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Biomedical subjects

E Lewis

Publications and source records attributed to E Lewis.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Speculations on the role of transmissible agents in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Unconventional agents and conventional viruses provide model systems to investigate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The essay which follows examines the hypothetical role of herpes simplex in AD and presents some generally applicable experimental approaches to detecting genes in brain tissues. The concluding section, on parallels between AD and diseases of the brain caused by unconventional viruses, defines strategies for isolating genes related to pathology.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Comparison of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become endemic in Detroit, accounting for 50% of bacteremias in heroin abusers. To identify the salient epidemiologic and clinical features of MRSA bacteremia, case-control studies were performed comparing 28 cases of MRSA bacteremia to 28 cases of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) bacteremia in intravenous drug abusers. Infective endocarditis was diagnosed in 46.4% (13 of 28). In endocarditis and nonendocarditis bacteremia alike, the duration of fever, length of hospitalization, need for surgery, and mortality rates were similar. A history of recent antimicrobial therapy, especially cephalosporins, was more common in the MRSA group (p = 0.006). Complications including neurologic, renal, vascular, and musculoskeletal manifestations were more common in the MSSA endocarditis patients than MRSA endocarditis patients, although this difference was not significant. Complications related to antibiotic therapy were similar for both groups. The case-control studies indicate that MRSA and MSSA are similar in their virulence as measured by duration of hospitalization, duration of fever, complications, and mortality.

Endocarditis↗
PubMed1985

Changes in insulin therapy during pregnancy.

Care of the diabetic pregnant woman requires a proper understanding of anticipated changes in insulin therapy as a guide for establishing and maintaining strict glucose control. Changes in daily insulin doses were reviewed for 58 pregnancies of 50 insulin-dependent women who were followed for 26 +/- 3 weeks (mean +/- 1 SD) before delivery. By late gestation, insulin was administered on two or three occasions each day using a combination of regular--and intermediate--acting preparations in 55 (95%) pregnancies. Regardless of the metabolic control and duration of diabetes, averaged daily insulin requirements increased twofold from earlier in pregnancy. Following initial hospitalization, insulin requirements often decreased before increasing almost linearly between 2 and 9 months gestation. Fluctuations in insulin requirements were greatest during the last trimester. Insulin demand dropped precipitously after delivery and was two-thirds the averaged prepregnancy insulin dose or one-third the dose at 9 months gestation by the third postpartum day. The total average insulin dose was the same as that before pregnancy by the end of the first postpartum week. Explanations for these changes in prescribing insulin are described.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1985

CT evaluation of the pelvis after hemipelvectomy.

From examination of 69 pelvic CT scans from 25 patients, the role of CT after hemipelvectomy is examined. A brief description of the various types of hemipelvectomy, including simple, extended, compound, and modified, is presented. The new variants of internal and modified internal hemipelvectomy are also included. The normal post-surgical changes in the musculoskeletal structures and pelvic viscera are described and illustrated. Postoperative abnormalities detected included hematoma, inflammatory changes, incisional hernia, ureteral obstruction, adenopathy, and local recurrence. An example of the usefulness of CT in CT-guided biopsy and CT-guided thermocouple placement is provided. CT of the pelvis is advocated as the method of choice to follow these patients, because of its ability to detect postoperative recurrence and complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Phase I study of elliptinium (2-N-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium).

Elliptinium (2-N-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium), a chemotherapeutic agent whose mechanism of action has not been completely elucidated, intercalates into DNA. In this Phase I clinical trial, the schedule of drug administration consisted of weekly intravenous infusions. Twenty-nine patients were evaluable for toxicity. The initial dose level was 40 mg/m2 and was escalated to 150 mg/m2 through six levels. The dose-limiting side effects were emesis, xerostomia, and azotemia. The lack of myelosuppression was the most striking feature. Objective responses (partial remission, minor response) were seen in one patient each with Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We recommend a Phase II evaluation of elliptinium at a dose of 100 mg/m2 on a weekly schedule.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Lung fluid and protein flux during postoperative sepsis.

Pulmonary microvascular injury during sepsis after injury appears to be amplified with plasma fibronectin deficiency, but the degree of injury relative to the extent of sepsis has not been defined. We evaluated pulmonary vascular permeability in sheep as influenced by various levels of postoperative Pseudomonas sepsis during a period of plasma fibronectin deficiency. The hemodynamic response to Pseudomonas was very similar regardless of the intensity of septic challenge and characterized by systemic arterial hypotension, decreased cardiac output, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. In contrast, increased pulmonary microvascular permeability was observed with increments in the bacterial challenge. Thus, lung protein clearance (LPC) or so called pulmonary transvascular protein clearance (TPC) used as an index of lung vascular permeability was 9.1 +/- 1.9 ml/hr, 15.1 +/- 1.7 ml/hr, and 19.3 +/- 3.0 ml/hr 2 hr after low (3 X 10(9) i.v.; 1 X 10(10) i.p.), medium (3 X 10(9) i.v.; 3 X 10(10) i.p.), and high (5 X 10(9) i.v.; 5 X 10(10) i.p.) dose Pseudomonas challenges, respectively. Thus, the extent of the altered pulmonary microvascular integrity in sheep during sepsis after surgery in the presence of fibronectin deficiency is dependent on the degree of bacterial sepsis. In addition, infusion of cryoprecipitate was an effective means of reversing the plasma fibronectin deficiency. Accordingly, this may be used as a model to investigate the mechanism of altered lung fluid balance during postoperative septic shock and the effect of fibronectin on this response.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and accompanying hearing loss.

Facioscapulohumeral (FSH) muscular dystrophy (MD) is an autosomal dominant condition marked by muscle weakness primarily in the face, shoulder girdle, and legs. Intelligence and life span are normal and the spectrum of disability is broad. Flaccid dysarthria results from the facial muscle paralysis. A pair of siblings had FSH MD that was accompanied by the unusual finding of sensorineural hearing loss. Speech and audiologic aspects are presented and etiologic explanations are suggested. Careful audiologic evaluation of all patients with FSH MD is advised so that sensorineural hearing loss can be ruled out.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

An outbreak of erythema infectiosum associated with human parvovirus infection.

Erythema infectiosum (EI) or fifth disease is a mild, acute exanthematous disease, occurring mainly among children, for which a causative virus has long been sought. In May 1983 an outbreak of exanthematous illness was reported in a primary school in North London. Children attending the school were investigated by questionnaire and 162 (43.9%) reported an illness with the features of EI. In each of 36 cases investigated virologically the illness was associated with parvovirus infection. Moreover, pre-existing antibody to parvovirus was correlated with protection from EI in 16 of 17 close family contacts of cases. We propose therefore that EI is the common manifestation of infection with the human parvovirus.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Sonographic evaluation of pediatric rhabdomyosarcomas.

The ultrasound examinations of ten pediatric patients with retroperitoneal or pelvic embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas were reviewed. A pattern of coarse low-, medium-, or high-level echoes was observed in these tumors. Sonolucent areas, probably secondary to necrosis or hemorrhage, were seen in the tumors of five patients. Serial examinations were performed during the course of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in seven patients. These studies were examined retrospectively to determine whether a specific change in the echo characteristics of the tumor occurred during therapy. No such specific change was observed in these patients. Ultrasound was useful in following tumor size and thus, response to therapy, which is important with the advent of newer, more conservative forms of therapy for rhabdomyosarcoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Gastric duplication presenting as a double esophagus.

Duplications of the stomach are infrequent and, when present, usually become clinically manifest as an abdominal mass. Other clinical presentations have rarely been described. This report illustrates the case of a patient who presented with occult blood loss and radiographic evidence of esophageal duplication. A technetium scan demonstrated gastric duplication with mediastinal extension. Operative management and a review of the literature are described.

Diagnosis, Differential↗