Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Uwe Gieler

Publications and source records attributed to Uwe Gieler.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Ranking and frequency of somatic symptoms in residents near composting sites with odor annoyance.

The presented study reports the prevalence of somatic symptoms in three study samples living in the vicinity of composting plants. Microorganisms were measured in the air of the residential areas closest to the plants at the same time an epidemiological investigation was performed in the neighborhood near (150 to 1,500 m) to three plants and in corresponding control residential areas of the same district. Nine hundred and seventy-nine residents were questioned about the odor annoyance in their vicinity. An instrument measuring somatic complaints (SOMS 2 acc. Rief et al., 2001) was used to determine the unexplained somatic symptoms of the past two years and a gender-independent Total Complaint Index (TCI) was calculated. The percentages of study population reporting somatic symptoms were higher in all six samples in comparison with the German population (Rief et al., 2001) and in samples living near composting sites compared to the corresponding control samples. The study sample living close to site A (exposed to bioaerosols and odor annoyance) had the highest rates of complaints. A difference could be seen in comparison to the corresponding control sample (TCI: p[Anear vs. Acontrol] = 0.001; Mann-Whitney). In this group breathlessness was reported more than twice as often as in the other three samples. Out of the five most frequently reported symptoms four corresponded to the five complaints the German population reports most frequently in all groups. Nausea was the fifth most reported symptom in both samples reporting annoying residential odors (Anear and Bnear). The type of somatic symptoms reported most often was influenced little by environmental odors and medically relevant bioaerosol concentrations, except for nausea in context with annoying residential odors. As expected frequency of reporting general somatic symptoms was influenced by the perceived environment near the three composting sites. Concerning the sum of bodily complaints (TCI) though, this was only significant in the group exposed to medically relevant concentrations of residential outdoor bioaerosols, which was accompanied by high rates for breathlessness. The SOMS2 was able to mirror measurable, medically relevant environmental exposures in study groups and showed fewer changes concerning annoying or presumed environmental exposures.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Are patients with glossodynia unremarkable? A hard-to-grasp psychodiagnostic disease].

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic glossodynia is generally considered a disease with profound psychical involvement. Nevertheless, psychodiagnostic studies on this disease have been rare. The patients usually have low emotional self-reference, are focused on their physical complaints and refuse a psychosomatic attribute. Therefore, the doctor-patient relationship is often complicated, which impedes the initiation of an adequate therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients diagnosed to have glossodynia or orofascial pain syndrome were examined within the psychosomatic consultation-liaison service of two dermatological hospitals. The Coping with Skin Disease Questionnaire (CSD) and the Symptom Check List (SCL-90R) were used as test inventory. Patients with glossodynia were compared with other dermatological patients in the consultation-liaison service (n = 356) and with the standard random sample of the SCL-90R. RESULTS: By comparing the test inventories it was found that glossodynia patients appeared particularly "inconspicious" on nearly all dimensions. Compared with the standard random sample of the SCL-90R (n = 1006) higher values were only observed for the scores "somatization" and "anxiety". CONCLUSION: Based on the two psychological test inventories, no indication of depression was found, which is often suspected in glossodynia patients. It appears that psychosomatic (accompanying) symptoms in these individuals are not sufficiently assessed by many psychological test instruments.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Manifestation of atopic eczema in children after heart transplantation in the first year of life.

Children undergoing heart transplantation in the first year of life appear in clinical observation to develop atopic eczema at an above-chance frequency despite immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine A. A clinical study was undertaken to clarify the extent to which those children develop atopic eczema with above-chance frequency. In this cross-sectional study, we examined 41 consecutive children after heart transplantation. Twenty-seven underwent heart transplantation in the first year of life, seven after the first birthday, and seven had cardiac surgery other than heart transplantation in the first year of life and served as a control group. Atopic eczema was diagnosed in 11 out of 27 children with heart transplant in the first year of life. No atopic eczema was diagnosed in the other two groups. Children undergoing heart transplant prior to the first birthday apparently develop atopic eczema more frequently than children whose surgery was performed after the first birthday, and also more frequently than children undergoing organ-preserving procedures, despite immunotherapy. It remains an open question whether a surgical procedure within the first months of life with subsequent immunosuppression causes an alteration in the reactivity of the immune system in these children compared to older children which promotes the occurrence of atopic eczema despite immunosuppression.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological, allergic, and toxicological aspects of patients with amalgam-related complaints.

BACKGROUND: To deepen the understanding of the numerous unspecific complaints which are related to the dental material amalgam both in patients and physicians, an interdisciplinary case-control study regarding toxicological, allergic, psychological and psychiatric aspects was conducted. Forty patients with amalgam-associated complaints were compared to a well-matched group of 40 amalgam bearers without complaints. METHODS: Patients and controls underwent a dental examination, which included recording of the quantity, surface area and quality of amalgam fillings, a determination of the mercury load in blood and urine, an allergy examination including patch testing with amalgam and a psychometric assessment with questionnaires noting coping strategies (ABI-UMW-P), interpersonal problems (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems) and self-consciousness (SAM), the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-R, Beck Depression Inventory and a screening instrument for somatoform disorders. RESULTS: Patients and controls did not differ with respect to mercury concentrations in body fluids. Only 1 patient was found to have a positive amalgam patch test; various other allergies could be determined in 28% of patients (n = 11). Patients had higher levels of psychic distress, a higher incidence of depression and somatization disorders as well as different styles of coping with anxiety compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: No indication for mercury intoxication or amalgam allergy as a cause of the patients' complaints could be found. The theory of amalgam-related complaints as an expression of underlying psychic problems is supported. Treatment should focus on somatization and changing coping and attribution styles.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predicting long-term outcome in group treatment of atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Psychological group treatments are effective adjuncts to dermatological treatments in improving dermatological symptoms and quality of life. However, no data are available on variables that may predict which patients benefit from such group treatments. METHODS: On the basis of data from the Marburg group treatment study, we explored which variables are associated with successful treatment. Treatment outcome was defined by a marked reduction of dermatological symptoms at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Regardless of the treatment condition, a high pretreatment level of scratching, a low serum IgE level, low scores on the internal Health Locus of Control Scale and a high frequency of coping-related cognitions regarding itching predicted good outcome at 1 year. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the predictive power of locus of control and itch-related cognitions differed between different treatment conditions. CONCLUSION: In patients with atopic dermatitis, indication for psychological treatment may be based on the assessment of psychological target problems including excessive scratching and dysfunctional cognitions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Frequency of ICD-10 factitious disorder: survey of senior hospital consultants and physicians in private practice.

The authors surveyed physicians for frequency estimates of factitious disorder among their patients. Twenty-six physicians in independent practice and 83 senior hospital consultants in internal medicine, surgery, neurology, and dermatology participated. They completed a questionnaire including the estimated 1-year prevalence of factitious disorder among their patients. Frequency estimates averaged 1.3% (0.0001%-15%). The number of patients treated correlated negatively with frequency estimates. Dermatologists and neurologists gave the highest estimations. One-third of the physicians rated themselves as insufficiently informed. Frequency estimations did not differ by information level. The estimated frequency is substantial and comparable to earlier findings. Authors discuss clinical implications.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗