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Biomedical subjects

G Marshak

Publications and source records attributed to G Marshak.

60 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

An animal model of acute otitis media consequent to beta-lactamase-producing nontypable Haemophilus influenzae.

A chinchilla model of acute otitis media with effusion consequent to beta-lactamase-producing nontypable Haemophilus influenzae was developed using the method of direct inoculation of 145 colony-forming units (CFU) or 252 CFU of beta-lactamase-producing nontypable H influenzae into the right superior bullae of 40 chinchillas. The course of the disease was documented longitudinally by otomicroscopy, tympanometry, and periodic culturing of the middle ears. Onset of the disease occurred in 100% of the animals between two and six days postinoculation and resolution was complete in all ears by day 36. Results of rechallenge with the same organism support the combined effect of a local and weaker systemic middle ear protective mechanism rendering resistance to reinfection with a homologous organism in the chinchilla.

Acute Disease↗

Interferon anti-viral system in Bell's palsy.

Thirty-two consecutive Bell's palsy patients were examined clinically and virologically. All the patients were assayed for serum interferon (IFN) levels at onset of the disease and most of them had repeated IFN assays during the course of the disease. In 15 patients the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were also evaluated for the presence of an anti-viral state (AVS). In viral infections, blood IFN levels are invariably increased, and the PBMC are usually in an AVS. Twenty-three patients (72%) had increased serum IFN values or were in an AVS. The mean serum IFN level was 95 U/ml (normal less than or equal to 16 U/ml) during the first 3 days following onset of the disease, declining later to normal values from the seventh day onwards. No patient had increased antibody titers to herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses. The increased blood IFN levels and the AVS of blood cells are compatible with an acute viral infection. It is concluded that the etiology of Bell's palsy is most likely an acute viral infection, possibly due to an unidentified or unusual virus, or to reactivation of a latent virus.

Facial Paralysis↗

Toxicity of adjuvant high-dose interferon-alpha-2b in patients with cutaneous melanoma at high risk of recurrence.

Interferon-alpha-2b (INF-alpha-2b) has been approved by the FDA as adjuvant treatment for patients with melanoma at high risk of recurrence. INF-alpha-2b is administered at 20 MU/m2/day IV, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, and then 10 MU/m2/day SC, three times weekly for 48 weeks. We investigated the toxicity of this protocol in 30 patients between June 1996 and February 1998. An intensive toxicity evaluation program was developed to monitor side effects. During both induction and maintenance phases, 60% of patients required a dose delay and/or reduction. Twenty percent were unable to complete the treatment plan, and 53% tolerated at least 80% of the scheduled dose. The frequently reported toxicity during induction included constitutional symptoms, myelosuppression, and hepatotoxicity. All were reversible on cessation of treatment or dose modification. During maintenance, toxicity included thyroid dysfunction, hypertriglyceridemia, retinopathy and a combination of mood disturbances, memory loss, cognitive slowing and impaired executive function. Administration of high-dose INF-alpha-2b is feasible, with close patient monitoring.

Adolescent↗

Laryngeal carcinoma--epidemiological and clinical features: experience of the Rabin Medical Center in Israel.

We sought to compare the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with carcinoma of the larynx treated at a major Israeli tertiary facility with other series in the literature. The charts of 361 consecutive patients from 1974 to 1995 were reviewed. Our population was distinguished from other series by a low rate of alcohol abuse (12%), high incidence of second malignancies in sites other than the upper aerodigestive tract (53%) and high rate of early-stage tumors (82%). Overall 5-year survival and local control rates were 88% and 85%, respectively. Our study suggests that the low alcohol consumption and high proportion of early-stage tumors at diagnosis, characteristic of the Israeli population of patients with laryngeal carcinoma, may explain, in part, the relatively high survival and local control rates.

Adolescent↗

Histological changes in the cervical lymph nodes after radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy to the neck is frequently employed in the treatment of malignancies, sometimes alone and sometimes before or after surgery or with or without chemotherapy. We checked the histopathological changes in the neck after radiotherapy, dividing the changes into two groups. One with short-term changes between six months to one year, and the second group with long-term changes after more than six years. We compared these two groups with a control group without radiotherapy. The changes in the long-term group were more pronounced than in the short-term group, with more stromal fibrosis, vascular changes, and specially lymph nodes smaller than one centimeter. Thus, bigger lymph nodes (more then one centimeter) are more radiosensitive and become smaller after six years.

Adult↗