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Biomedical subjects

S Keller

Publications and source records attributed to S Keller.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for chronic back pain in an outpatient setting: a controlled randomized trial.

Based on existing models for pain chronicity and effective treatment strategies for patients with chronic low back pain, a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for an outpatient group setting was developed. The main treatment components address the patient's physical functional capacity (functional restoring), cognitive and affective processes (pain management strategies), and behavioural and ergonomical aspects (back school elements). Short-term (immediately after intervention) and long-term effects (at 6-months follow-up) of the intervention were assessed in a randomized controlled study. Dependent variables were pain measures, functional capacity, disability, muscular strength and endurance, pain and posture-related self-efficacy, attitudes, depression, well-being, behavioural habits and posture assessed by a standardized behavioural observation method. Immediately after the intervention, patients in the treatment group (n=36) showed significant improvement over patients in the control group (n=29) in all variables except depression and muscular strength and endurance. At 6-months follow-up, compared to pretreatment scores, patients continued to show beneficial effects in pain intensity and frequency, posture, posture-related self-efficacy and well-being. In contrast to post-treatment results, there were also significant improvements in strength and endurance. Overall results testify to the effectiveness of the intervention programme. Future studies (with larger sample sizes) should aim at a further improvement of functional capacity and disability perception, an analysis of differential treatment effects, and strategies for an improved long-term maintenance of the changes induced by the programme.

Clinical Trial↗
PubMed1997

Good postural habits: a pilot investigation using EMG scanning of the paraspinals.

The assumption is tested that changes from poor to good postural habits can be identified by specific patterns in paraspinal activity. Paraspinal activity is measured by using an electromyographic (EMG) scanning procedure introduced by Cram. Two samples were addressed. The first sample consists of 32 pain-free medical students. Measurements were taken twice at intervals 3 min apart in a sitting position with arms hanging at the side. The first assessment refers to a normal and relaxed, and the second assessment to an upright "physiological" position of the spine recommended by Brügger. Data indicate that changes to good postural habits are represented by a significant decrease in the activity of the cervical paraspinal area (CPS), whereas in the trapezius and the thoracic area (T1, T6), the activity of the muscles is significantly increased. The hypothesis is put forward that these changes also occur as a consequence of a preventive low back school training. The second sample consists of 26 asymptomatic female employees of a medical hospital who had previously suffered from back pain attacks, but who were without pain during the assessments. Recordings taken before and after participation in the back school at 3 months apart show a similar pattern of significant changes in paraspinal activity (CPS, T6), although their magnitude is less pronounced. No pre-post changes could be observed in the trapezius. The findings partly support the hypothesis. Further research is needed to evaluate the relationship between EMG recording and postural habits.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Tissue-specific isoforms of chicken myomesin are generated by alternative splicing.

Myomesin is a high molecular weight protein that is present in the M-band of all fiber types of cross-striated skeletal muscle and heart. We have isolated two cDNAs encoding tissue-specific isoforms of chicken myomesin with calculated molecular masses of 174 kDa in skeletal muscle and 182 kDa in heart. Distinct sequences are found at the 3'-end of the two cDNAs, giving rise to different C-terminal domains. Partial analysis of the gene structure has shown that in chicken, both isoforms are generated by alternative splicing of a composite exon. Amino acid sequences show that the main body of myomesin consists of five fibronectin type III (class I motifs) and seven immunoglobulin-like domains (class II motifs). An identical structure was found in M-protein and human 190K protein (the human counterpart of chicken myomesin), and a comparable domain arrangement occurs in the M-band-associated protein skelemin. We postulate that myomesin, M-protein, and skelemin belong to the same subfamily of high molecular weight M-band-associated proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily and that they probably have the same ancestor in evolution.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1996

Spontaneous pneumothorax in the AIDS population.

Spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become the leading cause of nontraumatic pneumothorax in the urban population. However, the appropriate treatment, especially the role of surgical intervention, remains controversial. A retrospective study of 33 patients with AIDS who were treated for 38 episodes of SPs (5 bilateral SPs) at our institution was conducted. The study consisted of 25 males (76%) and 8 females (24%) with a mean age of 38 years. Concurrent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was detected in 29/33 patients (88%). Three forms of treatment were utilized for the 38 pneumothoraces (5 of which required two modalities): closed tube thoracostomy, 28/38 (group 1); observation alone, 10/38 (group 2); and operative procedures, 5/38 (group 3). There were eight hospital deaths, four following resolution of the SP. Follow-up was available for 14 patients, 11 of whom died a median of 3 months post-discharge. Three patients were alive 1, 3, and 18 months post-discharge. AIDS-related SP is strongly associated with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and is predictive of a short-term survival. The treatment should be individualized, and, although resolution of the pneumothorax can be expected, the coexisting AIDS-related illnesses determine the outcome.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗