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Biomedical subjects

A Aviram

Publications and source records attributed to A Aviram.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The prevention of amyloidosis in familial Mediterranean fever with colchicine.

Colchicine has been used since 1972 to prevent the acute attacks of familial Mediterranean fever. The present study shows that colchicine is also effective in the prevention of amyloidosis. If initiated in patients without evidence of renal disease there is no appearance of proteinuria and no progression to renal insufficiency over long follow-up periods. Moreover, it ameliorates the course of the disease in patients with amyloid nephropathy and normal renal function. It does not alter the course of the disease if initiated after renal function is even mildly impaired. These findings suggest that colchicine prevents the new deposition of amyloid.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Nephrotic syndrome with reversible severe renal failure after gold therapy.

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis developed nephrotic syndrome with reversible renal failure following gold therapy. Histological examination of renal biopsy disclosed the typical picture of membranous nephropathy. After prolonged treatment with steroids and cyclophosphamide, complete recovery was achieved. The likely mechanism involved and the clinical implications are discussed.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1984

Long-term treatment of arterial hypertension with verapamil.

Based on the vasodilator properties of calcium antagonists, verapamil was recently introduced into the treatment of arterial hypertension. The present study was undertaken to examine the long-term efficacy of this drug in mild and moderate hypertension. In 82 patients with uncontrolled primary or renal hypertension, verapamil was used either alone or in combination with other drugs. In six cases verapamil was withdrawn because of side effects. In the remaining patients a normal average blood pressure was achieved within 7.8 +/- 1.2 weeks of treatment with doses not exceeding 400 mg/day. This effect was maintained for up to 4 years of treatment, although tolerance seemed to develop in about 10% of the patients. In view of this good response and minimal side effects, it is concluded that verapamil is an effective addition to the antihypertensive arsenal.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Activation of the respiratory burst of guinea pig neutrophils by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide.

DCCD activates the respiratory burst in guinea pig peritoneal neutrophils. The onset of the superoxide producing activity is preceeded by a lag, inversely proportional to the dose of the stimulant and to the temperature. Initial rates of superoxide formation exhibit different dependencies on the concentrations of DCCD and on temperature. Activation of NAD(P)H oxidase is inhibited by preincubation of neutrophils with 2-deoxyglucose and does not require the presence of extra cellular Ca2+.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Low blood pressure in vegetarians: the possible role of potassium.

Ninety-eight confirmed adult vegetarians were examined against a matched group of nonvegetarians living in the same urban environment in order to evaluate the prevalence of arterial hypertension. The average blood pressure was 126/77 for the vegetarians and 147/88 for the control group (p less than 0.05). Significantly lower blood pressure was found in every decade of age. Only 2% of the vegetarians had hypertension (higher than 160/95) as compared to 26% hypertensives in the nonvegetarians. These differences in blood pressure were maintained also when individuals with the same "relative weight" were compared. Family history of hypertension was similar in both groups. Analysis of factors such as coffee drinking and smoking did not favor reduced blood pressure among the vegetarian group. Sodium and potassium intake were evaluated from their ratios to creatinine in a single urine sample. It was evident that both groups excreted the same amounts of sodium, while potassium excretion was significantly higher in the vegetarians. In view of the increasing evidence that potassium plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure it is concluded that the protective antihypertensive factor in the vegetarian diet is the presence of high amounts of potassium.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Dialysis-induced eosinophilia.

Blood eosinophils were counted by the counting-chamber method in 21 regular hemodialysis patients. Before dialysis, eosinophil counts were within the normal range in all patients (mean 98 cells/mm3, range 6-350). After the first 15 min of hemodialysis, with not reused coils or hollow-fiber dialysers, a significant drop in eosinophil counts was noted in all patients. The mean drop was 37.5% of the initial value (range 28-100%). At the end of the 5-hour dialysis, the eosinophil counts rose significantly in all patients but 1. The mean rise was 521% of the initial counts (range 22.3-1576%). Simultaneous neutrophil counts showed the already described drop at 15 min with a return to predialysis levels at 5 h. Predialysis IgE serum concentrations were lower than normal (mean 24.8, range 4.5-58 units/ml), and did not change at the end of the dialysis. It seems that pulmonary sequestration is responsible for both neutropenia and eosinopenia early in dialysis. The marked eosinophilia at 5 h may be the result of a release of eosinophilotactic substances induced by the dialysis procedure itself.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Effect of antihypertensive drugs on plasma renin activity and urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2.

Urinary prostaglandin (PGE2) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined in 3 groups of hypertensive patients before and following 5 days of treatment with different antihypertensive drugs. In all 3 groups studied a substantial decrease of blood pressure was noted following treatment. However, whereas administration of chlorthalidone and hydralazine initiated a significant rise of PGE2 and PRA excretion, treatment with propranolol was associated with a decrease of these two parameters. In view of these findings it seems therefore as if renal production of PGE2 (at least with regard to propranolol, a beta-blocking agent), is not related to the hypotensive effect of the drug.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1981

Urinary prostaglandin-E2 in chronic renal disease.

Renal excretion of prostaglandin-E2 was measured by radioimmunoassay in patients with chronic renal diseases. Significantly elevated urinary prostaglandin-E2 amounts were found in patients with moderate renal insufficiency (creatinine clearances 20-59 ml/min). In mild and severe renal insufficiency, the urinary excretion of PGE2 was within the normal range. In the non-terminal stages of kidney failure, a definite correlation was found between the degree of renal impairment and the daily amounts of PGE2 in the urine. It is therefore concluded that in these stages of the disease the kidney produces elevated levels of PGE2 in an attempt to improve the decreased renal blood flow caused by the disease.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1981

Impaired neutrophil response to acute bacterial infection in dialyzed patients.

The changes in WBC counts during various acute bacterial infections were studied in 11 dialyzed patients. There was substantial leukocytosis in only five of 17 episodes, despite conclusive clinical and bacteriologic evidence that the infection was caused by Gram-positive microorganisms. Segmented neutrophil counts also did not rise in most cases. Nonsegmented neutrophil counts, however, showed the normal expected increase. This blunted response may be another facet of the increased susceptibility of dialyzed patients to infection and may warrant early administration of antimicrobial treatment.

Adult↗