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Biomedical subjects

W Huber

Publications and source records attributed to W Huber.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Methodology of the evaluation of the personality.

The object and the domain of the psychology of personality being less well defined and agreed upon than in other sciences, to discuss successfully the present situation of the methodology of the evaluation of the personality supposes the prior clarification of a certain number of questions. This is done by conceiving of the psychology of personality as of an empirical science and by addressing what seems to be the four major relevant questions: 1) the major issues in the psychology of personality, 2) the major questions of the assessment of the individual personality, 3) the sources and methods of gathering data in this discipline, and 4) the process of clinical judgment.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Effects of sodium pentachlorophenate on the ecology of a freshwater model ecosystem.

An outdoor model ecosystem was designed for the ecotoxicological evaluation of xenobiotics. Two years were necessary before the artificial pond reached a steady state. During this time the composition of the community and its functions were investigated. We recorded the amount of nutrients and the O(2)/CO(2)-metabolism in the water, the density and diversity of the phytoplankton, the aquatic macrophytes and the fauna, the microbial activity in the sediment, and the environmental impacts on the ecosystem. A short time before the application of sodium pentachlorophenate (Na-PCP) the ecosystem was divided into three identical subunits. One of these was used as an internal control, the others were contaminated with two different concentrations of Na-PCP (0.1 and 0.3 mg litre(-1)). These concentrations were maintained over a period of eight weeks. Ecological changes in the contaminated compartments were investigated during a period of one year. The results were compared with those of single-species tests. Significant variations were observed only in the unit receiving 0.3 mg Na-PCP litre(-1). A short time after starting the experiment, the number of rotifers and cyclopids decreased. Primary producers were not affected. An increase of the chloride levels in the water indicated degradation processes. One year after application of the chemical, the remineralisation of nutrients was disturbed. This resulted in a diminution of the phytoplankton and the aquatic fauna.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

[Computerized sonographic imaging of tongue motility using pseudo-3 dimensional reconstruction].

A new method for analysis and documentation of tongue movements was used in 24 healthy volunteers. This method enables direct digitalization of the information obtained from sequences of B-Mode pictures. Besides of allowing to further digital evaluation of the findings, it offers the facility of "pseudo 3D"-reconstruction of the tongue movements occurring on swallowing. The method appears to be of particular value for therapy control in neurological and phoniatric patients.

Deglutition↗
PubMed1988

[Ultrasound study of disorders of coordination in tongue movement in swallowing].

Ultrasound imaging of tongue movements permits real-time observation of swallowing and articulation without risk for the patient. The ultrasound images of the tongue motions were recorded on video-tape and then analyzed frame by frame. We were able to detect regular phases of tongue motion during normal swallowing. Clear deviations from normal motion patterns were found in a patient with anarthria, despite absence of swallowing difficulties in every day life.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Pharmacotherapy in the aged].

The relatively high incidence of adverse drug reactions in the aged is a consequence of polypharmacy on the one hand and of altered pharmacokinetics on the other, changes of intrinsic or receptor properties (pharmacodynamic factors) are usually not of primary importance. Plasma half-lives increase and total clearance rates of many drugs are reduced due to diminished drug metabolism and renal excretion. With the exception of actively transported substances the amount absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract is not altered. Total body water declines with age, whereas the relative content of adipose tissue increases. Hence, the volume of distribution of hydrophilic drugs may be decreased, that of lipophilic drugs increased. The maintainance dose in old age can be calculated from the changes in plasma half-lives or, preferably, total clearance rates, the initial dose is determined by the changes in the volume of distribution. At present there is no rational basis for the use of geriatric drugs, i.e. agents claimed to retard the process of aging.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

"Prepairs" and repairs: different monitoring functions in aphasic language production.

Picture descriptions of aphasic patients and nonaphasic controls were analyzed with respect to type and amount of linguistic repairs and searching phenomena ("prepairs"). Repairs occurred far less frequently than prepairs, which indicates impaired postarticulatory as opposed to intact prearticulatory monitoring. Prepairs were found to be most frequent in patients with relatively good comprehension, in patients with poor production, and in those who had both good comprehension and poor production. Contrary to expectation, there was no reliable difference in the distribution of prepairs and repairs between patients with Wernicke's and Broca's aphasia, although these two groups differed in performance. Possible mechanisms of linguistic monitoring are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Physical work capacity in chronic renal disease.

We studied the physical fitness of 71 patients with renal disease before dialysis, after starting dialysis, and after successful renal transplantation. Maximal muscle strength was determined in 58 patients and maximal cardiovascular capacity was assessed in 36 patients. Before dialysis there was a 31 percent reduction in muscle strength in men and 47 percent in women. The loss of muscle strength was most pronounced in the leg extensors. Cardiovascular capacity and muscle strength was positively correlated in the dialysis patients (p less than or equal to 0.05). The cardiovascular capacity was decreased 29% in predialysis patients, 45% in dialysis patients and 37% in transplanted patients compared to untrained healthy controls. The predialysis patients had a 19% greater cardiovascular capacity than the dialysis patients and a 9% greater cardiovascular capacity than the transplanted patients. While hemoglobin concentrations showed a positive correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with maximal cardiovascular capacity and creatinine concentration showed a negative correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with maximal cardiovascular capacity in the predialysis patients, hemoglobin concentrations and creatinine concentrations did not correlate with cardiovascular capacity in the dialysed and transplanted patients. In dialysis patients as well as in patients after kidney transplantation hemoglobin and creatinine concentrations, muscle strength, height, weight, and age are factors influencing the physical work capacity, but none of these variables alone seems to be a strong determination factor. Besides the complications of kidney disease which may itself reduce physical fitness, the lack of physical training is an important factor in determining the residual muscle strength and cardiovascular capacity for all patients with renal insufficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Further developments in pancreatic islet transplantation I. Induction of selective morphological changes in the exocrine pancreas].

For pancreatic islet transplantation to become clinically applicable, chemical agents are needed which cause selective morphological alterations in the exocrine part of the organ within a few hours after application. DL-ethionine (Aet), cerulein (Cd), seleno-DL-methionine (SeMet) and seleno-DL-ethionine (SeAet) were given to rats during various time periods. At 4 h after i.p. injection, 40 mg/kg SeMet caused the greatest selective morphological alterations in the exocrine pancreas. Acinar structure disappeared, the exocrine cells were abnormal and their nuclei had various dimensions and forms. There were, however, no alterations in the islet cells. At this time, neither Aet, Cd, nor SeAet produced similar changes. SeMet was the most toxic substance and was taken up in the shortest time and in the greatest amount. This selective destructive SeMet effect allows better isolation of the islets from exocrine tissue thereby increasing islet yield and decreasing transplantation volume. Better islet purification may prevent an early rejection.

Animals↗