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Biomedical subjects

A Houser

Publications and source records attributed to A Houser.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Quality of life of patients with malignant tumors of the head and neck area with special reference to laryngectomy patients].

BACKGROUND: Quality of life is an important factor for patients with cancer in the head and neck region. This factor has not often been investigated in such patients. METHODS: A series of 201 patients with head and neck cancer answered a questionnaire concerning quality of life in general. In addition various parameters of quality of life were rated by an observer such as the Karnofsky scale, the WHO-status and the Spitzer quality of life index. RESULTS: The patients were subdivided into 3 groups, 101 patients with laryngeal cancer, 70 with pharyngeal cancer and 30 others ENT-cancer patients. Patients with cancer of the pharynx had more physical problems. In addition the patients were in different stages of their tumor disease. The patients with cancer in UICC I/II had a better health and quality of life than UICC III/IV. 75% of the whole population spoke about their quality of life as good and better. A similar tendency of quality of life was found in the groups of laryngeal cancer. The indices for health and quality of life in the patients were strongly correlated to the Karnofsky scale, the WHO-status and the Spitzer quality of life index. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that it is necessary to measure quality of life variables in head and neck cancer patients. All of the different methods are important for the measurement of quality of life.

Germany↗
PubMed2000

How organizational factors contribute to innovations in service delivery.

Twelve staff members from three community centers providing services to people with mental retardation were interviewed about the implementation of a new approach to service delivery that utilized Essential Lifestyle Planning. Findings indicate that although the innovation proposed and the technical assistance provided were quite similar, the outcomes varied greatly across the three sites. By highlighting the importance of organizational factors, such as timing and agency supports, these findings provide direction for future training and technical assistance activities of those who promote change in service-delivery philosophy and methods.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Myocardial lactate extraction: multi-determined metabolic function.

Myocardial lactate production indicates anaerobic metabolism resulting from hypoxia or anoxia. Clinically, myocardial lactate extraction of less than 10% has also been used as an indicator of ischemia. Sixteen healthy young male volunteers underwent coronary sinus and aterial catheterization. A coronary sinus pacing catheter was used to obtain blood samples and increase the heart rate to twice the resting rate. Hemodynamic measurements and blood samples for lactate, free fatty acids and glucose were obtained at rest and during pacing. Seven of 16 sujects (44%) had lactate extraction of less than 10% at rest and/or at miximal pacing. No subject produced lactate. There was no correlation between myocardial lactate extraction and arterial glucose. However, lactate extraction correlated inversely with the arterial levels of free fatty acids (r = 0.67; p less than 0.01). In addition, a positive correlation was present between lactate extraction and the arterial lactate level (r = 0.78; p less than 0.01). In conclusion, myocardial lactate extraction is dependent on multiple metabolic parameters and any absolute value short of production cannot be considered abnormal.

Adolescent↗