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Biomedical subjects

W Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to W Weiss.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Blood-pool-SPECT for imaging portosystemic collaterals in portal hypertension].

In 46 patients, 26 male and 20 female, age from 32 to 71 years (mean 47.4 +/- 11 years) a bloodpool-scintigraphy (BPS) with SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) was performed. The in-vivo labelling of the erythrocytes with pyrophosphate and Tc-99m was performed in the usual way. The SPECT investigations were performed with a digital Anger-Camera (Elscint; Apex 401). In 14 patients without collaterals BPS was performed to compare the method with patients with liver diseases and collaterals. 29 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension were investigated with the BPS and additionally a scintisplenoportography (SSP) was performed. In patients with only cephalad collaterals all the results were concordant. In just 1 patient with cephalad and caudad collaterals we found a discordant result. In 8 patients we performed BPS, SSP and a katheterangiography (KA). Taking the KA as the "golden standard" we found a concordant result with the 3 methods in all patients with cephalad collaterals. In patients with cephalad and caudad collaterals we once found a discordant result with the SSP and twice with the BSP. In 2 patients the patency of surgical shunts were proved. 2 patients after sclerosis of the oesophageal varices have been proved by BPS and SSP and both patients showed good therapeutical results.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Tumor diagnosis by immunoscintigraphy with anti-CEA antibodies (Tc-99m MAK BW 431/26)].

We evaluated the clinical application of the monoclonal antibody MAb, BW 431/26, which is easy to label with Tc-99m for tumor localization. This is an anti-CEA antibody and a murine immunoglobulin (Ig G1, Isotype). We investigated patients with colorectal carcinoma (n = 14), with colorectal carcinoma recurrences (n = 24), breast carcinoma (n = 2), stomach carcinoma (n = 1), carcinoma of the urinary bladder (n = 3), lung carcinoma (n = 2) and patients with an elevated CEA level. In primary colorectal tumors (n = 14) all carcinomas were correctly localized by IS and ECT technique. In these patients the diagnosis was already known. The planar pictures showed a false negative result in 3 patients. In patients with colorectal recurrences the investigations were performed twice in 2 patients and three times in 1 patient. In these 31 ECT investigations we found 17 true positive results, 12 true negative results, 1 false positive result and 1 false negative result. The lesions were already visualized within 4 to 6 hours, but 24-hour pictures are desirable. SPECT pictures are absolutely necessary because sensitivity is considerably improved thereby. Elevated CEA levels increase the probability of a positive IS low CEA levels do not exclude positive tumor visualization. HAMA was found in only 1 patient, but follow-up investigations are indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical relevance of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) in choledocholithiasis].

Primary endoscopic removal of bile duct stones is an established method of treatment. However, the extraction of stones is impossible in about 10% of cases despite successful endoscopic papillotomy and manual lithotripsy. Over a period of two years extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was performed in 32 patients. Piezolith 2200, a second generation lithotripter was used, which requires neither analgesia nor anaesthesia for the patient. Localisation of the stones was carried out by means of a 3.5 MH 2 sector scanner. ESWL treatment was successful in 24 of 32 patients (75%). In 6 patients the bile duct stones were too large or too numerous and in 2 patients sonographic localisation was impossible. Out of a total of 131 patients with stones in the biliary tract only 9 (6.8%) needed surgery. Piezoelectric lithotripsy is a safe and effective adjunct procedure for the treatment of bile duct stones which were not extractable by endoscopy.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Immunoprint pattern in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in different stages.

Individual immunoprint patterns of sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-separated Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) allergens/antigens were evaluated in 28 patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in stages II to V. It could be demonstrated that active disease (stage III) is characterized by a very strong IgE response against a variety of Af components, whereas the IgE antibody pattern in corticosteroid-treated patients who have demonstrated improvement is much weaker. In patients in remission (stage II), it is minimal. In contrast, many patients in stage V without corticosteroid treatment demonstrated a strong reactivity of IgE antibodies, indicating persisting active disease. The pattern of IgG antibodies with individual Af components resembles, in general, that of IgE antibodies; however, discrimination between different stages and between treated patients is much weaker. Our results indicate that a certain relationship between the different stages of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and Af immunoprint patterns exists.

Allergens↗
PubMed1989

Diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is based primarily on the patient's symptoms and their evaluation. The most common symptoms, heartburn and acid regurgitation, when occurring daily, have a 60% predictive value for the diagnosis. The presence of esophagitis is established best by endoscopy, whereas the radiological examination is relatively insensitive and normal radiological findings never rule out esophagitis. Tests to evaluate the sensitivity of the esophageal mucosa to an acidic pH or to evaluate the strength of the lower esophageal sphincter as an antireflux barrier are valuable indicators of GERD, but only long-term, preferably 24-h, ambulatory pH measurements can provide information on incidence and duration of reflux and its relationships to the patient's symptoms and activities under physiological conditions. However, for practical and economical reasons, 24-h pH measurement should be applied only when symptoms are atypical and endoscopy was unrevealing.

Esophagitis, Peptic↗
PubMed1989

Lung cancer due to chloromethyl ethers: bias in cohort definition.

The mortality risks of respiratory cancer and of all other causes of death combined were studied in two types of cohort: (1) a cross-sectional cohort composed of all employees working in a chemical plant building in January 1963 when the occupational cause (chloromethyl ethers) of a suspected lung cancer epidemic was unknown, and (2) an inception cohort composed of all workers ever exposed in the building from the beginning of exposure, registered after the cause was recognized. Selection bias led to an overestimate of the risk in the cross-sectional cohort. The bias was due to overrepresentation of workers with moderate and high cumulative exposure to chloromethyl ethers in the cross-sectional cohort. The results indicate that a more valid assessment of an epidemic is obtained from a study of an inception cohort than from a study of a cross-sectional cohort.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Baking ingredients as a contributory cause of baker's asthma].

140 bakers with occupation-related asthma symptoms and/or rhinoconjunctivitis were tested for specific IgE antibodies against various enzyme-containing baking components. 5-24% of subjects were sensitive to several carbohydrate-splitting enzymes obtained from mould fungi (amyloglucosidase, hemicellulase and alpha-amylase), as well as/or against soya flour. But allergies against the proteolytic enzymes papain and B. subtilis protease were rare (about 1%). These results indicate that various baking components, especially mould enzymes, play a not insignificant role in the causation of baker's asthma.

Allergens↗
PubMed1988

[Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis with hay dust-induced alveolitis and bronchial asthma].

A 55-year-old female farmer had all the clinical, biochemical and radiological signs diagnostic of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Remarkably she also had symptoms of farmer's lung and exogenous allergic bronchial asthma with specific types I and III sensitisation due to Aspergillus antigens inhaled with straw-dust. In addition to the usual asthma treatment she also received antimycotic agents and corticosteroids. Antigen exposure was strictly avoided. These measures brought about lasting regression of the disease manifestations and of the high concentrations of IgE and IgG antibodies against many Aspergillus antigens.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1988

[Colorectal cancer--epidemiologic aspects].

Since 1971 the incidence of large bowel cancer in Austria has been higher than that of any other neoplastic disease. In 1983 it affected 3778 men and women, representing 14.8% of all malignancies. Concrete suggestions for an improvement of data collecting for the National Cancer Registry and the installation of a National Polyp Study are made. In the eastern parts of Austria the risk for the development of colorectal carcinoma is twice as high as in the western parts of the country. Environmental risk factors are discussed.

Austria↗
PubMed1988

A double-blind study of the effectiveness of cyclosporine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of cyclosporine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, no differences were observed in the monthly rate of progression or the relative risk of progression in comparing 38 patients randomized to the placebo group and 36 patients randomized to the cyclosporine group. In comparing three subgroups of patients, cyclosporine appeared to benefit men who entered the study within 18 months of the onset of first symptoms, whereas it was of no value to women or to men who entered later than 18 months. For the men with recent onset of disease, the relative risk of progression was 0.403; the monthly rate of progression was 5.2 +/- 1.1 points with placebo and 3.5 +/- 0.7 points with cyclosporine. These provocative results support the need for a full study of cyclosporine in men with recent onset of disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1988

Humidifier lung and humidifier fever.

The aim of our study was to evaluate clinical diagnoses in symptomatic persons exposed to aerosols from humidifiers or air conditioners. In addition, we tried to identify the causative antigens. Results of clinical investigations, including inhalation challenge tests, demonstrated a typical hypersensitivity pneumonitis (humidifier lung) in 9 persons and isolated systemic symptoms without significant changes in lung function and chest x-rays (humidifier fever) in 3 persons. Microbiological studies revealed a variety of fungi and bacteria in the water supplies of humidifiers and air conditioners at patients' workplaces. The detection of 4 members of the order Sphaeropsidales (Deuteromycotina), not previously associated with humidifier-induced diseases, is of special interest. By means of an improved polystyrene tube-immunoradiometric assay, high concentrations of IgG antibodies against extracts prepared from water of patients' humidifier systems were found in all cases. In addition, patients demonstrated low concentrations of IgG antibodies against thermophilic Actinomycetes, and usually also against various fungi, such as Alternaria tenuis, Aureobasidium pullulans, Penicillium notatum, Aspergilli, and fungi of the order Sphaeropsidales, which were isolated and cultured from humidifier water supplies. The much higher concentrations of antibodies against humidifier/air conditioner water extracts seem to result from sensitization to a variety of antigens from different fungi and bacteria. For in vivo and in vitro diagnostic tests in humidifier-induced lung diseases, we especially recommend using extracts from water systems installed at the corresponding workplaces.

Adult↗