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C Beyeler

Publications and source records attributed to C Beyeler.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Infectious spondylitis--diagnosis and therapy].

Spinal infections usually develop as pyogenic osteomyelitis originating from hematogenous seeding of staphylococci, escherichia coli or pseudomonas. They present with pain at rest, general symptoms, elevated ESR and radiographic findings after several weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging is the current technique of choice. Individual antibiotic treatment is established according to the sensitivity of the cultured organism. Some patients need surgical interventions in case of neurologic deficits, abscesses, chronic fistulas, severe bone destructions and unsuccessful nonoperative treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1992

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) of the elbow: a cause of elbow pain? A controlled study.

Elbow pain is a common complaint and elbow hyperostosis a frequent radiological condition. However, little is known about the association between the clinical and radiological findings. To evaluate the relationship between spinal and extraspinal hyperostotic features and the clinical relevance of elbow hyperostosis we have performed the first controlled, double-blinded study of 85 hospitalized probands, 33 with and 52 without thoracospinal hyperostosis on lateral chest X-ray. Elbow and shoulder hyperostosis were graded on bilateral standard radiographs. Elbow pain was assessed by an interviewer using a standardized questionnaire and extraskeletal causes of elbow pain were recorded. The prevalence of elbow hyperostosis was increased in cases with thoracospinal hyperostosis compared to controls (82% versus 58%, chi 2 = 5.32, P less than 0.025, n = 85, olds ratio (OR) 3.30 (95% CI 1.16-9.35)). Similarly, the prevalence of elbow hyperostosis was increased in cases with shoulder hyperostosis compared to controls (83% versus 60%, chi 2 = 4.51, P less than 0.05, n = 84, OR = 3.20 (95% CI 1.06-9.66)), emphasizing the multifocal nature of hyperostotic features. Elbow pain was only slightly more prevalent in cases with elbow hyperostosis compared to controls (21% versus 13%, chi 2 = 0.75, NS, OR = 1.84 (95% CI 0.46-7.44)). We conclude that elbow hyperostosis is a radiological finding of doubtful clinical relevance.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

The prevalence of palpable finger joint nodules in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). A controlled study.

The presence of clinically palpable finger joint nodules (Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes) was documented in 123 consecutive cases with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) of the thoracic spine and 191 matched DISH negative controls. The prevalence of palpable finger joint nodules was almost twice as frequent in cases with spinal DISH compared to controls (46% versus 31%, chi 2 = 7.67, P less than 0.01; multivariate adjusted odds ratio OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.14-2.98). This increase was most marked at the proximal interphalangeal joint, in males and in patients up to the age of 65 years. In addition and independent of other variables such as hyperostotic features, age and sex, the prevalence of palpable finger joint nodules was about twice as high in probands with a history of physically heavy work compared to those without (43% versus 26%, chi = 9.18, P less than 0.005; multivariate adjusted odds ratio OR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.26-3.52). From these results we conclude that DISH should be considered as an independent risk factor in the development of finger joint nodules.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) of the shoulder: a cause of shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain is a common complaint and shoulder hyperostosis a frequent radiological condition. However, little is known about the association between the clinical and radiological findings. To evaluate the clinical relevance of shoulder hyperostosis we performed a controlled, blind study of 99 hospitalized probands with and without thoracospinal hyperostosis on lateral chest X-rays. The study included grading of the shoulder hyperostosis on the basis of three bilateral standard radiographs, assessing shoulder pain in a standardized way by an interviewer and recording extraskeletal causes of shoulder pain. The prevalence of shoulder hyperostosis was doubled in probands with thoracospinal hyperostosis compared to controls (chi 2 = 5.90, P less than 0.025, n = 99). Shoulder hyperostosis, irrespective of thoracospinal hyperostosis, predisposed to shoulder pain (40% versus 18%, chi 2 = 4.06, P less than 0.05, n = 74). Shoulder hyperostosis in combination with thoracospinal hyperostosis (shoulder DISH) predisposed to shoulder pain to an even greater extent (46% versus 12%, chi 2 = 6.64, P less than 0.01, n = 47). We conclude that shoulder hyperostosis is a radiological finding of potential clinical relevance.

Arthrography↗
PubMed1989

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) of the spine: a cause of back pain? A controlled study.

This is the first controlled study of the frequency of back pain in a European caucasian population with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Elderly patients admitted to hospital for reasons other than back pain were assessed for the presence of spinal DISH using the routine lateral chest radiograph films. A total of 106 probands (82 males, 24 females) with a mean age of 70 years fulfilled the criteria for DISH as defined previously. One hundred and seventy-eight patients (117 males, 61 females) not meeting these criteria were used as controls. The prevalence of back pain was assessed by a blinded interviewer using a structured questionnaire. Our primary hypothesis was that spinal DISH positive probands had not had back pain more often than controls. This controlled study showed no statistically significant difference in pain frequency between spinal DISH positive probands and controls at any spinal level. We conclude that back pain does not occur more often in radiographically defined DISH positive probands than in controls. The radiological finding of spinal DISH, as far as it does not lead to stenosis of the spinal canal or dysphagia, thus seems to be a finding without clinical relevance.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Knee effusion and reflex inhibition of the quadriceps. A bar to effective retraining.

In order to investigate the difficulty of quadriceps training in the presence of an effusion into the knee we examined 13 patients with chronic effusions by recording isometric muscle strength. Maximal strength was markedly lower in the presence of an effusion, and aspiration of the effusion produced a 13.6% increase in strength (p less than 0.01). A further, small increase of 8% was recorded after intra-articular lignocaine injection. Isometric strength and surface integrated EMG correlated well in six patients. Two reflex mechanisms seem to inhibit quadriceps innervation in the presence of a persistent knee effusion, one mediated by pressure sensitive receptors, the other still unknown. Joint aspiration and systemic or intra-articular anti-inflammatory drug treatments are advised before any programme of quadriceps training to allow maximum effects to be achieved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Cardiovascular and metabolic changes in the antabuse-alcohol reaction: basis for the diagnosis of degree of severity].

The clinical symptoms and signs, certain metabolic aspects (including ethanol, acetaldehyde and glucose concentrations in plasma) and hemodynamic parameters (cardiac rate, blood pressure and cardiac output) were assessed in 16 ambulatory alcoholics (3 female, 13 male, average age 46 years) following pretreatment with disulfiram (total dose 1.2 to 2.4 g) and oral administration of 0.2 g ethanol 94% per kg body weight. Since the only selection criterion for inclusion was a diagnosis of alcohol dependence (DSM III, 303.9), the group was heterogeneous and exhibited a variety of concomitant diseases such as alcoholic liver disease in 9, chronic bronchitis in 5 and arterial hypertension in 3. Whereas peak plasma alcohol concentrations were comparable (median: 0.33 mg/ml; range: 0.19 to 0.40) in all subjects, peak acetaldehyde levels varied over 40-fold (median 5.1 micrograms/ml; range: 0.2 to 8.8). In consequence, there were marked interindividual differences in cardiovascular reaction, in contrast to the virtually constant finding of flush, palpitations and dyspnoea. Since the decrease in peripheral vascular resistance (to a median of 46% of control) was only in part compensated by increased cardiac output (median: 161%), both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced by 30 and 45 mm Hg respectively. In 4 patients systolic pressure fell to shock levels (less than 70 mm Hg). The presumed toxic effect of acetaldehyde is again supported by close correlations between acetaldehyde plasma concentrations and the changes in blood pressures and peripheral resistances. We were able to demonstrate that disulfiram-induced inhibition of hepatic microsomal function - measured with the aminopyrine breath test - predicts the expected acetaldehyde peak levels following ethanol administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The disulfiram-alcohol reaction: factors determining and potential tests predicting severity.

13 ambulatory alcoholics (3 women, 10 men) who consented to alcohol-aversive treatment with disulfiram were subjected to detailed investigations before, during, and after the disulfiram-alcohol reaction (DAR). The studies included quantitative estimation of liver function (aminopyrine breath test, ABT; galactose elimination capacity, GEC) prior to the DAR, measurement of alcohol and acetaldehyde plasma levels together with pulse rate and blood pressure during the DAR, and the effects of disulfiram on erythrocyte acetaldehyde-oxidizing capacity (AOC). As expected, the severity of the DAR showed considerable interindividual variation. However, the maximal fall in diastolic blood pressure was closely (r = 0.83; p less than 0.001; n = 13) related to peak acetaldehyde plasma level (AAPL). The decrease in systolic blood pressure was age dependent, individuals greater than 40 years exhibiting a larger drop for a given AAPL. The dependence of acetaldehyde formation on liver function was suggested by a significant correlation (r = 0.88; p less than 0.01; n = 8) between ABT and AAPL; this relationship was influenced by the prior intake of enzyme-inducing drugs. Measurements of AOC indicated that a disulfiram-induced maximal suppression is achieved already after 6 days of treatment reaching levels of 0.7 +/- 0.6 nmol/ml/min (SD) (compared to pretreatment values of 4.1 +/- 0.9). Mean values in untreated alcoholics and in subjects with alcoholic or nonalcoholic liver disease were not significantly different from controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetaldehyde↗