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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Rhizopus rhizopodiformis: emerging etiological agent of mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is caused principally by members of the genus Rhizopus, especially R arrhizus and R. oryzae. Infection attributable to R. rhizopodiformis has rarely been documented. Of 13 cases of mucormycosis diagnosed during a 4-year period (1974 to 1978) at The Mount Sinai Hospital, 6 cases, occurring within 9 months, were caused by R. rhizopodiformis. The six isolates were identified mainly by: growth at 50 degrees C; production of short, sometimes branched, sporangiophores arising from opposite rhizoids; elongated columellae; and small spherical-to-elliptical, smooth-to-finely striated sporangiospores. The possibility that this explosive occurrence of R. rhizopodiformis at our institution was because of nosocomial acquisition was strongly supported by the recovery of this same mycotic agent from adhesive bandages used in the cardiac intensive care unit, where a patient developed subcutaneous R. rhizopodiformis infection after cardiac surgery. The invasive potential of R. rhizopodiformis was manifested by the extensive subcutaneous and systemic infections in each of the six patients, three of whom developed antibody against this mucormycotic agent.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bioterrorism in the United States: a balanced assessment of risk and response.

There are many definitions of terrorism and numerous examples of the use of explosives and small arms, especially against civilians and with the objective of instilling fear. Although chemical and biological agents have only rarely been used by terrorists, there has recently been much concern about the threat of bioterrorism and the role of future health personnel in counteracting it. Rational setting of priorities requires the balance of risks against benefits in prevention and preparedness. Adverse effects of preparedness include inappropriate warnings, diversion of resources from other public health measures, both in the United States and overseas and constraints on civil rights. It is argued that the US should counteract the threat of bioterrorism by dealing with its root causes and by strengthening civil rights, international arms control and international law rather than by a self-defeating 'war on terrorism'.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMed1999

Therapeutic advances in acute ischaemic stroke.

No drug has yet been shown to be unequivocally effective for acute stroke. Over the past decade, however, there has been an explosion in stroke research resulting in the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Therapies to improve arterial recanalisation and agents used to protect the brain from neurotoxic cellular damage are currently being evaluated. Tight control of physiological parameters may also limit neuronal damage. It is likely that within the next few years effective therapy will become available that will need a major change in the way that services are provided for stroke patients in the acute phase of their illness.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed2006

Principles and therapeutic implications of angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and arteriogenesis.

The vasculature is the first organ to arise during development. Blood vessels run through virtually every organ in the body (except the avascular cornea and the cartilage), assuring metabolic homeostasis by supplying oxygen and nutrients and removing waste products. Not surprisingly therefore, vessels are critical for organ growth in the embryo and for repair of wounded tissue in the adult. Notably, however, an imbalance in angiogenesis (the growth of blood vessels) contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous malignant, inflammatory, ischaemic, infectious and immune disorders. During the last two decades, an explosive interest in angiogenesis research has generated the necessary insights to develop the first clinically approved anti-angiogenic agents for cancer and blindness. This novel treatment is likely to change the face of medicine in the next decade, as over 500 million people worldwide are estimated to benefit from pro- or anti-angiogenesis treatment. In this following chapter, we discuss general key angiogenic mechanisms in health and disease, and highlight recent developments and perspectives of anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategies.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2000

Medical management of unresectable, recurrent low-grade retroperitoneal liposarcoma: integration of cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic therapies into multimodality care.

Liposarcomas of the retroperitoneum are rare tumors, and best managed by an expert multidisciplinary team consisting of a surgical oncologist with appropriate medical oncology and radiation oncology collaboration. For large tumors, surgical excision with wide margins is difficult to achieve, and even wide margins cannot ensure that microscopic remnants of residual disease will not grow back in the future. For these reasons, even following expert resection, local recurrence is common. For patients with recurrent and unresectable liposarcoma, treating the sarcoma while maintaining quality of life becomes the major therapeutic goal. Importantly, patients with advanced recurrent disease demonstrate the need for multidisciplinary team involvement, with timely consideration of palliative surgical, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy options. Such patients also represent ideal candidates for investigational approaches aimed at identifying new agents with which to treat this disease. In addition to the development of new cytotoxic agents, patients may be candidates for novel strategies such as differentiation therapies or anti-angiogenic approaches. The recent explosion of knowledge regarding the cytogenetics, molecular, and cellular biology of liposarcomas allows us to remain positive that new translational therapies will be developed to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with these diseases. Current strategies, such as the use of PPARgamma ligands to differentiate liposarcomas, will soon be tested in major national collaborative trials, and the cooperation of surgeons and medical oncologists at all levels of community and academic practice will be crucial to obtain answers in this field. This review will summarize an illustrative case in the process of describing the natural history and potential interventions which should be considered for patients with this disease.

Chromans↗
PubMed2002

Antibody-based therapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have dramatically advanced our ability to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and there has been a virtual explosion of clinical data regarding their use. Rituximab is a humanized anti-CD20 mAb and has significant single agent activity in follicular lymphoma, and to a lesser extent in mantle-cell and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL). Rituximab appears to have synergistic activity with cytotoxic chemotherapy and the combination has recently demonstrated improved rates of complete remission (CR) and overall survival in older patients with DLCL. Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) is a humanized mAb targeting CD52 and has recently been approved in the USA for the treatment of fludarabine-refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Impressive activity has also been demonstrated in T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia and mycosis fungoides. The radioconjugated anti-CD20 mAbs ibritumomab tiuxetan and I131-tositumomab also have impressive clinical activity in low-grade B-cell NHL, and the former has demonstrated superior CR rates to rituximab. Myelosuppression is more significant however, and their place in the treatment algorithm remains to be clearly defined. Other immunotoxins (e.g. BL22) and mAb against alternate targets (e.g. epratuzumab, humanized anti-CD22) are in development.

Alemtuzumab↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Childhood burn injuries in north western Nigeria.

This 2-Year (1999-2000) prospective study was undertaken to determine the pattern and outcome of childhood burns at the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. A total of 108 children, 15 years and below, were seen. There were 67 males and 41 females giving a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. Domestic accidents were responsible for 100 (92.6%) cases. Hot liquids as the agents of injuries were recorded in 72 (66.7%) children. The mortality rate was 6.5% (7 cases), all males. Petrol explosion was responsible for 4 deaths. Another case is made for the reduction in the incidence, morbidity and mortality of burns by elevating the socio economic status of the community.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed2003

[Intestinal gas explosion during operation: a case report].

A case of intestinal gas explosion during the course of carcinologic surgery in a 51-year-old patient is reported. This accident, often dramatic, has become exceptional since the use of mannitol for colonic preparation has disappeared. This incident occurred during the course of a total pelvic exenteration performed under general anaesthesia with inhalation of both a mixture oxygen-nitrous oxide and volatile agents. The colon incision with an electrocautery was contemporaneous with a violent deflagration accountable for organic lesions. This case report reminds us that the risk of a dangerous explosion persists in relation with surgical, anaesthetic and individual risk factors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Ethanol production from steam-explosion pretreated wheat straw.

Bioconversion of cereal straw to bioethanol is becoming an attractive alternative to conventional fuel ethanol production from grains. In this work, the best operational conditions for steam-explosion pretreatment of wheat straw for ethanol production by a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process were studied, using diluted acid [H2SO4 0.9% (w/w)] and water as preimpregnation agents. Acid- or water-impregnated biomass was steam-exploded at different temperatures (160-200 degrees C) and residence times (5, 10, and 20 min). Composition of solid and filtrate obtained after pretreatment, enzymatic digestibility and ethanol production of pretreated wheat straw at different experimental conditions was analyzed. The best pretreatment conditions to obtain high conversion yield to ethanol (approx 80% of theoretical) of cellulose-rich residue after steam-explosion were 190 degrees C and 10 min or 200 degrees C and 5 min, in acid-impregnated straw. However, 180 degrees C for 10 min in acid-impregnated biomass provided the highest ethanol yield referred to raw material (140 L/t wheat straw), and sugars recovery yield in the filtrate (300 g/kg wheat straw).

Bioreactors↗
PubMed1990

Nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. Part I: Medical aspects of nuclear warfare.

Casualties in earlier wars were due much more to diseases than to weapons. Mention has been made in history of the use of biological agents in warfare, to deny the enemy food and water and to cause disease. In the first world war chemical agents were used to cause mass casualties. Nuclear weapons were introduced in the second world war. Several countries are now involved in developing nuclear, biological and chemical weapon systems, for the mass annihilation of human beings, animals and plants, and to destroy the economy of their enemies. Recently, natural calamities and accidents in nuclear, chemical and biological laboratories and industries have caused mass instantaneous deaths in civilian population. The effects of future wars will not be restricted to uniformed persons. It is time that physicians become aware of the destructive potential of these weapons. Awareness, immediate protective measures and first aid will save a large number of persons. This series of articles will outline the medical aspects of nuclear, biological and chemical weapon systems in three parts. Part I will deal with the biological effects of a nuclear explosion. The short and long term effects due to blast, heat and associated radiation are highlighted. In Part II, the role of biological agents which cause commoner or new disease patterns is mentioned. Some of the accidents from biological warfare laboratories are a testimony to its potential deleterious effects. Part III deals with medical aspects of chemical warfare agents, which in view of their mass effects can overwhelm the existing medical resources, both civilian and military.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMed1992

[Desflurane (I 653) and sevoflurane: halogenated anesthetics of the future?].

Sevoflurane is an halogenated methyl isopropyl ether. It is potent, non explosive and non flammable. It reacts with soda lime to form traces of a related ether which has not been shown to have any toxic effect on animals chronically exposed to it in a closed system. Induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane is rapid and smooth, as predicted by a blood/gas partition coefficient of about 0.6 and an acceptable odour which allows the use of concentrations of up to 10%. Its MAC has been reported to vary between 1.7 and 2.3 vol %. Sevoflurane causes dose-dependent cardiovascular and respiratory depression. Its effect on the cerebral circulation is similar to that of isoflurane. The extent of biotransformation is similar to that of enflurane, but its low solubility and rapid elimination confine this to the period of inhalation. No toxic effects on the kidneys, liver and haematopoietic system have been found. Desflurane is a fluorinated methyl ether, structurally very similar to isoflurane. It is non flammable and non explosive at clinical concentrations. It is more stable in the presence of soda lime than any of the volatile anaesthetic agents available. This agent must be delivered with a thermostated vaporizer within a closed circle system, as its boiling point is 23.5 degrees C. Desflurane is less potent than isoflurane. Its MAC has been estimated to be about 7.2 vol % in man. Desflurane did not lead to any liver, lung or kidney injury in laboratory rats, even during hypoxia and enzyme induction. Desflurane undergoes little biotransformation, although the presence of volatile metabolites or covalent tissue-bound products cannot be excluded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1981

Transfer of gentamicin resistance between coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive staphylococci on skin.

The transfer of gentamicin resistance between a coagulase-negative S. hominis strain and various coagulase-positive S. aureus strains on human and murine skin in the absence of a selective agent is described. Transfer occurs at higher frequency on skin than in broth. Skin transfer may account for the apparently explosive occurrence of gentamicin resistant staphylococci in hospitals.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Pediatric considerations in chemical exposures: are we prepared?

Manmade disasters have risen over the past decaFde. Specifically, chemical weapons used in acts of aggression pose an increasing threat to our society. These potential disaster situations raise concerns regarding preparedness for both adults and children. This article's purpose is to review general principles of chemical exposure and treatment of specific chemical agents, and to identify specific pediatric considerations involved.

Case Management↗
PubMed2005

Gene therapy for erectile dysfunction.

The past decade has seen an explosion of new information on the physiology of penile erection, pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction (ED), and development of new oral agents (e.g., three PDE5 inhibitors) to manage ED. Although all three selective PDE5 inhibitors are effective in the majority of ED cases, these oral medications have failed in certain disease states, such as diabetic ED, postprostatectomy ED, and severe veno-occlusive dysfunction. Only about 50% to 60% of these cases benefit from PDE5 inhibitor therapy, prompting the development of new approaches, including gene-based therapies for the treatment of ED. The penis is a convenient tissue target for gene therapy because of its external location and accessibility, the ubiquity of endothelial lined spaces, and low level of blood flow, especially in the flaccid state. Initially, gene therapy has been reserved for the treatment of life-threatening disorders including cancer, hereditary and acquired diseases. However, gene therapy is an attractive therapeutic possibility for the treatment of ED. Evolution of nitric oxide (NO), a small gaseous, lipophilic signaling molecule that is produced by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activates guanylate cyclase (GC), resulting in increased cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production, plays a significant role in our understanding of cavernosal smooth muscle physiology. Many gene therapy strategies have focused on the NO/GS/cGMP pathway. All three NOS isoforms, endothelial NOS (eNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS), and iNOS have been used for gene therapy in order to modulate erectile response. Various viral and nonviral vectors have been used to date for the transfer of genetic material to the target cell or tissues with various degrees of success. Recently, second generation or "gutless" (helper-dependent) adenovirus vectors have been developed in order to reduce cellular toxicity and immune response, while increasing efficient gene therapy. Varieties of other gene therapy trials have also been undertaken for the treatment of ED and are the focus of this review.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor↗
PubMed1994

Development of a novel drug release system, time-controlled explosion system (TES). I. Concept and design.

A novel controlled drug release system. Time-Controlled Explosion System (TES) has been developed. TES has a four-layered spherical structure, which consists of core, drug, swelling agent and water insoluble polymer membrane. TES is characterized by a rapid drug release with a precisely programmed lag time; i.e. expansion of the swelling agent by water penetrating through the outer membrane, destruction of the membrane by stress due to swelling force and subsequent rapid drug release. For establishing the concept and development strategy, TES was designed using metoprolol and polystyrene balls (size: 3.2 mm in diameter) as a model drug and core particles. Among the polymers screened, low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose (L-HPC) and ethylcellulose (EC) were selected for a swelling agent and an outer water insoluble membrane, respectively. The release profiles of metoprolol from the system were not affected by the pH of the dissolution media. Lag time was controlled by the thickness of the outer EC membrane; thus, a combination of TES particles possessing different lag times could offer any desired release profile of the model compound, metoprolol.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗