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Biomedical subjects

S Reif

Publications and source records attributed to S Reif.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Comparative trial of sclerotherapy for hydroceles.

We present a prospective single-blind trial of sclerotherapy for hydroceles with tetradecyl sulphate and rolitetracycline as sclerosants. Twenty-seven hydroceles were treated with tetradecyl sulphate and 28 with rolitetracycline. The median follow-up was 13 months. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 drugs in respect of cure rate and complications. The overall cure rate for both drugs was 96%. Complications were rare and common to both drugs. Tetradecyl sulphate and rolitetracycline were found to be equally effective as sclerosants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Sclerotherapy for hydroceles.

Sclerotherapy with 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate and 3.5% rolitetracycline on an outpatient basis was applied to 55 hydroceles. The over-all cure rate was 96% with an average followup of 13 months. Of the patients 64% were cured after only 1 sclerosant instillation. A post-sclerotherapy operation was necessary in 4% of the patients. Pain of a significant degree occurred after sclerotherapy in only 29% of the patients. Sclerotherapy appears to be an effective, economical and safe form of outpatient therapy for hydroceles.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1987

Renographic comparison of function in bivalved kidneys repaired using either a fibrin adhesive (Tisseel) or conventional suturing.

In 6 male baboons, the left kidney was bivalved and repaired using a fibrin adhesive (group A) or conventional suturing (group B). 99mTc diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) renography was used to evaluate renal function for up to 24 weeks after surgery. No significant impairment of renal function could be detected for either of the two repair methods. It seems as though the function was less affected after suturing, but the trend could not be supported statistically. The fibrin adhesive did not prove superior to conventional suturing.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measles is more prevalent in Crohn's disease patients. A multicentre Israeli study.

The question whether there is a transmissible pathogenetic agent as a cause for Crohn's disease, remains unanswered. Measles virus has been the subject of many intensive studies, in the attempt to find a role for it in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Whether an early infection with measles virus may predispose to Crohn's disease in later life is still not clear. We conducted a large scale multicentre study, in order to obtain sufficient data to answer this question. To do so, we compared inflammatory bowel disease patients, with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, with two matched control groups: clinical controls, and community controls. A total of 531 patients, 271 with ulcerative colitis and 260 with Crohn's disease were interviewed, as well as 903 matched controls. Blood from 104 inflammatory bowel disease patients and 50 controls was tested for antibodies to measles virus. We did not find any differences related to measles vaccination, either in Crohn's disease or in ulcerative colitis. Exposure to measles in childhood was more frequent in Crohn's disease patients than in their controls, the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.05) in relation to community controls. The presence of IgG antibodies to measles virus was higher in patients with Crohn's disease than in patients with ulcerative colitis or controls (p = 0.084). Another observation of interest was the finding that Crohn's disease patients who had measles in childhood, more frequently had large bowel disease than those who had not had measles. These data lead us to postulate that there may be a role for measles infection in Crohn's disease, even if, at present, this role remains unclear.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Microbial flora in semen of infertile African men at Garankuwa hospital].

This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of bacteria and Mycoplasmas in semen of infertile African men and to compare abnormal semen parameters with the presence of these organisms. Routine semen analysis were performed on 100 patients, and semen and first-voided urine samples were cultured. Mycoplasma hominis was cultured in 28% of seminal fluid and Ureaplasma urealyticum in 42%. These organisms were both present in 22% of cultures. Bacteriological cultures were positive in 6 urine and 21 seminal specimens. The frequency of tail abnormalities in the Mycoplasma positive group was greater as compared to normal values. From these it would appear that culture for Ureaplasma should probably be performed routinely at the Andrology Clinic.

Bacteria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The onset of puberty in Tswana schoolboys: a need for sex education.

Spermaturia can be used as an indicator of genital and sexual maturation in puberty. In this study the mean age of the onset of puberty in Tswana schoolboys was determined. Of the boys between 10 and 13 years, only one (1.22%) aged 13 had spermaturia, compared with 61 boys (88.4%) in the group 14-16 years. The mean age of boys with spermaturia was 14.95 +/- 0.85 years. The possible onset of puberty as calculated by the presence of spermaturia was between 14.10 and 15.80 years. It would seem, therefore, that from the age of 14 years, a boy might theoretically be able to father a child. The need for sex education at school is thus of paramount importance.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Total parenteral nutrition-induced steatosis: reversal by parenteral lipid infusion.

Prolonged use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may be associated with hepatic complications, primarily steatosis and cholestasis. A case is reported of an 18-year-old woman with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndrome who was on prolonged home parenteral nutrition without lipid supplementation and developed steatosis. This finding was reversed by addition of lipid emulsion, at a dose of 0.5 g/kg/day, to the parenteral nutrition solution. The lack of lipid supplementation as a possible cause of steatosis, as well as other mechanisms of liver steatosis associated with TPN, are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Syphilis serology in men attending the Andrology Clinic at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital.

The worldwide resurgence of syphilis may have serious implications on neonatal morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of syphilis in men attending an infertility clinic. Blood samples from 782 males were screened using the titrated RPR and TPHA tests. If either of these tests was positive, FTA-ABs IgG was performed. The RPR was positive in 63 (8%) cases. In 24 (3%) patients the titer was 1:8 with positive TPHA and FTA-Abs IgG tests and these were regarded as current infections. Thirty-nine (4.9%) cases had RPR titers 1:8 with positive specific tests. These were probably patients either treated inadequately or in the early stage of primary syphilis. In addition, 92 (12%) patients were RPR negative but TPHA and FTA positive. This was evidence of previous exposure to syphilis. The overall seropositivity in this group was 20% (155 cases). Six hundred and twenty-seven (80%) tested negative with RPR and TPHA. Syphilis may still have a major impact on health in Southern Africa. Since syphilis is significantly associated with HIV seropositivity, efforts to prevent and control syphilis may also be important in limiting the spread of HIV.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Testicular compression during exercise: serum testosterone levels.

Serum testosterone levels are increased in athletes after short-term exercise. To investigate whether mechanical compression could contribute to this increase, we subjected 14 male volunteers to mechanical testicular compression via a pneumatic cuff. The serum testosterone levels were sampled at time intervals before, during and after compression. There was a rise in mean serum testosterone levels of 16.7-18.2%, with a maximal increase at 1.5 min after compression was released. Mechanical compression alone did not explain the rise in serum testosterone, although it may have a contributory role.

Exercise↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Observations in infertile African males at an andrology clinic in South Africa.

The major cause of infertility among black Africans is traditionally attributed to a female factor and few reports are available on the male factor. This study analyzed the clinical and seminal data obtained from a population of 1726 suspected infertile African men evaluated from July 1985 to June 1991. The possible cause of infertility was judged on the results of first semen analysis. Of these men, 49% were secondarily infertile and 36% had previously received treatment for a urethral discharge. Varicocoeles were present in 183 cases (11%) and 11% had serological evidence of previous exposure to syphilis. Azoospermia was present in 152 patients (9%), 5% had polizoospermia, 45% had hypospermia (< 2 mL) and 9% (> 6 mL) had hyperspermia. In 70% of patients a possible contributing male factor for infertility was found. It would appear that the male factor contributed significantly to infertility, and evaluation of the black African male can therefore be regarded as a rewarding venture.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chlamydial infection in asymptomatic infertile men attending an andrology clinic.

Urethral swabs, first-catch urine or urine collected at least 2 h after the previous micturition, and semen swabs were collected from 131 asymptomatic men during the routine workup for infertility at the andrology clinic at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, Medunsa. The urethral and seminal swabs were used for enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (IDEIA III), tissue culture, and direct immunofluorescent antibody (DFA) test (IMAGEN) to detect Chlamydia trachomatis, and similarly the urine was tested by EIA. In 82/131 (62.6%) cases all tests for chlamydiae were negative and in 49/131 (37.4%) cases at least one test was positive. Tissue culture detected 24/131 (18.3%) as positive for C. trachomatis. Urethral swab EIA detected 33/131 (25.2%) and DFA 34/131 (26%) positive patients. Urine EIA was positive in 33/131 cases (25.2%). Semen EIA was positive in 35/131 (26.7%) of cases of whom 7/131 (5.3%) were positive in semen EIA only (all samples were conformed by PCR). It would seem, therefore, that testing for the presence of chlamydia was incomplete if semen samples were not included. The positivity in only semen samples raises the possibility that the organisms are harbored in the epididymis, seminal vesicles, or the prostate.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Melatonin and steroid-dependent carcinomas.

In this study the concentrations of plasma melatonin in patients with either prostatic or breast carcinoma were compared to the levels of controls. The mean melatonin was statistically lower in patients with breast cancer as compared to controls (p less than 0.005). In prostatic carcinoma patients, the mean melatonin was statistically higher than in the control group (p less than 0.005). From the results it would seem that low melatonin levels could possibly play a role in breast carcinoma, but the same did not necessarily applied to prostatic cancer.

Androgens↗