Biomedical subjects

P Villiger

Publications and source records attributed to P Villiger.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Castleman's disease in POEMS syndrome with elevated interleukin-6.

POEMS syndrome is a rare multisystem affliction known for its signs, from which it also takes its acronym name "peripheral neuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal (M) protein, and skin lesions." Our study chronicles the course of this syndrome in a young woman with Castleman's disease (angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were abnormally elevated at various times during a 9-month period. The authors conclude that the plasma cell dyscrasia associated with the POEMS syndrome of this patient was Castleman's disease. Elevation of serum IL-6 levels might contribute to the pathogenesis of the POEMS syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Fewer negative appendectomies thanks to improved clinical diagnosis].

108 consecutive patients presenting with suspected acute appendicitis were studied prospectively. To improve clinical performance, 19 clinical criteria were evaluated. For cases with unclear diagnostic situations laparoscopy was performed. With 10 of the above mentioned criteria the score published by de Dombal, which can reach a maximal value of 7 points, was calculated. For data processing the rate of negative appendectomies as well as the de Dombal score were used. 61 appendectomies with 7 (11.5%) perforations, 48 (78.7%) acute inflammations and 6 (9.8%) normal appendices have been performed. 39 (36.1%) patients with non-specific abdominal pain were observed for 3 +/- 2 days before discharge, while 7 (11.5%) had another surgical disease. In the appendectomized patients the score was 4.3 +/- 1.1 with perforation, 4.4 +/- 1.0 with acute inflammation and 3.8 +/- 1.3 with a normal appendix (p = ns). The score for non-specific abdominal pain in patients not undergoing surgery was significantly lower (2.2 +/- 1.2; p less than 0.01). Patients with other surgical diseases had a score of 3.1 +/- 1.1 with no significant difference from patients who had undergone appendectomy or from those with non-specific abdominal pain. Laparoscopy was performed in 16 (14.8%) patients. 9 patients had appendicitis, 4 non-specific abdominal pain and 3 another surgical disease. Improved clinical examination significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced negative appendectomies from 20.3% to 9.8% without a rise in the rate of perforation due to prolonged observation. The 6 patients with negative appendectomy could not be identified even by improved clinical examination.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1992

[Negative appendectomies can be decreased by improved clinical assessment alone].

We had a 20% rate of negative appendectomies in our patients presenting with suspected appendicitis. We suggested that an improved clinical examination would reduce this rate. 84 consecutive patients presenting with suspected acute appendicitis were prospectively studied. 10 clinical features were used to calculate a score which should distinguish appendicitis and non-specific abdominal pain. 53 appendectomies with 6 (11.3%) perforations, 41 (77.4%) acute inflammations and 6 (11.3%) normal appendixes have been performed. 26 patients suffered from non-specific abdominal pain, 5 had an other surgical disease. In the appendectomized patients the score was 4.2 +/- 1.2 with perforation, 4.4 +/- 1.1 with acute inflammation and 3.8 +/- 1.3 with a normal appendix (p = ns). The score for non-specific abdominal pain in patients without operation was significantly lower (2.0 +/- 1.1; p less than 0.01). Patients with other surgical disease had a score of 2.8 +/- 1.5 with no significant difference to patients which had undergone appendectomy. Negative appendectomies were reduced by improved clinical examination from 20.3% to 11.3% without change in the rate of perforation. The remaining patients with negative appendectomies could not be identified by improved clinical examination even by means of the score. But the use of the score improved the performance of the clinicians.

Abdomen, Acute↗

PubMed1990

[Current status of therapy for gastroduodenal ulcer].

Over the last 25 years there has been a considerable decrease in the prevalence of peptic ulcer worldwide. Since the introduction of potent anti-ulcer drugs the number of elective operations for peptic ulcer (PU) has decreased considerably, whereas the number of emergency operations has remained largely unchanged. The current incidence of PU perforation is 4-10 per 100,000 population. Perforation accounts for 40-50% of emergency operations for PU. Currently one third to over one half of patients presenting with PU perforation are aged over 65, with an increasing percentage of female patients and gastric ulcer perforations. There appears to be a correlation between PU perforation and ingestion of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), especially in women over the age of 65. About 50% of patients presenting with perforation of PU do not report a previous history of ulcer dyspepsia or treatment with anti-ulcer drugs. Many authors think the lack of a PU history reported by many patients is unreliable and may lead to erroneous conclusions in about half of patients. Mortality of PU perforation is currently 10-20% in most series, with a higher mortality of 10-40% for perforated gastric ulcer (GU) compared to duodenal ulcer (DU), for which mortality rates of 0-10% are currently reported. A number of centers report an increase in PU perforation mortality: this is due to an increased number of elderly patients in whom ulcer perforation mortality is enhanced by preexistent or concomitant diseases of other organs and systems. In the treatment of PU perforation the discussion centers around the choice between simple closure of the perforation and definitive ulcer surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A better idea].

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Dental Casting Technique↗