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Biomedical subjects

M Katz

Publications and source records attributed to M Katz.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Screening for dementia with the memory impairment screen.

OBJECTIVES: To validate a sensitive and specific screening test for AD and other dementias, assess its reliability and discriminative validity, and present normative data for its use in various applied settings. BACKGROUND: To improve discrimination in screening for AD and dementia, we developed the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), a 4-minute, four-item, delayed free- and cued-recall test of memory impairment. The MIS uses controlled learning to ensure attention, induce specific semantic processing, and optimize encoding specificity to improve detection of dementia. METHODS: Equivalent forms of the MIS were given at the beginning and end of the testing session to assess alternate forms reliability. Discriminative validity was assessed in a criterion sample of 483 aged individuals, 50 of whom had dementia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., revised) criteria. RESULTS: The MIS had good alternate forms reliability, high construct validity for memory impairment, and good discriminative validity in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. We present normative data for use in settings with different base rates (prevalences) of AD and dementia. CONCLUSION: The MIS provides efficient, reliable, and valid screening for AD and other dementias.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Bezoars in the stomach and small bowel--CT appearance.

AIM: The aim of this study was to present the computed tomography (CT) appearance of trichobezoars, phytobezoars and other unusual ingested material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients diagnosed on CT with bezoars in the stomach or small intestine were reviewed with special attention on the characteristics of the intraluminal mass and the presence of proximal dilatation. RESULTS: There were six women and one man aged 14-81 years. CT was performed because of abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. In none of the cases was the diagnosis suspected clinically. Four patients had a trichobezoar occupying the entire lumen of the stomach. It appeared as a concentric inhomogeneous mass with entrapped air, surrounded by contrast material. In the other three patients the bezoar was confined to the small intestine and was composed respectively of vegetable fibres, ingested toilet paper and an olive stone. The first two had a mottled appearance whereas the last one was small, spherical and well defined. Variable proximal dilatation of the small bowel was present in all three. CONCLUSION: With the increased use of CT in the evaluation of patients with non-specific abdominal pain, it is important to recognize the CT appearance of bezoars, as this diagnosis is often not suspected clinically.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Development of the fertility adjustment scale.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a standardized measure of psychological adjustment to infertility. DESIGN: A cross-sectional two-group comparison study. SETTING: Two specialized fertility clinics in large teaching hospitals. PATIENT(S): Fifty men and 50 women undergoing evaluation and/or treatment of fertility problems. INTERVENTION(S): The Fertility Adjustment Scale was administered with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as a measure of concurrent validity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Scores on the Fertility Adjustment Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULT(S): Scores on the Fertility Adjustment Scale were distributed normally. Split-half and internal consistency were high. A significant correlation with measures of mood, anxiety, and distress provided evidence of concurrent validity. CONCLUSION(S): Preliminary results suggest that this measure will be a useful tool in assessing psychological reactions to fertility problems and outcomes of treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Maternal factors associated with severity of birth defects.

OBJECTIVE: Due to inbreeding and nutritional factors, the Bedouin Arabs represent a high risk population for birth defects. The severity of birth defects is probably related to the time and extent of interference with embryogenesis. The present study was aimed at identifying factors associated with severity of birth defects, in pregnancies of Bedouin women examined at a third level ultrasound clinic. METHODS: The study population consisted of 295 Bedouin women who attended an ultrasound clinic at the Soroka Medical Center between 1990 and 1996. The case group included 188 women carrying fetuses with severe birth defects, defined as incompatible with life or which significantly interfere with normal living. For those defects the option of pregnancy termination was discussed. The comparison group consisted of 107 women whose fetuses were diagnosed with mild defects. RESULTS: Women carrying fetuses with severe birth defects had more pregnancies and more deliveries than women carrying fetuses with mild defects (P = 0.005, P = 0.04, respectively). The severity of defects was found to be unrelated to maternal age, consanguinity, residence, birth order, previously uncompleted pregnancies and birth defects in the family. CONCLUSIONS: Higher birth order was associated with severity of birth defects detected at the second trimester.

Arabs↗
PubMed1999

Does the station of the fetal head during epidural analgesia affect labor and delivery?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the station of the fetal head when lumbar epidural analgesia is administered influences the duration or the mode of delivery in low-risk laboring women. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 131 consecutive cases of low-risk parturients at term who requested intrapartum epidural analgesia. Obstetric outcome of 65 parturients who underwent epidural analgesia when the fetal head was low in the birth canal was compared to 66 patients whose fetal head station was above the ischial spine. RESULTS: Both groups were similar in their obstetric characteristics. Cervical dilatation when performing the epidural analgesia was similar in both groups. The duration of labor and mode of delivery, as well as percentage of malpositions, were not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The station of the fetal head while initiating epidural analgesia does not influence the duration of labor or the mode of delivery. Therefore, there is no justification to delay epidural analgesia in labor until the presenting fetal part is engaged.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Neurofibromatosis in pregnancy. Maternal and perinatal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnant patients with neurofibromatosis (NF). STUDY DESIGN: During the period between January 1994 and December 1996 eight women with NF were delivered at the Soroka University Medical Center. Maternal age, parity, gravidy and ethnic origin were matched with a control group that included 65 healthy parturients out of a total of 31,642 deliveries that occurred in our institution during this period. Maternal outcome and perinatal complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of NF during the study period was 1:2434 deliveries. The mean gestational age at delivery was significantly lower in the study group as compared to the control group, 36.8+/-3.3 vs. 39.2+/-1.5 weeks, respectively (P=0.029). The rate of intrauterine growth restriction was significantly higher in the study group, (46.2% vs. 8.95%, respectively, P=0.0005), as well as stillbirth rate (23% vs. 1.5%, respectively, P=0.011) and cesarean section rate (38.5% vs. 7.7%, respectively, P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with NF have an increased risk of perinatal complications. Thus, close antenatal observation at high risk tertiary centers is required.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Early amniotomy -- high risk factor for cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of early amniotomy on mode of delivery and pregnancy outcome in comparison to a group of patients admitted with premature rupture of membranes at term. STUDY DESIGN: The study population consists of all women (n=338) whose labor was induced by amniotomy, between the years 1988 to 1995. The comparison group were all women (n=1865) who were admitted with premature rupture of membranes during the same period. RESULTS: Cesarean section was significantly higher in the amniotomy group than in the comparison group (162 (47.9%) vs. 348 (18.7%), P<0.001). This significant difference was noted only for those who did not had a previous cesarean section (106 (42.4%) vs. 224 (13.8%), P<0.001). Non progressive labor during the first stage was threefold higher in the amniotomy group than in the control group (30.8% vs. 10.9%, P<0.001). Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns were detected during labor in 52 patients (15.4%) of amniotomy group, as compared to 141 cases (7.6%) in the control group (P<0.001). To assess the independent contribution of early amniotomy to having cesarean section in the present delivery, a multiple logistic model was used. Early amniotomy (odds ratio [OR] 3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.36-4.01), as well as a previous cesarean section (OR 5.04, 95% CI 3.90-6.52) and high parity (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.26) were all found as independent risk factors for cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: Early amniotomy appears to be associated with an increased risk for cesarean section.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Maternal serum concentrations of CA-125 in second trimester pregnancy complicated by congenital fetal anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the value of maternal serum CA-125 concentrations in pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies with or without hydramnios. STUDY DESIGN: The study population (n=40) consisted of the following four groups of patients: (1) 10 women with abnormal maternal serum alpha fetal protein (MSAFP) in whom no fetal anomalies were observed; (2) 10 women in whom fetal anomalies were diagnosed in addition to abnormal MSAFP; (3) 10 women with fetal anomalies accompanied by hydramnios and abnormal MSAF, and (4) 10 women had normal MSAFP and were diagnosed with hydramnios without fetal anomaly. The control group consisted of 10 patients who were matched for gestational age with normal MSAFP and normal ultrasonographic examination. In all 50 cases MSAFP and maternal serum CA-125 levels were assessed. CA-125 was measured using OC 125 monoclonal antibody (IMX CA-125, Abott Lab. IL) and a value of >20 U/ml was defined as abnormal. RESULTS: Maternal serum CA-125 levels were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group, 19.8+/-15.9 U/ml and 9.9+/-4.0 U/ml (P=0.015). The difference was even greater when patients with malformed fetuses and hydramnios were compared to those with fetal anomalies and normal amount of amniotic fluid, 32.4+/-12.7 U/ml and 7.2+/-2.1 U/ml, respectively (P=0.0005). The maternal serum CA-125 levels in patients with hydramnios but without fetal anomalies were significantly lower when compared with those of the malformed fetuses and hydramnios, 9.8+/-2.3 U/ml and 32.4+/-12.7 U/ml, respectively (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum CA-125 is lacking in value for screening fetal structural anomalies as a significant increase in maternal serum CA-125 levels was found only in patients with fetal anomalies accompanied by hydramnios.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1999

Vasoconstrictive activity of meconium stained amniotic fluid in the human placental vasculature.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to study was to determine the effect of meconium stained amniotic fluid on the vasculature of isolated perfused human placental cotyledon. STUDY DESIGN: Isolated placental cotyledons were dually perfused. Fetal perfusion pressure was used as an index of vascular resistance. Meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) was collected from patients after artificial rupture of membranes in term gestation. A dilution of meconium (1:2; 1:4; 1:8; 1:16) was performed. Optical density (OD) of MSAF varied between 0 and 35.0 units/g as determined by spectrophotometry. Bolus injections of 1.0 ml of MSAF at different concentrations were injected into the fetal circulation. Heated and dialyzed MSAF after adequate dilution and evaluation of optical density were injected into fetal circulation in separate experiments. RESULTS: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis. Bolus injections of MSAF into the fetal circulation resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in perfusion pressure. MSAF with the highest OD resulted in a greater change in perfusion pressure as compared to more dilute MSAF (P=0.0001). After high OD amniotic fluid injections the provoked contractions lasted longer compared to dilute MSAF (P=0.006). MSAF after dialyzation did not exhibit any vasoconstrictive effect. CONCLUSION: Meconium is a vasoconstrictive agent in the fetal-placental vasculature and has a concentration dependent effect.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1999

Ubiquitin ligase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation underlie suppression of growth factor signaling by c-Cbl/Sli-1.

Receptor desensitization is accomplished by accelerated endocytosis and degradation of ligand-receptor complexes. An in vitro reconstituted system indicates that Cbl adaptor proteins directly control downregulation of the receptor for the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) by recruiting ubiquitin-activating and -conjugating enzymes. We infer a sequential process initiated by autophosphorylation of EGFR at a previously identified lysosome-targeting motif that subsequently recruits Cbl. This is followed by tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Cbl at a site flanking its RING finger, which enables receptor ubiquitination and degradation. Whereas all three members of the Cbl family can enhance ubiquitination, two oncogenic Cbl variants, whose RING fingers are defective and phosphorylation sites are missing, are unable to desensitize EGFR. Our study identifies Cbl proteins as components of the ubiquitin ligation machinery and implies that they similarly suppress many other signaling pathways.

Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins↗
PubMed1999

Amyloid precursor protein of Alzheimer's disease: evidence for a stable, full-length, trans-membrane pool in primary neuronal cultures.

We and colleagues have shown that the amyloid protein precursor of Alzheimer's disease (APP) is distributed along the surface of neurites of fixed but nonpermeabilized neurons in primary culture in a segmental pattern, which shows colocalization with some markers of adhesion patches. This is in contrast to the diffuse pattern of immunoreactivity seen after permeabilization. We have also recently demonstrated that the APP in these surface patches is likely to be integral to the membrane rather than secreted and re-adsorbed, based on alkali stripping experiments and on soluble APP adsorption experiments. Total cellular APP has previously been shown to have a short half-life of approximately 30-60 min. We confirm this in neurons in primary culture in pulse-chase experiments using short labelling times. Additionally, we provide evidence that a separate, stable pool of neuronal APP can be demonstrated in pulse-chase experiments using long labelling times. Experiments involving inhibition of protein synthesis suggest that this corresponds with the surface, segmental pool. Metabolic labelling followed by surface biotinylation and two-stage precipitation demonstrates that the surface APP is trans-membrane and full-length (not carboxyl-terminal truncated), and confirms that the surface APP belongs to the stable pool. This two-stage procedure is necessary as the surface APP appears to be present in low copy number, and is difficult to detect by direct labelling. This information is consistent with a role for APP in stable cell-matrix or cell-cell interactions.

Alzheimer Disease↗