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Biomedical subjects

D Keret

Publications and source records attributed to D Keret.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Topical nitrates potentiate the effect of botulinum toxin in the treatment of patients with refractory anal fissure.

BACKGROUND: Anal fissure is perpetuated by high sphincter pressures and secondary local ischaemia. Pharmacological approaches include topical nitrates and botulinum toxin (BT) which act to reduce anal pressure. BT lowers anal pressure by preventing acetylcholine release from nerve terminals while topical nitrates act by donating nitric oxide (NO). The aims of the present study were to compare the therapeutic effect and lowering action on internal anal sphincter pressure of BT injection and local application of isosorbide dinitrate (ID) compared with BT given alone, in patients with chronic anal fissure (CAF) refractory to treatment with ID. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with CAF who did not respond to previous topical ID treatments were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments: group A, injection of BT (20 U into the internal anal sphincter) and subsequent daily applications of ID (2.5 mg three times daily for three months); and group B, BT injection only (20 U). If at the end of six weeks following BT injection no improvement was seen in group B, ID was added. A series of anal pressure measurements, including resting basal pressure and resting pressure following topical ID (1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 mg), was carried out both before and two weeks after 20 U of BT injection into the internal anal sphincter. At the end of the trial, patients were followed up for an average period of 10 months. FINDINGS: At six weeks the fissure healing rate was significantly higher in group A patients (10/15 (66%)) compared with group B (3/15 (20%)) (p=0.025). At eight and 12 weeks, no significant differences were seen: 11/15 (73%) v 11/15 (73%) and 9/15 (60%) v 10/15 (66%), group A v group B, respectively. Maximum anal resting pressure (MARP) was significantly lower two weeks after BT injection than baseline MARP (90 (4) v 110 (5) mm Hg; p<0.001). A significantly greater reduction in MARP following local application of ID was achieved after BT injection compared with that achieved before BT injection (p=0.037) INTERPRETATION: (1) Combined BT injection and local application of ID in patients with CAF who failed previous treatment with ID was more effective than BT alone. This treatment modality appears to be safe and promising. (2) ID application induced a greater reduction in MARP following BT injection compared with ID application before BT injection. The improved potency of ID on MARP after BT injection suggests a primary cholinergic tonus dominance in some patients and not, as previously claimed, anal sphincter insensitivity to nitrates.

Adult↗

Bilateral symmetric stress fractures in a toddler.

Stress fractures are a common injury among adolescent athletes and military recruits. The increase in child participation in organized sport activities has contributed to the inclusion of the skeletally immature age group among those who may suffer from this problem. Bilateral simultaneous symmetric tibial stress fractures that are infrequent in older children are even more rare in toddlers. This entity may cause a diagnostic problem as it must be differentiated from infectious disease, acute trauma or even from the result of a battered child.

Child, Preschool↗

The fibula in congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia: the EPOS multicenter study. European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (EPOS).

Fibular involvement in congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) can be either a rare isolated pathology or is in association with the tibial changes. Out of 282 patients with CPT who had complete radiographic work-up, 62% (almost two thirds) demonstrated fibular pathology: 36% had true fibular pseudoarthrosis and the rest, i.e., 26% had fibular hypoplasia or dysplastic fibula. Neurofibromatosis was found in 62% of the patients with fibular pathology. The typical radiological features of tibial pseudoarthrosis are often missing in patients with fibular pathology. It is most probably because fibular changes precede the tibial involvement. In 250 patients with tibial surgical treatment, the highest rate of fusion occurred in patients with fibular involvement compared with those with normal fibula.

Child↗

Treatment of chronic anal fissure with isosorbide dinitrate: long-term results and dose determination.

PURPOSE: Anal fissure is a tear of the anoderm, which eventually can become an ulcer. Chronic anal fissure is perpetuated by contraction of the internal sphincter, believed to reduce perfusion. Nitric oxide is a neurotransmitter mediating vasodilation and internal anal sphincter relaxation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate both the effect and the effective dose regimen of isosorbide dinitrate, a nitric oxide donor, as a treatment for chronic anal fissure. METHODS: Isosorbide dinitrate, Isoket spray (Schwarz-Pharma, Mannheim, Germany), was used to treat 41 patients with chronic anal fissure. Anal manometry was performed in all patients before they entered the study. The treatment program consisted of digital application of isosorbide dinitrate in a dose of 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg three times each day for four weeks. At the end of the trial, patients were followed up for an average time of 11 +/- 1 months. RESULTS: In 34 (83 percent) patients, the fissure healed within one month of treatment (mean, 3 +/- 0.1 weeks). The average time for symptoms to disappear was 6.5 +/- 0.7 days. In six (14.6 percent) patients the anal fissure did not heal even after four weeks of further treatment, and they underwent lateral sphincterotomy. Six patients relapsed during the follow-up period, but responded to another course of treatment. A dose of 2.5 mg of isosorbide dinitrate caused a greater reduction in maximum anal resting pressure than a dose of 1.25 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Topical isosorbide dinitrate is an effective and safe treatment for chronic anal fissure. In our experience the optimal dose regimen is 2.5 mg three times each day.

Administration, Topical↗

Cat-scratch disease osteomyelitis from a dog scratch.

Osteomyelitis is a rare manifestation of cat-scratch disease in patients who do not have AIDS. The clinical presentation and non-specific subacute course of the disease make diagnosis difficult. We present a child with osteomyelitis of a metacarpal following a dog scratch. Bartonella henselae was found to be the aetiological agent. The bone healed after treatment with antibiotics. Increased awareness and a comprehensive medical history are needed to identify patients with suspected Bartonella henselae osteomyelitis.

Animals↗

[Laparoscopic colonic resection].

We present our initial experience with laparoscopic colonic resection in 15 patients: adenocarcinoma of the colon, 10 cases, giant villous adenoma (2), arteriovenous malformation (2), and a case of benign stricture. Mean operating time was 190 minutes and there were no intraoperative complications. The margins of resection and number of resected lymph nodes in patients with malignancy were comparable to those in the conventionally operated. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.1 days. During a maximum follow-up of 15 months there were no wound or trocar-site recurrences. We conclude that laparoscopic colonic resection is technically feasible and safe. However, its use for treating malignant diseases of the colon needs further study.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Rubber-band ligation of esophageal and cardiac varices].

Esophageal sclerotherapy was the treatment of choice for bleeding esophageal varices in the past decade. It is effective for treating acute variceal bleeding, as well as eradicating esophageal varices for secondary prevention of bleeding. However, in more than 20% of patients sclerotherapy involves complications, some of which are serious. The high complication rate suggested the development of a new method that should be at least as effective and as easy to perform as sclerotherapy, but with fewer complications and side-effects. Endoscopic variceal ligation was developed at the University of Colorado and described in 1986. It is reported to control active variceal bleeding in about 90% of patients, and to eradicate varices in about 80% of surviving patients. Complications are rare. We have adapted the method in our unit and here describe out preliminary experience in 11 patients.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Jerusalem 1988-91: causes, characteristics and relation to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

We analyzed 321 consecutive episodes of community-based acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding admitted to the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem during 1988-91. Of these 71% were in males aged 56.2 +/- 1.2 years (mean +/- SE) and 29% were in females (67.9 +/- 1.7 years, P < 0.001). The main diagnoses were duodenal ulcer (39.5%), gastric ulcer (16.9%), esophageal varices (10.0%), erosive gastritis (8.2%) and esophagitis (7.5%). The distribution of these diagnoses differed significantly between the genders (P = 0.0003). In males the prevalence of duodenal ulcer and of esophageal varices was higher, and that of gastric ulcer and esophagitis lower, than in females. Gastric ulcer patients were oldest, were the least likely to have received anti-ulcer medications prior to admission, and had the highest levels of urea and the lowest levels of hemoglobin on admission. Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increased significantly with age and was reported in 35% of the cases (aspirin in doses < 1.0 g/day in 21%, nonsalicylate anti-inflammatory agents in 11%, aspirin plus other anti-inflammatory drugs in 3%). Use of systemic corticosteroids was reported in 4%. The most distinctive features of the population with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the present study compared to other series were the significantly higher proportion of duodenal ulcers and the lower proportion of Mallory-Weiss tears.

Acute Disease↗

Seasonal fluctuations in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: lack of effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The seasonal pattern of community-based acute bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract was studied prospectively in 1988-1991. Out of 3343 emergency admissions to the Departments of General Surgery, 321 (9.6%) were due to acute UGI bleeding. There was a significant monthly variation in the total number of admissions, as well as in the number of admissions due to acute UGI bleeding (p < 0.0001). However, there was no correlation between the two. Significant seasonal fluctuations were noted both in the absolute number of admissions due to acute UGI bleeding and in the percentage of UGI bleeding admissions of the total number of admissions to the Departments of General Surgery (p = 0.0002). During summer (July through September), the incidence declined significantly to a nadir of 5.5% of total number of admissions in July. The seasonal fluctuation correlated closely with the incidence of duodenal ulcer, but not with that of gastric ulcer. The seasonal pattern was consistent both in patients who had used aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as in those who had not.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Chondrolysis: detection by bone scintigraphy.

Premature closure of the physis of the greater trochanter has been reported to be a predictive sign of chondrolysis in hips with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). In the present series, the physis of the greater trochanter showed decreased activity on bone scintigraphy in 16 patients with SCFE and concurrent or developing chondrolysis. In five of these patients, the scintigraphic pattern (decreased activity of the physis of the greater trochanter) preceded radiographic changes of chondrolysis. In 13 patients with SCFE without chondrolysis, the physis of the greater trochanter appeared normal on scintigrams and open on radiographs. Use of scintigraphy in patients with SCFE permitted earlier recognition of chondrolysis, increasing the potential of altering the course of the disease.

Adolescent↗

[Primary epiphyseal osteomyelitis in children].

A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized for suspected hematogenous osteomyelitis of the distal femur. Bone scan and repeated radiographs showed a rare condition, primary epiphyseal osteomyelitis. Needle biopsy and aspiration were negative. Penbritin and orbenil, 2 g of each, gave complete clinical and radiographic healing 7 weeks after initial treatment.

Child, Preschool↗

Tibia valga after fracture: documentation of mechanism.

Tibia valga following fracture in the proximal metaphysis of the tibia in children was previously attributed to various mechanisms. This case report offers an additional explanation based on bone scintigraphy 10 months after injury. Decreased radionuclide uptake at the lateral proximal tibial physis without evidence of increased uptake on the medial side suggests that a Salter type V injury to the lateral growth plate can occur in conjunction with a medial metaphyseal fracture, resulting in the development of tibia valga.

Child, Preschool↗

[Social and functional results of brachial plexus birth injury].

Long-term results of obstetrical brachial plexus injury were studied. The medical records of 10 females and 9 males (range 16-59 years, mean 27.8) who responded to a questionnaire were reviewed. According to the responses, they all had been leading normal lives, despite various degrees of impairment.

Adolescent↗

Growth disturbance of the proximal part of the femur after treatment for congenital dislocation of the hip.

The radiographs of ninety patients in whom treatment of unilateral congenital dislocation of the hip was complicated by disturbance of growth of the proximal part of the femur were studied retrospectively. All patients were followed until closure of the affected proximal femoral physis. We divided the patients into three groups, according to the degree of vascular insufficiency: patients who had mild vascular insufficiency of the hip, which had little effect on growth; those who had moderate vascular insufficiency, which produces partial arrest of growth; and those who had severe vascular insufficiency, which causes complete arrest of growth. Good correlation was found between the initial degree of vascular insufficiency and the radiographic results at the most recent follow-up. The radiographic signs that were used to predict the extent of physeal involvement were a crescent-shaped epiphysis, medial bowing of the femoral neck (a shorter and more concave curve between the lesser trochanter and the proximal femoral metaphysis [the lateral portion of the Shenton line]), lateral tilting of the capital epiphysis, and premature physeal closure. Signs that were diagnostic of existing physeal involvement were elevation of the greater trochanter and shortening of the affected extremity. The presence and severity of these signs correlated well with the degree of vascular insufficiency. Medial bowing was the most reliable prognostic factor for the determination of the fate of the hip joint at maturity.

Adolescent↗

Heterotopic ossification in central nervous system-injured patients following closed nailing of femoral fractures.

Heterotopic ossification at the site of insertion of an intramedullary nail was observed in five central nervous system-injured patients with femoral fractures. Three of these patients experienced a reduction in the range of motion of the ipsilateral hip joint, which in two improved with physical therapy. Patients with central nervous system injury who have closed interlocking intramedullary nail fixation may be at increased risk of heterotopic ossification at the surgical site.

Adolescent↗