Massive loss of bile from the nasobiliary tube.
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Bile↗
Biomedical subjects
A Nowak
Publications and source records attributed to A Nowak.
Short-term effects of variceal sclerotherapy on portal hypertensive gastropathy.
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Obliteration of esophageal varices may modify the mucosal perfusion of the stomach. The relationship between short-term injection variceal sclerotherapy (IVS) and the evolution of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is insufficiently recognized. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one cirrhotic patients were treated with hemostatic or secondary preventive IVS. They underwent sclerotherapy at intervals of four to five days until esophageal ulceration, stricture, or a reduction in variceal size developed. On admission and on completing the IVS schedule, an endoscopy score was calculated using a system assigning 0 points for a normal mucosal image, 1 point for reddened, 2 points for a mosaic-like mucosal pattern, and 3 points for a mosaic-like pattern plus red marks in the stomach. All patients received propranolol after the first sclerotherapy session. RESULTS: The total score before IVS was 45 points (1.1 points per patient). After 188 sclerotherapy sessions (2-8 per patient), the score significantly increased to 73 points (1.8 points per patient, P = 0.04). This effect was particularly marked in Child-Pugh class B patients (mean individual rise from 0.7 to 1.9 points, P = 0.01), and negligible in patients with either less or more advanced cirrhosis (Child-Pugh classes A and C). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cirrhosis, short-term IVS may contribute to the mechanisms of progressive PHG.
Aged↗
[RHnull syndrome--diagnostic and therapeutic problems].
A very rare Rhnull phenotype as a cause of haemolytic anaemia in a female patients was for the first time detected in Poland. The beneficial influence of splenectomy was demonstrated. It was proved that a single transfusion of Rh negative red cell concentrate, because of the lack of Rhnull blood, did not cause any acute adverse reactions. However, a transient, subclinical delayed haemolytic reaction due to the stimulation of anti-c and anti-e was observed.
Aged↗
Prenatal lead exposure and the pregnancy outcome. A case-control study in southern Poland.
In an attempt to test null hypothesis (Ho): that prenatal lead exposure does not increase the risk of prematurity and the delivery of SGA infants, a case-control study was performed in four hospitals of Southern Poland (Kraków, Rabka, Limanowa, Zakopane). Lead content was determined in maternal and cord blood as well as in head and pubic hair by the GF AAS (Perkin Elmer). A significant interregional variation of lead content in maternal blood was observed. Lead concentration in maternal and cord blood was significantly higher in the group of mothers of SGA newborns when compared to the controls. This was not the case with respect to the mothers of preterm infants. Also, the comparison of lead concentration in head and pubic hair revealed no statistically significant case-control differences. For a combined population of cases and controls, a significant gradient of lead concentration between maternal and cord blood was demonstrated. The correlation between lead content in different body compartments was observed. Conclusions. Different blood lead levels observed in mothers from four hospitals suggest different exposure. Higher lead concentration in maternal blood was associated with an increased risk of the delivery of SGA infant.
Adult↗
[Arrhythmias in children with mitral valve prolapse syndrome].
The aim of the study is analysis of arrhythmia in children with mitral valve prolapse syndrome. The study includes 45 children with MVP, 16 boys and 29 girls from the district of Bydgoszcz. Their age ranged from 9 to 16 with an average of 12.4. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination, and results of noninvasive examinations of the cardiovascular system with decisive, echocardiographic imaging of the heart. Arrhythmia was analyzed with Holter monitoring using Hewlett-Packard equipment and the New Wave Holter program. The record was made over a 24-hour period. The control group was chosen from children with negative symptoms relating to cardiologic disease, in good general health, and normal ECG readings. During ECG monitoring in both groups, no complex arrhythmia forms were discovered (according to the Lown scale, above class 3). Individual signs of premature heart chamber stimulation were diagnosed in about (40% of both groups. Additional heart chamber stimulations (VEB) were registered in children with MVP (approximately 62%). Moreover, the children with MVP showed higher maximum heart activity.
Adolescent↗
[Complex evaluation of body reaction in obese boys boys with systematic physical exertion and a low energy diet].
This paper presents the results of researched influence of systematic physical effort together with a calorie restricted diet on fourteen-year-old obese boys. We evaluated their physical efficiency (VO2max), body consistency, blood lipid profile the level of non-enzymatic glycosylation of protein, insulinemia, and insulin resistance measured by the binding of 125I-Insulin to erythrocyte receptors. For 21 days, subjects performed 30 minutes of physical effort on a bicycle ergometer with load of 1 W/kg of body mass. Simultaneously, they were subjected to a calorie restricted diet at an average level of 1300 kcal. Before administering of the therapy and following its completion, the maximal amount of oxygen intake and body consistency was determined. Following that, the boy subjects performed an effort on the bicycle ergometer having an intensity of 70% VO2max and, simultaneously, capillary and venous blood was drawn for testing. In the capillary blood samples indices of acid-base balance, the lactate level, and glucose level were determined. In the venous blood samples levels of lipids, immunoreactive insulin, C-peptide and fructosamine were determined. Binding of 125I-Insulin was determined according to the method described by Gambhir and modified by us. Obtained results show that the administered therapy contributed to an increased physical efficiency, a decrease in the body's fatty mass, a reduction by 20% of insulinemia (p < 0.01) and insulin resistance as measured by the amount of 125I-Insulin binding.
Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
[Biliary microlithiasis and its association with acute idiopathic pancreatitis].
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Acute Disease↗
Genomic species typing of acinetobacters by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the recA gene.
The recA gene has been used as a target in screening for the presence of acinetobacters on the genospecies level and differentiation of relevant acinetobacter species from one another by PCR. Primers deduced from known recA gene sequences of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae allowed the amplification of DNAs from all Acinetobacter genospecies. The size of the amplified DNA fragment from all genospecies tested was approximately 435-500 bp relative to DNA size markers. The amplified products were examined further by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Restriction analysis with only two enzymes, MboI and HinfI, enabled us to identify all known genospecies. Since this method uses conserved recA gene sequences for primers, it is expected to be applicable for the identification of most bacterial species.
Acinetobacter↗
PCR differentiation of seventeen genospecies of Acinetobacter.
In the present study, strains of 17 reference Acinetobacter genospecies were investigated by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We used primers to amplify spacer regions between the 16S and 23S genes in the prokaryotic rRNA genetic loci. When the spacer amplification products were resolved by electrophoresis, the resulting patterns could be used to distinguish all of the tested acinetobacters into 15 groups. The genospecies 5 (Acinetobacter junii), 7 (Acinetobacter johnsonii) and 10 produced the same characteristic PCR patterns, suggesting the identity of these three genospecies. A preliminary evaluation of the proposed scheme for PCR diagnostics was carried out. Using the proposed scheme, tested clinical strains were identified correctly to the genospecies level, and the identifications confirmed by conventional biochemical tests. On the basis of our results, PCR amplification of the 16S-23S spacer region shows significant promise as a tool for the simple identification of genospecies belonging to Acinetobacter sp. The nucleotide sequences of our primers are sufficiently highly conserved among these organisms as to permit PCR reactions to be carried out with a single set of reaction conditions and amplification parameters irrespective of species or genus.
Acinetobacter↗
Imagery without perception--a case study of anosognosia for cortical blindness.
A patient with complete cortical blindness after bilateral posterior cerebral artery infarctions denied her blindness. Her pretended visual experiences could frequently be traced back to synaesthetic translations of acoustic or tactile perceptions into mental visual images. Possibly, the belief to see resulted from a confusion of mental visual images with real percepts. The patient manifested preserved visual imagery also by correct responses to questions concerning the shapes of letters and the shapes and colours of objects. MRI showed an almost complete destruction of primary visual cortex with sparing of only small remainders of cortex at the occipital tip of the left upper calcarine lip. In the literature there are a few cases of denial of blindness with similarly severe damage to primary visual cortex but none with unequivocal evidence of complete destruction of primary visual cortex. We conclude that severe damage to primary visual cortex is compatible with visual imagery but that there is a possibility that islands of visual cortex must be spared to permit the generation of mental visual images.
Blindness↗
Effect of propranolol on portosystemic collateral circulation estimated by per-rectal portal scintigraphy with technetium-99m pertechnetate.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Propranolol is widely used in the prevention of variceal bleeding. However, in certain patients with cirrhosis, the portal hypotensive effect of propranolol cannot be obtained. An explanation for portal unresponsiveness to propranolol could be an increase in portocollateral vascular resistance mediated by this drug. METHODS: In 33 patients with cirrhosis the effect of chronic administration of propranolol on portocollateral blood flow from the inferior mesenteric vein was examined by means of per-rectal portal Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy. RESULTS: Propranolol significantly reduced the shunt index by 15.3 +/- 4.2%. This reduction was observed only in patients with cirrhosis classified as Child-Pugh A and B groups, but not group C. Differences between groups in portosystemic shunt index changes after propranolol were significant (F = 3.4, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The data presented suggest that propranolol changes the distribution of blood between the portal and systemic circulation, which is probably due to the increase in vascular resistance of portocollateral vessels. The magnitude of the vascular response to propranolol depends on the severity of liver disease.
Adolescent↗
GR122311X (ranitidine bismuth citrate), a new drug for the treatment of duodenal ulcer.
BACKGROUND: Ranitidine bismuth citrate (GR122311X) is a new drug which offers potential benefits in healing duodenal ulcers and prevention of relapse. METHODS: This randomized, multi-centre double-blind study of 1620 patients compared the effect of 4 weeks of treatment with GR122311X 200 mg b.d. (n = 401), 400 mg b.d. (n = 404) or 800 mg b.d. (n = 404) or ranitidine hydrochloride 150 mg b.d. (n = 411) on the rates of duodenal ulcer healing and of overall success (ulcers healed and remaining ulcer free in the 24-week follow-up phase). RESULTS: All four treatments were equally effective at ulcer healing (79%, 85%, 84% and 81% of patients, respectively). GR122311X 400 mg b.d. (38%) and 800 mg b.d. (37%) were significantly more effective than ranitidine hydrochloride 150 mg b.d. (32%) with respect to overall success (P = 0.050 and P = 0.030, respectively) but there was no difference with GR122311X 200 mg b.d. (31%). GR122311X caused effective, dose-related suppression of H. pylori (47%, 61% and 74%); H. pylori eradication rates were 18%, 21% and 22%. GR122311X was safe and well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to that of ranitidine hydrochloride 150 mg b.d. Median week 4 trough plasma bismuth levels were 1.3 ng/mL, 2.3 ng/mL and 3.3 ng/mL with GR122311X 200 mg b.d., 400 mg b.d. and 800 mg b.d. respectively. No individual plasma bismuth concentrations were of clinical concern. CONCLUSIONS: GR122311X is a safe and effective ulcer healing drug, and provides a platform on which anti-H. pylori therapy can be based.
Adult↗
[Multicenter double-blind study with 0.25% timolol in Gelrite (TG) once daily vs. 0.25% timolol solution (TS) twice daily. German Study Group].
In a 12-week double-masked trial we compared the ocular hypotensive effect of 0.25% timolol in Gelrite administered once daily (TG) to that of 0.25% timolol solution administered twice daily (TS). A second objective was to compare the tolerability and the safety of these treatments. Timolol in Gelrite is a new topical formulation of timolol in an anionic heteropolysaccharide gellan gum. A total of 156 patients entered the study after an appropriate wash-out. The medication schedule included one drop of test drug in each eye at 9 a.m. (active drug for both groups) and 9 p.m. (placebo for the TG group, active drug for the TS group). At trough, the mean decrease from baseline intraocular pressure (after appropriate wash-out) ranged from 5.7 to 6.3 mmHg for the TG group and from 5.9 to 6.2 mmHg for the TS group. The difference between the treatment group means ranged from -0.4 to 0.4 mmHg. At peak, the mean decrease from baseline IOP ranged from 5.3 to 6.2 mmHg for TG group and from 5.1 to 6.1 mmHg for the TS group. The difference between the treatment group means ranged from -0.7 to 0.4 mmHg. The results of this study support the hypothesis of a comparable hypotensive effect at peak and trough of 0.25% timolol in Gelrite q.d. to 0.25% timolol solution b.i.d. Furthermore, timolol in Gelrite has an acceptable tolerability profile. The incidence of blurred vision was higher in the Gelrite group, but this different was not statistically significant. The incidence of foreign body sensation was significantly higher in the Gelrite group (P < 0.022).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
Efficacy and safety of ebrotidine compared with ranitidine in patients with duodenal ulcer.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of ebrotidine and ranitidine administered once daily in equimolar doses of 800 and 300 mg, respectively. PATIENTS: A total of 298 duodenal ulcer patients were studied. DESIGN: A multicentre, parallel, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Of the 298 patients studied, 150 were randomly assigned to ebrotidine and 148 to ranitidine treatment. Digestive endoscopy was performed at enrolment and at weeks 4, 6 and 8 unless the ulcer had healed before. Endoscopic findings were the main parameter for the assessment of treatment efficacy. Plasma gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide concentrations were also measured before and after termination of the therapy. RESULTS: Ebrotidine achieved a duodenal ulcer healing rate comparable to that of ranitidine, and no statistically significant difference was found between the two drugs. The drugs were equally effective in improving ulcerous dyspeptic symptoms and in relieving gastric pain. Both tobacco and ethanol consumption influenced ulcer healing adversely, but healing in smokers was more pronounced in patients treated with ebrotidine, possibly because of its cytoprotective activity. CONCLUSIONS: Ebrotidine 800 mg is as effective and safe as ranitidine 300 mg in healing duodenal ulcer, but ebrotidine appears to be superior in promoting the healing of duodenal ulceration in smokers.
Adult↗
Characterization of restriction endonuclease AjoI from Acinetobacter johnsonii.
A new type II restriction endonuclease, named AjoI, was detected in Acinetobacter johnsonii. The enzyme AjoI, an isoschizomer of PstI, recognized the hexanucleotide sequence [5'-CTGCA/G-3'], with a cleavage site generating fragments of DNA with protruding cohesive 3' termini.
Acinetobacter↗
Local noise in neural networks models with self-control.
We modify neural networks models of the Hopfield type so that they can recognize the degree of novelty of the input stimuli on a local level. The networks control themselves the quality of recognition and can also recognize locally the bits of information in the input patterns which do not agree with known patterns, i.e. stored memories. This task is achieved by introducing local variations of the noise level beta in the network. Noise level in a given location depends on the flip frequency of the neurons close to that location.
Mathematics↗
[Diagnostic difficulties and clinical manifestations of mitral valve leaflet prolapse syndrome in children].
The syndrome of mitral valve leaflet prolapse into the left atrium is a frequently observed during developmental period circulatory system anomaly. In the paper, two cases of the syndrome are presented differing in symptomatology, and diagnostic difficulties connected with that are discussed.
Adolescent↗
[Does hyperthyroidism promote drug hepatotoxicity].
Mechanisms and circumstances in which drugs injure hepatocytes are not clear. It is known that thyroid gland hormones sensitize the liver to hepatic toxins, but not to commonly used drugs. We report two cases of liver injury mediated by acetaminophen and oestrogens which occurred during hepatic exposure to increased plasma level of thyroid hormones. We suggest that hyperthyroidism might promote drug hepatotoxicity.
Acetaminophen↗