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Biomedical subjects

G Dinari

Publications and source records attributed to G Dinari.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Convulsions in shigellosis. Evaluation of possible risk factors.

We studied 158 children with culture-proven shigellosis, 37 (23.4%) of whom had convulsions. Historical, clinical, and laboratory data were compared between patients with and without convulsions to define risk factors for the development of seizures. Age was the most important predisposing factor. The highest incidence of shigellosis associated with convulsions was found in children between 6 months and 4 years of age. Peak body temperature and a family history of convulsions also independently affected the development of seizures. Sex and Shigella strain showed differences between the groups but failed to reach statistical significance.

Acid-Base Imbalance↗
PubMed1983

Cholelithiasis in children with immunoglobulin A deficiency: a new gastroenterologic syndrome.

In view of the role of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the local host defenses of the gut and biliary tract, and the association of IgA deficiency with various intestinal disorders, an ultrasonographic study was performed to determine the prevalence of gallstones in selective IgA deficiency. Eight of 13 children (three girls and five boys) with selective IgA deficiency had abnormal biliary sonograms. Four had cholelithiasis, and four had biliary sludge only. IgA deficiency may predispose to gallbladder infection, and thus to the development of gallstones. Decreased bile acid pool due to intestinal losses, and biliary stasis due to reduced hormonal gallbladder stimulation may also play a role in some cases, but further studies are needed. This association adds a new gastrointestinal abnormality to those known to be associated with selective IgA deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Differential leukocyte count in acute gastroenteritis. An aid to early diagnosis.

The total and differential leukocyte counts of 238 infants with acute gastroenteritis were evaluated as an aid in differentiating between nonbacterial and bacterial infection. In contrast to the total leukocyte count, which was noncontributory, the absolute band count and the ratio between band and total neutrophil count (B/N ratio) were helpful, with the highest values seen in patients with Shigellosis. A B/N ratio greater than 0.10 can help differentiate Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter infections from E. coli and nonbacterial gastroenteritis with a sensitivity of 84.3 per cent and a specificity of 74.5 per cent.

Campylobacter Infections↗
PubMed1982

Symptomatic and asymptomatic spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in young adults.

The lumbar spine was examined radiologically for the presence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in 936 asymptomatic soldiers prior to military placement and in 662 soldiers complaining of low back pain. The overall incidence of spondylolysis was 9.7% in both groups, but bilateral spondylolysis was more prone to be associated with symptoms than a unilateral defect. In the symptomatic group the incidence of spondylolisthesis was 5.3% but only 2.2% in the asymptomatic group. The defect was seen in the oblique views only in 18.7% of the cases of spondylolysis. The precise diagnosis is important for vocational counselling and military placement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The effect of phototherapy on intestinal mucosal enzyme activity in the Gunn rat.

Infants undergoing phototherapy may develop loose stools. Acquired lactase deficiency secondary to this treatment modality was suggested as a cause for the diarrhea. The effects of light energy directly on intestinal enzymes and indirectly through bilirubin photooxidation products were studied. Adult homozygote and heterozygote Gunn rats were treated with light for varying periods while littermate controls were kept in the dark. Intestinal lactase, sucrase and GGTP activities and serum bilirubin concentrations were determined. Jaundiced and non-jaundiced 1-week-old suckling Gunn rats were treated with light for 96 h, and intestinal lactase activity determined. No decreases in lactase, sucrase or GGTP activities were observed suggesting the reported diarrheal states following phototherapy are not related to light energy or photooxidation products.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Gastrointestinal manifestations of Niemann-Pick disease.

3 infants wih the acute neuronopathic form of Niemann-Pick disease had prominent gastrointestinal manifestations. These included chronic diarrhea, malnutrition, failure to thrive, radiologic intestinal abnormalities, xylose malabsorption, abnormal liver function, and infiltration of the liver, lamina propria and autonomic ganglia by lipid-laden cells. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed, and it is suggested that gastrointestinal disturbances play a larger part in the clinical manifestations of Niemann-Pick disease than is usually appreciated.

Digestive System↗
PubMed1979

Asymptomatic transient uveitis in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

Although acute anterior uveitis has been noted in children with inflammatory bowel disease, it has not been appreciated in the absence of ocular symptoms. To determine the presence of asymptomatic uveitis, slit-lamp examinations were performed in 19 children with granulomatous bowel disease and seven with ulcerative colitis. In the former group, six had uveitis, while no abnormalities were noted in those with ulcerative colitis. Abnormalities consisted of cells and flare in the anterior chamber. In the group with asymptomatic uveitis, all were male, three were black, and all had colonic involvement. No positive correlations were noted between the presence of uveitis and bowel symptoms, duration of illness, extraintestinal manifestations, or specific treatment regimens. None of the six children with uveitis had evidence of spondylitis, and five were HLA-B27-negative. Repeated eye examinations six to 12 months later disclosed no evidence of uveitis in four of five children and improvement in the remaining child. These data suggest that asymptomatic transient uveitis is common in children with granulomatous bowel disease, but progression to severe adult uveal disease remains unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Effect of lead exposure on the activity of some hepatic enzymes in the rat.

Seven-day-old rats were fed 1% lead acetate tetrahydrate solution for 2, 4, or 7 days. Adult rats were fed the same lead solution for 6--8 wk. In the newborn rats, hepatic UDP-bilirubin glucuronyl transferase (GT) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activities were markedly increased. GT activity was increased after 4 days as compared to the controls (6.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 4.3 +/- 0.3, P less than 0.001), and was maximal after 7 days of treatment (7.5 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.6 +/- 0.4, P less than 0.001). GGTP activity was already maximally increased after 2 days of lead treatment (1.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.1, P less than 0.001). Hepatic GT and GGTP activities were similarly increased in adult rats (7.9 +/- 0.3 vs. 5.1 +/- 0.1, P less than 0.001, and 0.7 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.1, P less than 0.005, respectively). In vitro studies adding lead citrate to liver homogenates did not produce any direct effect on GT and GGTP activities.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transient acute cortical blindness associated with hypoglycemia.

A 7-year-old boy with glycogen storage disease type III developed transient acute cortical blindness associated with hypoglycemia on two separate occasions; the patient also demonstrated transient high-voltage slowing on the electroencephalogram over both occipital areas. This patient is the second examined in our pediatric department during a 5 year period with acute cortical blindness associated with hypoglycemia.

Blindness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cricopharyngeal dysfunction in childhood: treatment by dilatations.

A 3-year-old child with cricopharyngeal dysfunction is reported. Swallowing difficulties, nasal regurgitation, and gagging developed at 2 months of age. Repeated aspirations and over 40 episodes of pneumonia necessitating multiple hospitalizations occurred up to 2 years of age, along with pharyngeal pooling of saliva and inability to swallow solid food. Barium was held up at the cricopharyngeal level, and a prominent esophageal impression was seen at the same level. Symptoms were completely alleviated after two esophageal dilatations by mercury dilators, and the relief persisted for the 6 months of follow-up. The diagnosis of cricopharyngeal dysfunction is discussed, and the necessity for manometric studies, in the face of often misleading radiologic appearance, is emphasized. It is suggested that early use of esophageal dilatations might prevent prolonged morbidity and afford long-term symptomatic relief.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of sympathectomy on ontogeny of small intestinal disaccharidases in the rat.

In the present study the effect of chemical sympathectomy on the development of small intestinal enzymes in the rat was analyzed. Eight doses of guanethidine sulfate were administered subcutaneously every 48 h to 34 newborn rats, starting at birth. The last dose was given at 14 days of age. Twenty-two littermates served as controls. Intestinal lactase, maltase, sucrase, and alkaline phosphatase were determined at 15, 17, 20, 23, and 25 days of age. Sympathectomy was demonstrated by reduction of the number of perikarya in the superior cervical ganglia in treated rats as compared with control rats. A normal developmental pattern of activities of the disaccharidases in the small intestine was observed in both groups. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) in the 15- and 17-day-old treated animals.

Animals↗