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Biomedical subjects

W Maier

Publications and source records attributed to W Maier.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Dimensional assessment of endogenous depression based on a polydiagnostic approach.

A dimensional classification according to the decisiveness of the diagnosis of endogenous depression is proposed, based on a polydiagnostic approach using latent-trait models (Rasch model). The instrument is derived from a sample of 130 depressed patients, and a cross-validation of this instrument is reported in a sample of 87 patients with major depressive episode. The utility of this scale in biological research is discussed.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1985

[Diagnosis of necrotizing pancreatitis. Comparison between contrast medium-computed tomography and ultrasonics in a clinical study].

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and (or) sonography was carried out preoperatively in 93 patients undergoing operation for the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis. 77 patients presented with necrotising pancreatitis and 16 with interstitial oedematous pancreatitis predominantly due to biliary causes. The surgical principle involved necrotomy, continuous post-operative bursal lavage or biliary sanitation and (or) pancreas drainage in the case of interstitial oedematous pancreatitis. Sensitivity of contrast-enhanced CT in necrotising pancreatitis was 85%, in localised necrosis 79%, and in extensive necrosis 89.5%. Sonography was negative in 24% of patients and in 37% of those with severe necrotising processes due to extensive masking by intestinal gas. If successful, its sensitivity was 73% only. Thus, sonography is unsuitable for the diagnosis of severe, especially necrotising, pancreatitis; it should be used for confirming the diagnosis and for monitoring the course of mild pancreatitis. Contrast-enhanced CT is indicated for suspected cases involving the necrotising form of the disease, where extensive pancreatic necrosis is registered with high reliability. Controls are advisable for cases with localised pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

The cardiac anxiety syndrome--a subtype of panic attacks.

Cardiac anxiety syndrome and the diagnosis of cardiac neurosis respectively are characterized by panic attacks. Panic attacks are the core syndrome of a validated anxiety disorder (panic disorder). The purpose of this study was to investigate if the cardiac anxiety syndrome represents a separate disorder or if it is only a subtype of panic attacks. In a sample of 122 patients with panic attacks, all patients with a cardiac anxiety syndrome were selected (n = 31). Furthermore, parallel to this group--matched in the variables age and sex--a second group of patients with no cardiac anxiety syndrome was selected. There were no significant differences in course; in clinical phenomenology, patients with a cardiac anxiety syndrome were only distinguished by a greater intensity of somatization and phobic avoidance from patients with no cardiac anxiety syndrome. These results confirm the hypothesis that the cardiac anxiety syndrome is a subtype of panic attacks and does not represent a separate disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Dimensions of the Hamilton Depression Scale. Factor analysis studies].

The results of factor analysis of HAMD are not unitary. Studying the stability in course and the independence of selection criteria for the population we rated two groups (n = 107, n = 98) of inpatients with HAMD; these groups differ in nosological selection criteria. We furthermore rated one group at different timepoints (before treatment and 3 weeks after). The one-factor-solution is the only stable one and the only one which is independent from selection criteria. In all groups the one-factor-solutions show a high similarity with other published solutions of the German version of HAMD. But there is no way to extract a general factor. Thus the ability of HAMD in judging the severity of depression is doubtful. Ways are discussed to circumvent this problem.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Weekly monitoring of dexamethasone suppression response in depression: its relationship to change of body weight and psychopathology.

Weekly dexamethasone suppression tests (DST) were performed in 19 hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder, endogenous subtype, and who had an abnormal DST at admission. Depression scores (Hamilton Rating Scale) and weight changes were collected by investigators who were blind to the test results. Major findings were: (1) the DST gradually normalized 3-4 weeks prior to full resolution of clinical symptomatology; (2) weight loss was an important patient variable which may have contributed to false positive DST results; however, the positive correlation between changes in DST results and changes in depression scores in all our patients with or without weight loss suggests that psychopathological factors other than weight change participate in the development of dexamethasone resistance in depression; (3) the low dose (1 mg) version of the test requires careful control of minor medical disturbances, which can make the test result ambiguous. The data suggest that after resolution of some methodological issues the DST may serve as a valuable laboratory test to monitor clinical progress during drug treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Comparative analysis of observer depression scales.

The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Bech Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale (BRMS) and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) are analyzed according to mean discriminatory power, internal consistency, homogeneity and transferability. The analysis was done separately in different samples of patients with depressive syndromes: a) operationally defined depressive syndrome; b) Major Depressive Disorder (RDC); c) Major Depressive Disorder, endogenous type (RDC). BRMS and MADRS were superior to HAMD in all evaluated aspects. Further, the BRMS was superior to MADRS according to the criteria of homogeneity and transferability.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Operational diagnosis of endogenous depression. II. Comparison of 8 different operational diagnoses.

The comparison of 8 different operational diagnoses (OPD) of endogenous depression in a group of 173 inpatients with operationally diagnosed depressive syndromes shows a rather low agreement between the different diagnoses. Whereas in most comparisons there is a significant association between the different diagnoses (chi 2) the chance-corrected agreement is poor (kappa less than 0.50) in nearly all comparisons. These values cannot guarantee a comparability of results found in patient samples which are diagnosed as endogenous depressions by different OPD. The simultaneous application of competing OPD (polydiagnosis) seems to be an approach suited to overcome this problem and allow comparability of research results of endogenously depressed patient samples.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1985

Multiaxial classification of male sexual dysfunction.

Sexual dysfunction in male subjects is a multifaceted illness, not appropriately classifiable by any of the current diagnostic systems, in most of which a major disadvantage is their poor inter-rater reliability. This results in over-or underestimation of minor biological (e.g. hormonal) disturbances, which occur in conjunction with the disorder, but are unlikely to be only its pathophysiological correlate. These biological factors can be important in some cases, however, as they indicate therapeutic strategies (e.g. correction of a minor hormonal deficit). The broad acceptance of classificatory systems with multi-axial dimensions has prompted the construction of a new system. In accordance with DSM lll this consists of seven equivalent axes and sub-axes, supplemented by five sub-types, from which the diagnostic attribution can be derived.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Morphologic and functional changes in the pancreas following acute necrotizing pancreatitis].

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis according to the presented results leads to definite endo- and/or exocrine functional loss in 57% of the patients (n = 21, pancreatic necrosis ascertained by laparotomy) evaluated by orale glucose tolerance test, secretin-ceruletide-test and fluorescein-dilaurate-test. Morphological alterations developed in 76% of patients, predominantly cicatricial ductal lesions shown by ERCP. The finding of a normal pancreatic function after extended necrosis in 43% of the patients can be explained by the enormous functional reserve of the pancreatic gland.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Morphology of the interorbital region of Saimiri sciureus.

The skull of the platyrrhine primate Saimiri sciureus is distinguished by a large interorbital fenestra. Juvenile skulls still show a bony interorbital septum with some small gaps. A morphogenetic study was undertaken to better understand the structures of the interorbital region, which represents a linkage between the base of the braincase and the nasal skeleton. Already in early ontogenetic stages a reduction of the posterior portion of the nasal capsule and of the cartilaginous interorbital septum are observed, resulting in the formation of a primary interorbital fenestra. A bony interorbital septum is mainly formed in perinatal age stages by ossification of the presphenoid and by medial fusion of the frontals; the primary interorbital fenestra is retained as a small opening. It only occurs in late juvenile stages when the definitive interorbital fenestra develops by by secondary transformation of bone into a membrane of dense connective tissue; this process is most probably caused by mechanical friction of the very closely approximated eyes of both sides.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Ct-morphology and exocrine function in chronic pancreatitis].

A quantitative correlation between computer-tomographic (CT) findings and exocrine pancreatic function following secretin-ceruletide stimulation was performed in 48 patients with chronic pancreatitis; thereby a significant correlation between the degree of morphological changes in CT and the stage of functional impairment was found (r = 0,7841, p less than 0,001). Bicarbonate secretion/h showed the strongest correlation to CT findings (r = -0,7193, p less than 0,001) within the single functional parameters. CT showed a limited sensitivity (50%) in detecting chronic pancreatitis in cases with a slight functional impairment (stage 1). Morphological signs as calcifications, pancreatic duct ectasia were constantly coupled with a severe degree of functional impairment, whereas enlargement and cysts were found throughout the different functional stages.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The role of sonography in the diagnosis of Echinococcus alveolaris.

Abdominal sonography and computed tomography were performed in eleven patients with operatively and histologically proven Echinococcus alveolaris of the liver and the detailed appearances were compared. Sonography is a useful screening method in the assessment of E. alveolaris, but its previous importance is being gradually superseded by computed tomography, which is capable of providing more detailed information in the diagnosis of Echinococcus infestation.

Echinococcosis, Hepatic↗
PubMed1983

Computed tomographic diagnosis of Echinococcus alveolaris.

CT was performed in seventeen cases of E. alveolaris of the liver, and two cases of E. alveolaris of the lung. The scans provided considerable detailed information which, when taken together, enabled a specific diagnosis of echinococcus infestation to be made in most cases. The extent of intra- and extrahepatic infiltration by E. alveolaris can be well defined by CT.

Echinococcosis, Hepatic↗