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Biomedical subjects

R L Sufit

Publications and source records attributed to R L Sufit.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nifedipine relieves exercise-exacerbated myalgias.

Three women with exercise-exacerbated myalgias refractory to usual medications are described who responded favorably when the calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, was administered. The side effects were dose-related and prevented complete resolution of the symptoms. Three potential mechanisms of action are suggested for these effects.

Adult↗

Sudden monocular visual loss in pseudotumor cerebri.

We describe a patient with papilledema due to benign intracranial hypertension who had sudden, painless monocular visual loss. Fear of further visual deterioration prompted vigorous therapeutic efforts to reduce intracranial pressure. Subsequent neuro-ophthalmologic evaluation disclosed that the visual loss was due to a subretinal neovascular membrane. Vision continued to improve after medical therapy was discontinued, and was accompanied by complete resolution of papilledema and headache. In any patient with minimal papilledema, sudden visual deterioration should initiate a search for other causes rather than zealous therapeutic efforts to reduce intracranial pressure.

Blindness↗

Respiratory improvement by muscle training in adult-onset acid maltase deficiency.

A patient with progressive involvement of respiratory function from adult-onset acid maltase deficiency is reported. The decrement in objective and subjective waking and sleeping respiratory variables was significantly reversed by inspiratory muscle training. This training was accomplished simply by breathing against inspiratory resistors for 15 minutes twice a day. Inspiratory muscle training may prove valuable in other patients with progressive neuromuscular disorders that involve respiratory muscle function.

Adult↗

Chronic compartment syndrome: diagnosis, management, and outcomes.

A consecutive operative series of 100 patients with chronic compartment syndrome involving 233 compartments is reported. Seven of every eight were athletes, and runners predominated. Exercise-induced symptoms of consistently recurring tightness, aching (in some, sharp pains) in anatomically defined compartments were pathognomonic. Mean months of symptoms prior to operation was 22; median age was 26 years. Bilaterality occurred in 82. The distribution of compartments was: anterior, 39%; lateral, 12%; and posterior, 48%. Incidental compartment pressures were elevated (mean = 23 mmHg). Fasciotomy using local anesthesia was performed on 70 outpatients. At a median of 4.5 months, over 90% were cured or significantly improved in symptoms and/or function. Median time to walking unassisted was 2 days, and to resumption of conditioned running 21 days. Fasciotomy can be a safe, effective, and economical treatment for chronic compartment syndrome.

Adult↗

Infantile olivopontocerebellar atrophy with spinal muscular atrophy (infantile OPCA + SMA).

We report three siblings (two boys and girl) with familial (autosomal recessive) infantile olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) associated with lower motoneuron involvement. Brain autopsy findings in two of the children revealed a multisystem degeneration characterized by marked hypoplasia of phylogenetically new parts of the brain stem (basis pontis and inferior olivary nuclei) associated with hypoplasia of the neocerebellum, both cerebellar and cerebral peduncle. All three infants died before six months of age. The clinical features are characterized by severe hypotonia, areflexia, failure to thrive, respiratory insufficiency in all cases, cardiomyopathy and dislocated hips at birth in two of the three siblings. Extensive serum, urinary and leukocyte enzyme assays in the second infant failed to disclose a specific metabolic abnormality. The diagnosis of OPCA was established prior to death by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the youngest infant. Since OPCA represents a heterogeneous group of diseases, correlation of neuropathologic, clinical, genetic and MRI findings at early stages of evolution becomes crucial in the understanding of the nosology of OPCA and its variants.

Female↗