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Biomedical subjects

M Nitzan

Publications and source records attributed to M Nitzan.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Small intestine transit time and lactose absorption during phototherapy.

Diarrhea is often seen during phototherapy in jaundiced infants. Lactose malabsorption and reduced gut transit time (GTT) are some of the proposed explanations. However, the etiology of the diarrhea is still controversial. We investigated GTT and lactose absorption during phototherapy using the H2 breath test. Breath H2 was measured every 10 min for 150 min after feeding of jaundiced infants with and without phototherapy, and in controls. There were 12 newborns in each group. The time of increase of H2 excretion over 10 ppm was taken as the transit time. Lactose malabsorption was estimated by integrating the area under the excess H2 curve. No difference was found in GTT, lactose absorption, peak breath H2 and the time of the peak between phototherapy-treated infants and jaundiced and nonjaundiced infants. The results did not support the presence of lactose malabsorption during phototherapy and the decreased total GTT reported in the literature was not due to shortened small intestinal transit time.

Breath Tests↗

Hepatitis associated with propylthiouracil treatment.

A 12-year-old girl with hyperthyroidism who had started treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU) 100 mg tid developed hepatitis. The drug was stopped, and the clinical and laboratory findings of hepatitis disappeared within a week. She was not receiving other drugs that could cause hepatic damage, and investigations for various viral agents were negative. This is the ninth report of PTU-induced hepatitis. The clinical picture is similar to that of viral hepatitis. Recovery usually occurs after withdrawal of the drug, but there have been two fatal cases of PTU-induced hepatitis.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury↗

Random fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin excretion in children with intestinal disorders.

Demonstration of excessive enteric protein loss traditionally required the use of labeled macromolecules and prolonged stool collection uncontaminated by urine. alpha 1-Antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) clearance has recently been used for the demonstration of enteric protein loss, but controversy still exists about the value of determining alpha 1-AT concentration in random stool samples. We have measured alpha 1-AT excretion in random stool samples from children with various gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders using an immune nephelometric method. Statistically significant elevations in alpha 1-AT concentrations were found in stools from patients with active celiac disease and confirmed PLE, while normal values were demonstrated in patients with irritable bowel and inactive celiac disease. We conclude that determination of alpha 1-AT concentration in random fecal samples is an easy, reproducible screening method for the demonstration of excessive enteric protein loss in various GI tract disorders.

Celiac Disease↗

Systemic carnitine deficiency exacerbated by a strict vegetarian diet.

A 12-year old boy suffered episodes of vomiting, lethargy, and hypoglycaemia from the age of 1 year. Adhering to a vegetarian diet caused an increase in frequency and severity of the attacks. It was found that he was suffering from systemic carnitine deficiency that responded promptly to treatment with L-carnitine.

Carnitine↗

Hypernatremic dehydration as a sign leading to the diagnosis of glucose-galactose malabsorption in breast-fed neonates.

Hypernatremic dehydration is described in a case of a breast-fed infant with glucose-galactose malabsorption. Hypernatremic dehydration in general is uncommon in normal breast-fed infants. The finding of hypernatremic dehydration in breast-fed infants with watery diarrhea and sugar in the stool should lead to the consideration of monosaccharide intolerance such as glucose-galactose malabsorption.

Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Determination of anterior displacement of the anus in newborn infants and children.

Anterior displacement of the anus is a common cause of constipation in infancy and early childhood. However, normal values are not available for defining anal displacement. Using a simple technique, an anal position index of less than 0.34 in girls and less than 0.46 in boys was indicative of anterior displacement. The diagnosis can be made in the neonatal period.

Anal Canal↗