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Biomedical subjects

C Alberts

Publications and source records attributed to C Alberts.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Radionuclides in detecting active granuloma formation. Gallium-67 scintigraphy and histopathology with autoradiographic findings.

Granuloma formation studies were performed on lungs of guinea pigs sensitized with FCA over 2 to 17 months. Prolonged time of sensitization revealed more granulomatous pulmonary tissue. An intravenous booster of FCA in the animals that had been sensitized for 3 months yielded enhanced granuloma formation within 5 days. The histopathology of these lungs was comparable with that seen in lungs of animals after 17 months of sensitization without booster. Enhanced local proliferation of macrophages, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation and autoradiography, was seen in the lungs of the animals that had received boosters. Moreover, 67Ga scintigraphy was strongly positive in these animals. Scintigraphy of cell suspensions of pulmonary tissue from these animals showed that 67Ga was predominantly taken up (quantitatively as well as qualitatively) by the alveolar macrophages. Cell suspensions of sarcoidosis patients, prepared in the same way, showed only a low level of 67Ga uptake, one comparable to that of the pulmonary cell suspensions of the sensitized animals that had not received boosters. It is suggested that a negative scintigraphy in patients with chronic pulmonary granulomatous disorders could be (partly) explained by the absence of activated macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Gallium-67 lung scintigraphy in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Fifteen 67Ga lung scans were obtained from 11 men with AIDS to detect opportunistic lung infection. Results were compared with clinical findings, chest radiographs, CO-transfer and transbronchial biopsies or BAL. Clinical symptoms were least helpful in diagnosing pneumonia. Chest radiographs were normal in six of eight normal 67Ga studies and abnormal in four of seven abnormal scans. In four cases the X-ray showed equivocal abnormalities, twice corresponding to a normal and twice to an abnormal scan. Once the X-ray was normal, but the scan showed diffuse abnormalities. CO-transfer in patients with a normal scan was higher (55-68%) than in patients with an abnormal scan (22-44%). Biopsy or BAL revealed P. carinii in five of six patients. Cytomegalo-virus was isolated once. All six patients had abnormal 67Ga scans. 67Ga lung scintigraphy is a sensitive indicator of active lung disease in AIDS, especially when chest X-rays are normal or equivocal.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Calcium metabolism in sarcoidosis. A follow-up study with respect to parathyroid hormone and vitamin D metabolites.

Calcium metabolism was evaluated in 39 patients with sarcoidosis. Hypercalcemia and/or hypercalciuria were found in 18 patients (46%) and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was elevated in only 4 of 13 patients in whom this could be measured. By contrast, in patients with normal calcium metabolism serum 1,25-(OH)2D varied greatly, but the mean +/- SD value 156 +/- 70 pmol/l (n = 21) was also increased. This study provides further evidence for a kidney and parathyroid independent abnormal regulation of 1,25-(OH)2D in sarcoidosis. The results of follow-up (1-4 years) of untreated (n = 16) and treated (n = 15) patients support the suggestion that 1,25-(OH)2D may reflect the systemic granulomatous process (disease activity?). The mechanism for abnormal calcium metabolism remains very complex and may not result from increased serum levels of 1,25-(OH)2D alone. There was no correlation between serum 1,25-(OH)2D and either serum calcium or urinary calcium excretion. The sensitivity of target organs to 1,25-(OH)2D may be changed, whether or not resulting in abnormal calcium metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Sialographic characteristics in sarcoidosis.

Sialography is one of the modalities that may offer a relatively simple diagnostic investigation in sarcoidosis. The present study revealed an abnormal sialogram of the parotid glands in 20 of 29 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The radiographic parotid gland findings in sarcoidosis are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

A method of quantitative 67Ga scintigraphy in the evaluation of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

67Ga scintigraphy was performed in 42 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and in 30 control subjects. Accumulation of the radionuclide in hili and lungs was quantified by a computer method. The values in control subjects were found to be within a relatively narrow range. The pattern of 67Ga accumulation clearly differed in patients who were radiographically defined as having only lymphadenopathy and in patients also having parenchymal involvement. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in a sharp decline of values of isotope uptake, although hilar activity remained slightly elevated. The quantitative uptake measurement proved to be superior to a subjective scoring method.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1983

67Ga scintigraphy, serum lysozyme and angiotensin-converting enzyme in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

67Ga scintigraphy, using a 67Ga accumulation score, was compared with serum lysozyme (LZM) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels in 34 patients with biopsy-proven, pulmonary sarcoidosis. Serum LZM and ACE values varied between 1.0 to 21.3 mg/l (mean 4.3 +/- 3.4 mg/l) and 33 to 146 U/l (mean 69 +/- 26 U/l), respectively. Normal values were found in 26 and 35% of the patients. All patients, however, had abnormal 67Ga uptake in the pulmonary hilar lymph nodes and/or parenchyma. The follow-up of untreated and treated patients supports the suggestion that 67Ga scintigraphy is more useful for assessing the extent and activity of the intrathoracic sarcoid lesions. Serum LZM and ACE measurements are helpful, but normal LZM and ACE values do not exclude activity and progression of disease in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Bone scintigraphy and densitometry in symptomatic haemodialysis bone disease.

Bone scintigraphy and densitometry (iodine-125 photon absorptiometry) were performed in eight patients with symptomatic haemodialysis bone disease. The bone scintiscan showed either hot spots or hyperactivity as a feature of metabolic bone disease. The bone density (BMC/W) was reduced, but could not be distinguished from the degree of demineralisation found in asymptomatic patients on long-term haemodialysis. Therefore, bone density measurements require critical interpretation. Complementary bone scintigraphy should be used in symptomatic haemodialysis bone disease for assessing the extent of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

67Ga scintigraphy as an index of disease activity in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Gallium-67 scintigraphy was performed in 38 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis to assess its value as a supplement to the clinical, radiographical and functional investigations. In 32 (84%) of the 38 patients the scan was abnormal and showed 67Ga uptake in the pulmonary parenchyma and/or hilum. The incidence and severity of pulmonary symptoms correlated poorly with the localization and degree of 67Ga accumulation. During the clinical follow-up of untreated patients 67Ga scintigraphy showed regression earlier than chest radiography. Large doses of corticosteroids decreased the accumulation of 67Ga in the pulmonary parenchyma and hilum. The chest radiographical improvement was more gradual. The 67Ga scan can be used as an index of disease activity in the follow-up of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, whether or not they are treated with corticosteroids. Nevertheless, the results have to be considered together with other clinical data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

I-125 photon absorptiometric analysis of bone density in patients with regular dialysis treatment.

The density of bone in the distal third of the radius is measured by I-125 photon absorptiometry in 38 RDT (Regular Dialysis Treatment) patients (19 mean and 19 women, age range from 17 to 65 years). In the majority of patients the bone density (BMC/W) is reduced. The clinical follow-up of dialysis patients demonstrates that the incidence and severity of clinical symtpoms do not always correlate closely with the bone density values, nor with the biochemistry and histopathological findings of bone disease associated with dialysis. Despite control of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, decreased mineralization of the appendicular skeleton persists. The advantages as well as disadvantages of bone density measurements in RDT patients are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Pneumothorax in the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: consequence of coincidence?

A 25 year-old man, known to suffer from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, developed a left-sided pneumothorax. At thoracotomy, pulmonary blebs and bullae were found at the apex of the lung. Bullectomy with removal of adjacent lung tissue was performed. The histological and ultrastructural findings in the lung tissue must be regarded as non-specific. These findings do not reflect a direct cause-and-effect relationship, even in the presence of the inheritable connective tissue disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Renovascular hypertension as a cause of cerebrovascular accident in childhood: a case report.

Report on a 10 year-old boy with acute hemiplegia after an ischemic cerebrovascular accident, provoked by an unilateral renovascular disease with malignant hypertension, for which nephrectomy was carried out. The few publications pertinent to cerebrovascular complications in children with hypertension and the value of comprehensive diagnostic operations, are the basic motives for this report.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗