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Biomedical subjects

I Potasman

Publications and source records attributed to I Potasman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Brucellosis as a cause of severe colitis.

A 16-yr-old girl presented with osteomyelitis and massive rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy revealed severe nonspecific colitis. Multiple laboratory investigations failed to disclose the etiology of either the bone or colon infections. Empiric treatment with corticosteroids and sulfasalazine resulted in only transient improvement. One month after discharge, her original symptoms recurred. Blood and pus cultures at this time yielded Brucella melitensis. After tetracycline treatment, the patient recovered. At 1-yr follow-up, she was found completely asymptomatic. Although osteomyelitis is a well-known manifestation of brucellosis, colitis related to this agent has so far not been described.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Encephalitis without pneumonia caused by Legionella bozemanii].

Legionnaire disease (LD) is characterized by a clinical picture of pneumonia and is usually accompanied by multisystem involvement. Neurologic manifestations tend to appear concurrently with, or soon after the onset of fever. Cases in which neurologic manifestations precede the development of pneumonia are exceedingly rare. We recently treated 3 patients with LD who presented with a clinical picture of severe viral encephalitis without pneumonia. There were high serum titres of IgG and IgM antibodies against several Legionella species. However, a positive reaction in the spinal fluid was detected only against L. bozemanii. All 3 patients were discharged without sequellae. We suggest that LD should be included in the differential diagnosis of viral encephalitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Biochemical fingerprints of Legionella spp. by the BIOLOG system: presumptive identification of clinical and environmental isolates.

Six Legionella strains were characterized with the BIOLOG identification system. A specific metabolic pattern for the six Legionella strains was observed after 24 h. Several positive reactions were detected intermittently in all six strains tested. The possible application of the BIOLOG system for identification of Legionella spp. from environmental or clinical samples is discussed.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1990

Aquagenic pruritus: prevalence and clinical characteristics.

We conducted a study of the prevalence and clinical characteristics of aquagenic pruritus (AP) in 996 employees at a general hospital. Forty-five of them claimed that they had AP, thus giving a reported prevalence of 4.5%; 12 were excluded for various reasons and a detailed workup was carried out in 33 people. In more than 75% of the cases AP had started before age 30 and lasted for over 10 years in 42%. The onset of AP occurred within 5 min of exposure in 76% of the cases and usually lasted between 10 and 30 min. In most cases no association could be demonstrated between AP and each of the following factors: place, season, time of day, water temperature, type of soap, towelling or mental stress. AP in at least one other family member was found in 33% of the cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Heart-lung transplantation for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (DIPF) carries a poor prognosis, with an average survival of 4 years. A 37-year-old man had been followed by our department for over 5 years for biopsy-proven DIPF. The disease progressed relentlessly, unresponsive to corticosteroid or colchicine treatment. Marked pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure developed. Arterial pO2 decreased to 30 mmHg and he became bedridden and totally dependent on oxygen inhalation. A heart-lung transplantation was successful in June 1987. The anti-rejection regimen included cyclosporine and azathioprine. Subsequently his functional capacity improved remarkably and pO2 reached 87 mmHg on ambient air. Regular weekly followup visits have included physical examination, chest X-ray, cyclosporine blood levels, blood counts and determination of renal function. During a year of followup there has been no rejection episode nor any other major complication. Although experience with lung transplantation for end-stage DIPF is still limited, it is gradually being accepted as the only successful therapeutic approach. The case presented is the first in Israel of successful heart-lung transplantation for DIPF.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Single-dose ciprofloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women.

In a randomised, double-blind trial two single-dose regimens of ciprofloxacin were evaluated for treatment of acute urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. Fifty-three women received 250 mg and 46 750 mg of ciprofloxacin. Seven days after treatment the eradication rate was 81.1% and 82.6% in the low and high dose groups respectively; the clinical cure rate at 28 days was 64.1% and 73.9% respectively. In women with recurrent UTI a significantly better response was found with the high dose regimen (92% versus 68%; p less than 0.001). It is concluded that a single 250 mg dose of ciprofloxacin is effective for treatment in most women with acute UTI, but in women with recurrent infection a 750 mg dose is preferable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Single low-dose ofloxacin for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in young women.

Fifty premenopausal women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) were treated with a single dose of 100 mg of ofloxacin. Duration of symptoms before the treatment, number of episodes of UTI during the last year, association with sexual activity, and the use of contraceptives were evaluated in relation to the clinical and microbiological response. Forty-seven women (94%) were cured clinically and microbiologically three days after treatment. Follow up at 28 days disclosed that 43 (86%) were free of symptoms and in 40 (80%) the urinary cultures were negative. Significantly higher rates of microbiological failure or reinfection were found among women with three or more episodes of UTI during the last year. This study shows that a single dose of ofloxacin is effective for therapy of uncomplicated UTI in young women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Intrathecal production of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in patients with toxoplasmic encephalitis and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

We attempted to determine whether patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and toxoplasmic encephalitis produce Toxoplasma antibodies in the central nervous system, and whether these antibodies would be useful for diagnosing toxoplasmic encephalitis. Thirty-seven patients with AIDS and toxoplasmic encephalitis and 11 patients with AIDS alone were studied. All patients had serum IgG but not IgM Toxoplasma antibodies. Twenty-three of the patients with AIDS and toxoplasmic encephalitis had Toxoplasma antibody in cerebrospinal fluid compared to none of the patients with AIDS alone. Of the patients with AIDS alone who had serum antibodies to T. gondii, none had Toxoplasma antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid. Production of antibodies in the central nervous system was seen in 11 of 16 patients with AIDS and toxoplasmic encephalitis but not in 4 patients in the control group who only had Toxoplasma antibody in their cerebrospinal fluid. These results suggest that production of T. gondii antibodies in the central nervous system may be diagnostic of toxoplasmic encephalitis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Toxoplasma gondii antigens recognized by sequential samples of serum obtained from congenitally infected infants.

The Sabin-Feldman dye test, the immunoglobulin M (IgM) immunosorbent agglutination assay, and the immunoblot technique were used to study the evolution of the antibody response to Toxoplasma gondii and to examine antigens of the organism recognized by antibodies in the sera of 12 congenitally infected infants and 7 mothers. In the sera of eight infants, a significant rise was noted in the dye test titers, while the serum of only one infant demonstrated a late increase in the IgM immunosorbent agglutination assay titer. In each infant and mother, antigens with approximate masses of 35,000 and 115,000 daltons were strongly recognized by IgG antibodies. An antigen(s) with an approximate mass of 4,000 daltons was recognized by IgM antibodies in the sera of each of the mothers but was recognized by antibodies in the sera of only two of the infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Infectious complications in heart transplant recipients receiving cyclosporine and corticosteroids.

The rate of infectious complications differed significantly in two groups of heart transplant recipients who received different immunosuppressive regimens. Compared with patients who received conventional immunosuppression, patients treated with cyclosporine had a lower rate of infectious complications, and the contribution of infection to observed mortality was lower. Herpes simplex virus caused less morbidity and there were fewer active cytomegalovirus infections in seropositive recipients treated with cyclosporine. The incidence of bacterial pulmonary infections and associated bacteremia also decreased impressively. A decrease in nocardial infections was offset by a rise in those due to Legionella species. The frequency of aspergillosis was decreased by 54% in the cyclosporine-treated group, but half of these infections disseminated beyond the lung and such dissemination was always fatal. Infections with Pneumocystis carinii were significantly less common with cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. Screening serologic tests for toxoplasma should be done routinely and consideration given to prophylaxis in heart transplant recipients at high risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii antigens recognized by human sera obtained before and after acute infection.

The antibody response to Toxoplasma gondii was studied in human serum samples obtained before and during acute infection with T. gondii. Analysis was by the Sabin-Feldman dye test, double-sandwich IgM ELISA, agglutination test, and protein blots of toxoplasma antigens. Seventeen patients were studied: 12 pregnant women, 2 heart transplant recipients, and 3 symptomatic but immunologically normal individuals. Both IgM and IgG protein blots of the first serologically positive serum sample from each patient revealed new bands, as well as intensified staining of bands noted with the serologically negative serum samples. In each patient, bands corresponding to antigens of approximately 4 kilodaltons (kDa; IgM blots) and of approximately 35 kDa (IgG) were the most intensely stained. In one patient, IgM antibodies to the 4-kDa antigen(s) were demonstrable by protein blots before they were demonstrable by IgM ELISA. IgG protein blots of sera from individuals with chronic infection with T. gondii revealed weakly reactive antibodies to both the 4-kDa and 35-kDa antigens; these bands were not demonstrable in the IgM blots.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Toxoplasma antigens recognized by naturally occurring human antibodies.

Sera of most adults have high agglutination test titers to Toxoplasma gondii whether or not the adults have other serological evidence of the infection. This finding has been attributed to the presence of naturally occurring antibodies to T. gondii. Consistent with this observation, we have recently noted that protein blots (PB) of sera of individuals not previously infected with T. gondii had immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies to antigens of the parasite. To further define the antigens recognized by these naturally occurring antibodies, we studied PB of sera of 44 adults and 9 children who had no serological evidence of the infection. Multiple antigens of T. gondii with molecular weights of 15,000 to greater than 205,000 were recognized by IgG and IgM natural antibodies of each of the sera. Although a relatively consistent pattern was noted on the IgM PB of the sera of the adults in the molecular weight range of 48,000 to 85,000, greater heterogeneity was noted on the IgG PB. The most common bands noted on the latter were of approximately 30,000 and 92,000 molecular weight. All of the PB obtained with the serial sera collected at yearly intervals from the children revealed bands; in some cases, new bands had appeared with time, and in others the pattern was constant. In children older than 8 years, the patterns of the PB were similar to those noted in PB of sera of the adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The Groll-Hirschowitz syndrome.

Two sisters showed a similar disorder with cachexia, sensory deafness, and upper gastrointestinal abnormalities. The family pedigree suggests autosomal recessive inheritance of the disorder. Demyelinization demonstrated by a peripheral nerve biopsy may explain the basis for the manifestations. Only one family with this unique syndrome has been reported in the literature. The term "The Groll-Hirschowitz Syndrome" has been suggested, named after the two physicians who first described this condition.

Adult↗