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Biomedical subjects

A Adunsky

Publications and source records attributed to A Adunsky.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Infarct volume, neurological severity and PAF binding to platelets of patients with acute cerebral ischemic stroke.

Studies show that Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) is involved in the cerebrovascular response to ischemia, and that its binding to platelets may change in stroke victims. The purpose of this study was to determine whether binding of PAF to platelets of stroke patients could serve as an index for determining the volume of ischemic strokes and severity of neurological presentation. Thirteen stroke patients and 21 healthy controls were studied. The neurological severity of these stroke patients was evaluated by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale. Infarct volume was assessed by planimetric measures of brain CT. PAF binding to platelets was determined by use of radiolabelled PAF. (3H)PAF binding to platelets of stroke patients was lower than in controls (149.58 +/- 46.11 and 212.1 +/- 10.3 receptors cell-1, respectively, p < 0.001) and was significantly correlated with infarct volume (r = -0.606, p = 0.014) and with neurological score (r = 0.527, p = 0.032). No correlation was observed between neurological score and infarct volume. The study confirms the involvement of PAF in the pathogenesis of brain ischemia and neuronal damage. It shows that PAF binding to platelets of stroke patients correlates both with the extent of neuronal damage and the associated neurological impairment, and may serve as an additional index in the assessment of stroke severity and clinical outcome of stroke victims.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Dynamic beat-to-beat QT-RR relationship during physiotherapy effort in elderly patients without primary heart disease.

The ECGs from 18 patients hospitalized in a rehabilitation setting, following surgery for hip fracture, were examined to characterize the dynamic behavior of uncorrected QT interval in relation to changing RR interval during physiotherapy effort. ECG waveforms were analyzed to extract beat-to-beat QT and RR intervals using a computerized ECG Analyzer (CEA-1100). The method of defining the QT and RR intervals is based on performing multiple cross-correlations that enable rejection of artifacts from the analysis. The relationship between the RR and QT intervals was found using the following general formula QTi = cRRi-1b. Linear regression was performed on the logarithms of QT and RR measurements obtained to estimate the constant (a = log c) and the slope (b) values, reflecting the dynamic change of QT during physiotherapy effort. Having these two values, the dynamic QT extrapolated to a heart period of 1 second (QTcd) was calculated. The results were compared to the conventional corrected static QT according to the Bazzet formula (QTcs). The mean values of constants (a = log c) and slopes (b) over all patients were found to be 1.61 +/- 0.23 and 0.33 +/- 0.08, respectively, giving a QT (ms) heart-period (ms) dynamic relation of QTi = 41 x RR(i-1)0.33. The correlation between the dynamic QT and the static QT intervals was not significant. The mean values of the QTcd and QTcs intervals were significantly different (392 +/- 25 ms vs 434 +/- 28 ms; P < 0.0001). This dynamic measurement method of QT intervals may provide additional information on normal and abnormal cardiac repolarization in health and disease, helping in the diagnosis of cardiac disorders and arrhythmia risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Evaluation of predictive factors for stroke rehabilitation].

Our objective was to assess the functional disability of stroke patients by the functional independence measure (FIM) and to examine predictive factors for successful rehabilitation. In 127 consecutive stroke patients efficacy of FIM was 23.9 +/- 188, efficiency 0.54 +/- 0.45, and 81.9% of patients returned home. Functional improvement was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in all FIM domains. Multivariate analysis showed that improvement in FIM score was significantly greater in the younger, among the married, the hemiparetic, and those with an admission FIM of 40-60, while efficiency was related only to type of diagnosis. In addition, the hemiparetic were 3.3 times more likely to return home than the hemiplegic. We conclude that rehabilitation priorities should be directed towards patients younger than 75 years and to those with an admission FIM of 40-60 points. The results of this study reaffirm the usefulness of the FIM index in assessing stroke rehabilitation.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

[Orthostatic hypotension as a manifestation of malignant lymphoproliferative disease].

An 85-year-old man was admitted with 6-month history of incapacitating orthostatic hypotension. Investigation led to the discovery of sympathetic dysautonomia, sensorimotor neuropathy and malignant lymphoproliferative disease. Several attempts to treat the orthostatic hypotension or the neoplastic disease failed to improve his condition. Orthostatic hypotension precipitated by sympathetic dysautonomia may be an infrequent effect of early malignant lymphoproliferative disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Central cord syndrome in the elderly who fall: a diagnostic trap].

Acute post-traumatic spinal injury is common and usually poses no diagnostic difficulties. Following a low-energy fall, the onset of acute central cord syndrome in the elderly is not common and is frequently misdiagnosed. Men aged 60 and 81, and a woman aged 75 are described, in whom central cord syndrome was overlooked. Awareness of this condition is important to avoid incorrect diagnosis and hazardous management.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1997

[Buschke-Ollendorf syndrome].

Buschke-Ollendorf syndrome is a rare condition characterized by uneven sclerotic, osseous formations seen on X-ray (osteopoikilosis) and fibrous skin papules (dermatofibrosis lenticularis disseminata). We report an 82-year-old man with this syndrome. Awareness of the condition is important to avoid misdiagnosis and hazardous management designed for other disorders, such as prostatic metastases.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Corticosteroids in terminal cancer].

Corticosteroids are frequently prescribed in terminal cancer. They were prescribed in more than 50% of 100 consecutive patients of our hospice for palliation of anorexia, weakness, symptoms of cerebral metastases and of hypercalcemia, and other problems. There was objective and/or subjective improvement in most, though usually of short duration. If there is no improvement after a few days, corticosteroids should be discontinued.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1995

Basal and activated intracellular calcium ion concentrations in mononuclear cells of Alzheimer's disease and unipolar depression.

We present the results of a case control study on the concentration of intracellular calcium [Ca+2]i in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), major affective disorder unipolar type (DEP), and elderly controls. We used the fluorescent dye Quin-2 to measure intracellular calcium concentration in PBMC both in their basal resting state [Ca+2]b and after activation [Ca+2]a with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The [Ca+2]b and [Ca+2]a values in PBMC of AD patients were significantly higher than those of the elderly controls and of the DEP patients. In the DEP patients the [Ca+2]a values in PBMC were significantly higher than those of the elderly controls, but the [Ca+2]b values were not. [Ca+2]i levels did not correlate with age, gender, or duration and severity of the diseases investigated. These findings indicate that higher values of [Ca+2]b and [Ca+2]a may differentiate most AD patients from elderly controls or DEP patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Uptake of serotonin into platelets of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type patients.

[3H]-serotonin uptake in platelets was studied in 26 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), 29 age-matched normal elderly persons, and 21 young subjects. The results showed a significantly lower uptake of serotonin into platelets of SDAT patients than in those of elderly controls (p < .02). Uptake of serotonin into platelets of elderly normal subjects was significantly lower than in the young (p < .01). These differences were due to reduced Vmax, whereas Km was unchanged. Isolated plasma from SDAT patients did not affect the uptake of serotonin into platelets of elderly controls, and vice versa, i.e., plasma obtained from elderly controls did not affect serotonin uptake in SDAT patients. The results indicate that serotonin uptake into platelets is reduced in normal aging, and more so in SDAT. Moreover, the reduced uptake in SDAT is not caused by a plasma factor in SDAT patients. No correlation was found between serotonin uptake and degree of cognitive impairment in SDAT patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Functional recovery in young stroke patients.

Thirty young stroke patients were retrospectively assessed for levels of activities of daily living and of basic functional movements. Scores upon admission, discharge, and follow-up were compared in order to evaluate course of rehabilitation and functional outcome. Mean length of stay in the rehabilitation ward was 87 +/- 17 days, and duration of follow-up was 31 +/- 8 months. Multivariate analysis of covariance confirmed significant improvements during hospitalization, in transfer, standing, sitting and walking abilities (F = 3.5, p less than 0.02), as well as in activities of daily living (F = 4.7, p less than 0.01). Further improvement during the follow-up period was observed for standing and walking abilities (F = 10.2, p less than 0.001) only. No fatalities occurred among the patients during the study period. Eighty-one percent of the patients resumed their previous or other jobs six months after discharge. We conclude that for young stroke patients admitted to a rehabilitation ward shortly after the event, prognosis in terms of survival and functional outcome is favorable, and independent of precipitating factor, age, sex, or side of weakness.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Increased cytosolic free calcium in lymphocytes of Alzheimer patients.

Free cytosolic calcium content [Ca2+]i was determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy volunteers, Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia patients. Measurement of [Ca2+]i by the fluorescent dye quin-2, before and at several time intervals during incubation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), showed a higher resting [Ca2+]i in PBMC of Alzheimer's disease patients as compared to controls and multi-infarct dementia patients. However, the addition of supra-optimal PHA doses (100 micrograms/ml) induced strikingly higher [Ca2+]i levels in Alzheimer's disease patients (1647 +/- 200 nM versus 398 +/- 27 nM in controls, and 346 +/- 40 nM in multi-infarct dementia patients). The increased [Ca2+]i concentration was also found after a specific stimulation with a monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody. The results may have important implications in understanding the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and suggest that [Ca2+]i may prove diagnostically valuable.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Stroke in the young].

31 young patients who were hospitalized and rehabilitated after acute cerebral stroke, we are reassessed. In 58% there was a wide array of underlying diseases and risk factors, while in the others the cause could not be established. 74% suffered from nonhemorrhagic, thrombotic or embolic phenomena and 25% from intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage. There were no alarming preceding signs. After an average of 31 months following the cerebrovascular accident, more than 90% were independent in all daily living activities. Functional outcome did not depend on the underlying disorder.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1989

Alzheimer's dementia and binding to alpha 2 adrenoreceptors in platelets.

Seventy-five patients with probable Alzheimer's disease were screened for binding of alpha 2 receptors (A2R) to their platelet membranes; the results were compared with 51 age- and sex-matched controls. Receptor binding assays were performed using [3H] Yohimbine as the radioligand. The results showed a higher binding capacity in the demented population as compared to the control group (2.18 +/- 0.15 fmol/mg protein, as compared to 1.73 +/- 0.13, P less than 0.03). This increased binding to platelets in the demented patients was more prominent in demented females: 34% higher binding as compared with female controls (2.06 +/- 0.5 vs 1.54 +/- 0.04). The difference between demented and normal males was less (2.34 +/- 0.05 vs 1.88 +/- 0.05). The results indicate an involvement of the A2R system, either primarily or secondarily, in the disease process. Since there is an overlap between results from the patients with Alzheimer's disease and the normal subjects, A2R may serve as only a supportive marker for Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗