Thomas Berg - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Thomas Berg

Transplantation, 2007

The rate of fibrosis progression was analyzed in 28 hepatitis C virus-infected liver graft recipi... more The rate of fibrosis progression was analyzed in 28 hepatitis C virus-infected liver graft recipients showing sustained virologic response after treatment with ribavirin plus either standard interferon alpha-2b (n=8), pegylated interferon alpha-2b (n=8), or pegylated interferon alpha-2a (n=12). Protocol biopsies before treatment as well as one, three, and five years after treatment showed no significant increase in mean fibrosis scores within the first three years after treatment (mean score at baseline 1.8 and at one and three years 2.0 and 2.1, respectively). Five years after cessation of treatment, the mean fibrosis score declined to 1.4 (P=0.2). Six of 28 patients (21%) showed an increase in fibrosis, five (18%) a decrease, and 17 (60%) no changes. The yearly fibrosis progression rate was 0.75 before treatment and 0.15 after antiviral treatment. Sustained virologic response is associated with a deceleration of fibrosis progression and might therefore play a major role in prevention of graft cirrhosis in hepatitis C virus-infected liver graft recipients.

Transplant International, 2003

Transplant patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis are selected according t... more Transplant patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis are selected according to tumor nodule number and diameter. Vascular invasion and histopathological grading are predictive of outcome. The prognostic influence of hepatitis B-cirrhosis has been investigated after resection and after local tumor treatment, but not after transplantation. Of the 1,188 transplantations performed between 1989 and 2000, 120 were on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis (HCC) (follow-up: 57 months; 1-140 months). Within this group, 25 patients (21%) suffered from hepatitis B. Pre-transplant selection criteria were a maximum diameter of 5Ocm in uni-nodular tumors, or 3Ocm for two to three tumor nodules. The rate of tumors with 2-3 tumor nodules was increased in the hepatitis-B group (52% vs. 29%; P < 0.05). Other tumor characteristics did not differ. In the hepatitis-B group, more patients died post-transplantation (44% ~~2 2 % ; P < 0.05). This difference was due to unspecific causes, not to tumor recurrence or re-infection. These findings may be indicative of a more complicated course in patients suffering from hepatitis B in general. Keywords Hepatocellular carcinoma 4 Liver transplantation. Cirrhosis. Hepatitis B .

Otology & Neurotology, 2009

Objective: To evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valacyclovir on ipsilateral pain around the... more Objective: To evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valacyclovir on ipsilateral pain around the ear and in the face or neck in Bell's palsy. The incidence and intensity of pain during the first 2 months of palsy and its prognostic value were also assessed. Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled, multicenter trial. Setting: Sixteen tertiary referral centers in Sweden and 1 in Finland. Patients: Data are part of the Scandinavian Bell's palsy study; 829 patients aged 18 to 75 years with onset of palsy within 72 hours were included. Follow-up time was 12 months. Intervention: Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment arms in a factorial fashion: placebo plus placebo; prednisolone 60 mg daily for 5 days, then tapering for 5 days, plus placebo; valacyclovir 1,000 mg 3 times daily for 7 days plus placebo; or prednisolone plus valacyclovir. Main Outcome Measures: Pain was registered on a visual analog scale within 72 hours, at Days 11 to 17, 1 month, and 2 months. Facial function was assessed with the Sunnybrook and House-Brackmann systems. Results: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not significantly affect the incidence or intensity of pain during the first 2 months. Pain was registered in 542 (65%) of 829 patients. At 2 months, 53 (8%) of 637 patients still reported pain. Subjects with pain at Days 11 to 17 had lower facial recovery rates at 12 months than those with no pain (p G 0.0001). Conclusion: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not affect the incidence or intensity of ipsilateral pain in Bell's palsy. The incidence of pain was similar during the first 2 weeks and then decreased. Presence of pain at Days 11 to 17 indicated a worse prognosis for facial recovery.

Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 2010

The Lancet Neurology, 2008

Background Previous trials of corticosteroid or antiviral treatments for Bell's palsy have been u... more Background Previous trials of corticosteroid or antiviral treatments for Bell's palsy have been underpowered or have had insuffi cient follow-up. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term eff ects of prednisolone and valaciclovir in the recovery of the aff ected facial nerve in a large number of patients. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial, patients aged 18 to 75 years who sought care directly or were referred from emergency departments or general practitioners within 72 h of onset of acute, unilateral, peripheral facial palsy, between May, 2001, and September, 2006, were assessed. Patients were randomly assigned in permuted blocks of eight to receive placebo plus placebo; 60 mg prednisolone per day for 5 days then reduced by 10 mg per day (for a total treatment time of 10 days) plus placebo; 1000 mg valaciclovir three times per day for 7 days plus placebo; or prednisolone (10 days) plus valaciclovir (7 days). Follow-up was for 12 months. The primary outcome event was time to complete recovery of facial function, as assessed with a regional Sunnybrook scale score of 100 points. Analysis was by modifi ed intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00510263. Findings Of 839 patients who were randomly assigned, 829 were included in the modifi ed intention-to-treat analysis: 206 received placebo plus placebo, 210 prednisolone plus placebo, 207 valaciclovir plus placebo, and 206 prednisolone plus valaciclovir. Time to recovery was signifi cantly shorter in the 416 patients who received prednisolone compared with the 413 patients who did not (hazard ratio 1•40, 95% CI 1•18 to 1•64; p<0•0001). There was no diff erence in time to recovery between the 413 patients treated with valaciclovir and the 416 patients who did not receive valaciclovir (1•01, 0•85 to 1•19; p=0•90). The number of patients with adverse events was similar in all treatment arms. Interpretation Prednisolone shortened the time to complete recovery in patients with Bell's palsy, whereas valaciclovir did not aff ect facial recovery.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 2009

Background The recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) after liver transplantation (OLT) leads to r... more Background The recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) after liver transplantation (OLT) leads to recurrent cirrhosis in up to 40% of patients. Aims To identify patients who profit the most from antiviral therapy and to delineate whether early treatment after OLT is effective to reach sustained virological response (SVR), we analyzed factors associated to SVR during pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) therapy. Methods A retrospective analysis of efficiency and viral decline kinetics in 83 HCV-infected liver transplant recipients who received therapy with PegIFN/RBV was carried out. Results Forty-one of 83 (49.4%) patients became HCV RNA-negative. SVR was achieved in 26/83 (31.3%) patients. Viral decline of at least 2 log 10 (n = 47) at week 12 was significantly associated with an end-of-treatment (EOT) response. Eleven early viral response patients were not able to clear HCV RNA, whereas five patients without a 2 log decline achieved SVR. The highest predictive value for SVR was an undetectable viremia at week 24 (92%). Conclusions The outcome of antiviral combination therapy for HCV reinfection after OLT can be best predicted by week-24 virologic response. The high SVR rates in patients with detectable HCV RNA at week 12 might suggest a prolonged treatment protocol in liver transplant recipients.

Clinical Otolaryngology, 2009

e & i Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, 2012

Die Wende in der Energiepolitik stellt die Hochspannungstechnik als Schlüsseltechnologie für eine... more Die Wende in der Energiepolitik stellt die Hochspannungstechnik als Schlüsseltechnologie für eine nachhaltige, ausfallsichere, umweltfreundlichere und effiziente Energieversorgung vor neue Herausforderungen. Dieser Artikel beleuchtet ausgewählte technologische Entwicklungen der Hochspannungstechnik. Besondere Bedeutung kommt dabei der Entwicklung in der Isolierstofftechnik, z. B. neue, umweltfreundliche Gase oder Gasgemische, biologische oder synthetische Isolierflüssigkeiten sowie neuen Systemen von Feststoffisolierungen zu. Einfluss auf diese Entwicklungen nimmt auch die Nanotechnologie im Bereich der Nanodielectrics bzw. der Nanofluids. Zu diesen Entwicklungen kommen auch die neuen Möglichkeiten in der Messtechnik und der Diagnostik, die wesentlich für die Qualität der Systeme sind, wie etwa die Teilentladungsdiagnostik oder die Messung der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit der verschiedenen Isolierstoffe. Schlüsselwörter: alternative Isolierstoffe; elektrostatische Aufladungsneigung (ECT); Teilentladungsdiagnostik; Alterungsverhalten; Nanotechnologie Selected technological developments in high voltage engineering. High-voltage engineering faces new challenges due to arising changes in energy policy. As a key technology, it needs to provide a sustainable, reliable, environmentally friendly as well as an efficient supply of electrical energy. This paper highlights selected technological developments in high-voltage engineering. New, environmental friendly gases and gas mixtures, biological or synthetic insulating liquids as well as new solid insulation systems are of particular importance. Additionally, nanotechnology has a strong impact on these developments within the area of nanodielectrics and nanofluids. Furthermore, there are new approaches in measurement techniques and diagnostics which are essential for equipment quality, for example partial discharge diagnosis or the determination of electrical conductivities of various insulation materials.

European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2010

BACKGROUND: The role of heterozygosity for alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) alleles in patients with ch... more BACKGROUND: The role of heterozygosity for alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) alleles in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is unclear. There is limited evidence to suggest that there is an increased prevalence of heterozygous A1AT carriers in HCV, but it is unclear how this affects treatment success. AIM: To investigate the (i) prevalence of A1AT heterozygosity among two HCV cohorts