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Biomedical subjects

A Livneh

Publications and source records attributed to A Livneh.

138 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Herpes simplex-associated erythema multiforme (HAEM): a clinical therapeutic dilemma.

Erythema multiforme of the mouth is an acute vesiculo-ulcerative lesion, which presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the clinician. Herpes simplex is described as the most frequent cause of this disease. Controversy exists in the literature as to the definition of oral erythema multiforme and the role of systemic corticosteroids in its treatment. Recent treatment protocols advocate the use of systemic acyclovir, especially in cases triggered by the herpes simplex virus. Two cases of successful treatment of oral erythema multiforme with systemic corticosteroids after acyclovir treatment had failed are presented.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased propensity for amyloidogenesis in male mice.

BACKGROUND: The male sex is a risk factor for reactive amyloidogenesis in several disease entities. Environmental, socioeconomic or genetic factors may underlie this male preponderance. This study was aimed at discovering whether male sex predisposes to reactive amyloidosis also in mice and to elucidate some of the hormonal associations of this risk. METHODS: Male and female Swiss mice were subjected to an established amyloid induction protocol and the amount of their splenic amyloid was determined and compared. The effect of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and adrenalin on amyloidogenesis was studied in both sexes by administering these hormnones during amyloid induction and comparing the amount of splenic amyloid of the study mice with the control mice which received the amyloid induction protocol alone. RESULTS: Amyloid deposition appeared to be more abundant in male mice. This gender difference was not associated with any of the 3 sex hormones tested. Despite an expected increment, adrenalin caused an attenuation of amyloid deposition. CONCLUSIONS: The preferential expression of reactive amyloidosis in male mice seems to be unrelated to the common sex hormones. Increased production of other hormones such as adrenalin, or perhaps an augmented susceptibility to their effect, may cause gender differences by suppressing female amyloidogenesis. Our study favors the hypothesis of genetic predisposition as the mechanism leading to sex differences in amyloidogenesis. Further validation of our findings in gonadal ablated models and other amyloid induction protocols is warranted.

Amyloid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Localized pericardial inflammation in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Regional or localized pericarditis has been infrequently reported. We report a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who presented with retrosternal pleuritic-type chest pain without audible friction rub, electrocardiographic changes or detectable pericardial effusion on echocardiography. Computed tomography, however, revealed a circumscribed area of pericardial inflammation, suggesting a diagnosis of localized lupus-associated pericarditis. This case demonstrates that localized pericarditis may occur in SLE and that chest CT may be required as part of the work-up in the diagnosis of lupus pericarditis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Urine leukotriene B4 in familial Mediterranean fever.

OBJECTIVE: To determine urinary leukotriene B4 (LTB4) levels and their role in FMF: METHODS: Urinary LTB4 levels were studied using a commercial ELISA kit in 12 FMF patients during abdominal attacks, and 20 FMF patients during remission. RESULTS: Urinary LTB4 levels in FMF patients during attacks were comparable to those during remission, but higher than normal levels (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a persistent activation of the leukotriene pathway in FMF. Whether elevated LTB4 levels are the cause or the effect of inflammation is yet to be determined.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis delay in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF): social and gender gaps disclosed.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the factors contributing to a greater than 10 year delay in the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). METHODS: 50 patients, in whom diagnosis of FMF was delayed by more than 10 years, comprised the study population. The clinical, demographic and molecular genetic characteristics were compared to a control group of 50 FMF patients, in whom the diagnosis was made within a reasonable time period (less than 5 years from onset). Additional factors contributing to a delayed diagnosis in the study group, including physician-related factors, patient-related factors, disease-factors and other factors, were studied as well. RESULTS: Overall, attack sites, duration and severity were comparable among study and control groups. No differences in ethnic origin or family history of FMF were noted between the groups. There were significantly more females (p = 0.009), newly-arrived immigrants (p = 0.005) and carriers of unidentified MEFV mutations (p = 0.04) in the study group. Delayed diagnosis of FMF stemmed from misdiagnosis and physician negligence (70%), as well as from patient negligence (70%). The diagnosis was ultimately made mainly due to a change in disease pattern and other causes, such as diagnosis of FMF in a relative. CONCLUSION: The study unveils unexpected causes behind a prolonged delay in the diagnosis of FMF such as social status (immigrant), female gender, physician negligence and lack of patient awareness. The possibility that the delay stems from a milder disease pattern was dismissed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Extremely active murine amyloid enhancing factor.

OBJECTIVE: To generate and characterize a highly active amyloid enhancing factor (AEF). METHODS: AEF was obtained from amyloidotic and pre-amyloidotic mice spleens that were homogenized in 50% acetone in H2O. The grade of AEF enhancing activity was studied in relation to the procedure used to generate the AEF, the amount of AEF administered, the duration of amyloid induction and the effect of solvent and denaturing agents. RESULTS: Both priming of the splenic source of the AEF with an amyloidogen and acetone processing were essential for the AEF activity. AEF in a single intravenous dose as low as 1 nanogram per mouse induced amyloidosis in mice within 2-6 days. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the AEF showed two protein bands of molecular weight (MW) 9-11 KD not present in normal spleen homogenates. Dialysis of the AEF showed that the active components can pass through a dialysis bag with an MW cutoff of 12 KD. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ours is the most active AEF currently available and that it has active constituents of low MW ( < or = 12 KD) which appear in the spleen during amyloidogenesis.

Amyloid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased prevalence of joint manifestations in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the systemic manifestations and joint disease in patents with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). METHODS: The presence and features of extra-oral manifestations were determined by a rheumatologist, who examined and interviewed 64 patients, referred during 1993 to the oral medicine clinic for treatment of RAS. Controls were 65 medical staff members of a military clinic associated with the hospital. RESULTS: Based on the rheumatologist's findings and published criteria, the patients were diagnosed as suffering from RAS alone (24 patients), Reiter's syndrome (8), Behçet disease (8), familial Mediterranean fever (1), or RAS with undiagnosable extra oral manifestations (23). Thirteen patients in the last group had joint disease (p < 0.01 compared to the controls), characterized by recurrent mono- or oligoarthritis/arthralgia of short duration, affecting mostly the large joints. Conjunctivitis, pustular rash, lower back pain and urethritis/cervicitis were also common in RAS patients, but only the latter was significantly more frequent in RAS patients than in controls (p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that patients with RAS have an increased frequency of a palindromic type joint disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life of patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and to explore its possible contributing factors. METHODS: One hundred and two FMF patients were evaluated using a QOL Scale, and were compared to 124 healthy controls. The QOL scale includes 16 items, each measured on a 7-point scale (7 indicating maximal satisfaction). RESULTS: The total QOL score of FMF patients was significantly lower than that of the controls: 81.6 +/- 19.2 vs 88.0 +/- 12.8 (p < 0.01). Male and female patients reported similar QOL scores. QOL was inversely correlated with the number of FMF attacks in the last year (r = -0.302, p = 0.002), and with the number of FMF hospitalizations (r = -0.238, p = 0.017). Patients with widespread pain, sleep disturbances and headaches had significantly lower QOL scores than patients without them. CONCLUSIONS: The QOL of FMF patients was found to be impaired compared to healthy controls. Further studies are needed to determine the exact factors affecting the quality of life of FMF patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term effects of amyloid enhancing factor: clinical and experimental implications.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term effects of amyloid enhancing factor (AEF). METHODS: AEF, prepared from pre-amyloidotic mouse spleens, was injected intravenously into Swiss and ICR mice. This was followed by 3 daily subcutaneous injections of AgNO3, given at increasing time intervals from the administration of AEF. The mice were sacrificed on day 6 from the first AgNO3 injection, and the mean grade of amyloid deposition in the spleens was estimated using the crush and smear technique. RESULTS: AEF was found to have a prolonged enhancing effect, retaining its activity for more than 3 months after its administration in both mouse strains. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental animals may develop amyloidosis long time after exposure to AEF. This finding may underlie the acute reoccurrence of amyloidosis sometimes observed in patients and mice long after its resolution.

Amyloidosis↗