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Biomedical subjects

H Seeber

Publications and source records attributed to H Seeber.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Olfactory dysfunction. Epidemiology, pathophsiological classification, diagnosis and therapy].

The present manuscript is the result of a collaborative effort within the framework of the Working Group of Olfactology and Gustology of the German Society for ENT, Head and Neck Surgery. It provides a comprehensive overview about the current views on the epidemiology, terminology, diagnostics, and therapy of olfactory dysfunction, and aims to offer a framework for the standardized procedures for the diagnosis and therapy of olfactory disorders.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2000

Multicenter investigation of 1,036 subjects using a standardized method for the assessment of olfactory function combining tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds.

"Sniffin' Sticks" is a test of nasal chemosensory performance that is based on penlike odor-dispensing devices. It is comprised of three tests of olfactory function: tests for odor threshold, discrimination and identification. Previous work has already established its test-retest reliability and validity in comparison to established measures of olfactory sensitivity. The results of this test are presented as a composite TDI score--i.e., the sum of results obtained for threshold, discrimination and identification measures. The present multicenter investigation aimed at providing normative values in relation to different age groups. To this end, 966 patients were investigated in 11 centers. An additional study tried to establish values for the identification of anosmic patients, with 70 anosmics investigated in five specialized centers where the presence of anosmia was confirmed by means of olfactory evoked potentials. For healthy subjects, the TDI score at the 10th percentile was 24.5 in subjects younger than 15 years, 30.3 for ages from 16 to 35 years, 28.8 for ages from 36 to 55 years and 27.5 for subjects older than 55 years. While these data can be used to estimate individual olfactory abilities in relation to a subject's age, hyposmia was defined as the 10th percentile score of 16- to 35-year-old subjects. Our latter study revealed that none of 70 anosmics reached a TDI score higher than 15. This score of 15 is regarded as the cut-off value for functional anosmia. These results provide the basis for the routine clinical evaluation of patients with olfactory disorders using "Sniffin' Sticks."

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Patient's advance directives and appointment of a health-care proxy in elderly psychiatric patients].

In clinical practice and in research projects the presence of an advance directive or an appointment of a health-care proxy may substantially contribute to decisions of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, if a person has lost his ability to consent. A special questionnaire was given to a non representative sample of 206 elderly inpatients suffering from different psychiatric disorders. The majority of these patients (57%) supported the necessity of such instruments. In a further 5.4% of the interviewees written documents, either advance directive or determination of a health-care proxy, were already present. However, 25% of the interviewed patients did not approve of the usefulness of these instruments and 12.5% answered that they were not able to give any decision. Among the interviewed patients, age, gender and the psychiatric disorder present were not associated with approval or refusal. However, higher education was related to the approval of advance directives. This study demonstrates that in a relatively large sample of elderly patients with psychiatric disorders approval of an advance directive and a determination of a health-care proxy is present in a substantial majority. The results suggest that there is urgent need for more intensive information of elderly people about these documents. This could contribute to a decision process about medical interventions in incapacitated persons which is in accordance with their former will.

Advance Directives↗
PubMed1990

[Taste disorders in chromium exposed workers].

Taste thresholds were investigated by means of chemical and electric stimulation in order to prove the induction of taste disturbances by chrome dust. There were examined 46 persons with exposition by potassium bichromate, chromic acid and zinc chromate, 19 of them working under conditions of a lower chrome exposition level but 27 of them working under conditions of a higher chrome exposition level. We could find a increasing threshold in taste qualities "sweet", "poor", "salty" and "bitter" corresponding to an increase of chrome exposition on the one hand and likewise of electric stimuli on the other hand. The quantity of chrome exposition must be regarded more important than its quality and its duration. Finally we want to recommend the appliance of always as electrogustometry as chemogustometry for occupational taste investigations because both the methods seem to differ somewhat.

Ageusia↗
PubMed1989

[Occupations and the sense of smell].

Olfactometric fitness examinations in relation to the place of work are required since the olfactory organ has support and protective functions. Smelling disorders result at work from trauma, hypersensitivity, acute and chronic intoxications, but most frequently from chemical and physical substances taken up by inhalation. They are different due to their expression (slight hyposmia till to anosmia, parosmia), latency, localization (respiratory, epithelial, nerval, central), and a combination with other disorders. In order to examine rhinologically the patient, the nasal mucosa has to be assessed. Its lesion does not necessarily correlate to the smell disorder. 475 patients were exposed to a total of 10 different substances or classes of substances. It was demonstrated that disorders of the whole nasal physiology can be caused by toxic and nontoxic substances, e.g. calcium carbide when taking effect for a longer period, even below their legally required "maximum absorption concentration". The treatment is started after ending the exposition. The expert's opinion is based on the clinical findings, a standardized investigation of smelling, the patient's history incl. the history of occupation, and an analysis of the place-of-work conditions. The degree of bodily defect is related to the single types of disorder. In case of a complete anosmia it is 20%. It is assumed that a growing number of occupation-related smell disorders become known and, hence, have to be assessed.

Environmental Exposure↗