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Biomedical subjects

F Krings

Publications and source records attributed to F Krings.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Lung herniation after a single cough].

We present the case of an overweight male patient with a lung hernia caused by a single massive coughing attack. The diagnosis could only be verified by CT-scans. Following a conservative therapeutic approach, surgical intervention was necessary. Lung hernias are easy to detect using radiological diagnostic. Standard X-ray examinations where a subcutaneous air mass can be seen have become, since the inauguration of computed tomography, second line tests. Large traumatic lung hernias should be treated surgically. Spontaneous and especially cervical hernias should be handled conservatively and only must be surgically treated when complications or a progression in size should be observed.

Cough↗
PubMed2004

[Analysis of the cost-income ratio for open and laparoscopic sigmoid resection].

Based on the example of the sigmoid resection, we did a cost-income analysis evaluating the particular expenses and effects of the new DRG-based medical financing system. We analysed the cost of diagnostic tests, medication and nutrition, surgery, personnel and non medical expenses for 20 open and 27 laparoscopic operated patients. The cost of open surgery was calculated to be 3,288.44 euro per patient while laparoscopic surgery was calculated to cost 4,271.98 euro. Based on an average hospitalisation period of 16 days, the estimated income for the hospital was 5,738.98 euro. Independent of the length of hospitalisation, an income of 6,621.34 euro for the hospital was estimated using the new DRG-based medical financing system. Thus, implementation of the new DRG-based medical financing system makes it possible to give patients the benefit of shorter hospital stays following laparoscopic surgery. The cost for the hospital, however, is only minimally reduced.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The effects of resistance training on well-being and memory in elderly volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the short- and long-term effects of resistance training on muscle strength, psychological well-being, control-beliefs, cognitive speed and memory in normally active elderly people. METHODS: 46 elderly people (mean age 73.2 years; 18 women and 28 men), were randomly assigned to training and control groups (n=23 each). Pre- and post-tests were administered 1 week before and 1 week after the 8-week training intervention. The training sessions, performed once a week, consisted of a 10 min warm-up phase and eight resistance exercises on machines. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in maximum dynamic strength in the training group. This training effect was associated with a significant decrease in self-attentiveness, which is known to enhance psychological well-being. No significant changes could be observed in control-beliefs. Modest effects on cognitive functioning occurred with the training procedure: although there were no changes in cognitive speed, significant pre/post-changes could be shown in free recall and recognition in the experimental group. A post-test comparison between the experimental group and control group showed a weak effect for recognition but no significant differences in free recall. Significant long-term effects were found in the training group for muscular strength and memory performance (free recall) 1 year later. CONCLUSION: An 8-week programme of resistance training lessens anxiety and self-attentiveness and improves muscle strength.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Late results after resection of benign hepatic tumors: clinical and radiological findings.

The purpose of our work was to provide data on the recurrence of resected benign hepatic lesions and to evaluate the value of follow-up examinations in this group of patients. From August to October 1993, 75 patients who had been admitted for liver surgery for benign tumors between 1975 and 1993 were controlled by physical examinations, serological tests, US, and, in the case of equivocal US findings, by CT. The histological diagnoses of the operative specimen included hydatidosis in 43 patients, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in 12 patients, liver cell adenoma in 8 patients, cavernous hemangioma in 8 patients, and congenital cyst in 4 patients. Hepatic scars were observed in 36 of the 75 patients. Four cases of intrahepatic recurrence and 1 case of intraperitoneal spread were observed in the 42 patients with recent hydatosis. Long-term postoperative controls (specific serological tests, US) are necessary in the management of patients with hydatid disease. Follow-up examinations are not indicated in asymptomatic patients who have been operated on for FNH, hemangioma, or congenital cysts.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Lipoprotein(a) and plasma lipids in 429 elderly and very old subjects: significance as risk factor, effect of nutrition and life style].

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] was discovered in 1962. Lp(a) consists of an LDL particle linked to apolipoprotein(a). The latter shows large genetically determined interindividual variation in size. The close relationship of apo(a) to plasminogen suggests interactions with coagulation. Epidemiological studies established Lp(a) as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. In a follow-up to the Basel Study, we measured Lp(a) in 429 healthy men and women aged 65-95. The influence of nutrition and lifestyle and correlation with plasma lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors was analyzed. The mean concentration was 416 +/- 266 mg/l (median 320 mg/l). Lp(a) concentration did not differ between men and women. In contrast to the simultaneously determined lipid fractions, Lp(a) concentration is lower with increasing age. The correlation with plasma cholesterol is low but statistically significant (p < 0.01). Higher Lp(a) values were associated with a history of myocardial infarction and anticoagulant medication (p < 0.01). Other risk factors did not correlate with Lp(a). There was a low but statistically significant correlation between low Lp(a) and regular intake of vitamin pills. Our results confirm the association of longer life expectancy with low Lp(a) concentration, which are to a large extent independent of external factors. Thus, Lp(a) could be a true longevity gene.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

MR pulsatility measurements in peripheral arteries: preliminary results.

Phase contrast flow velocity measurements were performed in six healthy volunteers and 30 patients with arteriosclerotic disease. The iliac arteries were investigated in 8 cases and the femoral arteries in 28 cases. In the first 24 patients, 16 evenly distributed data sets were acquired during one cardiac cycle. In the last 12 patients, a trigger pulse followed by the acquisition of 30 evenly distributed data sets was applied every second heart beat. This procedure allowed data to be acquired over a full heart cycle without any acquisition gap. The measured flow velocities were displayed as function of time. Systolic acceleration, postsystolic deceleration and pulsatility of flow velocity were calculated and compared with stenosis grades determined from DSA angiograms. Flattening of the flow velocity patterns was found to correlate with the local severity of arteriosclerotic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Diagnostic performance of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): preliminary results in vascular occlusive disease of the abdominal and lower-extremity arteries.

Fifty-nine patients with occlusive disease of the aorto-iliac and femoro-popliteal arteries were investigated prospectively by intravenous (IV) or intraarterial (IA) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). This was accomplished using a two-dimensional (2D) Inflow- (59 patients) and a 2D Phase Contrast- (RSE--rapid sequential excitation) sequence (29 patients). The spectrum of pathology included stenoses < 50%, stenoses 50-89%, stenoses 90-99%, occlusions, aneurysms and status following reconstructive surgery. MRA- and DSA-examinations were evaluated by four radiologists. The diagnoses were made by consent decisions of a radiologist and a vascular surgeon based on clinical and radiological findings. Diagnostic performance of IA-DSA was superior to all other imaging modalities. Vascular delineation of 2D Inflow-MRA was comparable to that of IV-DSA. The image quality of RSE-MRA was not adequate for diagnosis. In conclusion, 2D Inflow-MRA is a promising method for evaluating abdominal and peripheral arteriosclerotic disease. Interpretation of MR-angiograms, however, requires profound knowledge of MRA-techniques, X-ray angiography and hemodynamics.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Malignancies of the genito-urinary system following renal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the development of malignancies of the genito-urinary system after renal transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 868 renal graft recipients were followed up over a mean period of 41.8 +/- 45 months. Fifteen patients received grafts from living related donors and 853 were transplanted with kidneys from cadavers. RESULTS: Twelve patients (1.4%) exhibited cancer of the genito-urinary system: 11 tumours were de novo malignancies. One small renal carcinoma was transplanted from a living related donor. The incidence of tumours of the genito-urinary system was 34 in 100,000 patient years in the patients treated with cyclosporin and 32 in 100,000 patient years in the conventional therapy group. Four patients died within a mean survival time of 14.4 months. Comparison of our results with sex- and age-specific incidence rates in a reference population showed an increase in malignant tumours of the genitourinary system by a factor of 7.3 in males and 11.2 in females. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of disorders after transplantation necessitates routine examinations in organ transplanted recipients both before and at regular intervals after transplantation, including the patient's native kidneys and cervical smears in females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Ileocecal tuberculosis as rare differential diagnosis of lower abdominal tumor].

Tuberculosis is extremely rare in Germany today. Diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis has proved to be particularly difficult and a correct diagnosis can take months. The danger of fatality is high. In the case of a 29 year old male paraplegic patient suffering from enteral tuberculosis, diagnosis was possible only after several weeks of onward observation, extreme physical degeneration and finally, a laparotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Digital luminescence radiography and conventional radiography in abdominal contrast examinations.

In 326 patients abdominal contrast radiographs were compared to digital luminescence radiographs (DLR) and conventional screen-film system ones. The digital exposure dose was 50% of the conventional. In DLR, 2 different types of postprocessed images were obtained from each data set. A display with low spatial frequency enhancement filtered to look like a conventional radiograph was compared to a display with high spatial frequency enhancement. Conventional and DLR images were evaluated randomly and separately by 4 radiologists by means of a questionnaire. DLR proved to be diagnostically equivalent to the conventional technique with the exception of a slightly diminished visibility of the mucosal pattern. High spatial frequency enhancement did not provide additional diagnostic information and should be dispensed with in abdominal examinations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cine phase contrast angiography of normal and diseased peripheral arteries. Preliminary results.

Cine phase contrast angiography (PCA) is a modified MR phase contrast sequence that acquires up to 22 coronal phase images per mean cardiac cycle. The ability of the sequence to visualise local haemodynamics was investigated in 7 normal volunteers and 9 patients with flow disturbances of the peripheral arteries using a 1.5 T imager. Functional flow information provided by coronal cine PCA was correlated with quantitative data obtained by MR flow measurements and vessel morphology confirmed by conventional angiograms. Due to the yet suboptimal image quality, an aortic dissection and 1 of 4 aneurysms could not be depicted morphologically. The temporal pattern of arterial perfusion in cine PCA corresponded with flow velocity versus time data provided by quantitative MR flow measurements. Accuracy and time resolution of cine PCA was thus sufficient to provide functional information on the severity of occlusive vascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy retreatment ("stir-up") promotes discharge of persistent caliceal stone fragments after primary extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

A prospective randomized study was performed to compare the results of piezoelectric extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) retreatment versus surveillance only in 50 patients with persistent caliceal stone fragments after primary ESWL for renal calculi. After a 3-month followup significant decreases in residual debris were observed in the retreated group, while changes in the control group were negligible. Considering the low morbidity of outpatient ESWL with a pain-free, second generation lithotriptor, ESWL retreatment of completely fragmented but persistent stone debris appears to be justified to render the kidney stone-free.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phase-contrast pulsatility measurements: preliminary results in normal and arteriosclerotic iliofemoral arteries. Work in progress.

Magnetic resonance (MR) flow measurements were obtained in six healthy volunteers and 30 patients with arteriosclerotic disease with a 1.5-T imager and a pulse sequence for flow quantification based on flow-induced phase shifts. The iliac arteries were investigated in eight and the femoral arteries in 28 subjects. A trigger pulse, followed by the acquisition of 30 evenly distributed data sets, was applied every second heartbeat, thus eliminating any acquisition gap in a full heart cycle. For quantitative analysis, flow velocity was plotted as a function of time. Systolic acceleration, postsystolic deceleration, and pulsatility of flow were calculated and compared with stenosis grades determined from recent intraarterial digital subtraction angiograms. The flattening of the temporal flow patterns correlated with local severity of vascular occlusive disease.

Adult↗