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R Nüesch

Publications and source records attributed to R Nüesch.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Rare AIDS-defining diseases in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the spectrum and frequency of rare AIDS-defining diseases in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. AIDS-defining diseases contributing less than 1% to the absolute number of all recorded AIDS-defining diseases in at least one of five periods (1988-1990, 1991-1992, 1993-1994, 1995-1996, 1997) were defined as being rare. A total of 9110 HIV-infected subjects were included in this study. Over the entire 9-year period, the following rare diseases were diagnosed: progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (n = 138), disseminated cryptococcosis (n = 67), visceral herpes simplex disease (n = 66), primary cerebral lymphoma (n = 65), indeterminate cerebral lesion (n = 50), cryptococcal meningitis (n = 34), Mycobacterium kansasii disease (n = 32), recurrent Salmonella septicemia (n = 22), intestinal isosporiasis (n = 21), candidiasis of the trachea, bronchi and lungs (n = 19), toxoplasma retinitis (n = 16), disseminated toxoplasmosis (n = 8), invasive cervical carcinoma (n = 8), extrapulmonary Pneumocystis disease (n = 5), disseminated histoplasmosis (n = 1) and disseminated coccidioidomycosis (n = 1). Rare diseases accounted for 7.3% of all AIDS-defining diseases over the entire 9-year period. Physicians should be aware of the likelihood of a broad spectrum of AIDS-defining diseases in HIV-infected patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative immunocompromised patients.

For 89 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 32 HIV-negative immunocompromised patients who had 121 episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), clinical features and changes over time were compared. HIV-infected patients characteristically had a longer duration of symptoms (23 vs. 13 days; P<.005); were younger (39 vs. 48 years; P<.001); had a higher frequency of sweating, weight loss, and thoracic pain; and had fewer admissions to the intensive care unit (16% vs. 31%; P<.05). In addition, they had significantly higher hemoglobin levels, lower thrombocyte counts, lower C-reactive protein values, and a higher proportion of eosinophils and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. After 1995, HIV-negative patients' mean length of stay dropped from 34 days to 16 days (P<.005), and their hospital mortality rate dropped from 29% to 7% (P<.001). HIV-positive patients with PCP differed in several aspects from those without HIV infection. Knowledge gained from experience with treatment of opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS has improved the management of PCP in patients with other immunodeficiencies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

Plasma and urine carnitine concentrations in well-trained athletes at rest and after exercise. Influence of L-carnitine intake.

L-carnitine is essential to cellular energy production mainly because of its acyl- and acetyl-carrier properties. Athletes commonly take L-carnitine, which is thought to improve exercise performance. There are no reports on carnitine plasma concentrations and carnitine excretion in short-duration maximal exercise in well-trained athletes taking this substance. We measured plasma and urine carnitine concentrations before and 10 min after maximal treadmill ergometry in nine well-trained sportsmen with and without oral supplementation with 1 g L-carnitine. In athletes without L-carnitine intake, plasma free carnitine concentration decreased significantly from 45.2 +/- 5.3 to 41.6 +/- 5.0 mumol/l (mean +/- SD, p < 0.001) 10 min after exercise compared with baseline. In athletes with oral L-carnitine supplementation, plasma free carnitine concentration at baseline was 71.3 +/- 10.2 mumol/l and did not change after maximal exercise (71.8 mumol/l +/- 10.7 mumol/l). The elevated plasma concentration of free carnitine without decrease after maximal exercise in well-trained athletes taking L-carnitine could be important in view of the newly postulated direct vascular effects of L-carnitine in improving skeletal muscle performance.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

[Epidemiology of skin diseases in HIV-infected patients: a prospective cohort study].

Along with the rising AIDS epidemic, the recognition of mucocutaneous lesions indicating HIV infection is important not only for dermatologists but also for general practitioners. During 36 months we prospectively followed 357 HIV-1-infected patients on a regular base, and all the dermatologic findings were evaluated statistically. Several skin problems such as seborrheic dermatitis, may occur early in HIV infection. Mollusca contagiosa, oral hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma are often clinical signs of marked disease progression with very low CD4-cell counts.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

[Epidemiology and clinical aspects of malaria in the canton hospital and in St. Clara Hospital, Basel 1970-1992].

History, signs and symptoms, chemoprophylaxis and management of 150 malaria patients hospitalized at the University Hospital and St. Clara Hospital (Claraspital) of Basel, Switzerland, were analyzed from 1970 to 1992. Mainly due to increasing travel in endemic areas, an increase from 3.2 cases per year for the years 1970 to 1981 to 9.5 cases per year for the years 1982 to 1992 occurred. In the latest period, more patients had to be admitted to the intensive care unit (14.0% from 1970 to 1986, 28.1% from 1987 to 1992). Infections with plasmodium falciparum were more frequent in later years, the incidence of plasmodium vivax and non-typifiable plasmodia decreased. Compliance for chemoprophylaxis was insufficient, with only 21.8% of all patients taking a correct prophylaxis in the latest period. Malaria is a significant health problem in industrialized countries like Switzerland with increasing incidence and worsening course due to the development of drug resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Oral manifestation of disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii infection in a patient with AIDS.

We report the case of a 46-year-old male patient with advanced HIV infection who developed an oral ulcer caused by Mycobacterium kansasii. It is the first description of an aphthous-like ulcer caused by this nontuberculous mycobacterium. As the AIDS epidemy is still growing, more cases might be observed and the current spectrum of differential diagnosis should be expanded.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hospital admissions for malaria in Basel, Switzerland: an epidemiological review of 150 cases.

The increase in international travel and immigration from tropical countries has led to a growing number of imported malaria cases in industrialized countries. We analyzed the charts of every patient hospitalized for malaria from 1970-1992 in Basel, Switzerland. A period lasting from 1970-1986 was compared to 1987-1992. There were 150 malaria-episodes recorded. Over time, the number of immigrants increased from 12 to 27% (p <.05). More patients were admitted with Plasmodium falciparum-infection (49 vs. 75%, p <.005). The number of untypable malaria decreased from 30 to 9% (p <.005). In the more recent period, more diagnosis were done within a week (66 vs. 50%, p <.05). Twenty-three (15%) patients were admitted to the ICU, four (2. 6%) patients died of cerebral malaria. Twenty-seven (18%) patients developed malaria while taking correct prophylaxis. Despite some progress, malaria is still causing considerable morbidity and mortality. Non adherence to chemoprophylaxis was a major risk factor for acquiring malaria in hospitalized patients.

Adult↗