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Biomedical subjects

M Wechsler

Publications and source records attributed to M Wechsler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

An investigation of the integrity of semantic boundaries in schizophrenia.

Organizing information and knowledge, and hence categorization, requires specifying boundaries between items, concepts and words. Over-inclusiveness in categorization may be seen as looseness of association; over-inclusive thinking was an early description of schizophrenic thinking. Recent studies suggest semantic memory problems in schizophrenia, and that thought disorder is associated with a disorganized semantic network. One such study [Psychol. Med. 24 (1994) 193], using a word categorization task, found patients slowest to respond to items semantically related to, but outside the category, whereas controls were slower responding to items sharing less features of the category (i.e. borderline). The authors suggested that there is an outward shift of semantic category boundaries in schizophrenia. In Experiment 1, we replicated methods, but did not find this qualitative difference in patients (28 patients, 26 controls). We extended this question in Experiment 2 to a more visual domain using pictures that 'morphed' from one entity into another and asked participants to decide when they no longer considered an item to be that item (20 patients, 25 controls). We did not find a difference between patients and controls in their sensitivity to detect boundaries of representations. These two experiments do not support the notion that thought disorder with postulated looseness of association or over-inclusive thinking is related to reduced awareness of boundaries of semantic category membership or entities, and inferentially their featural network. Despite anomalies in the semantic system in schizophrenia, we found aspects to be intact. This specificity of semantic processing is promising, suggesting that research will be informative as to how semantic memory is constructed, and thus how it can selectively break down. Moreover, this study indicates that patients do not 'fail' semantic tasks (e.g. priming) because of globally disorganized decision-making: here their capability to make precise distinctions between representations was intact.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum vaccine candidates in infants in an area of intense and perennial transmission: relationships with clinical malaria and with entomological inoculation rates.

Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, IgG3 and total IgG were assessed by immunoabsorbent assay in 198 infants from a Tanzanian village highly endemic for Plasmodium falciparum. Antibodies were measured against epitopes of the circumsporozoite protein (the repetitive epitope (NANP)50 and a construct of the flanking regions (CS27IC)), the malaria vaccine SPf66, and two constructs of the merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1), a 19-kDa fragment from the C-terminal domain (MSP-119) and an N-terminal fragment spanning blocks 1-6 (H6-p190 M-1/6-H6). IgG1 and total IgG titres showed similar age profiles, all decreasing for the first 2 months of life. Anti-(NANP)50 titres remained very low throughout the first year of life, while anti-CS27IC antibody appeared to peak around 7 months of age. Only a slight tendency to increase with age was observed for levels of the other antibodies studied. IgG3 titres except for H6-p190(1/6), were very low initially and remained very low throughout the first year of life. Clinical malaria incidence at the village dispensary was analysed prospectively in relation to antibody. No IgG1 or total IgG titre showed protective effects, but low IgG3 against p190(1/6) appeared to be a risk factor in some age groups. Given the large number of antibodies tested, this single indication of possible protection could merely be chance. There were no strong associations between antibody titres and entomologically assessed sporozoite exposure suggesting that transmission-reducing interventions may have little effect on antibody levels in such children.

Aging↗
PubMed1998

Biodegradation of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide.

N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) is capable of dissolving cellulose without any further addition of chemicals. The solution can be used to produce cellulosic staple fibres by pressing it through spinning jets into an aqueous spinning bath. Because of results from conventional biodegradation tests using non-adapted activated sludge, the solvent is generally considered being persistent. The object of the described work was to show, whether and how activated sludge can be adapted to N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide and whether it is possible to purify NMMO-containing wastewaters in conventional wastewater treatment plants. The experiments showed that the sludge can be adapted within about 15-20 days. Adapted sludge can degrade the substance itself and its most important metabolites to concentrations below their detection levels and retain this ability even during limited periods without solvent being present in the wastewater. The main requirement for a successful adaptation is a high sludge age. The degradation takes place in several steps. First, NMMO is reduced to N-methylmorpholine. The next step is a demethylation of N-methylmorpholine to morpholine. This step is crucial for the adaptation process. Once morpholine has been formed, the adaptation proceeds very quickly until none of the substances in question can be detected any longer. So the next step must be the cleavage of the morpholine ring structure.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1987

Urologic manifestations of AIDS.

A retrospective analysis of 60 patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) seen between 1981-1985 was performed to determine the genitourinary manifestations of this disease. Twenty-two per cent were found to have significant proteinuria, while 7 per cent had nephrotic syndrome which was associated with an extremely rapid demise. Renal insufficiency occurred in 27 per cent and renal biopsy results, when abnormal, revealed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. Pyuria was found in 52 per cent of patients, and urinary tract infections occurred in 20 per cent. Atypical pathogens including Candida, Salmonella, Acinetobacter calcoaticus, and cytomegalovirus were encountered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1979

Carcinoma of gallbladder simulating metastatic prostatic cancer.

This is a case of carcinoma of the gallbladder, which clinically, chemically, and radiographically simulated metastatic prostate cancer. Other causes of elevated serum and bone marrow acid phosphatase and axial skeletal osteoblastic metastases are reviewed.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1977

Microscopic foci of cancer in prostatectomy for benign disease: diagnostic and surgical considerations.

A study of 66 patients in whom microscopic foci of prostatic cancer was found in prostatectomies done for benign prostatic hyperplasia revealed in 32 of the 66 cases (48%) that there were in retrospect abnormal rectal findings that should have suggested the possibility of neoplasia. Other abnormalities were elevated serum acid phosphatase (5 patients), asymmetrical enlargement of one lateral prostatic lobe at cystoscopy (7 patients), and unilateral hydroureteronephrosis (7 patients). Urinary retention was the presenting symptoms in 56% of the patients. Difficult enucleation was noted in 41% of the open prostatectomies. The importance of performing careful prostatic biopsy in any suspicious prostatic enlargement is again stressed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1977

Urinary fistulas: vaginal repair using a labial fat pad.

A technique is recommended to repair urinary fistulas vaginally using a pedicle of labial fat to separate the urothelial and vaginal layers. The technique was used in 6 patients with vesicovaginal and 4 patients with urethrovaginal fistulas. Anatomic results were successful in all cases and stress incontinence was cured in all patients who had this coexistent condition.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1977

On patient relations.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Dentist-Patient Relations↗
PubMed1976

Ureteroureterostomy and unilateral nephrostomy. Alternate rapid method of diversion.

Ureteroureterostomy with a Silastic nephrostomy has been utilized in 3 patients as a temporary diversion. It is a short procedure which is performed transabdominally and is well tolerated. It may be indicated in selected patients who will not be able to handle an appliance and cannot tolerate major surgery. This is not a panacea for urinary diversion, but in selected cases it may be applicable.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Anergy and tryptophan metabolism in bladder cancer.

The tryptophan loading test and cutaneous antigen test were done on 55 patients with various stages of bladder cancer. Patients with an abnormality of tryptophan metabolism showed a greater degree of unreactivity to cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity testing. Of the 23 patients with normal tryptophan metabolism 47 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 skin antigens. Of 13 patients with 1 abnormal tryptophan metabolite 62 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 skin antigens. Of 19 patients with 2 or more abnormal tryptophan metabolites 68 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 antigens.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

An evaluation of the current therapeutic regimen for renal tuberculosis.

Renal tuberculosis will continue to be a potentially lethal disease and must be considered a diagnostic possibility in all patients with infection in order to discover it in time. Multiple drug regimens have withstood the test of time and it appears that triple drug therapy is more efficacious than 2 drugs since triple drugs permit the skipping of 1 or another of the medications with less danger of relapse. Rifampin is a new drug that is well tolerated and efficacious, although expensive. We recommend continuous use of triple drugs for 2 years at least with the continuance of pyridoxine. We advise an excretory urogram, the collection of 3 urine specimens for culture and the passage of ureteral catheters every 6 months during treatment and every 12 months thereafter for 10 years. We do not consider relapse an indication for an operation but for further therapy, using medications to which the patient's organism is proved susceptible by bacteriologic means. Under modern conditions an operation is rarely necessary.

Aminosalicylic Acids↗