Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Blum

Publications and source records attributed to M Blum.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

The upper vaginal and cervical anaerobic flora in menopausal women.

The upper vaginal and cervical bacterial flora, especially the anaerobic one which has a particular role in postoperative morbidity, was studied in 78 menopausal women between 48 and 78 yr of age. The aim of the present study was to compare the results obtained with those reported for bacterial flora in women of other age groups. The patients were divided into the following 3 groups. (I) Twenty-eight healthy women with a natural menopause; (II) 30 women, 2-6 mth after surgical menopause due to panhysterectomy; and (III) 20 menopausal women 3 mth after vaginal hysterectomy. 30.7% of the cultures were found to be sterile. The anaerobic bacteria, developed only in the presence of aerobic germs, represented 11.5% of the total number of cultures and was found to be formed by Streptococcus bacteroides sp. and Bacteroides fragilis. The vaginal flora of menopausal women is not different from that found in children, young women, in pregnancy or postpartum. The anaerobic germs isolated in our study are normal inhabitants of the vagina and cervix which may occasionally become pathogens.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Effect of antihypertensive drugs on plasma renin activity and urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2.

Urinary prostaglandin (PGE2) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined in 3 groups of hypertensive patients before and following 5 days of treatment with different antihypertensive drugs. In all 3 groups studied a substantial decrease of blood pressure was noted following treatment. However, whereas administration of chlorthalidone and hydralazine initiated a significant rise of PGE2 and PRA excretion, treatment with propranolol was associated with a decrease of these two parameters. In view of these findings it seems therefore as if renal production of PGE2 (at least with regard to propranolol, a beta-blocking agent), is not related to the hypotensive effect of the drug.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1981

The fatty acid composition of subcellular membranes of rat liver, heart, and brain: diet-induced modifications.

The influence of diets having different fatty acids composition on the fatty acid content of (the phospholipids) of rat liver mitochondria and microsomes, heart mitochondria, brain mitochondria and microsomes has been analyzed. It has been found that each organelle has its own peculiar composition in fatty acids. This composition may be profoundly influenced by the diet, but to different degrees in different organelles. Those of brain are most resistant. The changes observed are rather rapid, being generally already maximal after three weeks of treatment. The parallel between fatty acid composition of diets, and the changes observed in the organelles, is not strict, and is probably influenced by the metabolic competition among oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid. Unusual fatty acids like erucic acid, trans-oleic acid, and trans-linoleic acid can also become incorporated into the membranes of cell organelles.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Oxytocinase versus estriol for the assessment of fetal well-being.

In a group of 26 primiparae, 48 hours after cesarean section, we have examined the urinary estriol (E3) and serum cystine aminopeptidase (CAP). 13 patients received ampicillin treatment, and 13 patients did not. In the group of patients without antibiotic treatment the urinary estriol after 48 h reached an average value of 5.55 mg/24 h. in the group of treated patients the drastic decrease of E3 reached a mean value of 1.62 mg/24 h. This fact may be explained by the arrest of the feto-placental inflow after delivery, and the blocking effect of the antibiotic on the enterohepatic circulation, compartment which afford for 50% of the maternal circulating estrogen. From the present work it results that the determination of the serum CAP activity, which is not affected by antibiotic treatment, is an appropriate test for the assessment of the fetoplacental unit activity. It must be mentioned that all the biochemical tests complete one another and may have a decisive role in taking immediate obstetrical decisions, together with the additional fetal heart rate monitoring and oxytocin challenge test.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Easy bruising, thrombocytopenia, and elevated platelet immunoglobulin G in Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Platelet IgG levels, count, and function and easy bruising or bleeding were studied in 25 patients with Graves' disease and 12 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (normal value for platelet IgG 10.7 +/- 4.5 ng [SD]/10(6) platelets). Eight of 22 patients with Graves' disease and normal platelet counts had elevated platelet IgG averaging 38 +/- 4.0 ng (SEM) (range, 24 to 60). Four of 10 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and normal platelet counts ahd elevated platelet IgG averaging 45 +/- 7.2 ng (range, 27 to 66). Five patients with thrombocytopenia had platelet counts averaging 53000 +/- 12000/microL (SEM) and elevated platelet IgG averaging 154 +/- 40 ng (range, 27 to 300). Twelve of 15 patients with a history of easy bruising or bleeding had elevated platelet IgG compared to five of 22 without easy bruising (p < 0.001). Four of six with elevated platelet IgG had one or more abnormal in-vitro platelet aggregation measurements (particularly with epinephrine) compared to none of six with normal platelet IgG levels (p = 0.03). We conclude that elevated platelet IgG is associated with easy bruising and thrombocytopenia in about half of patients with Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
PubMed1981

Is anemia of chronic renal failure related to secondary hyperparathyroidism?

A pathogenetic role of secondary hyperparathyroidism in the anemia of chronic renal failure has been suggested. To investigate this relationship, the biochemical factors of secondary hyperparathyroidism (calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone) were correlated with hematocrit levels in 96 long-term hemodialysis patients. We also compared hematocrit values before and after parathyroidectomy in 18 patients. No correlation between hematocrit level and biochemical indices of secondary hyperparathyroidism could be found. However, in 44% of the patients with parathyroidectomies, the hematocrit reading increased after surgery. The importance and possible cause of this improvement of anemia in this group is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Urinary prostaglandin-E2 in chronic renal disease.

Renal excretion of prostaglandin-E2 was measured by radioimmunoassay in patients with chronic renal diseases. Significantly elevated urinary prostaglandin-E2 amounts were found in patients with moderate renal insufficiency (creatinine clearances 20-59 ml/min). In mild and severe renal insufficiency, the urinary excretion of PGE2 was within the normal range. In the non-terminal stages of kidney failure, a definite correlation was found between the degree of renal impairment and the daily amounts of PGE2 in the urine. It is therefore concluded that in these stages of the disease the kidney produces elevated levels of PGE2 in an attempt to improve the decreased renal blood flow caused by the disease.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1981

Impaired neutrophil response to acute bacterial infection in dialyzed patients.

The changes in WBC counts during various acute bacterial infections were studied in 11 dialyzed patients. There was substantial leukocytosis in only five of 17 episodes, despite conclusive clinical and bacteriologic evidence that the infection was caused by Gram-positive microorganisms. Segmented neutrophil counts also did not rise in most cases. Nonsegmented neutrophil counts, however, showed the normal expected increase. This blunted response may be another facet of the increased susceptibility of dialyzed patients to infection and may warrant early administration of antimicrobial treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Improved nonoperative diagnosis of the solitary 'cold' thyroid nodule. Surgical selection based on risk factors and three months of suppression.

We assessed the cancer-predictive value of a nonoperative, two-stage prospective selection of solitary, cold, solid thyroid nodules that can be employed by the primary clinician. One hundred eighteen patients completed the protocol, all without adverse effect. The first stage identified for direct surgery 30 patients with a history of exposure to irradiation during youth, age under 20 years, recent growth of a hard nodule or lymphadenopathy, revealing 15 cancers and ten adenomas. In the second stage, the remaining 83 patients were given liothyronine for three months. Twenty-six nodules were excised because they failed to shrink 50% in diameter, disclosing five cancers and 19 adenomas. There were no cancers among 14 nodules excised for other reasons. Selection for surgery on the basis of clinical evaluation and risk factors alone can identify most of the cancers and lack of response to suppression a few more.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

Experience with the induction of second-trimester abortion by extra-amniotic physiological saline infusion. Report of 127 cases.

In 127 women with normal second-trimester pregnancy we induced abortion by extraamniotic (EA) physiological saline infusion. All women aborted within 72 h, most of them during the first 24 h. Besides a transient fever in one case, no complications or side effects were recorded. This method is safe and cheap, and entirely without contraindications. Therefore, it may be used in cases when other methods would have been dangerous or failed. As for the mechanism of action of this method, it is probably by the secretion of intrinsic prostaglandins, produced by the decidual cells. But this hypothesis remains to be proved.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1980

Ibuprofen induced hyponatraemia.

A 55-year-old woman in an advanced stage of chronic renal failure due to pyelonephritis developed severe hyponatraemia after receiving 400 mg/day of ibuprofen for 3 days. The typical symptoms and the hyponatraemia disappeared when the drug was withdrawn. The likely mechanism involved and the clinical implications are discussed.

Female↗