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Biomedical subjects

G Reichel

Publications and source records attributed to G Reichel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[The inhalation 1 concentration test for the assessment of bronchial reactivity].

An unspecific bronchial provocation challenge with a 1-concentration test is a reliable method to distinguish between normal and hyperreactive persons. The patient inhales a bronchoconstricting substance such as methacholine. A significant change of lung function, for example an increase of airway resistance, characterizes a hyperreactive bronchial system. The continuous registration of transcutaneous oxygen pressure is helpful concerning a strong reaction or a peripheral airway obstruction. An exaggerated increase of airway resistance after provocation test can be treated rapidly by inhalation of sympathicomimetics. No complications were registered. Comparative studies showed a good reproducibility of this method. Summarizing, the 1-concentration test is simple, easy to perform and suitable especially for investigations in occupational medicine or epidemiology.

Airway Resistance

[Changes in the pleura of subjects occupationally-exposed to asbestos: radiological study technique, spectrum, etiological classification and coding according to the ILO classification].

Pleural abnormalities of 119 occupationally asbestos-exposed with prominent internal stripe of the lateral thoracic wall were radiodiagnostically analysed by plain films of the thorax in four views and by computed tomography in the course of medical expert's certification. Abnormalities were coded according to 1980 ILO international classification of pneumoconioses. Hardly half of the patients had pleural abnormalities caused by asbestos exposure: Pleural plaques, "diffuse" pleural fibrosis, pleural effusions, organized pleural effusions and pleural tumors. The other half of the patients had pleural involvement of pulmonary and chest wall abnormalities or variations of the lateral thoracic wall not related to asbestos exposure. The 1980 ILO classification of pneumoconioses proved to be inadequate for complete coding of the abnormalities, since only the postero-anterior plain film of the thorax must be used, since the normal appearance of the pleura is insufficiently defined and since the entity of organized pleural effusion is lacking.

Asbestosis

[Asbestos-induced bronchopulmonary diseases].

Asbestos is a collective term for fibrous crystalline silicate minerals, which can be used to produce technically useful fibers. The various types of asbestos, such as chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite, may induce not only fibrotic changes in the pleura and lungs, but also carcinomas and mesotheliomas. The increasing industrial use of asbestos has led to a marked increase in bronchopulmonary diseases, which can be shown to be caused by occupational exposure to fine asbestos dust. In this overview, the pathological anatomy, differential diagnosis and occupational-medical assessment of the various conditions induced by asbestos are discussed.

Asbestos

[Piriformis syndrome. A contribution to the differential diagnosis of lumbago and coccygodynia].

The piriformis syndrome is characterized by pain in the buttock radiating to the leg and to the coccydeal region. It is an isthmus syndrome of the N. ischiadicus and/or N. cutaneous femoris posterior. The most frequent causes are blunt traumas of the buttocks and spasms of the N. piriformis. More often than not the piriformis syndrome is the cause of a "postlaminectomy syndrome" or of a coccygodynia. The diagnosis can be established by a clinical examination with sufficient reliability.

Back Pain

[Polyneuropathy and residual insulin secretion in diabetes mellitus type I].

In 145 patients suffering from type-I-diabetes with or without signs or symptoms of polyneuropathy basal and glucose-glucagon-induced secretion of insulin was determined. Patients without remaining insulin secretion exhibited somewhat more often polyneuropathies, slowing of nerve conduction, or reduced respiratory heart arrhythmia. If diabetes lasts for more than 10 years, insulin secretion ist reduced to such a low level that its may not have any significant preventive capability with respect to polyneuropathy.

Blood Glucose

[Diabetic polyneuropathy. 4. Synopsis of electroneurographic findings in diabetics].

Sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve, motor conduction velocity of both median and tibial nerves, and corresponding distal laterncies are sufficient parameters to establish the diagnosis of polyneuropathy almost with certainty. Considering these six parameters yielded in detection of peripheral nerve dysfunction in 22% of diabetic patients who were free from clinical signs of polyneuropathy. Electroneurographical findings in 340 out of 677 patients with diabetes mellitus were interpreted as evidence of segmental demyelination. Within this group there was the majority of patients with clinical signs of polyneuropathy and with subclinical signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction. There existed a positive correlation between signs of nerve dysfunction with angiopathy, age and duration of the disease. A second group consisting of 243 diabetics with signs of incipient segmental demyelination with or without signs of axonaal degeneration mainly included juvenile patients with a short duration of the disease and with a low frequency of angiopathy.

Adolescent

[Method for studying spinal evoked potentials].

The authors describe a new method of examing evoked spinal potentials. Derivation is by means of unipolar needle electrodes which are ventrolaterally introduced into the cervical disk space as far as the posterior longitudinal ligament. Detection of a spinal potential following the stimulation of brachial and crural nerves allows to exclude the possibility of complete transverse lesion of the spinal cord or severing of the peripheral nerve or plexus.

Brachial Plexus

[The diabetic polyneuropathy. I. Relation between impaired function in peripheral nerves and clinical findings].

789 patients with diabetes mellitus were studied by clinical and electroneurographical investigation. Motor and sensory conduction velocities of the median nerve and motor conduction velocity of the tibial nerve were determined. 86.1% of the patients suffered from juvenile diabetes, and 13.9% from maturity onset diabetes. Average duration of the disease was 9.5 years, average age of the patients was 26.7 years. Clinical signs of polyneuropathy were found in 19.1%. In 40.9% of the patients at least one of 3 conduction velocities was found to be delayed. Patients with clinical signs of polyneuropathy exhibited delayed nerve conduction velocities and delayed distal latencies. Diagnosis of polyneuropathy almost with certainty is possible by determining the three nerve conduction velocities and the three corresponding distal latencies. 22% of patients without clinical signs of polyneuropathy exhibited electroneurographical signs of impaired peripheral nerve function. Heredity, body weight, lipid metabolism, actual metabolic balance, and treatment were found to be without any significant influence on nerve conduction velocity.

Adult

[The diabetic polyneuropathy. II. Polyneuropathy, angiopathy and nerve conduction velocity].

789 patients with diabetes mellitus were studied by clinical and electroneurographical examination. Motor conduction velocity of the median and the tibial nerve and sensory conduction of the median nerve were determined. 81.1% of the patients we suffering from diabetes which began in childhood or adolescence, 13.9% were suffering from maturity onset diabetes. Average duration of the disease was 9.5 years, average age was 26.7 years. Clinical signs of polyneuropathy were found in 19.1%. Typical findings were pain and paraesthesia, lack or abolition of triceps surae reflexes, impaired pallaesthesia on lower extremities. 48.3% of 151 patients with clinical signs of polyneuropathy were suffering from combined angiopathy, 32.5% from microangiopathy, 7.9% from macroangiopathy. Severity of complicating retinopathy and macroangio,athy were found to be correlated with polyneuropathy. 58.2% of 323 diabetics with at least one delayed nerve conduction velocity exhibited signs of angiopathy. In nearly 30% of children and adolescents after comparatively short duration of the disease at least one conduction velocity was delayed. In diabetic children and adolescents metabolic disturbances are assumed to cause peripheral nerve dysfunction.

Adolescent

[Electromyographic examinations of the musculus sphincter urethrae in children with meningomyelocele].

Thirty children with neurogenic voiding attendant upon myelomeningoceles were examined, and for twenty-three children the electromyographic findings were compared with urodynamic measuring results. The authors conclude that an increase in subvesical resistance is due not to an increase of tonicity of somatic sphincter muscles but to a predominance of sympathetic over parasympathetic innervation.

Electromyography

[Diabetic polyneuropathy. 3. Electroneurographic findings in diabetics and their relationships to age and duration of diabetes].

Nerve conduction velocities were determined in patients with diabetes mellitus: motor conduction of the median nerve in 778 patients, sensory conduction of the median nerve in 680 patients and motor conduction of the tibial nerve in 745 patients. In 40.9% out of 778 patients at least one of the three nerve conduction velocities were found within pathological ranges. 30.4% of 227 patients below 19 years of age in whom the duration of the disease did not exceed four years exhibited at least one delayed nerve conduction velocity. Clinical signs of polyneuropathy in children and in adolescents below 19 years of age are rare (0.6%). In contrast delayed nerve conduction velocities were found in 29.4%. Metabolic disturbance of peripheral nerve function is assumed to be responsible in these patients, for angiopathy in children and adolescents is very rare too.

Adolescent