PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

U Scherer

Publications and source records attributed to U Scherer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Emissions of heavy metals into river basins of Germany.

The input of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) into the large river basins of Germany via various point and diffuse pathways were estimated for the period of 1985 through 2000. To quantify the emissions via point sources a nationwide survey on heavy metal data of municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial direct discharges was carried out. The input via diffuse pathways was calculated using an adapted version of the model MONERIS. This model accounts for the significant transport processes, and it includes a Geographical Information System (GIS) that provides digital maps as well as extensive statistical information. For a comparison of the calculated heavy metal emission with the measured heavy metal load at monitoring stations the losses of heavy metals due to retention processes within the river systems have to be considered. Therefore heavy metal retention was calculated according to the retention functions given by Vink and Behrendt. For the large river basins a good correspondence could be found between estimated and measured heavy metal loads in rivers. The total emission into the North Sea decreased for each metal during the period of 1986 to 2000. The reduction varies between 87% for Hg and 41% for Ni mainly caused by the decline via point sources. Today's emissions of heavy metals into river basins of Germany are dominated by the input via diffuse pathways. The most important diffuse emission pathways are "paved urban areas" and "erosion".

Geographic Information Systems↗

Coping strategies, personality, and voice quality in patients with vocal fold nodules and polyps.

Emotional state affects the physiological mechanism involved in phonation. Differences in acoustical parameters of the voice under stress have been attributed to the coping mechanism used, which is based on the individual's perception of the situation. This study examines the relationship between coping strategies, personality, and voice in female subjects, ranging in age from 19.3-55.7 years, diagnosed with vocal nodules or polyps. The differences between coping strategies and personality are examined and compared with another group with no history of voice pathology. The relationship of personality and coping strategies to voice quality variables is reported. Results show that patients use emotional coping strategies more and cognitive coping strategies less than the comparison group. Type of voice pathology was found to be related to dominance, and a number of coping and personality variables were found to correlate significantly with voice quality.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[Dance training and eating disorders].

Medical history, eating habits, weight, current symptomatology and EDI (Eating Disorders Inventory)-scores of 41 bulimic female patients with and without past training in dancing, who came for treatment to an outpatient clinic, were compared. It was found that both groups of patients were not different for age, age at beginning of bulimia, actual as well as minimal and maximal BMI (Body mass index), length and severity of symptomatology, frequency of bulimic behaviors, and scores on the subscales of the EDI, but it should be noted that these similarities might be in relationship with some methodological shortcomings. Considering the prevalence of bulimia nervosa in women and the high frequency of ballet and sports training in teenagers, some hypotheses about the possible influence of strenuous physical exercise in childhood on the symptomatology and some psychological traits in adults with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder are presented. Further studies, including standardized scales and larger samples, are necessary.

Adolescent↗

[Bone transplantation in the orbits as a prerequisite for prosthetic management].

We report on a method of fixing orbital prostheses and artificial eyes: First the orbit is filled by cortico-spongious bone graft. Afterwards two implants are centrally located in the graft, so that the prosthesis can be kept in place by magnetic retention. The advantage of this procedure is that the implants are more stable than those located in the orbital rim.

Adult↗

[Echographic diagnosis of orbital floor fractures].

In this study symptoms of fractures of the orbital floor are described. The problems of diagnosis by x-ray are demonstrated. There is no evidence of bony fractures in many cases in standard x-ray pictures. Diagnosis of fractures of the orbital floor is established in most patients by polytomography. This method, however, implicates the disadvantage of high radiation exposure. Experimental studies have shown that fractures of a width of at least 1 mm. and bony fragments greater than 1 X 1 mm. can be visualized in the B-scan. All 62 cases of fractures of the orbital floor found intraoperatively had been diagnosed by ultrasound before surgery.

Fractures, Open↗

[Computer tomographic diagnosis of liver diseases].

Computed tomography is one out of several imaging procedures used in the detection of liver disease (radionuclide imaging, ultrasound). It is a noninvasive technique convenient for the patient and generally an outpatient procedure. Many focal lesions and some diffuse liver disease are characterized by a specific pattern. For space-occupying lesions, the diagnostic accuracy ranges between 86 and 95 percent.

Humans↗

[Artifacts in A and B-scan echograms following the implantation of artificial lenses].

In the A scan and B scan echogram of the eye and orbit artifacts may arise following implantation of an intraocular lens. Their origin, form, and localization can be explained by means of physics. Reverberation, foreign body, refraction, and absorption artifacts can be distinguished; familiarity with their appearance will avoid erroneous interpretation and results.

Eye↗

[Clinical value of bronchoalveolar lavage in progressive systemic scleroderma (author's transl)].

As an enlargement of conventional diagnostic methods the cell spectrum of bronchoscopically obtained bronchoalveolar lavage was investigated in 10 patients with progressive systemic scleroderma. Two cases showed marked lymphocytosis, one increased numbers of granulocytes, two patients had marginally increased percentages of inflammatory cells. Four of these patients were in a progressive active phase of scleroderma with humoral inflammation signs and round cell infiltrates of the skin. In contrast, the lavage cell picture of the other five patients was unremarkable. One of these had advanced pulmonary fibrosis, however without signs of progression. The results show that the lavage cell pattern reflects the acute phase with cellular inflammation of lung parenchyma disease such as occurs in progressive systemic scleroderma. Staging of pulmonary organ manifestation in progressive systemic scleroderma can be markedly improved by low-risk bronchoalveolar lavage.

Adult↗

Computed tomography for localizing enlarged parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Computed tomography (CT) has been performed in 21 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in an attempt to localize preoperatively the parathyroid tumors. Eighteen of these patients also had ultrasound examinations. The CT examinations included the neck and mediastinum and were performed before and after contrast medium administration. At subsequent surgery, 24 enlarged glands were found, 20 in the neck and 4 in the mediastinum. In the neck, two were locally recurrent carcinomas. The true positive diagnostic rate for ultrasound was 60% with a false positive rate of 15% and a false negative rate of 25%. The CT examinations resulted in 70.9% true positive, 8.3% false positive, and 20.8% false negative diagnoses. The combination of both methods in the 18 patients so studied resulted in 80% true positive, 10% false positive, and 10% false negative findings. The CT examination procedure and its interpretation and limitations in primary HPT are described.

Adenoma↗

[Intracranial manifestations of lymphogranulomatosis].

Intracerebral manifestations of Hodgkin's disease are rare. They may occur as a primary or secondary manifestation and cause a variety of neurological symptoms. Frequently other organs as lungs, liver, bones and gastrointestinal tract are involved. Computer tomography and scintigraphy of the brain are valuable tools to help establish the diagnosis. Most patients have a poor prognosis. The treatment of choice is radiation of the brain. The literature of 34 reported cases is reviewed and two own cases are reported.

Adult↗