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Biomedical subjects

N Arber

Publications and source records attributed to N Arber.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Fatal Shigella sepsis in a neutropenic patient.

Bacteremia during infection with Shigella is relatively rare and usually self-limited. Bacteremia during shigellosis bearing a high fatality rate has been reported in young infants and in persons with malnutrition or with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We report a case of Shigella sonnei septicemia in a severely neutropenic patient who had fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, malnutrition, and dehydration. She died after five days despite intensive care. We emphasize that Shigella should be considered among the possible pathogens causing sepsis in neutropenic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Achalasia in central Israel, 1973-83: clinical aspects.

In the framework of an epidemiologic study we collected data on all the 162 patients with achalasia in central Israel. The mean (+/- SD) follow-up was 9.9 +/- 8.7 years (range 1-52). At the last, as compared to the initial examination, the clinical condition of the patients had improved: 38% were without dysphagia as compared to 0% initially, 67% did not vomit and 92% did not complain of aspiration as compared to 17% and 68% initially, and 67% did not complain of chest pain as against 36% initially. In contrast, X-ray examinations, endoscopy as well as manometry did not show major changes. Esophageal retention of a semisolid radiolabeled meal 10 min after ingestion was 46 +/- 25% initially and 34 +/- 26% at last examination (NS). Medical therapy was given to 99 patients and a beneficial response was initially noted in 65% of them. About 88.7% had a beneficial response to surgery and 82.7% to pneumatic dilatations which were associated with a 7.3% perforation rate. Overall the clinical course of this unselected, regional group of patients was better than expected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Seasonal variation in the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection: a possible cause of the seasonal occurrence of peptic ulcer disease.

OBJECTIVES: The seasonal variation of duodenal ulcer disease and its complications have been repeatedly demonstrated in Israel by several independent studies. The aim of this study was to determine possible seasonal variations in the occurrence of H. pylori infection among dyspeptic patients in Israel. METHODS: All 14C-urea breath tests performed in dyspeptic patients at the gastroenterology department in the Tel Aviv Medical Center from January 1991 to December 1992 were reviewed. The monthly variation in the proportion of patients with H. pylori infection was determined, and compared with that of an unrelated 14C-cholyl-glycine breath test. RESULTS: Altogether, 702 patients were examined, and 371 (52.8%) of them were found to be infected with H. pylori. During summer months (July-September), a significant decrease in the percentage of patients infected with H. pylori was found, compared with winter months (December-January, 42.3% vs. 60.9%, p < 0.007). No seasonal variation was found in the results of 14C-cholyl-glycine test. The fluctuations in H. pylori infection were highly correlated with the seasonal occurrence of peptic ulcer disease in Israel. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients in Israel is significantly increased during the winter months and decreased in the summer. This seasonal variation is identical to that found in duodenal ulcer disease. Thus, the seasonal variation of peptic ulcer disease could be explained by H. pylori infection, as seen in other communicable infectious diseases.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiology of achalasia in central Israel. Rarity of esophageal cancer.

The epidemiology of achalasia was studied in a predominantly urban, Jewish population of approximately 1.3 million, in central Israel, during the years 1973-1983. One hundred sixty-two proven cases were collected, representing all known patients with achalasia in the study area. There were no gender differences. The majority of cases were diagnosed within two years of onset of symptoms, although the median delay in diagnosis was 4.4 +/- 5.3 years. The disease was rare in the first two decades of life. The prevalence (in 1983) in the first two decades was 0.7/10(5) rising to 36.2/10(5) above age 70. The mean annual incidence in the years 1973-1978 was 0.8/10(5). It rose slightly to a mean annual incidence of 1.1/10(5) in the years 1979-1983. The prevalence of the disease in 1973 and 1983 was 7.9/10(5) and 12.6/10(5), respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence in 1973 was higher in Asian and African born Jews as compared to those born in Europe, America, or Israel. This difference disappeared by the year 1983. No case of cancer of the esophagus was found among our patients. This may be due to the nonselected, regional nature of our series or to the effects of earlier therapy of achalasia in recent decades.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Success of estrogen-progesterone therapy in long-standing bleeding gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. Report of a case.

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia is a common cause of occult bleeding. Surgical and endoscopic treatments are often ineffective. Recently, estrogen-progesterone therapy proved to be effective in these patients. We describe herein an 84-year-old man who presented with prolonged gastrointestinal bleeding, in whom treatment with estrogen-progesterone stopped the bleeding. We suggest that hormonal therapy should be considered in cases of prolonged obscure gastrointestinal bleeding thought to be due to angiodysplasia. This therapy should be instituted intermittently for a prolonged period. The role of progesterone, especially in men, should be reconsidered.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Gastric polypoid lesions--an eight-year study.

We have reviewed the eight years of experience with gastric polypoid lesions of a university hospital serving the Tel Aviv area, and analyzed 188 polyps. No clinical or endoscopic findings were able to distinguish the polyp variants prior to histological examination. The most frequent type of polyp was the hyperplastic polyp (45.2%), followed by the inflammatory type (29.3%). There were six cases of adenoma and ten cases of gastric carcinoma. The polyps were distributed equally within the body (44.7%) and antrum (48.9%), while the fundus was rarely involved (6.3%). Our findings are compatible with the statement that in general there is no distinction between the histological types classified by sex, age, location, symptoms or endoscopic appearance. Nevertheless, this is the first report of a higher incidence of gastric polyps among Ashkenazi Jews than non-Ashkenazi Jews with identical sex distribution.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Bromobenzene accelerates hepatocyte streaming in rats.

Sixty male adult rats weighing between 250 and 300 g were divided in two equal experimental groups. The first experiment was designed to evaluate hepatocyte streaming. Animals were injected with 0.5 microCi [3H]thymidine and 1 hour later received one intraperitoneal injection of bromobenzene (3.8 mmol/kg, dissolved in corn oil). The animals were then killed in groups of five at 1 hour and 2, 4, 7, 14, and 30 days. The aim of the second experiment was to evaluate labeling index changes with time. Animals received one intraperitoneal injection of bromobenzene and were killed in groups of five at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14 days. They received [3H]thymidine 1 hour before killing. Bromobenzene induced a necrosis in the third acinus zone that disappeared within a week. On day 0 the labeling index of hepatocytes and littoral cells was 0.3% +/- 0.04% and 0.4% +/- 0.05%, respectively. On the second day, it reached 14.6% +/- 2.6% and 10.1% +/- 3.1% and returned to its initial value after 1 week. Dead cells in the third zone were replaced by inflowing cells from the intact zones. Hepatocytes and littoral cells streamed at the same velocity of 6 +/- 0.5 micron/day, faster than in untreated animals with velocity of 3.2 microns/day. Parenchyma and stroma responded to injury in a coordinated fashion. From the functional point of view, hepatocytes and littoral cells operate as a unit that is called proliferon. The maximal proliferon life span was 57 days after bromobenzene treatment and 108 days in controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The state of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood is more sensitive than the white blood cell count for the detection of acute mental stress.

We determined the state of the leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood by using a simple slide test and found it to be more sensitive than the white blood cell count for the detection of acute mental stress. Included were 71 controls, 64 young athletes examined just before their exercise, 14 volunteers who were examined 10-20 min before engagement in rappelling while an additional group of 20 were examined just before the act as they were facing an abyss from the top of a cliff. The state of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation correlated significantly (p less than 0.0005) only with the increasing strain assumed to occur from the first to the fourth group. The state of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation was 3.3 x more sensitive than white blood cell count in both rappelling groups and 5 x more sensitive than white blood cell count when evaluated in those examined at the last minute. We concluded that the state of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation is a reliable marker of acute mental stress.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Halitosis and Helicobacter pylori. A possible link?

The exact pathophysiological mechanism of halitosis is not clear, and in many patients the etiology is an enigma. We followed three couples in which one member or both had halitosis. All the subjects had evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection. All received a treatment course of colloidal bismuth subcitrate four times a day and 250 mg metronidazole three times a day. There was impressive improvement in their symptoms, the halitosis disappearing along with eradication of the organism. We call the attention of physicians to the possible connection between halitosis, H. pylori infection, and familial occurrence. Further studies to confirm this surprising association are in order.

Antacids↗
PubMed1992

Yersinia enterocolitica endocarditis on a prosthetic valve.

Yersinia entercolitica endocarditis has rarely been described before. This is the first report of prosthetic valve Yersinia enterocolitis endocarditis, complicated by infected brain embolization. The patient, however, completely recovered after 6 weeks of combined therapy with ceftriaxone and gentamicin.

Brain Abscess↗
PubMed1992

Streptococcus bovis endocarditis as a presenting manifestation of idiopathic ulcerative colitis.

Streptococcus bovis bacteraemia and endocarditis have been associated with several gastrointestinal diseases, mainly malignant or potentially malignant tumours, and less commonly non-malignant gastrointestinal disorders. We describe a 73 year old man in whom Streptococcus bovis endocarditis developed, and was the presenting manifestation of undiagnosed quiescent ulcerative colitis. Such an association has not been described previously.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Erythromycin base-induced rash and liver function disturbances.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of erythromycin base-induced rash and liver function disturbances. CASE SUMMARY: A patient with erythema nodosum and high antistreptolysin-O titers was treated with erythromycin on the assumption that occult streptococcal infection was the cause of the erythema nodosum. Forty-eight hours after the initiation of therapy the patient developed fever, severe generalized rash, pruritus, and cholestatic and hepatocellular liver function disturbances. Extensive evaluation to determine the cause of liver function disturbances was unrevealing. Marked improvement was noticed within days after cessation of erythromycin. DISCUSSION: Case reports in the literature on the adverse effects of erythromycin and its derivatives were reviewed. The possible immunologic mechanism involved is postulated. CONCLUSIONS: Erythromycin base must be added to the list of erythromycin derivatives that can cause rash and liver function disturbances. The concomitant appearance of fever, rash, jaundice, and liver function disturbances raises the possibility of hypersensitivity as the mechanism for the liver disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Corynebacterium CDC group A-4 native valve endocarditis.

A patient with endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium CDC Group A-4 is described. This is the first case in the literature of endocarditis caused by this bacteria, and is unique in that the patient was immune competent and the infection occurred on a native valve. This case illustrates that corynebacteria cannot be considered a contaminant and that the exact pathogen should be identified.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Azathioprine treatment increases hepatocyte turnover.

The effect of azathioprine on the hepatocytes cell turnover was evaluated. This was accomplished by injection of rats with trituim thymidine. The distance of labeled liver cells from the portal space was determined, after 1 hour and 30 days, in control and azathioprine-treated rats. In the control group, the streaming velocities of hepatocytes and littoral cells were 3.2 microns/day and 3.1 microns/day, respectively. In azathioprine-treated animals, the respective velocities were 7.0 microns/day and 5.5 microns/day. In the liver acinus, cell displacement velocity is proportional to cell production. Because hepatocyte velocity in azathioprine-treated animals increased by 218% and littoral cell velocity by 177%, their respective turnovers also increased to 218% and 177%. It can be concluded that the liver is essentially a slowly renewing cell population. Azathioprine increased the hepatocytes' and littoral cells' streaming velocities. This in vivo experimental model may help evaluate the effect of hepatotoxic drugs on the kinetics of liver cells.

Animals↗