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Biomedical subjects

A Ballin

Publications and source records attributed to A Ballin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Infantile idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in childhood is a benign disease, as only 10% to 20% of the patients have a chronic course. A retrospective study of 57 ITP patients ranging in age from four months to two years revealed that 30% of them proceeded to chronicity. Unlike ITP in the general pediatric population, chronic infantile ITP was characterized by male predominance, a high frequency of preceding viral infections, and lack of responsiveness to any of the known modalities of treatment.

Child↗
PubMed1989

[Neonatal hemochromatosis].

Neonatal hemochromatosis (NH) is a rare disorder characterized by signs of hepatic insufficiency. The rapidly progressive course terminates in death in-utero or in the early neonatal period. Histopathologically, there is increased tissue iron deposition in many organs, particularly the liver, pancreas, heart and endocrine glands, but the extrahepatic reticuloendothelial system is relatively unaffected. Cases of NH are distributed in a pattern consistent with an error of metabolism inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. We present a premature infant who died 44 days postpartum of severe hepatic failure. Postmortem examination established the diagnosis of NH.

Hemochromatosis↗
PubMed1989

Neonatal autoimmune thrombocytopenia: role of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin G therapy.

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIgG) therapy results in a rapid reversal of thrombocytopenia in over 80% of children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Comparable results were observed in eleven infants with an analogous condition, neonatal autoimmune thrombocytopenia (NATP), who received IVIgG (2 g/kg body weight) administered alone (n = 6) or in combination with steroids (n = 5). The median platelet count pre-IVIgG therapy was 25 X 10(9)/l (range 5 to 74 X 10(9)/l). The overall response rate to IVIgG therapy, administered alone or in combination with steroids was 75% (12 of 16 treatment episodes). A good response to therapy was defined as an increase in the platelet count to greater than or equal to 50 X 10(9)/l and at least twice the pre-treatment value at 48 h after completion of the IVIgG infusion. The rapid and generally excellent response to IVIgG therapy in infants with NATP suggests that this treatment approach should be considered as first-line therapy for severely thrombocytopenic infants with this self-limiting but potentially serious disorder.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Idiopathic Heinz body hemolytic anemia in newborn infants.

Heinz body hemolytic anemia developed in six full-term infants while at home during the first 2 weeks of life. The disorder first manifested as hyperbilirubinemia. However, in all cases, severe anemia (hemoglobin concentration 49-73 g/L) developed during the 4-12 days of hospitalization. The infants had not been exposed to known oxidants, and their erythrocytes were not glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient and contained no unstable hemoglobin. It is hypothesized that in these newborn infants, Heinz body hemolytic anemia developed as a result of ingestion of an oxidant contained in feedings. The nature of this agent is as yet unknown.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗
PubMed1988

Vitamin C-induced erythrocyte damage in premature infants.

This study was undertaken after the observation in a premature infant of a hemolytic anemia with Heinz bodies that appeared to result from administration of a multivitamin preparation. In vitro incubation of erythrocytes of premature infants with sodium ascorbate (0.1 mg/ml) for 3 hours significantly raised the number of Heinz body-containing cells from 17.6 +/- 5.7% to 27.2 +/- 8.2% (mean +/- SE). Erythrocytes of term infants and those of adults developed Heinz bodies after exposure to higher sodium ascorbate concentrations (1.0 mg/ml). Erythrocytes of adult and newborn guinea pigs were similarly affected by sodium ascorbate. Daily intraperitoneal injections of 500 mg of sodium ascorbate, given for 7 days to four adult guinea pigs, caused significant Heinz body formation. These studies indicate that the erythrocytes of premature infants are uniquely sensitive to the development of Heinz bodies after exposure to sodium ascorbate. The levels required to produce Heinz bodies in vitro are in the range of those found in vivo after routine administration of vitamin C to premature infants. The significance of these observations in the development of hyperbilirubinemia in premature infants and in the safety of vitamin C remains to be determined.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with sarcoidosis--methodologic aspects of the collection, immunologic characterization of lymphocytes and studies of immunoglobulin content].

The activity of alveolitis in 25 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis was determined by analysis of T-Lymphocytes and their subpopulations collected by broncho-alveolar lavage. The characterization of the lymphocytes was performed with monoclonal antibodies (BL-series). An amount of T-lymphocytes higher than 28% of all cells and a proportion of T4/T8-lymphocytes of 8:1 and over are signs of the activity of the alveolitis and an indication for corticoid therapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1988

[Immunoglobulin content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in sarcoidosis].

The amount of albumins and immunoglobulins in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of sarcoidosis patients were measured and correlated with cellular activity parameters in sarcoidosis. It could be shown that IgG and IgA, related to albumin, were increased in comparison with serum while the IgM fraction was decreased. In general, the highest values of immunoglobulins were found in active sarcoidosis.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Reduction of platelet counts induced by mechanical ventilation in newborn infants.

The association between platelet counts and mechanical ventilation was assessed in 61 newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome, 10 infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and 10 infants with tracheoesophageal fistula. A significant decrease in platelet counts was observed during mechanical ventilation: (mean +/- SD) reduction of 39% +/- 5%, 42% +/- 5.6%, and 11.9% +/- 5.4% in the three groups, respectively, independent of other causes. In the group with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, there was a significant correlation between mean airway pressure and the reduction in platelet counts. In a subsequent series of experiments, platelet counts were recorded before and during ventilation in rabbits. A significant mean decrease of 37.3% in platelet counts was associated with ventilation with either air or pure oxygen. Results of these studies indicate that mechanical ventilation itself may cause a major decrease in platelet count in newborn infants.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Effect of granulocyte depletion in a ventilated surfactant-depleted lung.

In a previous paper Cutz, Bryan et al. showed that in rabbits after repetitive lung lavage high-frequency oscillatory ventilation maintained excellent gas exchange and did not cause hyaline membrane formation (J. Appl. Physiol. 55: 131-138, 1983). In contrast, conventional mechanical ventilation had poor gas exchange and extensive hyaline membrane formation and we attributed these differences to mechanical barotrauma. However, we completely overlooked the large number of granulocytes in the damaged lung. To investigate this using the same model we have used mechanical ventilation on two groups of rabbits, one with normal granulocytes, the other depleted of granulocytes by pretreatment with nitrogen mustard. The nondepleted rabbits had poor gas exchange, a substantial protein leak into the lung and extensive hyaline membranes. The depleted animals had good gas exchange, a very small protein leak and no hyaline membranes. Repletion of granulocytes from donor rabbits lead to poor gas exchange and hyaline membrane formation. It is concluded that lung lavage causes prompt margination of granulocytes which become activated by the ongoing epithelial barotrauma of conventional ventilation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Results of treatment of high risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Sixteen children with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who had one or more of the following risk factors: white cell count over 50 X 10(9)/liter, mediastinal mass, age under 2 or over 10 years, extramedullary involvement, or T-cell markers, were treated by a new protocol. All attained complete remission and 11 are still in their continuous first remission for 6-53 months. High activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the leukemic cells seems to be an independent risk factor, as in the high ADA level group, 4 out of 7 patients relapsed and died, while none of the 8 patients with low ADA levels relapsed or died.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1983

The effect of lithium chloride on tumour appearance and survival of melanoma-bearing mice.

The possible effect of lithium chloride, a compound which reduces the incidence of infection in cancer patients, was investigated on murine melanoma. C57 BL syngeneic mice were inoculated i.p. with B16 melanoma cells. The animals were divided into 4 groups, receiving daily i.p. treatment with saline--group 1, controls; lithium chloride--group 2, bleomycin and vinblastine--group 3, and lithium chloride with bleomycin and vinblastine--group 4. Animals in group 4 had a significant delay in tumour appearance, a higher degree of tumour necrosis, and a longer survival rate. In addition a significant reduction of serum lithium concentration was noted in animals of this group in comparison with animals in group 2, treated with lithium chloride alone. There was no lithium-induced leukocytosis.

Animals↗