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Biomedical subjects

S Herold

Publications and source records attributed to S Herold.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Eye symptoms in hypophyseal adenomas, craniopharyngiomas and meningiomas of the anterior and middle cranial fossa].

Among 181 inpatients suffering from pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, or meningioma of the anterior or middle cranial fossa, 112 had ocular symptoms initially or during the course of the disease. Patients' histories were analyzed with regard to ophthalmological, neurological, and radiological diagnostic procedures carried out, and the conclusions drawn from these. Initial symptoms and signs were often misinterpreted and appropriate investigations consequently delayed. The mean duration of the history was 2.67 years (0-13 years) for the pituitary adenomas, 1.44 years (3 months-6 years) for the craniopharyngiomas and 3.73 years (1 month-24 years) for the meningiomas. Typical initial eye symptoms were progressive loss of vision with or without optic nerve atrophy, visual field defects, extraocular nerve palsies, and exophthalmus, the last two occurring if parasellar extension of the tumor was present. Plain skull X-rays were abnormal in nearly all cases of pituitary adenomas, but the incidence of abnormalities was less frequent with cases of craniopharyngiomas and meningiomas. The tumor was demonstrated by computerized tomography in all cases of pituitary adenomas, in 5 out of 6 cases with craniopharyngiomas and, where the examination was performed before and after administration of contrast medium, in all cases of meningiomas. Introduction of CT, however, shortened the duration of the history only in the meningioma group; the mean dropped from 4.38 years to 3.04 years. The chance of achieving a cure by surgical intervention lessened with both increasing length of history and tumor size. Out of 90 patients (15.6%) operated on, 14 died in the postoperative period. Vision improved postoperatively in only 26 patients whereas it remained unchanged or decreased further in 40 patients. In 10 cases there were no postoperative data available. These results emphasize the necessity of making an early diagnosis. This can nearly always be achieved if a careful clinical examination and adequate additional diagnostic procedures are carried out.

Adenoma↗

Oleander interference in the digoxin radioimmunoassay in a fatal ingestion.

An elderly woman allegedly ingested oleander leaves and died. Ventricular arrhythmias and asystole were unresponsive to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pharmacologic agents, and cardioversion. The patient, who had no access to digoxin, had an initial serum digoxin concentration of 5.8 ng/mL. Cross-reactivities between oleander extract and pure oleandrin and digoxin in the digoxin radioimmunoassay were 100:1 and 29,000:1, respectively. We postulate that glycosides in oleander leaves produced the elevated serum digoxin concentration. Based on an assumed volume of distribution of the oleander glycosides of 1 L/kg, the calculated lethal dose absorbed by our patient was 200 times greater than lethal doses in several animal species and corresponded to the absorption of 4 g of oleander leaves.

Aged↗

Follow-up of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage by computed tomography.

The follow-up of 89 patients with spontaneous intracerebral haematomas was studied by computed tomography (CT). The aetiology of the haemorrhage was found to be hypertension in 52 cases, vascular malformation in 14 cases, and two haematomas were due to anticoagulant therapy. The lesion visible on CT consisted of an area of increased density surrounded by a rim of low attenuation. Most cases showed a progressive decrease in size of the total lesion. Exceptions to this pattern were observed, which may lead to the misdiagnosis of a tumour. The central area of increased density decreased in size much more quickly than the total lesion. Signs of a mass effect were observed up to the ninth week in the larger lesions. The resorption of blood, measured by the decrease in diameter of the central high attenuation area, was not dependent on the site or original size of the haematoma, but was slower in hypertensive haemorrhage than in haemorrhage due to vascular malformation. Contrast enhancement was observed up to the ninth week and was ring-like in most cases. Our data confirm the well-known finding that the bleeding cannot be demonstrated by examination of the CSF if the blood has not reached the ventricular system or the subarachnoid space.

Adolescent↗

Measurement of regional cerebral blood flow, blood volume and oxygen metabolism in patients with sickle cell disease using positron emission tomography.

Regional cerebral blood flow, blood volume, fractional oxygen extraction and oxygen consumption were measured by positron emission tomography in six patients with sickle cell disease to see how oxygen delivery to the brain is maintained in the presence of both anemia and a low oxygen affinity hemoglobin. Both regional cerebral blood flow and blood volume were found to be markedly increased compared to values obtained from 14 normal subjects in the same age range. The mean fractional oxygen extraction was not significantly different in the two groups. Mean oxygen consumption in the two groups was also not significantly different but low values in individual patients with sickle cell disease and the presence of atrophy on the CT-scans of three of them were suggestive of some neuronal loss in patients without any history of nervous system involvement. In view of the known high values of cerebral blood flow and metabolism in childhood, it is suggested that when compounded by anemia and abnormal red cells, a hypercirculatory state may make patients in this age-group particularly prone to ischemic infarction.

Adult↗

Studies on cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in patients with established cerebral infarcts undergoing omental transposition.

Regional cerebral blood flow, blood volume, fractional oxygen extraction, and oxygen consumption were measured by positron emission tomography in 4 stroke patients prior to and 6 months following omental transposition surgery. Preoperatively, 3 patients showed the typical picture of established infarction with a matched reduction in flow and oxygen metabolism and a normal oxygen extraction fraction in the symptomatic hemisphere. One patient showed a chronically impaired perfusion reserve with a proportionally greater reduction in flow than oxygen metabolism and a compensatory rise in oxygen extraction ratio. No change in the physiological parameters was demonstrated in the postoperative studies.

Cerebral Infarction↗