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Biomedical subjects

A J Provisor

Publications and source records attributed to A J Provisor.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Invasive aspergillosis of paranasal tissues in children with malignancies.

Paranasal aspergillosis was encountered in five children with relapsed malignancies. All had received broad-spectrum antibiotics within two weeks of development of aspergillosis, and all had absolute granulocyte counts less than 200/mm3 for at least three weeks. None had received prior antifungal therapy. There was an average delay of eight days before the correct diagnosis was established by either biopsy or culture. These data emphasize the need to obtain surveillance cultures of the upper respiratory tract passages in severely neutropenic patients receiving prolonged antibiotic therapy, and raise a question concerning prophylactic use of antifungal therapy in this group.

Adolescent↗

Effectiveness of central parenteral nutrition versus peripheral parenteral nutrition plus enteral nutrition in reversing protein-energy malnutrition in children with advanced neuroblastoma and Wilms' tumor: a prospective randomized study.

The effectiveness of central parenteral nutrition (CPN) versus peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) plus enteral nutrition in reversing protein-energy malnutrition was evaluated in 19 children (nine CPN, 10 PPN) with advanced neuroblastoma or Wilms' tumor. Weekly dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical measurements were compared for 15 patients (eight CPN, seven PPN) who completed more than 25 days of nutrition support. The groups had similar mean energy and protein intakes (CPN: 95 +/- 5% of healthy children, 2.5 +/- 0.3 g/kg; PPN: 102 +/- 5% of healthy children, 2.9 +/- 0.3 g/kg). Increases in weight (p less than 0.001), subscapular skinfold thickness (p less than 0.001), albumin (p less than 0.05), and transferrin (p less than 0.05) for the first 28 days were significant and did not differ between groups. Fever, sepsis, elevated SGOT, and severe anemia occurred with both CPN and PPN. PPN resulted in subcutaneous infiltrations and more psychological trauma. PPN with enteral nutrition seems most appropriate for short term intravenous nutrition support or as a temporary substitute for CPN; CPN is preferred for long-term support.

Body Weight↗

Normal glucocorticoid receptor numbers in a child with glucocorticoid-resistant relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Glucocorticoid receptors were quantified in circulating lymphoblasts from a child with relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia refractory to multiple glucocorticoid containing drug regimens. The number of receptor sites in this patient's lymphoblasts was found to be similar to the number of receptor sites in lymphoblasts from a group of newly diagnosed children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. This patient differs from previous reported cases of relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia in that all previous relapsed patients with normal receptor numbers obtained complete remissions when glucocorticoid containing treatment regimens were employed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome registry report.

Immune deficiency, especially to the Epstein-Barr virus, and increased susceptibility to fatal infectious mononucleosis, acquired agammoglobulinemia, and lymphoma are the cardinal features of the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. Since the establishment of the XLP Registry in September, 1978, 59 affected males in seven unrelated kindreds were comprehensively studied. A spectrum of lymphoproliferative phenotypes was observed. Thirty-four patients (57%) died from infectious mononucleosis, eight (14%) had fatal infectious mononucleosis with lymphoma (immunoblastic sarcoma), nine (15%) had depressed immunity following EBV infection, and eight (14%) developed lymphoma. Several patients with XLP lacked EBV antibodies despite infection by EBV. The results of this study suggest that EBV can be an oncogenic agent in patients who are immune deficient with XLP.

Adolescent↗

Acquired agammaglobulinemia after a life-threatening illness with clinical and laboratory features of infectious mononucleosis in three related male children.

Three males in one family (two siblings and one maternal cousin) had an illness with cervical adenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and a fulminant febrile course. In the two survivors agammaglobulinemia developed. One of them became ill at the age of six months and had an Epstein-Barr-virus antibody titer of 1:10 during illness and convalescence. The white-cell count was 120,000 with 90 per cent lymphocytes, most being atypical and forming increased numbers of sheep erythrocyte rosettes. IgM was elevated, IgA normal and IgG decreased. Subsequently, all immunoglobulins were absent, and the Epstein-Barr-virus antibody titer became negative. Peripheral B-cell number remained normal, but abnormal lymph-node architecture associated with failure to respond to antigenic challenge indicated B-cell dysfunction. The pathogenesis of this entity may involve an abnormal T-cell response to transformation of B cells by Epstein-Barr virus, leading to B-cell dysfunction and agammaglobulinemia.

Agammaglobulinemia↗

MR of intracranial Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease of children characterized by idiopathic proliferation of histiocytes in the reticuloendothelial system. Intracranial LCH involving the brain is uncommon. We present a case of LCH involving the dural venous sinuses and choroid plexus. Contrast MRI provided an excellent means of identifying the extent of tumor involvement and showed that the patient was at risk for venous sinus thrombosis.

Adolescent↗

Childhood cancer: patterns of protocol participation in a national survey.

Cancer is still the chief cause of death by disease in children, ages one to 14. As improved survival rates have been reported for pediatric cancer patients who are treated on controlled clinical trials, it is important to understand the national utilization of such protocols. In 1993, a survey of childhood cancer was conducted by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Data regarding type of disease, protocol participation, age, sex, race, insurance, and geographical region were voluntarily submitted by more than 200 hospital cancer registries. Included in this study were 2,208 children and adolescents 21 years of age or younger who were diagnosed in 1987, and 2,293 who were diagnosed in 1992. Pediatric centers (i.e., members of the Pediatric Oncology Group or Children's Cancer Group) submitted 55.1% of the cases and other institutions, 44.9%. It was found that more patients treated at pediatric centers were on protocols (53.8%) than were those treated at other institutions (25.1%). In general, the younger the patient (five years of age or younger), the greater the chance of being on protocol (pediatric centers, 63.7%; others, 42.0%), with very poor adolescent protocol participation (pediatric centers, 34.8%; others, 12.1%). Nevertheless, overall protocol participation was still lower than expected, even in children younger than five years of age, and adolescent participation in controlled clinical trials was low and similar to adult figures. The percentage of childhood cancer cases seen at pediatric centers was smaller than in other series. It was concluded that pediatric cancer centers need to continue to encourage patient participation in controlled clinical trials, with special emphasis on adolescents.

Adolescent↗