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O Siemssen

Publications and source records attributed to O Siemssen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Dynamics of albumin in plasma and ascitic fluid in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine dynamics of albumin in plasma and ascitic fluid of patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Forty-seven patients were classified in four groups: I--patients without fluid retention; II--patients with ascites not resistant to subsequent diuretic treatment; III--recompensated patients during diuretic treatment; and IV--patients with diuretic-resistant ascites. Transvascular and transperitoneal albumin transports were quantified by 131I-/125I-labelled human albumin. RESULTS: TER(P) (i.e. the fraction of intravascular albumin (IVM) passing from plasma into the interstitial space per hour) was increased in all groups. In group IV patients the transport rate of albumin from plasma into the ascitic fluid (TER(PA)) was significantly higher than the transport rate from the ascitic fluid back into the plasma: TER(AP) (0.45 vs. 0.26% IVM/h, P < 0.002). In group II patients TER(PA) was similar to TER(AP) (0.27 vs. 0.25% IVM/h, ns). A direct correlation was found between TER(PA) and TER(AP) in both groups of patients (r = 0.78, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In non-resistant ascites, there is a steady state between the transport of albumin into the peritoneal cavity and back into the plasma, but in resistant ascites the former transport is elevated. Thus, local factors may be important to treatment of ascites.

Adult↗

Temporal responses of cutaneous blood flow and plasma catecholamine concentrations to histamine H1- or H2-receptor stimulation in man.

We have studied the effect of histamine and H1- or H2-receptor antagonists on cutaneous blood flow and catecholamine release in man. Histamine was infused alone or in combination with mepyramine, an H1-antagonist or cimetidine, an H2-antagonist for 2 h. Cutaneous blood flow was measured continuously with a laser Doppler flowmeter, and noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations were determined in blood samples drawn every 15 min. The infusion of histamine caused an immediate and sustained vasodilatation. The Concomitant infusion of mepyramine prevented the immediate vasodilatation, but had no effect on the sustained response. The Concomitant infusion of cimetidine was without effect on the immediate vasodilatation, but abolished the sustained response. Infusion of the antagonists alone had no effect on cutaneous blood flow. Histamine caused a rapid and sustained increase in plasma noradrenaline, while the increase during concomitant H1-receptor blockade was delayed but achieved the level observed during the histamine infusion. The response to histamine during H2-receptor blockade was small and transient. The rise in plasma adrenaline was not significant. These findings suggest that histamine causes an immediate cutaneous vasodilatation through H1-receptors and a more sustained response through H2-receptors. The vasodilatation is accompanied by an increase in plasma catecholamine concentrations. Despite the continuous infusion of histamine, blood flow decreased during the last hour of histamine infusion, while the plasma noradrenaline concentration was still elevated.

Adult↗

Changes in T-lymphocyte subsets after elective surgery.

In seven patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy or vagotomy, helper and suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells were quantified by use of monoclonal antibodies (OKT) preoperatively and on postoperative days 2 and 7. The total number and percentage distribution of T-cells (OKT 3) did not change significantly in the study period and the total number of helper T-cells (OKT 4) was similar in the three tests, but the number of suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells (OKT 8) on postoperative days 2 and 7 showed significant rise from the preoperative value. Consequently, significant decrease in OKT 4/8 ratio was found 2 days (1.47 +/- 0.23) and 7 days (1.80 +/- 0.28) postoperatively, as compared with the preoperative ratio (2.85 +/- 0.44). Since reduced ratio of OKT 4/8 has been shown in disorders associated with diminished immunocompetence, our findings may be related to the increased susceptibility to bacterial infections seen in post-surgery patients.

Aged↗

Mammography is an objective diagnostic method.

Six hundred mammograms from 307 consecutive symptomatic patients with a firm retrospective diagnosis were evaluated blindly and independently by two observers. Each observer identified 43 of 47 tumors (91 per cent) with predictive values of 0.63 and 0.68, respectively, for the positive statement, and 0.98 for the negative statement. The overall interobserver agreement with respect to malignancy was 94 per cent (Kappa 0.84) and concerning the diagnosis of simple cysts 91 per cent (Kappa 0.60). The frequency of subclinical cancer demonstrated by mammography in this material was higher than the prevalence of mammary carcinoma found by screening of risk group populations. Thus, mammography remains an objective and reproducible diagnostic method with distinct complementary value to clinical examination. By utilizing certain mammographic criteria for benign lesions it may be possible to reduce the number of biopsies presently performed on the basis of unspecific palpatory findings.

Adolescent↗