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Biomedical subjects

J Kaplan

Publications and source records attributed to J Kaplan.

516 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Control of paralytic poliomyelitis in the United States.

The changing annual vaccination status of the population and the greater than 1,000-fold drop in reported annual incidence of paralytic poliomyelitis between the early 1950s and early 1970s indicate that the control of poliomyelitis in the United States must be attributed to the use of both the inactivated poliovirus vaccine and oral poliovirus vaccine. The containment, in 1972 and 1979, of rare epidemics in poorly vaccinated subpopulations and the existence of only three reported cases of paralytic poliomyelitis clearly attributable to wild poliovirus in the last three years document a major triumph for public health. The continuing occurrence of vaccine-associated paralysis (six or seven reported cases per year, 1980-1982) indicates the necessity, despite the accomplishments, for continued review of the current vaccination strategy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Two novel missense mutations in the peripherin/RDS gene in two unrelated French patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: To report the identification of two novel RDS mutations in the peripherin/RDS gene of two unrelated French patients affected by autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). METHODS: Fifty-eight unrelated patients affected by ADRP were analyzed. Our diagnostic for RP were bilateral fundus involvement, concentric depression of the visual field and severe involvement on electroretinogram. Transmission of the trait was unambiguous. Our strategy was to analyze the coding sequence of the gene using a combination of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequence analysis of the exons of the gene. Exons that displayed conformational polymorphisms were sequenced on an automated DNA sequencer. RESULTS: The sequence analyses revealed two previously unreported missense mutations: Cys165Tyr and Phe211Leu in exons 1 and 2, respectively. None of the 70 controls analyzed carried these base changes. Cosegregation of the base substitution with the disease could be tested in both families presenting the Cys165Tyr and Phe211Leu mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Several lines of evidence support the idea that these base substitutions are disease-causing mutations. To the best of our knowledge, no peripherin/RDS gene analysis has been previously reported in ADRP in France.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Healing after arterial dilatation with radiofrequency thermal and nonthermal balloon angioplasty systems.

Thermal balloon angioplasty has been proposed as a means of reducing acute and delayed reclosure of arteries after percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. A radiofrequency (rf) balloon catheter was used to perform thermal balloon angioplasty on canine arteries in vivo. The histologic appearance of rf-treated sites was compared with that of control sites treated by conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Acutely, rf-treated sites showed a reduced medial cellularity with preservation of internal elastic lamina except at the transitional zone between thermal injury and normal artery, where localized internal elastic lamina disruption was found. Nonthermal sites showed generalized disruption of internal elastic lamina and normal medial cellularity. Both thermal and nonthermal sites displayed a return of intimal cover commencing at 1 to 2 weeks and completed by 4 weeks. Diffuse myointimal hyperplasia appeared by 2 weeks after injury at breaks in the internal elastic lamina along the nonthermal vessels but was localized to the transitional zone in thermal injury sites. In rf-treated vessels, repopulation of the acellular thermally modified media had commenced by 4 weeks, and by 8 weeks the media was diffusely repopulated by spindle-shaped cells resembling smooth muscle cells lying between and aligned with preserved connective tissue laminae. Overall, the distribution and extent of the proliferative response after rf thermal balloon angioplasty were less than those seen after nonthermal balloon angioplasty. Thermal sites, which underwent reintimalization before medial cells returned, were considerably less prone to the development of myointimal hyperplasia. These results suggest that this modality may have beneficial effects on arterial healing after angioplasty.

Angiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prenatal diagnosis of various hereditary blinding diseases].

The availability of more and more reliable obstetrical echographies makes now possible to screen fetuses for microphtalmies and anophtalmies. More over, by mean of linkage studies with DNA markers within a family, we can identify the women who will transmit X-linked diseases, and realize a prenatal diagnosis. This technology can be applied to the following ophthalmological diseases: the X-linked retinoschisis, the choroideremia, the ocular albinism, the Noorie disease, and recently the retinoblastoma. From now on, the use of such a technology which makes it possible to detect ophthalmological diseases in the fetuses, is posing ethical problems especially in case of diseases without any survival prognosis involvement.

Anophthalmos↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Associated forms of hereditary chorioretinal degeneration].

A retrospective study of 324 cases of chorioretinal heredodegeneration of all kinds shows an associated pathology in 44% of cases. These associated anomalies point out the need of a complete physical examination, a familial inquest keeping in mind genetic counseling. They are a good model for a high resolution cytogenetic study to find microdeletions which can allow to precise the genome's map.

Choroid Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Zinc deficiency in elderly patients.

Zinc is needed for growth and development, DNA synthesis, neurosensory functions, and cell-mediated immunity. Although zinc intake is reduced in elderly people, its deficiency and effects on cell-mediated immunity of the elderly have not been established. Subjects enrolled in "A Model Health Promotion and Intervention Program for Urban Middle Aged and Elderly Americans" were assessed for nutrition and zinc status. One hundred eighty healthy subjects were randomly selected for the study. Their mean dietary zinc intake was 9.06 mg/day, whereas the recommended dietary allowance is 15 mg/day. Plasma zinc was normal, but zinc in granulocytes and lymphocytes were decreased compared with younger control subjects. Of 118 elderly subjects in whom zinc levels in both granulocytes and lymphocytes were available, 36 had deficient levels. Plasma copper was increased, and interleukin 1 (IL-1) production was significantly decreased. Reduced response to the skin-test antigen panel and decreased taste acuity were observed. Thirteen elderly zinc-deficient subjects were supplemented with zinc, and various variables were assessed before and after zinc supplementation. Zinc supplementation corrected zinc deficiency and normalized plasma copper levels. Serum thymulin activity, IL-1 production, and lymphocyte ecto-5'-nucleotidase increased significantly after supplementation. Improvement in response to skin-test antigens and taste acuity was observed after zinc supplementation. A mild zinc deficiency appears to be a significant clinical problem in free-living elderly people.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in heart transplant recipients.

To our knowledge these are the first three cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in heart transplant recipients. In one case the procedure was performed in the early posttransplant period. All three patients had uneventful postoperative outcomes and early hospital discharge. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be a safe alternative for elective cholecystectomy in heart transplant recipients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ano-rectal abnormalities and esophageal atresia; familial and epidemiological studies].

The authors estimate the frequency of anorectal malformations (0.30 p. 1,000) and oesophageal atresia (0.20 p. 1,000) and record an increase in the sex-ratio along with a high percentage of associated malformations. From the available data and a family study on 366 anorectal malformations and 327 oesophageal atresia, they suggest the possibility of a dominant autosomal inheritance with weak penetrance, in certain cases of anorectal malformations and of a polygenic heredity in oesophageal atresia. The findings do not allow to reassure the parents completely of the sporadic cases, since the recurrence risk is 1-2 p. 100.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗