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Biomedical subjects

S Heilmann

Publications and source records attributed to S Heilmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Effects of systemic or topical administration of corticosteroids and vitamin B in patients with olfactory loss].

BACKGROUND: Aim of the present, unblinded, multicentric, open trial was to compare effects of 3 treatments in patients with olfactory dysfunction. METHODS: Treatments included administration of systemic corticosteroids (oral prednisolone), local corticosteroids (mometasone nasal spray), and systemic vitamin B, respectively. A total of 192 patients participated (95 women, 97 men; mean age 56 years). Duration of the smell loss ranged from 1 to 288 months (average 45 months). Olfactory dysfunction was due to infections of the upper respiratory tract (n = 72), sinunasal disease (n = 19), and posttraumatic olfactory loss (n = 10); the largest portion was classified as idiopathic (n = 85); other causes were rare (n = 6). RESULTS: Following systemic administration of corticosteroids improvement of olfactory function was observed (p < 0.001). Similarly, improvement of the sense of smell was found 2 (p = 0.03) and 6 months (p = 0.001) after local administration of mometasone, respectively. In contrast, after administration of vitamin B no significant change of olfactory function was seen after 2 months, while improvement was present after 6 months (p = 0.001). Duration of olfactory dysfunction had no effect on changes of smell function. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that improvement of olfactory function is found in olfactory dysfunction of different causes. Adequately controlled, blinded studies are needed to further explore potential effects of the various treatments.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed2003

Clinical presentation of qualitative olfactory dysfunction.

Many patients with olfactory dysfunction not only experience quantitative reduction of olfactory function, but also suffer from distorted olfactory sensations. This qualitative dysfunction is referred to as parosmia (also called "troposmia") or phantosmia, with the major difference that distorted olfactory sensations are experienced in the presence or absence of an odor, respectively. Our clinical observations corroborate the literature in terms of a general underestimation of the incidence of olfactory distortions. Based on selected cases we try to show that olfactory distortions exhibit a large variance in their clinical appearance. Further, emphasis is placed on the fact that only a detailed and directed history of the patient can provide cues to the correct diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Immunohistochemical distribution of galectin-1, galectin-3, and olfactory marker protein in human olfactory epithelium.

The expression pattern of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in the human olfactory epithelium was investigated in relation to olfactory marker protein (OMP) using confocal laser immunofluorescence in human specimens and postmortem biopsies. OMP expression was found in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in the olfactory mucosa and in fibers of the olfactory nerve crossing the submucous connective tissue. Galectin-1 was expressed in both the connective tissue of the nasal cavity and in the basal layer of the olfactory epithelium. In contrast, galectin-3 expression was limited to cells of the upper one-third of the olfactory epithelium. Expression of galectin-3 occurred in a subset of OMP-positive cells. However, between areas of galectin-1 and galectin-3 expression in the lower and upper portion of the epithelium, OMP-positive ORNs did not stain for both galectins. Considering the potential role of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in cell differentiation and maturation, the differential localization of galectins in the olfactory epithelium appears to be consistent with a significant role of these molecules in the physiological turnover of ORNs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Gustatory olfactory function test with the Güttich technique: an evaluation of the clinical value].

BACKGROUND: Testing of retronasal olfactory sensitivity is routinely performed in many ENT-departments in German speaking countries. One of the most popular tests relates to an anecdotal report by Güttich [1]. In this test, liquids are placed on the patient's tongue; the patient is then asked to describe the aroma. Assuming that anosmic patients should not use other descriptors than "sweet," "sour," "salty," and "bitter", this test design is frequently applied in disability compensation settings. Surprisingly though, so far there are no studies regarding the sensitivity or specificity of this test in terms of the differentiation between hyposmic and anosmic patients. METHODS: The present investigation was performed in 50 anosmics, 42 hyposmics, and 13 normosmics. The diagnosis "hyposmia" or "anosmia" was based on 1. the patients' history, 2. psychophysical tests using an established test of olfactory function, the "Sniffin' Sticks," and 3. the recording of olfactory evoked potentials. RESULTS: We obtained the following major results: 1. In comparison to hyposmis and normosmics, anosmic patients had greater difficulty identifying the aromas. However, correct identification was not always possible for normosmics. 2. Regarding the differentiation between anosmic and hyposmic patients, the test's sensitivity was 86% with a specificity of 62%. This clearly limits routine clinical application of this test. CONCLUSIONS: Retronasal testing appears to be an elegant and simple means in order to screen olfactory function. However, the presently investigated approach is limited with regard to the discrimination between anosmic and hyposmic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The use of antibodies for characterization and quantification of a recombinant protein.

In this study, we characterized proteinase A secreted by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae bearing a multicopy plasmid containing the encoding gene (PEP4). Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were raised to study the product heterogeneity. Characterization of proteinase A was performed by immunoelectrophoresis and immunoblotting techniques. None of the monoclonal antibodies raised against proteinase A was found to react with the glycosyl side chains; thus cross-reaction with other glycosylated proteins (e.g. carboxypeptidase Y) was very low. This study allowed us to develop an ELISA method for the quantification of proteinase A in culture supernatants as well as the evaluation of monoclonal antibodies for their use in immunoaffinity chromatography.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Bone changes in long-term therapy with etretinate (Tigason)].

We report on a 10-year-old girl with ichthyosis vulgaris, suffering from pains in her left arm and wrist after 1 1/2 years' treatment with etretinate (Tigason) The activity of the alkaline phosphatase was increased. Scintigraphy with technetium showed increased accumulation of activity as well as beginning transformation processes of the left ulna, which recovered after the reduction of the maintenance dose and are no longer detectable after a total of 3 1/2 years' treatment. The potential bone toxicity must be taken into consideration in long-term treatment with retinoids. Its manifestation should be prevented by thorough follow-up.

Child↗
PubMed1984

[Prognostic significance of the QT-interval following myocardial infarction].

The prognostic value of QT prolongation was evaluated in 109 patients with myocardial infarction. Patients who suffered from reinfarction during the first month or developed ventricular fibrillation and sudden death did not have longer QT intervals than patients without these complications. On the other hand, QT prolongation was of prognostic value in the prediction of late reinfarction. The reasons for varying results from different investigators are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Psoriasis therapy with the aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 (Tigason)].

At three University Departments of Dermatology (Berlin, Leipzig, Erfurt) of the GRD, 63 psoriatics (46 men, 17 women) were treated with aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 (Tigason) up to a maximum of 84 weeks. In 34 of these cases, photochemotherapy was additionally applied. This combination resulted in a more rapid healing than Tigason alone. The average initial dose amounted to 1 mg per kg body weight. Only in cases of psoriatic erythroderma, the treatment started with a daily rate of 25 mg Tigason. The maintenance dose came to 50 to 25 mg daily. On account of deterioration of the cutaneous condition and/or heavy itching, the treatment had to be discontinued in 4 cases. Side effects as cheilitis, rhagades, loss of hair, and onycholysis disappeared after reduction of the dose. Our study confirmed the good therapeutical effect of Tigason with the various forms of psoriasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Echographic early diagnosis of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis? (author's transl)].

The normal size of the pancreas should be checked and classified in a large collection of abstinent people of various ages. We are of the opinion that abstinent persons have a pancreas less than 1.5 cm thick and that great deviations are of exogenous origin. Alcohol presumably leads to edema of the pancreas. If alcohol is abused increasingly and/or persistently, a low-echo enlargement of the pancreas of more than 2.5 cm appears. A clinically detectable pancreatic insufficiency only occurs when the lymph drainage in the acini of the pancreas is damaged through decompensation and a reduction of secretion results. This process seems to have a course of 6-10 years and to run parallel with the consumption of alcohol.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1980

[Echography, laparoscopy and histology in diffuse liver diseases (author's transl)].

The incidence of error of echography (21.0%), laparoscopy (15.0%) and histology (17.4% was investigated in 504 cases of diffuse liver disease. In the assessment of fatty liver, acute fatty liver, fatty cirrhosis and fibroses the accuracy of echography was comparable to that of laparoscopy and histology. A prerequisite for this is that the assessment of the spleen is given particular attention during the diagnosis of diffuse liver diseases. The assessment of diffuse liver diseases demands a high degree of training of the echography diagnostician.

Diagnostic Errors↗
PubMed1979

[Impetigo herpetiformis and PUVA-treatment (author's transl)].

Report on a 20 years old pregnant woman, who fulfilled the criteria of the impetigo herpetiformis as well as later those of the pustular psoriasis Zumbusch in her clinical course. The impetigo herpetiformis is interpreted as a variant of the pustular psoriasis occurring during the pregnancy with lowered calcium-level, which increases the endogeneous eruption pressure. After negative attempts of treatment with Prednisolon, antibiotics, and later with Methotrexat an excellent therapeutic effect could be achieved by oral PUVA-treatment.

Administration, Oral↗