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Biomedical subjects

Clas Mannheimer

Publications and source records attributed to Clas Mannheimer.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

White matter disease in magnetic resonance imaging predicts cerebral complications after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess neurologic and neuropsychologic complications in 104 patients randomized to coronary artery bypass grafting or spinal cord stimulation. An additional objective of the study was to assess whether preoperative white matter disease might predict cerebral complications, as previous studies have shown that there is a relationship between white matter disease and neuropsychologic decline after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: The patients were subjected to neurologic examination before and six months after intervention. The patients underwent a cerebral magnetic resonance imaging before intervention and the presence of white matter disease was related to development of cerebral complications. RESULTS: More patients in the bypass group than in the spinal cord stimulation group developed focal cerebral ischemia (p < 0.05) and astheno-emotional disorder (p < 0.001). More patients with white matter disease undergoing bypass were affected by focal cerebral ischemia (p < 0.01) and astheno-emotional disorder (p < 0.001) after the intervention compared to patients with white matter disease undergoing spinal cord stimulation. In patients with no white matter disease there were no differences between the bypass group and spinal cord stimulation group with regard to cerebral complications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing bypass had more neurologic and neuropsychologic complications than patients undergoing spinal cord stimulation. Furthermore, patients with white matter disease were affected by cerebral complications in a higher extent after bypass than after spinal cord stimulation. Thus, preoperative assessment of white matter disease before undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting might predict the patient's risk of developing cerebral injury.

Adult↗

Iron deficiency and anemia: a common problem in female elite soccer players.

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among elite women soccer players. Hemoglobin, serum iron, serum total iron binding capacity, and ferritin were determined in 28 female soccer players called up for the national team. Of the investigated female soccer players, 57% had iron deficiency and 29% iron deficiency anemia 6 months before the FIFA Women's World Cup. It is concluded that iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia is common in female soccer players at the top international level. Some might suffer from relative anemia and measurement of hemoglobin alone is not sufficient to reveal relative anemia. Regular monitoring of hemoglobin concentration and iron status is necessary to institute iron supplementation when indicated.

Adult↗

Pain as presenting symptom in Lyme neuroborreliosis.

Neurogenic pain with radiculitis is often the starting symptom in adult patients with tick-borne Lyme neuroborreliosis and in some cases the only clinical manifestation. Cranial paresis and other neurologic signs usually occur after the onset of pain. The present paper describes four patients who had severe pain as the main presenting symptom of Lyme neuroborreliosis. Opioids had good short-term effect in two of the cases. Oral doxycycline treatment was used successfully to eliminate the infection.

Aged↗

Feasibility of spinal cord stimulation in angina pectoris in patients with chronic pacemaker treatment for cardiac arrhythmias.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used since 1985 as additional symptom-relieving treatment for patients with severe angina pectoris despite optimal conventional medical and invasive treatment. SCS has antiischemic effects and is safe and effective in long-term use. Several patients with coronary artery disease also suffer from disorders that necessitate the use of a cardiac permanent pacemaker (PPM). The combination of SCS and PPM has previously been considered hazardous because of possible false inhibition of the PPM. To assess if thoracic SCS and PPM can be safely combined in patients with refractory angina pectoris, 18 patients treated with both SCS and PPM were tested. The PPM settings were temporarily modified to increase the probability of interference, while the SCS intensity (used in bipolar mode) was increased to the maximum level tolerated by the patient. Any sign of inhibition of the ventricular pacing was recorded by continuous ECG monitoring. With the aid of a questionnaire, symptoms of interference during long-term treatment were evaluated. No patient had signs of inhibition during the tests. Reprogramming of the pacemaker because of the test results was not needed in any of the patients. The long-term follow-up data revealed no serious events. This study indicates that bipolar SCS and PPM can be safely combined in patients with refractory angina pectoris. However, individual testing is mandatory to ascertain safety in each patient. A testing procedure for patients in need of SCS and PPM is suggested in this article.

Aged↗

Temporary cessation of spinal cord stimulation in angina pectoris-effects on symptoms and evaluation of long-term effect determinants.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used since 1985 for patients with refractory angina pectoris. Spinal cord stimulation has anti-ischaemic effects and reduces angina effectively. After long-term treatment, temporary cessation of stimulation may occur due to SCS battery depletion or electrode fracture. The aim of the present study was to assess anginal symptoms and functional status during SCS dysfunction and after its restitution. DESIGN: A prospective follow-up study of angina patients treated with SCS, where temporary SCS dysfunction had occurred. METHODS: Thirty-two patients treated with SCS for angina pectoris over 65 months, on average (range 14-181 months), were included. Complete stimulator dysfunction had occurred due to battery depletion (n=25) or electrode fracture (n=7). The number of anginal attacks and the amount of short-acting nitrates consumed were assessed during dysfunction and after restitution of SCS function. The Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) was used to assess functional status. RESULTS: The anginal frequency increased during dysfunction (18.9 per week) and decreased after restitution of SCS function (7.6 episodes per week; p<0.001). The consumption of short-acting nitrates decreased as well (21.7 versus 7.1 tablets per week; p<0.01). The functional status according to the SAQ also improved with regard to anginal stability, anginal frequency, and disease perception. No evidence of tolerance development to SCS was found. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that SCS relieves angina effectively also after long-term treatment, without development of tolerance. The findings suggest that mechanisms other than placebo and spontaneous variation of symptoms are responsible for the improvement in angina during SCS.

Aged↗

Chest pain: an update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms for seeking acute medical care. Evidence of myocardial ischemia, however, can only be established in a minority of patients. The establishment or ruling out of myocardial ischemia is difficult and the cost is high. An effective rationale for ischemia detection, without unnecessary hospital admission, is needed. The development of chest pain units potentially offers a rapid, effective way of identifying patients at high risk for acute coronary syndromes, as well as those with a low probability of ischemia. Other cardiac or noncardiac causes of chest pain should also be considered. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent developments in chest pain, including the ruling in or out of ischemic pain by triage and different ischemia detection methods, are discussed. Other causes of chest pain such as esophageal, drug related, psychiatric and post-coronary bypass surgery pain are also discussed. Recent findings on syndrome X are reviewed and patients with myocardial infarction presenting without chest pain are discussed. SUMMARY: The possibility of safely and quickly ruling out myocardial ischemia by point-of-care biochemical analyses is reviewed, which might influence our clinical handling of chest pain patients. The importance of biopsychosocial factors, pain perception, esophageal dysfunction, drugs and the coronary artery bypass procedure in itself, is discussed and vital clinical information is provided for the handling of our chest pain patients.

Journal Article↗

The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on catecholamine metabolism during pacing-induced angina pectoris and the influence of naloxone.

Two invasive studies (invasive study I and invasive study II) showed positive effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in pacing-induced angina pectoris in terms of increased tolerance to pacing, improved lactate metabolism and less anginal pain. Invasive study I demonstrated a decrease in left ventricular afterload by TENS treatment as reflected by a fall in systolic blood pressure, and this fact was thought to be explained by reduced sympathetic activity since arterial levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine dropped during TENS in TENS responders. In invasive study II, the influence of naloxone on the effects of TENS in pacing-induced angina pectoris was studied in 11 patients with severe coronary artery disease. The patients were catheterized and treated with TENS on 2 occasions; one with a single intravenous (i.v.) dose of saline as placebo and one with a single i.v. dose of 50 mg naloxone, double-blind, in random order. Treatment with TENS increased tolerance to pacing (P less than 0.01 with placebo and P less than 0.01 with naloxone, respectively) and improved lactate metabolism (P less than 0.05 with placebo and P less than 0.01 with naloxone, respectively). The positive effects of TENS were thus reproducible and not reversed by single i.v. doses of naloxone. The results of this study indicate that the effects of TENS on the heart are not mediated by beta-endorphin but do not exclude activation of more short-acting opioids like delta or kappa receptor agonists (met-enkephalin and/or dynorphin) since naloxone has a low affinity for these receptors. It is also possible that non-opioid mechanisms are of importance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angina Pectoris↗

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in angina pectoris.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of chronic stable severe angina pectoris. In a short-term study the effect of TENS was studied in 10 male patients with angina pectoris (functional class III and IV). All patients had previously been stabilized on long-term maximal oral treatment. The effects of the treatment were measured by means of repeated bicycle ergometer tests. All patients had an increased working capacity (16-85%), decreased ST segment depression and reduced recovery time during TENS. No adverse effects were observed. A long-term study of TENS on similarly selected patients showed beneficial effects in terms of pain reduction, reduced frequency of anginal attacks, increased physical activity and increased working capacity during bicycle ergometer tests. An invasive study was carried out with respect to systemic and coronary hemodynamics and myocardial metabolism during pacing provoked myocardial ischemia in 13 patients. The results showed that TENS led to an increased tolerance to pacing, improved lactate metabolism, less pronounced ST segment depression. A drop in systolic blood pressure during TENS treatment at identical pacing rates indicated a decreased afterload. An increased coronary flow to ischemic areas in the myocardium was supported by the fact that the rate pressure product during anginal pain increased during TENS.

Adult↗

The analgesic effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TNS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A comparative study of different pulse patterns.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TNS) was used on 20 patients with severe wrist pain due to rheumatoid arthritis. Three different stimulation frequencies were used: high 70 Hz stimulation (70 TNS), low frequency 3 Hz stimulation (3 TNS) and brief trains of stimuli with an internal frequency of 70 Hz and with a repetition rate of 3 Hz (3-70 TNS). The analgesic effect was evaluated on the patient's own estimate of pain relief and by means of a loading test in which the length of time the patient could hold a weight before and after TNS was used. The loading test and the patients' own estimate of pain relief corresponded well. After 70 TNS, 18 patients could double their loading time. The corresponding figure for 3-70 TNS was 16 patients and for 3 TNS 5 patients. The average duration of pain relief after cessation of stimulation was 18 h for 70 TNS and 15 h for 3-70 TNS, while those who responded to 3 TNS experienced pain relief for only 4 h on average.

Adult↗