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Biomedical subjects

J Press

Publications and source records attributed to J Press.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Assessment of nonarticular tenderness and prevalence of fibromyalgia in hyperprolactinemic women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess nonarticular tenderness and prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in hyperprolactinemic subjects. METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive women with hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) and 44 consecutive women with normal prolactin levels (PRL) were examined in the fertility unit by one observer during a 24-month period. Mean age was 31 years, range 22-46 years. Hyperprolactinemia was defined as PRL levels > 24.5 ng/ml (immunoradiometric assay). In all women, a count of 18 tender points (TP) was conducted by thumb palpation. Tenderness of some of the TP sites (9 points) as well as control point sites (4 points) was further assessed using a Chatillon dolorimeter. All women were questioned about the presence of widespread pain or aching. Women were considered to have FMS if they met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for diagnosis. RESULTS: Of the 21 women with HPRL, 15 (71%) had FMS vs only 2 of 44 (4.5%) normoprolactinemic women (p < 0.0001). Thresholds of tenderness of 9 fibrositic points were 2.7 (1.5) kg [mean (standard deviation)] for HPRL women vs 5.0 (1.4) (kg) for women with normal PRL (p < 0.0001). Thresholds of tenderness of 4 control points were 5.2 (1.5) (kg) for women with HPRL vs 6.8 (1.1) (kg) for normoprolactinemic women (p < 0.0001). The frequency of FMS was directly associated with the level of PRL. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that FMS is very common in a subset of women with HPRL and that its frequency is directly associated with the degree of hyperprolactinemia. Women with HPRL have lower thresholds of tenderness than women with normal PRL. More studies are needed to clarify the relationships between PRL, FMS and tenderness.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Assessment of nonarticular tenderness and prevalence of fibromyalgia in children.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is most common in midlife, but may be seen at any age. Its prevalence and assessment of tenderness in healthy children is not known. We assessed 338 healthy schoolchildren for tenderness thresholds and prevalence of FS. In all children a point count of 18 tender points (TP) was conducted by thumb palpation and tenderness of some of the TP sites as well as control point sites was further assessed using a Chatillon dolorimeter. All children and their parents were questioned about the presence of widespread pain or aching. Children were considered to have FS if they met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for diagnosis of FS. Of the 338 children, 21 (6.2%) had FS. Thresholds of tenderness of 9 TP were 5.0 (1.2) (kg) [mean (standard deviation)] for boys vs 3.6 (0.8) (kg) for girls (p < 0.001). Thresholds of tenderness of the control point sites were 7.1 (1.4) (kg) for boys vs 5.5 (1.1) (kg) for girls (p < 0.001). Thresholds of tenderness of TP and control points in the children with FS were 2.5 (0.4) (kg) and 4.2 (0.5) (kg) vs 4.5 (1.2) (kg) and 6.6 (1.4) (kg) respectively in the children without FS (p < 0.001). We suggest that FS is common in the pediatric age group. Boys have lower tenderness than girls; children with FS have lower thresholds for tenderness both at control and TP compared to the subjects without FS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Spider bite in a child].

A 4-year-old girl was admitted 30 hours after being bitten by a black widow spider. The presenting symptoms were restlessness, profuse perspiration, severe abdominal pain and fever, while hypertension, hematuria and ECG changes developed later. Treatment was with intravenous fluids only, and she recovered completely and was discharged after a week. According to the literature, management includes muscle relaxants, such as methocarbamal and diazepam, and intravenous calcium gluconate is recommended by some. We found pharmacological intervention unnecessary in this case, but in severe cases and in pregnancy black widow antiserum is indicated. The overall mortality rate 5-10%.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Fixed- vs adjusted-dose heparin in the prophylaxis of thromboembolism in spinal cord injury.

Thromboembolism is a common and occasionally catastrophic complication in patients with spinal cord injury and complete motor paralysis. We, therefore, evaluated the efficacy and safety of two prophylactic regimens, using heparin in either fixed doses of 5000 U given subcutaneously twice daily or in doses adjusted to prolong the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) to approximately 1 1/2 times control. Patients were monitored with daily clinical examinations, serial impedance plethysmography, and Doppler flow studies. All events suspected to be thromboembolic were confirmed by venography, ventilation-perfusion scans, or pulmonary angiography. Seventy-five patients were randomized, and 58 (29 in each group) either remained in the study for more than seven weeks or experienced a thrombotic or hemorrhagic event. Patients on the adjusted-dose regimen received a mean (+/- SD) of 13,200 +/- 2200 U of heparin per dose and had an APTT 1 1/2 times higher than those on the fixed-dose regimen. Thromboembolism was detected in nine (31%) of 29 patients randomized to the fixed-dose regimen and two (7%) of 29 on the adjusted-dose regimen. While no patient who received the adjusted dose and whose APTT reached the target level had a thrombosis, bleeding occurred in seven patients. No patient on the fixed-dose regimen bled. We conclude that patients with spinal cord injury who can be maintained on doses of heparin sufficient to prolong their APTT to 1 1/2 times control values will be spared thromboembolic complications, but these patients are at high risk of bleeding, especially if they have trauma to other tissues in addition to their spinal cord injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Differences in the epidemiology of childhood community-acquired bacterial meningitis between two ethnic populations cohabiting in one geographic area.

A comparison of the epidemiology of community-acquired bacterial meningitis between Jewish and Bedouin populations cohabiting one geographical area is reported here. During the years 1981 to 1985, 100 children younger than 13 years old with community-acquired bacterial meningitis were hospitalized. Seventy-one patients were younger than 12 months. The principal bacteria isolated were Haemophilus influenzae 42%; Streptococcus pneumoniae 29% and Neisseria meningitidis 20%. The case fatality rate was 12%. The chance of acquiring meningitis during the first 5 years of life was twice as common among Bedouins than among Jews (328/100,000 vs. 173/100,000, respectively; P less than 0.0001). The most common cause of meningitis during the first year of life was S. pneumoniae among Bedouins and H. influenzae among Jews. Meningitis caused by H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae was usually associated with respiratory morbidity during fall and winter among Jews, but with diarrheal morbidity during summer and fall among Bedouins. Since the most prevalent type of morbidity among Jews results from respiratory infections and among Bedouins from diarrhea, our findings suggest that community-acquired bacterial meningitis is associated with the type of morbidity most prevalent in the community at any given season rather than with a specific type of infection.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Living with a child with familial Mediterranean fever: does it affect the quality of life of the parents?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) and the psychological status of parents of children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). METHODS: The QOL, anxiety and depression of the parents of 35 children with FMF were evaluated and compared to the parents of 23 healthy children. RESULTS: Mothers of FMF children had lower QOL scores than mothers of healthy children: 5.5 +/- 1.1 versus 6.0 +/- 0.6 (p = 0.048). They also expressed higher levels of anxiety and depression. Within each group, mothers were more anxious and depressed than fathers. Parents with several FMF children were not significantly different from parents with only one FMF child. CONCLUSION: The QOL and psychological well being of parents with FMF children were found to be slightly impaired, especially that of the mothers.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Hebrew version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).

We report herein the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation into the Hebrew language of the parent's version of two health related quality of life instruments. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) is a disease specific health instrument that measures functional ability in daily living activities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a generic health instrument designed to capture the physical and psychosocial well-being of children independently from the underlying disease. The Hebrew CHAQ-CHQ were fully developed with 3 forward and 3 backward translations. A total of 144 subjects were enrolled: 80 patients with JIA (12% systemic onset, 34% polyarticular onset, 23% extended oligoarticular subtype, and 31% persistent oligoarticular subtype) and 64 healthy children. The CHAQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic, polyarticular and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a higher degree of disability, pain, and a lower overall well-being when compared to their healthy peers. Also the CHQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the JIA patients having a lower physical and psychosocial well-being when compared to their healthy peers. In conclusion the Hebrew version of the CHAQ-CHQ is a reliable, and valid tool for the functional, physical and psychosocial assessment of children with JIA.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Juvenile Behçet's disease in Israel. The Pediatric Rheumatology Study Group of Israel.

OBJECTIVE: Behçet's disease (BD) is a vasculitis mainly observed in young adult males. Juvenile BD is rare and only small series of pediatric cases have been reported. The objective of this study was to define the epidemiology and clinical features of BD among Israeli children. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 8 pediatric rheumatology units in Israel and 30 cases of BD diagnosed before the age of 16 years were identified. RESULTS: Fifteen patients fulfilled the International Study Group Criteria for BD, while 15 had an incomplete form of BD. Among the patients with complete BD, stomatitis and skin involvement were the most common manifestations. Other symptoms included genital ulcers, uveitis, CNS involvement, arthritis, and gastrointestinal involvement. A positive family history was elicited in 3 patients. HLA B5 was found in 7 of 12 patients (58%). The 15 patients with incomplete BD all had recurrent stomatitis; other manifestations included uveitis, arthritis, and genital ulcers. HLA B5 was found in 94% of this group. CONCLUSION: Juvenile BD in Israel is not uncommon, and is frequently associated with HLA B5 positivity. This could indicate a genetic susceptibility in our region. Half of the patients in our series had an incomplete form of BD, which may represent a less severe variant of the disease. In any case, careful follow-up is required, since their condition could eventually evolve into complete BD.

Adolescent↗