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Biomedical subjects

A Lazar

Publications and source records attributed to A Lazar.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevention of transfusion-associated cytomegalovirus infection in neonatal patients by the removal of white cells from blood.

The usual methods employed to reduce the risk of transfusion-associated cytomegalovirus (TA CMV) disease have been to transfuse blood or cellular blood components that are CMV antibody-negative or to administer deglycerolized frozen red cells. To determine if the reduction of white cells (WBCs) in blood by filtration will also eliminate TA CMV disease in a high-risk population, 48 surviving very low birth weight (less than 1250 g) neonatal infants born to CMV-seronegative mothers at three participating institutions in the Hartford, Connecticut area and receiving at least one CMV-seropositive blood transfusion were studied. The incidence of TA CMV disease in 26 neonatal patients who received blood prepared by a modified spin-cool-filter technique and in 22 neonatal patients who received blood filtered through a WBC-reduction filter was compared with the incidence of transfusion-associated disease in similar populations reported in other studies. The CMV antibody prevalence of the blood donor population was found to be 37 percent. At the time of discharge of the individual neonatal infants in the population studied, and/or 2 to 6 months later, 47 of the 48 who had undergone transfusion had CMV antibody-negative serologic tests and/or urine culture. The other infant transiently seroconverted because of passive transfer of the antibody. None of the 48 neonatal infants had clinical evidence of CMV infection. This study indicates that WBC reduction of donor blood can reduce and perhaps prevent TA CMV disease in high-risk neonatal patients.

Cytomegalovirus Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health and well-being among elderly persons in Israel: the role of social class and immigration status.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to compare three groups of Israeli elderly that differ in social class and immigration status on measures of health and psycho-social well-being, and assess the factors which explain their self-rated health (SRH). DESIGN: Based on a random sample of Israeli Jewish elderly (70 +), data were collected from 1138 persons during 1994 by structured home interviews. RESULTS: Social class differences among Israeli veterans were mainly found with regard to psycho-social characteristics. They were less conspicuous in health measures. New immigrants, who had a higher level of education than the veterans, but ranked lower on economic status, reported lower levels of health and psycho-social well-being than the veterans. Self-rated health among the immigrants was mainly explained by objective measures of health, and economic status, while in the higher social class of veterans it was also explained by education and psycho-social variables such as self-esteem and social support. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that in contradiction to the convergence hypothesis, social class and immigration status affect health and well-being also in old age. It is suggested that the immigration crisis and factors related to the standard of living and health services in the countries of origin, as well as the lower social and economic status of the immigrants in Israel, outweigh their relative advantage in age and education in influencing their health and well-being. The differences found among the three groups in the factors that explain self-rated health have implications for the use of economic status as a relevant indicator of social class when considering health status among the elderly, and for the interpretation of SRH, as a global measure of health, in different socio-cultural groups.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Formation of porcine hepatocyte spheroids for use in a bioartificial liver.

Xenogeneic hepatocytes have recently been used in a bioartificial liver device as a potential short-term extracorporeal support of acute liver failure. Scaling up the system requires large quantities of viable and highly active cells. Hepatocytes grown as spheroids manifest higher metabolic activities for longer time periods as compared to those in monolayer cultures. Use of hepatocyte spheroids for application in a bioartificial liver can possibly alleviate the need of scaling up. Porcine hepatocytes when cultured under stirred conditions, from multicellular spheroids in a defined culture medium. Spheroids were formed 24 h after cell inoculation with an efficiency of 80-90% and a mean diameter of about 135 microns. Scanning electron microscopy revealed numerous microvilli projecting from the entire surface of the spheroids. Transmission electron microscopy revealed differentiated hepatocytes which displayed well-developed cytoplasmic structures separated by bile canaliculus-like structures. The morphological studies show a resemblance between cells in the spheroids and in the liver in vivo. Urea-genesis by spheroids was twice as active and was sustained for a longer culture period than that by hepatocytes cultured as monolayers. Preparation of porcine hepatocyte spheroids in an agitated vessel is simple efficient and reproducible. It will allow for preparation of large quantities of spheroids to be employed in a bioartificial liver device as well as in liver metabolism studies.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of osteomas of the paranasal sinuses.

Craniofacial osteomas are benign tumors of the skull base, often involving the paranasal sinuses. The frontal sinus is the most common site of involvement, followed by the ethmoid, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses, respectively. The growth rate is very slow, and it may take many years for osteomas to become clinically apparent. The origin of these tumors has been ascribed to embryologic tissue maldevelopment, trauma, or infection. The tumors are hard and lobulated with an ivory-like appearance, often mixed with a coarse granular component. The bone is compact or cancellous, with vascular or connective tissue components. The complications of osteoma growth are obstruction of sinus ostia, extension into adjacent bones and the intracranial cavity, and displacement of anatomic structures. Management of uncomplicated sinus osteomas is controversial, since surgery involves serious potential risks. When surgery is performed, these tumors can be successfully managed via endoscopic, open, or combined techniques. This article reviews the clinical findings, diagnostic studies, and treatment of 16 patients with paranasal osteomas. The indications for surgical intervention are discussed.

Adult↗