Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Barak.
Six cases of small salivary duct sialoliths were treated using the carbon dioxide laser as a surgical dissector. When the laser beam encountered the small sialolith (3 mm or less), a light-scattering effect (flash or burst) was observed, thus enabling an almost immediate localization of the stone in the salivary duct or in the surrounding tissue. Stone extirpation is more rapid, with less surgical trauma, using this technique.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
From 1987 to 1990, there were 122 soldiers treated with the CO 2 laser (Sharplan 1010) in the Laser Center of the Israel Defense Forces. A variety of benign oral lesions, vascular tumors, and other oral lesions were excised or vaporized. Twenty-four soldiers with impacted wisdom teeth and wide pericoronitis underwent operculectomy using the CO 2 laser. The CO 2 laser has the ability to perform accurate hemostasis surgery, with minimal postoperative pain and edema, and rapid healing, resulting in fast recovery without significant discomfort. These advantages are particularly important in the military since soldiers can return to their duties immediately after surgery.
A patient with a one-year history of fever of unknown origin is presented. Extensive work-up failed to reveal the source of the fever. Treatment of periodontal infection resulted in complete cure, suggesting a cause-effect relationship. A possible role of Interleukin 1 (IL-1), universal pyrogen, in periodontal disease is suggested.
Gingival hyperplasia is an adverse reaction of nifedipine therapy. Oral manifestations of this condition include enlarged and painful gingiva accompanied by spontaneous bleeding. Nifedipine-induced gingival hyperplasia may be reversible once a proper drug substitution is made. Two cases of gingival hyperplasia resulting from nifedipine are described and the drug's possible mode of action is discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The CO 2 laser has a decided advantage in removing tumors of the oral cavity. This advantage is related to its ability to perform accurate hemostatic surgery, while at the same time sterilizing the operative area. During the past 4 years, 376 patients have been treated with the CO 2 laser (Sharplan 1040) at our hospital. A variety of benign oral lesions, malignant tumors, vascular tumors, preprosthetic surgery, and other oral lesions have been treated.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A case of life-endangering post-operative haemorrhage due to thrombocytopenia resulting from administration of trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole is described. Withdrawal of the drug led to complete recovery. This side effect should be kept in mind, especially in patients scheduled for surgical intervention. As thrombocytopenia may develop insidiously and gradually, it is highly recommended to perform full blood tests immediately prior to surgery and repeat them in the post-operative period.
Osteoradionecrosis, complicated by pathologic fracture and osteomyelitis, is difficult to treat. Electromagnetic stimulation therapy may present a solution to this problem. A case of a 66-year old woman, suffering from osteoradionecrosis, pathologic fracture and osteomyelitis of the mandible, 6 years after irradiation therapy and partial resection of the mandible for squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva, treated by electromagnetic stimulation, is presented. After 9 months of treatment, the patient was asymptomatic. Radiographic examination and bone scintigraphy carried out upon termination of the treatment, proved that healing of osteoradionecrosis and osteomyelitis had occurred. As far as we know, no previous reports have been published regarding this type of treatment.
The CO2 laser has been shown to have decided advantages over conventional techniques in the excision of gingival hyperplasia. These advantages include accurate debulking without bleeding and simultaneous sterilization. In addition, post-operative pain and discomfort are considerably reduced. This is particularly important in patients being treated with nifedipine for cardiac disease. A case study which demonstrates these issues is presented.
Thirty-four cardiac patients, treated with nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia) during a period of 1 year or more, developed slight to severe gingival epithelial hyperplasia, and five cases presented nodular overgrowth of the gingiva. In terms of histopathologic and clinical morphology, nifedipine-induced gingival hyperplasia is similar to that known to be caused by phenytoin (Dilantin). Both drugs have the ability to alter calcium metabolism. We believe that the hyperplastic condition is related to calcium imbalance.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Two cases of pyrexia of unknown origin are described in which no cause was found despite exhaustive inpatient investigation until occult dental infection was detected: extraction of the teeth involved was followed by resolution of the pyrexia. Dental infection should be considered as an unusual but eminently treatable cause of pyrexia of unknown origin.
Penetration of electrolytes through the human skin was measured in healthy volunteers and in psoriatic patients after bathing in the Dead-Sea or in simulated bath-salt solutions. Significant increases in the levels of serum Br, Rb, Ca and Zn were noticed only in the psoriatic patients after daily bathing in the Dead-Sea for a 4-week regimen. Guinea-pigs "bathed" in simulated Dead-Sea bath-salt solutions containing radionuclides of Ca, Mg, K and Br. Traces of each radionuclide were detected in the blood and in some internal organs after 60 minutes of bathing. The radionuclides showed a physiological pattern in their organ distribution. Even though the whole investigation was carried out in hypertonic solutions, there is a definite penetration of salts through healthy (human and guinea-pigs) and damaged (psoriatic) epidermis. This finding suggests that improvement of the psoriatic condition after bathing in the Dead-Sea, may be partly attributed (in addition to ultraviolet irradiation) to the minerals' effect on the psoriatic skin.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.