Biomedical subjects

T Schochat

Publications and source records attributed to T Schochat.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology in the study of human ecology - concept and evaluation of a seminar].

BACKGROUND: To assure proper methodology in medical studies epidemiology is the crucial profession. Medical students become acquainted with epidemiology within the course on human ecology. One year ago our department had the opportunity to assume the responsibility of this epidemiological seminar and to establish an activating teaching concept. IMPLEMENTATION: In a two hour lecture, types of epidemiologic studies, their application, typical measures, strengths and limitations are illustrated on actual examples. The basic concepts of bias, confounding and causal inference are introduced. In a two hour seminar the students read and discuss primary literature on the question "Do allergic diseases increase?" in small groups. The students present the answers on provided questions in the plenum. The results are discussed together. METHOD OF EVALUATION: At the end of each seminar within the course students rate the structural and procedural quality by means of a questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared to the former frontal teaching in epidemiology students rate the activating teaching concept significantly better in respect to lecturing style, discussion moderation, own contribution, contribution of others and course material. Comparison to the seminar "National health reporting system" (different subject, but same teaching concept and same instructor) yielded no significant differences, nor did the comparison between different instructors with the same teaching concept at the same seminar. CONCLUSIONS: The structural and procedural quality of the activating teaching concept in epidemiology is rated significantly better than the former frontal teaching concept. This difference is based on conceptual differences and not on different instructors or different subjects.

Curriculum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Therapy of generalized tendomyopathy (fibromyalgia) caused by blocking 5-HT3 receptors].

In more than 40% of patients with fibromyalgia a marked influence on the pain in the skeletal system with a decrease of the tenderness at "tenderpoints" can be achieved by blocking the 5-HT3-receptors with ondansetron or tropisetron-hydrochloride. Physical complaints and vegetative signs also improve. It is discussed if patients not responding to therapy with ondansetron or tropisetron-hydrochloride have to be discriminated as a subgroup of fibromyalgia. More investigations are needed to confirm the described effects.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate or cyclophosphamide.

One-hundred-and-two-patients (pts) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were observed for 12 months. Forty-eight pts were treated with a weekly low-dose of methotrexate (MTX), 23 pts with cyclophosphamide (CTX) (eight pts with one single intravenous dose, and 15 pts orally with a single daily dose), and 31 pts with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) only. In all individuals acute phase response, i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) serum levels, and AGP microheterogeneity using affinoimmunoelectrophoresis with concanavalin A were evaluated. The phenotype of lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood was characterized using immunofluorescence technique. Following treatment the increased level of CRP significantly decreased whereas AGP serum level remained unchanged. Among the patients, microheterogeneity of AGP expressed as reactivity coefficient (RC) was lower before treatment when compared with 17 controls (0.95 +/- 0.23 vs. 1.35 +/- 0.15, p < 0.01). After 12 months of MTX therapy AGP-RC rose significantly (1.19 +/- 0.13, p < 0.01). No changes were observed in AGP-RC levels in CTX and NSAID treated individuals. No significant differences were observed in the percentage of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells in all the patient groups, except in CTX intravenously treated patients. In this group of patients a decrease of CD4+ cells was noticed (60.1 +/- 11.5% and 43.8 +/- 12.5% before and after treatment respectively -p < 0.01). The percentage of CD19 positive cells decreased significantly during 12 months of treatment with MTX and CTX. The percentage of activated T cells (CD25+ cells and HLA-DR+ cells) remained unchanged in MTX treated patients and was reduced in both CTX groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Biochemical changes in fibromyalgia].

Different changes in neurotransmitters were observed in patients with fibromyalgia. The aim of the study was to confirm the diagnosis fibromyalgia by determination of several of these substances. In 60 patients, who met the ACR classification criteria for fibromyalgia and in 20 sex and age matched controls the following estimations were made: serotonin (EIA), somatomedin C (RIA), calcitonin (RIA), prostaglandin E2 (EIA), oxytocin (RIA), ACTH (RIA), substance P (EIA), TSH (LIA), prolactin (LIA). In comparison to healthy controls, patients with fibromyalgia revealed significantly decreased levels of serotonin, somatomedin C, calcitonin, prostaglandin E2 and a significantly increased level of prolactin. No significant differences were found in the levels of ACTH, substance P and TSH. These results suggest that the diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be confirmed by various biochemical parameters, but further investigations must be carried out to value the diagnostic relevance of these findings.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗