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T Faber

Publications and source records attributed to T Faber.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Radioimmunoassay of beta-endorphin in ventricular and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid.

We describe a sensitive beta-endorphin (beta-EP) radioimmunoassay specific for beta-EP 1-31 applied to human ventricular and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Specificity was documented by reversed-phase HPLC of CSF pools. Simultaneous ventricular and lumbar CSF samples from 13 patients suspected of having normal-pressure hydrocephalus showed median beta-EP values of 2.2 (range 1.7-4.0) and 4.8 (2.8-14.6) pmol/L, respectively. Ventricular and lumbar beta-EP concentrations were positively correlated (Spearman r = 0.72, P = 0.013). The beta-EP rostral-caudal gradient was closely related to the CSF protein gradient. HPLC profiles of beta-EP immunoreactivity were similar in ventricular and lumbar CSF with both C- and N-terminal antisera. beta-EP concentrations did not vary in the first 12 mL of lumbar CSF, tapped in 3-mL portions [F(3,32) = 0.42, P = 0.74]. The beta-EP concentration in lumbar CSF from 15 children in remission from acute leukemia [23.4 (15.0-27.1) pmol/L] was higher than in 54 healthy adults [11.7 (10.9-13.3) pmol/L; P less than 0.01]. There was no effect of sex or age on CSF beta-EP in adults. beta-EP in lumbar human CSF may indicate di- and mesencephalic beta-EP neuronal activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Pulmonary embolism].

Acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality and may, if unrecognized, lead to severe chronic heart failure. Most cases are adequately treated with anticoagulants, while thrombolytic agents and other, more risky treatment regimens should still be reserved for the most severe cases. Even so, a definite diagnosis of PTE is prerequisite to any treatment, because of the risk of serious bleeding complications. However, the diagnosis of PTE is often difficult and always depends on confirmation by one or more diagnostic procedures, of which only pulmonary arteriography is of sufficient diagnostic value to be used alone. As pulmonary arteriography is costly and not without risk to the patient, the paper proposes a diagnostic strategy to limit the need for invasive procedures maximally without loss of diagnostic value. In critically ill patients with suspected PTE, bedside haemodynamic evaluation and balloon-occlusion-angiography may be valuable, as illustrated by two cases histories.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Clinical and Doppler echocardiographic follow-up after percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for aortic valve stenosis.

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty has been shown to increase the aortic orifice area and to improve clinical symptoms. However, there are only few data concerning long-term results after balloon valvuloplasty. In this study, 36 patients (11 men, 25 women, mean age 75 +/- 8 years) were followed after balloon valvuloplasty for a period of up to 18 months by means of clinical parameters and repeated Doppler echocardiographic measurements after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Invasive measurements revealed a decrease of the systolic peak gradient from 78 +/- 24 to 38 +/- 13 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), and an increase in the aortic orifice area from 0.58 +/- 0.23 to 0.93 +/- 0.2 cm2 (p less than 0.001). The Doppler echocardiographic approach revealed that the maximal instantaneous gradient decreased from 96 +/- 26 to 67 +/- 22 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). The aortic orifice area increased from 0.49 +/- 0.16 to 0.73 +/- 0.21 cm2 (p less than 0.001). Three patients (8%) died in the hospital. After hospital discharge, 16 patients (44%) died and 8 patients (22%) underwent successful aortic valve replacement after a mean follow-up of 8 +/- 6 months. Nine patients (25%) were alive after a follow-up period of 18 months. Seven of these (19%) remained clinically improved. During follow-up, the Doppler echocardiographic results revealed a continuous trend toward the preprocedural severity of the aortic valve stenosis. Progression of restenosis assessed by Doppler echocardiographic measurements was accelerated in the group of patients who subsequently died or underwent repeat balloon valvuloplasty or aortic valve replacement.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Short-term and long-term problems after duraplastic enlargement of anterior abdominal wall.

Between 1974 and 1989, 49 out of 83 children with gastroschisis or omphalocele underwent duraplastic enlargement of the anterior abdominal wall. The solvent dried dura proved to be the most useful material, which could be left in place even after a scar had formed. Abdominal complications depend on preexisting damage of the intestine and on the intraabdominal pressure resulting from closure. Long-term disturbances of the gastrointestinal and abdominal wall function are comparable to the results of other reconstructive methods.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1990

[Legionella infections--an underestimated disease group].

As in other countries, pneumonia due to Legionella bacteria occurs in Denmark. Even so, legionellosis is rarely diagnosed and often late in the course of illness. This may be due both to the variable and nonspecific clinical picture of the infection, and to the fact that currently available diagnostic methods are inadequate in a clinical context. Even in severe cases, the prognosis of Legionnaires' disease is quite good, if adequate antibiotic therapy is instituted early in the course of illness. The treatment of Legionnaires' disease differs from the treatment of most other pneumonias; frequently, therapy must be completed solely on a basis of clinical suspicion. The present diagnostic state may be improved by an increased awareness of the disease and its clinical manifestations, as well as by improved laboratory diagnosis.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1990

[Legionella infections. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems at intensive care units].

Legionnaires' Disease may pose great diagnostic problems in an intensive care setting. The serological diagnosis is often considerably delayed, and, on account of the invasive therapeutic and monitoring procedures employed, the risk of diagnostic errors caused by bacterial contamination (or of genuine superinfection) is high. Therefore, specific antibiotic treatment, instituted on the clinical suspicion of severe legionellosis, should only be discontinued on definite indications (such as severe allergic or toxic reactions to the treatment). Three cases of severe legionellosis are presented to illustrate this.

Aged↗