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Biomedical subjects

K Reichert

Publications and source records attributed to K Reichert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Quality of primary medical care after in-patient stroke rehabilitation].

PURPOSE: Since only insufficient information concerning the further development of patients after stroke and rehabilitation is currently available, and since the quality of care provided by family doctors is often classified as insufficient, this quality of care was to be examined on the basis of the rehabilitation results. Of particular interest were the co-operation, the therapeutical quality standards and the risk management, as well as the quality of life and compliance of the patients. METHODS: In 2000, all 223 stroke patients were asked prior to their discharge from three large rehabilitation clinics in North Baden, and subsequently their 210 family doctors, whether they were prepared to participate in this follow-up study. The participating patients were examined at their discharge from the clinic as well as 6 and 18 months later using a standardised documentation package, and quality circles for family doctors were initiated. RESULTS: All patients with atrial fibrillation were treated to prevent thrombosis. Smoking showed a positive trend. Quality of life and knowledge of the sickness trend to increase, depressiveness decreases. 60 % of the contacted family doctors participated in the study, 29 % (33 out of 114 physicians at the end of the study) contributed to improve interdisciplinary co-operation. Although 87 % of the patients said to be well informed, 25 % were dissatisfied with their own compliance. CONCLUSION: The quality of care of stroke patients by family doctors as assessed by indicators for secondary prevention and quality of life is satisfactory under present conditions. Apart from the hypertension control there was no negative trend. However, participation of GPs was insufficient. Co-operative after-care by GP can relatively easily stabilise health conditions following inpatient rehabilitation.

Atrial Fibrillation↗

Primary tracheal leiomyosarcoma.

We present the clinical course of a 56-year-old female patient with a primary tracheal leiomyosarcoma. The diagnostic approach and pathological classification of this seldom described tumour remains extremely difficult. We discuss the symptoms as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including multimodal chemotherapy with organ-preserving surgery leading to complete remission.

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant↗

[Rehabilitation treatment after stroke. An assessment of current status].

A standardized postacute inpatient rehabilitation program (Anschlussheilbehandlung) after stroke is well established in Germany. Yet the needs of patients being admitted to an Anschlussheilbehandlung (AHB) are not completely known. Therefore sociodemographic data, handicap, impairment and neuropsychologic deficits in 200 stroke patients were evaluated before admission to an AHB with different scores (Barthel, modified Rankin Score, NIHSS, HAWIE-R, Wilde, etc.). About half of the patients were still working prestroke. Most patients suffered from several vascular risk factors, which were insufficiently treated, and about a third of the patients had cerebrovascular disease prior to this stroke. At admission to the rehabilitation program the group of patients with severe neurological deficits was small. In average the disability was rather moderate (Rankin = 2.6). Mainly gait and finger dexterity were handicapped. Functional impairment was outweighed by neuropsychological deficits.

Adult↗

[Laser surgery of the middle nasal meatus in recurrent sinusitis].

We present our concept for treating patients suffering from recurrent sinusitis with coagulating lasers (Nd:YAG 1024 nm, Diode 810 or 904 nm). In these patients, the middle meatus is often narrowed by a hyperplastic middle turbinate, septum spurs and ridges, or by isolated polyps that block an ostium. We treat these patients by linear or punctate coagulation of the lateral wall of the middle turbinate, reducing the size of septum spurs, and blunting septal ridges or coagulating polyps. The outpatient procedure is performed with a laser fiberoptic system of 400 nm in contact mode with an energy of 3-5 watts. The amount of total energy applied to a specific tissue depends on the duration of laser contact at that point. The patient is anaesthesized superficially. Patients with a high degree of nasal hyperreactivity also receive antihistaminic preoperative treatment. Initial results show a significant increase of nasal flow with a decrease of sinus symptoms.

Chronic Disease↗

Pentoxifylline decreases the incidence of multiple organ failure in patients after major cardio-thoracic surgery.

We assessed the safety and efficacy of intravenous pentoxifylline [3,7-dimethyl-1-(5-oxohexyl)-xanthine] in patients at risk for developing multiple organ failure after major cardio-thoracic surgery in a single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Of 816 consecutive patients who underwent major cardio-thoracic surgery, 40 who had Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score values > or = 19 at the first postoperative day after the surgery were included. Patients were randomized to receive either placebo (control; n = 25) or intravenous pentoxifylline treatment (pentoxifylline; n = 15) at a dosage of 1.5 mg/kg/h as an adjunct to standard supportive therapy. Main outcome measurements were duration of required ventilator support, intensive care unit stay, and incidence of renal failure. Thirty-seven patients were eligible for evaluation. No significant adverse events related to pentoxifylline treatment were observed. The duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly greater for control patients (8.3 +/- 3.1 days) compared with pentoxifylline-treated patients (3.1 +/- .9 days; p < .05). Patients treated with pentoxifylline experienced fewer days on hemofiltration (1.2 +/- .8 vs. 6.8 +/- 3.3; p < .05) and a shorter intensive care unit stay (5.2 +/- 1.1 vs. 11.4 +/- 3.1 days). There were no intergroup differences in mortality. Mortality was 33% in the pentoxifylline group and 36% among control group patients. In conclusion, supplemental pentoxifylline treatment may decrease the incidence of multiple organ failure in patients at risk of systemic inflammatory response syndrome after cardiac surgery. Additional studies are required to determine the validity of the observed effects.

APACHE↗

Pseudonocardia asaccharolytica sp. nov. and Pseudonocardia sulfidoxydans sp. nov., two new dimethyl disulfide-degrading actinomycetes and emended description of the genus Pseudonocardia.

Seven bacterial strains capable of oxidizing methyl sulfides were isolated from experimental biofilters filled with tree-bark compost. The isolates could be divided into two groups according to their method of methyl sulfide degradation. Four isolates could use only dimethyl disulfide as the sole source of energy and three strains were able to use dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide. Oxidation of the methyl sulfides by both groups led to the stoichiometric formation of sulfate. Chemotaxonomic, morphological, physiological and phylogenetic properties identified all isolates as members of the genus Pseudonocardia. The absence of phosphatidylcholine from the polar lipid pattern, as well as results of 16S rDNA analyses, led to the proposal of two new species, Pseudonocardia asaccharolytica sp. nov. and Pseudonocardia sulfidoxydans sp. nov. The type strains are P. asaccharolytica DSM 44247T and P. sulfidoxydans DSM 44248T. With respect to the characteristic polar lipid pattern and the ability to oxidize sulfides, an emended description of the genus Pseudonocardia is proposed.

Actinomycetales↗

Identification of bacterial isolates from biofilters as Paracoccus alkenifer sp. nov. and Paracoccus solventivorans with emended description of Paracoccus solventivorans.

Two groups of strains isolated from biofilters for the treatment of waste gases were assigned to the genus Paracoccus by phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic methods. All type strains of the genus Paracoccus were compared with these groups using 16S rDNA sequence analysis, fatty acid patterns and physiological reaction profiles. For both groups, the nearest related reference species was Paracoccus solventivorans based on 16S rDNA sequence similarity. However, whereas one group of isolates was identified as a member of this species by fatty acid analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization, the other group was proposed as a new species, Paracoccus alkenifer sp. nov. Fatty acid analysis showed the unusual fatty acid 20:1cis13 instead of 19:0 cyclo11-12 for P. alkenifer and P. solventivorans, and 14:1cis7 instead of 12:1cis5 for P. alkenifer and Paracoccus kocurii. By means of a GC-MS method, diaminopimelic acid was detected for P. solventivorans. Based on these results we propose an emended description for the species P. solventivorans.

Base Sequence↗

Functional magnetic resonance imaging mapping of the motor cortex in patients with cerebral tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to map cerebral functions in patients with frontal or parietal tumors. METHODS: Charts and images of patients with cerebral tumors or vascular malformations who underwent FMRI with an echoplanar technique were reviewed. The FMRI maps of motor (11 patients), tactile sensory (12 patients), and language tasks (4 patients) were obtained. The location of the FMRI activation and the positive responses to intraoperative cortical stimulation were compared. The reliability of the paradigms for mapping the rolandic cortex was evaluated. RESULTS: Rolandic cortex was activated by tactile tasks in all 12 patients and by motor tasks in 10 of 11 patients. Language tasks elicited activation in each of the four patients. Activation was obtained within edematous brain and adjacent to tumors. FMRI in three cases with intraoperative electrocortical mapping results showed activation for a language, tactile, or motor task within the same gyrus in which stimulation elicited a related motor, sensory, or language function. In patients with > 2 cm between the margin of the tumor, as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging, and the activation, no decline in motor function occurred from surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS: FMRI of tactile, motor, and language tasks is feasible in patients with cerebral tumors. FMRI shows promise as a means of determining the risk of a postoperative motor deficit from surgical resection of frontal or parietal tumors.

Adolescent↗

[Acute pulmonary embolism--are vena cava interruption procedures and extracorporeal circulation always necessary?].

Between 1983 und 1991, emergency pulmonary embolectomy with the aid of extracorporeal circulation was performed in 13 patients. Ten patients were in class IV according to Greenfield, seven came into the operating theater with external cardiac massage. The 30-day mortality was 46%. In the same period, 15 venous interruption procedures were performed (three Adams de Weese Clip, ten Greenfield-Filter, and two femoral vein ligations). Eight times the venous interruption procedure was done prophylactically. The acute pulmonary embolism of class III and IV according to Greenfield is an indication for lytic therapy. We operate only if there is a contraindication to lytic therapy or if there is deterioration of the clinical state.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

[Experimental animal studies on the problem of sealing a woven vascular prosthesis and a textile patch by direct-current activated autologous blood].

The results of our animal experiments showed that the sealing of a woven vascular prosthesis or a textile patch by in vitro electrically activated blood by means of direct current is an alternative for the sealing by fibrin adhesive. The materials sealed in this way are resistant to the endogenic fibrinolysis. This simple and non-expensive method is not useful for heparinised blood and in disturbances of coagulation.

Animals↗

The use of Kirschner wire fixation in forefoot surgery.

This article reviews the indication and use of Kirschner wire fixation in forefoot surgery. Although Kirschner wire fixation is a relatively easy means of fixation, it is not without complications. The operative technique and postoperative considerations are also included to assist the foot surgeon.

Arthrodesis↗