Biomedical subjects

D Elad

Publications and source records attributed to D Elad.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Stresses in the normal and diabetic human penis following implantation of an inflatable prosthesis.

The prevalence of impotence in diabetes mellitus ranges as high as 75%. The implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is frequently carried out to restore erectile function. However, clinical studies have demonstrated that severe post-implantation penile pain during erection is a common complication in diabetic men. A biomechanical model of the penis/prosthesis complex is developed, based on cross-sectional anatomy, to simulate the internal stress distribution due to interaction of the prosthesis with both normal and diabetic penile tissues. The material properties of the model components are adopted from experimental data. The model is solved by using commercial finite-element software for a characteristic inflation loading of the penile prosthesis. Elevated structural stresses during erection are found in the dorsal aspect of the tunica albuginea (normal 5.1-31.5 kPa, diabetic 5.1-70 kPa post-implantation). Following IPP implantation, stresses in the diabetic penis are almost as twice as high as those in the normal one and can cause a painful sensation owing to nerve stimulation or to ischaemia in regions of compressed vascular tissue.

Diabetic Angiopathies↗

PubMed1999

Analysis of stress distribution in the alveolar septa of normal and simulated emphysematic lungs.

The alveolar septum consists of a skeleton of fine collagen and elastin fibers, which are interlaced with a capillary network. Its mechanical characteristics play an important role in the overall performance of the lung. An alveolar sac model was developed for numerical analysis of the internal stress distribution and septal displacements within the alveoli of both normal and emphysematic saline-filled lungs. A scanning electron micrograph of the parenchyma was digitized to yield a geometric replica of a typical two-dimensional alveolar sac. The stress-strain relationship of the alveolar tissue was adopted from experimental data. The model was solved by using commercial finite-element software for quasi-static loading of alveolar pressure. Investigation of the state of stresses and displacements in a healthy lung simulation yielded values that compared well with experimentally reported data. Alteration of the mechanical characteristics of the alveolar septa to simulate elastin destruction in the emphysematic model induced significant stress concentrations (e.g., at a lung volume of 60% total capacity, tensions at certain parts in an emphysematic lung were up to 6 times higher than those in a normal lung). The combination of highly elevated stress sites together with the cyclic loading of breathing may explain the observed progressive damage to elastin fibers in emphysematic patients.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Clinical and microbiological study of an otitis media outbreak in calves in a dairy herd.

On a dairy farm, otitis media was diagnosed in 64 suckler calves (21.8%) during a study period of 2 years, and in 10 calves (3.4%) in the third year. The inflammation was unilateral in 63 and bilateral in 11 calves. The affected calves were dull, lacked appetite, were pyrexic and displayed drooping ear or ears and tilted heads with purulent discharge exuding from the external ear canal. Of the affected animals, 56 (87.5%) were aged between 3 and 8 weeks. Morbidity was higher during the calving season and during the autumn and winter months (October-December). Pasteurella haemolytica was isolated from 21 (32.8%), P. multocida from 20 (31.2%), Actinomyces pyogenes from 11 (17.2%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae from three (4.7%) of the clinically affected calves only during the first two study years. The exudate of the acute ear infections contained, in addition to Pasteurella spp., various bacteria and yeasts. Most of these bacteria were isolated from healthy ears as well, and are likely to be part of the normal ear flora. On the other hand most of the yeasts were isolated from otitic calves. After a short course of an appropriate treatment infections healed in all cases. Possible preventive measures are discussed.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1999

Nine cases of idiopathic toxic epidermal necrolysis in cattle in Israel.

Nine sporadic cases of apparent toxic epidermal necrolysis in nine cattle herds in Israel are presented. The clinical symptoms were characterized by full-thickness epidermal exfoliation. No underlying disease or drug administration could be detected in the affected animals, and so all cases were classified as idiopathic. Recovery was noted in all affected animals. The clinical and histological findings are discussed in the light of the pertinent literature.

Actinomyces↗

PubMed1999

A generalized staphylococcal scalded skin-like disease in lambs.

An idiopathic disease involving skin and kidneys was seen in two Merino lambs from the same herd. A generalized skin exfoliation in association with acute renal failure were the most prominent clinical features. The condition resembled staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome of man, and pure cultures of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from the lesion. Acute renal failure was diagnosed by clinical, biochemical and histological criteria, and necropsy.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed1999

A technique for global assessment of respiratory muscle performance at different lung volumes.

A system for noninvasive assessment of an all-inclusive function of respiratory muscles at different lung volumes is presented. The apparatus was based on the interrupter technique and facilitated simultaneous measurements of mouth pressure and airflow rate during dynamic or quasistatic manoeuvres. In this study, mouth pressure values were continuously acquired during and after interruption of a forced inspiratory or expiratory manoeuvre for as long as the subject could sustain an elevated mouth pressure against the obstructed opening. These measurements provided information on both muscle strength and power. A total of 420 forced maximal inspiratory and expiratory manoeuvres performed by six healthy subjects were monitored at different lung volumes. The pattern of maximal pressure-time curves was consistent for the same subject regardless of lung volume. Similar values of maximal mouth pressure can be generated by healthy subjects by using either a flange-style mouthpiece or facial mask. For both methods mouth pressure shows a significant (p < 0.05) second order dependency on lung volume for both inspiration and expiration. The standard deviation of measurements from a single subject about a second order curve is of the order of 5-15%. The findings of interchangeability between methods of measurement may be useful in allegedly non-compliant patients.

Automation↗

PubMed1999

Isolation of Corynebacterium pilosum and Actinomyces pyogenes from cystitis and vulvovaginitis infection in a 2-month-old female calf.

Cystitis and vulvovaginitits, due to Corynebacterium pilosum and Actinomyces pyogenes infection in a 2-month-old female calf, is described. The prominent clinical signs were urinary incontinence, adherence of triple phosphate crystals to the vulvar hair and ulceration on the vulva, the ventral side of the tail skin and the perineum. Only a mild inflammation of the bladder mucosa and submucosa was seen on histological examination.

Actinomyces↗

PubMed1999

Hemodynamic model for analysis of Doppler ultrasound indexes of umbilical blood flow.

A hemodynamic model for pulsatile fluid flow in a pressurized thin-walled elastic tube was applied for the computation of volumetric blood flow and velocity profiles for a given set of system parameters at any selected location along the umbilical artery. The velocity profiles over one heart cycle provide the fetal blood flow velocity waveforms (FVW) from which the usual Doppler indexes (DI) can be derived. The model was used for a comprehensive investigation of the correlation between DI and system parameters that reflect the anatomy and physiology of umbilical blood flow. The simulations showed that the radial location of the Doppler measurement is insignificant for the calculated DI, whereas the axial site is important. The analysis showed that decreasing the diameter or increasing the length of the umbilical artery reduces fetal mean blood flow rate and increases the DI. Increasing blood viscosity tends to induce similar patterns, whereas decreasing arterial compliance or increasing blood density decreases the DI with little effect on blood flow rate. Fetal heart rate has a minor effect on both DI and fetal blood flow rate. This study provides insight into the dependence of DI on the anatomic and physiological characteristics of umbilical blood flow.

Arteries↗

PubMed1999

Case report: idiopathic toxic epidermal necrolysis in a one-week old calf.

A sporadic case of apparent toxic epidermal necrolysis in a one-week-old calf is presented. The clinical picture was characterized by full-thickness epidermal exfoliation. No underlying disease or drug administration could be detected in the affected animal, therefore, the case was classified as idiopathic. The clinical and histological findings are discussed in the light of the pertinent literature. Recovery was noted within three months.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Biotransport in the human respiratory system.

The human respiratory system is an 'open' organ, which is designed to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the circulating blood and the external environment. This gas exchange is successfully accomplished via a set of transport phenomena comprised of oscillatory air flow, heat and water vapor exchange, mucus transport and air-blood gas exchange all of which take place in a complex geometry that undergoes large changes. These transport phenomena occur simultaneously to supply the body's need for oxygen in different physiological conditions and/or environments, while defending it from external hazards. The need for better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in pulmonary diseases and for advanced techniques for both diagnosis and intervention stimulated numerous studies of the different biotransport processes that take place in the human respiratory system.

Body Temperature Regulation↗

PubMed1999

[Equine Rhodococcus equi pneumonia: first report in Israel and its significance for man].

Rhodococcus equi is an important pathogen in young horses. In recent years it has been increasingly recognized as an opportunistic infectious agent in patients with immune deficiency. The increase in recognized cases may be related to the increased prevalence of AIDS. However, more cases may have been recognized lately due to increased awareness of the pathogenicity of this bacterium. Based on medical reports, there appears to be an association between Rhodococcus equi infections and exposure to animals, horses in particular. During the past year, 2 cases of rhodococcus pneumonia were diagnosed in foals in Israel. This information deserves the attention of the local medical community because of the zoonotic potential of Rhodococcus equi and the danger of its becoming more common. The climate in Israel is conducive to its growth and viability and since it flourishes in an environment with horses, the significant growth in our equine industry in recent years may contribute to an increase in Rhodococcus infections.

Actinomycetales Infections↗

PubMed1998

Computational model of oscillatory airflow in a bronchial bifurcation.

Airflow distribution in the bronchial tree is an important factor that controls gas mixing in the lungs, especially, in diseased lungs or during high frequency ventilation. A nonlinear analog model has been developed to investigate the dependency of airflow distribution in asymmetric bronchial bifurcations on structural and physiological parameters. The system parameters (electrical analogs) are time-dependent and were extracted from laboratory studies of airway models and physiological measurements. The model was used to study flow distribution in peripheral pathways of normal and pathological airways during different modes of quiet breathing as well as high frequency ventilation. Model simulations revealed that (i) increasing of ventilation frequency or stroke volume increases the time and percentage of pendelluft in each cycle, (ii) diameter asymmetry between parallel pathways is more dominant than length asymmetry and enhances the degree of asynchronous ventilation to peripheral pathways, and (iii) asymmetry in the compliance of peripheral airways and lung parenchyma greatly increases the degree of asynchronous ventilation.

Airway Resistance↗

PubMed1998

Yeasts in the gastrointestinal tract of preweaned calves and possible involvement of Candida glabrata in neonatal calf diarrhea.

To examine the possibility of a mycotic involvement in neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) the presence of fungi was assessed in (a) the intestinal contents of dead calves and fecal samples submitted for routine laboratory examination, (b) fecal specimens, sampled once in winter and once in summer, of calves raised on 2 farms with different management systems, and (c) mucosal scrapings of various segments of the digestive tract of a diarrheic calf, massively shedding Candida glabrata. C. glabrata was the most prevalent fungal species isolated from the routine samples. It was the only fungus which was shed by the calves on the 2 farms, for continuous, more or less prolonged periods, but exclusively in the winter months. Diarrhea and C. glabrata shedding seemed to be associated. C. glabrata colonized the abomasum (the functional equivalent of the monogastric stomach) but not the other segments of the digestive tract of the euthanized calf. Based on the findings of this study it seems that while some yeast species may be considered as commensals of the digestive tract of calves, and consequently their isolation from intestinal contents or fecal samples has no clinical significance, others, such as C. glabrata may be involved in enteric pathogenic processes. Moreover, characteristics of the culture, previous chemotherapeutic treatments, the animal's age and possibly climatic conditions should be taken into account before deciding on the fungal isolate's clinical relevance. Determination of mycotic involvement in NCD by routine mycological examination of intestinal contents and fecal samples of diarrheic calves may be useful to avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful antibacterial therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The impact of mothers' sense of empowerment on the metabolic control of their children with juvenile diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between mothers' sense of empowerment as a psychological resource and the level of adherence to treatment and metabolic control of their adolescent children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). METHODS: Eighty-eight mothers filled out the Family Empowerment Scale, the Mastery Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Demographic Questionnaire. Their children with IDDM filled out the Self-Care Behaviors Questionnaire. At the same time, the level of glycohemoglobin was retrieved from their medical files. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed that mothers' sense of empowerment contributes significantly to their children's adherence to treatment. Moreover, mothers' sense of empowerment and their education explain a significant proportion of the variance in their children's metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the importance of developing and enhancing the parents' sense of empowerment toward better adherence and metabolic control of their children's IDDM.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Case report: necrotic glossitis and sinusitis in a cow caused apparently by a Fusobacterium necrophorum like microorganism.

An unusual case of necrotic infection of the tongue and unilateral necrotic maxillar sinusitis, in a cow is reported. The prominent clinical findings were: a marked salivation, unilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge, diffuse necrotic lesions on the ventral side of the tongue and fetid breath. Clinico-pathological and pathological findings and abnormalities in the haemogram were probably caused by the toxins produced by the causative organism--Fusobacterium necrophorum like microorganism.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in Israeli cattle: clinical and epidemiological studies.

Morbidity due to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection occurred in 29 dairy herds in Israel during 1989 to 1995. The disease occurred sporadically in 17 of the herds with a morbidity of up to 5 per cent, and was epidemic in 12, with a morbidity of 5 to 35 per cent. Cutaneous abscesses were diagnosed in 609 animals. Young cattle appeared to be less susceptible to the disease than older cows. Beef cattle herds were not affected. The disease appeared in the cutaneous form in 92.5 per cent of cases, the cutaneous and mastitic form in 5.9 per cent and the cutaneous and visceral form in 1.6 per cent. The cutaneous form appeared as deep subcutaneous abscesses on various parts of the body, with granulating ulcers exuding pus and blood. In 10 of the herds, C pseudotuberculosis was isolated from 33 mastitic cows which also had cutaneous lesions. The visceral form of the disease was detected when severely affected animals were slaughtered. In 23 of the herds, the disease occurred during the spring and summer dry season, from March to October; the highest prevalence was in the semi-arid Negev region. In 25 herds, the infection lasted for up to five months. The skin lesions on individual cows healed on average in 23.4 days, after either local or parenteral treatment. No significant difference was observed between the effect of systemic antibiotic treatment and local antiseptic treatment. One hundred and two (16.7 per cent) severely affected animals were culled. There was a decrease in milk production and large increases in somatic cell counts in the 12 herds in which the disease was epidemic. None of the strains of isolated C pseudotuberculosis reduced nitrate.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Evaluation of domiciliary long-term oxygen therapy with oxygen concentrators.

Domiciliary long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is usually supplied by means of oxygen concentrators (OCs). Various factors that determine the efficacy of such a treatment were evaluated. Sixty-three patients, arbitrarily selected from lists of health care providers, were visited at home by a biomedical engineer and a pulmonary function technician. The evaluation consisted of: i) responses to a directed questionnaire, ii) assessment of the OC output characteristics, and iii) measurement of the patient's oxygen saturation (SaO2) at rest with and without oxygen supplement. Only 33% of patients received oxygen treatment for the recommended 12-24 hours/day and 5% of patients waited the recommended 10 minutes of OC warm-up before connection. Filters were cleaned weekly by only 30% of patients and the concentrator was serviced 3-4 times a year in 25% of cases. The OC was thought to be unduly noisy by 24% of patients and connecting tubing of less than 6 meters was fitted to 90% of OCs, thereby limiting patient mobility. Most of the OCs did not yield the recommended oxygen concentration and the flow rate meters on them tended to underread. Therefore, only 22% of patients received the prescribed oxygen supplement. Whilst breathing room air, a substantial proportion of patients had an SaO2 >90%. Improvements are clearly required in terms of medical indications for LTOT, patient education and supervision, supply and maintenance of concentrators and related equipment.

Home Care Services↗

PubMed1996

Outbreak of dermatophilosis in a horse herd in israel.

A retrospective study of an outbreak of dermatophilosis in a herd of 18 adult horses and 13 foals, in Israel, is presented. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time such an outbreak has been reported from a country in the Mediterranean climatic zone. This outbreak might be associated with exposure of the horses to water and humidity as a result of excessive rainfall in November 1994, as well as intensive washing of the horses and a long period spent by the animals in a marshy manege.

Actinomycetales↗