Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Stien

Publications and source records attributed to R Stien.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Maximal electrical stimulation in the treatment of unstable detrusor and urge incontinence.

Ninety-one patients with unstable detrusor and urge incontinence were treated with maximal electrical stimulation. There were 17 dropouts. From the remaining 74 patients 51 were subjectively cured or significantly improved, this effect lasted for more than 6 weeks in 40. Objectively a significant decrease in frequency was found, also a significant increase in bladder volume. No effect on detrusor pressure at bladder contraction was noted.

Adult↗

The effect of loperamide on bowel habits and anal sphincter function in patients with ileoanal anastomosis.

The effect of loperamide on stool frequency, volume, and weight and on the function of the internal (IAS) and the external (EAS) anal sphincter was investigated in 19 patients with straight ileoanal anastomosis. Nine patients had intact anal sphincter function (group I), and in the other 10 the function of the anal sphincters was impaired (group II). After 72 h without any medication, the patients were investigated on a standard diet on 2 consecutive days: the 1st day with placebo, and the 2nd day with loperamide (16 mg). Stool collection and anal sphincter manometry/electromyography (EMG) were done on both days. The median number of stools was reduced from 10 and 13.5 to 6 and 7 per 24 h (p less than 0.01), and the fecal weight reduced from 600 and 900 g to 400 and 500 g (p less than 0.01) from the placebo day to the loperamide day in groups I and II, respectively. The tone of the IAS was significantly increased by loperamide in group I but remained unchanged in group II patients. The EAS function, determined by EMG and pressure measurements, was not significantly changed in any group by loperamide.

Adult↗

Anal sphincter function after colectomy, mucosal proctectomy, and ileoanal anastomosis.

Anal sphincter investigations were performed in 41 patients with straight ileoanal anastomosis and in 10 controls. In 20 patients (group I) the mucosal stripping had been performed from the abdominal side, leaving 1-2 cm of distal anal mucosa. In 21 patients (group II) the anal mucosa had been stripped from the perineal side as far as the dentate line. Continence was perfect in all patients in group I and poor in 6 of 17 patients in group II, when examined 12 months after the operation. Anal canal resting pressure was normal in group I. In group II the resting pressure was significantly decreased and correlated to continence function. The maximum anal canal squeeze pressure was the same in the two groups. The slope of the regression line between pressure rise and integrated electromyography proved to be a useful criterion of the external anal sphincter function and was significantly correlated to degree of incontinence. This variable was significantly smaller in group II patients than in group I and controls. Thus, function of the anal sphincters was normal after mucosal proctectomy performed from above with preservation of a mucosal brim. Dysfunction of the internal and external anal sphincter was found after perineal mucosal dissection and was correlated to continence function.

Adult↗

Failed ileoanal anastomosis: correlations between clinical function and anal canal neurophysiologic and histologic examinations.

Ten patients with an ileoanal anastomosis had conversion to permanent ileostomy 13 (range, 6-29) months after the primary procedure. Causes for reoperation were incontinence in seven patients, unacceptable stool frequency without incontinence in two patients, and atypia in the mucosal remnant with perfect continence in one patient. Stool frequency, continence function, anal canal resting pressure, external anal sphincter (EAS) EMG/pressure relationship (in terms of slope, m), EAS fiber density (FD), and pressure in the distal ileum were registered, and the mucosa and the anal sphincter muscles were examined histologically. There were significant correlations between continence function and EAS changes in terms of both neurophysiologic tests (m and FD) and the histologic picture. The abnormalities in six incontinent patients were consistent with denervation of the EAS. The main reason for fecal leakage in one patient was the high amplitude of pressure waves in the distal ileum. Preservation of mucosal epithelium proximal to the dentate line per se did not seem essential to maintain continence.

Action Potentials↗

The treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a double-blind clinical trial of a new anti-spastic drug tizanidine compared with baclofen.

The anti-spastic effect of a new drug, tizanidine, was compared with that of baclofen in a double-blind clinical trial; 40 seriously handicapped patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were randomly allocated treatment with one or the other drug for a 6-week period. The antispastic effect was evaluated by clinical criteria. The optimal daily dose of both drugs varied considerably from patient to patient, and was on the average 23 mg for Tizanidin and 59 mg for baclofen. To the extent an antispastic effect was observed, the 2 drugs appeared to be equally effective when given at a 1:2 ratio (mg tizanidine: mg baclofen). Side effects of both drugs were sleepiness, muscular weakness and dry mouth. Tizanidine had a mild depressive effect on blood pressure. Sudden withdrawal of both drugs was accompanied by a transient relative increase of spasticity in approximately half the patients. There were no other changes suggesting physical or psychological dependence. The present study underscores that neither baclofen nor tizanidine are ideal antispastic drugs, and emphasize the need for further research.

Adult↗

Urge incontinence.

Patients suffering from urge incontinence can present with very strong desire to void even with small bladder volumes. The syndrome is subdivided into two categories: motor and sensory urge incontinence. In motor urge incontinence uninhibited detrusor contractions are found, and this condition is mostly associated with neurological disorders. In sensory urge incontinence no uninhibited detrusor contractions are present, and the condition may be secondary to pathological conditions in the urogenital tract. In some of the patients with primary sensory urge incontinence an unstable urethra may be found. The treatment of urge incontinence is mainly by medication, but bladder drill has also given good results.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

Acute peripheral facial palsy. Part of a cranial polyneuropathy?

In 14 of 16 consecutive patients with acute peripheral facial palsy, one or more (up to four) other nerves were involved. The nerves affected in addition to the facial nerve were as follows: trigeminal (ten patients), vestibular (eight), cochlear (six), vagus (one), and upper cervical (five). Virus was not isolated from any of the patients. A fourfold increase or decrease in complement-fixing antibody titers was present in eight patients (in four, varicella-zoster; in one, varicella-zoster and mumps; in two, cytomegalovirus; in one, mumps). Further, two of the patients with varicella-zoster antibodies showed clinical signs of herpes zoster oticus. About one fourth of all patients had an increase of ESR and of alpha2-globulins in serum, and two thirds of them had increased gamma-globulins in CSF. Acute peripheral facial palsy seems to be part of a cranial polyneuropathy and may be caused by a viral infection.

Acute Disease↗

Viral infection as a cause of acute peripheral facial palsy.

Among 51 patients with acute peripheral facial palsy, varicella-zoster virus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in one case, and Herpesvirus hominis from the nasopharynx in two cases. In 12 other cases, complement-fixing antibody or hemagglutination inhibition tests indicated a recent viral infection (varicella-zoster, seven; herpes simplex, one; cytomegalovirus, one; influenza type B virus, two; and mumps virus, one). One additional patient had clinical signs of herpes zoster oticus. About one third of these 16 virus-positive patients, but also one third of the remaining group, had increased levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, and immunoglobulins. Evidently, an inflammatory reaction preceded or coincided with the facial palsy in both groups. In CSF, an increase of total proteins and gamma-globulins was frequently found among all 20 patients examined (eight were virus-positive).

Acute Disease↗

Arginine esterase in cerebrospinal fluid and pro-arginine esterase in plasma from patients with migraine.

Estimates of prekallikrein levels in plasma specimens from patients with migraine and from healthy individuals were obtained by determining the benzoyl-arginine ethyl ester (BAEe) esterase activities developed on activation with kaolin, as suggested by Costerase level- 'n the patients and in the control material, and kinetic data provided no evidence of a difference in inhibitor levels. Only very low BAEe esterase activity was registered in samples of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from the patients and no significant difference between attacks and free intervals was detected. When citrated EDTA-treated plasma was activated with acetone-incubated normal plasma containing prekallikrein activator (factor XIIf), no significant difference in BAEe esterase activity was noticed between plasma from the patients and that from the control persons. When, however, citrated plasma without EDTA was used, a significantly higher peak level of esterase activity was registered in the patient plasma. This observation might suggest the presence of a factor positioned between active factor XII and prekallikrein, and present in higher amounts in plasma from patients with migraine than in healthy individuals.

Adolescent↗