Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Amir

Publications and source records attributed to A Amir.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Palladium(II) complexes of NS donor ligandsderived from S-methyl-dithiocarbazate, S-benzyldithiocarbazateand thiosemicarbazide as antiamoebic agents.

Synthesis of palladium(II) complexes of the type [PdLCl(2)] (where L = Schiff bases derived from 2-acetylpyridine and S-methyldithiocarbazate, S-benzyldithiocarbazate or thiosemicarbazide) have been isolated by the reaction of [Pd(DMSO)(2)C1(2)] and respective ligands. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, 1H-NMR, electronic spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. It is concluded that the thionic sulphur and the azomethine nitrogen atoms of the ligands are bonded to the metal ion. Assessment of antiamoebic activity against Entamoeba histolytica (strain HK-9) was done by using a microdilution method. [Pd(2-Acpy-SMDT)C1(2)] and Pd(2-Acpy-SBDT)C1(2)] have shown greater activity, whereas [Pd(2-Acpy-TSC)C1(2)] showed similar activity as metronidazole in vitro.

Amebicides↗
PubMed2000

Efficient nonviral transfection of dendritic cells and their use for in vivo immunization.

Immunization with dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with genes encoding tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) is a highly promising approach to cancer immunotherapy. We have developed a system, using complexes of plasmid DNA expression constructs with the cationic peptide CL22, that transfects human monocyte-derived DCs much more efficiently than alternative nonviral agents. After CL22 transfection, DCs expressing antigens stimulated autologous T cells in vitro and elicited primary immune responses in syngeneic mice, in an antigen-specific manner. Injection of CL22-transfected DCs expressing a TAA, but not DCs pulsed with a TAA-derived peptide, protected mice from lethal challenge with tumor cells in an aggressive model of melanoma. The CL22 system is a fast and efficient alternative to viral vectors for engineering DCs for use in immunotherapy and research.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The influence of helium-neon laser irradiation on the viability of skin flaps in the rat.

Low energy helium-neon (He-Ne) laser irradiation has been shown to induce various therapeutic effects. We investigated its effect on the viability of skin flaps in the rat. Thirty rats underwent skin flap elevation and were then divided into three equal groups. Group I (control) was not irradiated. Groups II and III were irradiated for 5 days postoperatively, Group II to the transition zone (between the live and expected necrotic areas) and Group III to the transitional and distal zones; total energy, 2.9 J/cm(2)for each rat. Ten days after the last treatment larger surviving areas were demonstrated macroscopically in Groups II and III (P< 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). Histological examination showed tremendous proliferation of capillaries (P</= 0.05) and fibroblasts in the responsive irradiated areas. In conclusion, postoperative low-energy (2.9 J/cm(2)) He-Ne laser irradiation of the expected ischaemic zone of the rat flap can enlarge the surviving area. Irradiation of the whole expected ischaemic zone seems to be superior to irradiating the transition zone alone.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Congenital Volkmann-Lesser ischemic contracture of the upper limb.

Neonatal vascular compromise to limbs has been associated traditionally with perinatal injury of the brachial plexus, fracture of the clavicle or humerus, or iatrogenic causes. Congenital Volkmann's ischemic contracture is an exceptional etiology of ischemic limb in the newborn. Fewer than 10 cases had been described in the literature. The authors report a newborn presenting at birth with partial bluish discoloration of the right forearm. The clinical picture and laboratory studies lead to the diagnosis of congenital Volkmann-Lesser ischemic contracture.

Arm↗
PubMed2000

"Apron" flap and re-creation of the inframammary fold following TRAM flap breast reconstruction.

To the best of our knowledge, the recreation of an inframammary fold after TRAM flap breast reconstruction has not yet been described. This article offers a technique for the creation of an inframammary fold as a secondary procedure. The technique has been performed thus far in two patients with good aesthetic outcomes and no postoperative complications. It may also be suitable for adding bulk to the TRAM flap, especially in bilateral breast reconstruction, and for other minor chest deformities.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Profile of the pediatric burn patient at the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel.

BACKGROUND: Burn trauma occurs mostly in young children. Burn injury in the pediatric age group has multiple-aspect sequelae. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the profile of the injured pediatric burn patient, thus targeting the most vulnerable pediatric group. METHODS: Between 1 January and 31 December 1996, a total of 9,235 pediatric patients were admitted for various traumatic injuries (burns, lacerations, fractures, etc.) to the Emergency Medicine Department of Schneider Children's Medical Center. We conducted a retrospective study of the patients' charts, including demographic data, which were stored in a computerized database, for statistical evaluation. The characteristics of pediatric burn patients were examined and compared with other pediatric trauma patients. RESULTS: Of the total patient population, 282 (3.1%) suffered from burns (37% females, 63% males). The most frequent burn injury was scald burn (58%). The pediatric group that was most exposed to burns was 13-18 month old males. CONCLUSIONS: Having identified the high risk group among the pediatric burn patients, we suggest that prevention programs be directed towards this group in order to reduce further risk of burn injury.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed2000

[The subcranial approach to the anterior skull base. Retrospective study of 75 cases].

We reviewed the cases of 75 patients who underwent an extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base for treatment of various tumors (35 patients), repair of craniofacial trauma injury (33 patients), or cerebrospinal fluid leakage (10 patients). Preoperative evaluation and surgical procedures were reassessed. Significant complications in the oncology group consisted of one hematoma requiring aspiration, 2 cases of transient pneumocephalus, 2 osteocutaneous fistulae and 2 epiphoras. In the trauma group, one patient died from intracerebral damage, 2 presented with transient pneumocephalus, 5 with telecanthus and 5 with enophthalmy. The most frequent late complication in all three groups was anosmia. Based on this review, we feel that this technique is a safe and effective procedure for the surgical treatment of various pathological conditions involving the anterior skull base.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A simple algorithm for detecting circular permutations in proteins.

MOTIVATION: Circular permutation of a protein is a genetic operation in which part of the C-terminal of the protein is moved to its N-terminal. Recently, it has been shown that proteins that undergo engineered circular permutations generally maintain their three dimensional structure and biological function. This observation raises the possibility that circular permutation has occurred in Nature during evolution. In this scenario a protein underwent circular permutation into another protein, thereafter both proteins further diverged by standard genetic operations. To study this possibility one needs an efficient algorithm that for a given pair of proteins can detect the underlying event of circular permutations. A possible formal description of the question is: given two sequences, find a circular permutation of one of them under which the edit distance between the proteins is minimal. A naive algorithm might take time proportional to N3 or even N4, which is prohibitively slow for a large-scale survey. A sophisticated algorithm that runs in asymptotic time of N2 was recently suggested, but it is not practical for a large-scale survey. RESULTS: A simple and efficient algorithm that runs in time N2 is presented. The algorithm is based on duplicating one of the two sequences, and then performing a modified version of the standard dynamic programming algorithm. While the algorithm is not guaranteed to find the optimal results, we present data that indicate that in practice the algorithm performs very well. AVAILABILITY: A Fortran program that calculates the optimal edit distance under circular permutation is available upon request from the authors. CONTACT: ron@biocom1.ls.biu.ac.il.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Early outcome and complications of the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base.

OBJECTIVES: To present the technique of the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base and to review the results in 55 patients who underwent the procedure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of the records of 55 patients who underwent the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base between 1994 and 1998 for the treatment of various neoplasms originating in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, orbit, or meninges, as well as for the repair of complex craniofacial trauma and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Preoperative patient evaluation and the surgical technique are also reviewed. METHODS: Patient records were retrospectively reviewed and tabulated for age, sex, and indications for procedure, with special focus on early outcome and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients underwent oncologic resections, 22 patients had reduction of complex fronto-naso-orbital and skull base fractures, and seven patients had repair of CSF leak. Significant complications in the oncologic group consisted of one hematoma requiring needle aspiration and two cases of temporary nontension pneumocephalus. In the fracture group, one patient died because of extensive intracerebral damage and multiorgan failure, and one patient had nontension pneumocephalus coupled with CSF leakage and one patient had temporary nontension pneumocephalus. The most common late complication in all three groups was anosmia. CONCLUSIONS: Based on their review, the authors conclude that the extended subcranial approach to the anterior skull base is a safe, versatile, and effective procedure for the surgical treatment of various pathological conditions involving the anterior skull base.

Adolescent↗