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Biomedical subjects

U Frick

Publications and source records attributed to U Frick.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Family climate and expressed emotion in the course of alcoholism.

Family-based predictors of relapse were examined in 100 alcoholics who participated in a 12-week treatment program with 6-month and 18-month followups. "Expressed Emotion" (EE), or attitudes of relatives toward the alcoholic as measured by the Camberwell Family Interview, scales measuring rejection of the alcoholic by relatives, and self-reports of partner interaction were evaluated as possible predictors of abstinence. During therapy, partnership interactions showed a transient deterioration with increased temporary friction. Based on conservative criteria, the abstinence rate was 40% at 6-month followup and 30% at 18-month followup. An association with the relapse at followup could be obtained for the Patient Rejection Scale (PRS) and, using empirically derived classification rules, for the main three variables of the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI) conducted on admission: "Critical Comments," "Emotional Overinvolvement," and "Warmth." A low number of Critical Comments and a high score in Warmth were associated with a lower risk of relapse; however, contrary to expectations, Emotional Overinvolvement of the significant other was associated with more abstinence. In addition, the number of Critical Comments made by relatives about the alcoholic, a major component of high EE as measured by the CFI, had a statistically significant impact on the "survival function" of abstinence, and thus contributed to the prediction of the course of alcoholism in the expected direction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Construction and validation of an indicator for alcohol problems in the Swiss Health Survey].

A proposed scale for alcohol problems which consisted of five items, was psychometrically examined and validated. Latent class analysis was used in addition to classic psychometric measures. The use of this scale in health surveys of the general population seems to be justified, as it offers a reliable and very economic method to measure alcohol induced problems. It is therefore proposed that this scale should continue to be used in future rounds of the Swiss Health Survey. The context of the questioning has to be taken into account when interpreting the summary score, as items showed different patterns of response in personal vs interview questionnaires.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1995

Frequency variations of strength training sessions triggered by the phases of the menstrual cycle.

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of two different models of altering the frequency of strength training sessions of females. The "regular training" (RT) consisted of one training unit every third day over the whole menstrual cycle. The "menstrual cycle triggered training" (MCTT) was characterized by workouts every second day in the follicular and about once per week during the luteal phase. In order to increase maximal strength (MS) the participants performed 3 sets with 12 reps each. Endogenous processes were controlled by measurements of body-temperature, control of the luteinizing-hormone peak, and by analysing serum hormone (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol) and sexual hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels. MS and muscle cross-sectional area (MCA) of the quadriceps femoris were investigated. The result of the MCTT showed a clear increase in the MS of 32.6% compared to 13.1% by the RT. Significant MCTT-induced MS increase was observed during the second menstrual cycle. The ratio of MS/MCA increased by 10.5% (RT) and 27.6% (MCTT). Despite a wide interindividual variability, all subjects showed higher strength adaptations by MCTT. Additionally, we found significant correlations between different force parameters and the accumulation of estradiol. It was concluded that the MCTT seems to be more efficient compared to RT.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1994

[The value of various ultrasound criteria in objective assessment of acute reactive cholecystitis. A prospective follow-up study of ventilated intensive care patients].

Ultrasound of the abdomen was performed in 30 artificially respirated patients under intensive care conditions for 7 days per patient over a time period of 6 months to elucidate the therapeutic value of different ultrasonographic findings with respect to the diagnosis "reactive acute cholecystitis". Our results show, that neither the detection of concrements or sludge within the gallbladder, nor the transient dilatation of the bile duct, nor a transient wall-thickening or the occurrence of a three-layered wall of the gallbladder can be interpreted as reliable sonographic criteria for the occurrence of an acute reactive cholecystitis. From this we conclude, that reactive acute cholecystitis leading to the indication for cholecystectomy can only be diagnosed from the combination of clinical and sonographic findings. However, reactive acute cholecystitis can almost certainly be excluded, even in obscure upper abdominal symptoms, when the sonogram of the gallbladder is normal.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1993

The key relative's impact on treatment and course of alcoholism.

One hundred alcoholics participated in a 6-week inpatient and a 6-week outpatient therapy programme and a 6-month and 18-month follow-up. Major goals of the study were a descriptive analysis of the course of illness over time, the evaluation of the effects of therapy in general and concerning the specific effects of additional (A) systematic inclusion of the key relative versus (B) systematic involvement in self-help, and identification of predictors for relapse. While therapy as such was quite effective and resulted in significant changes in symptomatology and the scores on personality scales, the additional involvement of the key relative showed no substantial additional treatment effects. Partnership interactions showed a deterioration during therapy, with temporary increased frictions. Based on conservative calculations, 40% of all patients remained abstinent until the 6-month follow-up and 30% until the 18-month follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Early neuroleptic intervention in schizophrenia: are prodromal symptoms valid predictors of relapse?

All recently completed controlled two-year studies on intermittent, early neuroleptic intervention treatment have failed to compare favourably with studies on maintenance treatment concerning relapse prevention. The reason for this failure is still unclear. Therefore the implicit, but as yet unproven, hypothesis that a relapse can be predicted from prodromal symptoms was tested from the perspective of our German multicentre study. Results demonstrate that this is not the case. Possible reasons for and clinical implications of this negative finding are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Interrelationships of bile acid and phospholipid fatty acid species with cholesterol saturation of duodenal bile in health and gallstone disease.

The relative amount of cholesterol and the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholines in bile can be influenced by the bile acid species secreted. To search for a contribution of secondary bile acids and of phosphatidylcholines to supersaturation of bile in gallstone disease, we compared the relative amount of cholesterol and the biliary composition of bile acids and of phospholipid fatty acids in cholecystokinin-stimulated duodenal bile of 22 female gallstone patients and 16 healthy controls and analyzed the interrelationships of these bile constituents. Gallstone patients had higher molar percentages of cholesterol than did controls (10.2 +/- 3.2 vs. 6 +/- 1.5 mol%; p less than 0.001) and demonstrated a trend toward larger fractions of deoxycholic and lithocholic acids. By linear models, variation of cholesterol saturation could be predicted (p less than 0.001) up to 53% by the bile acid pattern and up to 81% by the fatty acid pattern of phospholipids. Linear path analysis (goodness-of-fit index = 0.973) confirmed the tight relationship between phospholipid fatty acids (positive: oleic, arachidonic; negative: linoleic, palmitoleic) and the relative amount of cholesterol; more than half the influence of cholic, deoxycholic and lithocholic acids on the relative amount of cholesterol could be explained indirectly by their influence on the phospholipid fatty acid pattern. We conclude that the relationships examined by path analysis support the working hypothesis that secondary bile acids contribute to supersaturation of bile mainly by changing the fatty acid pattern of the secreted phospholipids (presumably the pattern of phosphatidylcholines), which increases the molar ratio of cholesterol/phospholipids in bile.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Depressive syndromes in schizophrenic patients under neuroleptic therapy. ANI Study Group Berlin, Düsseldorf, Göttingen, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.

Schizophrenic outpatients (= 364) were assigned at random to three different treatment strategies: (1) continuous medication with neuroleptic drugs, (2) intermittent medication with crisis intervention and (3) intermittent medication with early intervention. Depressive syndromes were rated according to three different scales for depressive syndromes (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale anxious depression factor, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Methodik und Dokumentation in der Psychiatrie/depression, and the self-rating Paranoid Depression Scale) after 1 and 2 years of treatment. No differences in depression scores were found between the three treatment strategies. Comparisons between patients treated with neuroleptic drugs at the time and patients without neuroleptics revealed significantly higher depression scores in the neuroleptics group in most comparisons. No differences were found between patients treated with low versus high potency neuroleptics and between oral versus depot neuroleptics. However, depression correlated with extrapyramidal symptoms.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

[Therapy and course of alcohol dependence. Effects on the patient and family].

100 male and female patients, aged 20 to 60 years with the diagnosis alcohol-addiction (ICD 9 No 303.0) took part in a longitudinal treatment evaluation study. Consecutive admissions from May '83 until July '85 were assessed. All patients participated in a 6-week inpatient group therapy and a 6-week outpatient treatment for alcohol-dependent patients at the Psychiatric University Hospital in Munich. Assessments were performed at the following times: 1. on admission, 2. at the end of inpatient therapy, 3. at the end of outpatient therapy, 4. at a 6-month follow-up and 5. at an 18-month follow-up. The major goals of the study were as follows: 1. Descriptive analysis of the course of illness from admission to the 18-month follow-up; 2. Analysis of the influence of the social setting at home (relationship, attitude of the family towards the patient) (Kreisman's Patient Rejection Scale) and expression of emotions in the family according to the "Camberwell Family Interview" (CFI); 3. Evaluation of the effect of the additional treatment component (A) "Systematic involvement of the significant other" as compared to an alternative component (B) "Systematic encouragement of the patient in self-help initiatives"; 4. Identification of risk factors for relapse and predictors of good prognosis that can be used to improve the therapeutic concept. The sample consisted of 42% women and 58% men, with a mean age of 37.9 years. Only patients who had a spouse or another close relative were accepted for participation in the study. At the beginning of the study 48% of the patients were married, 18% divorced, 27% unmarried and 6% lived separately or were widowed. 95 of the 100 patients could be reassessed at discharge from inpatient therapy, 92 at the end of 6-week outpatient treatment phase, 91 at the 6-month follow-up and 90 at the 18-month follow-up. The additional treatment components (A versus B) showed no major differences in effect. Significant changes in the patients attitude, behaviour and psychopathology were observed for patients receiving either one of the additional treatment components (A or B). The lack of differing effects from the additional treatment components is plausible, because the main part of the therapy (without the additional therapy component) was the same in both groups; this basic therapy took up most treatment time and by itself brought about major changes in personality scales, psychopathology and partnership interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Serotonin uptake of thrombocytes as a measure of thrombogenicity of adsorbents].

Serotonin intake into platelets is an active carrier-mediated metabolic achievement. This uptake may be reduced by unphysiological irritation on platelet membrane. Therefore, it is suitable for judgement of thrombogenicity of biomaterials. The 14C serotonin intake after blood contact with various adsorbents was investigated: Haemoresin (GDR), Adsorba 300 C (USSR) and syrendivinylbenzencopolymer FK 1621 (GDR). Only by the latter the serotonin intake was significantly reduced with 72.5 +/- 2.0% in comparison with siliconized glas (84.0 +/- 1.5%; p less than 0.001). Precision and analytical sensitivity of the method are high with a variation coefficient of 1.5 to 3.5%.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1989

[Hereditary dysprothrombinemia with a mild bleeding tendency (prothrombin Magdeburg)].

Seven members of one family over three generations were found to have a characteristic reduction to about 0.5 of the ratio between factor II clotting activity and factor II concentration, which was not seen when measuring prothrombin after activation with staphylocoagulase. In addition to the "normal" prothrombin, two abnormal prothrombins, with higher molecular weights and lower isoelectric points, were found by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This is an autosomal hereditary dysprothrombinemia, the affected persons being heterozygotes. Five of the seven persons had a slightly increased bleeding tendency which manifested itself especially in more marked or prolonged posttraumatic and postoperative bleedings.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
PubMed1988

Interactions of basophilic granulocytes and fat metabolism as indicators in thrombophilia.

In different groups of patients and blood donors with increased thrombophilic or arteriosclerotic risk we found some correlations between basophilic granulocyte values and lipid parameters. Basophilic granulocytes are one of the bodies own origin of sulfated mucopolysaccharides which protects endothelial cells and saves high density lipoprotein cholesterol, as we were able to find in blood donors.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1987

Interaction between man and shoe in running: considerations for a more comprehensive measurement approach.

Man-shoe-surface interaction in running is a complex phenomenon, and its investigation gives specific requirements for the measuring system. This study was designed to make an effort to develop a methodology for measuring the interaction between the first two components (man and shoe) under normal heel running conditions both on the force plate and on an asphalt road. The force plate system consisted of a series of 1.5-m long plates with a total length of 12 m. This allowed recordings of several natural ground contact phases in one run. By repeating the runs several times at constant velocity (3 m X s-1 and 5 m X s-1), altogether 10-30 Fz and Fx force curves could be obtained for further computerized averaging. The running shoes were equipped with special heel and toe contact sensors, which were used for recordings of even more cycles at constant velocity on the road running conditions. Telemetered EMG technique was employed to examine the response of the selected lower extremity muscles on the varying shoe and running velocity conditions. The results indicated preliminarily that the changes in ground reaction forces were more velocity than shoe (hard/soft) dependent and that EMG activation patterns were muscle specific with regard to preinnervation and impact and push-off phases for the gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior muscles. Although the actual measurements were not yet designed for comprehensive recording of each parameter, the results obtained suggest that the major leg extensor muscles change their activation patterns with the varying impact load conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Behavior of thrombocytes in low-dose heparin therapy].

In a little prospective study it could be shown that a series of 10-51 low dose heparin injections may be followed by slight or unspecific thrombocyte diminutions without specific heparin antibodies being available. Depending on stress and trauma potential complement activations caused by heparin histon complexes may result in insignificant thrombocyte diminutions by liberating those factors activating platelets from granulocytes. These are not bound to interrupt heparin therapy or heparin prophylaxis.

Blood Platelets↗