Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Barak

Publications and source records attributed to Y Barak.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia: a statistical meta-analysis.

Tardive dyskinesia is an involuntary movement disorder developing following treatment with neuroleptics. As many as 50% of chronic psychotic patients develop this disabling condition. No treatment has been found effective for tardive dyskinesia. This study was undertaken to meta-analyze the effects of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) reported in the last decade. All studies published since 1987, focusing on vitamin E and tardive dyskinesia are reviewed. Double-blind studies are analyzed using measures of effect and variance as described by secondary analysis of magnitude of effects in pooled data. A total of 223 patients received vitamin E treatment (400-1600 IU/day) for tardive dyskinesia, in 12 studies. A significant subgroup (28.3%) showed a modest improvement. Vitamin E was well tolerated, and only rarely did side effects occur-of no clinical significance. Vitamin E is a safe, well-tolerated compound that may provide some beneficial effects in patients suffering from neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Does glucose affect fertilization, development and pregnancy rates of human in-vitro fertilized oocytes?

The study was conducted to examine whether the presence of glucose in the incubation medium affects fertilization, development and implantation rates of human oocytes of patients who were attending our in-vitro fertilization programme. Harvested oocytes were transferred into one of four different media: human tubal fluid (HTF), P1, M3 and IVF-Universal (IVF-Med). Three of these contained glucose; the fourth (P1), contained no glucose or phosphate ions. In an independent preliminary study, some of the oocytes of each patient were incubated in IVF-Med, which lacks phosphate ions, but not glucose. Comparisons of fertilization rates between media pairs showed differences among all pairs except HTF and M3. When comparing the four study groups, no difference was noticed in embryo development or embryo quality 48 h post-ovum retrieval. A higher development rate was demonstrated in embryos incubated in M3 medium, in comparison with the P1 and IVF-Med embryos after incubation for 72 h. No difference in pregnancy rate was found after embryo transfers of preimplantation embryos which were incubated in one of the following media: HTF, M3 and IVF-Med (seven out of 22, 18 of 54 and 32 of 69 treatment cycles respectively). A lower incidence of pregnancies occurred following transfers of embryos which were incubated in P1 medium (seven pregnancies out of 37 cycles). We suggest that the presence of glucose in the incubation medium enhances implantation potential of in-vitro-developing preimplantation embryos.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Abnormal liver test results in myotonic dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder. Little evidence suggests the existence of liver damage in a small number of patients. We have prospectively evaluated liver and gallbladder function in 53 patients with DM in relation to clinical and genetic parameters. None of the patients had an enlarged liver, signs of cirrhosis, or portal hypertension. All were free of medication, and none were pregnant or had a history of alcohol abuse. In 35 (66%) patients, serum activity of at least one of six liver enzymes assayed was abnormal. An elevated level of alkaline phosphatase was found in 50.9%, of gamma-glutamyltransferase in 52.8%, of 5' nucleotidase in 43.4%, of serum aspartate aminotransferase in 35.8%, of serum alanine aminotransferase in 33.9%, and of lactate dehydrogenase in 37.7%. Liver function test results did not correlate with severity of muscle weakness, disease duration, or serum levels of creatine kinase, glucose, or lipids. Motility of gallbladder and abdominal ultrasonography were normal. Cytosine-thymidine-guanine repeat expansion by southern blot did not correlate with liver enzyme abnormalities. We conclude that elevation of liver enzymes is frequent in DM and should be included as an additional laboratory finding of the disease.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1998

Light-Mediated Nitrite Accumulation during Denitrification by Pseudomonas sp. Strain JR12.

The effect of light on the denitrifying characteristics of a nonphotosynthetic denitrifier, Pseudomonas sp. strain JR12, was examined. Already at low light intensities, nitrite accumulated as a result of light inhibition of nitrite but not of nitrate reduction rates. Exposure of this bacterium to light caused a photooxidation of cytochrome c, an intermediate electron carrier in its respiratory pathway. Photoinhibition of nitrite reduction was reversible, as nitrite reduction rates returned to preillumination levels when light-exposed cells were returned to dark conditions. Antimycin A reversed the inhibitory effect of light on nitrite reduction by preventing a reversed electron flow. Aerobic respiration by this bacterium was not affected by light.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in multiple sclerosis. Effect on relapses.

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 40 patients (aged 19 to 60 years) with clinical definite relapsing remitting (RR) MS and brain MRI confirmed. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a loading dose of immunoglobulin IgG (0.4 g/kg/body weight per day for 5 consecutive days), followed by single booster doses (0.4 g/kg/body weight) or placebo once every 2 months for 2 years. The primary outcome measures were change in the yearly exacerbation rate (YER), proportion of exacerbation-free patients, and time until first exacerbation. Neurologic disability, exacerbation severity, and changes in brain MRI lesion score were the secondary outcome measures, all determined at baseline, 1 year, and on completion. Treated patients showed a reduction in YER from 1.85 to 0.75 after 1 year and 0.42 after 2 years versus 1.55 to 1.8 after 1 year and to 1.4 after 2 years in the placebo group (p = 0.0006, overall), reflecting a 38.6% reduction in relapse rate. Six patients in the IVIg group were exacerbation free throughout the 2-year period of the study, whereas none were exacerbation free in the placebo group. The median time to first exacerbation was 233 days in the IVIg group versus 82 days in the placebo group (p = 0.003). Neurologic disability as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS score) decreased by 0.3 in the IVIg group and increased by 0.15 in the placebo group. Total lesion score evaluated by brain MRI did not show a significant difference between groups. Side effects were minor and occurred in only 19 of 630 (3.0%) infusions administered in both groups. Our results suggest that IVIg may be safe and effective in reducing the frequency of exacerbations in RR-MS.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Police attitudes toward mental illness and psychiatric patients in Israel.

The attitude of the public toward mental illness and toward psychiatric patients raises a serious and sensitive issue that indirectly affects the development of community mental health services. Most citizens feel that there is an association between mental illness and dangerous or violent behavior. Studies undertaken among police personnel in the 1970s demonstrated that their attitudes were similar to those of the general public in Israel. The objective of the present study was to assess the attitudes of police officers toward mental illness and psychiatric patients by means of a self-report questionnaire. Ninety-three policemen from five police stations within the Y. Abarbanel Mental Health Center catchment area participated in the study. All were young males (average age 32.1 years) and 75 percent had a high school education or higher. More than half (54.5%) had personally known a psychiatric patient in the past, and 20.4 percent of the police personnel graded mental illness as the severest form of disease in medicine. A minority (14.3%) of policemen agreed with the statement: "A psychiatric hospital should be fenced and manned by guards." One-third did not know whether psychiatric patients are dangerous. We conclude that training of police officers is called for to effect changes in their misconceptions about psychiatric patients. Psychoeducation may lead to improved handling by the police of incidents involving the mentally ill.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Forensic psychiatric service in Israel: ten years experience in an in-patient hospital unit.

In 1991 legislators revised the Mental Health Act in Israel, placing responsibility for forensic psychiatric evaluations with the district psychiatrist. The aim of the present paper is to describe the changing patterns of the forensic service in Israel's largest psychiatric hospital in the light of changing legislation. In the last 15 years a psychiatric forensic team provided evaluations both in an ambulatory clinic and a special in-patient ward. All medical records of subjects referred for forensic evaluations between 1982-1992 were re-examined. Demographic, forensic and psychiatric data were recorded. During this period the service experience a 15% increase in the number of evaluations. The team tended to prefer ambulatory evaluations. During the latter part of the period studied more referrals were with a previous criminal record and less with a history of mental disorders. An increase in drug and sex crimes was noted with a corresponding decrease in property and financial offences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Anti-mutagenic activity of DNA damage-binding proteins mediated by direct inhibition of translesion replication.

DNA lesions that block replication can be bypassed in Escherichia coli by a special DNA synthesis process termed translesion replication. This process is mutagenic due to the miscoding nature of the DNA lesions. We report that the repair enzyme formamido-pyrimidine DNA glycosylase and the general DNA damage recognition protein UvrA each inhibit specifically translesion replication through an abasic site analog by purified DNA polymerases I and II, and DNA polymerase III (alpha subunit) from E. coli. In vivo experiments suggest that a similar inhibitory mechanism prevents at least 70% of the mutations caused by ultraviolet light DNA lesions in E. coli. These results suggest that DNA damage-binding proteins regulate mutagenesis by a novel mechanism that involves direct inhibition of translesion replication. This mechanism provides anti-mutagenic defense against DNA lesions that have escaped DNA repair.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1997

Inositol treatment of autism.

Recent studies suggest that serotonin reuptake inhibitors are helpful in at least some symptoms of autism. Inositol is a precursor of the second messenger for some serotonin receptors, and has been reported effective in depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However a controlled double-blind crossover trial of inositol 200 mg/kg per day showed no benefit on 9 children with autism. Since biochemical studies could evaluate inositol in children already receiving serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed1997

The in vivo effect of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in neutropenic neonates with sepsis.

The effects of recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in neonatal neutropenia with presumed sepsis, which has a poor prognosis, were investigated. The study involved 14 neonates with presumed sepsis and neutropenia. Findings were compared with those from 24 historical controls. rhG-CSF (5 micrograms/ kg/day i.v. for 5 days) was administered immediately following diagnosis. Complete blood counts were obtained before and 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after initiation of treatment. Neutrophil storage pool (NSP) was assessed (in 4 patients) before and after treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using one way analysis of variance. Treatment led to an increase in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) levels in 13/14 patients. At the end of treatment, the mean ANC was higher than that of controls (P = 0.007). There was a marked increase in the NSP of between 32% and 65% (P = 0.005). There were two clinical failures, one of whom was considered to have died from his underlying condition. There were no reports of clinical or haematological toxicity during treatment or follow up.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

Electrical sensation during Tai-Chi practice as the first manifestation of multiple sclerosis.

We report a patient with a 3-year history of brief episodes of electrical sensations over her back and upper limbs that occurred during Tai-Chi practicing. This appearance of Lhermitte's sign was later followed by additional neurologic symptoms, and the patient was diagnosed as suffering from multiple sclerosis. Though the patient related the Lhermitte's sign to her ability to achieve full relaxation in Tai-Chi exercise, we think it was the first manifestation of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Familial dyslexia associated with cavum vergae.

Three members of one family, diagnosed as dyslexic, are described. All of them have variations of midline cavity: cavum vergae or cavum septum pellucidum, diagnosed by neuroradiological examination. In contrast, the non dyslexic members of the same family have no neuroanatomical congenital variations. We raise the possibility of a functional correlation between the dyslexia and the anatomical findings in the affected members of this family.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Sepsis at a neonatal intensive care unit: a four-year retrospective study (1989-1992).

During the 4-year period 1989-1992, 18,227 neonates were born at Kaplan Hospital and 614 (3.4%) were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. During this period, 120 episodes (6.6/1000 live births) of neonatal sepsis were recorded in 109 neonates (6/1000 live births). The incidence of early-onset sepsis was 19/109 (17%). The main pathogens of early-onset sepsis were S. agalactiae (42%) and E. coli (32%). Seven of the 8 S. agalactiae cases were recorded during 1989-1990. The main pathogens of late-onset sepsis were Klebsiella spp. (31%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (18%) and Candida spp (16%). There were 11 cases (10%) of meningitis, 5 due to Klebsiella spp. The overall fatality rate due to sepsis was 14% (0.8/1000 live births) with an early-onset sepsis death rate of 37%. The mortality from S. agalactiae sepsis was 63%. The main trends recorded during the period of the study were 1) the emergence of S. agalactiae as the main pathogen of early-onset sepsis, followed by a sharp decrease in its incidence during the last part of the study, 2) the emergence of extremely virulent, multi-antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella organisms, and 3) the persistent high incidence of Candida sepsis.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1996

Control of neuroblastoma cell proliferation and differentiation by human bone marrow.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the few tumors known to undergo spontaneous regression. Its progression, however, often leads to bone marrow (BM) metastasis. Proliferation and differentiation of human NB cells may be regulated in vitro by a variety of biologic agents, some of which are released by low-density BM and peripheral blood (PB) cells. Little is known regarding BM cell-derived control of NB cell growth and differentiation. METHODS: The proliferative and differentiative responses of NB cells, to BM cell-, and to PB cell-derived conditioned medium (CM) were evaluated in comparison to cytokine-induced responses. RESULTS: CM from unstimulated cultures of low density BM and PB cells, from healthy donors, from newborn infants, and from NB patients, significantly and reproducibly stimulate NB cell growth in vitro. The intensity of CM-induced stimulation was not attained by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rhTNF), interferon (rhIFN), or granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF); and although epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (rhTGF alpha) were strongly stimulatory, neutralizing antibodies against each of these agents did not affect CM-derived activity. In contrast to growth stimulation, differentiation of CM-treated NB cells, was reproducibly suppressed, as reflected in abrogation of neuronal cell morphology as well as of neurofilament and neuron specific enolase expression. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous regression of NB tumors, on one hand and BM metastasis on the other may be associated with the extent and nature of the NB cell response to regulatory activity released by BM and PB cells.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1996

Cell type-specific inhibition of p53-mediated apoptosis by mdm2.

The effect of excess mdm2 on p53-mediated apoptosis was investigated in two human-derived cell lines, H1299 and HeLa. In H1299 cells, overexpression of mdm2 resulted in effective protection from apoptosis. This protective effect was seen only under conditions allowing the formation of p53-Mdm2 complexes. In contrast, excess mdm2 failed to abolish p53-mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells, despite a complete abrogation of p53-dependent sequence-specific transcriptional activation (SST). These data strongly support the contention that SST is dispensable for at least some types of p53-mediated apoptosis. Further, they suggest that one of the roles of mdm2 may be to modulate the apoptotic activity of p53, in a manner which is dictated by the pathway through which p53 induced apoptosis in a given cell type

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Detection of proviral human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I DNA in mouthwash samples of HAM/TSP patients and HTLV-I carriers.

Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I), is a member of the oncogenic retroviruses family endemic in several parts of the world and also recently identified in the Jewish Mashhadi population who immigrated from Iran to Israel. The virus is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and a chronic myelopathy known both as tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) or HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM). The known modes of HTLV-I transmission are by sexual intercourse, from mother to child in breast milk, via blood transfusion, and by sharing of needles by parenteral drug users. In the present study we examined the presence of HTLV-I provirus genomic DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by DNA hybridization in mouthwash samples obtained from 13 Mashhadi-born Iranian Jews with spastic paraparesis associated with HTLV-I, 4 Mashhadi-born Iranian Jews asymptomatic carriers for HTLV-I and 21 healthy controls. Proviral HTLV-I DNA was detected by mouthwash PCR in 12 of 17 HTLV-I infected subjects (71%) but in none of 21 controls. Proviral DNA was also detected in mouthwash samples using HTLV-I probe by dot blot hybridization assay. The presence of HTLV-I proviral DNA in whole saliva may suggest a possible transmission of the virus via saliva and explain the increased rate of infection in elderly Mashhadi-Jewish population.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Relationship between anticomplement in seminal plasma and complement in follicular fluid associated with outcome in an in vitro fertilization program.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to evaluate levels of anticomplement in seminal plasma and levels of complement in follicular fluid, in correlation with fertilization and pregnancy rate after in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anticomplement levels were determined in 70 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization therapy. In 15 of these couples, complement levels were measured. Anticomplement and complement levels were also determined in an additional 21 couples (apart from the 70 couples) undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. RESULTS: A correlation was found between fertilization rate and anticomplement levels in the seminal plasma (r = 0.4, P < 0.01) after standard in vitro fertilization. No correlation was found in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection group, or observed between complement levels and any parameter examined in both groups. Pregnancy occurred only in those couples with an anticomplement:complement ratio below 0.49. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of anticomplement and complement levels may contribute to the assessment of a successful outcome of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Complement Inactivator Proteins↗