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Biomedical subjects

R Jacobs

Publications and source records attributed to R Jacobs.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Bacillus cereus pneumonia. Survival in a patient with cavitary disease treated with gentamicin.

Cavitary pneumonitis due to Bacillus cereus occurred in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pneumonia due to this organism is uncommon and recovery has not been previously reported. The present report is the first description of cavitary pneumonia due to B. cereus with a successful outcome. Recovery was attributed to appropriate antimicrobial therapy and induction of leukemic remission with chemotherapy.

Adult↗

A preliminary study of biochemical changes in the rat small intestine following long-term ingestion of chrysotile asbestos.

Changes are reported in the DNA, RNA, protein and brush border enzymes in the small intestine mucosal lining cells and gut lumen, induced by maintaining rats on a diet containing chrysotile asbestos for 10 months. Intracellular levels of RNA, DNA and protein remained unchanged but significant alterations, consistent with a mineral-induced cytotoxicity, were found in the lumen level of DNA (increased) and RNA (decreased) in asbestos-treated rats. Most intracellular enzyme levels were consistently, but not significantly, elevated in animals maintained on diets containing asbestos whilst the activities within the lumen were significantly higher than those found in normal animals. The presence of cigarette smoke alone in the diet induced changes in intracellular RNA and lumen ATPase but the combined effect of cigarette smoke and asbestos was rarely different from the alterations induced by asbestos alone on the majority of parameters studied.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

[Problems in serum-level determination during valproic acid therapy].

An investigation was carried out to determine whether or not a reliable and reproducible steady state serum level of the anticonvulsant drug valproic acid could be found, such that single values of a serum level determination could be used in therapeutic control. 1. A reliable and comparable serum concentration of valproic acid could not be found in 11 patients during a long-term investigation over a period of 8 weeks. Likewise this could not be found in the 24-h serum concentration profile in 8 of the above mentioned patients, who were receiving both mono and combined therapy. 2. The half-life values for valproic acid in these 8 patients lay between 8--12.5 h. 3. The maximum concentration of valproic acid lies in unforeseeable time spans after drug administration. 4. The morning fasting values are comparable only to a limited extent. In future daily profiles it must be decided whether, and if so to what extent, valproic acid serum concentration determinations can be of value to the individual treatment of epileptics.

Adolescent↗

Renal tubular acidosis due to the milk-alkali syndrome.

A 60-year-old man with a history of excessive ingestion of calcium carbonate presented with azotemia, hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. His acid-base status was initially normal. Following the cessation of calcium carbonate treatment, the hypercalcemia and azotemia disappeared, and the patient was found to be in metabolic acidosis with blunted acid excretion and a urine pH of 6.1. Kidney biopsy showed focal tubular calcification; the tubular damage was apparently caused by hypercalcemia and had resulted in renal tubular acidosis. During the three months of observation since that time there has been a tendecy for spontaneous remission of the renal tubular acidosis. Impaired renal hydrogen ion excretion prevented the development of metabolic alkalosis despite ingestion of alkali initially, and was later responsible for the metabolic acidosis. Renal tubular acidosis occurring as a sequel to the milk-alkali syndrome may aggravate the danger of nephrocalcinosis in this syndrome.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗

Induction of drug photosensitization in man after parenteral exposure to hematoporphyrin.

Two patients had acute phototoxic reactions after intravenous injections of hematoporphyrin (7 mg/kg) and exposure to light. These reactions were characterized by pain, redness, and swelling of affected sites. Controlled clinical studies were instituted using known types and amounts of light to ascertain the degree of photosensitivity at various time intervals after drug administration. In addition, action spectrum studies elicited a peak response at 405 nm (+/- 5 nm). Plasma hematoporphyrin concentration was approximately 520 microgram/100 ml one hour after hematoporphyrin infusion and it gradually declined during a period of 42 days with a biphasic diminution that suggested the existence of at least two pools of hematoporphyrin with half-life decay times of 16 hours and 12 days. beta-carotene was administered to ascertain whether or not the phototoxic response could be modified. It is suggested that a degree of protection was obtained that was insufficient to protect the patient.

Aged↗

Isolation of influenza virus from liver and muscle biopsy specimens from a surviving case of Reye's syndrome.

Influenza virus (A/Ohio/7/76) was demonstrated by haemagglutination and by direct electron microscopy in chick embryo fluids inoculated with liver, muscle, cerebrospinal fluid, and nasotracheal secretions obtained from a boy with Reye's syndrome, 8 days after the onset of the upper-respiratory-tract symptoms and at the height of neurological and hepatic involvement. This finding accords with the hypothesis that Reye's syndrome may be an epiphenomenon of influenza-virus infection. It is postulated that the pathogenesis of Reye's syndrome may be related to the other influenzal eipiphenomena including influenzal pneumonia in previously healthy persons and influenza-associated myopathy, both of which, like Reye's syndrome, become clinically evident about 7 days after the first clinical signs of influenza.

Brain Diseases↗

Variations in fluorescence characteristics of intact human crystalline lens segments as a function of age.

Fluorescence spectra of human lenses were examined as a function of age. The relative intensity in the blue-green area was red shifted with age. Absorption and scatter produce a substantial contribution to this shift. Some change, however, was the result of a true fluorescence intensity shift. In the lower blue region a true independent red shift was found in the nucleus, but not in the cortex. In the upper blue region, true red shift in the nucleus was not significant with fluorescence excited at 400 nm but was significant with fluorescence excited at 375 nm; the shift was well defined in the cortex. This pattern is consistent with age-related accumulation of multiple fluorogens or fluorogen precursors in the lens with relative concentration differences in nucleus and cortex.

Absorption↗

New technics in the operative treatment of scoliosis.

Preoperative correction of scoliotic curves by traction and casting improves the results achieved by operation. Use of the halo-hoop apparatus allows controlled correction when combined with spinal osteotomies. The anterior approach to the spine allows better correction and fusion of the more difficult curves of congenital scoliosis and those associated with neurofibromatosis and myelomeningocele.

Adolescent↗