Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R L Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to R L Jensen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Airway inflammation in COPD: physiological outcome measures and induced sputum.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a result of airway inflammation, and the best predictor of COPD is the early detection of airflow limitation by spirometry. The Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease Workshop Report defines airflow limitation using simple spirometric indices. Available guidelines categorise the severity of COPD using forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), with symptoms playing a minor role in the assessment. Current standards define COPD by progressive loss of FEV1, and thus longitudinal decline in FEV1 will be the primary outcome variable for intervention studies aimed at preventing or reducing the loss of pulmonary function. There is evidence, however, that the variable FEV1/FVC and FEV1 are often not measured properly in all settings. This article will discuss the roles of physiological measurements in diagnosing COPD and physiological outcome measures for COPD. It does not formally compare physiological measures with other outcome measures, such as symptoms or quality of life. Additionally, improved treatment of established disease requires a better understanding of the inflammatory process and its clinical effects and treatment. The inflammatory process, and how drugs affect it, can be studied noninvasively or relatively noninvasively by using refined methods of examining spontaneous or induced sputum. Enhanced understanding of the use of induced sputum will assist in predicting patients' responses to short- and long-term inhaled corticosteroid treatment, and the methods of sputum examination need to be simplified so that they can be applied more easily to clinical practice.

Aged↗

Calcium channel antagonists inhibit growth of subcutaneous xenograft meningiomas in nude mice.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that calcium channel antagonists inhibit in vitro meningioma growth. This study examines the effect of calcium channel antagonists on in vivo xenograft meningioma growth. METHODS: Meningioma cells taken from human patients were mixed with Matrigel and injected into the subcutaneous space in the flank of nude mice. These animals were treated with calcium channel antagonists in their drinking water. Tumor volumes were measured over time; comparison was made between control and treatment groups. Daily weights, average daily water consumption, and serum calcium channel antagonist levels were determined. Comparison of histology and proliferation index was made between control and treatment groups. RESULTS: Diltiazem treatment decreased tumor growth over time compared to control groups. Increased tumor growth inhibition was seen with increasing doses (p > 0.05). Treatment with verapamil had similar effects; however, there are no statistically significant dose dependent decreases in growth with increasing verapamil doses. There were no tumor "cures" or spontaneous regression of tumor in any group including the control groups. Animal daily weight and average daily water consumption was unaffected by increasing calcium channel antagonist doses compared to control groups. Mouse serum drug levels increased with increasing doses of drug in the drinking water of treatment groups (p > 0.05). Histology and proliferative index of treatment groups were similar to control groups. CONCLUSION: Calcium channel antagonists decrease but do not completely inhibit the growth of meningiomas in nude mice. Clinical correlations and potential applications are discussed.

Animals↗

Single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity.

Measurement of DL(CO) remains a clinically useful way to assess transfer of gases across the lung. It is important, however, to be vigilant in controlling the sources of variation and to be aware of those that remain when interpreting the measured values.

Breath Tests↗

A simple diagnostic index for asthma.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is becoming increasingly prevalent and a number of research groups are investigating its genetic and environmental basis. OBJECTIVE: To produce a brief screening tool suitable for determining phenotype in asthma research. METHODS: The scores from eight questions on symptoms and history were obtained from 678 adults and 244 children from high asthma-incidence caucasian families. An independent physician diagnosis was also obtained with the use of a modified NHLBI-CSGA questionnaire and pulmonary function test. Stepwise logistic regression was applied to determine which of the eight questions had greatest predictive value for asthma, and the quality of the resultant models was evaluated using an independent set of 643 adults and 239 children. RESULTS: For adults, the most parsimonious model used responses from three of the eight questions. It had sensitivity and specificity of 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. For children, responses to two questions gave a model with sensitivity and specificity of 0.97. For both age groups, negative predictive values were above 0.87. Positive predictive values were 0.58 and 0.78 for adults and children respectively. The latter emphasize the need for conformation, by physician, of "affected" calls made by this initial screen. CONCLUSION: The brief questionnaires described are potentially useful in a research setting, as a preliminary screening mechanism of low cost. Their use will reduce the numbers of subjects that must undergo detailed phenotyping.

Adolescent↗

Airflow limitation is underrecognized in well-functioning older people.

OBJECTIVES: Dyspnea is a common symptom in older people. A reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) is associated with a higher mortality rate from cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and increased admissions to hospitals. Underrecognized or undertreated airflow limitation may exacerbate the problem. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and treatment of airflow limitation in a cohort of well-functioning older people. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Baseline of a clinical-epidemiological study of incident functional limitation. PARTICIPANTS: Participants attended the baseline examination of the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study, a prospective cohort study of 3,075 well-functioning subjects age 70 to 79. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic and clinical data were collected by interview. Spirometry was performed unless contraindicated and repeated until three acceptable sets of flow-volume loops were obtained. Patients on bronchodilator medications had spirometry performed posttherapy. Blinded readers assessed the flow-volume loops, and inadequate tests were omitted from analysis. Airflow limitation was defined as a reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) as determined by age-, sex-, and race-normalized values. Severity of airflow limitation was defined by American Thoracic Society criteria. RESULTS: Two thousand four hundred eighty-five subjects (80.8%) had assessable spirometry and data on treatment and diagnosis (1,265 men, 1,220 women). The mean age was 73.6 years. Two hundred sixty-two subjects (10.5%) had airflow limitation; 43 (16.4%) of these never smoked. Only 37.4% of participants with airflow limitation and 55.6% of participants with severe airflow limitation reported a diagnosis of lung disease. Only 20.5% of subjects with at least moderate airflow limitation had used a bronchodilator in the previous 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: Despite their good functional status, airflow limitation was present, and underrecognized, in a considerable proportion of our older population. The low bronchodilator use suggests a significant reservoir of untreated disease. Physicians caring for older people need to be more vigilant for both the presence, and the need for treatment, of airflow limitation.

Aged↗

Influence of leisure time physical activity and television watching on atherosclerosis risk factors in the NHLBI Family Heart Study.

Physical activity favorably influences atherosclerosis risk factors but only a few studies in adults considered the time watching television (TV) as a measure of physical inactivity. We therefore determined in a population-based sample of 1778 subjects from the NHLBI Family Heart Study (FHS) whether leisure time physical activity and TV watching have independent or interactive associations with cardiovascular disease risk factors and carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT). Subjects were free from diabetes mellitus and clinically-ascertained coronary artery disease and did not take lipid-lowering or antihypertensive drugs. Only 0.7 and 1.3% of the variance in leisure time physical activity in women and men, respectively, was explained by the amount of TV watching. Leisure time physical activity had a clearly favorable, and TV watching an unfavorable association with anthropometric measurements (BMI (body mass index), waist girth, waist-hip ratio, subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness). The odds ratio (95% CI) of being overweight was 0.41 (0.28-0.62) in women and 0.69 (0.46-1.04) in men in the highest quartile of leisure time physical activity compared to the lowest quartile. The odds ratio increased for increasing quartiles of TV watching to 2.12 (1.45-3.10) in women and 1.61 (1.07-2.43) in men. Watching TV only 1 h per day in women with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 and doing about 75 min of moderate exercise per week was associated with a BMI 1.8 kg/m2 lower than in women watching TV 3 h per day and doing the same amount of exercise. Those with twice the amount of moderate exercise and watching TV 1 h per day had a BMI 0.45 kg/m2 lower. Furthermore, leisure time physical activity was negatively associated with concentrations of triglycerides and positively with HDL cholesterol in both genders. TV watching was significantly positively associated with triglycerides and slightly negatively with HDL cholesterol in men. The observed associations of leisure time physical activity and TV watching with atherosclerosis risk factors were independent from each other. Finally, we analyzed the relation between leisure time physical activity, TV watching and the degree of IMT of the carotid arteries. Neither of these two measures was significantly associated with IMT. In summary, TV watching, in addition to leisure time physical activity, shows an independent association with obesity-related anthropometric measurements, HDL and triglycerides. Decreasing the amount of TV watching might be effective as a first step in reducing atherosclerosis risk factors, especially overweight.

Adult↗

The accuracy of pulse oximetry in the emergency department.

The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors affecting the accuracy of pulse oximetry in the ED. Over a 3-year period, 664 consecutive emergency department (ED) patients had simultaneous arterial blood gas (ABG) and pulse oximeter readings taken. Pulse oximeter saturations (SpO2) were compared with ABG CO-oximeter saturations (SaO2) for accuracy. Multiple variables including age, sex, hemoglobin, bicarbonate, pH, and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) were analyzed to see if they affected SpO2 accuracy. ROC curves were used to determine the best pulse oximeter threshold for detecting hypoxia. Using multivariate analysis, COHb was the only statistically significant factor affecting the accuracy of pulse oximetry. In patients with COHb <2%, SpO2 overestimated SaO2 by more than 4% in 8.4% of cases. In patients with COHb > or = 2%, SpO2 overestimated SaO2 by more than 4% in 35% of cases. The best pulse oximetry threshold for detecting hypoxia is 92%. At this threshold, if COHb is <2%, pulse oximetry has a sensitivity of 0.92 and specificity of 0.90. If COHb is > or =2%, sensitivity is 0.74 and specificity is 0.84. For patients likely to have a COHb < 2, pulse oximetry is an effective screening tool for detecting hypoxia. However, more caution must be exercised when using pulse oximetry in patients likely to have a COHb > or = 2%.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Role of topical steroids in reducing dysfunction after nerve injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of topical dexamethasone in reducing nerve dysfunction after axonotmesis injury. STUDY DESIGN: A three-armed, blinded study including sham, control, and test groups was designed using the rat sciatic nerve crush injury model. METHODS: Twenty-two rats were randomly assigned to a control group or a topical steroid group. A standardized sciatic nerve crush injury was performed under sterile conditions on each animal. A separate group of five rats underwent a sham operation to isolate the crush injury as the source of postoperative dysfunction in the control and steroid groups. All animals underwent walking track analysis with calculation of the sciatic functional index (SFI) before surgery and through the postoperative recovery period. Dexamethasone saturated Gelfoam was placed at the site of injury in the topical steroid group. The functional performance of each group was compared throughout the recovery period. RESULTS: No morbidity associated with topical application of steroids at the injury site was noted. The topical steroid group had improved recovery at postoperative days 14, 18, and 22. This difference was statistically significant at day 14. At the termination of the study, there was a clear trend toward superior recovery for the steroid group compared with controls (90% vs. 73%), but this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical use of topical steroids to reduce postoperative nerve dysfunction warrants further study.

Administration, Topical↗

Calcium channel antagonist effect on in vitro meningioma signal transduction pathways after growth factor stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: We have previously demonstrated that calcium channel antagonists inhibit the growth of human meningiomas in culture after stimulation with growth factors. This study examined the effects of these drugs on signaling transduction pathways in an attempt to elucidate potential mechanisms by which this growth inhibition is mediated. METHODS: Primary cell cultures from patients with intracranial meningiomas were established. Cell growth studies were performed with inhibitors and stimulators of tyrosine kinase signal transduction. Intracellular calcium changes and inositol phosphate production were measured after growth factor exposure, with or without pretreatment by calcium channel antagonists. RESULTS: The growth of meningiomas in culture can be inhibited by tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors. Inhibitors and stimulators of phospholipase C can stimulate or inhibit the growth of in vitro meningiomas, respectively. Calcium channel antagonists inhibit intracellular calcium changes induced by serum and epidermal growth factor. Inositol phosphate production is increased after growth factor stimulation, and calcium channel antagonists potentiate this effect. CONCLUSION: Calcium channel antagonists interfere with intracellular signaling pathways of cultured meningioma cells. This inhibition is unrelated to voltage-sensitive calcium channels. The findings of this project may aid in the understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms involved in growth factor-mediated meningioma proliferation and may lead to clinically relevant strategies for growth inhibition.

Adult↗

FEV(6) is an acceptable surrogate for FVC in the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction and restriction.

We analyzed the FEV(1)/FEV(6) and FEV(1)/FVC results of 502 consecutive patients in the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction. We also examined the agreement between FEV(6) and FVC in the spirometric diagnosis of restriction. Technically acceptable test results were obtained from 337 subjects (67%). The sensitivity of FEV(1)/FEV(6) for diagnosing airway obstruction as defined by FEV(1)/ FVC was 95.0%; the specificity was 97.4%. When interpretations differed, the measured values were all close to the lower limits of the reference ranges. When analysis included +/- 100-ml variability in FEV(1) and FEV(6), the sensitivity increased to 99.5% and the specificity to 100%. The reproducibility of FEV(6) was superior to that of FVC. These results suggest that FEV(6) is an accurate, reliable alternative to FVC for diagnosing airway obstruction and that FEV(6) is reasonably comparable to FVC for the spirometric diagnosis of restriction. FEV(6) is more reproducible and less physically demanding for patients.

Adult↗

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure devices do not maintain the set pressure dynamically when tested under simulated clinical conditions.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The effective nasal mask pressure may be adversely affected by factors that increase system resistance (eg, long tubing and/or water condensation) and by dynamic variables (breathing frequency [f] and tidal volume [VT]). The present study was conducted in order to assess the performance of CPAP machines throughout a range of simulated clinical conditions. DESIGN: Four currently used CPAP machines were tested at settings of 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm H(2)O using a pulmonary waveform generator to produce VTs of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 L at frequencies of 10, 20, and 30 breaths/min. Machines were tested under five conditions: 6-foot and 12-foot tubing, with and without an in-line humidifier, and 12-foot tubing with humidifier and water condensation. MEASUREMENTS: Maximum and minimum mask pressure measurements were obtained during five respiratory cycles for each dynamic variable under each of the five conditions and CPAP settings (180 experiments on each of four CPAP models). RESULTS: Using typical clinical parameters (VT, 0.4 L and 0.8 L; f, 10 breaths/min and 20 breaths/min; and CPAP, 5 to 15 cm H(2)O), mask pressure consistently varied above and below the set point when additional tubing and/or a humidifier were added to the system (0.7 to 2.9 cm H(2)O below and 0.5 to 1.0 cm H(2)O above the set pressure). Water condensation caused large pressure deviations (inspiratory pressure ranged from 3.5 to 5.6 cm H(2)O below set pressure, and expiratory pressure ranged from 0.7 to 3.5 cm H(2)O above set pressure). CONCLUSIONS: Therapy and compliance could be adversely affected because some CPAP machines in current use do not maintain constant continuous mask pressure when tested using simulated conditions, especially when water condenses in the tubing.

Equipment Design↗

Use of EMG analysis in challenging kinetic chain terminology.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare mean integrated electromyographic values (EMG(int)) during biomechanically comparable closed kinetic chain/fixed external load, open kinetic chain/moveable no load, and moveable external load exercises. METHODS: EMG(int) were obtained for the pectoralis major (PM) and the long head of the triceps (T) during absorption and force phases of three biomechanically comparable exercises: the push-up (PU); the bench press-load (BP-L); and the bench press-no load (BP-NL) equated to the closed kinetic chain/fixed external load; moveable external load; and open kinetic chain/moveable no load conditions respectively. A force plate was used to equate load for the PU and BP-L exercises. Ten males (24+/-4.4 yr) participated in the three randomly ordered exercises. A pronated, closed grip was used for all exercises. The mean integrated EMG values from three isometric maximal voluntary contractions were used to determine a reference EMG (EMG(MVC)) for each muscle. Normalized EMG values (NEMG) were determined by EMG(int)/EMG(Mvc) and analyzed by one-factor repeated measures ANOVA for each muscle (PM and T) during each phase (absorption and force). RESULTS: There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the equivalently loaded, different boundary exercises (PU and BP). Statistical significance (P < 0.05) was determined between the differently loaded, equivalent boundary exercises (BP and BP-NL) as well as the differently loaded, different boundary exercises (PU and BP-NL). CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study support the theory that activities of similar biomechanical motions and mass of loading, regardless of the boundary condition, have comparable EMG values of primary muscle groups. In addition, this study suggests external load is more important than boundary condition in describing human activity.

Adult↗

Gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture: relationship of mucosal tissue TNF-alpha concentration to sloughing of ciliated cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An experimental model consisting of gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture has proven useful in studying the molecular pathogenesis of acute gonococcal salpingitis and postsalpingitis sequelae. Gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture results in the sloughing of ciliated epithelial cells from the mucosa. This damage to the mucosa can be quantified on fallopian tube pieces by an assay of the percent of the periphery that has ciliary activity (PPCA) remaining at specific time points after infection. Although assay of the PPCA has been quite valuable, it is labor-intensive, somewhat subjective, and requires that the observers have training and experience. A more practical assay for genital mucosal damage is desirable for further investigations that employ the fallopian tube experimental model. Gonococcal infection of fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture also results in the production of easily quantified tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by the mucosa. Furthermore, treatment of the organ cultures with recombinant human TNF-alpha (rHuTNFalpha) alone also causes sloughing of ciliated cells from the mucosa. These findings strongly suggest that TNF-alpha is a mediator of the mucosal damage that attends gonococcal infection. GOALS OF THE STUDY: To determine: (1) whether the PPCA values and the TNF-alpha concentrations in fallopian tube mucosal tissues correlate closely enough to allow prediction of the PPCA from a measurement of the mucosal tissue TNF-alpha concentration; and (2) whether the correlation of the TNF-alpha mucosal tissue concentration with the sloughing of ciliated cells (measured by the PPCA) supports the hypothesis that induction of TNF-alpha by gonococcal infection, with resultant sloughing of ciliated cells, is likely to be a major pathogenic mechanism of gonococcal salpingitis and might mediate postsalpingitis infertility and ectopic pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A metaanalysis was performed on studies from three research groups (two laboratories in the United States and one in the United Kingdom, using identical techniques for quantifying the PPCA, TNF-alpha, or both. RESULTS: There was a close and statistically significant correlation between the TNF-alpha mucosal tissue concentration and the proportion of ciliated cells lost from the mucosa as measured by the PPCA (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). Therefore, as the mucosal tissue concentration of endogenous TNF-alpha increased, the loss of ciliated cells from the epithelium increased proportionately. CONCLUSIONS: During gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture, the mucosal tissue concentration of TNF-alpha can be used to predict the PPCA, and therefore, the extent of mucosal damage. This finding should facilitate studies of the molecular pathogenesis of infectious diseases involving human genital mucosa. Further, the close correlation of mucosal TNF-alpha concentration with genital mucosal damage, evaluated by the PPCA, supports the hypothesis that induction of the proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-alpha, by gonococcal infection, with resultant inflammation and sloughing of ciliated cells, is an important pathogenic mechanism of gonococcal salpingitis and may mediate postsalpingitis infertility and ectopic pregnancy as well.

Cilia↗

Arterial blood gas reference values for sea level and an altitude of 1,400 meters.

Blood gas measurements were collected on healthy lifetime nonsmokers at sea level (n = 96) and at an altitude of 1,400 meters (n = 243) to establish reference equations. At each study site, arterial blood samples were analyzed in duplicate on two separate blood gas analyzers and CO-oximeters. Arterial blood gas variables included Pa(O(2)), Pa(CO(2)), pH, and calculated alveolar-arterial PO(2) difference (AaPO(2)). CO-oximeter variables were Hb, COHb, MetHb, and Sa(O(2)). Subjects were 18 to 81 yr of age with 166 male and 173 female. Outlier data were excluded from multiple regression analysis, and reference equations were fitted to the data in two ways: (1) best fit using linear, squared, and cross-product terms; (2) simple equations, including only the variables that explained at least 3% of the variance. Two sets of equations were created: (1) using only the sea level data and (2) using the combined data with barometric pressure as an independent variable. Comparisons with earlier studies revealed small but significant differences; the decline in Pa(O(2)) with age at each altitude was consistent with most previous studies. At sea level, the equation that included barometric pressure predicted Pa(O(2)) slightly better than the sea level specific equation. The inclusion of barometric pressure in the equations allows better prediction of blood gas reference values at sea level and at altitudes as high as 1,400 meters.

Adolescent↗

Differences in spirometry reference values: a statistical comparison of a Mongolian and a Caucasian study.

New reference value studies for spirometry are commonly compared to existing reference value studies using average data derived from existing reference equations. Such comparisons are inherently flawed because they do not account for differences in distributions of the independent and dependent variables and they do not have identical methodologies. This study was undertaken 1) to derive reference equations for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) for natives of Mongolia and 2) to compare the Mongolian data with data from a 1981 reference study of Caucasians in Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Spirometry was performed on 344 (176 male, 168 female) healthy, nonsmoking urban natives of Mongolia to generate reference equations for FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC. These data were compared with data from a 1981 reference study of Caucasians in Salt Lake City, using both an analysis of covariance of the raw data and parametric and nonparametric comparisons of a matched pair subset. Average measured forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second in native Mongolians were within 1-2% of the Caucasian predicted values. These small differences are not statistically significant in any of the multiple methods of comparisons. Power analysis suggests that, if real differences exist, the differences in forced vital capacity are <155 mL for males, <105 mL for females, and the differences in forced expiratory volume in one second are <107 mL for males and <76 mL for females.

Adolescent↗

Intraoperative electromyographic assessment of recurrent laryngeal nerve stress and pharyngeal injury during anterior cervical spine surgery with Caspar instrumentation.

OBJECT: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury occurs after anterior cervical spine procedures. In this study the authors used intraoperative electromyographic (EMG) monitoring of the posterior pharynx as a surrogate for RLN function and monitored endotracheal tube (ET) cuff pressure to determine if there was an association between these variables and clinical outcome. METHODS: Sixty patients in whom anterior cervical spine procedures were to be performed comprised the study population. After intubation, the ET cuff was adjusted to a just-seal volume and attached to a pressure monitor. A laryngeal surface electrode was placed in the posterior pharynx, and spontaneous EMG activity was monitored throughout the procedure. Cuff pressures and EMG activity were recorded during neck retraction and when EMG activity increased 20% above baseline. Patients were divided into two groups: those with sore throat/dysphonia and those without symptoms. Cuff pressures and EMG values were compared between groups, and the differences were correlated with clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Hoarseness immediately after surgery was reported in 38% of patients whereas 15% exhibited severe symptoms. In symptomatic patients the period of intubation had been longer, and the ET cuff pressures had been elevated. In most patients EMG activity increased during insertion of the retractor and decreased after its removal. In these patients a greater number of episodes of elevated EMG activity during surgery were also noted. Two patients experienced prolonged hoarseness, and one required teflon injections of the vocal fold. This patient's EMG activity increased (15-18 times baseline) during surgery. In the few patients who were symptomatic with increased EMG activity, neither the timing nor direction of change could be associated with symptoms. Intubation time and elevated ET cuff pressure were the most important contributors to dysphonia and sore throat after anterior cervical spine surgery.

Analysis of Variance↗

[Primary pyogenic liver abscess in a child].

A case report describing a child with a primary pyogenic liver abscess is presented. Primary pyogenic liver abscess is a rare disease at this age. Furthermore the clinical picture only rarely reveals indications of liver disease. To establish the correct diagnosis within the proper time, one must remember this diagnostic possibility. The recommended treatment is shortly discussed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗