Browsing by Author "Aalbers, C."

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    Arginine vasopressin concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of children
    (1991) Cotton, M. F.; Donald, P. R.; Aalbers, C.
    Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels are reported in a group of 22 children (median age 24 months) investigated for possible bacterial meningitis and subsequently found not to be suffering from this disease. The mean CSF AVP concentration was 0.80 ± 0.33 pg/ml. The results obtained in patients suffering from febrile convulsions (mean 0.71 pg/ml), other convulsive disorders (mean 0.80 pg/ml) and miscellaneous infectious diseases (mean 0.85 pg/ml) did not differ significantly from one another. Our findings confirm the presence of AVP in the CSF of children and provide reference values for further investigations into the functions of CSF AVP in children.
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    Endocrine responses after thyrotrophin-releasing hormone stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests in the major depressive syndrome
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1986-10) Aalbers, C.; Taljaard, J. J. F.; Gagiano, C. A.
    The effects of dexamethasone 1 mg on plasma cortisol levels and of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) 200 μg on thyrotrophin (TSH), growth hormone and prolactine levels in 107 patients with a major depressive disorder (MDD) were compared with those in 87 healthy subjects. Individual hormonal responses and combinations of hormonal responses after administration of dexamethasone and TRH were evaluated as diagnostic aids for MDD by calculating sensitivity, specificity and efficiency for single and multiple hormonal abnormalities. In patients suffering from MDD, 65% of men, 74% of reproductive women and 71% of menopausal or hysterectomized (H/M) women had abnormal responses (sensitivity) to a dexamethasone suppression test (DST). When the DST and TSH responses to TRH were combined, 85% of men, 87% of reproductive women and 84% of H/M women had abnormal results. If the efficiency of the different combinations of hormone responses is calculated, a totally different picture emerges.
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    Inappropriate antidiuretic state in long-term psychiatric inpatients
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1990) Emsley, R. A.; Van Der Meer, H.; Aalbers, C.; Taljaard, J. J. F.; Emsley, R. A.; Van Der Meer, H.; Aalbers, C.; Taljaard, J. J. F.
    To investigate the occurrence of an inappropriate antidiuretic state in a long-term psychiatric inpatient population, 690 patients underwent serum sodium determination. Forty-four patients (6.4%) had levels < 133 mmol/l. Fifteen of these patients could be investigated further and the biochemical findings in all were consistent with an inappropriate antidiuretic state. Evidence of previous episodes of water intoxication was found in 80% of these patients. Although more than one possible cause was present in most patients, the two factors most strongly incriminated in the pathogenesis of the inappropriate antidiuretic state were the drugs carbamazepine and hydrochlorothiazide.
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    Measurement of micro-albuminuria in patients with diabetes mellitus
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1992) Nortje, H. F. M.; Aalbers, C.; Taljaard, J. J. F.; Hough, F. S.; Nortje, H. F. M.; Aalbers, C.; Taljaard, J. J. F.; Hough, F. S.
    Persistent micro-albuminuria (MA) in patients with diabetes mellitus identifies a high-risk group for the development of vascular complications. Since the methodology involved in measuring MA has not been standardised, MA in 40 diabetic patients was measured in order to compare nephelometry with radio-immunoassay (RIA). The effect of storage (7 days), the influence of freezing and thawing on MA levels, and possible differences between glass and plastic containers were also assessed. An excellent correlation (r = 0,971) was found between RIA and nephelometry. Urine could be safely stored at 4°C in either plastic or glass containers without any signiicant influence on MA concentrations. It is concluded that nephelometry is an excellent method for accurately measuring MA.
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    Serum phosphate and anxiety in major depression
    (1990) Aalbers, C.; Emsley, R. A.; Taljaard, J. J. F.
    [No abstract available]