Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Meyer

Publications and source records attributed to S Meyer.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Cell-mediated immunity is enhanced by cytostatic drugs continuously released at the site of antigenic stimulation.

Immunopotentiation by cytostatic drugs continuously released from osmotic minipumps, was investigated in a guinea-pig contact-sensitivity model. These pumps are designed to release their content within a period of 7 days. Vepeside (VP-16) and 5-fluorouracil were released into oxazolone-stimulated lymph nodes by subcutaneous implantation of pumps containing either of these drugs. The pumps were implanted at the intended sensitization site, 2 days before sensitization. Strong potentiation of T-cell-mediated immunity, evaluated by delayed-type hypersensitivity measurements, was observed with both drugs tested. Daily injections with VP-16 also caused an enhancement of the immune response. However, daily injections with 5-fluorouracil, a drug assumed to be cell-cycle-specific in its action, failed to potentiate delayed hypersensitivity to oxazolone. Intralesional administration of cytostatic drugs has been put forward as an effective treatment modality in various types of cancer. Therapeutic effects may depend on both local tumor cytotoxic and immunopotentiating activities. Our present results suggest that osmotic minipumps can be applied to broaden the applicability and effectiveness of local chemotherapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

Screening for middle-ear disease in schools for hearing-impaired children.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of middle-ear dysfunction in a group of hearing-impaired children attending schools for the deaf. Two groups of subjects between the ages of 4 and 16 years were selected. Group 1 consists of Caucasian and Group 2 of Negroid children. Otoscopic examinations, impedance and pure tone testing were performed on each child. The results indicated a prevalence of 43% failures on the impedance tests in the Caucasian group and 18% failures in the Negroid group. Chronic problems like perforations, otorrhoea, etc. were more common in Group 2. The results also suggest the existence of differences in the prevalence of middle-ear dysfunction between normal and hearing-impaired children.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1989

A computer-assisted learning tool designed to improve clinical problem-solving skills.

A computer-based teaching and learning program was developed to supplement the case load of students on a one-month emergency medicine clinical rotation and interactively measure and support improvements in their acute chest pain differential diagnostic skills. Students using the program demonstrated a significantly higher level of diagnostic accuracy than a control group (one-tailed t test; N = 88; P less than .018). The success of the program was attributed in part to its unique application of advanced interactive software. Specifically, students use the software (an expert system shell) to develop a computer-based acute chest pain differential diagnostic protocol. Students can subsequently challenge their protocol with a number and variety of training cases in the program's data bank. The software interactively apprises students of the performance of their protocol in terms of its diagnostic accuracy against the cases. Students make protocol modifications to improve its diagnostic accuracy against the training cases. Interactive reassessments of the protocol's performance against the cases follow each modification. This repetitive cycle of protocol modifications rapidly followed by interactive performance reassessments against training cases appears to result in efficient and effective differential diagnostic skills improvements. A new generation of computer-based teaching and learning tools may have a significant impact on undergraduate clinical education.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1989

[Standard diagnosis and therapy of pheochromocytoma in children].

Phaeochromocytomas are rare in childhood. Only 5 to 10% of these neoplasms become manifest during the first two decades of life. Before puberty the incidence of phaeochromocytoma in boys is twice than in girls. Phaeochromocytoma is successfully treated only by surgery. A standardised concept of therapy is important; it should comprise the following points: 1. Diagnosis as early as ever possible. 2. Improved diagnosis of localisation via ultrasound, scintigraphy and computed tomography. 3. Standardised perioperative drug therapy in cooperation by the paediatric surgeon with the anaesthesiologist and paediatrician. If these guidelines are observed, the prospects of cure are 95-100% in case of chromaffin tumours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A computer program for incidence density sampling of controls in case-control studies nested within occupational cohort studies.

A nested case-control study is a case-control study performed with a cohort study. The nested case-control design is useful because the number of study subjects for whom risk factor information is needed is smaller than in the original cohort study. The approach is especially helpful when collection of data is expensive or time consuming, as when it is necessary to contact subjects or next of kin. Selection of controls in nested case-control studies is best performed with a method called "incidence density" sampling. An approach to incidence density sampling that yields a valid estimate of the rate ratio is sampling without replacement from noncases at the time of case occurrence. To implement this approach, a system of computer programs was written that randomly selects a user defined number of controls for each case. The case-control data produced by this program can be analyzed by conditional logistic regression.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1988

[Dorso-cranial liver resection with hepato-atrial anastomosis. An alternative to liver transplantation or the surgical procedure of choice in Budd-Chiari syndrome?].

Surgery was required for a 23-year-old woman with rapidly progressive reduction in liver function and treatment-resistant ascites due to Budd-Chiari syndrome. A dorsocranial liver resection with hepatoatrial anastomosis was performed. The postoperative course has been satisfactory, demonstrating that this method should be seriously considered in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

An unusual case of condylar dislocation.

A 28-year-old woman involved in a motor vehicle accident sustained bilateral mandibular condyle dislocation into the infratemporal fossae. Conventional manipulations were unsuccessful in relocating the condyles. By simulating the dislocations on a dried skull, it was evident that the coronoid processes were trapped anteriorly and superiorly to zygomatic arches. An open surgical approach was required to relocate the condyles.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of faecal incontinence in children with spina bifida by biofeedback and behavioural modification.

Faecal incontinence may lead to serious social and physiological disturbances. Over 90% of patients with spina bifida have varying degrees of neurogenic bowel with disturbances of faecal control. This is a serious habilitation problem in these patients. Three encopretic children with myelomeningocele were treated by Biofeedback operant conditioning and behavioural modification to self-initiate bowel movements. Their neurological levels were T-10; T-11; T-12. Each child had a mean of 10 Biofeedback sessions each of 30-45 minutes, combined with daily behavioural modification. Two patients improved and have voluntary bowel movements. Therapy failed in one patient. We conclude that Biofeedback operant conditioning combined with specific behavioural modification may become a simple technique to treat encopretic patients with meningomyelocele.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1988

A prospective randomized trial of fluorouracil versus fluorouracil plus cisplatin in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: a Hoosier Oncology Group trial.

From May 1984 through December 1986, 141 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum were entered on this Hoosier Oncology Group (HOG) trial evaluating the role of cisplatin in systemic therapy. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of hepatic metastases and by performance status, and were subsequently randomized to receive fluorouracil (5-FU) (15 mg/kg/wk) alone or the same dose of 5-FU plus cisplatin (60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). The total duration of treatment was six cycles (18 weeks). In 132 fully evaluable patients the objective response rates were 19% for 5-FU and 22% for 5-FU plus cisplatin. Statistically, the median survival times of 40 and 39 weeks were not significantly different (P = .62). However, the median duration of remission (MDR) was superior (P = .05) for 5-FU alone. This study fails to confirm clinically significant synergy of 5-FU plus cisplatin in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Platelet pathology in minimal curve idiopathic scoliosis: an attempt to predict curve progression.

Platelets from adolescents with minimal curve scoliosis (mcs) (7-18 degrees) and healthy control subjects were examined for morphometry under the electron microscope and tested for calcium content and surface negative charge. These parameters have previously been found to be abnormal in severe idiopathic scoliosis (is) patients. Significantly more patients than control subjects showed deviations from normal in all tests. Two tests in particular, the average number of dense bodies per cell and an increased surface negative charge, were the most frequent abnormalities. In an attempt to assess the possibility of using platelet tests for prediction of curve progression, statistical comparisons were made and discriminant scores were generated for each patient. The results were compared with the clinical findings after a 2- to 3.5-year follow-up. The predictions proved to be incorrect although each of the five patients who had curve progression had some platelet abnormality. It is concluded that although platelet pathology does occur in early idiopathic scoliosis, it cannot be used as a prognostic indicator of curve progression.

Adolescent↗