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Biomedical subjects

A Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to A Fischer.

At least 919 records · Page 51Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Brainstem auditory-evoked potentials and neuropathologic correlates in 26 dogs with brain tumors.

Brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded from 26 dogs with intracranial neoplasia. The tumors were grouped according to their neuroanatomic location. Normal BAEPs were recorded from 12 dogs with cerebral (6/7), diencephalic (4/4), cerebellar (1/1), and multifocal tumors (1/5). Abnormal BAEPs were recorded from 14 dogs were cerebral (1/7), cerebellar/brainstem (4/4), brainstem (5/5), and multifocal tumors (4/5). Analysis of the multifocal neoplasms showed that alterations of BAEPs correlated with the degree of brainstem involvement. Overall, 13 of the 14 dogs with abnormal BAEPs had tumors involving the brainstem. The changes of the BAEP correlated with the extrinsic or intrinsic location of the tumor relative to the brainstem. The BAEP reflected the right, left, or median location of the tumor in 7 of the 14 abnormal recordings. In 1 dog, the BAEP was abnormal contralateral to the tumor side. A peripheral hearing disorder was excluded in most dogs based on the presence of peak I.

Animals↗
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Fluoroscopically guided percutaneous disk aspiration in 10 dogs with diskospondylitis.

Fluoroscopically guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of the intervertebral disk space was performed in 10 dogs with diskospondylitis. Positive bacterial cultures were obtained from 9 of 12 aspirated disk spaces, 1 of 6 blood cultures, and 6 of 10 urine cultures. Positive disk cultures were obtained from 2 dogs with negative blood and urine cultures and from 2 additional dogs with low numbers of Staphylococcus in urine cultures. Adverse clinical sequelae of the procedure were not noted. Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of the intervertebral disk space is an alternative technique to surgical biopsy to obtain positive bacterial cultures from dogs with diskospondylitis.

Animals↗
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Allergen-induced sensory neuroplasticity in airways.

This study investigates the influence of allergic inflammation in airway sensory innervation. We conclude that allergic inflammation in the guinea pig leads to both an increase in excitability, as manifested by an increase in the mechanical sensitivity of the airway nerve endings, and an induction of substance P production in airway sensory neurons. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the induction of substance P occurs in fast conducting nodose sensory neurons that were previously devoid of this neuropeptide. Thus, allergen challenge is associated with a phenotypic change in the airway tachykinergic innervation. We also provide evidence that nerve growth factor is a potentially important mediator for these effects, and that it is elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage of asthmatic subjects.

Allergens↗
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Ketamine anesthesia in strabismus surgery.

Because of the conflicting opinions in the ophthalmic literature concerning the efficacy of Ketamine anesthesia in strabismus surgery, we decided to report out experience in 44 children operated upon between the ages of six months and six years. Satisfactory anesthesia was achieved in all cases except two who required intubation and inhalation technique in order to complete the surgery. No serious side effects were observed during or after the surgery. Its ease of administration, freedom from side effects, and satisfactory anesthesia, make Ketamine our primary anesthetic choice for strabismus surgery in children.

Anesthetics↗
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[Primary immunodeficiency secondary to ZAP-70 deficiency].

The authors present the case of a child with recurrent infections since the age of 4 months, including bilateral pneumonia by Pneumocystis carinii and protracted varicella. Serum immunoglobulin values (when 10 months old), and B cell values were normal. There was persistent lymphocytic leucocytosis, near absence of CD8+ cells, and an increased CD4/CD8 ratio. The percentage of activated T cells and the expression of HLA class I were normal. Proliferation, activation and IL-2 synthesis studies in T cells showed a TCR/CD3-associated signal transduction deficit. ZAP-70 cDNA sequencing showed a mutation, and no ZAP-70 protein was detected in T cells. ZAP-70 deficiency is associated with a rare immune deficiency with absence of CD8+ T cells as well as a functional deficiency in T cells. Seven months after bone marrow transplantation the child is clinically well and immunologically recovered.

Cytoplasmic Granules↗
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[Chickenpox and Schönlein-Henoch purpura: a report of a case with nephropathy].

Authors describe a child affected by chickenpox, Schönlein-Henoch purpura and nephropathy. The ecchymotic lesions were diffused in buttocks and legs and they were associated with vesicular haemorrhagic injury in the back of hands and in pavilions of the ears. They suggest that varicella-zoster virus can play a "trigger" role in etiopathogenesis of Schönlein-Henoch purpura and that this syndrome worsens the renal failure. Steroids don't improve the renal disease in the acute phase but they seem to reduce the relapses.

Chickenpox↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Guillain-Barré syndrome in childhood: epidemiology and clinical aspects].

From 1980 to 1988, 25 cases of S.G.B. were diagnosed in children of ages between 2 and 12 years old at the Pediatric Clinic of Catania University. No seasonal or sexual prevalence was observed and only 5 children were less than 5 years old at the beginning of the disease. The diagnosis was based on 2 principal points: 1) pain at the inferior limbs with motor, sensitive and autonomous disturbances; 2) an increase of the globulins in the cerebrospinal liquid without a quantitative variation of the cells. The disease had a medium length of duration of 20 to 30 days; only in 2 children respiratory assistance was necessary, because of an ascending paresis, which included the respiratory muscles, while in 2 other aged 11 and 12 years old the disease presented itself as being diphasic with a short intermittent intervals, which made us think of a complete remission. In one of these 2 patients, the disease manifested itself in an unusual manner, hitting initially the muscles of the upper limbs, the III cranial nerve and with marked cephalgia. The E.M.G. taken on 7 children presented itself as being frankly neuropathic.

Age Factors↗
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Assessment and control of house dust mite infestation.

Most allergens of the house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae) are carried by the mite excreta rather than by the mites themselves. A method of assessing the concentration of mite excreta in dust (the Acarex test) is described. The effects of Acarosan products, whose active ingredient is solidified benzyl benzoate, on mites and mite excreta were evaluated. Over a period of three years, three to four applications of Acarosan effectively destroyed mites in carpets, upholstery, and mattresses, as assessed by the measure of mite excreta and a count of live mites.

Allergens↗
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[Nervous system involvement in HIV1 infections in infants].

A prospective survey of 38 HIV1-infected infants has been performed. Thirty-four percent of the patients expressed neurological abnormalities. Three main clinical entities of various intensity have been defined: 8 patients had severe intellectual and motor dysfunctions associated with a bucco-lingual dyspraxia; in 4 patients, the intellectual and motor alterations were less intense but were associated with a severe bucco-lingual dyspraxia; finally one patient had no clinical symptomatology but a chronic lymphocytic meningitis. No opportunistic infection of the CNS was observed. The neurological alterations were correlated in intensity with the immunological dysfunction. CT scans were normal or showed cerebral atrophy in most cases. CSF were normal in 12 cases and a pleiocytosis was observed in one case. However, in 4 of the 6 tested cases, anti-HIV antibodies were detected in CSF.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
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[Hepatic pathology in beta-thalassemia major].

Liver function has been evaluated in 74 patients (aged 9 months to 19 years) with beta-thalassemia major. They were selected from 212 patients because their transaminase levels were three times higher than normal for over three months. In 36 of these subjects BSF clearance test was performed. In the majority of patients (70%) average GPT serum values were increased (66.33 +/- 35.41 U/L) while only a few of the youngest age group exhibited normal values. The transaminase level showed a direct relationship with age, ferritin level and transfusional iron. Furthermore a direct correlation was found between iron and gamma globulin levels both being related to age. Test for viral hepatitis markers showed that 60% of all the subjects studied had had HBV infection. Twenty-six of the 36 patients who underwent BSF test had normal values in the first part of the clearance curve, 8 others showed moderate changes while only the 2 remaining revealed severe alterations. The second part of the curve was abnormal in 34 and markedly altered in 2 subjects. Mean GPT serum values correlated with the first part of BSF clearance curve and BSF 45' values correlated with transfused iron. Siderosis, fibrosis, chronic inflammatory infiltration and vacuolar degeneration were seen at liver biopsy. Histological findings of chronic aggressive hepatitis were shown in two patients with high transaminase and gammaglobulin levels who had markedly abnormal BSF curve.

Adolescent↗
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[Neonatal cholestasis : clinical and diagnostic setting].

A retrospective study of 112 infants admitted at Pediatric Clinic of Catania from 1970 to 1985 with diagnosis of "Cholestatic jaundice" shows two prevalent pathologies: neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia. Some other disease like cystic fibrosis. Hereditary fructose intolerance, Galactosaemia, Paucity of bile duct were found rarely. Some laboratory parameters (Serum direct bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, Alkaline Phosphatase/Transaminase (GOT) show a characteristic pattern. Therefore the analysis of these data could help us to make a probability diagnosis and anticipate the liver biopsy that remain the most sensitive diagnostic instrument. In fact it is known that the earlier diagnosis is very important for the prognosis of these infants.

Biliary Atresia↗