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Biomedical subjects

V Hofmann

Publications and source records attributed to V Hofmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Differential diagnosis of neonatal adrenal haemorrhage and congenital neuroblastoma by colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography.

UNLABELLED: The differentiation between neonatal neuroblastoma and adrenal haemorrhage may be very difficult in the individual case. We investigated eight neonates with adrenal haemorrhage and one patient with congenital neuroblastoma by colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography. Six haemorrhages were cystic, whereas the neuroblastoma and four adrenal haemorrhages had a solid appearance. Colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler demonstrated vessels within the neuroblastoma. In none of the ten adrenal haemorrhages could flow be shown either with conventional colour coded Doppler sonography or power Doppler sonography. CONCLUSION: Conventional colour coded Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography are useful to differentiate between neuroblastoma and adrenal haemorrhage.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
PubMed1998

Childhood personality influences on social-cognitive development: a longitudinal study.

The relation of childhood personality to the development of friendship understanding and moral judgment in adolescence was considered in a longitudinal study. Personality at age 7, assessed with the California Child Q-Set, was characterized in terms of ego-resiliency and ego-control. IQ and social class were also measured. Friendship understanding was assessed when the participants were ages 7, 9, 12, 15, and 19, and moral judgment was elicited when the participants were 12, 15, and 19. Ego-resiliency was found to predict social-cognitive development in adolescence, even after the effects of IQ and childhood measures of social-cognitive development were controlled for. Analyses indicate that the effects of ego-resiliency on social-cognitive development are largely unmediated by the ability to focus attention or by social participation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of polarographic measurements of basal muscle oxygen tension in type I diabetic patients.

Microcirculatory changes occur early in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and are believed to be an early feature of late diabetic complications, leading to reduced oxygen pressure and hypoxia in the skin and other tissues. Whether muscle oxygen supply is also altered is unknown. Therefore, the authors analyzed polarographic measurements of muscle oxygen tension in 44 healthy type I diabetic patients (mean age 28 years; mean diabetes duration 7 years) and in 57 healthy controls, matched for age, sex, and body mass index, and the corresponding influencing factors. Two measurements were taken at rest 60 minutes apart in the anterior tibial muscle. Muscle oxygen tensions did not differ between IDDM patients and controls (23.0 +/- 8.6 vs 25.3 +/- 9.0 mmHg) and were reproducible on repeated measurements (25.3 +/- 9.7 vs 25.5 +/- 7.4 mmHg). Coefficients of variation were 13.5 +/- 10.8% in IDDM patients and 13.1 +/- 9.3% in controls. Compared with controls, in IDDM patients hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood glucose concentrations were elevated, and arterial oxygen pressure was significantly lower. Muscle oxygen tensions were positively correlated with blood glucose concentrations in IDDM patients (Rho=0.48, P=0.002) but not with HbA1c or with insulin concentrations. The authors conclude that the polarographic measurement of muscle oxygen tension is a reliable method with good reproducibility. Hypoxia in the anterior tibial muscle of type I diabetic patients can be excluded. In IDDM patients the level of muscle oxygen tension is correlated with the level of blood glucose concentration.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The relation of childhood personality types to adolescent behavior and development: a longitudinal study of Icelandic children.

The relation of childhood personality types, or configurations of personality traits, to adolescent development was examined. Three personality types were identified in an inverse factor analysis of California Child Q-Sort data on 128 Icelandic 7-year-olds: resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontrolled. Growth curve analyses demonstrated that in comparison to children of the other 2 types, children of the resilient personality type had higher levels of academic achievement and lower levels of concentration problems throughout adolescence; resilient children also developed sophisticated friendship reasoning and an internal locus of control more quickly. Children of the overcontrolled type were found to be more prone to social withdrawal and low levels of self-esteem during adolescence than children of the other 2 types. In contrast to the other 2 types, children classified as undercontrolled showed an increase in aggressive behavior in adolescence. Implications of the findings for research on personality development are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Children's attachment representations: longitudinal relations to school behavior and academic competency in middle childhood and adolescence.

A longitudinal study examined children's (N = 108) attachment representations in relation to behavior and academic competency at school during middle childhood and adolescence. Attachment representations were assessed from children's responses to a separation story at age 7 years. At ages 9, 12, and 15, teachers rated children on four dimensions of school behavior: attention-participation, extroversion, disruptive behavior, and insecurity about self. Children's grade point average (GPA) in school was also examined. Children's attachment representations (secure vs. insecure) did not predict either disruptive behavior or extroversion, but they were significantly linked to attention-participation, insecurity about self, and GPA, with secure representations being associated with more favorable outcomes. The study controlled for social class, gender, IQ, perspective-taking ability, and prior competency.

Achievement↗
PubMed1996

Pain intensity and blood pressure reactions during a cold pressor test in IDDM patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of altered pain perception to the impaired blood pressure reactions during a cold pressor test in diabetic patients. Reduced blood pressure increases have been observed in diabetic patients during a cold pressor test and have been attributed to an impaired efferent sympathetic function. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated pain intensities and blood pressure reactions simultaneously during a cold pressor test in 30 IDDM patients (diabetes duration 12 +/- 6 years, HbA1c 7.5 +/- 1.4%) and in 30 normal control subjects with comparable sex distribution, age, height, BMI, physical fitness, and smoking habits. RESULTS: Initial pain intensities and respective time courses did not differ between the two groups. The initial blood pressure response was significantly smaller in diabetic patients (P < 0.002). Correlations of diastolic blood pressure increases in diabetic patients with initial pain intensity, standard cardiovascular reflex tests, age, clock time, smoking habits, disease duration, and actual blood glucose concentrations did not reach statistical significance. Pain intensity and diastolic blood pressure increases, however, were correlated to HbA1c concentrations in diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired pain perception is not the cause of the impaired reactions of blood pressure in diabetic patients during the cold pressor test, leaving very early deterioration of either cerebral processing of pain stimuli, cardiac function, efferent sympathetic nerves, or decreased vascular reactivity as possible explanations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Penis carcinoma in a young chimney sweep. Case report 200 years following the description of the first occupational disease].

We report on a 32-year-old patient who, following exposure to soot over a total of 78 weeks as a professional chimney sweep, developed squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. Since the epoch-making description of occupational cancer of the scrotum by Percivall Pott in 1775, soot-related cancer of the scrotum and penis has become anecdotal. As our patient presented with inguinal lymph node metastases, a wide circumcision was performed, followed by preoperative chemotherapy and bilaterial lymphadenectomy. The patient has been free of disease for over 9 years with no functional loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Pheochromocytoma as dominant manifestation of v. Hippel-Lindau syndrome].

A diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome was made in two families originating from the same part of the Black Forest but apparently unrelated. Nine affected persons (seven males and two females) had a total of 17 tumours: retinal angioma (4), haemangioblastoma of the CNS (1), and phaeochromocytoma (12). Three of the affected persons and eight of the tumours (six phaeochromocytomas, two retinal angiomas) were diagnosed by family screening. Phaeochromocytoma was diagnosed in eight persons; in four it was the only symptomatic lesion. After extensive diagnostic tests the phaeochromocytoma was the sole tumour in four. Despite severe symptoms the diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome had not been made prior to the screening examinations because either the common aetiology of the tumour was not known or there was insufficient exchange of information between the two families.--It is recommended that in each case of phaeochromocytoma von Hippel-Lindau syndrome should be excluded so that lesions can be discovered early in other organs and in other affected family members. If the syndrome is present, annual examinations are indicated because of asynchronous and multi-focal tumour growth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

["Bolus fatalities" in an autopsy sample 1981 to 1989].

Resulting from a historical study of the so-called bolus death (choking) an 8-years analysis of 11 bolus cases is presented, the autopsies of which were carried out at the Institute of Forensic Medicine Chemnitz. External conditions, autopsy findings, and accompanying investigations carried out are considered. In five cases a bolus was found in the pharynx, just in front of the larynx entrance, and three times each in the larynx, causing the blockade of the larynx entrance, and in the trachea. A correlation between the localisation of the foreign substance and the presence respectively expression degree of the macromorphological signs of asphyxia was not evident. In conclusion a discussion to differentiate reflex mechanisms from asphyxia mechanisms following foreign substance aspiration is given.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Autopsy of accident victims--incidence and criteria for selection].

In a first analysis the frequencies of autopsies in the area district of Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz) are investigated in respect to types of accident, sex and age groups. Victims of traffic- and working accidents are dissected in far more than 50% of all cases (predominantly with forensic medicine) because of the obvious legal consequences; accident occurring at home or during leisure are paid less attention to. Possible criteria for selection are discussed.

Accidents↗
PubMed1990

[Changes in the diagnosis and therapy of invagination].

The alterations in diagnosis and therapy of intussusception in infants is described in 155 cases from 1978-1989. The primary diagnostic procedure is the abdominal sonography. It is followed to 1988 the attempt of hydrostatic reduction by barium enema and now the pneumatic reduction. The rate of success with conservative treatment was finally over 80%. Primary operative treatment is only necessary in the rare cases with signs of perforation of intestine or of peritonitis.

Air↗
PubMed1989

Value of ultrasound in the treatment of solitary kidneys in infancy and childhood.

Every second patient with a solitary kidney suffers from renal disease. This accumulation of renal diseases of varying origin makes special care for these children necessary. The quality of diagnostic methods is decisive for the choice of therapy. The advantages of primary ultrasound diagnosis and sonographical function tests are described. Sonographical differentiation of disturbances of the urinary transport is possible by means of forced-diuresis ultrasonography, whereas a vesico-ureteral reflux can be detected by means of voiding sonocystography. The value of ultrasound for primary diagnosis, assessment of therapeutic course and postoperative long-term follow-up is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Ultrasonic studies of craniocerebral injuries in infants].

This is a report on the sonographic diagnostic possibilities in 46 closed-head injured infants. Cerebral examination via the anterior fontanelle is completed by additional sections of the surface of the brain. The traumatic oedema is limited in most cases and - besides the increase in echogenicity - an increase of the arterial pulsation at the border of the oedema is seen in real-time scanning. The sonographic signs of the epidural and subdural haematomas are described and also the differentiation between both. Surgical treatment was necessary in three cases of subdural haematoma because of increasing ICP. Treatment of extradural and chronical subdural haematomas or effusions is discussed in connection with the sonographic follow-up. Alterations in symmetry and compression of the ventricular system is often caused by intracerebral haemorrhages and-or traumatic local oedema. Parenchymal cysts may occur after liquefaction of cerebral necrosis or clots. The advantage of the cerebral sonographic examination is the uncomplicated follow-up. In connection with the clinical state and with continuous registration of ICP, sonographic findings facilitate the decision if, where and when trepanation must be performed.

Brain↗
PubMed1988

[Efficacy of recombinant interferon alpha-2 in 34 patients with hairy cell leukemia. Effect of splenectomy and dosage reduction results of therapy].

In a retrospective study of 34 patients with hairy cell leukemia treated with recombinant interferon-alpha 2, we have observed a hematological remission rate of 97%. The true complete remission rate based on bone marrow findings was 17%. Although complete remissions can be obtained only in a few cases, treatment with interferon is justified in cytopenic patients since long-standing clinically meaningful improvement of the peripheral blood values can be attained. If interferon is stopped in the remission phase, the blood values deteriorate in 40% of the patients within 5 months. In contrast, it appears that the remission can be maintained with intermittent administration of interferon weekly or even every other week. As compared to splenectomized patients, granulocyte recovery is delayed in nonsplenectomized patients. However, after several months of treatment there is no difference in peripheral blood values between splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients. In the light of the present results, primary splenectomy remains justified in a selected group of patients for whom the risk of surgery (due to low granulocytes and/or platelets) is low and for whom careful evaluation predicts a high potential for long-standing remission after splenectomy. In the other cases, initial interferon therapy seems justified.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[The significance of screening studies for the early detection of metastases in curatively operated breast carcinoma].

A retrospective analysis of 80 women with breast cancer operated on with curative intent showed that metastases developed within 8 years. The value of laboratory tests and radiological surveys for the early detection of metastases is considered. In fewer than 50% of the patients was the finding of a single abnormal laboratory result associated with tumor recurrence. However, when several findings were abnormal concomitantly this suggested tumor dissemination in about 90% of women. In 80% of the patients clinical symptoms were present at the time of tumor recurrence. In only 20% of the patients were metastases clinically silent. Since metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured by present treatment modalities, the relevance of detecting early recurrence is limited.

Adult↗