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Biomedical subjects

C Janssen

Publications and source records attributed to C Janssen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

[Determinants of severely injured patients' trust in their hospital physicians].

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown negative effects of insufficient physician-patient interaction leading to a lack of compliance, worse subjective and objective evaluation of treatment outcome, increased consumption of pain medication, and decreased patient satisfaction. The aim of the present study was to identify patient-, physician-, and/or hospital-specific determinants which have a significant influence on the trust of severely injured patients in their physicians. METHODS: A written questionnaire was sent to 121 severely injured patients hurt predominantly in traffic accidents and treated between July 1996 and July 2001 in two departments of surgery in the German state of Northrhine-Westfalia. Applying the Total Design Method, a response rate of 74.4% (n=90) could be achieved. RESULTS: Using univariate analysis as a preselection tool, we developed a logistic regression model which identified four significant predictors of patients' trust in their physicians: (1) patient evaluation of information, (2) patient evaluation of their physician's decision policy, (3) patient evaluation of treatment success, and (4) patient age. CONCLUSIONS: Besides age of patient and subjective evaluation of treatment success, it is psychosocial aspects of interaction which influence trust in a physician. The results of this analysis confirm the importance of physician-patient communication for medical education, also for surgeons.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2006

[Patient- and hospital-related determinants of satisfaction with hospital stay of severely injured patients].

BACKGROUND: General political and legal changes in the German health care system will increase the importance of patient surveys. Patient satisfaction with medical and organizational care during their stay in a hospital is a relevant outcome of quality assurance. Satisfied patients also show a higher compliance with treatment and therefore increase the probability of a successful outcome. The objective of this analysis was to identify determinants of satisfaction with hospital stay of severely injured patients. METHODS: A written questionnaire was sent to 121 severely injured patients, who were predominantly hurt by traffic or work-related accidents and were treated between 1996 and 2001 in two hospitals in Cologne (response rate=74.4%, n=90). The questionnaire used in this study contained questions about psychosocial care of physicians and nurses in and organizational and structural characteristics of the hospital. RESULTS: Logistic regressions identified two significant predictors for satisfaction with hospital stay: (1) subjective evaluation of psychosocial quality of care by physicians and (2) patients' perception of active integration in treatment decisions. CONCLUSION: The results of this analysis confirm the importance of soft science in medical education also for surgeons. Medical education should integrate knowledge about psychosocial aspects of medicine. The quality of psychosocial care of physicians seems to be a predictor of patient satisfaction. The probability of dissatisfaction increases with deficits in communication, information, and time as well as no active integration in treatment. The results of this analysis confirm the vital importance of psychosocial aspects in physician-patient interactions with severely injured patients for satisfaction with stay in hospital.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

[Patient satisfaction and geriatric care - an empirical study].

Patients' satisfaction has become a central concept in quality assurance. Despite progress in research in this area is still a lack of data for geriatric patients. Referring to the consumer model, satisfaction can be described as a difference between expectations and assessed performance. The aim of this study is to analyze satisfaction among geriatric patients in an in-patient setting. A personal interview was performed 1-2 days before discharge. Patients suffering for dementia or with problems to communicate were excluded. 124 of 268 geriatric patients who were discharged in 2003 were included (inclusion rate 46.3%). 119 were willing to participate (response rate 96.0%). Respondents were between 61 and 96 years old, 39% were male and 42% had serious functional limitations at time of admission. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed three significant predictors of a combined index of satisfaction and expectations: a) quality of hotel services; b) experience of neglect; c) provision of medical information and skills. In summary, standardized personal questionnaires can provide valid and reliable data of geriatric patients. Satisfaction of elderly patients is negatively affected by neglect and positively influenced by provision of medical information and a good hotel services.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Biological and chemical approaches for the detection and identification of illegal estrogens in water-based solutions.

The continuous introduction of new products used as growth promoters in animal husbandry, for sports doping and as products for body-building requires residue laboratories to initiate research on developing a strategy for the identification of 'unknown' components. In this study, a strategy is presented for elucidating the identity, the structure and the possible effects of illegal estrogenic compounds in an unidentified water-based solution. To obtain complete information on the composition and activity of the unidentified product, a multidisciplinary approach was needed. A case-study is described with a 'solution X' found during a raid. First, in vivo techniques (animal trials with mice, anatomical and histological research) were combined with in vitro techniques (the yeast estrogenic screen (YES)). In a later stage of the investigation, HPLC-fractionation, liquid chromatography-multiple mass spectrometry (LC-MSn) and gas chromatography-multiple mass spectrometry (GC-MSn) were used. Finally, the identity of 'solution X' was confirmed in a very low concentration range (10 ng/L estrone and 400 ng/l ethinyloestradiol).

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2004

Environmental engineering education at Ghent University, Flanders (Belgium).

Since the 1980s, environmental engineering education has been a rapidly growing discipline in many universities. This paper discusses the history, the current status and the near future of environmental engineering education at Ghent University. This university, with about 50% of the Flemish university environmental engineering students, can be considered as representative for the situation in Flanders, Belgium. In contrast to many other universities, environmental engineering education at Ghent University does not have its historical roots in civil engineering, but has been developed from the curricula organized by the former Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. As part of a reorganisation of the education and research activities at this faculty, a curriculum leading to the degree of "bio-engineer in environmental technology" was established in 1991. This curriculum covers a 5-year study and is constructed around 8 main components. Exchange of students with other European universities, e.g. within the Socrates framework, has become a prominent aspect of student life and education. This paper also briefly describes the employment opportunities of graduated bio-engineers in environmental technology. Finally, the current implementation of the bachelor's-master's structure, leading to a "master of science in environmental technology" degree is summarized.

Belgium↗
PubMed2001

Topology of technology graphs: small world patterns in electronic circuits.

Recent theoretical studies and extensive data analyses have revealed a common feature displayed by biological, social, and technological networks: the presence of small world patterns. Here we analyze this problem by using several graphs obtained from one of the most common technological systems: electronic circuits. It is shown that both analogic and digital circuits exhibit small world behavior. We conjecture that the small world pattern arises from the compact design in which many elements share a small, close physical neighborhood plus the fact that the system must define a single connected component (which requires shortcuts connecting different integrated clusters). The degree distributions displayed are consistent with a conjecture concerning the sharp cutoffs associated to the presence of costly connections [Amaral et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 11 149 (2000)], thus providing a limit case for the classes of universality of small world patterns from real, artificial networks. The consequences for circuit design are outlined.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

After unification: gender and subjective health status in East and West Germany.

Results of a random survey of 2574 adults in East and West Germany in 1992 show virtually no differences in subjective health status for the populations of East versus West Germany and only slight differences for men versus women. A closer analysis via multiple regression indicates, however, that contrary to previous results from other countries West German women have a better health status than men. Of the four gender groups analyzed separately East German men are the best off, while owing to a number of socio-economic status discrepancies, East German women report the worst health status. Surprisingly, West German men show a poorer subjective health status than East German men, although a number of factors like participation in sport, better income and younger age would predict otherwise. It is suggested that their health situation is negatively influenced not only by their work situation but also by outside private commitments not accounted for in this analysis. Also difficult to explain from the present data is the relatively good health status of East German men. Despite an insecure job and a difficult work situation they may experience unification in sociopolitical terms and their present social status as something positive. Overall, conditions in the system of West Germany show a tendency to favor women, while those in East Germany clearly favor men.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Age, health status and the utilization of general practitioners and specialists].

Data collected by mailed survey and a random sample of 2552 German adults, are analyzed via stepwise regression for the relationship between age and visits to GPs and Specialists. Contrary to common opinion and descriptive analysis the relationship is weak and non-linear. The total effect shows that contacts with GPs do not increase with age much an more. Analysis also shows that effects for both groups of physicians are not only biological but also cohort effects, the latter measured via education. Older people collectively have less education, show consequently 1. worse health and 2. more contacts with GPs than specialists. Results in light of debates about rationing and the cost saving behavior of older people have immediate importance for the policies of health care.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Bone mineral density of the spine and the hip measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry: normal range and fracture threshold for western European (Belgian) postmenopausal females.

Bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine and the different regions of interest (ROI) of the hip were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 278 healthy Belgian postmenopausal women and 93 postmenopausal type I osteoporotic females in order to: a) determine the normal range for lumbar and hip BMD values; b) define an "hypothetical" fracture threshold in this population; c) determine the preferential region to be considered for clinical use in type I osteoporosis. In the normal subjects, there is a negative relationship (< 0.001) between age or time elapsed since menopause (Tm) and BMD measured at the level of the spine or at the ROI of the hip. For the spine, evidence of a curvilinear relationship was assessed. Regressions of BMD at the hip as a function of age or time elapsed since menopause, were best fitted by a linear relationship. In the population of postmenopausal women who have experienced a vertebral crush fracture, no relationships were observed between spine BMD and age or Tm but the osteoporotic women had a spine BMD significantly lower compared to age-matched normal controls: Z-score = -1.2 +/- 0.6 (mean +/- SD) (p < 0.0001). Fracture threshold calculated as the 90th percentile of spine BMD measured in osteoporotic patients was 0.840 g/cm2, corresponding to the mean value -1 SD for a population of women aged 51 years.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1994

Assessment of muscular fatigue using vibromyography.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavior of electromyographical (EMG) and vibromyographical (VMG) signals in the time and frequency domains during a fatigue protocol. EMG and VMG records were obtained from the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles of 11 adult male subjects during sustained, isometric knee extensor contractions performed at 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The average median frequencies of the power density spectra decreased during the fatigue protocol for the EMG (from 73 to 54 Hz for RF, and from 75 to 57 Hz for VL) and the VMG signals (from 40 to 19 Hz for RF, and from 25 to 12 Hz for VL). Raw EMG signals remained the same qualitatively throughout the fatigue protocol, whereas corresponding VMG records appeared to become "smoother." The results of this study indicate that the pronounced decrease in the high-frequency content of the VMG signal may be observed in the time domain as a "smoothing" of the signal, and thus, that the raw VMG records (which may be displayed readily online) can be used to assess qualitatively the onset and progression of muscular fatigue.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Two GnRHs fluctuate in correlation with androgen levels in the male frog Rana esculenta.

ChickenII-(cII-) and salmon (s-) GnRH levels have been measured in the male frog Rana esculenta during the annual cycle. The presence of pituitary binding activity for both peptides and plasma androgen levels has been investigated in order to give insight into the significance of the dual control exerted by the GnRH forms present in the R. esculenta brain. ChickenII- and s-GnRHs showed high values during the spring-summer period. Conversely, while cII-GnRH peaked in February, s-GnRH declined slowly from February until May. Plasma androgen levels increased as the peptides decreased during the autumn-winter period. Still high androgen levels (but significantly lower as compared with winter concentrations) were found during spring. Using iodinated cII-GnRH, GnRH binding sites were detected in pituitary preparations when the corresponding peptide concentration decreased in the brain. On the contrary, no binding sites were found using labeled s-GnRH. Our results indicate that cII-GnRH has a hypophysiotropic activity, while the role of s-GnRH needs to be further investigated.

Androgens↗
PubMed1993

Denatonium benzoate as a deterrent to ingestion of toxic substances: toxicity and efficacy.

When ingested at 10 ppm by human beings, denatonium benzoate has an extremely bitter, unpleasant taste. The addition of denatonium benzoate to liquid dish detergents and orange juice reduces the amount ingested by children. The toxicity of denatonium benzoate is low with acute po LD50's in rats of 485-740 mg/kg. The use of bittering agents, such as denatonium benzoate, could reduce the ingestion of toxic substances by dogs, cats, other animals and children and warrants further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[3H]R75231--a new radioligand for the nitrobenzylthioinosine sensitive nucleoside transport proteins. Characterization of (+/-)-[3H]R75231 binding to calf lung membranes, stereospecificity of its two stereoisomers, and comparison with [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine binding.

The tritiated analogue of R75231 ((+-)-2-(aminocarbonyl)-N-(4-amino-2,6-dichlorophenyl)-4-[5,5-bis (4-fluorophenyl)pentyl]-1-piperazineacetamide) has been examined as a new radioligand for (nitrobenzylthioinosine sensitive) nucleoside transport proteins. [3H]R75231 was prepared in two steps from R69064 ((+-)-4-[5,5-bis[4-fluorophenyl)-4-pentenyl]-2-piperazinecarboxamide+ ++ dihydrochloride) with a specific activity of 0.23 TBq/mmol (6.3 Ci/mmol). [3H]R75231 bound in a pseudo-irreversible and saturable manner to a membrane preparation of calf lung tissue. The new radioligand displayed high affinity (KD = 0.32 +/- 0.06 nmol/l at 25 degrees C) and capacity (Bmax = 6.1 +/- 0.3 pmol/mg protein). Specific [3H]R75231 binding could be fully displaced by both structural analogues and reference inhibitors such as dipyridamole, NBI, dilazep and hexobendine, as well as by various nucleosides. The two stereoisomers of R75231, R88016 ((+)-R75231) and R88021 ((-)-R-75231), potently displaced specific [3H]R75231 and [3H]NBI binding, R88021 being 30-fold more active than R88016. Pseudo-Hill coefficients derived from the shape of all the [3H]R75231 displacement curves were approximately unity. In contrast, R75231 and most of its analogues displaced specific [3H]NBI binding with pseudo-Hill coefficients consistently larger than unity under identical experimental conditions. This latter finding is suggestive for the existence of two distinct binding sites for the two radioligands, which may or may not overlap to some extent.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1992

Study of the parameters of binding of R 61837 to human rhinovirus 9 and immunobiochemical evidence of capsid-stabilizing activity of the compound.

The binding of the antiviral compound R 61837 to human rhinovirus 9 (HRV 9) was studied quantitatively and compared with binding of R 61837 to HRV 9H, a semiresistant variant. For both strains, radiolabelled R 61387 bound to native particles only. The Kd values obtained by Scatchard analysis of saturation binding data were 37 nM for HRV 9 and 172 nM for HRV 9H, whereas the concentrations resulting in a 50% reduction of cytopathic effect were 42 nM and 840 nM, respectively. Reversibility experiments showed that 65% of the compound could be extracted with chloroform from HRV 9H but less than 5% could be extracted from HRV 9. Dissociation studies demonstrated that in the presence of excess unlabelled compound, the half-lives of the virus compound complex HRV 9 and HRV 9H were 385 and 15 min, respectively. The effect of this antirhinoviral compound on the formation of subviral particles induced by low pH or heat was also investigated. Rate zonal centrifugation experiments using [35S]methionine-labelled HRV 9 showed that binding of R 61837 protected the virus against heat (56 degrees C) and acid (pH 5.0) and that at the same concentration of R 61837 the semiresistant strain was stabilized to a lesser extent. This observation was confirmed immunochemically with nonneutralizing and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Both 80S and 130S subviral particles have C antigenic determinants, whereas native particles (150S) have been designated D. R 61837 prevented the switch from D to C antigenicity which can be induced by exposure of rhinoviruses to mild denaturing conditions. These findings indicate that the compound is able to prevent a conformational change of the capsid which may be a prerequisite for infection.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗