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Biomedical subjects

J Rubin

Publications and source records attributed to J Rubin.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Peritonitis is the most important complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We reviewed our experience with peritonitis over a 2 1/2-year period. Our patients spent 4% of their total time on dialysis in hospital due to peritonitis. Thirty-eight percent of the episodes of peritonitis were treated without hospitalization. We evaluated the dialysate bag change technique as commonly performed with currently available devices (extension tubing and titanium Luerlock Tenckhoff catheter adapter). The aseptic techniques described for dialysis extension tubing changes appear adequate (with no increased incidence of peritonitis demonstrated shortly after an extension tubing set change). Long-term sterility is maintained at the dialysate bag puncture port and at the orifice of the dialysis catheter adapter (no positive cultures from the bag port and orifice of the titanium adapter). Etiologic diagnosis of uremia was not a risk factor predisposing to peritonitis. The incidence of peritonitis was greater among patients with less formal education and lower income. Out data suggest that patients with less formal education and of lower economic status be carefully evaluated before commencing CAPD.

Bicarbonates↗

Evaluation of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

This study was undertaken to ascertain whether 19 patients maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for at least 1 year experienced any deterioration in peritoneal membrane function. Selected serum chemistries and skinfold measurements were also evaluated to determine whether patients dialyzed by CAPD could maintain a normal nutritional status. This study demonstrates that patients maintained on CAPD had stable dialysate protein losses, glucose absorption from the dialysate, and constant urea, creatinine, and sodium removal. When these patients were subdivided by incidence of peritonitis, the group with a lower incidence of peritonitis (one episode every 349 +/- 155 SEM days) showed stable serum protein concentration and improvement in upper arm area whereas the group with a high incidence of peritonitis (one episode every 95 +/- 7 SEM days) showed a reduction in upper arm muscle area. Thus, our data suggest that over a 1-year period, there is no deterioration in peritoneal membrane characteristics and CAPD is effective in maintaining the nutritional status of the patient. However, both membrane function and nutritional status may be impaired by frequent episodes of infection.

Adolescent↗

Antibiotic activity in peritoneal dialysate.

There are few studies investigating whether antibiotics added to 30% glucose concentrate preserve their activity in the delivered dialysate. Using a Drake-Willock proportioning system, samples were obtained from the "to" patient path at ten minutes after starting and at four hours. Samples were tested for minimal inhibitory dilution (MID) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics evaluated included amikacin, tobramycin, gentamicin, cephalothin, cefamandole, moxalactam, ampicillin, penicillin, carbenicillin, and vancomycin. In all antibiotics studied, similar MIDs were obtained at the ten-minute and four-hour samples. Compared to saline, dialysate significantly impaired the antibiotic activity (a difference of two or more tube dilutions) of all antimicrobial agents except amikacin and vancomycin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Comparison of home hemodialysis to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We evaluated prospectively various outcome measurements of patients assigned initially to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and home hemodialysis (HHD) from February 1979 to August 1981 and the causes for failures of the techniques. Morbidity was assessed by time in hospital/time on dialysis. Fifty-six patients were trained for CAPD and 37 for HHD. Those assigned to CAPD experienced an increased frequency of hospitalization (7.5% CAPD, 2.8% HHD, respectively) primarily due to episodes of peritonitis. There was also a higher modality failure rate (43% vs. 16%). However, the groups were not comparable in all respects. For example, the CAPD population included 21 patients with major cardiovascular diseases versus only three in the HHD group. The demographic characteristics of both populations including race, sex, age, income, place of residence, marital status, and education were similar. At the time of this study there is no direct evidence showing that healthy patients otherwise able to perform HHD may be maintained with less morbidity for a prolonged period utilizing CAPD. Therefore, we suggest that HHD is the home method of choice for patients able to proceed with this technique. CAPD may be indicated for patients in whom the period of home dialysis is expected to be relatively short and who would be otherwise unable to carry out home dialysis, for example, patients awaiting transplantation and those unable to be maintained on hemodialysis because of impaired cardiac function. To fully evaluate CAPD as a long-term maintenance therapy, a prospective trial must be performed.

Adult↗

A phase II study of alanosine in advanced large bowel carcinoma.

Thirty patients with advanced metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma were treated with alanosine at a dose of 160 mg/m2 daily for 5 days every 4 weeks. Sixteen patients had received no prior chemotherapy and 14 had been previously treated with one or more cytotoxic agents. No patient met the criteria for a complete or partial response. The major toxicity was stomatitis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A model of long-term peritoneal dialysis in the dog.

We describe two preparations for chronic peritoneal dialysis in the dog. In one group uremia was induced by nephrectomy and in the other by ureteral ligation. Peritoneal access was obtained using the Ash disc column catheter. Survival of the animals ranged from 27 to 83 days. Using a dialysis schedule similar in concept to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in man we found that dialysate-induced ultrafiltration, equilibration of solute between serum and dialysate, as well as protein losses into dialysate approximated values found in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Careful attention to detail is required in order to maintain these animals. The advantages of these models are their technical simplicity and prolonged survival making intermediate range studies feasible. Disadvantages include anemia, seen in the anephric animals, technical problems with the disc column catheter, the need for maintenance of strict aseptic technique when performing dialysis exchanges, and difficulties maintaining adequate nutrition.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of mitomycin C in patients receiving the drug alone or in combination.

We have characterized plasma pharmacokinetics in 30 patients receiving mitomycin C (mitomycin) in doses ranging from 6 to 20 mg/m2 by iv bolus injection, either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. Plasma elimination of the drug was described by a two-compartment model in all but three cases, giving mean values for alpha-half-life of 8.2 mins, beta-half-life of 51.8 mins, and total body clearance of 332.9 ml/min/m2. The mean urinary excretion was 8.1% of the total dose administered. We did not detect alterations in pharmacologic parameters related to liver dysfunction, dose of mitomycin, and concomitant administration of other cytotoxic drugs.

Adult↗

Comparative evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of a pH-sensitive enteric coated pancreatic enzyme preparation with conventional pancreatic enzyme therapy in the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

The therapeutic efficacy of a pH-sensitive enteric coated pancreatic enzyme preparation was compared with conventional pancreatic enzyme preparations in 6 adult patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Fecal fat excretion and postprandial duodenal recovery of orally ingested pancreatic enzymes were evaluated after ingestion of each preparation. Fecal fat excretion decreased significantly (p less than 0.005) on treatment with pH-sensitive and conventional pancreatic enzyme preparations. Postprandial concentration and delivery of trypsin and lipase in samples aspirated from duodenojejunal junction were higher after ingestion of conventional pancreatic enzyme preparation as compared to the pH-sensitive enteric coated preparation. The difference, however, did not reach statistical significance. Our observations suggest that the pH-sensitive enteric coated pancreatic enzyme preparation is only as effective as conventional pancreatic enzyme preparations in controlling fat malabsorption in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Failure of pH-sensitive enteric coated preparation to deliver greater quantities of pancreatic enzymes at duodenojejunal junction is most likely related to the impaired release of enzymes from microspheres due to low intraluminal pH in the upper small intestine in pancreatic insufficiency.

Adult↗

Host defense mechanisms in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We investigated whether dialyzate obtained from patients undergoing CAPD had any harmful effects on the function of their own lymphocytes and granulocytes and on those of normal controls. When tested in dialyzate obtained after a 4 hr intraperitoneal residence, lymphocyte viability and transformation responses to phytohemagglutinin and protein A were similar for patients and controls. Neutrophil function assessed by the nitroblue tetrazolium test (NBT) was not altered. Our results suggest that dialyzate, after a 4 hr intraperitoneal stay, does not impair lymphocyte and granulocyte function.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of metastatic carcinoid tumor with dactinomycin or dacarbazine.

We studied the effect of two single drugs on patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors. All patients had symptomatic and measurable disease and all had elevations of urinary 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid excretion. Seventeen patients were treated with dactinomycin at a dose of 12-15 micrograms/kg/day for 5 days repeated every 4-5 weeks. One partial response was achieved. Fifteen patients were treated with dacarbazine (DTIC) at a dose of 250 mg/m2/day for 5 days every 4-5 weeks. Two partial responses were achieved. The median times to tumor progression were 10 weeks with dactinomycin and 18 weeks with DTIC. Median survival times were 28 and 47 weeks, respectively. Dactinomycin given by this schedule appears to have only limited activity as a single-agent treatment in malignant carcinoid tumor. DTIC, although showing only a slightly better response rate, perhaps warrants further investigation in view of our more favorable interval to tumor progression and survival experience and in view of this drug's more established activity in the closely related islet cell carcinoma.

Adult↗

NYSOA K-D test.

An objective indirect method of evaluating saccadic performance is of interest to optometrists and non optometrists. A sample of 1202 children ages six to fourteen were screened using the New York State Optometric Association Vision Screening Battery. The NYSOA K-D Test was part of that battery. The test is quick, easy to score and can be administered by non eye care practitioners. The test is described and normative data is presented.

Adolescent↗