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Biomedical subjects

A Becker

Publications and source records attributed to A Becker.

555 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The theophylline disposition after caffeine administration in liver cirrhosis: an index of liver function.

Six blood samples covering a 24 hr post caffeine dosage were drawn in 8 healthy subjects and 18 patients with liver cirrhosis. Caffeine and theophylline concentration were assayed by gas-chromatography and fluorescent polarization immunoassay, respectively. In normals the maximum theophylline levels were found between 3 and 8 hrs (62.5% at 8 hrs) and ranged 50-420 ng/ml, whereas these levels in cirrhotic patients were noted between 3 and 12 hrs (61.1% at 8 hrs) and ranged 40-670 ng/ml. The largest difference in mean theophylline concentration between normals and cirrhotics was found at 6 hrs (348 +/- 103.7 ng/ml vs 217.1 +/- 140.8 ng/ml; p less than 0.02) and 24 hrs (101.6 +/- 57.3 ng/ml vs 172.2 +/- 119.6 ng/ml; p = 0.075) after caffeine dosing. Theophylline formation rate (theo6) differentiated controls from cirrhotics in the initial stage of the disease (Child-Pugh A), however it failed to discriminate between initial and late cirrhosis. In contrast, the ability of liver to remove theophylline (theo24) differentiated effectively these groups of patients. Theo6 to theo24 ratio was a valuable index of liver function, although its capacity to detect early cirrhosis was unsatisfactory.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Importance of iron for the recovery of malnourished infants].

Thirty one infants with moderate and severe protein-calorie malnutrition whose blood hemoglobin concentrations were higher than 10 g/dl were managed with diet supplements containing iron fortified cereals for three months. In addition, 17 of them were given an extra daily dose of elementary iron (3 mg/kg/day). Mean weight gain was similar in both subgroups but mean hemoglobin concentration raised by 1,2 g/dl among extra iron infants in contrast with no increase or even decreased hemoglobin levels at the end of follow up in controls, thus demonstrating the importance of adding supplementary iron to these children during the recovery period of under nutrition, even it the diet provides the usually recommended 8 to 10 mg/day of iron.

Body Weight↗
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[Myelogram in systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis].

A retrospective study was done to evaluate bone marrow smears in seven children with systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Eosinophilia and monocytosis were found in all the patients and in five there also were increased proportions of mononuclear basophils. Anemia is common in this disease and erythroid hypoplasia was present in six cases. Four patients had increased numbers of plasma cells and three had histiocytes with hemophagocytic activity. We did not find hemophagocytosis, as reported before, in bone marrow smears of JRA patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The attached gingiva in children: diagnostic, developmental and orthodontic considerations for its treatment.

In the clinical context, the width of the attached gingiva is established by substracting the sulcus depth from the width of the keratinized gingiva. Summarizing all factors, it becomes clear that control of marginal inflammation appears to be the most important key to limiting--and possibly reversing--an otherwise progressive recession. A nonsurgical approach should be the clinician's first choice.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis.

Of 53 severely rheumatoid patients, 43% had cervical spine involvement, Six major categories were found: a) C1-C2 subluxation; b) serial subluxation; c) upward translocation of the odontoid; d) odontoid erosion; 3) apophyseal joint fusion; and f) miscellaneous findings of osteoporosis, endplate erosion, and disk space narrowing without osteophytosis. Although disease duration and activity appeared to correlate somewhat with the development of cervical spine disease, this was by no means universal. Rheumatoid cervical spine disease may be dangerous even in the absence of clinical signs and symptoms. It is therefore recommended that the cervical spine be evaluated in patients with severe rheumatoid disease before general anesthesia is scheduled irrespective of cervical spine complaints recorded in the chart.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Systemic lupus erythematosus in men--a different prognosis?].

A retrospective analysis of 21 male and 82 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was performed in order to identify sex-linked differences in disease manifestations. As organ manifestation, cardiac involvement was assessed in 12 of 21 male patients (57%) and in 18 of 82 females (22%; p < 0.05). Renal involvement occurred in 16 male (76%) vs 26 female patients (32%; p < 0.05). Endstage renal disease developed in 5 of the 21 men (24%), but only in 6 of the 82 women (7%) with SLE. The most striking clinical result was the high frequency of thrombembolic complications in male SLE-patients. Twelve out of 21 males (57%) experienced more than 30 thrombembolic events in contrast to 9 events in 5 out of 82 females (6%; p < 0.0001). Persisting elevated IgG-anti-cardiolipin antibodies were found in 48% of male and only 16% of female patients (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these data suggest that SLE in males is characterized by more frequent and severe organ involvement and especially by striking prevalence of partly life-threatening thrombembolic complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Conservative multidisciplinary treatment approach in an unusual odontodysplasia.

An unusual case of odontodysplasia is presented, involving both primary and permanent dentition, with oligodontia of permanent teeth and hypoplasia, taurodontism and incomplete eruption of a first permanent molar. In order to improve the patient's appearance, occlusion and function, his intra- and inter-arch relationships were altered. To accomplish this, a multidisciplinary treatment approach was adopted, involving restorative and prosthetic treatments by a pediatric dentist, accompanied by periodontal surgery, endodontics and orthodontics.

Anodontia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High-dose intravenous therapy with 7S immunoglobulins in autoimmune endocrine ophthalmopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Endocrine ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disorder of the retroorbital space tissues which is generally associated with thyroidal Graves' disease. Its pathogenetical aspects, clinical appearance and diagnostic procedures are reviewed. Therapeutic options include both established and more experimental approaches. Increasing use of intravenously administered immunoglobulin preparations has been noted in a variety of autoimmunologically mediated diseases. We report preliminary data of an observational trial on high-dose immunoglobulin treatment including 10 patients suffering from thyroid eye disease. METHODS: Ophthalmopathy which had not been present for longer than 12 month and Graves' disease with an euthyroid metabolic state at the time of the investigation were the inclusion criteria. Therapy was commenced with a high initial immunoglobulin dose of 20 g/d over a period of five days, and 4 further doses of 20 g each were administered at intervals of 4 weeks. RESULTS: No significant decrease was found in the clinical ophthalmopathy index and in thyroid-specific autoantibody levels. The eye muscle index, determined radiologically by orbital computed tomography as a parameter for inflammatory eye muscle involvement, also did not change significantly during therapy. CONCLUSION: In contradiction to previous reports, our results do not at present allow a general recommendation of high-dose immunoglobulin treatment in thyroid-related ophthalmopathy. Immunoglobulin therapy might be effective in selected patients, but criteria for selection have to be defined.

Adult↗