a modified trihydroxyindol-spectrofluoremetric method (combined "Batch-technique"). There was no relevant difference between the two techniques of anaesthesia when using the concentrations of plasmacatecholamines as an indicator of stress resulting from operation and anaesthesia.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

[Behaviour of plasma-cortisol during ophthalmological operations in patients under electrostimulation anaesthesia (author's transl)].

Plasma cortisol was determined before, during and after ophthalmological operations. These were performed under electrostimulation anaesthesia using adhesive electrodes attached to the dermatome of the site of operation. Plasma cortisol decreased after premedication and induction of anaesthesia; it increased continuously during surgery beyond the end of operation. Thirty minutes after extubation plasma cortisol decreased again.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

The course of affective disorders. I. Change of diagnosis of monopolar, unipolar, and bipolar illness.

All patients suffering from affective psychoses (ICD 296) who were admitted to the Psychiatric University Clinic of Zurich between 1959 and 1963 were studied in a follow-up investigation until 1975. Of 254 affective psychoses, 95 were bipolar patients (37.4%) and 159 were monopolar (62.6%). The sample of bipolar patients was complemented with all patients who had been admitted in the period 1959--1963 because of manic or mixed manic-depressive syndromes. This paper describes the change of diagnosis in the two diagnostic groups. In 10% (N = 20) of monopolar depression cases there was a change of diagnosis to bipolar affective illness. An analysis shows that the diagnosis of patients with three or more depressive episodes (unipolar depressives) was especially prone to change. A mathematical correction of some diagnostic errors leads to the conclusion that the ratio of unipolar depression to bipolar illness may be about 1:1. A major source of diagnostic error lies in the change of affective to schizo-affective illness. Up to now, no clinical criterion exists that would exclude this error, which was found in 6% (n=12) of the monopolar but also in 7.5% (n = 3) of the bipolar index patients. It is recommended that studies of affective disorders should be based on truly representative samples of the illness, including patients with one or two episodes, and that the term 'unipolar depression' be used synonymously with the term 'monopolar depression,' originally created by Kleist (1947) and Leonhard (1957).

Affective Symptoms↗