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Biomedical subjects

J Hartung

Publications and source records attributed to J Hartung.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Screening for psychiatric disorders in medical patients: a feasibility and patient acceptance study.

This study examines whether medical patients were bothered or upset by being asked to complete a questionnaire about emotional and substance use problems, and whether a newly developed, brief questionnaire that screens for several psychiatric disorders (the SCREENER) was easy for patients to complete. A consecutive series of outpatients attending the General Medical Clinic at the Philadelphia Veterans Affair Medical Center (VAMC) was approached to ask their participation in a research study requiring the completion of a brief questionnaire about their emotions, moods, thoughts, and behaviors, and a second questionnaire that asked their opinion about the first measure. Only 3.1% of the patients indicated that the questions were difficult to answer, whereas 84.6% found the questions easy or very easy to answer. Between 80% to 90% of the patients were not embarrassed, upset, annoyed, or uncomfortable by answering the questions. Individuals with a history of psychiatric treatment and poorer current mental health were the most likely to have a negative reaction to the questionnaire. Thus, the medical patients in this study reacted favorably to the completion of a broad-based questionnaire about emotional problems. The questions were judged easy to answer and rarely aroused significant negative affect.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Propofol prevents or elevates the threshold for lidocaine-induced seizures in rats.

Hypothesizing that propofol's pro and anticonvulsant effects might be dose dependent, we determined the effect of 25, 50, and 100% of a previously determined anesthetic dose of propofol for rats on the amount of lidocaine required to induce seizures. Lidocaine was infused at 2.5 mg kg-1 min-1 into animals that were receiving either (a) 70% N2O balance O2 (n = 10), control group, (b) 2 mg kg-1 bolus followed by 12 mg kg-1 h-1 propofol infusion with 70% N2O (n = 10), group 2, (c) 4 mg kg-1 followed by 24 mg kg-1 h-1 propofol with 70% N2O (n = 20), group 3, (d) 8 mg kg-1 followed by 48 mg kg-1 h-1 propofol with 70% N2O (n = 10), group 4, or (e) 8 mg kg-1 followed by 48 mg kg-1 h-1 propofol without N2O (n = 10), group 5. Temperature PaCO2, and pH were maintained within normal limits until disturbed by seizure activity or lidocaine toxicity. The plasma concentration of lidocaine required to induce electroencephalographically (EEG) detected seizures was 8.7 +/- 0.7 micrograms ml-1 in control animals, 16 +/- 1.7 micrograms ml-1 in group 2, and 32 +/- 4 micrograms ml-1 in 13 animals from group 3 that experienced a seizure (p < 0.01). Seizures did not occur in seven of 20 group 3 rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Midazolam enhances anterograde but not retrograde amnesia in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Midazolam sedation has been shown to diminish recall of one to four cards shown prior to induction of general anesthesia in pediatric patients. This promising but limited finding prompted us to investigate the effect of midazolam sedation on retrograde and anterograde recall and recognition in children scheduled for elective surgery. METHODS: Forty patients aged 4-10 yr were randomized using a double-blind study design to receive either 0.2 mg/kg intranasal midazolam or 0.2 ml/5 kg placebo (distilled water) using a Devilbiss #286 atomizer. To assess postoperative memory of preoperative events, recall and recognition tasks were performed using a series of picture cards designed for this purpose. Retrograde amnesia was measured by postoperative recall and recognition of cards shown prior to midazolam/placebo administration, and anterograde amnesia was measured by postoperative recall and recognition of cards shown during the interval between midazolam/placebo administration and induction of general anesthesia. RESULTS: Compared to placebo, the midazolam group experienced a significant postoperative reduction in ability to both recall (P < .003) and recognize (P < .001) cards shown subsequent to midazolam/placebo administration (anterograde amnesia). In distinction, there was no difference between groups in postoperative ability to recall or recognize cards shown prior to midazolam/placebo administration (retrograde amnesia). CONCLUSIONS: These results support and extend the inference that midazolam diminishes anterograde recall. In addition, our findings indicate that midazolam diminishes anterograde recognition, thereby providing partial anterograde amnesia without affecting retrograde memory in pediatric patients.

Amnesia↗
PubMed1992

[Environmental hygiene tasks of the veterinarian in practice].

Apart from his direct tasks like treating diseased animals, preservation of animal health, recognition of mal-feeding and failures, recognition of unsuitable keeping systems and acknowledgement of animal welfare the veterinary practitioner can be the environmental-hygienic consultant of the farmer in following areas in particular: management and technique of feeding; management and technique of water supply; management and technique of air quality and ventilation; management and technique of manure handling and hygiene; cleaning and disinfection; deratting and pest control. The aim of these tasks is to diminish the risks/hazards for food products (food control act), the air (emission control act), surface water (law on the water household), ground water (waste control act, law on the water household) and vegetation and soil (waste control act, nature conservation act). Some examples will be given and comments are made on how to run a practice in an environmentally friendly way.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed1992

[Emission and control of gases and odorous substances from animal housing and manure depots].

Agricultural animal production in increasingly regarded as a source of gases which are both aggravating and ecologically harmful. An overview of the origin, number and quantity of trace gases emitted from animal housing and from manure stores is presented and possible means of preventing or reducing them are discussed. Of the 136 trace gases in the air of animal houses, odorous substances, ammonia and methane are most relevant to the environment. The role played by the remaining gases is largely unknown. Quantitative information is available for 23 gases. The gases are emitted principally from freshly deposited and stored faeces, from animal feed and from the animals themselves. Future work should determine sources and quantities of the gases emitted from animal housing more precisely and should aim to investigate the potential of these gases to cause damage in man, animals and environment. Odorous substances have an effect on the area immediately surrounding the animal housing. They can lead to considerable aggravation in humans. For years, VDI1 guidelines (3471/72), which prescribe distances between residential buildings and animal housing, have been valuable in preventing odour problems of this kind. Coverings are suitable for outside stores. The intensity of the odour from animal housing waste air increases from cattle through to hens and pigs; it is also further affected by the type of housing, the age of the animals and the purpose for which they are being kept. Methods of cleaning waste air (scrubbers/biofilters) are available for problematic cases. The need for guidelines to limit emissions from individual outside manure stores (lagoons) is recognised. Total ammonia emissions from animal production in the Federal Republic of Germany (up to 1989) are estimated at approximately 300,000 to 600,000 t/year. There is a shortage of satisfactory and precise research on the extent of emissions, in particular on those from naturally ventilated housing. It is calculated that between 12 and 21 kg/ha of nitrogen a year enter the soil via the air, the average of which is higher than the average "critical loads" for most natural habitats. Ammonia has a direct effect on the trees in the area surrounding animal housing and is transported long distances through the air causing eutrophication and acidification of water and vegetation. This frequently results in changes in plant sociology. Reduction measures must begin with the housing and manure removal systems and with feeding and management.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1992

[Emissions of airborne substances from stalls of domestic animals].

There is concern on recent reports indicating an increase of respiratory affections in humans in areas with high livestock production. A survey is presented on airborne emissions from livestock buildings. About 136 gaseous compounds are analysed in animal house air of which 22 are quantified, only. The most environment-related compounds are ammonia and methane. It is assumed that German animal husbandry emits more than 350,000 t ammonia per year. The content of airborne microorganisms in livestock buildings is between some 100 and several 1000 per liter. The greatest part, more than 80%, are Staphylococcae and Streptococcae. Fungi, moulds and yeasts can form more than 1%, and coli-like bacteria about 0.5% of the total amount. Moulds like Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Alternaria were identified which are known to have allergic properties. The average concentrations of dust in animal barns vary between 0.5 and 20 mg/m3. The dust contains high amounts of protein and carries endotoxins which both have an allergic potential. Preliminary results show that the germ content of the surrounding air in areas with high animal densities seems to be distinctly higher than in non-livestock regions.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Paraben preservatives do not increase intracranial pressure in cats.

It has been hypothesized recently that succinylcholine-associated increases in intracranial pressure (ICP) are caused by the paraben preservatives contained in multidose vials. We tested that hypothesis in a standard feline model to determine the effects on ICP of equal-volume injections of preservative-free succinylcholine, succinylcholine with preservatives from multi-dose vials that contain both propylparaben and methylparaben, these preservatives alone at five times the dose contained in the succinylcholine, and normal saline. The preservatives alone increased ICP by 0.08 +/- 0.08 mmHg (+/- standard error; not significant). Normal saline had no effect on ICP. Preservative-free succinylcholine and succinylcholine with preservatives increased ICP by 4.2 +/- 0.10 and 3.8 +/- 0.07 mmHg respectively (P less than 0.01 compared to the preservatives alone and normal saline). The 99% upper confidence limit for the increase in ICP induced by the preservatives alone was 0.42 mmHg. This result suggests that parabens do not cause or substantially augment the ICP increase associated with succinylcholine administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Incidence and clinical relevance of QT prolongation caused by the new selective serotonin antagonist ketanserin. Multicenter Ketanserin Research Group.

Efficacy and safety of ketanserin was studied prospectively in a randomized and double-blind trial involving 221 patients treated for hypertension and/or coronary artery disease. Since ketanserin has been suggested to cause QTc prolongation, we investigated the incidence and severity of this effect, as well as its influence on the incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias during Holter monitoring. After a 1-week run-in-period, all patients were examined, measuring blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-hour Holter ECG. Two thirds of the patients (n = 147) were then randomized to ketanserin, 1 week 20 mg b.i.d. followed by 3 weeks 40 mg b.i.d.; one third of the patients (n = 74) received placebo b.i.d. for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, blood pressure, ECG and 24-hour Holter ECG were performed. In hypertensive patients, ketanserin resulted in a significant reduction of systolic (mean reduction: -17 +/- 2 mm Hg; p less than 0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (-12 +/- 1 mm Hg; p less than 0.0001) as compared to baseline, and to the placebo group (p less than 0.005 for systolic and diastolic blood pressure). The QTc interval was prolonged with ketanserin (mean value: 400 to 418 ms; p less than 0.01) but not with placebo (399 vs. 402 ms). In the ketanserin group 30% of patients and in the placebo group 8% of patients had QTc prolongation greater than 30 ms (p less than 0.01). QTc was not prolonged to greater than 500 ms in any patient. During Holter monitoring 128/147 patients (ketanserin group) and 61/74 patients (placebo group) had ventricular premature beats; in 42 (ketanserin group) and 13 patients (placebo group) ventricular pairs and tachycardia were documented. Incidence and severity of the ventricular arrhythmias after 4 weeks of treatment were not different between the ketanserin and placebo groups. No sustained ventricular tachycardia occurred in any patient after ketanserin treatment. Thus, though ketanserin prolonged QTc in one third of the patients, the drug was not arrhythmogenic or antiarrhythmic.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Occupational problems of patients with manic-depressive disease].

The paper deals with the professional rehabilitation of cyclothymic patients with the aid of a semi-standardized interview of patient and superior direct at the place of employment. Half the patients had considerable professional problems consisting in requirements too low or too high and in lack of understanding on the past of the fellow workers. There is a connection between professional dissatisfaction and the numbers of recidives. Nearly all chiefs and associates wished more information about social manners towards the patient and about questions of his working capability and maximum stress. The results underline the necessity to include in the process of rehabilitation. Individual communication of the physician coworkers and with the patient is recommended as the most efficient form.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Determination of volatile fatty acids in the blood plasma of cattle before and after an infusion of propionate and butyrate].

Before and after infusion of propionate and butyrate the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the blood of heifers were determined by gas chromatography, in order to indicate activity and regulation of the carbohydrate metabolism. 14 heifers were loaded after food deprivation with intravenous infusions of propionate and butyrate. Concentrations of acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, and valerate were measured in blood samples which were taken later on. The methods used for clearance and extraction as well as for gas chromatographic analysis are described. Retention times and blood concentrations are given for each VFA. Concentrations prior to infusion were for: acetate 10.14 +/- 2.51 microliters/ml; propionate 0.42 +/- 0.35 microliters/ml; iso-butyrate 3.72 +/- 1.37 microliters/ml; butyrate 3.44 +/- 0.68 microliters/ml blood plasma. The concentrations of the infused VFA showed a 100 (butyrate) to 1000 (propionate) fold increase followed by a subsequent decrease to the initial values. These investigations on the profile of VFA elucidated criteria of the energy metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Incidence and clinical relevance of QT prolongation caused by the new selective serotonin antagonist ketanserin.

Efficacy and safety of ketanserin were studied prospectively in a randomized, double-blind trial involving 221 patients treated for hypertension or coronary artery disease, or both. Since ketanserin has been suggested to cause QTc prolongation, the incidence and severity of this effect were investigated, as was the incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias during Holter monitoring. After a 1-week run-in period, all patients were examined: blood pressure was measured and electrocardiograms and 24-hour Holter electrocardiograms were obtained. Two thirds of the patients (n = 147) were then randomized to receive ketanserin for 1 week (20 mg twice daily) followed by 3 weeks of 40 mg twice daily; one third of the patients (n = 74) received placebo (twice daily) for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, blood pressure, electrocardiograms and 24-hour Holter electrocardiograms were repeated. In hypertensive patients, ketanserin significantly reduced systolic (mean reduction 17 +/- 2 mm Hg, p less than 0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (12 +/- 1 mm Hg, p less than 0.0001) compared to baseline, and to the placebo group (p less than 0.005 for systolic and diastolic blood pressure). The QTc interval was prolonged with ketanserin (mean 400 to 418 ms, p less than 0.01) but not with placebo (399 vs 402 ms). In the ketanserin group 30% of patients and in the placebo group 8% of patients had QTc prolongation greater than 30 ms (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗