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Biomedical subjects

D Kidron

Publications and source records attributed to D Kidron.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

The state of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of patients with respiratory tract infections.

The state of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation (LAA) in the peripheral blood has been employed as a marker of inflammation. In the present study we examined patients with varying intensities of inflammation caused by respiratory tract infections to further investigate the reliability of the state of LAA for the detection and assessment of the severity of disease activity. The study includes 140 controls, 46 patients with upper respiratory tract infection, 30 with bronchitis, 27 with suspicion of pulmonary infiltrate, and 39 with small and 18 with large pulmonary infiltrate. Assessment was based on assuming an increasing severity of inflammation from the 1st to the 6th diagnostic category and by making use of discriminant analysis. It was found that the state of LAA proved to be the best variable to classify the patients into their diagnostic category (F to enter 27), followed by erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the 1st h (F to enter 20.8) and total white blood cell count (F to enter 8.3). These studies were followed by animal experimentation. A highly significant correlation (p = 0.005) was found between the state of LAA in the peripheral blood and the degree of pulmonary leukostasis in a model of endotoxemia in rabbits. These results suggest that the state of LAA is not an epiphenomenon and represents the tendency of the white blood cells to stick to the endothelium which facilitates their migration into the tissues.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Central administration of immunomodulatory factors alters neural activity and adrenocortical secretion.

This study was designed to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular administration of a variety of immunomodulatory factors upon cortical EEG, preoptic area/anterior hypothalamic (POA/AH) multiunit activity (MUA), and corticosterone secretion in conscious, freely moving rats. The substances tested were alpha-interferon (alpha-INF), thymic humoral factor (THF), histamine, and interleukin-1 (IL-1). Saline administration did not alter POA/AH MUA up to 45 min after injection but increased the total time and duration of synchronized EEG periods. alpha-INF and THF were found to significantly reduce POA/AH MUA and increased the amount and duration of synchronized EEG while decreasing basal plasma corticosterone levels. Histamine and IL-1 did not alter POA/AH MUA discharge but decreased EEG synchronization and evoked an increase in plasma corticosterone levels. These results demonstrate that some secretions of the immune system are able to alter EEG discharge and neural activity in an area of the brain known to modulate both immune and neuroendocrine secretory activity. The results also appear to be related to adrenocortical secretory activity, which was altered by the substances tested.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1989

Malignant pseudotumor cerebri. Report of two cases.

Two young Arab women presented with a very rapid loss of vision, ophthalmoplegia, florid papilledema, areflexia of the lower limbs, and normal mentation. Lumbar puncture pressure was above 60 cm H2O, but no intracranial structural lesion was found in either patient. An exhaustive evaluation as to an etiology was negative in both. Under continuous lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage and administration of steroids, furosemide, and acetazolamide, both patients had significantly improved vision and ocular movement. In both, lumboperitoneal shunting was considered but only one eventually underwent this procedure. These two patients with pseudotumor cerebri are unique in their fulminant clinical course and severely increased intracranial pressure. Virtually inevitable blindness was prevented by timely intervention.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1989

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the carotid arteries complicating pregnancy.

Fibromuscular dysplasia is an arteriopathy of unknown etiology that affects the intermediate-size branches of the aorta. Partial occlusion of these arteries may result in neurologic symptoms when carotid arteries are affected, and impaired liver or kidney function when their blood supply is compromised. Pregnancy and delivery in women who are diagnosed as having fibromuscular dysplasia may be associated with disease-related complications such as ischemic attacks. We report the course of a pregnancy and delivery in a patient with carotid artery fibromuscular dysplasia and suggest steps for general obstetric management and contraception in patients suffering from fibromuscular dysplasia.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Fulminant subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in association with pregnancy.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis developed during pregnancy in a 27-year-old woman and immediately after delivery in an 18-year-old woman. In both, disease took an acute and fulminant course culminating in a vegetative state within several weeks. It is suggested that the relative older age of disease presentation and the unusually rapid neurologic deterioration were partially due to immunologic and hormonal alterations of pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Sensory peripheral neuropathy of vitamin B12 deficiency: a primary demyelinating disease?

In five patients with peripheral neuropathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency, electrodiagnostic studies demonstrated severe reduction in sensory nerve conduction velocities compatible with a demyelinating disorder affecting sensory nerve fibres. It is suggested that in some patients lack of vitamin B12 may cause primary sensory demyelinating neuropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Syndrome of osteopetrosis and muscular degeneration associated with cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal changes.

We describe an infant with cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal manifestations, radiologic and pathologic findings of osteopetrosis, and severe myopathic degeneration proven on histopathologic study of muscles. The muscle changes appear to be part of the pathogenetic process in this syndrome and the cause of the flexion contractures present at birth. Real-time ultrasonography may prove a useful tool in prenatal diagnosis of this syndrome.

Arthrogryposis↗
PubMed1987

Late-onset progressive radiculomyelopathy in patients with cervical athetoid-dystonic cerebral palsy.

Three patients with severe athetoid-dystonic type of cerebral palsy involving the neck musculature developed in their fourth to fifth decade progressive cervical radiculomyelopathy associated with vertebral spondylarthrotic compressive lesions in addition to their long-standing neurological syndrome. It is likely that the late-onset myelopathy is linked to continuous torsion, compression and 'wear and tear' of the cervical spinal cord, induced by the involuntary movements. In 2 patients decompressive cervical spinal surgery was ineffective, suggesting irreversible damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Forms of dystonia in patients with Parkinson's disease.

We studied various forms of dystonia associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in 207 patients who were on levodopa therapy for more than 1 year. Dystonia, sometimes more than one type, occurred in 63 (30%). In five patients, dystonia preceded initiation of treatment. Fifteen patients had peak-dose dystonia, 33 had early-morning dystonia, and 20 had "off-period" dystonia. The different clinical features of the dystonias are presented and compared. Findings indicate that dystonia is a frequent feature of levodopa-treated PD patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Absence of correlation between liver metastases and unexplained fever episodes.

An accepted, although debatable explanation for fever of unexplained origin (FUO) in cancer patients is the presence of liver metastases. This controlled study was aimed to determine whether FUO is more common in patients with liver metastases (Group A) as compared to those without evidence of spread to the liver (Group B). One hundred forty-five patients were studied in each group. Fever of unknown origin was experienced by 45 patients of Group A (31%) and 39 of Group B (26.9%). The duration and the fever characteristics were comparable in both groups. There was no relationship between the extent of the liver metastases and the incidence of FUO. That FUO was not caused by the presence of liver metastases per se, is deduced also from the remission of fever in 18 preoperative episodes after the resection of the primary tumor only, in spite of the persistence of the liver metastases. The type of fever and its duration was similar in patients with or without liver metastases. Thirteen severe infectious conditions were missed by the premature adoption of the convenient diagnosis of "fever due to liver metastases." Indomethacin, administered to normalize the fever incorrectly attributed to the liver metastases, obscured four of the above infectious conditions, with a fatal outcome. The authors conclude that the existence of "fever due to liver metastases" as an entity is not supported by the current study, and that the premature adoption of this diagnosis further compromised the outcome of patients with liver metastases and unexplained fever.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of clock tests in schizophrenia.

Though clock drawing tests are well recognized as measures of cognitive function, there is little data on the performance of patients with schizophrenia. We compared 24 patients with schizophrenia to 24 healthy, age-matched controls on clock drawing, copying, and reading. Patients with schizophrenia performed significantly worse on clock drawing and copying despite the fact that the groups had similar scores on the MMSE. Worse performance was associated with higher scores on the BPRS. Clock drawing and copying may be useful for the assessment of cognition in schizophrenia, and the monitoring of cognitive changes associated with antipsychotic medication.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Israeli student nurses' attitudes about physical restraints in acute care settings.

A total of 147 nursing students from an academic school of nursing in Israel, affiliated with the Nursing Department at Tel Aviv University, were studied to determine their attitudes toward the use of physical restraints, their knowledge of patient restraint protocol, related reasons, alternatives, follow-up, and reporting. Data were analyzed according to the student's year of learning and experience in restraining. Significant results showed that most students displayed negative attitudes toward restraining. Most were quite knowledgeable of patient restraint protocol, but they acted according to accepted practice in the hospital wards. These findings suggest that nursing educators must play an important role in reinforcing knowledge and improving the practicum of nursing students in the clinical area concerning restraints. This goal will be achieved by various educational strategies.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation and tissue leukostasis following surgical trauma.

The purpose of the present study was to document the increased leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation (LAA) and tissue leukostasis that follow surgical trauma. We found that following major abdominal surgery, the percentage of aggregated leukocytes in the peripheral blood increased from 8.6 +/- 7 to 21.7 +/- 11.5 (p < 0.001), while the respective values for patients undergoing minor surgery were 3.7 +/- 2.4 and 19.7 +/- 7.6% (p < 0.001). The state of LAA was also determined in eight dogs after partial collectomy and four controls. A clear increment in the degree of tissue leukostasis (especially in the spleen, liver and lungs) was noted in the operated as compared to the control animals. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the state of LAA, determined in the venous (p = 0.0004) and arterial (p = 0.002) blood of these animals and the degree of tissue leukostasis. We conclude that a state of increased LAA in the peripheral blood is induced by surgical trauma and that this increased LAA correlates with tissue leukostasis.

Animals↗