Biomedical subjects

J Hasbargen

Publications and source records attributed to J Hasbargen.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Role of aldosterone in the sodium retention of patients with nephrotic syndrome.

The role of aldosterone in the abnormal sodium retention in patients with nephrotic syndrome has been debated. In fact, studies using a converting enzyme inhibitor to lower plasma aldosterone have rejected such a role. We therefore studied 5 nephrotic patients and 6 control subjects by using the more specific aldosterone antagonist, spironolactone. After withdrawal of diuretics 5 days prior to the study, the nephrotic patients and control subjects were placed on a high-sodium diet (285 +/- 6 mEq/day) for 8 days. After 4 days, spironolactone 200 mg p.o., b.i.d., was given for the remaining 4 days. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels were similar in both nephrotic patients and control subjects before the study, after sodium loading and after spironolactone had been given. After 4 days of high sodium intake control subjects were in sodium balance, but the nephrotic patients were in a positive sodium balance (approx. 80 mEq/day; p less than 0.01). On days 3 and 4 of spironolactone, the nephrotic patients exhibited an increase in urinary sodium excretion (205 +/- 20 vs. 312 +/- 13 mEq/day; p less than 0.005) but not the control subjects (279 +/- 16 vs. 286 +/- 13 mEq/day; NS). It is therefore concluded that aldosterone is a significant contributor to the sodium retention in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Successful treatment of Aspergillus peritonitis complicating peritoneal dialysis.

Fungal peritonitis is an uncommon complication of peritoneal dialysis. There have been four reported cases of dialysis-related Aspergillus peritonitis. Only one patient survived and none have continued peritoneal dialysis. This report describes the first case of dialysis-related Aspergillus peritonitis that was able to continue peritoneal dialysis and reviews the previous cases. Dialysis catheter removal and intravenous amphotericin appear to be the most beneficial therapy.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Hypogammaglobulinemia in a renal transplant recipient with antiglomerular basement membrane disease.

A thirty-six-year-old woman developed antiglomerular basement membrane disease, necessitating bilateral nephrectomies. Subsequent to cadaveric renal transplant and 8 years of immunosuppressive treatment with prednisone and azathioprine, the patient developed multiple life-threatening infections. Quantitative immunoglobulins revealed IgG = 9, IgA less than 6.7, and IgM = 33. Lymphocyte population studies revealed absence of B-lymphocytes. It is suspected that prednisone or azathioprine may have caused a defect in B cell differentiation. In patients who are taking immunosuppressive medications and develop multiple infections, it is indicated to evaluate immunoglobulin and/or B lymphocyte status.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Ectopic thyroid tissue on thallium/technetium parathyroid scan.

The thallium 201/technetium 99m pertechnetate radionuclide study is becoming widely accepted as a means of localizing abnormal or aberrantly located parathyroid tissue. We describe a case in which ectopic retrosternal thyroid tissue appeared as a parathyroid adenoma on thallium-201/technetium-99m pertechnetate scan. Physicians who use this radionuclide study should be aware of the possibility of false-positive images within the mediastinum.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1982

Failure to recover alpha-hemolytic streptococci or malignancy-associated microorganisms from patients with kidney disease and from healthy humans.

We duplicated blood culture techniques and media used by workers reporting alpha-hemolytic streptococci from nephropathy patients as well as from healthy persons. We studied 33 kidney patients presenting 12 diagnosed kidney diseases. The study was expanded to duplicate the experimental blood culture techniques of workers who reported Bacillus licheniformis and Cryptocides tumefaciens from patients with malignancies and, to a lesser degree, from healthy people. Seven culture media and 21 conditions of growth were used. There were no streptococcal isolates, and the few random isolates of other bacteria indicated that they were contaminants. Thus, our study did not corroborate the previous reports.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neurocardiac toxicity of racemic D,L-lactate fluids.

Racemic D,L-lactate has long been used in burn therapy as Ringer's lactate and in peritoneal dialysis fluid for treatment of renal failure. The D-lactate component of this racemic mixture is known to cause two forms of neurological toxicity in patients: encephalopathy and, in a subset of the population, panic reaction. Here we demonstrate that coma, similar in degree to that produced by blood levels of 75 mM ethanol was induced in rats by the intraperitoneal infusion of sodium D-lactate sufficient to raise serum D-lactate concentration to 25 mM, whereas infusion of equal quantities of sodium L-lactate produced no observable neurological effect. We further demonstrate that the intravenous infusion of racemic D,L-lactic acid into 48-hour fasted rats produced serious disturbances of cardiac rate and rhythm leading to death. When serum D-lactate concentration had reached 1-2 mM there was bradycardia, at 2-3 mM prolongation of QT interval, at 6-7 mM AV block with ectopic escape rhythms, and at 11 mM death in ventricular standstill or fibrillation. In contrast, intravenous infusion of L-lactic acid to blood levels of 25 mM failed to produce any change in cardiac rhythm. On the other hand, the isolated working heart, free of influence from the central nervous system, displayed no change of cardiac rhythm or physiological function when perfused with 25 mM sodium D,L-lactate.

Adult↗