Swiss medical weekly
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Swiss medical weekly · Jul 1982
[Monitoring of respiration and respiratory mechanics in intensive care].
Monitoring of respiratory function in the intensive care unit uses different techniques in spontaneously breathing patients and during mechanical ventilation. The simplest and most efficient means are clinical observation, non-invasive monitoring of respiratory movements and frequent blood gas analysis. ⋯ During mechanical ventilation the function of the respirator must be monitored by appropriate sensors and alarms. In addition, the measurement of functional residual capacity, compliance and distribution of ventilation, as well as changes therein with the application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), can contribute to evaluate of appropriate therapy and prognosis of pulmonary failure.
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Swiss medical weekly · May 1982
[Clinically significant inherited differences in the mode of action of drugs].
An important source of interindividual differences in drug action are inherited differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many drugs. For most enzymatic reactions of drug biotransformation in the liver, genetic polymorphisms have been observed which lead to a decreased rate of metabolism and/or a different pattern of metabolites in certain subpopulations, ethnic groups or families. ⋯ The molecular genetic defect causing deficient debrisoquine hydroxylation is still unclear and also affects the metabolism of phenytoin, phenacetin, guanoxan, sparteine, methoxyamphetamine, nortriptyline, encainide, perhexiline and probably other drugs. A relationship has been observed between the defect of metabolism and the clinical effects and toxicity of the drugs involved.
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Swiss medical weekly · Apr 1982
[Acral-lentiginous melanoma: the newest subgroup of malignant melanomas of the skin].
A new subgroup of malignant melanoma, acral-lentiginous melanoma (ALM), is presented, which the authors have diagnosed in 8% of their melanoma patients. In a retrospective study the clinical and pathological findings in 44 patients with ALM are reviewed. A relationship was found between age, tumor diameter and thickness, pigmentation, ulceration, vasoinvasion and mitoses. The author's patients had a 5-year survival rate of 58%.