Biomedical subjects

W Raber

Publications and source records attributed to W Raber.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Routine measurement of plasma calcitonin in nodular thyroid diseases.

In a prospective study, plasma concentrations of human calcitonin (hCT) were determined in 1062 consecutive patients with thyroid nodular disease. Basal plasma hCT was above the normal range (>6 pg/mL) in 55 patients and was elevated up to more than 100 pg/mL (range, 127-5459) in 3 of these 55 patients. A pentagastrin-induced rise in hCT up to more than 100 pg/mL was observed in only 1 of 38 patients with a basal concentration of hCT between 5-10 pg/mL, but was found in 10 of 31 patients with basal hCT ranging from 10-100 pg/mL. Histologically, 7 of the 14 patients with either basal or stimulated plasma concentrations of hCT above 100 pg/mL presented C cell hyperplasia, which in one case showed histological transition into a small (diameter, 3 mm) medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Including this patient, MTC was found in 6 of the 12 patients. We conclude that the routine determination of hCT in all patients with thyroid nodular disease should be supplemented by pentagastrin-stimulation when the basal hCT concentration exceeds 10 pg/mL. Patients with basal and/or stimulated plasma CT concentrations of more than 100 pg/mL should be operated on because they run a substantial risk to suffer either MTC or C cell hyperplasia, a potentially precancerous condition. This will increase the chance of a timely diagnosis of MTC and provide the chance of curative surgery.

Calcitonin↗

PubMed1997

[Therapeutic possibilities in metastatic pheochromocytoma].

Malignant pheochromocytomas are rare. Although 5-year survival is less than 50%, the prognosis varies. Some patients, even those with extensive metastases, have been followed up for many years. If the tumor tissue's uptake is adequate (> 5 Gy/100 mCi) the therapeutic use of 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidin (131I-MIBG) is at present the therapy of first choice. The use of cytostatic chemotherapy should be limited to patients with rapidly progressive disease.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

PubMed1992

A computerized system for acquisition and evaluation of polysomnographic recordings.

A computer system has been designed for acquisition and evaluation of polysomnographic recordings. The aim is to create a system running on a microcomputer emulating all functions of a conventional chart recorder and offering the advantage of making computer assisted evaluations. We have done 87 investigations in the first year of operation and were fully satisfied by the performance of the system. The standard signals we recorded were SaO2, heart rate, respiratory effort, nasal and oral airflow and ECG, as well as EOG, EMG and EEG. Due to this new method, evaluation of the recording can be done in less time than with strip chart recordings and the use of hundreds of pages of paper per night can be avoided.

Computer Systems↗

PubMed1990

[Comparison of an oxygen-conserving module "Oxytron" and the reservoir cannula "Oxymizer Pendant" with continuous oxygen administration via nasal prong in hypoxemic patients].

High costs involved in administering continuous long-term oxygen therapy to patients with chronic lung diseases and limited portability of oxygen sources stimulated research into and development of oxygen conserving devices. Oxytron (Weinmann, Hamburg) is a new electronic demand oxygen delivery system which limits oxygen flow to the early phase of inspiration. The reservoir cannula Oxymizer Pendant (Chad-Therapeutics Inc.) is a nasal prong system incorporating a pendant reservoir which stores oxygen during expiration and delivers it as a bolus at the onset of inspiration. Ten patients with significant hypoxaemia at rest received oxygen delivered at various breath interval settings with the Oxytron method and at flow rates of 2, 3 and 41/min with the reservoir cannula Oxymizer Pendant and with continuous flow. The results indicate that significantly less oxygen was required to provide equivalent oxygen saturation with Oxytron as compared with steady flow delivery: an oxygen flow reduction of greater than 75% was achieved at all Oxytron settings tested. With the reservoir cannula oxygen saving was most evident at low oxygen flows: 29.3, 19.4 and 4.7% less oxygen was required than with continuous flow at 2, 3 and 41/min. Individual patient acceptance of various drug delivery systems and response to therapy should be considered when prescribing home oxygen therapy. The use of oxygen saving techniques could result in a substantial cost saving and greater mobility may help to improve compliance in patients requiring continuous oxygen therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Results of preventive screening of chimney sweeps].

In a prospective study, 18 chimney sweeps aged between 21 and 57 years were examined with the aim of detecting the presence of heavy metals in the blood and urine, and identifying cardiopulmonary diseases. Elevated concentrations of cadmium were found in three cases, and of lead in two cases, the concentrations being such that damage to health could not be excluded. None of the chimney sweeps showed any signs of bronchial hyper-reactivity or coronary heart disease. With respect to risk factors for coronary heart disease, elevated cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels were observed in 7/16 patients. These figures are compatible with the average figures for the Austrian population at large.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[The significance of nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity].

The bronchial hyperreactivity is the cause of dyspnea in asthmatic subjects. The bronchial hyperreactivity is caused by the allergic "late-reaction". Inhalative bronchial challenge tests by metacholine prove bronchial hyperreactivity. The therapy of the bronchial hyperreactivity consists in systemic and local corticosteroids and dinatriumcromoglycate. One of these substances should be part of the basic therapy of every asthmatic patient.

Asthma↗

PubMed1989