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Biomedical subjects

A Beck

Publications and source records attributed to A Beck.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

CT and MRI: prognostic tools in patients with AIDS and neurological deficits.

To determine the prognostic value of CT and MRI in AIDS we studied the survival of patients with neurological involvement, in relation to the initial imaging results. Twenty-six initial CT and 15 MRI examinations of 41 patients were reviewed for the presence of cerebral atrophy and/or focal lesions. The mean survival time of patients with initially normal imaging was longer (700 +/- 89 days) than that of patients with isolated cerebral atrophy (326 +/- 65) or isolated focal lesions (202 +/- 97). The shortest survival (78 +/- 44 days) was found in patients with both cerebral atrophy and focal lesions. The risk of death in patients with atrophy alone was 3.6 times higher, that in patients with focal lesions alone 6.4 times higher, and in patients with both changes 19.3 times higher than in patients with initially normal imaging. Cerebral imaging with CT and/or MRI thus allows identification of AIDS-related cerebral changes and may contribute to assessment of prognosis.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1992

Expression of nef, vpu, CA and CD4 during the infection of lymphoid and monocytic cell lines with HIV-1.

The expression of the capsid antigen (CA) and the two regulatory proteins nef and vpu as well as the CD4 cell surface receptor was followed in HIV-infected lymphoid and promonocytic cells. In the lytic phase of infection all three viral proteins were expressed; production of these proteins coincided with the increase of CA antigen and infectious virus in culture supernatants and with prominent cytopathic effects. After selection of persistently infected cells, the number of lymphoid cells expressing detectable levels of nef decreased to zero; the number of cells positive for CA ranged between 40 to 70%. In chronically infected promonocytic cells nef and vpu expression was reduced to undetectable levels, whereas most of the cells accumulated CA intracellularly. Infectious cell free virus and CA in the supernatant of promonocytic cells had low titers. CD4 surface expression declined in all cell lines investigated before cell free virus was detectable.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Differential effects of dipyrone, ibuprofen, and paracetamol on experimentally induced pain in man.

In a double-blind cross-over study on 22 healthy subjects the analgesic efficacies of the antipyretic analgesic drugs ibuprofen, dipyrone and paracetamol were tested against placebo using a model of experimentally induced pain. To this purpose interdigital webs were pinched repeatedly for 2 min periods. The painfulness of these stimuli was assessed by the subjects on an electronically controlled visual analogue scale at 10 sec intervals. In addition to the subjective pain ratings the stimulus induced reflex diminution of the blood flow in the stimulated hand was measured with photoplethysmography and laser Doppler flow analysis. The flare response around the stimulated area was assessed with infrared thermography. In this assay system ibuprofen and dipyrone, but not paracetamol, showed statistically significant analgesic effects by preventing hyperalgesia which is normally induced by the repeated stimulation of a skin site. This hypoalgesic effect was not related to the subjective impression of the subjects of the analgesic potency of the respective drug. Sympathetic reflex vasoconstriction was not quantitatively related to the drug induced hypoalgesia. Ibuprofen and, to a minor extent, the other antipyretic analgesic drugs also diminished the stimulus induced flare reaction around the stimulated skin sites.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1992

Primary thymic carcinoid with Cushing's syndrome.

In a 52-year-old Caucasian man osteopoikilosis had been misdiagnosed roentgenologically 2 years before his death. Gradually he developed Cushing's syndrome and ultimately superior vena caval obstruction. At autopsy a primary thymic carcinoid with extensive osteoblastic bone metastasis was found. Immunohistochemically the tumor was shown to be positive for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cytokeratin (KL1), neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, chromogranin and glucagon. Remarkably the tumour was negative for serotonin despite high urinary hydroxyindolacetic acid levels. Bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex was found. The adenohypophysis showed a considerable reduction of ACTH-producing cells and numerous Crooke's cells with a characteristic immunohistochemical pattern.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1992

Treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis by ovariectomy, interferon alpha 2b and tamoxifen--a case report.

The gender-specific prevalence of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in premenopausal women suggests a hormonal etiology. Despite the antiestrogenic treatment (ovariectomy, tamoxifen) this disease is often refractory to therapy and almost inevitably leads to the patient's death. We describe a case where the antiproliferative effect of systemically applied interferon alpha 2b was successfully employed in addition to ovariectomy and the patient reached complete remission.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Obstetrical management of dysfibrinogenemia with increased thrombophilia].

Dysfibrinogenaemias are characterised by qualitatively abnormal fibrinogen, causing functional defects. In pregnant women, the incidence of recurrent abortions and placental abruption as well as haemostatic complications is high. In this case report, we report on a 22 year old woman with dysfibrinogenaemia complicated by thrombotic episodes. After two stillbirths under dramatic circumstances (placental abruption, eclampsia) and after an early abortion (7th gestational week), the patient was treated by subcutaneously administered heparin. Pregnancy ended successfully by delivery in the 39th gestational week.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Changes in otoacoustic emissions with simultaneous acoustic stimulation of the contralateral ear in normal probands and patients with unilateral acoustic neurinoma].

Contralateral white noise alters the amplitude of transitory evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). 27 students between 20 and 28 years of age with no history of ear disease or dizziness were tested for normal hearing by pure tone audiogram. OAE evoked by nonlinear stimuli were measured with and without contralateral stimulation by 40, 50 and 60 dB white noise. The contralateral stimulation resulted in a statistically significant diminution of the amplitude of the TEOAE under contralateral acoustic stimulation. This diminution is probably caused by the effect of the crossed bundle of the efferent innervation on the outer hair cells resulting in altered vibratory properties of the basilar membrane. In patients with unilateral acoustic neuroma and measurable TEOAE a diminution of the amplitude of the TEOAE under contralateral sound stimulation was not found. The testing can easily be performed with the routine measurement of TEOAE. It could be useful in the diagnostic of lesions of the cerebello pontine angle and the brain stem.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1992

Influence of valve surgery on female fertility.

Pregnancies following cardiac valve surgery represent a considerable maternal and fetal risk. The present paper is a report of 163 women in child-bearing age who underwent cardiac valve surgery. Congenital (14.7%) and acquired (85.3%) cardiac defects required a total of 72 alloplastic and 16 bioprosthetic valve implantations. In 69 patients, purely instrumental correction was performed, in 6 patients conduits were placed. Thirty-four pregnancies were observed and led to the delivery of 18 healthy infants. The birth weight was always in the 2-sigma normal range or slightly above. Three cesarean sections were performed due to the cardiac defect, in 6 patients vacuum extraction or forceps delivery was done, and in 9 patients delivery was spontaneous. We observed 4 cases of spontaneous abortion, and in 12 cases interruption of pregnancy. 75.1% women never became pregnant. Potential risks in terms of endocarditis, repeated valve implantation and anticoagulation are emphasized, methods to decrease the physical strain during delivery are discussed.

Bioprosthesis↗
PubMed1992

[Assessment of the practice of adjuvant radiotherapy in cancer of the rectum in the department of Calvados].

The effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) in the treatment of rectal cancer (RC) is established for the local control of the tumor, but doubt remains as concerns improvement in survival. The aim of this work was to assess the present techniques and trends of ART in a French department based on a population-based study. From 1978 to 1986, 616 cases of RC were diagnosed in the department of Calvados (France). Tumor was removed in 346 patients (56 percent). Of these 346 cases, 29 percent were irradiated, 3/4 postoperatively and one forth preoperatively. Besides sex and age, the type of surgery (anal sphincter saving or not) and Dukes' tumor stade had an influence on the performance of ART. Thirty-one percent Dukes B tumors and 42.1 percent of Dukes C tumors were irradiated. The practice of ART for these tumors increased significantly from 1978 (18.5 percent) to 1986 (60 percent) (P less than 10(-4)). However, the practice and the distribution of centers performing ART were heterogenous within the department of Calvados. This heterogeneity was neither due to the environment (urban/rural) of the patient nor to the distance between the place of residence and the radiation therapy center. Such an heterogeneity could be explained only by the lack of consensus concerning the practice of ART. Such a consensus could be found considering the results of the latest controlled clinical trials, but definitive conclusions are needed about the effectiveness of ART on the improvement of survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

[Imaging in isolated pulmonary immunocytoma].

A extranodal pulmonary immunocytoma that originated from the lung is reported. It was hidden behind the picture of a mid-lobe syndrome at repeated imaging controls over a 1.5-year period. In the further course a local progression occurred displayed by roentgenography and computer tomography including calcifications within the pulmonary tumor. A newly developing monoclonal gammopathy was detected by immunoelectrophoresis at the same time. Bronchopulmonary symptoms due to the tumor did not exist. After local resection of the lymphoma monoclonal gammopathy disappeared. However, a recurrence of monoclonal gammopathy developed after eight months.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1992

[Changes in transitory evoked otoacoustic emissions in chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5FU].

The aim of this study was to detect changes of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) during chemotherapy with cisplatin and fluorouracil (5FU). A review of the literature reveals that the incidence of cisplatin ototoxicity varies from 9% to 50%; this variation is due to differences in doses, duration of administration, to the criteria for ototoxicity and on audiological methods. Three cycles of chemotherapy (1000 mg/m2 5FU from day 1 to 5 and 100 mg/m2 cisplatin on day 1) were given to 12 patients; the OAE were measured before chemotherapy and after each administration. In 86% of the ears measured we found changes in the TEOAE; the mean values for the amplitude of the TEOAE decreased about 13% after the end of the chemotherapy. Pure tone thresholds were reduced in almost 50% of the measured ears. The decrease of amplitude of TEOAE is an early sign of an ototoxic secondary effect, probably due to damage to the outer hair cells. TEOAE is a sensitive method for detecting ototoxicity in cisplatin-treated patients and more reliable than pure-tone audiometry or evoked acoustic potentials.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1992

A new Streptococcus group A M-29 variant isolated during a suspected common-source epidemic.

In the summer of 1988, a large epidemic of acute pharyngitis occurred in an Israeli military base. The clinical features were those of acute pharyngitis. The epidemic curve was characteristic of a common-source outbreak, possibly food-borne. Throat swabs from a sample of cases were positive for group A streptococci. Nine isolates from the epidemic were further evaluated at the local reference laboratory and serotyping showed that all were of the same strain with a distinct M protein that is a hitherto undescribed variant of M-29. We discuss the significance of unusual strains of beta-hemolytic Streptococcus appearing in food-borne outbreaks.

Acute Disease↗