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Biomedical subjects

C Popa

Publications and source records attributed to C Popa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Two cases of choreatic syndrome caused by polycythemia vera.

Two patients with choreatic syndromes caused by polycythemia vera recovered after treatment of the polycythemia by only two venesections: this proves that the syndrome is due to reversible alterations. Investigations of the cerebral circulation in one of the patients showed that blood flow was lowest in the grey matter at the basal region of the brain: this suggests that the alterations might mainly occur there. However, investigation of erythrocyte rheology, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, serum concentrations of caeruloplasmin and serotonin, and urinary excretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine and vanillylmandelic acid gave normal results in both patients. There are therefore no indications as to the possible pathophysiology of these alterations. There are now 24 cases reported, including our 2 patients, which suggests that the association of these two diseases may not be so rare as supposed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphine formation from ethylmorphine: implications for drugs-of-abuse testing in urine.

In drugs-of-abuse testing, opiates constitute a delicate and controversial task because morphine may occur in urine for several reasons. Ethylmorphine (EtM), which is used as an antitussive drug in many countries, is metabolically converted to morphine. The present study was performed in order to document intra- and interindividual differences in morphine formation after single-dose intake of EtM at two different doses (25 and 50 mg). The urinary excretion of opiates was measured during 48 h with EMIT and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in 10 healthy volunteers. The mean values of totally recovered EtM and morphine in hydrolyzed urine during 48 h were 42 and 47% of the given dose at high and low dose level, respectively. The ratio between total recovered morphine and EtM ranged from 19 to 131% with a mean value of 48%. The rate of positive outcome in the EMIT opiate-screening assay was 100% during the first 24 h for both doses, and it was still high (> or = 67%) in the 24-48 h time interval. It was found that the decline in urinary EtM is more rapid than for morphine, which leads to an increasing morphine/EtM ratio in urine over time. THe mean value of the morphine/EtM ratio was found to be greater than 1 during the 12-24 h interval and finally increased to greater than 10. There was an intra-individual concordance in morphine/EtM ratio between doses, but there was marked interindividual variation. Morphine/EtM ratios that were greater than 1 were only seen when the concentration of morphine was below 300 micrograms/mmol creatinine. Our results demonstrate that morphine is formed from EtM at a high and variable rate and may be present in urine in concentrations greater than those of EtM even shortly after drug intake.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Modelling biological depth perception in binocular vision: the local disparity estimation.

This paper presents an approach to solving the correspondence problem in binocular vision and to computing the local horizontal disparity map using a biologically inspired algorithm. A computer application was developed as a tool for implementing, developing, and testing computational models for stereopsis, and also as a framework for integrating the disparity map with other perspective clues. Two models for stereopsis have been implemented. One of them is biologically inspired (it models the behaviour of simple and complex cells from the striate cortex) and the other is the 'classical' model of David Marr and Tomaso Poggio, implemented in order to have a comparison term for the simulation results. The paper details the results obtained on random-dot stereograms and on pairs of real images.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Deep hyperthermia with radiofrequencies in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Patients at advanced stage of colorectal cancer with liver metastases have been treated with deep hyperthermia alone or in combination with chemotherapy (5-FU + FA + MMC). Hyperthermia was achieved by arrangements of capacitive electrodes with a radiofrequency field of 13.56 MHz (RF-DHT). This prospective open single-arm clinical study with 80 patients suffering from liver metastases from colorectal cancer gives some first hints, that deep RF-hyperthermia alone may have a substantial beneficial effect on overall survival time of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Long lasting no-change, partial and even some complete remissions could be observed. The overall median survival time from progression of metastases or relapse was 24.5 months and survival rates at 1, 2 or 3 years from first diagnosis of metastases or progression were twice as high as expected from patients treated with chemotherapy. The combination of hyperthermia with delayed chemotherapy did not change overall survival time. These encouraging results deserve to be confirmed in randomized clinical studies.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on pathogenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica in mice with diabetes mellitus.

In this study, we investigated the colonizing ability as well as the association of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 0:9 to epithelial cells of the intestinal tract, Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen and lungs in Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in mice and controls. The results showed that: (a) in diabetic mice the Y. enterocolitica colonizing values were in range of 10(6.5)-10(8.25) CFU/g of feces; (b) maximum colonizing values were found in distal ileum and Peyer's patches and lower in colon; (c) the infection was progressive with dissemination of bacteria in the liver, spleen and lung; (d) in control (non-diabetic) mice, the colonizing values were 10-100 times lower than those found in the diabetic batch; (e) the main histopathological changes noticed, namely ileitis, mesenteric lymphadenitis and septicemia, were presumably induced by high bacterial load in the liver, spleen and lung leading to a septic course of infection as well as toxic effects of heat-stable enterotoxins of Y. enterocolitica (Yst). The results were confirmed by electron microscopy observations. Summing up, these results demonstrate that diabetic mice were more susceptible to Y. enterocolitica cells than normal mice.

Alloxan↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sensitivity of Enterobacteriaceae strains to the third generation cephalosporins.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, ceftibuten and aztreonam against the clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae. MICROORGANISMS: A total of 973 enterobacteria isolated from clinical material (urine and faeces) were tested. Strains were collected during 1996-1998 period, in some centers of Eastern Romania. SENSITIVITY STUDY: MICs were performed using the agar dilution method following standardized techniques (NCCLS, 1994). Stock solutions of antibacterial agents were prepared from their respective powder forms, in concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 128 mg/ml. Our results show a good activity of the tested antimicrobials on Escherichia coli, Shigella spp and Klebsiella spp tested, and reveal a particular behaviour for Salmonella spp, characterized by a heterogenous susceptibility. In conclusion, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, ceftibuten and aztreonam were active at low concentrations against tested isolates. Against Salmonella spp, these agents were less active: percent of resistant strains by beta-lactamase production was significant.

Cephalosporins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Surgical procedures in penis cancer].

In the period of 1980-1999 (20 years) in Colentina Surgical Clinic were admitted and operated 16 patients with the diagnosis of pennial cancer (histopathology--squamocellular carcinoma), 13 of whom being from Colentina Dermatological Clinic. The mean age was about 64 years old, 10 cases presenting phimosis. Surgical procedures undergone were represented by partial pennial amputation with bilateral superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy (10 cases), total pennial amputation with superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy (4 cases), respectively emasculation with bilateral inguinal-iliopelvic lymphadenectomy (2 cases). In the postoperative period 3 patients presented lymphedema and lymphorrhagia, solved by conservative management. All the patients benefited of favorable evolution on the period they have responded to the controlled postoperative follow up (1-3 years).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Characteristics of the course of the last epidemic of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis (ECSM) in the city of Bucharest].

Active survey of the epidemiologic potential of cerebrospinal meningitis, in Bucharest, starting in 1967, made it possible to carry out a complex study of the last epidemic wave in 1968-1972. Details are given concerning the results of the complex epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory investigations, which revealed the particularities of this epidemic episode, including the frequency and gravity of the cases, territorial distribution, prevalent affection of certain age groups and children's communities, the prevalence of certain clinical forms, antigenic structure of the pathogenic agent and its sensitivity to antibiotics, comparative efficiency of the different methods of laboratory diagnosis, real and apparent contagiousness, etc. The authors discuss the efficiency of present methods applied in the prevention and control of meningococcal infections in general and of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in particular.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent cranial polyneuropathy.

General considerations on recurrent cranial polyneuropathy are made. In addition, a study carried out in 42 patients with recurrent cranial polyneuropathy (RCP) permitted the assessment of some parameters closely related to age, sex and evolution in order to elaborate an etiopathologic hypothesis. Female cases prevailed (31 females, 11 males); the interval between two episodes varied from 1 month to 39 years. 117 episodes were found (from 2 to 8 episodes in one patient). Immune, vascular and entrapment aspects are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Calcium blockers in ischemic stroke.

The study investigated the evolution of 72-nifedipine treated cases with ischemic stroke. Dipyridamole was administered to 72 controls. Subjects showed clinical improvement, thus calcium blockers can constitute a therapy alternative. A good influence of nifedipine was remarked in blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[One case of multiple abdominal hydatidosis].

It is presented the case of a 45 years old female patient transferred in our clinic from Parasitology Clinic with the diagnosis of hepato-splenic hydatidosis. Preoperative echography presented 3 abdominal hydatid cysts (hepatic, splenic and free in the peritoneal cavity--greater omentum). Intraoperative exam confirmed the preoperative evaluation. The operation consisted in two ideal cystectomies associated with one partial cystectomy with evacuation and drainage. Postoperative evolution was simple.

Echinococcosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neurotrophic trigeminal syndrome after pontine stroke.

The present study describes a patient, aged 72 yrs, with pontine crossed syndrome, displaying ipsilateral to the lesion a syndrome of cranial nerves V, VI, VII, VIII, on the right; a right neocerebellar syndrome; anhidrosis in the right hemibody; contralateral to the lesion: thermoalgic anesthesia with hyperhidrosis in the left hemibody. Concomitant with the pontine lesion, the patient developed torpid trophic ulcerations all over the right hemiface which, in the course of one year, became deformed, retractile, depigmented of hyperpigmented scars, the erosion being so deep at the level of the right nasal wing that the latter disappeared. This clinical picture developed in a patient with basilar invagination of 3 mm and left humeral micromelia. Eight cases of trigeminal torpid trophic ulceration associated with lesions of the brain stem are known till now, but association with vascular pontine lesion has not been described as yet. Etiopathogenic considerations are made.

Aged↗