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Biomedical subjects

U John

Publications and source records attributed to U John.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Clinical features of unilateral multicystic renal dysplasia in children.

UNLABELLED: A clinical study of 204 patients with unilateral multicystic renal dysplasia referred to 30 nephrology departments was undertaken to assess the frequency of complications in children who underwent nephrectomy (n = 40) versus those who were treated conservatively (n = 164). Six patients required antihypertensive treatment, 30 (13% of girls, 17% of boys) had at least one episode of urinary tract infection. The number of clinical complications did not differ in patients who underwent nephrectomy in comparison to those who did not. The dysplastic kidney decreased in size in 65% of kidneys with repeated ultrasound values; no change occurred in 16%, while an increase in maximal diameter was observed in 19%. Contralateral kidney length of more than 2 standard deviation scores (SDS) was seen in 30% of patients. There is evidence for a slight impairment of renal function in the whole study group given by a median of serum creatinine level of 0.63 SDS in all patients available for analysis. Among those 35 patients with contralateral anomalies (mainly obstructive changes and vesico-ureteral reflux), all 3 patients with contralateral changes suggestive of hypoplasia and 22% with obstruction, but only 1/7 (14%) with reflux showed elevated serum creatinine level >2 SDS. CONCLUSION: Renal function seems to be slightly impaired in patients with unilateral multicystic renal dysplasia. The apparent tendency to regression of the dysplastic kidney and no difference in the number of complications justify a conservative management rather than operative intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Kidney growth and renal function in unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney disease.

The natural history of multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) is not well established. We analyzed kidney growth and renal function in 33 children with prenatally diagnosed unilateral MCDK in a long-term study. The mean observation period was 4.9 years with a range of 1-11.6 years. Abnormalities of the contralateral kidney were found in 10 of 33 patients (30%): ureteropelvic junction obstruction (5), ureterovesical junction obstruction (2), and vesicoureteral reflux (3). In 6 children the dysplastic kidney had been removed. Complete involution was observed in 48% and a decrease of size in 33% of 27 dysplastic kidneys. At the time of last examination, 27 of 29 children showed a volume of the contralateral kidney above the normal range (>145%). Hypertrophy of the contralateral kidney, defined as kidney length above 2 standard deviation scores (SDS), was seen in 24% of 33 children at birth, thus showing that hypertrophy of the contralateral kidney starts in utero and continues throughout childhood. The extent of contralateral hypertrophy was independent of associated abnormalities in this study. Mean creatinine was increased in the whole group (mean +1.13 SDS). Calculated creatinine clearance in 21 patients over 2 years was within normal limits, with a median of 102 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (range 84-143). Based on the results of this and previous studies, nephrectomy cannot be recommended in typical cases, but a regular follow-up of these patients seems necessary.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Previous help seeking and motivation to change drinking behavior in alcohol-dependent general hospital patients.

To assess the suitability of implementing secondary prevention approaches for alcohol abuse and dependence in the general hospital, it is worth examining how many problem drinkers are detected in this setting for the first time and whether these individuals are motivated to change their drinking behavior. In a representative general hospital sample (N = 1167), subjects were detected by a two-step diagnostic procedure including screening instruments and a diagnostic interview during a period of 6 months on all medical and surgical wards. Of alcohol-dependent patients, 38.2% had received no help in their lifetime and 70.8% did not seek help in the year prior to admission. According to the stages of change model of Prochaska and DiClemente the minority (10.9%) of subjects detected as alcohol dependent for the first time were not considering changing their drinking behavior (precontemplation stage); 84.8% were either in the contemplation or action stage. Previous help seeking showed no significant relationship with the stages of change.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Differences between hospital patients with alcohol problems referred for counselling by physicians' routine clinical practice versus screening questionnaires.

AIMS: To test the hypothesis that screening for alcohol-related disorders in a general hospital with questionnaires generates a target group of patients for alcohol counselling which differs from patients referred by physicians' routine clinical practice. DESIGN: A prospective study with follow-up after 12 months. SETTING: Medical and surgical wards of a general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 298 patients detected by screening questionnaires (CAGE, MAST) was compared with a sample of 87 patients referred by physicians. MEASUREMENTS: The main measurements were a diagnostic interview (SCAN), two questionnaires to estimate the severity of dependence and the motivation to change drinking behaviour (RCQ, LAS), and socio-demographic variables. Outcome criteria were utilization of remedial programmes, decreases in hazardous and excessive drinking and abstinence rates. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Patients referred by physicians were more often separated and unemployed, were more likely to be alcohol-dependent and to be more severely dependent, had a higher rate of alcohol-related diseases as reasons for admission, were more often motivated to change drinking behaviour, had a higher participation rate in remedial programmes and more often exhibited improvements in drinking behaviour compared with the sample identified by screening questionnaires. However, there was evidence of improvements in drinking in both samples. Data show that while screening reaches a less problematic sample with lower motivation to change, it is a worthwhile activity which extends the spectrum of patients eligible for brief interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Psychiatric co-morbidity, suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation in alcoholics seeking treatment.

AIMS: To estimate the impact of co-morbid disorders for suicidal ideas in alcohol-dependent subjects seeking treatment. DESIGN: Life-time psychiatric co-morbidity and previous suicidal behaviours were assessed retrospectively after detoxification (t1). In addition, suicidal behaviours were assessed 12 months after discharge (t2). SETTING: An inpatient detoxification treatment unit. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and fifty dependent inpatients were studied after detoxification. One hundred and forty-nine of them participated in the follow-up face-to-face interviews. MEASUREMENTS: Using two extended standardized interviews (CIDI and IPDE) psychiatric co-morbidity (DSM-III-R, Axes I and II) was assessed at t1; suicide attempts were reported at t1 and t2, and suicidal ideas were assessed at t2. FINDINGS: A history of suicide attempts was reported by 29.2% at t1, and suicidal ideas by 14.1% and suicide attempts by 5.4% at the follow-up (t2). One female patient committed suicide within 6 months of discharge from hospital. The following co-morbidity patterns were associated with the greatest risk for suicidal ideas. Anxiety and depressive disorders, Axes I and 11 disorders, and a history of suicide attempt (for suicidal ideas at (t2). CONCLUSION. Our results underline the importance of psychiatric co-morbidity for the suicidal risk in alcohol-dependent patients, while alcoholism itself appears to be only a moderate risk factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Screening questionnaires in the detection of hazardous alcohol consumption in the general hospital: direct or disguised assessment?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the validity of two direct screening questionnaires, the CAGE and MAST, in the detection of hazardous alcohol consumption with a disguised assessment by using the Trauma Scale in a poststratified general hospital sample. METHOD: Surgical and medical inpatients (N = 1,379) completed the three questionnaires. Hazardous alcohol consumption was defined by criteria derived from a World Health Organization study and assessed using self-reported quantity and frequency. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the Trauma Scale was not significantly different compared to the CAGE and MAST, whereas the direct questionnaires were higher in specificity and overall accuracy (p < .0001). In male surgical patients the detection rate of the Trauma Scale was higher compared to the CAGE (p < .05). Thirteen percent of subjects with hazardous levels of alcohol consumption were detected by the Trauma Scale only. In female surgical patients, the Trauma Scale, when used as an additional tool, does not improve the detection of hazardous drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low specificity, indirect assessment using a history of trauma cannot be recommended as a screening instrument in a general hospital setting. Despite a high number of false positives, the Trauma Scale may serve as an additional tool in conjunction with direct questionnaires when high sensitivity is desired.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1998

Axis I and axis II comorbidity in alcohol dependence and the two types of alcoholism.

BACKGROUND: Although high prevalence rates of psychiatric comorbidity were reported in alcoholism, there is a lack of studies covering the whole spectrum of DSM Axes I and II disorders. The relation of comorbid psychopathology and Cloninger's and Babor's types of alcoholism still remained unclear. METHODS: Psychiatric comorbidity in 250 hospitalized alcohol-dependent patients without additional substance-related disorders was assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and the International Personality Disorder Examination. Information about the course and severity of alcoholism was obtained from several sources. RESULTS: Additional Axis I disorders only were found in 24.0%, Axis II disorders only in 16.4%, and concurrent Axis I and Axis II disorders in 17.2% (total comorbidity rate: 57.6%). Two clusters of alcohol dependence were found that substantially overlap with Cloninger's and Babor's types of alcoholism. The majority of type A subjects were found to be either not comorbid at all, or to be Axis I comorbid only. Type B, on the other hand, was preferably associated with personality disorders (mainly Clusters A and B) and dimensional scores of personality pathology (schizoid, schizotypal, all Cluster B, and passive-aggressive). CONCLUSIONS: The entire spectrum of personality pathology should be assessed in the comorbidity research of alcoholism. The two types of alcoholism differ on a variety of alcohol-related and comorbid personality characteristics, but further research is needed to clarify the underlying psychological and biological associations.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of alcohol dependence and abuse in general practice.

The aim of this study is to deliver representative epidemiological data about the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence in general practices in an urban area. In 12 general practices at Luebeck, a Northern German city with 220,000 inhabitants, a total of 929 patients (aged between 14 and 75 years) were screened using the CAGE and the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. If one of these screening questionnaires or the General Practitioners' assessment of the patient indicated an alcohol problem, the patient underwent a standardized diagnostic interview using the alcohol section of the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. The prevalence rates according to ICD-10 or DSM-III-R were 3.5% for alcohol abuse and 7.2% for alcohol dependence, the sex ratio was 1:2.8 (female:male). These results are compared with previous findings, and general epidemiological implications of this study are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Stages of motivation to change in smokers of the general population].

Secondary preventive measures to reduce cigarette smoking can be effective only if the motivation to change in the target population is taken into account. A useful model to match interventions to the readiness to change differentiates five stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. In the USA, general population studies showed that 40% of smokers were in the precontemplation and contemplation stage, respectively, and 20% were in the preparation stage. In Germany, no data according to the distribution of stages among smokers are available; however, such data are necessary to plan population-based interventions. Data with respect to nicotine use, nicotine dependence, and the stages of change were assessed in a representative sample of 4075 respondents in Luebeck, a northern German city, and 46 adjoining communities in a face-to-face interview. The response rate was 70.2%. In this sample, 37.3% were cigarette smokers. Of those smokers with at least one attempt to reduce or quite smoking in the past, 76.4% were in the precontemplation, 17% in the contemplation, and 6.6% in the preparation stage. Including individuals without an attempt to reduce or quit smoking, 95.3% can be allocated to the precontemplation or contemplation stage. Nicotine-dependent smokers were in higher stages compared to smokers without dependence. Severity of dependence was not related to the stages of change. Data demonstrate that common smoking cessation programmes that require the individuals' readiness to change are inappropriate for 95% of the population. Stage-matched interventions are introduced and discussed in the paper. Compared to data from the USA smokers in Germany are more likely to be in early stages of change. Policy-based public health measures are necessary to change these findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Development of a screening questionnaire for the general hospital and general practices.

The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive as well as brief screening questionnaire by combining the well-known instruments CAGE and the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) in detecting patients with alcohol dependence or abuse in general hospitals and general practices. The number of items was reduced by means of logistic regression and item analysis based on data of 1,167 consecutive admissions of a general hospital who completed both questionnaires. Further data were derived from a sample of 774 patients from 10 randomly selected general practices. A solution with nine items was validated in a second sample of 436 hospital inpatients. In all three samples, cases screening positive were interviewed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry to provide ICD-10 and DSM-III-R or DSM-IV diagnosis. In addition, 103 subjects with negative screening results were interviewed in the second general hospital sample. On grounds of the data of all three samples, a solution of seven items was chosen. This instrument comprises two CAGE and five MAST questions (Leubeck Alcohol Dependence and Abuse Screening Test; LAST) and was significantly higher in sensitivity than CAGE and SMAST. Data were robust in all three samples. It is concluded that the LAST is an optimized instrument for use in general hospital and general practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Motivational work with alcohol dependent patients].

Motivational work is secondary preventive work. The aim is to increase activity for maintaining long-term abstinence. The principles and structure of a secondary preventive program with several opportunities of intervention in the frame of detoxification treatment are presented.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1995

[Psychiatric consultation service in a university clinic. An empirical study of characteristic performance].

In Germany, there is growing interest in consultant psychiatry on a scientific and practical level. On the other hand, very few results have been reported concerning the tasks and functions of consultant services. This study was conducted in the Lübeck University Hospital to evaluate psychiatric consultant interventions by assessing referral rates, reasons for referrals, psychiatric diagnoses and recommendations. A total of 5334 consultations from 7 years (1983-1989) was analyzed, and a sample of 1000 consultations was taken. Over the years, a continuous increase in the consultation rates can be observed, with suicide and alcoholism as important focuses. The most frequent diagnoses were adjustment disorders, organic disorders and alcoholism. Psychopharmacological intervention, referral to the psychiatric/psychosomatic ward, and short practical advice were the most frequent recommendations. The results are discussed in the context of the international literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Indications for ambulatory therapy of alcohol dependence].

The aim of the contribution is the discussion of client characteristics in regard to the indication of alcohol dependence outpatient therapy. In a first part issues of outpatient compared with inpatient treatment, in a second part results concerning indication criteria are presented. The third part shows differentiating factors in regard to the indication criteria and outcome of the clients. This part includes reabstinence, the ability to reach the goal of abstinence after relapse, the help of significant others, and arguments for the understanding of indication criteria in a broad sense.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1993

[Follow-up and prognosis of pyelonephritis in infancy].

128 infants between 1 and 18 months, 80 girls and 48 boys suffering from their first pyelonephritis (PN), were investigated and followed up over 2.9 +/- 2.2 years (mean +/- SD). 20 children showed urinary tract obstructions. In 49 of 108 cases (45%) with nonobstructive PN a vesico-uretero-renal reflux (VUR) was found and surgically corrected in 13 cases. In 36 patients (52 renal units) the VUR disappeared in most cases under medical management within 3 years. Recurrences of urinary tract infections (UTI) were found in the same frequency in children with and without reflux (28%), but those with VUR showed significantly more PN. 22 of 108 patients with nonobstructive PN (20%) developed renal scars, 39% of children with reflux (mostly VUR III. or IV. degree), 5% of those without reflux. In more than half of these cases renal scars were found already after the first PN. We conclude that a reduction of the risk of renal damage and an improvement of the prognosis can achieved by the following measures: 1. early detection of obstruction by pre- or postnatal sonographic screening, 2. early and exact diagnosis of PN and antibiotic therapy without delay. PN has to be excluded in all infants with unclear fever. 3. In all infants with PN a voiding cystography should be performed. In children with VUR, long-term chemoprophylaxis is necessary to avoid recurrence of PN.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1993

[Errors in using ambulatory therapy for alcohol dependent patients].

After defining different outpatient approaches the appropriateness of outpatient treatment in different areas is evaluated: detoxification, motivation, therapy, aftercare. The results lead to the conclusion that outpatient treatment in all four areas may be realized and is useful. Different gaps in our knowledge exist with regard to the efficacy. However, the more frequent use of outpatient treatment leads to a higher qualification of the health care system for alcohol dependents. Especially patients with a tendency to resist treatment may benefit from the more differentiated help. Thus, inpatient treatment effort, e.g. in the case of somatic illness in consequence of alcohol abuse, may be saved.

Aftercare↗