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Biomedical subjects

J Abrahamson

Publications and source records attributed to J Abrahamson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The menstrual cycle and acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of the menstrual cycle on the incidence and presentation of acute appendicitis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Israel. SUBJECTS: 144 women of child bearing age operated on for suspected acute appendicitis and subdivided according to the menstrual phase during which they presented. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The final diagnoses, clinical presentation, and laboratory data. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the incidence of acute, gangrenous, or perforated appendicitis in patients operated on during the various phases of the menstrual cycle. During menstruation, however, a normal appendix not accompanied by other disease was found significantly more often (p = 0.04). Clinical presentation, physical findings, and laboratory results did not vary throughout the menstrual cycle except for the "classic shifting pain" which was significantly more common during the luteal phase. CONCLUSIONS: Acute appendicitis occurs randomly during the various phases of the menstrual cycle. The incidence of operations for uninflamed appendixes may be higher during the menstrual phase. Significantly more negative laparotomies are done during the menstrual phase, which suggests the existence of a functional disorder that mimics acute appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Ischemic heart disease precipitated by occult cancer.

The hypothesis was tested that cancer, by virtue of it being a thrombotic diathesis, may enhance ischemic heart disease. Because cancer therapy may precipitate thromboembolism, the authors focused on patients with occult neoplasia before therapy. Occult cancer was defined as a time period of 2 years before a cancer diagnosis was established. Data obtained from the files of patients with the diagnosis of malignant tumors and admitted to a general hospital during a 3-year period were reviewed for coronary risk factors, coronary events, and characteristics of cancer. Indices of coronary instability were studied: the incidence of first coronary events, the incidence of all coronary events, and the coronary events burden. These indices were calculated for 366 patients with cancer (from the Department of Medicine files of 166 consecutive patients with cancer of several primary sites and from the surgical ward files of 100 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer and 100 consecutive patients with cancer of the prostate or bladder) and for 100 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy. The patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy served as controls. A steep and statistically significant increase in coronary instability indices was observed in all groups of patients with cancer in the 2-year period before cancer diagnosis in comparison with the coronary instability indices of control patients (P less than or equal to 0.05 to 0.0001). Patients with colorectal cancer presented the highest indices in the 2-year period before cancer diagnosis, with unstable ischemic heart disease being reported in 18% and first coronary events in 10%. The coronary events burden was 0.92. The lowest indices among patients with cancer were recorded in those with prostatic and bladder cancer. Unstable ischemic heart disease occurred in 6% and first coronary events in 4%. The coronary events burden was 0.36. The indices were several times lower for control patients than for patients with cancer. Unstable ischemic heart disease occurred in 3% of control patients, and first coronary events in 2%. The coronary events burden was 0.15. Other possible etiologic factors, particularly the known coronary risk factors and anemia, were not statistically related with an increased risk of coronary events in the 2-year period before cancer diagnosis. Based on these epidemiologic data, it appears that there may be an association between occult cancer and coronary events.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Arterial occlusive disease in occult cancer.

Thromboembolism frequently complicates advanced cancer. The incidence of TE as one of the initial manifestations of occult cancer and the diagnostic value of TE as a signal of a possible unrecognized tumor were the subjects of recent studies. TE may precede the diagnosis of cancer by several months or years. The polymorphism of manifestations of paraneoplastic TE has been described previously. An accelerated course of intermittent claudication and of ischemic heart disease has been described in patients with cancer and probably represents additional variants of Trousseau's syndrome. Recently, clues for the presence of occult neoplasms in patients with TE have been proposed. Their value in the stratification of patients needs to be established in prospective studies. That cancer may be responsible for a precipitated course of coronary or peripheral arterial disease raises the question of whether work-up is recommended to uncover a silent malignancy in a patient who has been referred for treatment of these severe ischemic syndromes.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1992

Psoas abscess: case report and review of the literature.

Psoas muscle abscess is rare and presents a diagnostic challenge requiring a high index of suspicion. We report an unusual case of primary psoas abscess caused by Proteus mirabilis. Primary psoas abscess is most commonly present in children and is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 434 cases of psoas abscess has been reported. The subject is discussed noting the differences between primary and secondary cases, and emphasizing the importance of ultrasound and computerized tomography guided drainage of psoas abscess. A flow chart for the evaluation and management of primary and secondary abscess is presented, taking into consideration the success rate of the various methods of treatment described in the literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Staging of rectal carcinoma by endorectal ultrasonography].

Staging of rectal carcinoma is essential for its management. 23 patients with rectal lesions were examined by endorectal ultrasonography. Of these 19 had rectal carcinoma and in 4 there was an abscess of the rectal wall, previously diagnosed by sigmoidoscopic biopsy. 10 of those with carcinoma were examined by computerized tomography as well, and 10 were operated on. In most cases the staging of rectal carcinoma by endorectal ultrasonography was accurate and compared well with the operative histological results. We conclude that endorectal ultrasonography is the method of choice for staging of rectal carcinoma prior to treatment.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1990

CA-15.3, TPA and MCA as markers for breast cancer.

Serum concentrations of CA-15.3, tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and mucinous-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) were measured in 327 women: 81 controls, 93 patients with benign breast disease, 46 patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer and 107 patients during breast cancer follow-up. CA-15.3 was elevated in 16% of the controls, in 29% of the patients with benign breast disease, in 65% of the breast cancer patients and in 74% of the follow-up patients. TPA was elevated in 4%, 11%, 36% and 75%, respectively. The corresponding figures for MCA were 10%, 8%, 30% and 64%. The highest sensitivity for cancer detection (74%) was obtained with a combination of CA-15.3 and TPA, while the specificity of this panel was 75%. The negative predictive value of these combined tests was 93%. MCA scored lower values, being only 30% sensitive. The CA-15.3/TPA panel may increase sensitivity compared with single marker tests and provide additional information for clinical evaluation.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1989

Abdominal incision.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1989

Clinical significance of paraneoplastic syndrome.

The prevalence, clinical presentations, and diagnostic significance of the paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) in the setting of a department of internal medicine in a community hospital was studied. During a 7-year period (1979-1985) a total of 167 patients among 11,000 hospitalized patients were diagnosed as having a malignant neoplasia previously unknown. From this group we selected all cases who presented with one or more of the known clinical PNSs. Forty-two cases, i.e., 25% fulfilled the selection criteria. Their prevalence in our population was higher than usually found in the literature. Sixteen different categories of PNS were observed. They occurred 55 times, since more than one PNS was present in 9 cases. No significant correlation was observed between any type of PNS and any particular class of malignant neoplasia. At the time of initial evaluation, PNSs were associated with stage I malignancy in 15 cases, with stages II and III in 8 and 3 cases, respectively, and with stage IV in 22 cases. PNSs were the leading symptom or sign in 56% of the patients. In these patients the PNS determined the direction of work-up in the search for a malignant tumor. However, PNSs were essential for suspecting cancer in stage I of the disease in 6 cases only, i.e., 14%. We stress that awareness of the clinical implications of these syndromes may permit an earlier diagnosis of malignancy.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Radiation carcinogenesis in the male breast.

A 53-year-old man developed cystic papillary carcinoma of the breast 30 years after radiotherapy to his chest. This rare type of carcinoma has not been previously reported following irradiation. In contrast to the comprehensive literature on irradiation as an etiological factor in carcinogenesis of the female breast, only 10 cases have been reported in males. The subject is reviewed together with the experience gained on human females and with animals. The carcinogenic characteristics of irradiation are analyzed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Acute cholecystitis after orthopaedic operations.

When acute cholecystitis follows orthopaedic operations, the disease is frequently obscure and fulminating, with rapid progress to gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder, which may be fatal. Three cases are reported and the literature is reviewed. Various aspects of the disorder are discussed. It is important that orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of the condition in order to be able to make an early diagnosis and so prevent a lethal outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Histoplasmosis of kidneys presenting as chronic recurrent renal disease.

Histoplasmosis is a well-known infectious disease that can sometimes run a mysterious and unexpected course. A case is reported that presented as a chronic renal process, with right pyelocutaneous fistula and prolonged purulent discharge as well as focal calcifications of the left kidney with recurrent stone formation. Histopathologic examination of the right kidney, removed in 1975, showed noncaseating granulomas, but the precise diagnosis was not made until 1983, when histopathologic re-examination followed partial resection of the left kidney, for recurrent stone formation. This article emphasizes the difficulty in diagnosing a noncaseating granulomatous disease in general and histoplasmosis in particular, especially when the urogenital tract is involved, with isolated local manifestations. It underlines the progressive and damaging character of this chronic disease, the variety of its manifestations, and attempts to increase awareness of this potentially treatable disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

MAPMAKER: an interactive computer package for constructing primary genetic linkage maps of experimental and natural populations.

With the advent of RFLPs, genetic linkage maps are now being assembled for a number of organisms including both inbred experimental populations such as maize and outbred natural populations such as humans. Accurate construction of such genetic maps requires multipoint linkage analysis of particular types of pedigrees. We describe here a computer package, called MAPMAKER, designed specifically for this purpose. The program uses an efficient algorithm that allows simultaneous multipoint analysis of any number of loci. MAPMAKER also includes an interactive command language that makes it easy for a geneticist to explore linkage data. MAPMAKER has been applied to the construction of linkage maps in a number of organisms, including the human and several plants, and we outline the mapping strategies that have been used.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1986

Postoperative acute cholecystitis complicating unrelated operations.

The entity of postoperative acute cholecystitis has striking features that demand special attention. The process may follow intra- and extra-abdominal procedures, and the diagnosis may be especially difficult after recent abdominal operations. The course of the disease is frequently obscure and fulminant, progressing rapidly to gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder, with a high mortality rate. Six such patients, aged 69 to 83 years, were managed in our department, with one death. The cause of this complication is probably multifactorial and includes: stasis of bile of high viscosity induced by dehydration, hypovolemia, fever, and shock; obstruction at the sphincter of Oddi following starvation, anesthesia, narcotics or other possible factors such as pigment load following blood transfusion; and impaired circulation to the gallbladder secondary to sympathetic stimulation or blood-borne toxic factors induced by septicemia. The key to successful treatment is awareness, early diagnosis, intensive preoperative treatment with fluids and antibiotics, and percutaneous drainage or immediate cholecystectomy.

Acute Disease↗