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Biomedical subjects

E W Radü

Publications and source records attributed to E W Radü.

66 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Nifedipine in hypertensive emergencies.

The effects and safety of using oral nifedipine 10-20 mg as acute antihypertensive treatment were studied in a single-blind placebo-controlled study of 25 consecutive patients with very high blood pressure requiring emergency reduction. In addition the effect of this treatment on cerebral blood flow was investigated using xenon-133 in 10 patients randomly allocated to receive oral nifedipine or intravenous clonidine. Whereas placebo did not alter the blood pressure, oral nifedipine significantly reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressures in all 25 patients (from 221 +/- 22/126 +/- 14 mm Hg to 152 +/- 20/89 +/- 12 mm Hg after 30 minutes, p less than 0.001). Heart rate increased from 74 +/- 11 to 84 +/- 11 beats/minute (p less than 0.01); this effect was inversely related to age (r = -0.65, p less than 0.01). The falls in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were closely related to the blood pressures before treatment ) r = 0.67, p less than 0.001 for systolic, and r = -0.58, p less than 0.01 for diastolic values). No serious unwanted effects were observed. Measurement of cerebral blood flow after nifedipine showed an increase in flow in four out of five patients. Clonidine, by contrast, reduced cerebral blood flow in all patients by up to 28%. Nifedipine is a simple, effective, and safe alternative drug for managing hypertensive emergencies, especially when continuous monitoring of the patient cannot be guaranteed.

Adult↗

Observations on the application of electrophysiological methods in the diagnosis of cervical root compressions.

20 patients who had clinical symptoms and/or signs of compression of the 7th and/or 6th cervical roots were examined. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, velocities in the proximal segment of the median nerve determined by measuring F-wave latencies, cervical somatosensory evoked potentials, and needle electromyographic records of the Mm. deltoideus, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, abductor pollicis brevis, and abductor digiti quinti were investigated. Only in 11 out of the 20 patients electromyographical results coincided with the clinical findings with regard to the level of the root lesion. F-wave conduction velocities within the proximal segment of the median nerve were completely normal. Somatosensory evoked potentials revealed alterations in 8 cases; 2 of them showed an additional alteration on the clinically apparently healthy side. In our opinion the various electrophysiological methods seem to have only a limited value in the diagnosis and localization of cervical root compression syndromes.

Adult↗

Pattern shift visual evoked potentials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, HMSN type I.

Pattern shift visual evoked potentials were investigated in 9 subjects with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, who were classified as HMSN I on clinical, genetic and electromyographic criteria. The latency of the second positive peak was increased in 7 eyes of 5 subjects. These results suggest that patients with HMSN I the optic nerves may be affected more frequently than suspected on clinical examinations.

Adult↗

A computed tomographic prolective trohoc study of chronic schizophrenics.

The maximal width of the third ventricle, the maximal distance between the outer tips of the anterior horns, and the number of enlarged cerebral sulci on the two highest CT slices were measured in 68 chronic schizophrenic patients on cranial computed tomograms in order to detect a possible enlargement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) filled intracranial spaces. These results were compared with values obtained from a control group which was formed in accordance with definite exclusion criteria and matched-pair parameters (sex, age and maximal inner diameter of the skull). In a prolective trohoc study no difference was found in the size of the CSF spaces of schizophrenics and the controls. The psychopathological condition of the patients, which was classified in a semistandardized dialogue, also showed no correlation with the ventricular size or the number of enlarged cerebral sulci.

Adult↗

Factors influencing the development of periventricular lucencies in patients with raised intracranial pressure.

Sixty patients with raised intracranial pressure and lowered attenuation areas around the lateral ventricles ('periventricular lucency', PVL) on CT scanning were reviewed, and compared with a control group of 90 similar patients who did not have PVL. It was confirmed that PVL tends to occur in patients with acute or subacute obstructive hydrocephalus due to a tumour, and is more common in the presence of papilloedema and/or a decreased level of consciousness. Patients with very dilated lateral ventricles did not in general have PVL, but it was frequently seen in association with diastasis of the sutures. Twelve patients with PVL had no other clinical or radiological indication of raised intracranial pressure. Comparison with the control cases did not reveal any reason as to why some patients should develop PVL while others did not.

Adolescent↗

Carotid artery occlusion and computed tomography. A clinicoradiological study.

Computed tomography (CT scanning) was carried out on 35 patients with proven occlusion of the carotid artery. There was a clear correlation of the clinical picture with the CT demonstration of cerebral infarct; 14 patients had no identifiable infarct. The findings were also correlated with angiographic data. The degree of cross or collateral filling of the middle cerebral artery on the affected side correlated better with the clinical features than with the CT data. Radioisotope studies were positive in only 50% of cases in which CT had shown infarction; this was related to the time interval between the onset of symptoms and scanning. The significance of these findings and their relationship to previous clinical necropsy data are discussed.

Adolescent↗

How should one investigate the posterior fossa?

The case notes of 170 consecutive patients with a suggestive clinical history, or a proven final diagnosis of a posterior fossa lesion have been analyzed in order to determine the precise value of each radiological investigation. All had had CT scans. The patients have been grouped clinically according to their presenting signs and symptoms. The analysis suggests some well-defined regimes of investigation and indicates the successes and failures of radiology.

Brain Diseases↗

Facial myokymia.

43 patients with facial myokymia were examined clinically and electromyographically over periods of up to 13 years. 18 patients were suffering from multiple sclerosis, 6 patients from brain stem tumour or tumours of the posterior cranial fossa, and 19 from other known or unknown neurological disorders. Duration, recurrences, EMG results of myokymia and its accompanying neurological symptoms are discribed.

Adolescent↗

Severe head injury: should expected outcome influence resuscitation and first-day decisions?

An early 'prognosis' based on initial findings can influence clinical decisions. To evaluate the quality of first-day outcome prediction based on either clinical or neuroradiological information, we prospectively examined 100 consecutive severely head-injured patients from the surgical intensive care unit. The prognoses were always made by the same experienced neurosurgeon and neuroradiologist according to a contracted Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Every patient's outcome was predicted according to a three-class GOS within 24 h after injury. Correct 'first-day' prognoses were made in 59 and 56% of the cases by the neuroradiologist and neurosurgeon, respectively. In those instances where the prognoses made by the clinician and the radiologist coincided, the prognoses were correct for 73% of the patients. Based on accepted criteria, the neuroradiologist tended to overpredict favorable outcomes and missed many of the unfavorable outcomes (dead or vegetative) whereas the clinician overestimated unfavorable outcomes. Our study showed that outcome prognosis of patients with severe head injury has limited accuracy when made within 24 h after the injury, although an improvement in accuracy occurred when there was agreement between clinical and radiological predictions. Even with sophisticated clinical and radiological technologies, it is not possible to predict outcome on the first day after the accident with sufficient accuracy to guide early management.

Adult↗

Paradoxical dilation of the large cerebral arteries in hypocapnia in man.

By grouping patients who had carotid angiograms under unusually carefully monitored conditions it has been shown that hypocapnia is associated with vasodilation at low blood pressure but not at high blood pressure. The mechanism is discussed in general terms and it is suggested that the hypocapnic vasodilation may be a response to cerebral hypoxia and may be transmitted via an intracerebral autonomic pathway. Clinical and angiographical diagnoses are given for 50 patients.

Adult↗