Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Steinberg

Publications and source records attributed to W Steinberg.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Intestinal microsporidiosis as a cause of diarrhea in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a report of 20 cases.

Chronic diarrhea accompanied by weight loss is a common and often debilitating problem associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Enterocytozoon bieneusi, a newly identified species of the phylum of protozoa, Microspora, has been reported associated with chronic diarrhea and wasting in 11 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in the United States, Europe, and Africa. Diagnosis has been based solely on the ultrastructural identification of this small, intracellular parasite in bowel biopsies. Seventy-one small bowel biopsies from 67 homosexual AIDS and AIDS-related complex patients with chronic diarrhea and with no pathogens identified by light microscopy on paraffin sections, were embedded in plastic and studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Enterocytozoon bieneusi microsporidiosis was diagnosed by electron microscopy in 20 (22 biopsies) of the patients. More jejunal biopsies (16 of 36) were positive than duodenal biopsies (six of 35). Parasites and spores were clearly visible at the light microscopic level in the semi-thin plastic sections from 17 and 21 of the biopsies, respectively. In retrospect, parasites could be identified by light microscopy in standard hematoxylin and eosin-stained paraffin sections. Infection was confined to enterocytes covering the villi, especially the tips, and was associated with villous atrophy and cell degeneration, necrosis, and sloughing. Release of spores into the bowel lumen was evident. Colorectal biopsies from two of the patients with small bowel microsporidiosis were negative for microsporidia. Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection of the small bowel may be an important cause of diarrhea in HIV-infected persons.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

The clinical utility of the CA 19-9 tumor-associated antigen.

Since Koprowski and coworkers discovered the CA 19-9 antigen 10 yr ago, it has become the most useful blood test in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer of the pancreas. With an upper limit of normal of 37 U/ml, the assay's overall sensitivity is approximately 80% and its specificity is 90%. If higher cutoffs are used, the specificity rises so that, at levels greater than 1000 U/ml, the marker's specificity approaches 100%. Acute cholangitis and cirrhosis are two benign conditions that might raise this assay significantly. This tumor-associated marker is also helpful in predicting unresectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, as 96% of tumors that result in blood levels greater than 1000 U/ml have been found to be unresectable. After potentially curative surgery, the CA 19-9 can help prognosticate survival. Patients who normalize their CA 19-9 postoperatively live longer than those who do not. Furthermore, the assay, when used serially, predicts recurrence of disease prior to radiographic or clinical findings. The CA 19-9 is currently the "gold" standard marker for pancreatic cancer, against which other assays in this field will be judged.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1989

Depression: a discussion of Jung's ideas.

Depression is differentiated into normal and pathological. Pathological depression is further divided into simple and melancholic. The characteristics of each disordered form are described. Jung's ideas on depression are described in terms of this theoretical standpoint. The concepts used by Jung to explain depression are derived from his libido theory. Through introversion unconscious contents necessary to compensate a one-sided attitude of the ego are made conscious. Introversion depletes the ego of its energy. Depression is the depleted ego's experience of itself. Jung's theory is useful to explain normal depression associated to the process of transformation. It has also been extended to explain disorders of depression via the concept of involuntary or forced introversion in the service of compensation. His therapeutic approach consisted of rectifying the imbalance of psychic energy by helping the ego to integrate unconscious contents. The subsequent accrual of psychic energy redresses the problem of the ego's depletion and depression eases. In the discussion, Jung's contributions to the understanding of depression are recognised, especially his insight into the relationship between normal depression and the process of transformation. The explanatory limitations of Jung's ideas for depressive disorder are also recognised and discussed in relation to aetiology, introversion-extraversion, aggression and psychotherapy. Current clinical information suggests that a theory of depression needs to integrate and also to reformulate some of Jung's ideas.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1989

Biliary tract dilatation in chronic pancreatitis: CT and sonographic findings.

The authors retrospectively evaluated 44 patients with chronic pancreatitis to determine (a) what features on computed tomographic and sonographic scans were associated with biliary tract dilatation, (b) how these findings and biliary tract dilatation changed at follow-up, and (c) the correlation between the degree of biliary tract dilatation and the laboratory and histologic findings when available. Twenty-four patients had biliary tract dilatation; of this group 88% had pancreatic calcifications and 75% had a focal mass in the pancreatic head. Sixteen of the 24 patients underwent follow-up studies; in 12 there was no change in the degree of biliary tract dilatation or appearance of the pancreas. The levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin were elevated in most of the 24 patients; at follow-up, however, there was no consistent relationship between these values and radiologic findings. Biopsy is recommended for those patients in whom the serum alkaline phosphatase level remains persistently elevated. Four of seven such patients in this study underwent biliary-enteric bypass procedures due to pathologic evidence of cholestasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Hepatobiliary scanning in hemobilia-induced acute cholecystitis.

Radionuclide scanning of the hepatobiliary tree is highly accurate for the detection of patients with acute cholecystitis. Hemobilia, a rare complication of percutaneous liver biopsy, may result in blood clots within the biliary canaliculi. Such clots, like gallstones, may occlude the ducts and produce a clinical syndrome indistinguishable from acute cholecystitis. A patient with acute cholecystitis resulting from hemobilia following percutaneous biopsy of the liver is described. The diagnosis of acute cholecystitis secondary to blood clots was made with technetium 99mTc Iprofenin (Pipida [Sn]) scintigraphy. The patient was treated conservatively, and follow-up Pipida scan 6 weeks later demonstrated normal hepatobiliary function.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Spontaneous disappearance of large stones from the common bile duct.

Spontaneous disappearance of three large gallstones from the common bile duct is reported. One of the stones measured 15 mm in size and is the largest ever seen to pass into the intestine without perforation. The observation emphasizes the need for repeat diagnostic imaging of the biliary tract in patients who become free of symptoms before the intended operation.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Transfer ribonucleic acid synthesis during sporulation and spore outgrowth in Bacillus subtilis studied by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

The synthesis of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) was examined during spore formation and spore outgrowth in Bacillus subtilis by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of in vivo 32P-labeled RNA. The two-dimensional gel system separated the B. subtilis tRNA's into 32 well-resolved spots, with the relative abundances ranging from 0.9 to 17% of the total. There were several spots (five to six) resolved which were not quantitated due to their low abundance. All of the tRNA species resolved by this gel system were synthesized at every stage examined, including vegetative growth, different stages of sporulation, and different stages of outgrowth. Quantitation of the separated tRNA's showed that in general the tRNA species were present in approximately the same relative abundances at the different developmental periods. tRNA turnover and compartmentation occurring during sporulation were examined by labeling during vegetative growth followed by the addition of excess phosphate to block further 32P incorporation. The two-dimensional gels of these samples showed the same tRNA's seen during vegetative growth, and they were in approximately the same relative abundances, indicating minimal differences in the rates of turnover of individual tRNA's. Vegetatively labeled samples, chased with excess phosphate into mature spores, also showed all of the tRNA species seen during vegetative growth, but an additional five to six minor spots were also observed. These are hypothesized to arise from the loss of 3'-terminal residues from preexisting tRNA's.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1976

Ultrastructural study of testis in testicular feminization.

Testicular tissue was investigated by electron microscopy in a case of testicular feminization. The seminiferous tubules were lined by spermatogonia and by Sertoli cells. Spermatocytic maturation was not observed. Leydig cells were numerous and contained well developed, abundant vesicular smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and large mitochondria with tubulovesicular cristae. Reinke crystalloids were absent. The ultrastructural findings were consistent with the assumption that Leydig cells were under adequate stimulation and were in a stage of active secretion. Hence, the results seem to indicate that testicular endocrine function was maintained in the studied case.

Adult↗