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Biomedical subjects

P Frick

Publications and source records attributed to P Frick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Perceptions of control in children with externalizing and mixed behavior disorders.

Examined the differences in the perception of control in 67 school-age children with externalizing and children with both externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. The results indicated that children with externalizing behavior and mixed behavior could be differentiated by their perception of control. Specifically, children with externalizing behavior endorsed a significantly stronger unknown locus of control than children in the mixed behavior group. Findings suggest that when behavior groups are clearly defined, neither external nor internal locus of control is the dominant style. Implications for the findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗

[Current status of immunity to hepatitis A virus in various adult groups].

BACKGROUND: As sanitary and economic conditions improve, the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A is now significantly lower. AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies in healthy Chilean adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Antibodies to hepatitis A virus were measured, using a commercial ELISA assay, in 215 voluntary blood donors (163 male, aged 19 to 30 years old) and 295 medical students and health personnel (156 male, aged 19 to 39 years old), residing in Valdivia, Chile. RESULTS: Antibodies against hepatitis A virus were found in 68.2% of the total sample (351/510). Ninety percent of flood donors and 54% of health personnel and students were positive (p < 0.01). Age specific prevalence in blood donors 19 to 22, 23 to 29 and 27 to 30 years old was 81.0%, 95.2% and 95.6% respectively. Among the same age groups in medical students, the prevalence was 47.9%, 53.2% and 61.9% respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a reduction in the prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies among adults in Valdivia (Chile). Differences detected between individuals are probably related to different socioeconomic levels. Medical students have an increased risk for hepatitis A infections than the general population.

Adult↗

[Spontaneous remission in chronic lymphatic leukemia].

We describe three patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who had a complete spontaneous remission, and review the cases reported in the literature. The mechanism leading to spontaneous remission is unknown, but it is speculated that the loss of a leukemia inducing oncogene or the reappearance of a leukemia suppressor gene could be involved. The interesting observation that, in some reported patients, the remission followed a viral infection, raises the question whether a virus-induced defense mechanism plays a causal role.

Aged↗

[Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome following administration of a L-tryptophan preparation].

An unusual new syndrome of eosinophilia and myalgia linked with the ingestion of L-tryptophan has recently been recorded in the USA. Some of the cases were lethal. In this report we describe a severe case of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome observed in a woman in Switzerland who fortunately recovered after one and a half years' duration. Thus far it is not clear if L-tryptophan or a contamination of the tryptophan is the cause of the syndrome.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

[The so-called refractory anemias].

A short review is presented of the primary and the secondary types of therapy-refractory anemia. Special emphasis is placed on the newest results obtained with therapeutic plasmapheresis and with recombinant human erythropoietin.

Anemia, Refractory↗

[Microangiopathic hemolytic anemias. Clinical pattern, therapy and clinical course in 14 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome].

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) have in common a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia involving disseminated platelet aggregation and endothelial damage of the microvasculature mainly of the brain (TTP) and kidney (HUS). The underlying pathomechanism still remains unclear. The disease takes an acute, dramatic and frequently fatal course. Unfortunately a broadly approved therapeutic regimen is still lacking since the rarity of TTP and HUS makes study of a large group of patients impossible. We have observed and treated 14 patients with TTP and HUS during a period of 9 years. Most of the cases have been triggered by infectious diseases and pregnancy. Diagnostic cornerstones were hemolytic anemia, schistocytes on peripheral blood smears and consumption thrombocytopenia. Renal and cerebral symptoms were observed regularly, whereas lesions of the pancreas, liver and heart were much less frequent. The treatment included plasma transfusion (47%), plasma exchange (42%), high dose corticosteroids (74%), antiplatelet agents (53%), vitamin E (32%) and vincristin (11%). The outcome of 19 episodes of TTP or HUS was as follows: in 78% complete recovery, in 11% persistence of impaired renal function, and in 11% death. From analysis of our cases it is concluded that plasma transfusions and high dose corticosteroids improve the prognosis of TTP and HUS significantly.

Adolescent↗

Kernicterus in an adult.

A 43-year-old woman was initially seen because of icterus. Clinical investigations revealed severe hepatic damage probably due to non-A, non-B hepatitis. She was treated with extracorporeal charcoal-column perfusion but died two weeks later in a hepatic coma. At autopsy, the brain showed kernicterus with typical discoloration of the hippocampus, the subthalamic nuclei, and the cerebellar dentate nuclei. Kernicterus in an adult is very rare. In this case, extracorporeal charcoal-column perfusion treatment led repeatedly to severe depletion of fibrinogen, with extensive hemorrhages. Overload of the already reduced hepatic glucuronyl-transferase capacity resulted in high serum levels of unconjugated bilirubin, an apparent prerequisite for the development of bilirubin encephalopathy.

Adult↗

[Low early mortality after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation thanks to rigorous sterility measures, modified whole body irradiation, cyclosporin A and antiviral precautions].

A heterogeneous group of 20 consecutive patients was treated according to a standardized allogeneic marrow transplantation protocol designed to reduce early posttransplant lethality. In spite of the fact that 13 patients had at least one (10 of them 2-3) risk factors related to high early lethality, only 2 early transplantation-associated deaths occurred (1 GvH, 1 int. pneumonia). The low incidence of GvH II-IV and interstitial pneumonia, as well as the absence of lethal infections observed in our small patient group, is presumed to be due to the rigorous isolation/decontamination conditions, the reduction of radiation toxicity and GvH prophylaxis by cyclosporin A.

Adolescent↗

The microvasculature of the small-intestinal mucosa of the rat: quantification of hemodynamic effects of topically applied cimetidine, ranitidine, somatostatin, and vasopressin.

The influence of topically administered cimetidine, ranitidine, somatostatin, and vasopressin on microvessels of the jejunal villus of the rat was investigated by means of an in vivo videomicroscopy technique. For all substances a dose-response curve concerning the change of vessel diameters was obtained. All four drugs induced a significant vasoconstriction at the capillary level. Maximum vasoconstriction was achieved with vasopressin. These results strongly suggest the presence and possibly importance of H2 receptors in the intestinal vascular bed of the rat.

Animals↗

[Acquired immune deficiency syndrome in the region of Zurich. Report on 12 cases].

Observations of 12 patients with AIDS at this institution from March 1981 to April 1984 are reported. Ten patients were homosexuals and two were bisexual. The majority had travelled abroad (USA, Haiti) and reported multiple anonymous sexual contracts. Eleven patients reported symptoms and signs, of 2-12 months' duration, frequently seen in pre-AIDS: fatigue (10), weight loss (10), diarrhea (7), night sweats (5), fever (4), and generalized lymphadenopathy (1). Laboratory studies showed anemia (10), lymphopenia (9), leukopenia (7), decreased T-helper/T-suppressor ratio (10) and cutaneous anergy to multiple skin-test antigens (9). P. carinii pneumonia was diagnosed in three patients, P. carinii pneumonia and Kaposi's sarcoma in one patient and Kaposi's sarcoma in six patients. Another patient had a chronic mucocutaneous infection with herpes simplex and another an intestinal cryptosporidiosis and Kaposi's sarcoma. Alpha-A-interferon was used to treat patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and three patients with limited disease showed a favorable response. Six patients with advanced disease died.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗