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Biomedical subjects

A Zisman

Publications and source records attributed to A Zisman.

66 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The fate of long-standing intraperitoneal gallstone in the rat.

Gallstones are occasionally spilled into the peritoneal cavity during open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Using the rat model, we investigated the long term effect of such retained intraperitoneal gallstones. During a follow-up period of one year, no systemic deleterious outcome could be attributed to the presence of the implanted gallstones except for mild local effects. Based on the rat model we conclude that reasonable effort should be made in order to retrieve an escaped gallstone, but there is no justification whatsoever for a conversion of the laparoscopic procedure to an open laparotomy only for the purpose of retrieving a lost stone.

Animals↗

Spontaneous ureteral stent fragmentation.

A series of spontaneous multiple fragmentations of 3 ureteral stents presenting with a variety of clinical features is reported. Physical analysis measuring the tensile mechanical properties was done of the retrieved fragments together with 2 new stents, as well as electron microscopy scanning of the retrieved fragments. This methodology in evaluating fractured stents is unique in its capability to determine the accelerated aging process of stent material and to our knowledge has not been reported previously in this context. The retrieved catheters were moderately incrusted. The tensile elongation (maximal elongation at break point), known to be a sensitive indicator of the aging process of plastic materials, was dramatically decreased in the retrieved stents. The fractures in all catheters retrieved as well as in the new stents were found to pass exclusively through the side holes. Fragmented catheters had a distinctive electron microscopic appearance and physical properties, which may be defined in a systematic manner and may contribute to further refinement of stent quality.

Adult↗

Ureteroscopy for ureterolithiasis with sedation only.

We examined the feasibility of performing ureteroscopy under sedation only. Twenty-eight ureteroscopies performed with sedation only were compared to 18 performed in an operating room setting. Durability towards the procedure was good in 86% of the cases. Stone-free rates were 42 and 72%, respectively. Fifty-seven percent of the patients required hospitalization with the most common complication being low-grade fever. Although our success rate is less favorable for sedation only, this setting is feasible, and in nearly half of the patients hospitalization was avoided with no need for an expensive operating room facility. Careful patient selection, a sharp learning curve and small-french instruments combined with pneumatic lithotriptors may also improve the results.

Adult↗

Autoantibodies to prostate specific antigen in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: We tested for a possible autoimmune process in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Titers of IgG antibodies to prostate specific antigen (PSA) were measured in the sera of 85 BPH patients, 20 controls and 17 chronic prostatitis patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean anti-PSA titers in the BPH group were significantly higher than in the controls and prostatitis group (p < 0.0005). Accordingly, 59% of BPH patients could be defined as responders to PSA compared to none among the controls (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating autoantibodies to PSA were shown to exist in the sera of BPH patients. This observation suggests that autoimmune processes may have a role in BPH.

Adult↗

[Early spontaneous fragmentation of a ureteral stent].

The use of ureteral stents to assure continuity and patency of the upper urinary tract has become common in endo-urology. We present an 82-year-old bedridden woman with hydronephrosis and pseudomonas sepsis. Because of ureteropelvic junction stenosis a stent was inserted. Shortly thereafter the stent fragmented spontaneously into 5 pieces. The importance of being familiar with endo-urological manipulations and their complications is emphasized.

Aged↗

[Obstruction of the prostatic urethra by villous adenoma].

We report a case of a benign villous adenoma of the prostatic urethra causing urethral obstruction in a 45-year-old man. Villous adenoma of the prostatic urethra is rare. Hematuria was the presenting sign in most reported cases. However, some lesions were discovered unexpectedly on endoscopic examinations for the assessment of lower urinary tract disease. Villous adenoma of the urethra is composed of prostatic type tissue. The presence of the PSA marker in its epithelium indicates a common embryologic origin with the prostate.

Adenoma↗

Metabolic effects of thiazide and 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

It was previously shown that the stimulation of intestinal calcium absorption by exogenous 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis was attenuated when thiazide was added, probably due to the suppression of endogenous synthesis of 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D). To test whether the above attenuation could be averted if exogenous 1,25-(OH)2D replaced 25-OHD, 10 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis participated in a three-phase study comprising control (pretreatment), treatment with 1,25-(OH)2D 0.5 microgram/day for 4 weeks, and combined 1,25-(OH)2D and trichlormethiazide (TZ) 2 mg/day for 4 weeks. The 1,25-(OH)2D treatment significantly increased serum 1,25-(OH)2D from 60 +/- 7.2 (SD) to 154 +/- 48 pmol/l, fractional intestinal calcium absorption (alpha) from 0.386 +/- 0.055 to 0.613 +/- 0.081, and urinary calcium from 3.7 +/- 0.8 to 6.6 +/- 1.9 mmol/day. Addition of TZ significantly reduced urinary calcium from 6.6 +/- 1.9 to 4.8 +/- 1.3 mmol/day, without changing alpha (0.613 +/- 0.081 to 0.584 +/- 0.070), serum calcium or 1,25-(OH)2D (154 +/- 48 to 154 +/- 38 pmol/l). Thus, estimated calcium balance (absorbed minus urinary calcium, increased marginally to +5.6 mmol/day on 1,25-(OH)2D alone (p = 0.028) and significantly to +6.8 mmol/day on 1,25-(OH)2D+TZ, from the control value of +4.0 mmol/day. Seven patients who were treated long-term with combined 1,25-(OH)2D and TZ for 11-29 months maintained their alpha (0.593 +/- 0.099) and a marginally more positive estimated calcium balance (+6.4 mmol/day, p = 0.025 from the control phase). Moreover, there was a stability of bone density of radial shaft, femoral neck, and lumbar spine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

[Recurrent intermittent priapism following priapism].

Recurrent intermittent priapism is a rare sequela of prior priapism. We describe a patient with recurrent intermittent priapism 2 years after a prior event, without other causes of secondary priapism. We believe that this syndrome may be secondary to the initial ischemic event, resulting in alteration in penile adrenergic tone or the penile sinusoidal endothelium.

Adult↗

Actinomycin D and gemcitabine synergistically sensitize androgen-independent prostate cancer cells to Apo2L/TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

The cytotoxic efficacy and kinetics involved in sensitization of Apo2L/TRAIL-resistant, androgen-independent prostate cancer cells to Apo2L/TRAIL or tumor necrosis factor-alpha or Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis were tested using subclinical concentrations of actinomycin D, paclitaxel, cisplatinum, gemcitabine, and radiation in CL-1, LNCaP, DU-145, and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines. CL-1 cells expressed all four Apo2L/TRAIL receptors and were resistant to Apo2L/TRAIL-mediated apoptosis (1-5,000 ng/mL) and to the sensitizers when given alone. Pretreatment with actinomycin D followed by Apo2L/TRAIL or tumor necrosis factor-alpha or anti-Fas CH-11 monoclonal antibody, but not in the reverse order, induced apoptosis in all cell lines. Synergistic sensitization in CL-1 cells was shown also with gemcitabine but not with cisplatinum, VP-16, paclitaxel, or radiation. Incubating the Apo2L/TRAIL-resistant CL-1, LNCaP, DU-145, and PC3 cell lines with 100 ng/mL actinomycin D for 4 hours followed by Apo2L/TRAIL for 24 hours resulted in 45.4 +/- 10.3%, 58.8 +/- 3.6%, 53.4 +/- 1.4%, and 84.2 +/- 8.4% apoptosis, respectively. Prolonging the sensitization time to 24 hours followed by 20 hours of incubation with Apo2L/TRAIL further enhanced the killing activity against CL-1 cells to 89 +/- 1% (delta = 60%, synergistic ratio = 3.1). This killing has a biphasic pattern that was contributed to by apoptosis (83%) and necrosis (17%) at 10 hours (peak) and 40% and 60%, respectively, at 20 hours. These results suggest that prostate cancer cells' resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL-mediated apoptosis can be reversed and synergy is achieved by sensitization of tumor cells with subclinical concentrations of actinomycin D or gemcitabine and may be useful clinically for the treatment of metastatic hormone- and drug-refractory prostate cancer.

Androgens↗

Survey of symptoms following intake of pyridostigmine during the Persian Gulf war.

Pyridostigmine bromide, a reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), is effectively used as a pre-treatment to organophosphate intoxication. Previous studies have shown that an oral dose of 30 mg twice a day produces a sufficient inhibition of the enzyme activity (20-40%) without causing any significant adverse effect. During the Persian Gulf war pyridostigmine was taken for the first time under a chemical warfare threat. We searched for symptoms and complaints that may be related to the medication. Our survey included 213 soldiers who completed a questionnaire regarding possible symptoms and their severity. AChE inhibition level was compared between groups of soldiers with and without complaints. The most frequent symptoms were nonspecific and included dry mouth, general malaise, fatigue and weakness. Typical effects, such as nausea, abdominal pain, frequent urination and rhinorrhea, were infrequent. The severity of the symptoms was generally mild. The symptoms appeared around 1.6 h after taking the medication and recurred after each intake. No correlation was found between levels of cholinesterase and type or severity of complaints. Anxiety, which accompanies wartime, may have contributed to the appearance of significant symptoms. Further investigations concerning the effects of pyridostigmine ingestion under stressful conditions are warranted.

Adolescent↗