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Biomedical subjects

G Pfister

Publications and source records attributed to G Pfister.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Multiple oscillators are causing parkinsonian and essential tremor.

The tremors of Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) are traditionally considered to depend on a central oscillator producing rhythmic activation of the motoneurones of all extremities. To test this hypothesis, we have compared electromyographic tremor activity in different muscles of the affected limbs using cross spectral analysis, including coherence and phase. Surface electromyographic recordings from both arms, legs, and the neck were analyzed in 22 patients with PD and 28 patients with ET. Volume conduction between neighboring muscles producing artificial "coherence" has been found to be an important methodologic problem. We have developed a mathematical test to exclude data that could distort the results. According to this test, 10% or 25% of muscle combinations from the same limb had to be excluded from further analysis in PD or ET, respectively. In both, patients with PD and ET, we found a considerable number of muscle combinations oscillating at virtually the same frequency (delta frequency <0.4 Hz) without showing a significant coherence. Thus, the frequency difference between different muscles is not sufficient to measure the correlation between two muscles. Significant coherencies between muscles within the same arm or leg were found in 70% or 90% of patients with PD or ET, respectively, whereas only one patient with PD and not a single patient with ET showed significant coherencies between muscles from different limbs. The phase between coherent muscles of the same arm of patients with PD showed a preference of either a reciprocal alternating pattern for antagonistic muscles in forearm flexor and upper arm extensor as opposed to a co-contraction pattern between the hand flexors and the triceps brachii. In patients with ET such clear differences were lacking. We conclude that multiple oscillators are responsible for the tremor in different extremities of patients with PD and ET. Differences between PD and ET concerning the phase relation within the arm may either be related to the topography within the basal ganglia or to differently involved-spinal pathways.

Arm↗
PubMed1999

Addition of a small curvature reduces power losses across total cavopulmonary connections.

BACKGROUND: In the Fontan circulation the vis a tergo for lung perfusion is limited. The hypothesis of this in vitro study was that energy dissipation at the common cavopulmonary connection can be reduced by the addition of caval curvature. METHODS: Two Perspex models were analyzed, the commonly used crosslike cavopulmonary connection (model 1) and a modified curved configuration (model 2). Pressures and flows across the connections were measured simultaneously at various caval and pulmonary artery flow splits and resistances. Mixing of inferior and superior caval fluid was evaluated. RESULTS: Caval pressure oscillations occurred in model 1 only. Curvature reduced power losses in all settings significantly (alpha = 0.05), most successfully at adult caval flow ratios and at high flow rates. At equal pulmonary resistances pulmonary flow was balanced in both models. The inferior caval fluid is preferably directed to the right lung in model 2 predominantly for caval flow conditions in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the modified curved cavopulmonary connection is hydrodynamically advantageous but might impair caval fluid mixing in younger children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

An in-vitro evaluation of aortic arch vessel perfusion characteristics comparing single versus multiple stream aortic cannulae.

OBJECTIVE: During extracorporeal circulation design and orientation of aortic cannulae tips mainly determine flow pattern in the aortic arch and arch vessels which is the objective of this in vitro study, comparing single versus multiple stream cannulae. METHODS: In an aortic arch glass model, jet streams of 21-24 French aortic cannulae which were inserted in the ascending aorta were directed alternatively at the different arch vessels. Flows and pressures in the arch vessels were measured at pump flows of 3-6 l/min. RESULTS: With optimal orientation of the jet stream in the aortic arch, no preferential flow in the arch vessels was seen. In the single jet stream aortic cannulae group a significant parallel increase in flow and pressure in the jet streamed arch vessels compared to the non-jet streamed arch vessels occurred (P < 0.05). With the jet stream directed on vessel 2 (left carotid vessel) there was a significant pressure and flow difference comparing the two non-jet streamed vessels with each other (P < 0.03). In the single stream 24 French cannulae the highest vessel pressure of 168 mmHg and an increase in flow of 186 ml/min was measured in the jet streamed left carotid artery at 6 l/min pump flow. The multiple stream cannulae provoked the highest vessel pressure of 106 mmHg in the corresponding jet streamed vessel and an increase in flow of 20 ml/min. CONCLUSION: Tip design of aortic cannulae and the orientation of its jet stream are potential sources of remarkable imbalance of arch vessel perfusion especially with single jet stream cannulae. These effects are more pronounced with single jet stream cannulae. These results may have important clinical implications regarding perfusion of arch vessels during extracorporeal circulation.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1998

Superior hydrodynamics of a modified cavopulmonary connection for the Norwood operation.

BACKGROUND: In the Fontan circulation, energy consumption at the cavopulmonary connection is crucial. Our hypothesis was that a modification of the standard Norwood variant of cavopulmonary connection with an extended anastomosis would improve hydrodynamics. METHODS: The in vitro hydrodynamics of two different Perspex glass models resembling the Norwood variant of cavopulmonary connection (model I) and the modification (model II) were analyzed in a mock circulation at nonpulsatile flows of 2 to 5 L/min to simulate rest and exercise. The pulmonary flow split was varied to imitate varying lung resistances. Inferior-to-superior caval flow ratio and size of models were increased to simulate growth. RESULTS: The pulmonary flow was preferentially directed to the left lung in model I and was better balanced in model II. Power losses increased exponentially with total flow in both models and were markedly higher in model I. These differences were attenuated in the larger models. Anastomotic turbulences were larger in model I. Power losses in both models were relatively insensitive to changes in pulmonary flow split. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed modification of the Norwood variant of cavopulmonary connection seems to be hydrodynamically advantageous and warrants further evaluation.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1995

A new experimental model and formula for flow determination and possible application in sizing of interatrial communication.

The concept of an artificial interatrial communication in application of the Fontan procedure in high risk patients has raised the problem to exactly determine the shunt amount. This experimental study shows that in vitro flow studies of interatrial communications can be performed without animal blood and PTFE membranes respectively. Furthermore the simulation of an pulmonary vascular venous flow is not necessary. Additionally a new formula with acceptable accuracy for flow estimation is derived from the presented data obtained by this study.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Microangiopathy in chronic venous insufficiency].

Skin in the medial malleolar region was examined in 15 patients with moderately severe venous insufficiency (9 women, 6 men; mean age 57 [35-76] years), using intravital fluorescence microscopy, transcutaneous pO2 measurement and laser Doppler flowmetry. The findings were compared with those in a healthy control group (8 women, 7 men; mean age 53 [35-73] years). The arteriolar vasoconstriction response was tested by comparing laser Doppler flowmetry readings in the recumbent and sitting positions. Transcutaneous pO2 was likewise measured in both positions. Capillary morphology and microangiodynamics were investigated before and after injection of Na-fluorescein. The microangiopathy of moderately severe venous insufficiency was characterised fluorescence microscopically by greatly dilated, elongated and winding (glomerulus-like) capillaries, and by an increase in the pericapillary leakage diameter (halo). However, the vasoconstrictive response to change in posture remained largely intact, and there was little alteration in the spontaneous rhythmic flow waves. In contrast, flow in the recumbent position was significantly increased (P less than 0.001), since laser Doppler flowmetry also measures the flow in deeper (1-6 mm), non-nutrient skin vessels. In spite of a normal capillary count, the mean transcutaneous pO2 was reduced, in keeping with the microangiopathy observed in the superficial nutrient capillaries. These pronounced morphological and dynamic changes explain the development of trophic lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Diameters of lymphatic capillaries in patients with different forms of primary lymphedema.

Fluorescence microlymphography was performed near the medial ankle in 12 healthy controls, 12 patients with congenital and 12 with sporadic lymphedema of the lower extremities. Diameters of lymphatic capillaries were determined on the videoscreen by playback of the tape recordings using a morphometric technique. In the patients with congenital disease (Nonne-Milroy) aplasia of microlymphatics was diagnosed in 8 instances, ectasia in 4. Patients with sporadic lymphedema and manifestation after puberty exhibited initial lymphatics of normal caliber. In controls mean capillary diameter was 56.3 +/- 9.0 microns, in congenital disease with ectasia 99.3 +/- 9.0 microns (difference significant at the p less than 0.005 level) and in the sporadic form 49.7 +/- 7.7 microns. Congenital lymphedema may be subdivided into a form with aplastic and ectatic microvessels which possibly show different responses to therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Comparison of the efficacy and tolerance of Kabi 2165 and standard heparin in the prevention of deep venous thrombosis in total hip prosthesis].

A series of 80 patients operated for total hip prosthesis under epidural anesthesia was randomly allocated to treatment with Kabi 2165 (n = 40): 2,500 U anti-Xa preoperatively and evening of operation and 2,500 U anti-Xa morning and evening daily up to the 9th or 10th day postoperatively, or standard heparin (n = 40): 3,750 U preoperatively and then 8 hourly, at a dose adjusted with thrombin time and cephalin + activator time, daily up to the 9th or 10th day. Phlebography was performed routinely on the 9th or 10th day. Venous thrombosis occurred in 7 patients (17.5%) in the Kabi 2165 group, including two high, potentially emboligenic, localizations (5%), and in 4 patients (10%) in the standard heparin group, including 2 potentially emboligenic clots (5%). The difference is not statistically significant (total number: p = 0.5; potentially emboligenic: p = 0.33). Pulmonary embolism did not occur. Overall tolerance, evaluated from hemoglobin and hematocrit values, intra- and post-operative bleeding and operation wound hematoma and at injection site was comparable in the two groups.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

A comparative study on pesticide formulations for application in running waters.

Release rates into water of monolinuron, desmetryne, and carbofuran from three different types of formulations have been studied to control aquatic weeds in running waters. The migration of active ingredients (AI) from conventional wettable powder formulations was complete within 1 day, while the migration from ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymeric matrix (EVA) lasted significantly longer due to low diffusion coefficients of monomeric pesticides in polymeric matrices Do = 10(-8)-10(-12) (cm2 X sec-1). The herbicidal action could be extrapolated up to several years. Release duration of AI from calcium alginate beads lasted 2 weeks. Herbicidal effectiveness of terbutryne-EVA formulation has been investigated in a laboratory-scale simulated flow system device with duckweed plants (Lemna minor) as test organism. Growth inhibition of duckweed could be achieved at approx 20 ppb terbutryne in steady state.

Absorption↗