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Biomedical subjects

G Stringel

Publications and source records attributed to G Stringel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Pharmacologic considerations in the treatment of neonatal septicemia and its complications.

This article focuses on the pharmacologic properties of drugs commonly used in the treatment of neonatal septicemia and its complications. Rational therapy demands an awareness of not only the pharmacology of individual drugs but also the interactions and anticipated fate of such drugs in the rapidly changing physiologic environment of the neonate. Further research in the area of equine neonatal pharmacology should greatly assist our understanding of the impact of the disease state on the unique physiology of the newborn and should allow us to better predict the ultimate fate of drugs commonly used for such purposes. Careful dosing and close monitoring of pharmacologic effects are critical for a successful outcome. In the future, newer therapeutic strategies that are safe and efficacious may provide a means to circumvent many of the problems currently encountered with treating the septicemic newborn foal.

Animals↗

Isochromosome 7q and Wilms tumor.

Isochromosome 7q is a nonrandom cytogenetic abnormality in Wilms tumor. Two notable cases are described: (1) a case of bilateral Wilms tumor in which only the left-sided tumor contained isochromosome 7q and (2) a case of left-sided Wilms tumor in which the tumor contained isochromosome 7q, in addition to four other chromosomal abnormalities associated with Wilms tumor.

Child, Preschool↗

Failure of partial splenectomy to ameliorate the anemia of pyruvate kinase deficiency.

The authors report a case of pyruvate kinase deficiency in a 4-year-old patient who required monthly blood transfusions. A partial splenectomy was performed to decrease the transfusion requirements and at the same time preserve splenic function. After removal of 80% of splenic tissue there was no amelioration of her transfusion needs. She responded well to subsequent total splenectomy performed 6 months later, and is currently well and transfusion independent. Rapid splenic regeneration possibly caused by erythrophagocytosis and extramedullary hematopoiesis is the presumed reason for this patient's failure to respond to partial splenectomy.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

Urokinase in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions in children.

OBJECTIVE: Use of intrapleural fibrinolytic agents in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions has been widely reported in adults. Such agents promote drainage of fluid through the thoracostomy tube and may obviate surgery. Both streptokinase and urokinase have been used for this purpose, but there are few reports of their use in the children. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of intrapleural urokinase in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions in children. METHODS: We reviewed the hospital course of nine children, ages 6 months to 6 years, with complicated parapneumonic effusions who received intrapleural urokinase after failing to respond to I.V. antibiotics and closed-tube thoracostomy drainage. Four subjects had additional thoroscopic adhesiolysis before intrapleural instillation of urokinase; 20,000 IU of diluted urokinase was instilled three times a day via the thoracostomy tube for 3 days. RESULTS: Eight subjects responded to 3 days of urokinase instillation, with increased thoracostomy tube drainage and clinical resolution of symptoms. The remaining subject responded to a second course of instillation. Two subjects needed oral analgesic for transient chest pain. All subjects tolerated the procedure well. No bleeding, fever, anaphylaxis, or allergic reactions were noted. The coagulation parameters remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Intrapleural instillation of urokinase appears to be a useful and safe adjunct in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions in children. Its use may be considered in potential decortication patients in an effort to prevent surgery and possibly shorten hospitalization.

Chest Tubes↗

Laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

The authors report the successful use of laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) in two children. Attempts at simple percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in both patients had failed. Subsequently, LA-PEG was easily accomplished. This technique consisted of a combination of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and laparoscopy. The gastrostomy was placed under direct vision in the lesser gastric curvature, hence minimizing the risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux.

Adolescent↗

Intrapleural instillation of urokinase in the treatment of loculated pleural effusions in children.

The authors report on the use of intrapleural instillation of urokinase in the treatment of loculated pleural effusions in two pediatric patients. Urokinase helps to lyse fibrin by converting plasminogen to plasmin. The intrapleural instillation of urokinase is safe and effective for promoting drainage of loculated intrapleural effusions, and it proved a useful option in the treatment of persistent loculations.

Child, Preschool↗

Ventriculo-gallbladder shunts in children.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts are the most common procedure for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Ventriculoatrial shunts are effective but are subject to a higher incidence of potentially serious complications. We report our experience with ventriculo-gallbladder shunts in children. Ventriculo-gallbladder shunts are safe, effective, and technically easy to perform. We recommend their use when ventriculoperitoneal shunts have failed or the peritoneal cavity is not adequate for shunting.

Adolescent↗

Large gastroschisis: primary repair with Gore-Tex patch.

The author reports four newborns with large gastroschisis, in whom primary fascial closure could not be accomplished. They were successfully treated by primary repair with Gore-Tex patch. Gore-Tex patch closure is a safe and good alternative in large abdominal wall defects when primary fascial repair is not feasible.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Gastrostomy with antireflux properties.

The need for feeding gastrostomy seems to be increasing in children with neurological impairment and swallowing incoordination. Because gastrostomy can cause or increase gastroesophageal reflux, an antireflux procedure has been advocated at the time of gastrostomy placement in neurologically impaired children. A gastrostomy in the lesser gastric curvature with antirefluxing properties was performed in nine neurologically impaired children. All had severe swallowing incoordination with aspiration and malnutrition. Postoperatively none of the nine patients have demonstrated clinical evidence of vomiting or gastroesophageal reflux. This type of gastrostomy prevents the developement of gastroesophageal reflux by increasing the length of the intraabdominal esophagus and by increasing the acuity of the gastroesophageal angle of His. When compared with an antireflux procedure, it has less complications, shorter postoperative recovery, and is more economical.

Adolescent↗

Effect of dietary nucleosides on growth and maturation of the developing gut in the rat.

Dietary nucleoside (DN) as a precursor for nucleic acid synthesis may be important for rapidly dividing cells, since gut epithelial cells have limited capacity for de novo purine and pyrimidine synthesis. We evaluated in a controlled blinded study the effect of added nucleosides, 0.8% by weight, given for 2 weeks, on gut growth and maturation in 20 weanling rats. Mucosal protein and DNA in the proximal intestinal segment were 50% and 77% higher, respectively, in the DN-supplemented group (n = 10; p less than 0.05). Villus height based on cell count was 25% greater in the DN group (p less than 0.05). Maltase activity was significantly greater in proximal, middle, and distal intestinal segments, and the largest increase, 87%, was seen in the proximal gut mucosa. The maltase/lactase ratio was also higher in this segment. Increases in sucrase were less prominent. Lactase was minimally affected. The pattern of change in disaccharidase activity suggests that DN may enhance gut growth and maturation of the intestine in the weanling rat, the effects being more pronounced in the proximal segment. Diets free of nucleosides and nitrogenous bases may have adverse effects on the gut.

Animals↗

Topical and systemic antibiotics in the prevention of wound infection.

We evaluated under controlled conditions the efficacy of topical and systemic antibiotics, alone and in combination, in the prevention of wound infection and measured serum and tissue antibiotic levels in the wound and distant tissue after administration of antibiotics topically, systemically, and in combination. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were contaminated on the dorsal paravertebral muscles with a preset standardized inoculum of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides fragilis. A second-generation cephalosporin was used; systemic administration was given intramuscularly and topically in powder form. Wound infection was confirmed by the recovery of the organism by culture. Prophylactic antibiotics were effective in preventing wound infection in all groups. Topical antibiotic and a combination (topical/systemic) antibiotic were significantly more effective than was systemic antibiotic alone in preventing wound infection. Adequate levels of antibiotic were achieved in serum and tissue with both topical and systemic antibiotics. Wound tissue concentration of antibiotic was significantly higher when topical antibiotic was used.

Administration, Topical↗

Gastrostomy and Nissen fundoplication in neurologically impaired children.

We report our experience with 90 neurologically impaired children treated with gastrostomy and Nissen fundoplication. Malnutrition was the main problem, followed by aspiration, recurrent pneumonia, and vomiting. The symptomatology was caused by swallowing incoordination and gastroesophageal reflux. The diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal series and pH probe. Nissen fundoplication was performed following a standard technique with preservation of the vagus nerves and its branches, repair of the diaphragmatic crura, reconstruction of the angle of His, and a 360 degree wrap. A gastrostomy and pyloroplasty or pyloric dilatation were part of the operative procedure. There were no deaths and few complications related to the surgical procedure. Marked nutritional improvement was seen in most cases with an average weight gain of 3.2 kg/patient 3 months following surgery. There was also improvement in milestones and seizure control. The majority of parents were very satisfied and would recommend the procedure to other parents with similar problems.

Adolescent↗

The effect of intestinal anastomosis on gut growth and maturation.

We evaluated the effect of intestinal anastomosis without resection on gut morphometry (muscle thickness, villus height, and crypt depth), growth indices (DNA, protein, and protein:DNA ratio), and disaccharidase activity (maltase, sucrase, and lactase) in the growing animal. A group of 10 weanling Sprague-Dawley rats at 21 days of age was subjected to intestinal transection and anastomosis in the upper jejunum, 10 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz. A second group of 10 similar rats was used as a control group. All rats were fed a regular diet and kept under the same conditions. They were sacrificed 2 weeks later. Body weight, intestinal weight, and intestinal length measurements were obtained. The intestine was divided into two sections: preanastomotic (section A) and postanastomotic (section B) in the surgery group and equivalent sections A and B in the control group. Specimens were subjected to morphometric evaluation and mucosal scrapings for biochemical analysis. Despite significant weight gain in the control group, there were no differences in intestinal length, intestinal weight, and mucosal weight between the two groups. Muscle thickness, villus height, and crypt depth were significantly increased in the preanastomotic segment. Protein and DNA were also higher in the preanastomotic segment, but the protein:DNA ratio was less affected. There was significantly decreased enzymatic activity in the preanastomotic segment. Intestinal anastomosis has a significant effect on gut growth and maturation in the growing animal and may have important implications in the postoperative management of newborns and infants following intestinal surgery.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

A model to study the direct effect of diet on early intestinal growth and maturation using Thiry-Vella loops.

Thiry-Vella loops (TVL) are neurovascular intact intestinal segments isolated from the normal flow of chyme. TVL have been used to assess the effects of local and systemic factors in the intestine of adult animal models. To assess the direct effect of diet in growth and maturation of the intestine in the growing animal, the authors developed a similar model in the weanling rat. The surgical technique is described. Results include weight gain, morphometry of the intestine, dissacharidases, total proteins, and nucleic acid in both TVLs and intestine in continuity. This model is inexpensive, easy to handle, and ideal for studying the effect of dietary factors on intestinal growth and maturation, separating the direct effect of diet on the intestine from systemic effects.

Animals↗

Appendicitis in children: a systematic approach for a low incidence of complications.

Four hundred fourteen appendectomies in children have been described. Acute nonperforated appendicitis was seen in 57.1 percent of the patients and perforated appendicitis in 18.6 percent. A histologically normal appendix was seen in 14.3 percent of the patients. In 31 of these patients, other pathologic abnormalities were found to account for the symptoms, thus the number of negative explorations was reduced to 7 percent. The average length of hospitalization was 5.3 days for patients with acute nonperforated appendicitis and 7.3 days for patients with perforated appendicitis. A protocol was followed which consisted of fluid resuscitation, preoperative and postoperative administration of antibiotics, and surgical exploration with appendectomy in all patients. No interval appendectomies were performed. The peritoneal cavity was not irrigated and the use of drains was avoided as much as possible. All wounds were closed primarily without wound drains. Topical cefamandole powder was used in all cases. Aerobic and anaerobic culture specimens were obtained in all cases from the peritoneal cavity and appendiceal stump. Twenty-eight different organisms were recovered, B. fragilis being the most common followed by E. coli. Excellent results were obtained without mortality and a less than 1 percent complication rate. There was a shorter period of hospitalization for patients with perforated appendicitis and a shorter period of antibiotic treatment.

Acute Disease↗

Giant hemangioma: treatment with intermittent pneumatic compression.

Giant cavernous hemangiomas in newborns and infants can present with life-threatening complications. Although some modes of therapy are effective, there is a significant associated morbidity and mortality. The author reports two cases of complicated giant cavernous hemangiomas treated successfully with intermittent pneumatic compression. This mode of therapy is effective in the treatment of accessible giant hemangiomas. It is safe, simple, and inexpensive and, when possible, should be used as a primary mode of treatment in complicated cases.

Abdominal Muscles↗