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Biomedical subjects

A J Silver

Publications and source records attributed to A J Silver.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Nutrition in the elderly.

Nutritional modulation is one approach to successful aging. In animals, dietary restriction increases life span. Alterations in the macronutrient and micronutrient constituent of the diet can modulate gene expression. Anorexia is common in elderly persons. The results of studies in animals suggest that aging is associated with a decrease in the opioid feeding drive and an increase in the satiating effect of cholecystokinin. Unrecognized depression is a common, treatable cause of anorexia and weight loss in elderly persons. Protein synthesis decreases in elderly persons; nevertheless, nitrogen balance can be maintained in patients with fairly low intakes of protein. Carbohydrate intolerance is common and may be modulated by nutritional intervention and physical activity. The role of cholesterol in the development of heart disease in very old persons is controversial. Homebound and institutionalized elderly persons often do not expose their skin to sunlight; because the skin of older persons has a decreased ability to form vitamin D, the vitamin D status in these persons is precarious and they are at risk for osteopenia. Vitamins are often abused by elderly persons. Drug administration alters the vitamin requirements of persons. Borderline zinc state has been associated with deteriorating immune function, especially in persons who have diabetes mellitus or who abuse alcohol. Zinc administration appears to protect against the deteriorating vision associated with age-related macular degeneration. Selenium deficiency seems to be associated with an increased prevalence of cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Nutritional status in an academic nursing home.

Inadequate nutrition is a major problem facing the elderly today. Despite seemingly appropriate meal standards and dietary supervision, patients in long-term care facilities remain at risk for developing malnutrition. Various nutritional parameters including weight loss, percentage average body weight, serum albumin levels, anthropometrics, and skin testing were examined in 130 patients in an academic nursing home, two thirds of whom were over the age of 65 years. Functional status including type of feeding and associated diseases was also determined. The data show that nutritional risk factors are similar among different age-groups in nursing home patients. A significant proportion of our patients lost weight while maintaining their serum albumin levels. Despite this, there appears to be less evidence of malnutrition among patients in the academic nursing home compared with other nursing home settings studied.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

MR imaging of pseudotumor cerebri.

Eleven obese young women with idiopathic pseudotumor cerebri were studied with high-field-strength (1.5 T) MR imaging to demonstrate increased water content in the brains of such patients. Heavily T2-weighted studies were obtained for 10 patients, and balanced (long TRs, short TEs, spin density, proton density) pulse sequences were obtained for four patients. We examined the studies of morphologically normal periventricular white matter and developed a white matter water index to determine if a slight increase in signal was present that could be ascribed to low levels of edema. Comparison was made to an age-matched control group. We also examined five patients with sodium MR imaging. Two of the 11 patients had focal areas of increased signal in their periventricular white matter. Presumably, these are areas of increased edema above the background that could not be detected on the CT scan. The white matter water index for the normal controls was an average of 0.479 (+/- 0.015), while that of the pseudotumor cerebri group was 0.520 (+/- 0.016). This indicates an increase in the white matter water signal. We believe this represents a diffuse low level of edema. These findings are consistent with previous estimates of the increase in brain water in patients with idiopathic pseudotumor cerebri. The patients with focally abnormal proton studies demonstrated similar abnormalities on their sodium studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The opacified maxillary sinus: CT findings in chronic sinusitis and malignant tumors.

To distinguish opacification owing to inflammatory conditions (sinusitis) from that caused by nasomaxillary malignancy, computed tomography scans in 24 proved cases of sinusitis or tumor were reviewed for features related to sinus size, wall thickness, and character of bone erosion. An anatomic system was defined for classifying lesions according to the surface and type of bony involvement. In 12 cases of chronic maxillary sinusitis, the involved sinus was usually small and thick walled. The nasal surface of the involved sinus usually was eroded; often the orbital surface was eroded. The erosion was, however, short, irregular, and in the region of a normal dehiscence (semilunar hiatus or infraorbital canal) in all cases. The infratemporal surface was never eroded. In 12 cases of nasomaxillary neoplasia, the sinus was enlarged, one or more walls of the involved sinus being thinned and expanded. Bone erosion was present in all cases; erosion of the infratemporal surface was specific for neoplasia and significant as the usual site of recurrence.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1987

Complicated cholesteatomas: CT findings in inner ear complications of middle ear cholesteatomas.

Patients with facial palsy and middle ear disease, which may be chronic but clinically occult, may have a cholesteatoma with extension medially along the facial canal. In two patients, axial computed tomographic (CT) scans demonstrated involvement of the medial petrous bone. Patients with vertigo and chronic middle ear disease may have a cholesteatoma with a "fistula" between the middle and inner ears. Although the fistula usually involves the lateral semicircular canal, the cholesteatoma may pass through the oval window. In two patients, coronal CT scans showed extension to the oval window in one and through it in the other.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Study of movement disorders and brain iron by MR.

Heavily T2-weighted high-field MR images provide a unique opportunity for the evaluation of the extrapyramidal motor system. The images are affected by the presence of small amounts of naturally occurring paramagnetic substances--principally iron--that delineate the neostriatum (caudate and putamen), globus pallidus, red nucleus, substantia nigra, and dentate nucleus, primarily by a decrease in signal secondary to the T2* effect. Movement disorders are associated with either increased or decreased signal or both in these structures, depending on the pathologic process. In the initial evaluation of 113 patients with a variety of movement disorders, good correlation of imaging abnormalities can be made with a simplified schema of the extrapyramidal pathways and a system of classification of abnormal movements, parkinsonism/tremor, dystonia, chorea, myoclonus, and hemiballismus. Parkinsonisms are characterized by abnormalities of the cortico-ponto-cerebello-dentato-rubro-thalamo-cortico-spinal tract or the nigrostriatal tract. Dystonias are characterized by abnormalities of the neostriatum predominantly affecting the putamen. Choreas are also characterized by abnormalities of the neostriatum but predominantly affecting the caudate nucleus. Hemiballismus is characterized by lesions affecting the subthalamic nucleus or associated pathway.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

CT of pineal region tumors.

The computed tomographic (CT) features of pineal region tumors were analyzed in 60 histologically proven tumors. This is the largest reported series of histologically verified pineal region tumors studied with CT. The tumors were classified as germ-cell tumors, glial tumors, pineal parenchymal tumors, and meningiomas. Preenhancement germinomas revealed characteristically high-density areas with calcification; uniform enhancement was seen after injection of contrast material. When present, pineal calcification was engulfed by the tumor. Teratomas, present only in male patients, revealed areas of mixed densities (e.g., calcification and fatty areas) and did not show significant contrast enhancement. Spontaneous intraventricular rupture was noted in one case. Unlike other tumors, the original pineal calcification could be recognized in two-thirds of glioma cases and was displaced anteriorly and superiorly in most. Gliomas were hypodense to isodense on precontrast scans and enhanced in a nodular and a ring fashion. Benign pineal parenchymal tumors showed iso- to hyperdense areas with nodular enhancement after injection of contrast material. Pineoblastomas were well defined hyperdense masses without calcification on precontrast scans. After injection of contrast material, they showed well defined enhancement with occasional small, central lucencies. Meningiomas were hyperdense in most cases, uniformly enhanced in a homogeneous fashion, and showed a tentorial attachment.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1984

Computed tomography of the carotid space and related cervical spaces. Part I: Anatomy.

The carotid space, parapharyngeal space, and paraspinal space are described. The carotid space is shown on computed tomography (CT) to be posterior to the parapharyngeal space and separated from it by the styloid apparatus. The paraspinal space is posterior to the carotid space and separated from it by the longus and anterior scalene muscles.

Humans↗
PubMed1984

Computed tomography of the carotid space and related cervical spaces. Part II: Neurogenic tumors.

Fourteen neurogenic tumors of the neck were examined with computed tomography (CT) and, in ten cases, angiography. Schwannomas and paragangliomas occurred in the carotid space. These tumors could be distinguished on CT from those occurring more anteriorly, in relation to the parapharyngeal space, and more posteriorly, in relation to the paraspinal space. Schwannomas alone occurred in the paraspinal space. Schwannomas were heterogeneously hypodense before contrast enhancement and at least partially hyperdense after contrast enhancement, with displacement of adjacent vessels on CT, and, if they were of vagal origin, anteromedial displacement of the internal carotid artery on angiography. Paragangliomas usually were homogeneously hyperdense after contrast enhancement, with incorporation of adjacent vessels on CT, and, if they were of carotid body origin, lateral displacement of the internal carotid artery on angiography.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The carotid region: normal and pathologic anatomy on CT.

The carotid region of the neck is defined in terms of three longitudinally oriented spaces: parapharyngeal, carotid, and paraspinal. Displacements of these spaces by neurogenic tumors of the neck are analyzed. The CT appearance and histology of these tumors are correlated.

Carotid Arteries↗
PubMed1984

CT of the nasopharyngeal region. Normal and pathologic anatomy.

The soft tissue anatomy of the nasopharynx is presented in terms of deglutitional and masticatory muscle layers. Within this framework of analysis, computed tomography can detect relatively early soft tissue changes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Deglutition↗
PubMed1983

Computed tomography of the nasopharynx and related spaces. Part II: Pathology.

Malignant tumors of the nasopharynx were analyzed by region of origin and route of spread. Nasopharyngeal carcinomas produced early submucosal infiltration of the deglutitional muscle layer with enlargement of the levator palati muscle and lateral displacement of the parapharyngeal space. Serous otitis media was frequently associated, and the trigeminal nerve was occasionally involved. Intracranial extension via the foramen lacerum was frequent. Metastases to the infratemporal fossa produced early involvement of the masticatory muscle layer with medial displacement of the parapharyngeal space. Adenoid cystic carcinomas showed late but disproportionate involvement of the sphenoid sinus. Chordomas extended into the retropharyngeal soft tissues via the petro-occipital fissure. Maxillary sinus carcinomas, which were very large at the time of presentation and impinged on the nasopharynx, showed extensive destruction of the pterygoid plates.

Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic↗
PubMed1983

Computed tomography of the nasopharynx and related spaces. Part I: Anatomy.

The normal computed tomographic anatomy of the nasopharynx and pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae is analyzed. Particular attention is given to the distinction between deglutitional and masticatory muscles. The relations of the palatal muscles to the eustachian tube are described in detail. Those soft-tissue features that, when they deviate from normal, can provide early detection of nasopharyngeal lesions are emphasized.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Computed tomography of the brain stem with intrathecal metrizamide. Part I: the normal brain stem.

In summary, the anatomic details of the brain stem are exquisitely demonstrated with metrizamide CT. The obex is the zone of transition from the closed medulla, which has a conical pear-shaped appearance to the quadriconcave open medulla. The pyramids and inferior olivary nuclei characterize the anterior surface of the open medulla, whereas the median sulcus and the cranial nerve nuclei constitute the floor of the fourth ventricle at the same level. The mushroomlike appearance of the pontomedullary junction is easily reproducible with the restiform bodies forming the posteriorly diverging biped. The seventh and eighth nerves are usually seen at this level or on the adjacent higher section of the low pons. The brachia pontis are well delineated in almost their entire length at the level of the low pons as they bound the fourth ventricle laterally. The trigeminal nerves are seen at the level of the midpons, which is a few millimeters lower than the isthmus. The latter constitutes the junction of the pons with the mesencephalon. The colliculi divide the midbrain into two levels of axial cross section: the inferior collicular level, which may or may not show the trochlear nerve, and the superior collicular level, which features anteriorly the suprasellar cistern and its contents. Air is an inadequate contrast agent for CT for the demonstration of the surface features of the brain stem because of partial filling of the cisterns and meniscus formation that precludes a detailed outline. Metrizamide, however, with careful technique, fills the fourth ventricle and subarachnoid space both infra- and supratentorially. High-resolution scanning using primary reconstruction, and thin tomographic sections of no more than 5 mm are a necessity for metrizamide CT. Consecutive scans should not be spaced more than 5 mm apart if all the features of the brain stem are to be evaluated. The demonstration of the various grooves and protuberances on the surface of the brain stem provides a unique opportunity for evaluating focal atrophy and focal swelling henceforth impossible to visualize consistently.

Brain Stem↗