PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

P D Bezemer

Publications and source records attributed to P D Bezemer.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

[Individualized hemodilution in acute brain infarct using a 20% albumin solution and physiological saline solution].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of normovolaemic haemodilution in patients after a cerebrovascular accident. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: St Lucas Hospital, Amsterdam. METHOD: Normovolaemic haemodilution was achieved by means of bloodletting and administration of a 20% solution of albumin plus crystalline infusion fluids under haemodynamic and rheological monitoring during the acute phase of the cerebral infarction. All patients were subjected to general intensive care and monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter. This custom-tailored fluid therapy was guided by a pulmonary wedge pressure of 12 mm Hg (SD 3) and a haematocrit (Ht) of 0.32 l/l (SD 0.02). The control group only received individually dosed rehydration with crystalline infusion fluids. Endpoints of the study after 3 months were mortality and dependence/independence concerning everyday functioning. RESULTS: The results in the total haemodilution group and the control group did not differ significantly. However, in the subgroup with normal Ht (< 0.45 l/l; n = 201) there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of the mortality after 3 months (27% and 16%, respectively) and an increase of independence at home (35% and 48%, respectively) due to a reduction of the viscosity by means of haemodilution with albumin (a specific viscosity effect in the normovolaemic group). In the control group with raised Ht (dehydration; Ht > or = 0.45 l/l; n = 50) there was a significant decrease (p < 0.005) of the mortality after 3 months (27% and 8%, respectively) and an increase of independence at home (35% and 59%, respectively) compared with the control group with normal Ht without signs of dehydration (Ht < 0.045 l/l; n = 102), due to rehydration exclusively with crystalline infusion fluids (a specific rehydration effect in the dehydrated group). CONCLUSION: In cerebrovascular accident patients haemodilution should be adjusted individually; in normovolaemic patients haemodilution should be carried out with an albumin solution; the higher the Ht, the more rehydration with crystalline infusion fluids is to be carried out.

Activities of Daily Living

[Variation in serum cholesterol level in the same person: what is the true value and when is it called a significant change?].

The blood cholesterol level is not constant over time. Changing values may be found when rechecking high values, especially in patients on a diet or receiving medication. Repeated measurements are necessary. It will then be possible to estimate the 'true mean value'. This is the theoretical average of a large number of measurements taken from one person. The study concentrated on the intra-individual variation of the serum cholesterol and the consequences for screening and follow-up. For this purpose, during a period of four weeks, cholesterol levels were measured 12 times in 33 men aged 25-40. The mean coefficient of variation was 5.7%, with wide differences between participants, ranging from 2.9% to 9.8%. The position of the 'true mean value' was estimated (with 90% confidence), after I resp. 3 determinations. These findings have consequences for the classification of subjects in the different risk categories as defined in the Dutch Cholesterol Consensus. It is also possible to determine if, after a period of intervention, there is a significant decline in the cholesterol level. Roughly, a decline of 10-12% indicates a significant difference.

Adult

Assessment of the risk on endometrial cancer in hyperplasia, by means of morphological and morphometrical features.

The value of two "cancer risk" assessment rules (one consisting of qualitative microscopical features and one consisting of morphometric characteristics) has been evaluated in 39 patients with hyperplasia of the endometrium. Of these, in seven (7139 = 18%) cancer was detected in the follow-up and 32 remained stable or became less abnormal. The results of the qualitative analysis were well in agreement with those published earlier. In none of the eight patients with simple hyperplasia cancer was detected, in contrast to five of the 11 patients (45%) with cytologic atypia and glandular complexity. Twenty patients showed cytologic atypicality in the absence of glandular complexity, or no atypicality but glandular complexity; in two (10%) of these patients cancer was detected later in the follow-up. The morphometric rule (consisting of volume percentage of stroma, log-normally transformed standard deviation of the shortest nuclear axis and outer surface density of the glands) results in a multivariate score. Nineteen patients had a score value above 0.6 and in none of them cancer was found. In contrast, in seven of the 20 patients (35%) with a score value below 0.6, cancer was detected. Regarding the question which of the techniques is more powerful, the specificity is better with the qualitative evaluations; the sensitivity is higher with the morphometric rule. An advantage of the morphometric rule is that only two groups (very low/very high risk) are discerned.

Endometrial Hyperplasia

Prognostic value of thallium-201 exercise scintigraphy in low-risk patients after Q-wave myocardial infarction: comparison with exercise testing and catheterization.

In a prospective study of 100 consecutive patients discharged after a Q-wave myocardial infarction, the value of reversible ischemia on thallium-201 scintigraphy to assess the risk of cardiac events (death or reinfarction) during 4 years was compared with variables from exercise testing and cardiac catheterization. Patients with markedly impaired left ventricular function [ejection fraction (EF) < or = 0.30] were excluded. During follow-up there were 20 cardiac events (10 cardiac deaths and 10 reinfarctions). Thallium-201 scintigraphy was significantly better than all exercise test variables and better than an EF < 0.40, with good sensitivity and specificity (75 and 51%, respectively). Exercise-induced reversible ischemia on scintigraphy yielded the same information as the presence of multivessel disease. Exercise test variables were of limited value to assess prognosis. Thus, thallium-201 scintigraphy can be used as the only tool to predict future cardiac events in low-risk patients after a Q-wave myocardial infarction.

Adult

Custom-tailored hemodilution with albumin and crystalloids in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hemodilution in the acute phase of ischemic stroke is still controversial. Multicenter studies have failed to demonstrate any benefit. The present study focuses attention on analysis of circulation in stroke and on individual restabilization of circulation. METHODS: The Amsterdam Stroke Study is a prospective, single-center, randomized clinical trial (n = 300). Normovolemic hemodilution is accomplished in a customized procedure by administration of 20% albumin plus crystalloids under hemodynamic and rheological monitoring in the acute phase of stroke. All patients receive general intensive care treatment and monitoring with a pulmonary artery catheter. This custom-tailored fluid therapy is guided on the basis of a target pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (12 +/- 3 mm Hg) and hematocrit (0.32 +/- 0.02). The control group receives only customized rehydration by infusion of crystalloids. RESULTS: We obtained significant (p less than 0.05) reduction in mortality at 3 months (from 27% to 16%) and an increase in independence at home (from 35% to 48%) after viscosity reduction by means of hemodilution with albumin in the subgroup with a hematocrit less than 0.45 (n = 201) (specific viscosity effect). We also obtained a significant (p less than 0.005) reduction in mortality at 3 months (from 27% to 8%) and an increase in independence (from 35% to 59%) after only rehydration with crystalloids in the subgroup with overt dehydration (hematocrit greater than or equal to 0.45; n = 51) as compared with the normal-hematocrit group without signs of dehydration (hematocrit less than 0.45; n = 103) (specific rehydration effect). CONCLUSIONS: This study may provide an explanation for the failures in former hemodilution trials and may re-establish proper hemodilution and rehydration as a valuable therapy in the acute phase of stroke, thus reducing mortality and improving independence after 3 months.

Acute Disease

Discriminant analysis, exemplified with quantitative features of endometrium.

In this paper we illustrate the potential usefulness of discriminant analysis as a means of separating groups of patients and aiding in differential diagnosis of an individual patient. Some of the most important problems are discussed. The analysis is performed with various microscopical endometrial features of endometrial biopsies from 4 groups of 7 patients in different hormonal conditions. There is some evidence that a combination of stereological features gives a better separation of the groups than the usual histological examinations.

Biopsy

Bias in counting procedures for white blood cells.

To increase the precision of low white blood counts with traditional counting procedures often an initial count is performed in 0.1 cu. mm. Only if this pilot count is low, additional zones of 0.1 cu. mm. are counted and the results of the pilot count and the additional count then averaged. This counting procedure should be avoided as it gives biased estimates of the white blood count. The bias is avoided if the result of the initial count is discarded and an independent count is performed in a larger volume. In analogous counting situation-such as radioactivity counts - bias can arise and be prevented in analogous ways.

Diagnostic Errors