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Biomedical subjects

T Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to T Weiss.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

[Chronic obstructive respiration disorders imaged by inhalation scintigraphy. Differential diagnosis and early detection using radio-aerosols].

Inhalation radioaerosol lung imaging was performed in 86 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and in 45 asymptomatic smokers with small airways dysfunction. Within certain limits analysis of abnormal aerosol scans helped distinguish emphysematous from brochitic and asthmatic types of disease. Patients with asthma often responded to bronchodilator treatment and abnormal aerosol images reverted to near normal patterns. Besides a slight aerosol distribution inhomogeneity in the lung periphery, patients with small airways dysfunction showed significant hypodeposition of inhaled particles distal to the ciliated airways. Compared with small airways dysfunction, COLD was associated with an even more decreased aerosol penetrance to the alveoli.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Cystic changes of the posterior cranial fossa on the nuclear magnetic resonance tomogram].

MR images were obtained in 15 patients with cystic lesions in the posterior fossa and the results compared with computed tomography (CT). The abnormalities imaged included 5 epidermoids, 3 haemangioblastomas, 4 arachnoid cysts, 1 postoperative cyst, and 4 large cisterns. One advantage of MR is the ability to demonstrate lesions in three planes and without artifacts. Liquor-related intensity measurements of cyst contents provided important information, thereby improving diagnostic specificity and patient management. T2-weighted images were found to be more sensitive in characterising cystic lesions of the posterior fossa than were T1-weighted images. Large cisterns, arachnoid and postoperative cysts had an intensity pattern identical or almost identical to cerebral spinal fluid. More proteinaceous cysts, including epidermoids and to a higher degree haemangioblastomas, had clearly higher intensity than cerebral spinal fluid on the T2-weighted images.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Sialic acid in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Comparison of methods and reference values.

Sialic acid was estimated simultaneously by three methods: chemical determination based on Warren's method (Meth. Enzymol. 6, 463-464 (1963) with slight modifications, enzymatic measurement with a commercially available test kit, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) according to Silver et al. (J. Chromatogr. 224, 381-388 (1981). These methods showed closely correlated (r greater than 0.930) results and displayed similar precision data. Interference studies demonstrated sufficient specificity for the chemical assay, which was 5-6 times more sensitive than the enzymatic test and hence chosen for the establishment of reference values. From 249 sera from healthy people between 16 and 63 years the 0.025-0.975-reference intervals were calculated to be 1.57-2.63 mmol/l for 127 men, and 1.69-2.64 mmol/l for 122 women with no significant dependence on age and sex. From 43 cerebrospinal fluids from healthy adults the respective values were 17.3-50.4 mumol/l. These data correspond to those of the literature. Some chemical assays employing thiobarbituric acid were compared. They proved reliable in contrast to the reaction of serum with 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1986

[Protein determination in urine--a critical review].

Seven methods for protein determination in urine were systematically checked, viz. turbidimetric assay with benzethonium chloride, turbidimetry with trichloroacetic acid of various concentrations, micellar complex formation with Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250, formation and gel filtration of protein complexes with copper, reaction of protein tannin compounds with iron, and biuret reaction after different precipitation procedures. The evaluation was mainly based on the following criteria: identical reaction with various proteins, stable and linear absorbance with concentration, complete recovery, and greatest possible freedom from interferences. On this basis, the biuret reaction must now be regarded as the method of choice. Albumin and gamma-globulins are reliably estimated after precipitation by perchloric acid or by an ethanol-diethylether mixture, whereas all proteins, including uromucoid, may be measured after precipitation by Tsuchiya's reagent. Interference from urinary pigments can be avoided by reading versus a sample blank.

Benzethonium↗
PubMed1986

Influence of tasuldine and acetylcysteine on mucociliary clearance in patients with chronic airways obstruction.

In a single-blind intraindividual cross-over comparative study the influence of two systemic-mucolytic agents, 2-(pyridyl-3-methylthio)pyrimidine (tasuldine, HE 10004-succinate) vs. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (acetylcysteine) on the mucociliary clearance and lung function was investigated in 15 patients with chronic obstructive respiratory disease. The overall treatment period was 14 days with the drug being changed after 7 days in each group. Under tasuldine and acetylcysteine treatment a tendency to an improvement of mucociliary clearance was observed compared with the control pointing to an increase in adoral velocity. The direct comparison between both drugs revealed that 120 min after medication mucociliary clearance was stimulated significantly stronger by intake of tasuldine than by acetylcysteine. There was no influence on lung function.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1985

[Clinical picture of multiple sclerosis in the magnetic resonance tomogram].

We performed magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) on 22 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using varying scan sequences. In 21 patients MRT produced abnormal findings demonstrating multiple lesions, giving varying signals. The MRT appearances of MS have the following characteristics: circular configuration and homogeneous structure of individual lesions, multiple foci, with involvement of all parts of the brain, but with preference for the periventricular region and white matter. This constellation of MRT features is characteristic for MS, but is largely independent of the varying clinical symptoms. The appearance of the individual lesions and the distribution pattern of the foci is sufficiently characteristic to support the clinical diagnosis of MS in younger patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Spondylolysis and -listhesis. A computed tomographic differential diagnosis of lumbar discopathy].

Spinal CT scans of 680 patients with suspected disc herniation were reviewed to detect lumbar spondylolysis. In this group of patients, 3.23% (n = 22) had pars interarticularis defects at L4 or L5. Disc herniation at the interspace of the pars defect was seen in 27.27% (6/22) of patients with spondylolysis. Using Meyerding's method, which measures the degree of vertebral forward dislocation, grade 2 and grade 3 spondylolisthesis were most often seen. While moderate and severe spondylolisthesis can be already detected via lateral localiser image (scout view), pars defects with only little forward dislocation can be easily underdiagnosed. Sources of diagnostic error are: 1. an atypically posterior disc margin which extends beyond only one vertebral body and presents the appearance of disc herniation, 2. pars defects simulating the adjacent facet joints involve the risk of overlooking spondylolysis, 3. CT sections made through the intervertebral discs and facet joints only, may fail to show up the pars defect 10 or 15 mm above the disc plane.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Comparative scintigraphic analysis of 99mTc aerosol inhalation and 81m Kr ventilation in chronic obstructive bronchial disease].

The usefulness of 99mTc-labelled serum albumin aerosol as a ventilation agent was compared to that of 81mKr gas in normal subjects and in patients with a wide range of pathological pulmonary function. In addition to visual analysis of the scintigrams, lung activity distribution was quantified by an index. In healthy subjects aerosol distribution was very similar to that of 81mKr gas. In patients with persistent obstruction of bronchial air flow, the aerosol tended to penetrate less well than 81mKr gas to the lung periphery and to show a more uneven pulmonary tracer distribution. Consequently the 81mKr gas technique resulted in underestimating bronchial obstructive defects compared with the radioaerosol method. The results indicate that unlike 81mKr gas imaging, small-particle aerosol scintigraphy provides a useful diagnostic technique for the detection of even mild air flow obstructions.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Biofeedback and hypnosis in weaning from mechanical ventilators.

Weaning patients from mechanical ventilation can be hindered by both physical and psychologic factors. Biofeedback has been used successfully as an adjunct in difficult weaning problems. We have used a combination of hypnosis and biofeedback to wean a patient with neurologic disease who previously failed weaning by standard procedures. A 30-year-old woman with respiratory failure secondary to multiple sclerosis with transverse myelitis was given eight sessions of biofeedback over 12 days in which the movements of her chest wall, as monitored by magnetometers, were displayed on an oscilloscope. The patient was praised for targeted respiratory rate, amplitude, and rhythm. These sessions included hypnosis in which the patient was given suggestions of well-being and that she could breathe as she had five years earlier. In this manner the patient was successfully weaned. Respiratory biofeedback and hypnosis appear to be useful adjuncts in weaning patients from ventilators.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Intravenous streptokinase in evolving acute myocardial infarction.

Eighty-one consecutive patients presenting within 3 hours of the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and without contraindications to thrombolytic or anticoagulant therapy received a 15- to 30-minute intravenous infusion of 750,000 or 1.5 million units of streptokinase (STK) followed by anticoagulation. Treatment was instituted 130 +/- 41 minutes after the onset of symptoms and reperfusion was achieved 36 +/- 26 minutes later. Reperfusion of the "infarct artery" was recognized by indirect clinical criteria in 78 patients (96%). In all 66 patients who underwent coronary angiography 3 to 7 days later, there was complete concordance between indirect and angiographic evidence of reperfusion. In 6 patients there was early reocclusion within 24 hours of treatment; in 4 of these patients, the artery was reopened with an additional dose of STK. Two elderly patients suffered an intracranial hemorrhage and there were 8 other major hemorrhagic complications, of which 7 were related to procedural trauma. Five patients (6.2%) died in the hospital. The results of intravenous STK thrombolytic therapy are compared with those of our previous study using intracoronary STK.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Continuous aerosol inhalation scintigraphy in the evaluation of early and advanced airways obstruction.

By means of continuous lung imaging, regional mucociliary removal rates of inhaled 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin minimicrospheres were determined over upper, middle, lower, central, and peripheral anterior lung areas. Additionally, an index was employed for analysis of initial pulmonary radioaerosol distribution in order to quantify the site of particle deposition in various degrees of airways obstruction. The study involved 15 volunteer healthy subjects, 20 asymptomatic smokers with early small airways obstruction, and 30 patients with advanced chronic obstruction of large airways. The healthy group showed evenly distributed lung activity and (normal) clearance rates consistent with data from earlier work. While most uneven lung aerosol distribution was seen in the patients with large airways obstruction, slowest mucociliary clearance velocity was encountered in the smokers with small airways dysfunction. The aerosol technique, if carefully controlled, can be a useful supplement to pulmonary ventilatory function testing, showing reduction of bronchial mucous velocity to be one of the earliest signs of functional impairment in asymptomatic cigarette smokers.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1984

[Intravenous administration of contrast medium during computed tomography (CT) of the operated lumbar spine].

In 35 patients with recurrent radicular complaints which occurred 4 weeks to 38 months after operation for lumbar disc herniation, the degree of contrast enhancement of hypertrophic scar tissue was examined. All patients were scanned before and immediately after intravenous contrast application (volume: 1.5-2.0 ml/kg body weight, flow rate: 0.35 ml/sec). In 83% of the cases hypertrophic scar tissue did show definite contrast enhancement, whereas disc herniation remained unenhanced. Comparison between contrast enhancement and age of scar tissue produced poor correlation (r = 0.3012) with older scarring showing a trend towards lower enhancement levels. In cases where morphologic and topographic criteria in plain CT examination fail to yield a diagnosis, intravenous contrast application is recommended. Our data indicate that even those patients might benefit from the procedure who have been operated upon for disc herniation several months or years ago.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Computed tomographic staging of hypernephroid carcinoma].

In 68 patients with renal cell carcinoma computed tomographic staging was compared to the histopathologic staging. The classification based to the staging scheme developed by Robson. The CT criticized the tumor stages correctly in 82%. Consequently CT is superior to angiography, especially in detecting infiltration of the peri- and pararenal space and of lymph node metastases. Difficulties were found in detecting tumor extension into the renal vein near by the renal hilus.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Influence of propranolol, metoprolol, and pindolol on mucociliary clearance in patients with coronary heart disease.

The effects of the beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs propranolol, metoprolol, pindolol, and placebo, on mucociliary clearance were studied in three groups of 6 subjects with coronary heart disease and normal lung function. Clearance rates of inhaled 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin minimicrospheres were determined over the apical right region of the lung with a gamma camera. A 3-day medication of propranolol 40 mg b.i.d., when compared with placebo, led to a significant decrease (p less than or equal to 0.05) in mucociliary clearance. Metoprolol 50 mg b.i.d. or pindolol 5 mg b.i.d. did not show any influence on mucociliary clearance. Implications for the use of different types of beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs in the treatment of coronary heart disease are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Transvenous digital subtraction angiography for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis in arterial hypertension. A comparison with conventional angiography].

Venous digital subtraction angiography was performed in 248 patients for the diagnosis of renal arterial stenosis. In 88% of the investigations the digital subtraction angiograms were of diagnostic value. Comparison of digital angiography and conventional angiography was made for 57 renal arteries (25 investigations). In 52 renal arteries we found the same results with both methods, in 5 renal arteries the digital angiography showed false positive results. The spatial resolution of digital subtraction angiography is sufficient for the correct diagnosis of significant renal arterial stenosis. With regard to the lower invasion of digital subtraction angiography compared to conventional angiography the first method should be used for clarification of renal arterial hypertension.

Angiography↗
PubMed1984

[Suspected herniated disk--differential diagnostic case studies by lumbar CT].

The most common reason a patient is referred for spinal CT examination is to exclude a ruptured intervertebral disc. Besides nerve root entrapment due to herniated disc, a number of unusual or unexpected conditions have been encountered in the course of CT lumbar spine studies. These include spondylolisthesis, spinal dysraphism, Paget's disease, and inflammatory, neoplastic, or metastatic lesions. The application of spinal (small-circle) target imaging includes the risk to overlook soft tissue lesions that extend beyond the reconstruction circle. Therefore, complete (large-circle) circumferential abdominal scanning is recommended in case of a suspected extraspinal cause of sciatica.

Adolescent↗