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Biomedical subjects

A Leventhal

Publications and source records attributed to A Leventhal.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Foodborne botulism: an international outbreak.

We report an outbreak of fishborne botulism caused by type E Clostridium botulinum. The eight cases, six in Israel and two in New York City, resulted from the consumption of ribbetz or kapchunka, a freshwater whitefish soaked in brine and air-dried, that was processed commercially in New York. Half the cases were males; the age range was 9 to 77 years. Five of the victims were hospitalized; the oldest died, and two others required ventilatory assistance. Laboratory confirmation of botulism was obtained in three cases. Prolonged lack of refrigeration during transatlantic flight and packaging contributing to an anaerobic environment were felt to be contributing environmental factors in the Israeli cases. Rapid communication and full cooperation between Israeli and US health authorities limited the extent of the outbreak. Despite adequate understanding of how foodborne botulism may be avoided, outbreaks still occur, particularly among people consuming certain high-risk or ethnic foods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

An acupuncture-associated outbreak of hepatitis B in Jerusalem.

Two clusters of between five and eleven cases of hepatitis B associated with acupuncture treatment by a physician occurred in Jerusalem in late 1986. The origin of the outbreak is believed to have been an Ethiopian immigrant surgical patient, a known HBsAg carrier, who infected an operating room nurse during a surgical procedure. This is the first recorded instance of transmission of HBV from an Ethiopian immigrant to the local Israeli population. We reiterate the need for the enforcement of correct sterilization techniques in all skin-piercing settings, a step which in many countries will require the licensing of a variety of occupations not presently covered by health regulations.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1985

Evoked potentials in non-convulsive status epilepticus.

To verify the results from previous studies, we performed EPs on 2 patients with nonconvulsive status epilepticus who demonstrated ictal behavioral changes and bilateral, often diffuse electrographic abnormalities. The EP modalities which were used, PVERs, BAERs, and SSERs, are highly reproducible in normal subjects. In contrast to previous findings, the ictal EPs were normal. Our results may indicate that, despite bilateral and frequently generalized ictal activity in some patients with nonconvulsive seizures, sensory processing at the brainstem and visual and somatosensory cortices remains preserved.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Hierarchical and parallel mechanisms in the organization of visual cortex.

We argue that it seems fruitful to regard the retino-geniculate-cortical pathway, and perhaps the visual pathways in general, as comprising distinct neuronal channels which begin with the major groupings of ganglion cells, and subserve distinct functions within the overall operation of the visual system. One problem for future work is to determine the extent and, equally importantly, the limitations of the idea of independently functioning neuronal channels operating within the visual system. Some evidence of those limitations is already available. Kulikowski and Tolhurst have provided evidence suggesting that pattern detection is mediated by the X-like system at high spatial frequencies and by the Y-like system at low frequencies, but that at intermediate frequencies, both systems are likely to contribute to this function. Again, there is already physiological and psychophysical evidence of inhibitory interaction between X- and Y-cell systems, which may contribute to their functioning. That is, although there is little evidence of excitatory interaction between W-, X- and Y-cell systems, at least up to the first cortical synapse, the functioning of, say, the X-cell system may depend on the inhibitory influences impinging on it from Y-cell activity. Further, it may prove to be the case that one cell 'system' may be involved in several distinct functions and considerable work may be required to establish whether or not these functions can be considered constituent parts of an overall function, such as 'ambient' or 'foveal' vision. In the following section we suggest a classification and terminology for visual neurones which may provide a framework for future work on these lines.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Pharmacologic management of postoperative overdistention of the bladder.

Postoperative bladder distention, accompanied by serious difficulties in micturition, is not a rare occurrence in surgical patients. Two similar groups of patients undergoing surgical treatment were studied. In one group of 21 patients who received phenoxybenzamine prophylactically only one patient had urinary retention develop; nine of 22 patients in the control group who did not receive prophylactic phenoxybenzamine postoperatively had urinary retention develop. All of the latter patients who then received phenoxybenzamine were ultimately relieved of voiding difficulties. Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha adrenergic blocker, is recommended as an effective and safe drug in diminishing or abolishing obstructive urinary symptoms postoperatively.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Toxic idiopathic megacolon: fatal outcome in a mentally retarded adolescent.

The case of an 18-year-old mentally retarded boy who had long standing idiopathic megacolon and pica is presented. Acute toxic dilatation of the colon complicating pseudomembranous colitis developed, with a rapidly fatal outcome. No similar case of relatively benign idiopathic megacolon complicated by pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon has been reported. The pathophysiology of this rare combination is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Illness and excretion of organophosphate metabolites four months after household pest extermination.

Diethyl phosphate (DEP), an organophosphate metabolite, was found in the urine of symptomatic residents who resided in a household that had been sprayed with diazinon 4.5 mo earlier. Pre- and post-decontamination data with regard to symptoms, DEP, cholinesterase, and surface and air levels underscore the utility of alkyl phosphate metabolites for monitoring exposure. The data also emphasize the efficacy of clean-up measures when baseline data are not available to determine if "within-normal" cholinesterase levels are, in fact, depressed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Testing the fertilizing ability of motile spermatozoa separated by Percoll in patients with abnormal sperm analysis or sperm penetration.

The Percoll density-gradient technique was used to select motile sperm from men who exhibited abnormal semen analysis or unexplained infertility. The fertilizing ability of the spermatozoa was evaluated by the hamster ova sperm penetration assay (SPA). The current work is a novel approach in the usage of Percoll in an attempt to improve the quality of the sperm of nonfertile patients and to examine its results by SPA. The method succeeded in improving the penetration score of the fertile controls by 15% to 30%. However, no improvement of the low penetration score of the nonfertile patients was demonstrable. The difficulties inherent in using the Percoll density gradient technique are discussed.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗