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PubMed1981

[Lipoprotein lipase activity in healthy subjects and patients with metabolic disorders].

The activity of the post-heparin-lipase as well as of the cholesterol and triglyceride levels of test persons with normal weight and obese test persons of different age groups was established: 1. In normal persons (males and females) in mature age (30-45 years) a decrease of the enzyme activity takes place which is connected with an increase of the triglyceride content. Above all in older females a repeated increase of the post-heparin-lipase activity was observed, which positively correlates with the triglyceride level. While the decreases of the enzyme activity in mature age may be connected with processes of ageing, a repeated increase of the enzyme activity in older persons is perhaps induced by the increase of the triglyceride level. 2. Obese persons show higher enzyme activities in all age groups examined. Also in obese persons in mature age a decrease of the activity of post-heparin-lipase is to be established. The ageing development of the enzyme activity of the post-heparin-lipase is similar to that of normal persons, takes place, however, at a higher level. 3. The cholesterol and triglyceride levels of the obese persons examined were on an average higher than those of normal persons of the same age group. A dependence of age of these parameters was not observed in the adipose patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Insensitivity of cardiovascular function to low power cm-/mm-microwaves.

A previous study failed to disclose an effect of short (15 min) exposure to low level energy microwaves (3 microW/cm2) emitted by a commercially available automobile radar system (77 GHz) for adaptive cruise control (ACC) on cardiovascular function. The present study explored whether a 15 min exposure to higher level energy microwaves of frequencies varying from 5.8 to 110 GHz influences cardiovascular function. To this end heart rate, skin temperature (thermocouple), skin conductance (Ag/AgCl electrodes), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (automatic cuff) were recorded in 50 test persons before, during and after a 15 min exposure to a sequential pattern of microwaves varying from 5.8 to 110 GHz (59.7 microW/cm2). After an equilibration period of 30 min the first group of test persons and after additional 30 min the second group of test persons were exposed. The study has been performed in a strict double blind design. While significant effects on the measured parameters were observed depending on time ("calming" effect), no significant difference was observed between exposure and sham exposure to microwaves. In view of the small scatter of the data the present study rules out physiologically relevant effects of moderate energy (59.7 microW/cm2) microwaves varying from 5.8 to 110 GHz on cardiovascular function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Positioning device for optimal active kinematic real-time magnetic resonance imaging of the knee joint: a technical note.

OBJECTIVE: A prototype of a positioning device created especially for the diagnostic imaging of the patellofemoral joint was developed in order to achieve reproducible examination conditions. DESIGN: For this purpose a clinical trial on healthy test persons was carried out under real examination conditions. BACKGROUND: A special real-time MRI technique (Local-Look-technique) makes the analysis of active functional motion images possible. A prerequisite for this technique is accurate reproducible positioning of the knee joint in the MRI unit. METHODS: This positioning device was evaluated during a total of 50 examinations of the knee joints of five healthy test persons. The right patellofemoral joint of each test person was examined twice at different time points in order to check the reproducibility of all examination conditions. Comparing two examination series from the same individual, reproducibility of MRI slices was guaranteed by using identical anatomical landmarks. Image quality and test-retest reliability were analyzed on the computer screen. RESULTS: Optimal desired fixation of the leg in the MRI tube using the device was accomplished in all cases. The extent of motion of the knee joints ranged from 38 degrees (n = 2) to 40 degrees (n = 3) of flexion to full extension, which was satisfactory for the evaluation of the patellofemoral joint. Free movement of the patella and the lower leg was observed. The active functional MRI examination using this device was satisfactory and reproducible as assessed by test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The positioning device is a useful development in achieving active functional real-time MRI evaluation of the knee and patellofemoral joint. Using this diagnostic tool, reproducible quantitative examinations can now be easily performed. The reproducibility and high reliability as well as its simplicity of operation render this diagnostic tool suitable for use in orthopedics and traumatology.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Reliability of anergy skin testing in persons with HIV infection. The pulmonary Complications of HIV Infection Study Group.

Testing with antigens that elicit delayed-type cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions is commonly used to evaluate immune competence in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus; however, the reliability of such testing has not been determined. We performed serial testing with tuberculin, mumps, and Candida antigens in 491 HIV-infected persons and found that 30% of persons who initially had no reaction (0 mm) to any of the three antigens, and, thus, were considered to be anergic, had reaction to the mumps or Candida antigen when they were retested 12 months later. We also examined the results of mumps antigen tests in 50 subjects who had a negative tuberculin tests after an initial positive test. The mumps antigen test was positive in 39% of the subjects when the tuberculin test was falsely negative. We conclude that tests commonly used to define anergy cannot reliably identify the anergic state. Moreover, using the mumps antigen to aid in the interpretation of the tuberculin test will often lead to erroneous conclusions. These data indicate that the results of anergy testing should not be used to make individual patient decisions concerning preventive therapy for tuberculosis.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1982

[Biocybernetic tests on the identification and mathematical modelling of the motor regulation system and its disorders].

By means of the biocybernetically conceived step and impulse loads on the forearm the motor postural regulation of healthy test persons and neurological patients with rigor, spasticity and flaccid pareses of slight degree, respectively, were examined. The analysis of the forms of the transient processes rendered possible a significant differentiation of the groups of test persons and patients. With the help of the mathematical mode the response curves of healthy test persons as well as of patients could be simulated with sufficient exactness. Apart from the step and impulse loads psendorandom binary series of test signals are particularly suitable for the analysis of the motor postural regulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Mercury inductions in persons with subjective symptoms alleged to dental amalgam fillings.

This study was carried out to determine whether health disturbances alleged to mercury release from dental amalgam fillings, i.e. "amalgam disease", may be caused by an increased sensitivity to mercury (Hg). In the form of a double-blind test, 39 volunteers who themselves suspected "amalgam disease" inhaled small doses of mercury vapour (0.6-10 microg) or pure air in a random sequence. After the induction procedure, the test persons assessed whether they reacted or not, i.e. experienced increased illness or not. The test persons also registered the daily intensity of their various symptoms. Calculated on the whole population, there was no statistically significant difference between the number of reactions after inhalation of mercury vapour compared with after inhalation of air. Two subjects, however, reacted significantly more often to mercury vapour than to air. The results do not support that short-term exposure to low doses of Hg vapour in general promotes clinical illness in subjects who themselves suspect "amalgam disease". The deviating reactions presented by two test persons, however, may support the theory that occasional individuals can be sensitive to very low doses of Hg.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1989

[The process of adaptation for relatives of cancer patients].

The purpose of this study was to explain the adaptation process of a family member of a cancer patient. The theoretical frameworks were the stress- and adaptation theories. The study was implemented by interviewing one family member of each of the 15 cancer patients in question. The interviews were recorded and the material was analyzed. For all of them the family member's taking ill was a shock. Ten of the test persons reacted physiologically. All of them used problem focused coping methods and almost all of them emotion focused coping methods as well. Every test person had received social support from other family members, relatives, and friends. Family members had received little support from the care personnel. Six interviewees were informed by them. One of them considered it sufficient. More than a half of the interviewees told that they would have needed mental support from the care personnel. None of the test persons had been asked by the care personnel if they wanted to talk about their situation. Two of them had asked for this themselves. One fourth of them stated that they had adapted to the situation well/very well.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Are aphasic patients who fail the GOAT in PTA? A modified Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test for persons with aphasia.

Because the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT) requires oral or written response, it risks misclassifying as amnestic aphasic patients who are not, in fact, amnestic. To correct for possible classification errors due to anomia, a modified multiple-choice format of the GOAT (AGOAT) was developed. The average GOAT score of 10 control nonaphasic head-injured patients suggested that an AGOAT score of 90 corresponds to the standard GOAT cutoff of 75 for resolution of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA). Using this criterion, 8 of 15 aphasic head-injured patients who technically were classified as amnestic on the GOAT were classified as nonamnestic on the AGOAT.

Amnesia↗
PubMed1976

Dental aspects of the consumption of xylitol and fructose diets.

126 voluntary test persons, divided into three groups, were put for two years on a strict diet with regard to the sweetener used (sucrose, fructose, and xylitol). The test persons were investigated in the frame of a versatile clinical, radiographical, biochemical, microbiological, and medical research plan. The consumption of the fructose and xylitol diets did not result in any pathological changes in the test persons' whole saliva, plaque, blood, and urine samples. The consumption of the xylitol diet reduced the incidence of dental caries by approximately 90 per cent when compared to sucrose consumption. In the fructose group the reduction was 30 per cent. Xylitol consumption reduced the growth of dental plaque by 50 per cent during the whole two-year period. It also reduced the concentration of lactate in plaque and whole saliva and the ability of plaque and whole saliva to yield reducing sugars from sucrose. Simultaneously, the activity of the salivary lactoperoxidase was strongly increased. These and certain other dentally advantageous chemical changes indicated that the mechanism of the xylitol effect is dual, being partly systemic and related to a selective effect on the production of salivary enzymes and on the electrolyte concentration of whole saliva, and partly local, depressing the growth of cariogenic and certain other microorganisms.

Dental Caries↗
PubMed1981

[Results of a questionnaire study on coronary disease and its relation to electrocardiographic changes and respiratory symptoms in a North German population].

For purposes of a study conducted in the townships of Nordenham and Brake, a self-administered questionnaire was used to detect suspect cases of coronary heart disease (angina pectoris, suspected myocardial infarction). The inquiry revealed for "typical" and "atypical" (extended range of criteria) angina pectoris a percentage of 10.8 (N = 898) for males aged 30-64 and of 15.4 (N = 1207) for females. There were no essential differences by the place of residence of the test persons. The question for the presence of pain suggesting myocardial infarction was answered "yes" by an average 7.6% of men and 4.6% of women, with highest percentages for both sexes in Nordenham. In test persons whose answers in respect of the presence of angina pectoris were positive, the frequency of ECG signs of ischemia (Q and Q-S anomalies, ST-T changes) at rest exceeded those in persons who did not mention cardiac complaints by a factor of 1.8. Specific ECG changes were most frequently found in test persons suffering from angina pectoris and pain suggesting myocardial infarction. In persons suffering from angina pectoris, symptoms of chronic bronchitis were present twice as often as in those who had no cardiac complaint. Dyspnea occurred less often in cases of chronic bronchitis than those with coronary heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Validation of an ipsative personality measure (DISCUS).

The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity of an ipsative personality test (DISCUS), and various effects of the ipsative format of the test. Both an ipsative and a normative version of the DISCUS test was administered to a sample of undergraduate students (N = 103), along with an adjective based personality test that measures the Big-Five personality traits (5PFa). The results indicated that the normative and the ipsative version of DISCUS are not equivalent, and caution is needed when using the ipsative version for psychometric evaluations as in validation studies. The four DISCUS dimensions (Dominance, Influence, Stability, and Carefulness) represented combinations of the Big-Five traits rather than independent traits as indicated by the correlations with the Big-Five measure.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Metabolism of meproscillarin in man (author's transl)].

The investigations on the metabolism of 14-Hydroxy-3beta-[(4-O-methyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)oxy]-14beta-bufa-4,20,22-trienolide (meproscillarin, Clift) were performed in 5 healthy test persons as well as in 4 patients with biliary fistula, applying a single oral dose of 0.5 mg of 3H-meproscillarin. The elimination half-life of total plasma radioactivity was about 51 h in the test persons, and 18 and 30 h in the patients whose bile was drawn off via a T-drain. The test persons excreted about 20% of total radioactivity renally and about 56% with the faeces. The patients excreted between 29% and 89% of the radioactive dose applied with the bile, the major part being eliminated already after 24 h. Up to 3% was excreted with the faeces. Renal excretion varied between 6% and 22%. Total radioactivity in plasma, bile, urine and faeces was separated into chloroform-soluble and chloroform-insoluble fractions, which were further differentiated by thin-layer chromatography. Whereas in plasma, bile and urine mainly chloroform-insoluble metabolites of meproscillarin were present, the chloroform-soluble fraction in the faeces represented the major portion, also containing primarily meproscillarin. The results are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prognostic value of treadmill exercise testing in elderly persons.

BACKGROUND: Recent exercise testing guidelines recognized a gap in knowledge about the prognostic value of treadmill exercise testing in elderly persons. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that treadmill exercise testing has equal prognostic value among elderly (> or =65 years of age) and younger (<65 years of age) persons and to examine the incremental value of this testing over clinical data. DESIGN: Inception cohort with a median follow-up of 6 years. SETTING: Olmsted County, Minnesota. PATIENTS: All elderly (n = 514) and younger (n = 2593) residents of Olmsted County who underwent treadmill exercise testing between 1987 and 1989. MEASUREMENTS: Overall mortality and cardiac events (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure). RESULTS: Compared with younger patients, elderly patients had more comorbid conditions, achieved a lower workload (6.0 and 10.7 metabolic equivalents; P < 0.001), and had a greater likelihood of a positive exercise electrocardiogram (28% and 9%; P < 0.001). With median follow-up of 6 years, overall survival (63% and 92%; P < 0.001) and cardiac event-free survival (66% and 95%; P < 0.001) were worse among elderly persons than among younger persons. Workload was the only treadmill exercise testing variable associated with all-cause mortality in both age groups, and the strength of association was similar. Workload and angina with exercise testing were associated with cardiac events in both age groups, whereas a positive exercise electrocardiogram was associated with cardiac events only in younger persons (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). After adjustment for clinical variables, workload was the only additional treadmill exercise testing variable that was predictive of death (P < 0.001) and cardiac events (P < 0.05); the strength of the association was similar in both age groups. Each 1-metabolic equivalent increase in exercise capacity was associated with a 14% and 18% reduction in cardiac events among younger and elderly persons, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly persons, treadmill exercise testing provided prognostic information that is incremental to clinical data. After adjustment for clinical factors, work-load was the only treadmill exercise testing variable that was strongly associated with outcome, and its prognostic effect was of the same magnitude in elderly and younger persons.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Proteolytic peptide patterns as indicators for fungal infections and nonfungal affections of human nails measured by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The discrimination of onychomycoses from endogenous diseases showing macroscopically similar symptoms is difficult. Long-lasting but ineffective antifungal therapies using systemic medicaments with often severe adverse reactions may be the consequence. We introduce a novel mass spectrometric method for the discrimination of fungal infections and nonfungal affections. Horn samples from patients infected by Trichophyton rubrum, from patients with psoriasis affecting nails, and from healthy persons were investigated. Onychomycoses are basically associated with proteolytic attacks of the virulent fungi-secreting proteases partly hydrolyzing the horn material. Endogenous diseases lack these proteolytic activities, conserving intact structural proteins. Tryptical digestion of horn material produced cleavage peptides detectable by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Mass spectra of horn material infected by T. rubrum were clearly different from those originating from healthy test persons and from patients with psoriasis. Two methods were successfully applied to quantify the differences between groups of samples. One is based on the Euclidean match factor, and the other is based on the identification of specific peptide peaks occurring exclusively within one group of persons. The Euclidean match factor distributions and the occurrence of specific peptide peaks allowed a clear differentiation of T. rubrum infections from psoriasis patients and healthy test persons. No differences were found between healthy test persons and psoriasis patients. The method is rapid and does not require any cultivation.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Concept of alexithymia. II. The consistency of alexithymia.

The stability of alexithymia in acute and nonacute disease was studied in 69 patients with 'psychosomatic' digestive disease and in 47 control patients. Methods used were the Beth Israel Hospital Questionnaire, Lazare's Personality Test, and the Rorschach Test. Subjects were interviewed to assess their somatic well-being and the psychological meaning of the illness. Three different alexithymia groups were found. The first consisted of the nonalexithymic patients who scored low in both testings and who seemed to be 'average persons' in the light of personality tests. The second comprised the patients who developed alexithymia as a reaction to illness. They had good cognitive control but a tendency to hypochondriac worry. The last consisted of patients whose alexithymia decreased during an acute disease. They were egocentric and rigid personalities who enjoyed being ill because they then felt that they were loved and noticed. This division was found to be independent of the patients' medical diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Psychological distress in the 5-year period after predictive testing for Huntington's disease.

The paper reports on a 5-year longitudinal study on psychological distress after predictive testing for Huntington's disease (HD) and on correlates of post-test distress. Psychometric tests and questionnaires were used. The tested persons were invited to participate in the follow-up study; the uptake rate was 75% (24 carriers, 33 non-carriers). Three time points were included: baseline, 1 year and 5 years post-test. Five years after the test, mean distress scores of both carriers and non-carriers were within the normal range. Carriers did not differ from non-carriers with regard to mean general distress. Compared to non-carriers, however, carriers had significantly less positive feelings (P<0.001) and were more consciously avoiding HD-related situations and thoughts (P<0.01). These findings reflect the carriers' conscious and unconscious attempt to escape from pessimism and to minimise negative consequences of the test result. Psychological distress 5 years post-test was significantly associated with ego-strength (P<0.05 to P<0.001). Except for intrusion and avoidance, distress was also associated with test motivation (P<0.05 to P<0.01). Compared with baseline level, mean depression, general and specific anxiety had significantly decreased 1 year and 5 years post-test (P<0.05 to 0.01). This evolution was independent of the test result. However, based on test motivation, a subgroup of tested persons having long lasting psychological distress could be identified, also irrespective of test result. Persons who asked the test to get rid of the uncertainty, without being able to specify implications for substantial life areas, had more psychological distress before and after the test than those who wanted the test for specific reasons (P<0.001 to P<0.0001). Moreover, the pattern of post-test anxiety differed over time, depending on the test motivation (P<0.05). The findings suggest that pre- and post-test counselling should pay special attention to persons with lower ego-strength and with an unspecified test motivation, because they are at higher risk for long-term psychological distress, independently of the test result.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1975

[Antistreptolysin-titre under the use of traditional methods and after saturation with dextran sulfate].

1,700 blood samples of healthy test persons without clinically and paraclinically provable streptococcal diseases were examined for their content of antistreptolysin. Beside the usual method parallel determinations were carried out after addition of dextran sulfate. Thus increases of unspecific antistreptolysin titres shall be in most cases excluded, above all by the influence of the lipoproteins. The absorption of dextran sulfate led to the decrease of the antistreptolysin titre by 12.33%. Furthermore could be proved that the average antistreptolysin titre of female test persons is ca. 20 antistreptolysin units below the titre of male test persons, that seasonal variations of the antistreptolysin titre with the highest titres appear in the first and third quarter which may be explained by a bad unspecific defensive condition, that, furthermore, the antistreptolysin titres increase to the 14th year and then continuously decrease and that in new-born children the arithmetic mean value of the antistreptolysin units is significantly higher than in their mothers. Hereby an active influence of the placenta on the transmission of antibodies seems to be possible. Though a slightly increased financial expenditure is necessary for dextran sulfate, temporarily and concerning working technique, however, no larger loads appear, it is justifiable to perform the determination of antistreptolysin titres only by means of dextran sulfate-absorbed sera, since in this way a considerable number of unspecific and misleading reactions can be excluded.

Adolescent↗