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R Weber

Publications and source records attributed to R Weber.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[The emergency: traumatic aneurysm in the area of the head-neck].

Bleeding of aneurysm of cervical arteries is an emergency situation in ENT surgery. Compression of trachea and big cervical veins together with blood loss needs immediate treatment. Three cases are demonstrated presenting diagnostic and therapeutic management of one spontaneous respectively posttraumatic aneurysm of the inferior thyroid artery, and two aneurysms of lingual respectively facial artery after tonsillectomy. Interventional angiography plays an important role in overcoming such problems. Intravasal application of a platinum coil stops bleeding of the aneurysm and surgical revision of the neck can be avoided.

Adenoidectomy↗
PubMed1993

[Reconstruction of lacrimal ducts].

For reconstruction of lacrimal drainage after injury of tumour resection indications, surgical technique and results of five surgical procedures are presented: primary suture with splinting, conjunctivorhinostomy, endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy, Heermann tube and mobilisation of nasolacrimal duct. Performing these techniques, solitary or in combination, one achieves almost a good lacrimal drainage. The results of our retrospective study are based upon a combination of subjective and objective findings. Success rate was 96% for direct suturing of the tear ducts with intubation, 100% for conjunctivorhinostomy, 96% for endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy in case of postsaccal stenosis, 83% for Heermann/Jones tube and 100% for relocation of the nasolacrimal duct.

Dacryocystorhinostomy↗
PubMed1993

[Foreign bodies of the esophagus and upper gastrointestinal tract in childhood].

In a retrospective study we evaluated 49 endoscopies performed under suspicion of a foreign body in the oesophagus or upper gastrointestinal tract. In 27 cases a foreign body was easily removed. One child had to undergo a cervical oesophagotomy as a result of a chronically incarcerated foreign body. Because of the very low complication rate of endoscopy and a much higher risk of complications due to unknown foreign bodies, early endoscopic diagnosis is recommended even if the foreign body is only suspected.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1993

Disseminated microsporidiosis due to Encephalitozoon hellem: pulmonary colonization, microhematuria, and mild conjunctivitis in a patient with AIDS.

Four genera of microsporidia have been associated with disease in humans, which predominantly affects immunocompromised persons. Systemic infection with a newly characterized microsporidian species, Encephalitozoon hellem, was recently reported in a patient with AIDS. This article describes a second patient with AIDS and disseminated E. hellem infection. In this case the parasite was detected in sputum, urine, and conjunctival swab specimens. Apart from recurrent mild conjunctivitis and asymptomatic microhematuria, the patient had no findings or symptoms that could be related to this parasite. Specifically, no microsporidian-associated pulmonary pathology was documented. Detection of E. hellem in the patient's sputum may have epidemiological implications in that this finding suggests transmission of microsporidia by the aerosol route. Because the patient died of unrelated complications, it remains unknown whether he was an asymptomatic carrier of microsporidia or whether microhematuria heralded early microsporidian disease, with the onset of cellular damage in the urinary tract.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

Intestinal coinfection with Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Cryptosporidium in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected child with chronic diarrhea.

The microsporidian Enterocytozoon bieneusi has been recognized as an important cause of chronic diarrhea in severely immunodeficient adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We report the first case of intestinal E. bieneusi infection in a child. The 9-year-old boy with connatal HIV infection presented with failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea, and intermittent abdominal pain. His CD4 lymphocyte count was 0.05 x 10(9)/L and dropped to 0.01 x 10(9)/L. No HIV-associated opportunistic infection other than oral hairy leukoplakia and oral candidiasis had been found before microsporidia were detected. Treatment of microsporidiosis with albendazole was of no benefit. During follow-up, the boy also developed intestinal cryptosporidiosis. Evaluation of chronic diarrhea in severely immunodeficient HIV-infected children should include examination for intestinal microsporidia. We recommend the use of a new coprodiagnostic technique that allows detection of microsporidial spores in stool specimens. Furthermore, consideration of dual or even multiple parasitic infections in the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea may have both important clinical and epidemiological implications.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

Immunohistochemical and biochemical measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors in primary breast cancer. Correlation of histopathology and prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated correlations of estrogen-receptor and progesterone-receptor with conventional risk factors as well as histopathology in patients with primary breast cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Immunohistochemically determined hormone receptors have gained importance as prognosticators in primary breast cancer, but their definitive role has not yet been evaluated. METHODS: Tumor samples from 299 patients were examined for estrogen and progesterone receptors by biochemical and immunohistochemical assay. Correlations with established risk factors (tumor size, lymph node status, menopausal status, grading including subfactors) and histopathology were analyzed. RESULTS: The estrogen receptor, determined by immunohistochemical method revealed positivity in 80.6% of patients; biochemical measurement yielded 76.2% positive results. The progesterone receptor measured by immunohistochemistry yielded 61.3% positivity versus 55.8% detected by biochemical analysis. Invasive lobular, tubular, and ductal invasive carcinoma with prominent stroma content ("scirrhous carcinoma") rather than ductal invasive carcinoma was more frequently estrogen-receptor positive with immunohistochemistry than with biochemical assay. For progesterone receptor, the same pattern of positivity was seen with immunohistochemical assay. With progesterone receptor determined biochemically, "scirrhous" and lobular carcinoma showed positive results in a lower proportion than invasive ductal and tubular carcinoma. Significant correlations were observed between the estrogen-receptor status, the histologic grade of malignancy, nuclear polymorphism, and the rate of mitosis with both methods (p < 0.001 respectively). Different correlations were found between tumor size, menopausal status and estrogen receptor status with both assays respectively. For the progesterone receptor status, immunohistochemistry yielded significant correlations with the histologic grade of malignancy, nuclear polymorphism, rate of mitosis (p < 0.001 respectively) as well as growth pattern (p < 0.01), while biochemical analysis revealed a correlation with nuclear polymorphism (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis of both components of the immunoreactive score revealed a more significant impact of percentage of positive cells than of staining intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemistry detected a closer correlation between prognostic factors and receptor data than biochemical analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Qualitative aspects of migration in Switzerland: structural analysis based on a 1990 consumer survey].

"The study compares the Swiss and the resident foreign population in Switzerland with respect to their qualitative composition. On the basis of the Consumer Survey 1990 by the Swiss Statistical Office, different structural features of the surveyed Swiss and foreign households are analysed. A comparison of these characteristics shows statistically significant differences in age, number of children, household size and household income." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND FRE)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

[How immigration influences the national economic system of host countries: an empirical investigation for Switzerland].

"The study deals with the distributional effects of immigration into Switzerland. Focusing on the governmental budget, it explores empirically whether resident foreigners are a burden or a benefit for the Swiss public transfer system. The estimation is based on the Consumer Survey 1990 by the Swiss Statistical Office. It is shown that in 1990 the presence of foreigners has not put additional strain on the public coffers, but that, on the contrary, there was a beneficial financial effect for the natives. An analysis of this profitable immigration result shows the influence of the variables age (negative), number of children (negative), household income (positive) and qualification (positive)." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND FRE)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

[Importance of echocardiography in general clinical routine practice].

Echocardiography was carried out in 526 patients on a general internal medical ward, 54.8% with a clinical indication and 45.2% in screening. The results were compared with the data from the scout view chest x-ray and from the ECG. Enlargement of the cardiac cavities detected in echocardiography (UCG) can only be found in 43% in the x-rays (left atrium 27%, left ventricle 64%, right ventricle 42%). Left ventricular hypertrophy was shown in the UCG in 43% of patients with arterial hypertension: of these, 28% had a pathologic ECG. On the other hand, only 14% of all hypertensive patients show signs of left ventricular hypertrophy on x-ray. The differentiation of systolic (44%) and diastolic (38%) dysfunction was only possible by means of UCG in congestive heart failure. A chronic pulmonary hypertension detected by x-ray correlated with an enlargement of the right ventricle in the UCG. UCG is indicated when there are clinical, ECG, chest x-ray signs of heart disease, arterial hypertension or chronic pulmonary hypertension. UCG is not a screening method.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Endonasal microsurgical treatment of lacrimal duct stenoses. Indications, technique and results].

In a retrospective study we examined the indications, results and complications of endonasal microscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Eighty-five operations were evaluated. Surgical success was proven in 83% for all indications using a combination of subjective judgement and objective findings. For the so-called classic indications--postsaccal stenosis, functional stenosis dacryolith and acute empyema--the operation was successful in 91% of cases. There were no permanent side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Results, complications and efficacy of micromediastinoscopy].

In a retrospective study we examined all 72 patients who underwent a mediastinoscopy using the surgical microscope described by Meuser in 1968. A total of 74 operations was performed. In only 3 cases was there a false-negative result. Test sensitivity was 95%, specificity 100% and effectiveness 96%. Complications involved 2 cases of pneumothorax (for which no further therapy was necessary), 1 case of bleeding from a branch of the brachiocephalic trunk and 1 case of persistent lymphorrhagia with chylothorax, which was stopped by repeat mediastinoscopy. Preconditions for mediastinoscopy to minimize complications and false-negative results are: preoperative CT of the thorax, good cooperation with an anaesthesiologist, use of a microscopic and other special instruments and intraoperative frozen sections of tissue biopsies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Transient epileptiform experience affects the duration of penicillin-induced convulsive activity in the awake rat.

1. Experiments were performed to investigate whether the sensitivity of the cerebral cortex to produce convulsive activity was modified by a transient epileptic focus. For this reason, 30 awake rats received two intracerebral penicillin (PCN) injections (125 IU/0.5 microliter solvent), the first one into the motor or visual cortex, the second one two weeks later into the motor cortex. Convulsive activity was recorded by means of EEG. 2. After the first PCN injection, interictal activity lasted 143.4 +/- 19.3, S.E. min (n = 17) in the motor cortex group, but 426 min (n = 13) in the visual group (p < 0.05). The median frequency of interictal potentials (np/min) was significantly lower in the motor cortex group than in the visual cortex group (18.4 and 25.5 np/min, respectively, p < 0.05). The period between the onset of the first and last seizure was 110.6 +/- 10.2 min for the motor cortex group, and 119.8 +/- 31.2 min for the visual cortex group. The seizures lasted longer and were less frequent in the motor than in the visual group (length: 12.5 +/- 1.1 vs 7.5 +/- 2.8 s; number: 43 +/- 11 vs 131 +/- 40, respectively, 0.05 < p < 0.1). 3. After the second PCN injection which was performed in all rats into the motor cortex, the duration but not the frequency of the interictal activity depended on the site of the first injection. The duration after this treatment was 96.8 +/- 43.3, S.E. min in the visual and 173.2 +/- 30.5 min in the motor cortex group (p < 0.05), while the frequency values of both groups were at a similar level (20.5 +/- 2.1 vs 18.9 +/- 1.7 np/min, respectively). Also the period with generalized activity after the second PCN injection was shorter in the visual than in the motor cortex group (43.9 +/- 32.3 vs 114.3 +/- 31.8 min, respectively, p < 0.05), and the number of seizures slightly lower (8 +/- 210 vs 54 +/- 30, respectively, p < 0.1). The length of the seizures was rather equal 11.6 +/- 2.5 vs 12.0 +/- 3.5 s, respectively, p > 0.1). 4. It is postulated that a transient epileptiform focus can induce, in a site-specific manner, long-lasting anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, epileptogenic experience may not only sensitize the brain, but also desensitize it with respect to the induction and duration of epileptiform activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Determination of placental ferritin (PLF)-positive lymphocytes in women in early stages of breast cancer.

Previous studies have proved that a certain acidic isoform of ferritin is specifically synthesized by the placenta and breast-cancer tissue. In this context it has been further reported that the determination of this so-called placental isoferritin (PLF) on the surface of a subset of peripheral lymphocytes is highly specific and sensitive for early stage breast cancer. By use of the monoclonal antibody CM-H-9 and flow cytometry, the levels of placental ferritin (PLF)-positive cells were determined in 133 female patients undergoing surgical excision of a controversial or highly suspicious lesion of the breast detected by mammography. In addition, 61 healthy blood donors served as controls. Values of PLF-positive cells in breast cancer patients differed significantly from those found in women with benign diseases and healthy controls (3.87% vs. 1.55% and 2.02, respectively; p less than 0.00001). Analysis of prognostic factors in breast cancer patients (tumor size, lymph-node status, menopausal status, estrogen receptor status, histologic grading and grading subfactors) revealed significantly higher levels of PLF-positive cells in lymph-node-negative patients compared with node-positive patients (p less than 0.00001). Furthermore, levels of PLF-positive cells showed a significantly negative correlation with tumor size and nuclear polymorphism. In 15 patients who underwent a guide-wire-directed surgical biopsy for a non-palpable, mammographically suspect lesion, 4 cases of cancer correlated with high values of PLF-positive lymphocytes while only 1 patient with a benign histologic result exhibited more than 4% positive cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Identification of ochratoxin A in food samples by chemical derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The contamination of foods with ochratoxin A can be determined very sensitively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. A novel procedure is described to confirm OA-positive results quantitatively down to the HPLC detection limit of 0.1 ppb. For this, ochratoxin A in the sample extract is converted into its O-methylochratoxin A methyl ester derivative, which is identified subsequently by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry negative-ion chemical ionization and multiple ion detection modes using the hexadeuterated O-methyl-d3-ochratoxin A methyl-d3 ester derivative as internal standard for quantification. In the analysis of more than 60 contaminated samples, the procedure was found to be very accurate.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1992

Improved light-microscopical detection of microsporidia spores in stool and duodenal aspirates. The Enteric Opportunistic Infections Working Group.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of infection with Enterocytozoon bieneusi, a microsporidian organism that causes chronic diarrhea in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has depended on invasive procedures. We have developed a new method to detect microsporidia spores in feces and duodenal aspirates. METHODS: Stool was obtained from four HIV-infected patients with biopsy-confirmed intestinal microsporidiosis. Slides prepared from unconcentrated, formalin-fixed stool specimens were stained with a new chromotrope-based technique and examined by light microscopy. Methods of stool concentration were also compared. The technique was then evaluated by examining 215 specimens from 134 HIV-infected persons with or without diarrhea. In addition, duodenal aspirates from 10 patients with unexplained chronic diarrhea were examined by light microscopy after staining according to the new and the traditional techniques. RESULTS: E. bieneusi spores were found in all unconcentrated stool specimens from the four patients with microsporidiosis. The use of various methods of stool concentration did not improve the detection of microsporidia spores. In the prospective study, microsporidiosis was detected in samples from 6 of 27 patients with chronic diarrhea, but in none of those from 42 patients with acute diarrhea or 65 patients without diarrhea. The presence of microsporidia spores in stool specimens and duodenal aspirates allowed the successful prediction of the presence of microsporidia in small-bowel biopsy specimens from all four patients who subsequently underwent endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: E. bieneusi is an important cause of chronic diarrhea in HIV-infected persons. This new diagnostic technique serves as a practical, noninvasive means to detect microsporidia spores in stool specimens and is also applicable to the examination of duodenal aspirates.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Intratumoral DNA content heterogeneity in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Multiple tissue samples obtained from sections cut by Michaels and Gregor's method obtained from 21 consecutive total laryngectomies for squamous cell carcinoma were studied for intratumoral DNA content heterogeneity or homogeneity. Concordant DNA ploidy was manifested in all samples of five (23.8%) carcinomas (two diploid and three aneuploid), while 16 carcinomas (76.2%) demonstrated a variable DNA ploidy (diploid and aneuploid). Analysis of cellular proliferative activity demonstrated remarkable intratumoral stability in both concordant and discordant carcinomas. These data indicate there is a considerable heterogeneity of DNA ploidy but the proliferative rate is relatively stable within the carcinomas. Clinical implications of our findings are also presented.

Adult↗