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Biomedical subjects

H Springer

Publications and source records attributed to H Springer.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Nasal potential difference measurements in patients with atypical cystic fibrosis.

The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) is based on characteristic clinical and laboratory findings. However, a subgroup of patients present with an atypical phenotype that comprises partial CF phenotype, borderline sweat tests and one or even no common cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nasal potential difference (PD) measurements in the diagnosis of CF patients with an atypical presentation and in a population of patients suspected to have CF. Nasal PD was measured in 162 patients from four different groups: patients with classical CF (n = 31), atypical phenotype (n = 11), controls (n = 50), and patients with questionable CF (n = 70). The parameter, or combination of nasal PD parameters was calculated in order to best discriminate all CF patients (including atypical CF) from the non-CF group. The patients with atypical CF disease had intermediate values of PD measurements between the CF and non-CF groups. The best discriminate model that assigned all atypical CF patients as CF used: e(response to chloride-free and isoproterenol/response to amiloride) with a cut-off >0.70 to predict a CF diagnosis. When this model was applied to the group of 70 patients with questionable CF, 24 patients had abnormal PD similar to the atypical CF group. These patients had higher levels of sweat chloride concentration and increased rate of CFTR mutations. Nasal potential difference is useful in diagnosis of patients with atypical cystic fibrosis. Taking into account both the sodium and chloride transport elements of the potential difference allows for better differentiation between atypical cystic fibrosis and noncystic fibrosis patients. This calculation may assist in the diagnostic work-up of patients whose diagnosis is questionable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Re-implantation of autoclaved bone segments in musculoskeletal tumor surgery. Clinical experience in 9 patients followed for 1.1-8.4 years and review of the literature.

Nine patients who had malignant bone tumors of the lower extremity were managed with wide en bloc resection and re-implantation of the extracorporeally autoclaved specimens. The segments were fixed by plate osteosynthesis, knee arthrodesis rod, or intramedullary nails. In one patient the complete femur was re-implanted. After a mean follow-up of 66 months (range 13-101 months), 8 out of 9 patients were still free of disease. One patient with Ewing's sarcoma and re-implantation of the complete femur died of systemic recurrence. No local recurrence was seen. One patient with Ewing's sarcoma of the tibia who had undergone postoperative irradiation developed a local infection 18 months postoperatively which finally had to be treated by knee disarticulation. After an average duration of 13 months, all graft-host junctions had healed. The functional result of the patient with the knee disarticulation was poor. In all other patients, the functional outcome was good or excellent. The evaluation of 115 patients (106 from the literature, 9 from our study) with a mean follow-up of 63 months showed 8 local recurrences. There were 4 secondary infections and only 1 primary infection. In tumors of the extremities and the pelvis, the functional outcome was excellent or good in about 80%. Limb salvage using re-implantation of autoclaved tumor-bearing bone segments for reconstruction has a low complication rate and good functional results in appropriately selected patients compared with other options of management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Computer mediated learning experiences spanning the globe: a pilot study between schools of nursing in the United States and the Netherlands.

The use of telecommunications in health care, education, and our daily lives has become a popular topic in both the professional and lay literature. The promise of the "Information Superhighway" and the expanded use of the Internet by other professionals have precipitated the examination of computer mediated communication as an instructional tool that transcends geographic boundaries and time barriers. This paper will discuss the development and implementation of a pilot project to foster collaborative learning experiences for nursing students between two schools of nursing in two different countries. The pilot is framed within the context of a Global Collaborative Learning Project in Nursing Informatics. A pilot project was initiated between the Schools of Nursing at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and the Hogeschool Holland during the 1994-95 academic year. Each school taught a nursing informatics course and assignments were designed to allow students from each school to participate in a collaborative learning experience. The presentation will highlight the outcomes of this pilot project and project future plans.

Colorado↗
PubMed1985

Ear involvement in human brucellosis.

A case report of mixed-type hearing loss following brucella infection is presented. Damage to the ear in brucellosis is well documented in the Polish literature whereas, surprisingly, it is not mentioned in the otolaryngologic and microbiologic English literature. Otolaryngologists should be aware of possible ear damage in brucellosis, in order to be helpful in the diagnostic process, with the aim of starting antibiotic treatment as soon as possible, in order to prevent irreversible ear damage.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Mechanical behaviour of cerclage material consisting of silicon rubber.

Silicon rubber specimens of circular or rectangular cross-section (cross-section area between ca. 2 and 7 mm2) are used as cerclage bands. A series of commercial cerclage elements was investigated for mechanical characteristics, such as stress-strain behaviour and modulus of elasticity, using a tensile-testing machine. Large differences in these properties exist among the various specimens. Moreover, time-dependent effects, such as stress-relaxation, retardation, and creep, were analysed by the present investigations. One has to take into consideration that the initial length and stress of the cerclage band vary significantly with time after the operation.

Elasticity↗