Biomedical subjects

J H Jirka

Publications and source records attributed to J H Jirka.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1993

Necrotizing enterocolitis.

In summary, NEC is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the newborn. Premature infants are the most likely affected. Although progress has been made in elucidating some of the factors responsible for NEC, the exact etiology is still unclear. Aggressive medical management is required, but indications for surgical intervention differ from institution to institution. Overall mortality remains about 20% to 40%. About one half of survivors seem to have no sequelae, but the remaining infants may have significant ones which require additional surgical intervention or produce life long problems. Efforts at prevention have not been very successful. The single most important prophylactic measure would be to prevent prematurity. Until the exact pathogenesis of NEC is better understood, effective preventive measures are unlikely to be developed.

Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous↗

PubMed1985

Effect of bilirubin on brainstem auditory evoked potentials in the asphyxiated rat.

We measured brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER) in four groups of paralyzed, ventilated, adult rats. Group A (n = 2) received intravenous albumin; group B (n = 5) received bilirubin in albumin; group C (n = 7) was asphyxiated and then received albumin; and group D (n = 19) was asphyxiated and received bilirubin in albumin. When compared with control values, no changes in BAER occurred in groups A or B and only slight changes were found in group C. In group D, seven rats died and seven suffered a marked secondary deterioration of the BAER following recovery, a phenomenon that did not occur in group C (p = 0.02). Bilirubin toxicity appears to be responsible for the changes in BAER but prior asphyxia was necessary for this effect to occur. Because the changes that occurred in group D involved all four major waves, it is not possible to separate out a toxic effect of bilirubin, localized to the auditory nerve and the auditory pathway, from a generalized systemic effect which could cause attenuation of the entire response. The BAER may be useful, however, as a noninvasive means of identifying bilirubin toxicity in the newborn.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Comparison of oral penicillinase-resistant penicillins: contrasts between agents and assays.

We observed the comparative serum levels and mean peak serum antistaphylococcal activity in eight fasting adults who received 500 mg each of dicloxacillin, cloxacillin, oxacillin, and nafcillin. Dicloxacillin achieved higher and more prolonged serum levels and greater peak serum antistaphylococcal titers than the other drugs studied. The higher degree of protein binding of dicloxacillin was reflected in a greater disparity between the peak antistaphylococcal activity observed when dilutions were done in serum compared to broth. The lesser protein-bound penicillins showed less disparity, but this effect was offset by the higher serum levels obtained by dicloxacillin. The higher protein binding of dicloxacillin did not prevent its having equal or superior antistaphylococcal activity in serum when the drugs were given in equal doses.

Administration, Oral↗