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Biomedical subjects

Y Danziger

Publications and source records attributed to Y Danziger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Association between anorexia nervosa and the hsKCa3 gene: a family-based and case control study.

Familial and twin studies have suggested that anorexia nervosa (AN) is a multifactorial disorder with a substantial genetic contribution. The hSKCa3 potassium channel gene, which contains polymorphic CAG repeats in the coding region and is involved in the regulation of neuronal activity, may be a candidate gene for AN because alleles with longer repeats have been found to be associated with mental disorders. Forty Israeli AN family trios were genotyped for the hSKCa3 CAG repeat polymorphism using the haplotype relative risk (HRR) method. The distribution of alleles transmitted to the patients was found to be significantly different from that of the non-transmitted parental alleles, with the longer alleles being over-represented in the patients (Wilcoxon rank test, P = 0.008). The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) revealed that longer (>19) repeat alleles were preferentially transmitted to AN patients (McNemar's chi(2) = 10.31, P = 0.0013). These results were corroborated by comparing the distribution of alleles between patients and healthy controls (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.005). Our study suggests that the longer repeat alleles of the hSKCa3 gene may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to AN.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Association of anorexia nervosa with the high activity allele of the COMT gene: a family-based study in Israeli patients.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a common, severe and disabling psychiatric disorder, characterized by profound weight loss and body image disturbance. Family and twin studies indicate a significant genetic contribution and pharmacological data suggest possible dysfunction of the serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a candidate gene for mediating susceptibility to AN since it is involved in the dopamine catabolism and because its functional polymorphism (Val/Met 158) determines high (H) and low (L) enzymatic activity alleles. Fifty-one Israeli AN patients and their parents were genotyped with the COMT polymorphism. Using the haplotype relative risk (HRR) method it was found that the frequency of the H allele among alleles transmitted to AN patients from their parents was significantly higher than in those not transmitted (68% vs 51% chi(2) = 5.20, df = 1, P = 0.023, odds ratio: 2.01). Transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) revealed that out of 49 heterozygote parents the H allele was transmitted to AN patients 33 times while the L allele was transmitted only 16 (McNemar's chi(2) = 5.90, df = 1, P = 0.015). Our study suggests that the COMT gene is associated with genetic susceptibility to AN, and that individuals homozygous for the high activity allele (HH) have a two-fold increased risk for development of the disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Conversion reaction: management by the paediatrician.

UNLABELLED: We describe the diagnosis and management of 47 children with conversion reaction seen during the past 9 years in our outpatient department. Some illustrative cases are reported in detail. The study shows that conversion reactions in children can often be accurately diagnosed by detailed history and physical examination. When the diagnosis was made early and presented with certainty, both parental acceptance and the child's recovery were easier, and the need for expensive and unnecessary diagnostic procedures was eliminated. Immediate intervention by the paediatrician prevented perpetuation of the problem, secondary gains and continuing family stress. Most of the patients recovered after a few days without recurrence. The major role of the paediatrician is emphasized. Co-operation between the patients, parents and the paediatrician is important, as is close follow up. CONCLUSION: Paediatricians cope successfully with children with conversion reaction with early diagnosis and immediate intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Isolated sphenoidal sinusitis in children.

UNLABELLED: Acute isolated infectious sphenoiditis is an uncommon, potentially dangerous condition which is often misdiagnosed because of its nonspecific symptoms and paucity of clinical signs. We present eight children with isolated sphenoiditis who were managed in our medical centre during the last 2 years and review the literature. All the patients were adolescents or pre-adolescents and all experienced moderate to severe refractory oppressive headache. Four had a history of sinusitis or allergic rhinitis. None had fever or any other directing clinical sign. Diagnosis was made by cranial computer tomography. All were treated with antibiotics and recovered completely without infectious or neurological complications. CONCLUSION: Acute isolated infectious sphenoiditis should be considered in adolescents and pre-adolescents who present with constant moderate to severe oppressive headache. Awareness of this entity will enable early diagnosis and initiation of antibiotic treatment which is essential to avoid complications and surgical intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Scrotal involvement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura in children.

Different rates of scrotal involvement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) have been reported. We assessed scrotal involvement in 86 children over a 20-year period: 10 patients suffered from scrotal involvement and 9 of them also had arthritis. The possible association between scrotal involvement and arthritis may help the physician in the differential diagnosis of atypical presentations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Abnormal psychosocial situations and eating disorders in adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between abnormal psychosocial situations and eating disorders in adolescents. METHOD: Twenty girls with eating disorders, 20 girls with major psychiatric conditions, and 20 healthy controls took part in the study. They were interviewed using a semistructured interview designed by the World Health Organization to diagnose the psychosocial situations included in the International Classification of Disease Axis 5 classification for child and adolescent psychiatry. All subjects were also given the Eating Attitudes Test. RESULTS: Many life events and psychosocial adversities differentiated significantly between the patients and controls. Inappropriate parental pressure was specific only for the subjects with eating disorders compared with the other psychiatric patients. In addition, Eating Attitudes Test scores correlated significantly with hostility toward child, sibling disability, parental overprotection, inappropriate parental pressures, and negative changes in family relationships. CONCLUSION: These results support the growing literature on the interrelationship between disordered family relationships and eating disorders. They point the way for developing treatment programs dealing with these issues.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Acquired pili torti--a structural hair shaft defect in anorexia nervosa.

The hair of seventeen girls aged 13 to 19 years with anorexia nervosa (AN) was studied and compared with the hair of fifteen healthy girls aged 13 to 18 years with no complaints of hair loss but with similar habits of hairstyling and care. Light microscopic examination of the hair revealed no defect in the control group. In the AN group, fourteen patients (82.3 percent) had pili torti, an acquired hair shaft defect that has not yet been described in association with this disease. We estimate that the hair defect was due to malnutrition combined with ingestion of exaggerated amounts of yellow vegetables and vitamin supplements, causing a significant increase in levels of serum carotene, retinyl esters, retinol, and retinoic acid. We suggest a possible link between excess vitamin A and pili torti in patients with AN.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Outcome of Israeli adolescents with anorexia nervosa whose ambulatory treatment was abruptly interrupted during the Gulf War.

We recently presented the theory that parents should be intensively involved in the treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa during the acute re-feeding period and during follow-up. Thirteen anorectic patients with a mean age of 14.6 years (range: 12.6-16.5 years) were being treated in our pediatric day-care unit in Israel according to this treatment model when the Gulf War broke out. Because of the war, treatment was abruptly interrupted for approximately 6 weeks. Immediately after the war the patients were re-evaluated. We found that all of them maintained their weight, and two had even continued to gain weight. These results encouraged us to assume that our treatment model, based on intensive parental involvement especially during the acute re-feeding period, was effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Stunting of growth in anorexia nervosa during the prepubertal and pubertal period.

The growth charts of 15 patients with anorexia nervosa during the prepubertal and pubertal period were carefully reconstructed. All 15 (13 females, 2 males) had been suffering from anorexia nervosa for at least 6 months prior to referral. Mean age at referral was 13.3 +/- 1.3 years and mean duration of anorectic symptoms was 17 +/- 8 months. In all 15 cases growth arrest had been present for 13 +/- 8.5 months prior to admission. During the follow-up period, catch-up growth to different degrees was observed in the 13 patients (11 females, 2 males) who remained under treatment for at least 1 year. On the assumption that stunting of growth during the prepubertal and pubertal period is a very frequent, if not a constant, sign of anorexia nervosa of 6 months duration or more, it could be considered an additional criterion for diagnosis of the disease. The projected height should be included in the calculation of ideal weight. Since patients with growth arrest are usually referred first to a general pediatrician or a pediatric endocrinologist, it is recommended that a detailed history of caloric intake, as well as the attitude of the patient to food, be obtained in each case in order to confirm the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Is psychotherapy mandatory during the acute refeeding period in the treatment of anorexia nervosa?

Forty-five adolescent and preadolescent patients (42 females, three males) with anorexia nervosa (AN) were treated in a pediatric day care unit of a large urban hospital by a multidisciplinary team. In our treatment model, the pediatrician has the responsibility for the initial evaluation and physical rehabilitation while the pediatric psychiatrist does the initial evaluation of the patient and family and is available for intervention in an emergency. Parents are actively involved in the treatment program. Family psychotherapy is recommended for each patient and his or her family. Among 45 patients, 24 did not enter psychotherapy during the first 2 months of the refeeding period, while the remaining 21 patients started psychotherapy (family and/or individual) during this period. Weight gain was higher in the group without formal psychotherapy during the initial period of refeeding (7.3 +/- 3.1 kg versus 5 +/- 2.5 kg; p less than 0.01). It is suggested that the initiation of structured psychotherapy is not mandatory and does not contribute to treatment effectiveness in the acute phase when emaciation and negativism may hinder the psychotherapeutic process. We believe a multidisciplinary team, together with the parents, is the treatment of choice during the acute phase of AN.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Technetium-labeled red blood cell imaging to evaluate soft tissue hemangioma of the hand.

Red blood cells labeled with technetium Tc 99m were used to evaluate the vascular nature of a subcutaneous tumor in a 12-year-old girl. The low perfusion and high blood pool that characterized the lesion were considered highly suggestive of subcutaneous cavernous hemangioma. This noninvasive method for diagnosing soft tissue hemangiomas is more specific than other imaging modalities such as ultrasound and arteriography. The usefulness and the importance of the method prior to surgical biopsy or resection are discussed.

Child↗
PubMed1988

The biological activity and immunotherapeutic properties of AS-101, a synthetic organotellurium compound.

AS-101 (ammonium trichloro[dioxoethylene-O,O'-]tellurate) is a newly developed synthetic compound with immunomodulating properties and minimal toxicity. We evaluated the effects of AS-101 on various parameters of the activation and function of immunocompetent cells. AS-101 induced IL-2 receptor expression, IL-2 production and proliferation by human and mouse lymphocytes in vitro and enhanced the production colony-stimulating factor (CSF) by mouse spleen cells. In vivo treatment of Balb/c mice with AS-101 caused a significantly increased production of IL-2 and CSF in vitro in the presence of mitogen. When administered systemically to mice, AS-101 mediated antitumor effects in vivo. These results suggest that AS-101 is an active biological response modifier, which might have potential use in the treatment of conditions such as malignancy, AIDS and some types of immune deficiency.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1987

Non-interaction of ketotifen and theophylline in children with asthma--an acute study.

Six asthmatic children participated in an acute crossover randomized study. They received a single dose of aminophylline syrup 6 mg/kg after having received ketotifen syrup 1 mg b.i.d. or placebo for 8 days. Ketotifen did not significantly affect the heart rate, pulse pressure or such pharmacokinetic parameters of theophylline as peak serum level, time to peak, half life and AUC. Thus, ketotifen had no significant effect on the disposition of theophylline.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Treatment of Campylobacter gastroenteritis.

Twin boys suffered from recurrent diarrhoea due to Campylobacter jejuni after entering a day nursery. Stool sampling of all 17 children at the nursery revealed C. jejuni in 12. Simultaneous treatment with antibiotics of all children with positive cultures successfully eradicated the infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗