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Biomedical subjects

B Kaplan

Publications and source records attributed to B Kaplan.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Perinatal complications following gestational diabetes mellitus how 'sweet' is ill?

OBJECTIVE: We tested the effect of patient compliance, fasting plasma glucose on oral glucose tolerance test, maternal body constitution, and the method of treatment (diet versus insulin) on the perinatal outcome of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective population-based study compared the perinatal outcome of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 470) (diabetic with regard to the parameters specified above) and a contemporaneous control group (nondiabetic, n = 250). RESULTS: The diabetic and control groups were matched in demographic characteristics. Patient compliance reduced the rate of macrosomia (14.4%) and neonatal hypoglycemia (3.4%) but not to the levels of the control group (5.2% and 1.2% respectively, p < 0.05). The level of fasting plasma glucose on the oral glucose tolerance test had no effect on perinatal outcome. Intensified (insulin) treatment reduced the rate of macrosomia and large-for-gestational age infants in the subgroups with intermediate and high levels of fasting plasma glucose on the oral glucose tolerance test (9.5%/14.2% and 12.2%/24.2% respectively), again not to levels of the control group (5.2%/10.8%). Obese patients were found to have more perinatal complications than lean patients. Intensified (insulin) treatment has proved to be beneficial in terms of reducing the rate of perinatal complications in the obese patients, but not to the corresponding levels of the control group. Such treatment had no effect on the lean patients. CONCLUSIONS: Strict control of maternal hyperglycemia and high patient compliance are imperative for an effective reduction of perinatal complication in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. The desired plasma glucose level in the glycemic control of these patients should be further reduced, thus bringing the rate of perinatal complications to that of the normal population.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Iron deficiency anemia. When is parenteral therapy warranted?

Iron deficiency anemia is a common problem encountered in primary care practice. Once the diagnosis is confirmed and the possible causes are identified, replacement of iron stores is indicated. Most patients respond favorably to oral iron preparations. However, therapy with intravenous iron dextran (InFeD) may be warranted in some cases. Side effects, which are usually mild, occur in 25% of patients. Test doses of undiluted iron dextran occasionally elicit anaphylactic reactions. However, affected patients still may be successfully treated intravenously with the use of prophylactic antihistamines, corticosteroids, and histamine2 blockers. Treatment of iron deficiency anemia almost always brings symptomatic improvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Validating a clinical workload measurement instrument for documenting pharmaceutical care.

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a workload documentation instrument to manually record clinically oriented pharmaceutical care activities. Previous research documents clinical workload by pharmacists; however, the tools employed have not been tested for validity. Reported information is difficult to interpret since individuals are unlikely to categorize activities in a consistent manner. PharmaTrend was used as a template for defining activity and problem categories that corresponded to various clinical activities performed by our clinical, faculty, and staff pharmacists. Because the institution was not completely computerized, the actual documentation tool was portable and manual. Testing of the original instrument was accomplished using a survey consisting of written scenarios. Two phases of testing were required to achieve an overall 80 percent accuracy rate. At least 60 percent of available pharmacists participated in both phases and completed 90 percent or more of the surveys. The investigators concluded that an instrument to record clinically oriented pharmaceutical care activities had been developed, tested, and validated.

Documentation↗
PubMed1996

Proton pump inhibitors: new drugs and indications.

Proton pump inhibitors irreversibly inhibit the enzyme hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (H(+)-K(+)-ATPase), which suppresses acid production in the parietal cell of the stomach. Omeprazole, the prototype proton pump inhibitor, has proved to be very effective. However, newer agents are being designed to provide even more potent acid suppression and longer-acting proton pump inhibition, with the goal of further controlling gastric hypersecretion. Lansoprazole is the second proton pump inhibitor available on the market. Pantoprazole is not yet available for general use in the United States. However, each of these drugs is slightly different from omeprazole, thus offering some possible clinical advantages. Compared with omeprazole, lansoprazole has a longer duration of action and improved activity against Helicobacter pylori, while pantoprazole has less interaction with the cytochrome P-450 system and more predictable bioavailability. All three agents have similarly high healing rates for acid peptic diseases and appear to be superior to histamine2-receptor antagonists.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗
PubMed1996

Toxic effects of immunosuppressive drugs: mechanisms and strategies for controlling them.

Since cyclosporine (CsA) was introduced into clinical practice in late 1983 to prevent rejection in transplant patients, there has been an almost explosive growth in the number and types of transplants and the number of transplant centers, an increase in the life expectancy of the transplanted organ, and substantial decreases in rates of acute rejection and life-threatening infections. Despite these successes, major improvements in immunosuppressive therapy are needed, especially a reduction in toxic side effects and a rigorous definition of the relation between drug concentration and clinical effects. Such improvements may be achievable with the incorporation of new drugs such as tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil into immunosuppression protocols and the development of rigorously defined therapeutic drug-monitoring programs.

Cyclosporine↗
PubMed1996

Microalbuminuria as an early marker of severity in hypertensive pregnant women.

The value of microalbuminuria in predicting hypertensive complications in pregnant patients at high risk was tested in a prospective trial. A total of 276 patients were studied (142 in the study group vs 134 controls). Albumin was measured in 8-h overnight urine collection throughout pregnancy using radioimmunoassay technique. The pregnant women, in both the study and control groups demonstrated a statistically significant increase in albumin excretion rate in the second and third trimester compared with the first. Using logistic and linear regression models, the presence of microalbuminuria in the early third trimester was proven to be predictive of severe disease (odds ratio 2.1, confidence interval (CI) 1.26-3.53) and birth weight (R2 = 0.7, P < 0.05) in the study group. Intrauterine growth retardation and neonatal outcome were less predictable. With the introduction of radioimmunoassays, we believe severe disease can be predicted by detecting microalbuminuria in the early third trimester of pregnancy in high risk patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Selective second trimester fetal reduction due to 46XY, 10q+ fetus.

Second-trimester amniocentesis of a twin gestation revealed one normal karyotype, whereas the other had a 46XY, 10q+, indicating an excess of genetic material on chromosome number 10. A selective reduction of the affected twin was carried out on the 20th week of gestation; the outcome of pregnancy and delivery at term of the normal twin were both uneventful.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Once-daily fluocinonide-bifonazole combination for the treatment of vulvar itching and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Preliminary study.

Vulvovaginitis presents a therapeutic challenge. Treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with topical imidazole preparations is well accepted. In our work we tested a new cream combining antifungal Bifonazole with a corticosteroid agent (Fluocinonide). The results suggest that most of the patients with vulvovaginitis can benefit from treatment with this new combination cream.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Toward an evaluation of an integrated clinical imaging system: identifying clinical benefits.

Integrated clinical imaging systems can provide the foundation for future computer-based patient record systems as recommended by the Institute of Medicine. However, documenting the benefits of such systems is difficult. This paper reports an evaluation of a clinical imaging system that is integrated with an on-line electronic patient record. The evaluation used interviews and observations to identify what physicians thought were the benefits of this system. Reported benefits may be classified into patient care benefits, educational benefits, and productivity and cost-reduction benefits Physicians said that the imaging system provided patient care benefits by: improving clinical communication and decision making, making care more patient-based, reducing the number of procedures and patient risks, and improving record keeping. Educational benefits they reported included: improving communication, providing broad "real" experience, and improving supervision. These benefits may be reflected in increased productivity and cost reduction by increasing time savings, reducing clerical work, improving morale, and reducing the costs of care. The approach described in this study was valuable in identifying potential benefits of a clinical information system. The findings point the way to realization of benefits for other systems, and, ultimately, for computer-based patient records.

Communication↗
PubMed1996

The biology of ovarian cancer of epithelial origin.

Ovarian cancer of epithelial origin is associated with the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic malignancies. Since no symptoms or signs are manifested at the early stages of the disease, it is no surprise that in 75% of patients peritoneal metastases are found during primary surgery. Despite advances in conservative treatment methods (invasive and noninvasive), screening for early detection of the disease is not yet available, and the overall survival rate is as low as 5-15%. Recent studies in molecular biology have drawn attention to different research directions in ovarian cancer and have contributed much to our understanding of this disease and its underlying pathologic mechanisms. This review is intended to highlight some of the new aspects of this research, specifically: hereditary ovarian cancer, genetic background in terms of chromosomal changes, DNA anomalies, oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, peptide growth factors and cytokines, invasiveness and metastasis, and finally, drug resistance. No breakthrough has as yet occurred in any of the subjects screened in this review, but results are promising. The clinical application of the steadily increasing knowledge in the biology of ovarian cancer may assist in the development of new treatment modalities that will improve survival.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗
PubMed1996

The management of dermoid cysts--a comparative study of laparoscopy and laparotomy.

The aim of our study was to compare laparoscopy with laparotomy for the removal of ovarian dermoid cysts. Thirty-eight women with benign ovarian dermoid cyst were allocated for either laparoscopy (18 patients) or laparotomy (20 patients). The two groups were compared for operative and hospitalization times and postoperative course. Operating time was longer (93.6 +/- 23.8 min) and hospitalization time significantly shorter (22.4 +/- 6.6 h) in the laparoscopy group. No complications were reported in either group. We conclude that operative laparoscopy is a safe procedure for the removal of dermoid ovarian cysts and is as effective as laparotomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Pregnancy outcome in renal allograft recipients in Israel.

The literature contains reports of 2,309 pregnancies in some 1,600 women who have undergone renal transplantation. Certain pre-pregnancy factors, especially hypertension, renal graft dysfunction and short interval between transplant and pregnancy, appear to increase the neonatal risks. We describe the outcome of 42 pregnancies in 27 allograft recipients at Beilinson Medical Center in Israel during the last 8 years. All were treated with combination immunosuppression regimens. The average interval from time of transplantation to conception was 3.7 +/- 0.4 years (2 months to 9 years). Rejection episodes occurred in 37% prior to pregnancy but in none during or immediately after pregnancy. Of the 42 pregnancies 28% ended in therapeutic or spontaneous abortions, and 29 of the 30 deliveries ended in a life birth. The prematurity rate (65%) was similar to that described in the literature. Renal deterioration was evident in seven women (26%) within 2 years after delivery. Despite this significant success rate, pregnancy in organ transplant patients should still be considered high risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Microalbuminuria in early pregnancy in normal and high-risk patients.

The albumin excretion rate (AER) is elevated in normal pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy, compared to the second and first trimesters, and to the non-pregnant state. The effect of early pregnancy on AER values was tested in normal and high-risk pregnant patients using radioimmunoassay. All pregnant patients demonstrated significantly higher AER values as compared to non-pregnant women, and the results were in correlation with higher urinary creatinine clearance values. The appearance of microalbuminuria in the first trimester can indicate underlying renal damage in patients at high risk of hypertensive complications.

Adult↗