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Biomedical subjects

W O Seiler

Publications and source records attributed to W O Seiler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Does smoking protect from Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer-type changes in 301 unselected brains from patients with known smoking history.

The objective of this report is to investigate whether smoking exerts any influence on the number of senile plaques and Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles. A retrospective study was based on unselected consecutive autopsy findings on the brains of 301 patients aged 65 years or older examined at the Institute of Pathology, Basel. Brains were investigated according to a fixed protocol. Histological examination was performed on 15 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks per brain using staining with silver impregnation specific for Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles and for senile plaques, and Alzheimer-type changes were quantified. Retrospective assessment of smoking history was also based on a fixed protocol. Statistical analysis of the relationship between the smoking habits and the amount of Alzheimer-type changes was performed and included analysis of 72 age- and sex-matched smoker-nonsmoker pairs from within the total of 301 cases to compensate for variations in these changes due to age/sex alone. The influence of smoking on the total of 301 cases cannot be proven statistically. But a protective action against senile plaque formation could be demonstrated in 28 age matched pairs of smoking-nonsmoking women. Furthermore a positive correlation between the amount of smoking and the neurofibrillary changes as expressed in Braak stages in smokers of both sexes was present. Thus, there seems to be an influence of nicotine on the structural alterations of Alzheimer's disease which can exert itself in opposite directions.

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PubMed1995

[Special aspects of malnutrition in geriatrics].

In 1992 people aged 65 years and over represented 11.9% (men) and 17.2% (women) of the Swiss population, and in 2000 the average 65-year-old man or woman can expect to live about 12 more years. Old age is characterized by multimorbidity, an accumulation of chronic conditions and diseases, and by social isolation. Multimorbidity and isolation (living alone) are the major risk factors for malnutrition. 30-60% of all persons aged 65 years and over show one or more subnormal nutritional parameters. The unspecific and oligosymptomatic clinical picture of malnutrition in the elderly often hinders an early diagnosis, and malnutrition is often misdiagnosed as "wasting away syndrome" of the old. Thus, the nutritional assessment of the elderly should become a routine diagnostic procedure. Detection of malnutrition involves assessment of nutritional parameters including history (eating habits, appetite), anthropometric measurements (weight, height, body mass index, triceps skinfold, midarm circumference), serum proteins (albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, cholinesterase, retinol binding protein), vitamins (B12, folic acid, B1, B2, B6, C and D), minerals and trace elements (zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron), immunologic skin tests and lymphocyte count. Depending on the history and the clinical symptoms, a selected number of these nutritional parameters are assessed. When assessing the nutritional status of the elderly it is important to define the etiologic factors involved. Thus, treatment of underlying causes and refeeding can be streamlined, so that maximum benefit can be obtained for the quality of life of the elderly.

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PubMed1994

[Prevention of cerebrovascular insults].

Cerebrovascular infarction is the third leading cause of mortality following coronary heart disease and malignancies. WHO studies show that more than half of patients admitted for cerebrovascular infarction were not treated for hypertension. The risk factors for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular infarction are not identical. Patients with systolic and diastolic hypertension, atrial fibrillation, stenosis of the carotid artery, and smoking, have a significantly elevated risk for cerebrovascular accidents. Hypercholesterolemia and diabetes are less important risk factors. Risk factors amendable by adequate nutritional intake are low supply of carotene and vitamin C. Homocysteineemia appears to be a risk factor that may be influenced by appropriate nutrition. Antihypertensive therapy is the most important primary and secondary preventive measure. No smoking and adequate dietary intake are also important. Primary prevention with low dose salicylic acid (ASA) is recommended in the presence of additional cardiovascular risk factors. The benefit of low dose anticoagulant therapy in atrial fibrillation without symptoms is not fully established. In subjects with atrial fibrillation with cerebrovascular events anticoagulants are superior to ASA. Surgical treatment of significant stenosis of the carotid artery is indicated. In secondary prevention of thromboembolic events, low dose ASA is recommended. A valuable alternative in case of side effects is available in ticlopidine.

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PubMed1992

[Cost-benefit analysis of a new treatment concept in patients with indwelling catheters].

An earlier and a new treatment concept for patients equipped with long-term indwelling bladder catheters were compared with regard to cost, expenditure of time, and equipment in a retrospective study involving 58 patients treated by the earlier concept and 60 treated by the new one. The new concept dispensed with the need for bladder irrigation and routine replacement of the indwelling catheters. Under the earlier concept, 18 indwelling catheter replacements and 53 bladder irrigations were required per patient and year during the years 1979/80. This compares with 6 indwelling catheter replacements and 0.05 bladder irrigations per patient and year for the years 1989/90 under the new concept. The use of analgesics and spasmolytics fell from 55 to 21 units per patient per year. Significantly fewer urinalyses were performed during 1989/90. The use of antibiotics remained unchanged. When compared with the earlier one, the new concept for the management of patients with indwelling catheters provides savings of 1265 minutes (21 hours) of nursing time and sFr. 405 for equipment per patient per year. Applied to our geriatric hospital (120 beds, 80 nursing staff), this translates into annual savings of one full nursing post and sFr. 34,000 for equipment.

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PubMed1991

[Decubitus ulcers in geriatrics--pathogenesis, prevention and therapy].

Magnitude and duration of interface pressure are the crucial etiological factors in the decubitus ulcer formation. Small amounts of interface pressure that exceed the average capillary pressure (range: 2.7 to 6.3 kPa) may lead to compression of the skin microcirculation and resultant tissue necrosis when a critical duration of interface pressure of more than 2 h is reached. The principles of decubitus ulcer prevention are derived from the pathophysiology of ulcer formation as noted: reduction of interface pressure below 3 kPa by bedding each at-risk patient on a 'super-soft' mattress and shortening the duration of interface pressure below 2 h. by turning of patients from the supine position to the right and left 30 degrees oblique back position every two hours. Decubitus ulcers typically show impaired wound healing. Conditions most conspicuously protracting normal wound healing are: tissue hypoxia, fibrin deposits, necrotic tissue, local infection, defective migration of keratinocytes, impaired general condition, etc. Based on these pathophysiological mechanisms, five therapeutical principles are proposed: complete relief of interface pressure, débridement of necrotic tissue, treatment of infection using systemical antibiotics, wet and air-permeable wound dressing, improvement of patient's general condition.

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PubMed1990

[Wound healing: from polypragmasy to rational therapy concepts--can growth factors contribute anything?].

Impaired wound healing as seen in diabetic, arterial, venous and decubital ulcers is still an unsolved problem. The lack of precise knowledges of wound pathophysiology renders efficient therapeutic approaches difficult. Many local and systemic factors are delaying wound repair, e.g., tissue ischemia, intra- and extravascular fibrin depositions, vasodilatation of the non-nutritive microcirculation, necrosis, infection, impaired migration of the epithelial cells of the ulcer edge and an inadequate cytokines pattern. With regard to these factors general therapeutic measures are proposed. We believe that in the near future cytokines may substantially improve our actual treatment methods of chronic ulcers.

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PubMed1990

[Bulk-forming agents as laxatives in geriatric patients].

Constipation in elderly long-care patients is an important problem. We compared the daily administration of three bulk-forming agents, semen psyllii (Effersyllium), wheat bran with karaya gum (Crusca di Fior) and bruised linseed, with the routine laxative therapy in our clinic based on lactulose (Duphalac) and a combination of paraffin oil and phenolphthalein (Agarol). To evaluate these two laxative regimens the following parameters were monitored: quantity and quality of the feces and of additional laxatives used for regular defecation; acceptance by the patient; costs per patient and day. The results of this study show that daily administration of a laxative is significantly more efficient than periodic administration, and that daily administration of a bulk-forming agent is, at the same level of effectiveness, less expensive (-35%) than therapy with lactulose alone.

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PubMed1990

Beta-carotene in tube feeding.

The supplementation of an enteral feeding formula on soya-basis specially designed for geriatric patients with 1,5 mg to 2 mg beta-carotene per day increases its corresponding plasmatic concentration from 20 mcg/L to normal to optimal levels near 500 mcg/L. This intake is much lower than the proposed safe intake of 6-20 mg beta-carotene per day. A close incorporation of beta-carotene in the lipid moiety of the ready-to-use formula might increase its bioavailability. The other anti-oxidative vitamins A and E remain to their respective normal levels at a supplemental daily intake of 2500 IU vitamin A and 12,5 mg vitamin E. The new enteral feeding formula for geriatric patients seems to cover their global nutritional needs.

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PubMed1989

Computed tomography, electroencephalography, and clinical features in the differential diagnosis of senile dementia. A prospective clinicopathologic study.

The accuracy of computed tomography, electroencephalography, and clinical features in the differential diagnosis of senile dementia was studied prospectively. Out of 50 demented patients, autopsy revealed 32 cases with either senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT), multi-infarct dementia (MID), or a combination of both. Eighteen patients had dementia caused by other diseases. Based on a combination of computed tomography, electroencephalography, and clinical features, senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type was differentiated from all 50 patients, with a specificity of 83% and a sensitivity of 80%. Focusing on senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, multi-infarct dementia, or a combination of both, specificity decreased to 65% and sensitivity to 47%. Comparing the different methods, multi-infarct processes were diagnosed with a higher sensitivity by the clinical features (73%) than by computed tomography (18%) or electroencephalography (18%). None of the methods validly differentiated multi-infarct dementia from a combination of multi-infarct dementia and senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

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PubMed1989

Impaired migration of epidermal cells from decubitus ulcers in cell cultures. A cause of protracted wound healing?

Cultured epidermal cells of explants from decubitus ulcer edges showed significant (P less than 0.05) decreased maximal growth rate (range, 1.3-15.6%) and decreased area of outgrowth per explant (mean and SD, 1.6 +/- 1.7 mm2) when compared with explants obtained 4-5 cm distant from the ulcer edge (range, 46.7-68.8% and 4.6 +/- 2.7 mm2, respectively) and from healthy skin (range, 78.8-93.3% and 6.6 +/- 1.2 mm2, respectively). In contrast, epidermal cells in biopsies from the ulcer edge were significantly (P less than 0.05) more prevalent (range, 1.9-48.2%) as compared with biopsies of healthy skin (range, 3.1-5.1%). Therefore, the decreased growth rate and decreased area of outgrowth may be caused by a defective migration potential rather than an impaired mitotic activity. The latter seems to be normal, as demonstrated by the histomorphometry, which indicates the in vivo situation. Decreased migration potential of epidermal cells could explain the clinically observed protracted epithelialization of decubitus ulcers.

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