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H Schlitt

Publications and source records attributed to H Schlitt.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

["Fast-Track" for laparoscopic-assisted rectum resection--what can be achieved? First results of a feasibility study].

AIM: "Fast-track" multimodal rehabilitation is increasingly entering the perioperative management strategies in colon surgery aiming at minimized perioperative morbidity and accelerated recovery. So far little is known about the complementary effects of minimally invasive surgery along with "fast-track" rehabilitation in the treatment of rectal cancer. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the influence of "fast-track" perioperative management on morbidity, recovery and length of hospital stay in laparoscopically-assisted rectum resections and to compare those data to earlier results. METHODS: An interdiciplinary "fast-track" multimodal rehabilitation strategy with avoidance of mechanical bowel cleansing, with a restrictive intravenous intra- and postoperative fluid regimen, forced mobilisation, and early enteral nutrition was introduced into clinical practice and applied in 16 laparoscopically-assisted rectum resections. Data were collected in the course af a prospective analysis. The mean patient age was 62 (42-79) years. RESULTS: Mean time of surgery was 245 (SD 46) min, and the mean intraoperative infusion rate was 11.2 (SD 2.6) ml/kg/BW. On day 2, 14 of the 16 patients tolerated solid food and 12 patients had had bowel movements. All patients returned to their initial body weight by day 4. The median postoperative hospital stay was 7.5 days (6-20), 12 patients were discharged between day 6 and 8. Two patients were readmitted for intestinal atony, one patient developed an anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSIONS: "Fast-track" rehabilitation is feasible in rectum surgery and seems to complement the beneficial effects of minimally invasive surgery without increasing the complication rate.

Adult↗

Impinger sampling coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography by a modified autoinjector interface.

This work describes a device that permits the use of a small glass impinger for the automatic sampling and enrichment of air pollutants "on-line" with high-performance liquid chromatographic separation. The impinger is mounted in a modified autoinjector instead of in the vial rack which, using appropriately modified software, permits the automatic sampling of the pollutants by bubbling air through an adequate reaction solution. This solution with the trapped/reacted compounds is then transferred by the autosampler syringe from the impinger to a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column. After several steps to clean the impinger, using the mobile phase or a specially chosen solvent, the impinger is ready for a new analysis. With a tandem configuration, which allows the first sample to be analysed during the sampling of a second one, a higher analysis frequency is obtained. The technique was tested by determining ng/l concentrations of aldehydes and ketones in an urban environment, sucking air through solutions of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and phosphoric acid in triethylphosphate. The resulting DNP-hydrazones were injected automatically into a 250 x 4.6 mm I.D. reversed-phase C18 HPLC column (3 microns) and were separated using an isocratic acetonitrile-water (70:30, v/v) mobile phase and then they were detected with a UV monitor at 360 nm. All sampling parameters, such as DNPH and acid concentrations, impinger air flow, sampling time, derivatization speed, blank values, etc., are discussed.

Air Pollutants↗

Cognitive skills in achondroplasia.

Increased intracranial pressure and ventricular and subarachnoidal dilatation are common manifestations in achondroplasia. They rarely lead to major neurologic and/or psychomotor deficits and neurosurgical intervention is seldom needed. The present study was undertaken to detect signs of minor cerebral dysfunction and discuss possibilities of their prevention. Thirty children with achondroplasia were compared to 3 control groups: their next-born sibs, 30 children with other forms of dwarfism, and 30 children with normal height. Early development was assessed by means of questionnaires. Cognitive skills were evaluated with the German version of the Cognitive Abilities Test and the Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Test. Personality data were tested using standardized neuroticism, extraversion, and anxiety scales. Children with achondroplasia had more frequent histories of delayed motor development, retarded speech development, and lower school grades in language-related specialties. Psychometric testing disclosed total and subtest scores in the population-based normal range. In comparison with their sibs and matched controls children with achondroplasia had significantly lower total scores mainly caused by low scores in the subtest "verbal comprehension." We conclude that verbal comprehension is significantly impaired in children with achondroplasia. This partial deficiency is probably related to frequent middle ear infections and resulting conductive hearing loss. Hypotonia with delayed oropharyngeal muscle coordination and parental response to an altered, more infantile instinctive releasing pattern may be contributing factors.

Achondroplasia↗

Chamber testing of organic emission from building and furnishing materials.

The equipment and the procedure employed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the volatile organic compounds emitted from samples of building and furnishing materials are described. The equipment includes two small test chambers (0.45 m3), with accurately controlled temperature, relative humidity and air flow rate, and instrumentation for sampling and analysis (Tenax tubes, GC-FID and GC-MS). To find quasi-steady-state emission conditions, the procedure includes the determination of the time profiles of the organic compounds concentration, which develop after the introduction of the samples into the chamber. A best-fitting, double exponential equation is used for this purpose. The procedure has been applied to three materials: particle board with carpet; gypsum board with wallpaper; and plywood with polyurethane lacquer, for which the steady-state emission factors (mg m-2 h-1) of several compounds are given. Many other compounds were identified, but were not quantified. Some comments are given on the health significance of the compounds emitted from the materials when used indoors.

Air Pollutants↗

[Objectivization of psychosocial characteristics in chronic physical deformities. Example: Funnel chest--results of an integrative diagnosis].

In a thorough investigation of 164 characteristics (sequelae) in 41 patients with funnel chest, the fundamentals of a method for "integrating diagnosis" are presented. The symptoms "funnel chest" can be of varied significance, according to the degree of deformity, ranging from a severe handicap to a cosmetic fault. This paper suggests a possible way of objectivating the symptoms, which are often only subjective or only indirectly correlated with the basic illness. Such (psychosocial) stress increases with increasing age, or rather with increasing self-reflection. In these patients, one finds, among other symptoms, reduced capacity for exertion, inhibition of autonomous tendencies, poor estimation of their appearance, subjective feelings of stigma, exaggerated suggestibility, orientation towards failure, fear, and specific shame reactions. The formation of these reactions has a concrete effect on all essential aspects of the patient's way of life. It is recommended that the term "cosmetic indication" be no longer used in diagnosis, and that specific psychotherapeutic measures, as well as operative correction, should as a rule be carried out.

Adolescent↗

[The audioanalysator. A bridge between audiometry and psychoacoustics].

An analyser with a system of continous sweeping frequencies and a spectrum of strongly different control signals is described here. Including the active participation of the patient and his impaired hearing a much more accurate finding of symptoms is possible than with the standard methods of audiometry. The major factors mentioned include the continuous fine testing of the sounds heard in an unlimitated choice of frequencies ranging between 20 Hz. and 20 000 Hz. with an automated search unit as well as a test for the highest tones. After brief instruction the tests are determined by the patient himself according to choice monaurally and/or binaurally depending on comparisons and corrections right/left. This leads to highly differentiated statements on the sounds heard and to comparable qualities of tone which until today have been unknown in this wide extent of variety to audiometry and audiology and which presents totally new aspects. One of the main purposes of the audioanalyser is to detect the role played by the transients in discrimination. Obviously also the highest tones influence the character of the transients. They are apt to be easily lost e.g. by infections any kind. A vigilant patient will become aware of this loss.

Adolescent↗

Mutagenicity and chemical analysis of airborne particulates from a rural area in Italy.

Mutagenic activities of a sample of characterized airborne particulates collected in a rural location near Ispra (Italy) during the summer of 1980 were detected by the Ames test using TA 1537, TA 1538, TA 98, and TA 100 Salmonella strains. Eight chemical classes fractionated from the CH2Cl2 extract of the particulates were bioassayed, and their mutagenicities (TA 98 plus S9) were as follows: organic bases I greater than polar neutrals greater than insolubles in cyclohexane greater than organic acid II greater than aerosol "in toto" greater than intermediate neutrals greater than polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons greater than organic acids I greater than nonpolar neutrals. Periodical samples were taken in the same location from March to December 1981, extracted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and directly tested with TA 1537, TA 98, and TA 100 Salmonella strains. For all the strains the mutagenicity varied markedly according to the season, the cold-month samples being much more mutagenic than the summer-month samples. The additional of S9 increased the mutagenicity (twofold) of the cold-month samples. The higher mutagenicity of the samples collected during the cold months could be due to greater amounts of mutagens produced by the combustion processes of domestic heating.

Air Pollutants↗