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Biomedical subjects

T Breuer

Publications and source records attributed to T Breuer.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Prevalence of and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in the western part of Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Germany and to identify risk factors associated with H. pylori seroconversion. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty blood donors (169 men, 91 women; median age 29 years, range 18-61 years, 92% with German parents, all white) were studied. None had previously been treated for H. pylori infection. Their serum samples were analysed for H. pylori immunoglobulin (lg) G antibodies with a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All subjects completed a complex questionnaire under supervision. Special attention was paid to their present and childhood (at the age of 8 years) living conditions. To identify independent risk factors for seropositivity, a multivariate, stepwise forward, unconditional, logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: In total, 102 participants (39.2%) were seropositive for H. pylori. Seroprevalence increased significantly with age (21.1% aged 21 or younger compared with 60.0% over 51 years of age). According to the multivariate analysis of the unclassified data [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)], variables such as age [1.04 (1.01-1.07) per year], persons per room in household in childhood [2.14 (1.07-4.26)] and number of children (< 8 years) in household at present [1.79 (1.01-3.16) per child] were significantly and independently associated with H. pylori seroprevalence. CONCLUSION: Crowded living conditions in childhood affect current H. pylori status. In addition, the number of children in the present household increases the risk of infection for the adult family members. This suggests that children are an additional source of infection, probably due to close and frequent physical contact outside the immediate family.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[3-dimensional representation of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions].

A new method for the transformation of TEOAE signals into 3-dimensional diagrams is presented. The special transformation algorithm is based on a latency related frequency analysis of the cochlear response. The analysis and presentation are implemented in a C-programme. In a first clinical study 390 TEOAE signals from ears with and without hearing impairment were evaluated. For normal hearing the 3-dimensional diagram of TEOAE-signals is characterised by a typical wave form: with increasing frequency the latency of the cochlear response decrease. In the case of hearing loss there is an overall tendency to increasing wave latencies in comparison to normal hearing. An additional wave in the 3-dimensional diagrams of ears with tinnitus was observed. This characteristic is interpreted as an indicator of cochlea dysfunction. The 3-dimensional diagram promises to give a new aspect in the clinical interpretation of click-evoked otoacoustic emissions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Evoked otoacoustic emissions and middle ear function].

Transiently evoked otoacustic emissions (TEOAE) recorded in 98 ears were compared depending on the results of tympanometry. The values of middle ear pressure in patients without detectable TEOAE are significantly smaller compared to those of patients with detectable TEOAE. In cases of detectable TEOAE, the amplitudes and frequency components were compared to the results of tympanometry. When maximal compliances are shifted towards negative values of middle ear pressure, the amplitudes of TEOAE are reduced with a loss of low frequency components. Small compliance values result in reduced amplitudes of TEOAE with the loss of low frequency components. By means of cluster analysis in the scatter plot of middle ear compliance and pressure, a classification is obtained separating two groups representing significantly groups of patients with and without detectable TEOAE. Summing up, it must be stated that there is an effect of middle ear function on TEOAE which must be taken into consideration when TEOAE are used in clinical application.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neurothekeoma, a rare tumour of the tongue.

Neurothekeomas are benign tumours mostly arising in the face and upper limbs predominantly in young women. Histologically they can be classified as cellular or myxoid, and complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice. In this case of a neurothekeoma located in the anterior tongue of a child, cryotherapy was used as the treatment modality, in order to avoid a greater loss of tongue function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developing national epidemiologic capacity to meet the challenges of emerging infections in Germany.

In January 1996, the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's national public health institute, began strengthening its epidemiologic capacity to respond to emerging and other infectious diseases. Six integrated strategies were initiated: developing employee training, outbreak investigation, and epidemiologic research programs; strengthening surveillance systems; improving communications to program partners and constituents; and building international collaborations. By December 1999, five employees had completed a 2-year applied epidemiology training program, 186 health department personnel had completed a 2-week training course, 27 outbreak investigations had been completed, eight short-term research projects had been initiated, major surveillance and epidemiologic research efforts for foodborne and nosocomial infections had begun, and 16 scientific manuscripts had been published or were in press. The German experience indicates that, with a concerted effort, considerable progress in building a national applied infectious disease program can be achieved in a short time frame.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changing epidemiology of Q fever in Germany, 1947-1999.

The epidemiology of Q fever in Germany was examined by reviewing relevant studies since 1947 and by analyzing available surveillance data since 1962. The average annual Q fever incidence nationwide from 1979 to 1989 was 0.8 per million and from 1990 to 1999, 1.4 per million. The mean annual incidence from 1979 to 1999 ranged from a minimum of 0.1 per million in several northern states to 3.1 per million in Baden-Württemberg, in the South. We identified 40 documented outbreaks since 1947; in 24 of these sheep were implicated as the source of transmission. The seasonality of community outbreaks has shifted from predominantly winter- spring to spring-summer, possibly because of changes in sheep husbandry. The location of recent outbreaks suggests that urbanization of rural areas may be contributing to the increase in Q fever. Prevention efforts should focus on reducing sheep-related exposures, particularly near urban areas.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections linked to alfalfa sprouts grown from contaminated seeds.

A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections occurred in the United States in June and July 1997. Two concurrent outbreaks were investigated through independent case-control studies in Michigan and Virginia and by subtyping isolates with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Isolates from 85 persons were indistinguishable by PFGE. Alfalfa sprouts were the only exposure associated with E. coli O157:H7 infection in both Michigan and Virginia. Seeds used for sprouting were traced back to one common lot harvested in Idaho. New subtyping tools such as PFGE used in this investigation are essential to link isolated infections to a single outbreak.

Adolescent↗