Biomedical subjects

C Zürcher

Publications and source records attributed to C Zürcher.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

[Patient care personnel, patients and illnesses at the Geneva General Hospital at the beginning of the 17th century].

During the early decades of the seventeenth century, the city of Calvin, as well as most of Europe, experienced a severe economic depression, worsened by wars and recurring outbreaks of plague. This sad era is characterized by poverty coupled with illness, the formidable yokes of the poor and the feeble. Sustained by the city government, the Hôpital Général of Geneva was the hub of social and medical assistance during those "years of darkness". The aim of this article is to shed new light upon the medical techniques of that era by focusing on the caregivers and their patients, on health, disease, and suffering.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed1991

Thromboembolism and bleeding tendency in congenital factor XII deficiency--a study on 74 subjects from 14 Swiss families.

In order to assess the clinical implications of hereditary F XII deficiency, all available members of Swiss families with F XII deficiency were investigated. Based on the F XII:C values and the family pedigree, the 74 subjects, aged 8-82 years, were classified as homozygotes/double heterozygotes for F XII deficiency (n = 18), as obligatory (n = 20) or possibly (n = 25) heterozygotes, respectively, and as normals (n = 11). None of the 18 subjects with F XII:C less than 0.01 U/ml and only one possibly heterozygous woman had an abnormal bleeding tendency, confirming the notion that Hageman trait generally does not result in a hemorrhagic diathesis. Two of the 18 subjects with severe F XII deficiency had suffered from venous thromboembolic disease at age less than 40 years. One heterozygous woman had a leg ulcer probably due to venous thrombosis. Thus, whereas homozygous F XII deficiency may be associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolic disease, partial F XII deficiency is not, by itself, a strong risk factor for thrombosis. Whereas 17 of the 18 subjects with F XII:C less than 0.01 U/ml had no detectable F XII:Ag, one cross reacting material-positive F XII deficient subject (F XII:Ag = 0.11 U/ml) was identified. The dysfunctional F XII, present in this subject's plasma and tentatively called F XII Bern, is the fourth abnormal F XII molecule identified so far.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Comparison of unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparin during long-term use in chronic haemodialysis and haemofiltration patients.

Antithrombotic activity, necessary doses and effects on coagulation and lipid variables of the low molecular weight heparin derivative Fragmin were compared to unfractionated (UF) heparin in long-term multicentre trials. Results of more than 10,000 dialyses are reported. On the basis of preliminary studies, UF heparin and Fragmin doses were used that lead to anti-Xa activities of more than 0.5 U/ml. With this dose, sufficient antithrombotic activity was achieved with both heparins. Bleeding complications were not noticed. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and thrombin time were only marginally increased by Fragmin (5-8 s) in contrast to UF heparin (PTT 90-120 s, thrombin time 230-260 s). Surprisingly, the elevated levels of factor VIII strongly decreased during the 6-month treatment period with Fragmin and increased again during the following 6-month treatment period with UF heparin. Creatinine, urea, haemoglobin and transaminases did not change in both heparin groups: this excluded reduced dialysis efficiency or occult blood loss. Additionally, 15 patients with acute renal failure and high bleeding risk were dialysed with low doses of Fragmin (anti-FXa: 0.2-0.3 U/ml). No severe bleeding occurred. A continuous ambulant peritoneal dialysis patient with deep vein thrombosis was treated effectively with intraperitoneal application of Fragmin for 6 months without any problems.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed1970