Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Laufer

Publications and source records attributed to D Laufer.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Continuity and discontinuity of psychopathology: a study of patients examined as children and as adults. III--The infancy of "adult personality disorders".

We undertook a prospective study of all the children who, having consulted the Child Psychiatry Services (Service Médico-Pédagogique) between 1963 and 1967, later consulted the Adult Public Psychiatry Service (720 cases). We looked for specific clinical clusters which would enable us to differentiate statistically the groups of children according to their adult diagnoses. We present here the results for the group of children who were diagnosed as suffering from "personality disorders" in adulthood. We were able to establish an infantile cluster that significantly differentiated these children. It includes: aggressiveness, oppositional behaviour, unsociability, conflicts with peers. 54.6% had already been diagnosed as suffering from personality disorders in childhood. According to these results, the more a consulting child fits this profile, the greater the risk that he will suffer from a "personality disorder" in adulthood. We discuss the continuity/discontinuity of the symptomatology, and the implications for diagnoses of "personality disorders" and "borderline personalities".

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Low lead level in teeth in Israel.

A total of 180 sound teeth extracted from people living mainly in Northern Israel and some in the center of the country, aged 14-75 years, were analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The average lead level in teeth roots ranged between 1.61-25.72 micrograms/g dry root, according to the donor's age. This low level was measured in all the regions which were checked, with no significant differences between them, despite differences in levels of motor traffic rates. Based on the low lead level in teeth, we assume that no further reduction in the lead level in gasoline is needed, as long as motorization rate or gasoline consumption does not change significantly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Whole saliva in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Whole saliva composition and flow rate were examined in 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and compared with matched healthy controls. Significantly lowered salivary flow rate was observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus unrelated to the subjective complaint of xerostomia. Salivary sodium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations were significantly higher in the SLE patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, whereas potassium and total protein concentrations and amylase activity did not differ significantly from the controls. Salivary IgA and IgM levels were significantly higher in the patients than in controls. IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, C4, antinuclear antibody, and anti-DNA antibody levels were measured in serum of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and correlated with salivary immunoglobulins. The only significant correlation between saliva and serum was found between levels of salivary IgG and serum anti-DNA antibody. The altered salivary composition might indicate a subclinical involvement of salivary glands in the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of maxillofacial vascular abnormalities with Tc-99m RBC.

Three-phase scintigraphy using Tc-99m RBC was performed in seven patients with vascular abnormalities of the maxillofacial region. Scintigraphy was able to distinguish whether the lesions had increased perfusion (three patients) or only a large venous component (four patients), and thus helped in assessing the best route for contrast angiography. In four patients a recurrence was suspected. In one, a follow-up Tc-99m RBC study showed successful embolization therapy and no recurrence, and in three patients it showed early recurrence of the lesion. The results of this report indicate the value of Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy in the management of patients with vascular abnormalities of the maxillofacial region.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Continuity and discontinuity of psychopathology: a study of patients examined as children and as adults. II. Childhood antecedents of drug dependent adults].

The demographic stability of the Swiss Canton of Geneva provided us with the necessary conditions for a follow-up study of the entire childhood population who, having consulted the Child Psychiatry Services between 1963 and 1967, later consulted the adult public psychiatric services (720 cases). We looked for specific clusters of clinical signs which would enable us to differentiate, statistically speaking, the groups of children according to their adult diagnosis. We present here the results for the group of children who were diagnosed at adulthood as drug addicts (DSM III R). We found a specific cluster significantly differentiating these children from the other populations. It includes: a personality disorder (undifferentiated behaviour, and solitary and aggressive behaviour), environmental factors (monoparental, rejecting family) and a lack of mental deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Salivary composition, gender and psychosocial stress.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate salivary composition as an indicator of psychological stress. A group of 26 new Israeli patients in a stress management clinic was studied in an attempt to assess both the effects of long standing trait-related stress as well as that of situational state related stress. Significantly higher state anxiety scores, blood pressure, pulse rate, and lower salivary flow rates were found in the patients before as compared to after the initial psychodiagnostic interview, illustrating the effect of a situational stress. Significantly lower salivary flow rates and elevated total protein concentrations were found in the patients after the interview as compared to healthy controls, illustrating the effect of sympathetic enhancement associated with more stable trait-related psychological stress. Salivary electrolytes (Na and K) and IgA did not differ significantly when the clinical sample was compared to the control group. Although male patients reported lower state anxiety than female patients did, their hemodynamic and salivary composition measures indicated a higher sympathetic arousal, possibly reflecting Israeli male patient difficulties in adapting their distress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

Systemic lead absorption in human tooth roots.

One-hundred and five impacted and erupted sound teeth were analysed for lead content by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that lead accumulated before eruption, presumably soon after the onset of dentine formation. The accumulation in dentine was systemic, without any contribution from the oral environment. The amount of lead in dentine may denote the amount of absorption into the body and serve as a precise index to body burden as no absorption from the mouth can take place. In adults, impacted and erupted teeth can be used together in any research and the donor's age can be considered as the period of lead accumulation.

Absorption↗
PubMed1992

Nipple-areola reconstruction with a custom-made silicone ectoprosthesis.

The use of a custom-made silicone ectoprosthesis of the nipple-areola complex is presented. It is suggested, after completion of breast mound reconstruction, for those women who cannot undergo or refuse to undergo any further surgical procedure, or else for the interim until the final reconstruction is performed. It is convenient to use and the aesthetic appearance is pleasing.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Continuity and discontinuity of psychopathology: a study of patients examined as children and as adults. I. Antecedents of adult schizophrenic disorders].

The demographical stability of the Canton of Geneva made it possible for us to do a prospective study of all the children who had consulted the Child Psychiatry Service between 1963 and 1967 and who later consulted the public adult psychiatry services. On the basis of the adult diagnoses, wo looked for specific clinical "clusters" in childhood which would allow us to differentiate statistically the groups of children. We present here the results of the group of children who developed schizophrenia in adulthood. We found a specific childhood "cluster" which clearly distinguishes these children from the others. It includes: serious relational disorders, neurodevelopmental impairment, attention deficit and school learning disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Lead accumulation in teeth of patients suffering from gastrointestinal ulcers.

Thirty-five permanent teeth were analyzed for lead by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The lead level in the dentine of gastrointestinal ulcer patients, even long after recovery, was significantly higher than that of healthy people (75.02 +/- 8.15 and 25.62 +/- 10.15 ppm, respectively; P less than 0.001). Presumably, massive absorption is possible due to damage to the epithelial mucosal cells of the gastrointestinal tract. In polluted areas, ulcer patients will suffer considerably more than non-ulcerous patients. Moreover, if the same lead level is found in the bones, there is a possible risk that, in elderly people or in patients suffering from osteoporosis, lead will be discharged into the blood and cause lead intoxication.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Age and gender influence on lead accumulation in root dentine of human permanent teeth.

143 permanent teeth of individuals aged 14-60 yr from a non-occupationally exposed population in northern Israel were analysed for lead accumulation in a atomic absorption spectrophotometer graphite-furnace. A significant correlation was established between lead level and age. No gender correlation was found. The results suggest that any study dealing with lead accumulation in different populations has to compare groups of the same age range, ignoring the sex of the individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The bentiromide test using plasma p-aminobenzoic acid for diagnosing pancreatic insufficiency in young children. The effect of two different doses and a liquid meal.

The bentiromide test was evaluated using plasma p-aminobenzoic acid as an indirect test of pancreatic insufficiency in young children between 2 months and 4 years of age. To determine the optimal test method, the following were examined: (a) the best dose of bentiromide (15 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg); (b) the optimal sampling time for plasma p-aminobenzoic acid; and (c) the effect of coadministration of a liquid meal. Sixty-nine children 91.6 +/- 1.0 years) were studied, including 34 controls with normal fat absorption and 35 patients (34 with cystic fibrosis) with fat maldigestion due to pancreatic insufficiency. Control and pancreatic insufficient subjects were studied in three age-matched groups: (a) low-dose bentiromide (15 mg/kg) with clear fluids; (b) high-dose bentiromide (30 mg/kg) with clear fluids; and (c) high-dose bentiromide with a liquid meal. Plasma p-aminobenzoic acid was determined at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes then hourly for 6 hours. The dose effect of bentiromide with clear liquids was evaluated. High-dose bentiromide best discriminated control and pancreatic insufficient subjects, due to a higher peak plasma p-aminobenzoic acid level in controls, but poor sensitivity and specificity remained. High-dose bentiromide with a liquid meal produced a delayed increase in plasma p-aminobenzoic acid in the control subjects probably caused by retarded gastric emptying. However, in the pancreatic insufficient subjects, use of a liquid meal resulted in significantly lower plasma p-aminobenzoic acid levels at all time points; plasma p-aminobenzoic acid at 2 and 3 hours completely discriminated between control and pancreatic insufficient patients. Evaluation of the data by area under the time-concentration curve failed to improve test results. In conclusion, the bentiromide test is a simple, clinically useful means of detecting pancreatic insufficiency in young children, but a higher dose administered with a liquid meal is recommended.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗
PubMed1991

Gas release from comets.

Water ice was shown experimentally to retain trapped gases beyond the transformation temperature of amorphous ice to cubic ice. The amount of retained gases, which emerge during the transformation of cubic ice to hexagonal ice and when the ice evaporates, depends linearly on the thickness of the ice layer. Implications to comets are discussed.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1991

Conservative approach to unerupted teeth within cystic lesions in Gorlin's syndrome.

The unerupted maxillary canine is the tooth that most commonly requires surgical exposure and guided eruption. The orthodontic specialist must be aware that delayed eruption is caused, sometimes, by serious pathologic conditions such as cystic or neoplastic malformation. A case of a 12-year-old girl who suffered from Gorlin's syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome) is presented. Her symptoms were multiple jaw keratocysts, skeletal anomalies, and cleft lip and palate. Some authors advocate an aggressive surgical approach to jaw keratocysts because of their tendency to recur, thus sacrificing those teeth associated with them. Our view is that in young patients with Gorlin's syndrome, an attempt should be made to preserve permanent teeth, especially those vital for a normal growth pattern of the jaws. Therefore we recommend a conservative surgical approach, enabling guided eruption of unerupted teeth associated with cystic lesions in patients with Gorlin's syndrome.

Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and subsequent risk of HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic description of long-term adverse health effects of childhood sexual abuse is lacking, despite estimates that perhaps 30 percent of adults have experienced sexual assault in childhood. METHODS: In an adult cohort enrolled to investigate causes of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, we identified current behaviors affecting risk of infection that were associated with a history of early sexual abuse. One hundred and eighty-six individuals provided information on the occurrence of abuse and subsequent sexual and drug using activities. RESULTS: Approximately half of the women and one-fifth of the men reported a history of rape during childhood or adulthood. Twenty-eight percent of the women and 15 percent of the men recalled that they had been sexually assaulted during childhood. People who reported childhood rape compared with people who did not were four times more likely to be working as prostitutes (90 percent confidence interval = 2.0, 8.0). Women were nearly three times more likely to become pregnant before the age of 18 (90% CI = 1.6, 4.1). Men who reported a history of sexual abuse had a twofold increase in prevalence of HIV infection relative to unabused men (90% CI = 1.0, 3.9). CONCLUSIONS: The disturbing prevalence of early sexual abuse and its possible health-related consequences call for prompt and routine investigation of sexual abuse histories. Identification of sexual victimization may be an important component for management of risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus.

Adolescent↗