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Biomedical subjects

C Popescu

Publications and source records attributed to C Popescu.

139 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Cognitive and motor retardation in depression.

The study analysed the profile of psychomotor retardation in depression by clinically and psychometrically assessing its motor, speech and cognitive components. Psychomotor performance level of a group of 100 moderately depressed patients was significantly lower than that of controls on most psychometric tests. The interrelations among the variables evaluating various aspects of the depressive psychomotor retardation were examined and factor analyses were performed. Clinical ratings of motor, speech and mental retardation were strongly intercorrelated and a general factor emerged. When psychometric evaluations of depressive psychomotor retardation were factor analysed only separate factors characterizing cognitive and motor slowing were identified. Few and weak correlations were recorded between clinical and psychometric evaluations of depressive psychomotor retardation. Factors responsible for psychomotor slowing in depression were discussed.

Adult↗

[The epidemiological aspects of cytomegalic infection in the Banat region, Romania].

A survey was conducted on 711 patients, adults and children. The results indicated the high incidence of cytomegalovirus infection among population and confirmed the virus transmission through blood transfusion. The existence of congenital infection in newborn seems to be confirmed. Some prevention measures are suggested.

Adolescent↗

[The bronchodilator action of berodual spray compared to fenoterol and ipratropium bromide sprays].

Berodual (Duovent) was tested in 40 bronchial asthma patients in comparison with a similar group treated with fenoterol. The results of FEV1.0 investigation showed no significant differences: increases of 15% were noted in both groups. In two other groups (40 bronchial asthma cases each) treated with berodual and Atrovent, respectively FEV1.0 values were significantly different: increased by 5% in the Atrovent group, and by 15% in the berodual one. Berodual showed the advantage of inducing the same strong bronchodilation of similar duration, though applied in doses by far smaller than fenoterol or Atrovent. A diminution of the clinical evolution score from 3 to 0.7, an increase by 15%; in FEV1.0, and no changes as regards the immunological tests (IgA, IgG, IgM, Clq, C3) were obtained in the group treated with berodual for 4 weeks.

Aerosols↗

[Double anterior and posterior lenticonus].

The paper presents the observations on a case of double lenticonus, anterior and posterior on the only eye. The lenticonus is an uncommon disease of the lens. Although congenital the disease is a late discovery. Owing to the gradual disorders of eyesight. How long the eyesight is useful it isn't a surgical treatment.

Adult↗

The relationship between aminoaciduria and plasma hemoglobin levels.

Investigations in newborns, children and young adults have revealed an inverse proportion between aminoaciduria and plasma hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Values above normal were recorded for alanine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine and glutamic acid, correlating proportionally with their increased blood levels, and preceding or being concomitant with the decrease of plasma Hb, both during the first 20 months of life and in young adults. The return to near normal values of aminoaciduria occurred generally only after an early treatment with minerals, vitamins and trace elements (Supradyn), activators of the enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism. After treatment, the Hb levels also became almost normal. An early re-equilibration of the amino acid metabolism can prevent the risk of developing, at the adult age, certain anemias and other diseases (rachitism, mental handicap, urinary infections, conjunctivitis, stomatitis, a.o.). The correlation factor was r = 0.964 and the differences between the data recorded in patients and in controls were statistically significant (p < 0.01).

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Predictive value of glucose and proteic sulphur levels in the hair for an early detection of the preclinical stage of IDDM.

Assays of glucose and proteic sulphur levels in the hair of patients with recently detected IDDM provided information on the preclinical stage of insulin secretion disorders, which was estimated at 6 +/- 2 months. Such investigations in subjects at high risk of developing an IDDM might reveal the period preceding the disease onset, thus enabling to start an early therapy.

Adolescent↗

Predictors of the response to tricyclic antidepressants in major depression.

In a relatively young sample of 108 nonbipolar patients with major depressive disorder and at least moderately severe depression, the contribution of a comprehensive set of socio-demographic, psychosocial, clinical and personality trait variables toward the prediction of short-term, multidimensionally evaluated response to tricyclic antidepressants was investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses. There is a naturalistic study without a standard treatment protocol, but treatment type, duration and dosage were controlled. Only patients who received at least moderate dosages of tricyclic antidepressants for minimum four weeks were included in this study. A relatively low number of predictors emerged. Initial severity of both symptoms and impairment of functioning were the most powerful predictors for all outcome criteria. Illness history was also relevant. Personality traits reflecting vulnerable personality style at the emotional and interpersonal level proved their predictive value. The combination of independent variables by multivariate regression analyses improve the prediction of treatment response.

Adolescent↗

[The treatment of bronchial asthma with powdered salbutamol and powdered beclomethasone dipropionate].

The active bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs used as dry powder in inhalatory treatment of bronchial asthma represent an important advance during last years. In this way the inconveniences of pressurized aerosols treatment where the drugs are only partially inhaled as well as severe side-effects of systemic corticotherapy are avoided. The bronchodilator drug Ventodisk and the antiinflammatory Becodisks as dry powder are given by inhalation with a special device (Diskhaler). The study deals with a group of 60 subjects with moderate and severe forms of bronchial asthma out of which 20 were treated by Ventodisk associated to Becodisks and other two groups of 20 subjects each treated during the same interval time with only Becodisks and Ventodisk respectively. The clinical results after two months treatment were much better in the first group of subjects (85% good results) in comparison to Becodisks (75%) and Ventodisk (60%) treated cases. One can state in conclusion that the association of Ventodisk to Becodisks leads to very good results in basic treatment of bronchial asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Fatal intestinal hemorrhage complicating ileal lymphoma after cyclosporine for unresponsive celiac disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Unresponsive celiac disease may benefit from immunosuppressive therapy. Malignant small intestinal lymphoma is the most serious complication of celiac disease, also being noted as a complication of immunosuppressive therapy. The diagnosis of small intestinal lymphoma complicating celiac disease is notoriously difficult. Perforation is the most common complication of small intestinal lymphoma, frank hemorrhage being unusual. We report a case of massive, fatal hemorrhage from small intestinal lymphoma complicating unresponsive celiac disease treated with cyclosporine. The patient was presented with severe diarrhea and nutritional deterioration. Unresponsive celiac disease was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and histologic criteria with no response while on a gluten-free diet, corticotherapy and octreotide acetate injections. Cyclosporine therapy was advised. The patient had a remarkable clinical response. After 3 months from the start of the cyclosporine therapy, the patient returned with massive intestinal bleeding. The patient underwent emergency surgery diagnosing an enteropathy-associated lymphoma. We conclude that cyclosporine therapy for unresponsive celiac disease should be considered in select, severely ill patients only after a full-thickness biopsy of the small intestinal wall to disclose a latent super-imposed lymphoma, which course may be accelerated by immunosuppressive therapy.

Adult↗

Esophageal tumor with an unusual histological appearance: a case report.

An unusual esophageal tumor in a 58-year-old man complaining of dysphagia and weight loss is herein described. Esophageal radioscopy and endoscopy visualized a huge polypoid tumor which was occluding the esophagus. After esophageal resection, the histological examination revealed miscellaneous benign cells (squamous, columnar fat cells, cartilaginous cells, and glandular structures) and two different malignant areas (spindler sarcomatous cells and squamous cells). There was no malignant invasion in the stalk, in the adjacent esophageal wall, or in the periesophageal tissue, and there were no malignant adenopathies. The postoperative course was favorable for one year, until the patient developed pain in the right superior back. A sarcomatous relapse was diagnosed by fine-needle biopsy under CT guidance, and the patient subsequently received radiation therapy.

Aged↗

Rapid test for the detection of methicillin-resistance of staphylococci by ATP-dependent bioluminescence.

Methicillin resistance of staphylococci is a marker of multiple resistance to antimicrobial drugs. The authors present their own variant of applying ATP-dependent bioluminescence for the rapid testing of methicillin resistance. It consists in the measurements of the total bacterial ATP obtained by extraction. The authors test the method on 23 Staphylococcus strains and compare the results with those obtained by the diffusion method, the screening method with the antibiotic included in the agar and the broth dilutions method. The results obtained by ATP-dependent bioluminescence were in agreement with those obtained by broth dilutions method.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Long esophageal stricture in Crohn's disease: a case report.

Crohn's disease of the esophagus is rare, and it is very unusual for it to be located only in the esophagus. We report a case of Crohn's disease confined to the esophagus in a 26-year-old female. The patient was admitted because of progressive dysphagia, odynophagia and weight loss. A barium-swallow examination showed an irregular narrowing of the esophagus below the level of the aortic arch which was 15 cm long, with marginal ulcers and a pseudopolypoid appearance of the mucosa; a computed tomographic scan of the thorax revealed a thickened esophageal wall. Esophagoscopy revealed an esophageal stricture 25 cm distal to the incisor teeth, 2 mm in diameter, with "punched out" ulcers and pseudopolypoid mucosa. Endobiopsy specimens showed chronic lymphocytic infiltration into the corion in the absence of neutrophils, basal-cell hyperplasia and elongation of the stromal papillae. The patient underwent an esophagectomy through a combined cervico-abdominal approach followed by a cervical esogastrostomy. The specimen was 18 cm long, the thickness of the wall was 1.7 cm with fibrosis involving all layers of the esophageal wall and a cobblestone appearance of the mucosa. A heavy lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate extended from the mucosa deep into the muscularis, fibrosis and granulomas were found transmurally. Crohn's disease of the esophagus is a rare and specific entity which can present in various ways; strictures resembling those from reflux esophagitis or a tumor are common. Diagnosis may be suggested by the presence of a chronic lymphocytic infiltrate with or without non-caseating granulomas, and no histologic evidence of chronic reflux esophagitis.

Adult↗