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Biomedical subjects

R Gold

Publications and source records attributed to R Gold.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Disseminated fusarial infection in the immunocompromised host.

A report of the species Fusarium proliferatum causing systemic infection in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is presented, with a review of the clinical and laboratory features relating to outcome in disseminated fusarial infections. Thirteen cases of disseminated infection due to Fusarium species have been reported, all but one of which were fatal. Hematologic malignancy is the commonest underlying illness. The frequent occurrence of multiple skin lesions, orbitofacial involvement, and fungemia is in contrast to the otherwise similar disseminated aspergillosis or mucormycosis. Fungemia in disseminated fusariosis may reflect a capacity for invasion of intravascular catheters by Fusarium species. Fusarium isolates from disseminated infections are variably sensitive to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, and miconazole and uniformly resistant to 5-fluorocytosine. The correlation between antifungal susceptibility status and clinical outcome is poor, reflecting problems in susceptibility testing, marginally effective chemotherapy, and serious impairment of host defenses. Attention to early diagnosis and the care of indwelling prosthetic devices may enhance survival until more effective chemotherapy is available.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of inhaled tobramycin in the treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis.

Two forms of treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis were compared: intravenous ticarcillin (300 mg drug per kg per day) and tobramycin (10 mg drug per kg per day) versus the same intravenous antibiotic therapy plus inhaled tobramycin (80 mg three times per day). The 16 patients in the intravenous plus inhaled tobramycin group were similar to the 12 control patients in age, sex, Schwachman scores, pulmonary function and pretreatment colony counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum. Treatment resulted in significant improvement in clinical status and pulmonary function without any apparent differences in the two groups. However, intravenous plus inhaled tobramycin resulted in temporary eradication of P. aeruginosa in 63% of the patients compared to 25% in the intravenous only group (P = 0.03). Suppression of P. aeruginosa in sputum cultures did not correlate with clinical response to treatment. No renal toxicity or elevations of serum tobramycin were observed in the intravenous plus inhaled tobramycin group.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The management of central intravenous catheter infections.

Catheter-associated infection is a frequent complication in patients with indwelling intravenous catheters used for administration of total parenteral nutrition and/or cancer chemotherapy. Thirty-seven catheter-associated infections in 19 patients were identified in our retrospective survey conducted for the period from January 1, 1982, through December 31, 1982. Fourteen patients were receiving total parenteral nutrition for gastrointestinal disorders, and five were receiving total parenteral nutrition and chemotherapy for underlying malignancy. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated from 65% of catheter-associated bacteremias, as a single species (18 cases) or as one of multiple species (6 cases). Ten of 33 coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates (30%) were methicillin-resistant. Twenty-one infections (57%) were initially treated with antibiotics administered through the central venous catheter. There were three failures with this treatment; in two cases the catheter was removed because of continued fever and positive blood cultures despite antibiotics, and one patient developed a pyogenic granuloma. The remaining 18 (86%) catheter-associated infections were cured without catheter removal. However, a new infection occurred subsequently in two of these patients. We recommend that vancomycin and an aminoglycoside be the initial empiric therapy for suspected catheter-associated sepsis. Lack of defervescence or continued positive blood cultures for 2 to 4 days despite antibiotics are indications for catheter removal. Otherwise antibiotics should be continued for 14 to 21 days.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Controlled trial of ceftazidime vs. ticarcillin and tobramycin in the treatment of acute respiratory exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis.

A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to compare ceftazidime vs. the combination of ticarcillin and tobramycin in the treatment of acute respiratory exacerbations of mild to moderate severity in patients with cystic fibrosis. The two antibiotic regimens were equally effective in terms of clinical improvement: 16 of 17 in the ceftazidime group and 11 of 13 in the ticarcillin/tobramycin group were judged to be improved by the patients and attending physicians and were observed to show improvement in symptom scores, vital signs, body weight and pulmonary function. Ceftazidime was more effective bacteriologically in reducing colony counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the sputum. Neither regimen affected Pseudomonas cepacia. Resistance to multiple antibiotics developed in six of 12 isolates of nonmucoid P. aeruginosa in patients receiving ticarcillin/tobramycin, which was significantly more than occurred in the ceftazidime group. There was no correlation between clinical and bacteriologic outcomes in either treatment group. No clinically important adverse effects were observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dorsal defect of the patella.

Dorsal defect of the patella is a benign subchondral lesion of unknown etiology, located in the superolateral region of the patella. The lesion presents with a characteristic radiographic appearance consisting of a rounded focus of radiolucency surrounded by a sclerotic margin. Although often an incidental finding on knee radiographs, it occasionally may be symptomatic. It occurs in males and females with equal frequency, is bilateral in up to one third of individuals, and is most frequently found in adolescents. This report describes a series of eight such lesions in five patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Iron particle-enhanced visualization of inflammatory central nervous system lesions by high resolution: preliminary data in an animal model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The detection of cell infiltration is critical for the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory disorders, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles have recently been introduced as a contrast agent to detect macrophage migration in vivo by MR imaging. We tested the hypothesis that focal hyperechogenicity due to SPIO-laden macrophages can also be visualized on high-resolution sonography. METHODS: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced by myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in congenic Lewis rats, an animal model mimicking many aspects of human multiple sclerosis. At the height of disease, rats underwent MR imaging with a 1.5T unit. Animals were injected with SPIO particles 24 hours before imaging. Control rats either received no contrast agent or were injected with SPIO particles without prior induction of EAE. Immediately after MR imaging, the rats were sacrificed, and the brains were removed and placed in saline. Sonography was performed directly after brain removal. Brains were embedded in paraffin, and sections were stained for iron with Perls stain and for macrophages with ED1 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: SPIO-enhanced sonography of rat brains during a relapse of EAE specifically showed marked focal echogenicity in EAE-typical areas of the brain, including the periventricular region, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The sonographic results corresponded to in vivo MR imaging findings of the respective animals as well to the clinical symptoms of EAE and to histology showing iron-laden macrophages in demyelinated lesions. CONCLUSION: SPIO particles allow the detection and demarcation of inflammatory CNS lesions on sonograms by specific macrophage imaging.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case of probable benign pulmonary "metastases" or implants arising from a giant cell tumor of bone.

Several large pulmonary lesions were found in a 45-year-old woman after therapy for a typical tibial giant cell tumor. The pulmonary lesions were incidentally found during a routine chest examination four years after the original bone tumor had been found. Removal of the lung lesions showed ordinary giant cell tumor identical to the primary bone tumor, with no evidence of sarcomatous transformation. After an analysis of 12 other well-documented cases in the world literature, we postulate that the lung lesions in this case probably represent benign "metastases;" i.e., benign tumor implants compatable with a good long-term prognosis, rather than the usual lethal course associated with the vast majority of metastatic malignancies.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of parent education methods for infant immunization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a video about infant immunization could inform parents as well as human counselling (oral presentation). METHODS: Core information for parents about infant immunization was identified and packaged in an instructional video and a scripted oral presentation. Volunteer prenatal classes were randomly assigned a video or oral presentation. Participants completed pre- and post-test questionnaires covering the same 16 items. Scores were compared for each question and as a group means, using Fisher's exact test, 2-sided. RESULTS: 227 subjects participated, including 102 men and 124 women. Groups were similar in terms of gender mix, parenting experience and recent reading about immunization. Pre-test knowledge scores were similarly low between groups. Post-test scores were much higher but did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In a prenatal classroom setting, video and oral presentations were equally effective in conveying key information about infant immunization.

British Columbia↗