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Biomedical subjects

L Harel

Publications and source records attributed to L Harel.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Lymphedema as a presenting sign of toxocariasis.

Toxocariasis in children is usually an asymptomatic infection and those with clinical illness have non-specific systemic or local manifestations. We present a 24-month-old boy with bilateral lymphedema of the feet as the main clinical manifestation of toxocariasis. The child presented with limping and nonpitting edema of both feet. Laboratory investigation revealed leucocytosis of < 20,000/mm3 with a differential count of < 50% eosinophils. No other cause of edema was found. The ELISA for toxocariasis revealed a high titer of > or = 1:4,096. The limping and the lymphedema disappeared during the third week of his illness. We suggest that toxocariasis should be considered as a possible cause of lymphedema and eosinophilia in young children.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The natural history of primary herpes simplex type 1 gingivostomatitis in children.

Herpetic gingivostomatitis is the most common specific clinical manifestation of primary herpes simplex infection in childhood. The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical signs, symptoms, viral shedding, serologic findings, and complications in community-acquired gingivostomatitis. We prospectively followed children with herpes simplex type 1 gingivostomatitis lasting less than 72 hours. Clinical examination and viral culture were repeated every 2 to 3 days as long as symptoms or signs persisted. Thirty-six children (ages 12-77 months) were included in the study. Mean duration of oral lesions was 12.0+/-3.4 days; extraoral lesions (in 26 children), 12.0 +/-3.9 days; fever, 4.4+/-2.4 days; and eating/drinking difficulties, 9.1+/-3.0 and 7.1+/-3.1 days, respectively. In all children, viral cultures of the oral lesions were positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1; viral shedding persisted for a mean of 7.1+/-2.5 days (range 2-12 days). The main complications were dehydration, with three children hospitalized for intravenous rehydration, and one case of secondary bacteremia. Herpetic gingivostomatitis is a relatively severe manifestation of primary HSV type 1 infection in young children.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrastructural alterations of the amniocytes in 2 patients with rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The amniotic fluid cells of 2 patients with rubella at the 18th week of pregnancy were obtained during therapeutic abortion and examined with a transmission and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In comparison with amniocytes of healthy women, those of rubella patients showed marked alterations, consisting of lack of heterochromatin, almost complete disappearance of the electron-dense cytoplasmic layer and membrane changes. The membrane damage was clearly demonstrated by SEM and was expressed by a decrease in the number and size of microvilli. Although more experience is needed for evaluation of the ultrastructure of the amniotic fluid cells in rubella patients, these findings may serve as an additional tool for the intrauterine diagnosis of rubella.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neonatal assessment of babies conceived by in vitro fertilization.

PROBLEM: Neonatal outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies has been described by different authors, but several issues have yet to be resolved. The aim of the present study was to evaluate neonates conceived in vitro and to direct special attention to neonatal morbidity and prevalence of minor abnormalities. The information that has been accumulated so far is scant. METHOD: The first 100 babies conceived in vitro, and subsequently born in our institute, were investigated and compared with the general, spontaneously conceived newborn population. All infants were examined by a senior neonatologist, and the data that were recorded included gestational age at delivery, birth weight, gender, major malformations, minor congenital abnormalities, neonatal mortality, and neonatal morbidity (including asphyxia, jaundice, meconium aspiration, hypoglycemia, and hypocalcemia). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that the IVF neonates assessed had a higher rate of low birth weight (37%), twinning (30%), and preterm birth (20%) in comparison with the general reference population (p < 0.05). However, no differences were encountered either in the rate of small for gestational age infants or the incidence of major malformations and minor abnormalities between these groups of newborns. The overall neonatal morbidity in IVF babies was found to exceed that of the general population. Nevertheless, at birth, there were no clinical pathognomonic signs typical of IVF babies, although more detailed metabolic, endocrine, and neurobehavioral studies are still required to confirm that newborns conceived in vitro do not differ from those conceived spontaneously in any of these respects.

Female↗