Biomedical subjects
V Dubowitz
Publications and source records attributed to V Dubowitz.
Management of muscular dystrophy in 1977.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Diagnostic mousetrap.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Use of liposomes in treating type II glycogenosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Growth of human muscle in tissue culture. An improved technique.
A method is described for the culture of normal and diseased human muscle cells. Cell outgrowth was obtained from 63/63 biopsies, and cells differentiated to form myotubes in 57/63 biopsies. The culture technique used readily permitted the growth of both normal and diseased human muscle cells.
Functional properties of muscle transplanted between normal and dystrophic mice.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Creatine kinase isoenzymes in neuromuscular diseases.
Determination of the creatine kinase isoenzyme pattern in 62 biopsy samples obtained from patients with neuromuscular disease revealed changes mainly in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The BB isoenzyme was detected in 10 out of 17 cases with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the relative amount of MB+BB isoenzyme was significantly increased in this group (P less than 0.005). In serum the MB isoenzyme was detected in all 28 cases with progressive muscular dystrophy and frequently also in other neuromuscular diseases. Among 152 control samples the MB isoenzyme was detected only in 2 cases. It is suggested that the finding of MB isoenzyme in the serum with normal or only slightly elevated total CK activity may be a further proof of neuromuscular disorder, but the finding is not specific for any particular disease.
Management of children with non-organic (hysterical) disorders of motor function.
Five children aged between 10 and 13 years are discribed whose disorders of motor function were found to have a non-organic (hysterical) cause. In most cases extensive investigations had been made to establish an organic cause before the hysterical basis was diagnosed. The three essentials of management of such cases are to limit further investigations to the essential minimum, to institute quickly a programme of graduated physical rehabilitation, and to establish and treat the underlying psychological problems.
Measurements of muscle strength and performance in children with normal and diseased muscle.
A study has been made of two simple means of measuring muscle power in children with normal and diseased muscle. In one the length of time that the leg and the head could be held at 45 degrees above the horizontal was measured with the child supine. In the second, measurements were made of the isometric strength of six muscle groups with the newly developed Hammersmith Myometer. In the timed performance tests only 5 (8%) of a group of 61 children known to have muscle disease achieved the minimum expected values for their ages. Myometer readings of the isometric power of the children with muscle disease also have values which were below those of a comparable group of normal children. The reproducibility of muscle strength measurements in young children has been shown to be good, whereas the timed performance tests, though able to differentiate normal children from children with muscle disease, did not show sufficient reporducibility for this test to be recommended for sequential measurements.
Motor nerve conduction velocity in spinal muscular atrophy of childhood.
The ulnar and posterior tibial conduction velocities were measured in 29 children with spinal muscular atrophy, 14 of whom had the servere form of the disease. The ulnar nerve velocity was slow in 12 of the 14 severely affected infants, but normal or fast in 11 of 14 children less severely affected. The corresponding results for the posterior tibial nerve were slow velocities in 11 of 12 infants in the severe group and normal or fast in all 11 infants less severely affected. The difficulty in distinguishing infantile spinal muscular atrophy from peripheral neuropathy is emphasized.
Rapid assessment of gestational age at birth.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Letter: Genetic miscounselling in muscular dystrophy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Treatment of dermatomyositis in childhood.
Analysis of the response to corticosteroid therapy in a personal series of 8 consecutive cases of dermatomyositis in childhood shows that there are advantages in a moderate dosage, short-term treatment schedule, with gradual tapering of the dosage as soon as there is clinical improvement without waiting for full remission, and in trying to stop steroid therapy within six months rather than following the more prolonged regimen currently still in vogue. Clinical response is a more reliable guide to progress than serum enzyme levels. Review of published reports suggests that overtreatment with corticosteroids may be a factor in chronicity of the disease and failure of adequate long-term response.
Early diagnosis of muscular dystrophy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
X-ray microanalysis of mast cells in rat's muscle.
Mast cells from rat's tongue muscles, fixed with glutaraldehyde only, were examined with an electron microscopic microanalyzer - the EMMA-4. With the preparatory method used, high emissions of a number of elements were obtained in various intracellular spots. The granules of mast cells were found to contain strictly localized high concentrations of sulphur, calcium and zinc.