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Biomedical subjects

G Steinkamp

Publications and source records attributed to G Steinkamp.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study of aerosolized tobramycin for early treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization in cystic fibrosis.

In chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), antibiotic therapy generally fails to eradicate the bacterial pathogen. The mucoid bacterial phenotype, high sputum production by the host, and low airway levels of antibiotics seem to be responsible for the observed decrease in antibiotic efficacy. We hypothesized that early antibiotic treatment by inhalation in CF patients may be able to prevent or at least delay airway infection. In a prospective placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized multicenter study, 22 CF patients received either 80 mg b.i.d. of aerosolized tobramycin or placebo for a period of 12 months shortly after the onset of P. aeruginosa pulmonary colonization. Two patients in the tobramycin and six patients in the placebo group stopped inhalation before the 12 month treatment period. Using life table analysis, the time to conversion from a P. aeruginosa-positive to a P. aeruginosa-negative respiratory culture was significantly shorter in the tobramycin-treated group than in the placebo group (P < 0.05, log rank test). Lung function parameters and markers of inflammation did not change in either group during treatment. The results of this study suggest that early tobramycin inhalation may prevent and/or delay P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection in CF patients.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1998

[Evaluation of extramural gerontopsychiatric treatment. I: On the possibility of clinical ambulatory and partial inpatient treatment of elderly psychiatric patients].

Based on data of a quantitative longitudinal study (one year) in two gerontopsychiatric catchment areas in Northrhine-Westfalia (FRG, City of Bielefeld and the district of Gütersloh) the question is discussed, whether an extramural (i.e. home-based outpatient- and day hospital-) treatment concept can be realized without selection of patients by diagnoses or severity of their mental disorders and that of their need of care. These three variables, which are important indicators of the necessary quality and quantity of treatment as well as of care for the patients, are surveyed. In three analytic steps the distribution of the gerontopsychiatric research population--concerning these three variables--over the three treatment settings (in-/outpatient and day hospital) in the two catchment areas is compared. For the district of Gütersloh--with an institution specialized on extramural treatment (the Gerontopsychiatric Center with a combination of a clinical outpatient service and a day hospital) the findings proof, that outpatient--in comparison with inpatient treatment--does not select patients by diagnoses nor by severity of their mental disorders nor by severity of their need of care. The outpatient service in Gütersloh--and nearly in the same degree the day hospital there--can actually integrate older patients with a higher severity of psychiatric symptoms and need of care in average than the inpatient departments in the two clinical gerontopsychiatric units under research.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Evaluation of gerontopsychiatric treatment. II: On the effectiveness of clinical ambulatory, partial inpatient and inpatient treatment of elderly psychiatric patients].

Based on data of a quantitative prospective longitudinal study (one year) with mentally disordered elderly aged 60 years and older in two geronto-psychiatric catchment areas in Northrhine-Westfalia (FRG, the City of Bielefeld and the district of Gütersloh) we compare in this second part of our investigation the effects of clinical outpatient-, day hospital- and inpatient treatment settings. Criteria of comparison are the outcome variables: (re-)admission rates within one year, development of severity of psychiatric symptoms and that of need of care in a gerontopsychiatric population (t1: N = 124, t2: N = 90). Important results of this study are: home based outpatient and day hospital treatment reduce the risk of (re-)admission into hospital significantly in contrast to inpatient treatment for all diagnostical groups of mental disorders within one year. Clinical gerontopsychiatric outpatient treatment for elderly with functional psychic disorders is more effective (in terms of development of need of care) than inpatient and--surprisingly--also than day hospital treatment. For older people with organic psychoses (mostly dementia), however, the development of severity of psychiatric symptoms as well as that of their need of care doesn't show any differences between the three groups of patients (in-/outpatient and day hospital). But outpatient and day hospital treatment also don't have worse effects on the patients than inpatient treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Patient management in geriatric psychiatry by ambulatory care services. Results of an empirical analysis].

This study was designed to provide information to which extend home-based nursing care services for the elderly take part in the care for older people with mental disorders. Also of interest was the involvement of clinical facilities and services of the geropsychiatric treatment system in the health care for the clients. A one day data collection in 29 nursing care services in two North Rhine-Westphalian regions could raise informations about 1,246 clients aged 60 years and over 1,522 persons (41.8%) had a mental disorder, diagnosed by a nursing and/or medical professional. 68% of the mental disordered clients had dementia or a demential disorder, 6% a functional psychosis, and 31% a neurotic, psychogenic disorder or substance abuse (small number of clients with two and more diagnoses). 82% of clients with mental disorders had one or more additional somatic disease(s). These diseases were mostly the cause for the involvement of home-based nursing care service. Barely 8% of clients with mental disorders were placed from clinical facilities and services of the geropsychiatric treatment system into the nursing care services. Beside the home-based care, only a 12% of mental disordered received clients outpatient psychiatric treatment. Systematic cooperation between the nursing care services and the system of (gero-) psychiatric treatment was a rare exception.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Fibrinolytic therapy with low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in retinal vein occlusion.

Fibrinolytic therapy aimed at early restoration of blood flow appears to be a promising therapeutic approach in haemorrhagic retinopathy. The risk of bleeding complications, a major problem with fibrinolysis, can be reduced by the use of low-dose thrombolytic regimens. In our study, 14 patients with ischaemic central (CRVO) or branch (BRVO) retinal vein occlusion who presented with severe visual loss and recent onset of symptoms were treated with a low dose (50 mg) of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and intravenous heparin. In 10 of 14 patients (7 CRVO, 3 BRVO), an increase in visual acuity of one line or more on the logarithmic visual acuity chart was noted and in 8 patients (6 CRVO, 2 BRVO) a reduction of areas of capillary non-perfusion was observed, suggesting that a restoration of retinal capillary blood flow can be achieved if fibrinolysis is initiated in the early phase of haemorrhagic retinopathy. In view of the poor prognosis in the natural course of haemorrhagic retinopathy and the potential haemorrhagic risk in fibrinolysis, the use of low-dose rt-PA appears to constitute an encouraging approach in the management of this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Why do adults with mucoviscidosis refuse a medically recommended course of intravenous antibiotic therapy?].

BACKGROUND: Regular courses of intravenous antibiotics are recommended for the treatment of chronic Pseudomonas aeruglnosa (PA) infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. We report the results of interviews performed to evaluate why a subgroup of patients vote against regular intravenous (i.v.) antibiotic treatment. METHODS: Structured interviews covering a) the individual's perception of chronic PA infection, b) the patient's expectations regarding the effectiveness of i.v. treatment, c) the patient's personal reasons for refusal of i.v. treatment. STUDY COHORT: 16 out of 18 adult patients treated in the adult CF outpatient clinic at Hannover Medical School who had voted against the physician's recommendation to receive regular i.v. therapy twice a year. RESULTS: More than one half of the patients did not regard chronic PA infection as important due to the lack of specific symptoms. A subgroup of patients had no idea of what their clinical status should be if i.v. antibiotics would be necessary; these patients reported prior experience of treatment courses which had been ineffective and had been instituted after talking into the patients. The most frequent reasons against IV treatment were not being sick enough and fear of adverse drug effects. ASSESSMENT: The results are being discussed considering the physician-patient relationship. The reasons why patients refuse help should be extensively explored rather than simply addressing this attitude as "non-compliance". Patients, too, come to reasonable decisions, and it is important to know their thoughts and reasoning if one intends to influence them.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Regulation of glutathione level in venous plasma and aqueous humor in cataracta senilis provecta].

UNLABELLED: Glutathione is a major component of the mechanisms protecting the eye against oxidants. To analyse the functional status and the regulation of the glutathione system in the eyes of patients with advanced cataract, glutathione concentrations were quantified in venous plasma and aqueous humor. METHODS: In all, 42 patients with advanced cataract (29 women, 13 men; mean age (+/- SEM) 70 +/- 2 years; vision < or = 0.3) were evaluated. Aqueous humour and venous plasma were obtained at the beginning of cataract surgery. RESULTS: Levels of total glutathione [reduced (GSH) + oxidized glutathione (GSSG)] in plasma were 2.34 +/- 0.23 microM. There was 2.08 +/- 0.15 microM in the reduced form and 0.27 +/- 0.17 microM oxidized glutathione, which means that 94.7 +/- 2.1% of the total glutathione was GSH, the form fully functional as an antioxidant. Levels of total glutathione in the aqueous humor were 1.2 +/- 0.16 microM, i.e. 54.5 +/- 4.8% of plasma levels. Surprisingly, the percentage of GSSG in aqueous humor (0.24 +/- 0.07 microM, 31 +/- 10.5% of the total glutathione) was much higher than that in plasma (P < 0.001). The correlation between glutathione concentrations in plasma and aqueous humor was on the borderline of significance (rs = 0.32, P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: The proportion of oxidized glutathione is higher in aqueous humor than in plasma of patients with advanced senile cataracts, indicating increased oxidant stress in the eye. Further, the regulation of the glutathione system in the eye, at least in aqueous humor, is dependent on plasma glutathione levels. This correlation reflects the importance of sufficient glutathione levels in venous plasma and suggests the possibility of modulating the glutathione system in the eye via manipulation of plasma glutathione levels.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Ambulatory management of the psychiatrically disturbed elderly--a comparative empirical study of 2 health care regions].

Gerontopsychiatric centres are functional settings which provide mainly out-patient care for mentally ill elderly persons. The centres were established in order to transfer the care of mentally ill elderly people from in-patient to out-patient care. This study examines to which extent this goal can be reached and where the limits of this transfer are. Two regions, the city of Bielefeld without gerontopsychiatric centre and the Gütersloh district with such a centre, were compared. It was shown that a transfer from intramural to extramural care was successfully accomplished by gerontopsychiatric centres. The transfer is scarcely limited by kind and severity of the disorder. Often an informal network is necessary for an out out-patient or partially out-patient care. But also with weak networks out-patient care is possible if there is a good-functioning formal network. Gerontopsychiatric centres constitute a central structural element in community-oriented care of the mentally ill elderly. They can help to realize the goal of a self-determinant and independent life.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Improvement of nutritional status and lung function after long-term nocturnal gastrostomy feedings in cystic fibrosis.

We investigated weight gain and clinical course of 14 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), aged 7 to 23 years, who received long-term nocturnal supplemental feedings by means of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEGs). The patients (nine female, five male) were moderately malnourished; the weight-for-height value was 77.8% (SD 6.4%) of the predicted value. Lung function tests revealed severe airway obstruction; mean vital capacity was 46.1% (SD 14.4%), and mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 30.8% (SD 12.3%) of predicted value. A nonelemental formula providing 35% of total energy from fat was used for nocturnal feedings. The patients received 800 to 1500 kcal per night by slow intragastric infusions. Enteric-coated pancreatic microsphere preparations were taken orally just before bedtime. After 1 year of supplemental feedings, body weight had increased by 6.0 kg (SD 3.6 kg) and weight-for-height value by 9.0% (SD 6.1%) of predicted compared with baseline values. Lung function also improved significantly: vital capacity increased by 8.2% (SD6.3%) and FEV1 by 3.9% (SD 4.2%) of predicted values (p < 0.01). The total duration of nocturnal feedings was 364 months, or 26 months per patient. Nine of the fourteen patients continue to use the PEG, three patients had the PEG tube removed, and two patients have died 21 and 23 months after PEG insertion. We conclude that nocturnal PEG feedings of malnourished patients with CF improve nutritional status and lung function without major side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Cystic fibrosis: the impact of analytical technology for genotype-phenotype studies.

The generalized exocrinopathy cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common severe genetic disease in Caucasian populations. A panel of more than 700 chromosomes from German and Turkish CF patients was screened for disease-causing mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene by chemical cleavage of mismatch, single strand conformation polymorphism, restriction analysis and direct sequencing of genomic DNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Besides the major 3-bp deletion, delta F508 that was found on 73% of German CF chromosomes, more than 50 other missense, nonsense, frame-shift, and splice-site mutations have already been identified. In general, a CFTR mutation is linked with a single 10-marker haplotype which indicates that in most cases a particular mutation spread from a common ancestor. The comparison of mutation genotypes with the disease phenotype emphasized the causative role of the type and localization of the CFTR mutation for clinical course and prognosis. Pancreatic status and the risk of colonization of airways with opportunistic pathogens are genetically determined. Most patients who are harbouring mutations in the nucleotide binding folds were suffering from severe CF disease. Mild or even aberrant forms of CF were observed for many missense mutations located in the putative transmembrane domains or for mutations that are expected to result in a truncated protein of half of wild-type CFTR.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed1993

[Social inequality, illness risk and life expectancy: criticism of social epidemiological injustice research].

The inquiry of the association between social class and illness/life expectancy lacks as well on theory orientated conceptualization of the complex causal chain from social inequality to individual consequences as on differentiation of each of its links. In order to eliminate these deficits a hierarchical multidimensional process model will be introduced, in which the position in the system of social inequality (macro dimension) is connected with the dimension of social action (meso dimension, esp. family and professional context) and this again with the dimension of the individual (micro dimension: personality/organism) in different stages of the life course.

Hierarchy, Social↗