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Biomedical subjects

N Simon

Publications and source records attributed to N Simon.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Prealbumin as a hapten carrier protein in certain varieties of dermatitis.

A significant decrease of serum prealbumin levels and an increased proportion of prealbumin bearing lymphocytes in peripheral blood have been found in patients of hapten-induced diseases. Prealbumin deposition in the vessel walls, and/or prealbumin positive cells (granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages) in the dermis have been observed in patients with proved drug allergy as well as allergic contact dermatitis using immunofluorescence technique. The eluates from membrane of lymphocytes of patients with drug allergy contained a mitogenic substance, probably antigen and sometimes prealbumin as well. These results also support the earlier suggested hypothesis that the prealbumin may act as a hapten carrier protein.

Binding Sites, Antibody↗

Study of erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in porphyria cutanea tarda.

The erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was studied in porphyria cutanea tarda patients, compared to healthy controls, in an attempt to resolve the contradictions in the relevant literature data. In an in vitro experimental system, a study was also made of how the erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity varies on the action of the activators -SH and Zn2+. It was found that, compared to the healthy controls, the erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity of porphyria cutanea tarda patients is significantly decreased, but it is restored to the original activity level on the addition of -SH and Zn2+. Since there is a general -SH requirement of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, the most obvious explanation for the decrease of the activity in the case of the patients is the shift of the natural redox systems of the erythrocytes, and the decrease of the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio.

Adult↗

Acute renal failure. Association with administration of radiographic contrast material.

Fourteen cases of acute renal failure secondary to administration of radiographic contrast media were observed, eight within a 15-month period. No patient had multiple myeloma, and only three were diabetic. Predisposing factors included renal hypoperfusion, preexisting renal insufficiency, hyperuricemia, age of more than 60 years, solitary functioning kidney, and exposure to several contrast studies at closely spaced intervals. Control of blood volume and serum uric acid, appropriate spacing of radiographic studies, and possibly urinary alkalinization and hypouricosuric drugs in high-risk patients are recommended to decrease the incidence and morbidity of contrast-mediated nephropathy.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Kaspar Hauser's recovery and autopsy: a perspective on neurological and sociological requirements for language development.

The feral children literature has frequently been cited for relevance to understanding historical antecedents of autism. Kaspar Hauser, who appeared in Nuremberg, Germany in 1828, is one of these children, raised under conditions of extreme deprivation. His case history and gradual acquisition of language after age 17 years are summarized. There is strong evidence that he was the prince of Baden, abducted from his cradle in 1812. Findings of postmortem examination, conducted after his assassination, are discussed. Hauser's postadolescent recovery of language contradicts the notion of a "critical period" for language development.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of mediastinitis in children after cardiac surgery. A study of 20 cases.

Twenty-three cases of mediastinitis after cardiac surgery in children were treated by us between 1973 and 1976. Three patients died within 6 hours of admission. Treatment used in the tweny other cases are discussed. The mean age of the patients was three years and three months. The mediastinitis was evident an average of twelve days after extracoporeal circulation. A staphylococus was always responsible for the infection. Treatment was a combination of surgery, antibiotics and respiratory and nutritional supplies. The surgical treatment consisted of a careful mediastinal cleansing with resection of the sternal edges. In fifteen patients the thorax was closed after surgery, and an irrigation system installed using a solution of 4% Dakin in physiologic saline. Recovery was simple in 5 patients. In the 10 other patients of this group the thorax had to be reopened; one patient died after 90 days from Serratia marcescens endocarditis. The thorax was left open initially in five patients: one patient of this group died from candida endocarditis. All patients needed endotracheal ventilation through a nasotracheal tube (7 to 90 days of ventilation). Treatment with bactericidal antibiotics was pursued for three months and a monotherapy was kept for nine months. After reviewing the observed complications, our methods and results are compared with others in the literature.

Child↗

REM motivation induced by brief REM deprivation: the influence of cognition, gender, and personality.

Prominence of the brain's right-hemisphere information processing and intensity of dream experience are two theoretically related constructs that have been proposed as important psychological aspects of REM sleep. Either view is consistent with the prediction that the effect of REM deprivation will depend in part on the nature of cognitive activity that is initiated at the onset of each REM period and that "substitutes" for the interrupted REM process. In the present study, the effect of REM deprivation was more striking for female subjects given a digits task than for female subjects given a fantasy-reporting task during awakening used to induce REM deprivation for the first 6 hours of the night. High neuroticism appeared to exaggerate the effect. No corresponding pattern was observed for the male subjects. These preliminary finding may be exaggerated by cognitive activity that is functionally incongruent with those processes. The results also raise interesting questions about individual differences.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors↗

[Possibilities of earlier evidence of the lead load].

A total of 138 workers of a motorcar transportation plant were examined to show a degree of lead damage. The analysis of obtained results was conducted from the two points of view: 1) according to employment time in plant; 2) according to work groups. The following laboratory examinations were carried out: delta-aminolevulin acid and coproporphyrin urinary excretion; determination of serous transaminase of glutaminoxalacetic acid and glutamin and piruvic acid, leucinaminopeptidase, whole protein, albumin-globulin coefficient, protein fractions (albumin alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1-, beta 2, gamma) as well as of dehydratase activity of delta-aminolevulin acid in erythrocytes. In conformity with literary data an increased urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulin acid and of coproporphyrin to a different degree, as well as a decrease of dehydratase content of delta-aminolevulin acid in erythrocytes were detected. In the authors' view attention is to be drawn to a minor or greater extent to proportional increase of leucinaminopeptidase content however, in all the age groups and all the professional categories. The results of present examinations are considered by authors an important and sensitive parameter to evidence of lead damage.

Alanine Transaminase↗

[Porphyria cutanea tarda--a multifactorial hereditary disease? A working hypothesis].

The influence of genetic and hepatotoxic factors in the development of porphyria cutanea tarda was studied in 51 patients with this disease. According to their data and findings in literature, the following hypothesis was made: porphyria cutanea tarda is assumed to be a disease following the rules of the polygenetical heredity. The appearance of the disease seems to be influenced by genetic rules, and hepatotoxic factors are playing a role in the manifestation of the disease.

Alcoholism↗

[Periodic familial paralysis with hypokalemia. Hemodynamic and metabolic studies: favourable effect of acetazolamide (author's transl)].

The same protocol was used three times to produce a paralytic episode in a typical case of periodic familial paralysis with hypokalemia. This consisted of an effort together with a perfusion of hypertonic glucose serum and insulin. The first test provoked an attach of hypokalemic tetraplegia. The second test, two months after treatment with 500 mg daily of acetazolamide, produced no reaction. In the third test, the metabolic acidosis caused by acetazolamide was reduced by the injection of sodium bicarbonate, and a stronger effect than in the first test was observed. This confirms the efficacy of acetazolamide as a preventive treatment for paralytic attacks; the most reasonable hypothesis being that it acts through the metabolic acidosis that it induces. Metabolic and hemodynamic studies were carried out during the provoked attacks. Cardiac output and oxygen consumption are increased, while pulmonary capillary pressure and periopheral resistance are reduced. Diastolic pressure is lower when measured by an arm-cuff but shows no change when direct readings are taken in the blood-vessels. These results suggest that there is an increase in cellular energy needs, or that the smooth muscle in the vessel walls is paralyzed. The two tetraplegic attacks in tests 1 and 3 were associated with a metabolic acidosis, which is explained by a simultaneous transfer, though in the opposite direction, of H+ and K+ ions; the intra-cellular pH, as measured by the D.M.O. technique, was acid when there was not an attack, and this increased during paralysis.

Acetazolamide↗

[Paralysis with hypokalemia by transfer, treated by acetazolamide].

A case of familial paralysis with hypokalemia is presented. Acetazolamide at a dose of 500 mg daily prevents the onset of acute attacks. Under acetazolamide, an oral glucose tolerance test is not followed by hypokalemia. The association of glucose and insulin is unable to trigger off a paralytic attack although without acetazolamide, the same protocol had 5 months previously precipitated tetraplegia with hypokalemia. These results are compared with those in the literature.

Acetazolamide↗