PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Erckenbrecht

Publications and source records attributed to J Erckenbrecht.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

[Measurable parameters in the irritable bowel syndrome (author's transl)].

In patients suffering from the irritable bowel syndrome no morphological substrate for this disease can be found; thus quantitation of functional parameters might be desirable. In the colon these patients exhibit myoelectrical waves of increased frequency, e.g. 3 per minute, as well as an exaggerated retropulsion and a prolonged motor response after food intake, indicating an abnormal motility pattern. In the small gut transit is either accelerated, causing diarrhea, or slowed down, causing constipation; in addition, there is an increased retrograde movement of intestinal gas. The pain threshold is decreased in the small and large bowel; inflation of a balloon or insufflation of gas may reproduce the clinical symptoms of the patients. In the terminal ileum there is net fluid secretion instead of net absorption, as normal. Even the esophagus may be affected, since manometry has demonstrated disturbed peristalsis and a reduced pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter. Such quantification of intestinal function is not a substitute for careful clinical work-up. It has however contributed to a better understanding of the underlying functional disturbances in irritable bowel syndrome.

Colonic Diseases, Functional↗
PubMed1982

[The effects of sympathicolysis on interdigestive small bowel motility (author's transl)].

The effect of the alpha-sympathicolytic agent dihydroergotamin-heparin (DHEH) on small bowel motility was examined in a double-blind cross-over study. Intraluminal pressure of the duodenum and jejunum was measured manometrically in 10 healthy volunteers. Sympathicolysis by subcutaneous injection of DHEH increased the number of contractions in the duodenum and jejunum significantly. Under the influence of DHEH, the number of activity fronts of the interdigestive migrating motor complex was higher than in the placebo experiments; however, the difference was not statistically significant. These results may give an explanation for the beneficial effects of this alpha-sympathicolytic agent seen in the prophylaxis and therapy of paralytic ileus.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Detection of Crohn's disease by ultrasound.

The target appearance of grey scale ultrasound is thought to be a characteristic sign of gastrointestinal wall thickening. It consists of a strong echogenic center surrounded by a sonolucent rim. In a prospective controlled study, the sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasonic B-scan for Crohn's disease were investigated. Fifty-one patients with Crohn's disease and 124 control subjects were studied. Sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasonic target appearance for Crohn's disease were 76% and 88%, respectively. When additional ultrasonic signs of inflammatory bowel disease were considered, sensitivity and specificity rose to 84% and 91%, respectively. Both colon and ileum were affected in 85% of the true-positive and in 8% of the false-negative targets. The Crohn's disease activity index was 213 +/- 136 in patients with true-positive targets and 167 +/- 118 in patients with false-negative target appearances. Most false-positive target phenomena arose from gastrointestinal tumors. It is concluded that ultrasound is a suitable complementary method for the detection of Crohn's disease.

Colon↗
PubMed1981

[Is the sonographic diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatic metastases reliable (author's transl)].

In a prospective study the reliability of the sonographic diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis and metastases was investigated in 101 patients. Sonographic diagnoses were checked by laparoscopy. Hepatic cirrhosis was accurately diagnosed in 78% of the cases and hepatic metastases were correctly diagnosed in 92% of cases. The absence of cirrhosis or metastases was correctly recognised in 93% and 98%, respectively. The sonographic diagnosis of liver cirrhosis is based on five criteria: convexity of the ventral surface, caudal margin greater than 45%, rigid contours on palpation diffuse density of the internal structure, and splenomegaly. The most important criterium for the diagnosis of metastases is the presence of circumscribed contour changes. In 32 patients with cirrhosis and in 12 patients with metastases one diagnosis was incorrect. Thus sonography has a high accuracy in the diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis and metastases.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in old age].

Most motility disturbances of the gut in the agenarian are secondary in nature. So far, only in the oesophagus an alteration of the motility due to age has been demonstrated. Difficulties in methodology are a major reason for our lack in knowledge about the bowel movements in old age. Most studies have been done in the oesophagus and distal colon since these organs are easily accessible for intubation. The majority of the motility disorders in old age are due to problems which accumulate when man gets older, like diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease and intake of numerous drugs. These conditions may directly or indirectly affect the motor organic diseases, particularly carcinoma, which may mimick functional disorders, by a careful diagnostic work-up. The therapy should try in the old as in the young to cure the underlying pathomechanism.

Aged↗