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Biomedical subjects

A Shatz

Publications and source records attributed to A Shatz.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Myocarditis misdiagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

In a retrospective study spanning five years, the histologic sections of 35 autopsies of infants diagnosed as SIDS victims were reviewed. Based on a recently reported study in which findings on marked basement membrane thickening (BMT) in the true vocal cords was suggested as a pathognomonic marker of SIDS, we expected to find BMT in all these cases. However, in seven of the reviewed autopsies (20%) no BMT was detected. Examination of new histologic sections of all the victims revealed myocarditis in these seven cases. In a control group (n = 18) of children with known cause of death, neither BMT nor myocarditis were found. The incidence of myocardial diseases in infants and young adults (20% and 22% respectively) reported in the literature indicates that myocarditis is not a rare cause of sudden death in infants. Therefore, in SIDS-suspected cases a meticulous post-mortem microscopic examination of the heart should be carried out, especially whenever BMT of the vocal cords is absent.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed1994

Cervical posture and nasal breathing in infancy.

Survival of infants born with bilateral choanal atresia or pyriform aperture stenosis who breathe orally, as well as experimental data, challenge the virtually axiomatic theory of 'obligatory' nose breathing of the neonate. The anatomical parameters leading to the infant's airway patency and to airway obstruction were studied on midsagittal anatomical sections of fetal and adult necks as well as in head and neck radiographs of infants. The most important anatomical parameter found to facilitate the switch from nasal to oral ventilation in human infants is a cervical extension, creating a physiological lordosis of the neck that results in an opening of the veloglossal and veloepiglottic sphincters. This mechanism may explain the relationship between the sleeping posture of the infant and sudden infant death syndrome.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Age-related basement membrane thickening of the vocal cords in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains the leading cause of death in the Western world among infants between the ages of 1 month to 1 year. The diagnosis can only be established at autopsy, at which time no obvious or recognizable pathology is evident. A correlation between thickening of the basement membrane of the true vocal cords and the victim's age was observed in all 51 larynges examined, whereas no such finding was detected in 82 larynges of infants who died of other causes. Thus, the data support the authors' previous morphological results suggesting the use of basement membrane thickening as a marker of positive diagnosis of SIDS at autopsy. The possibility that an immune process may be associated with this syndrome merits further investigation and could prove to be of great importance.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

The microscopic structure and function of the vascular retrodiscal pad of the human temporomandibular joint.

The highly vascular retrodiscal pad attaches the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint to osseous structures posterior to it. There is debate as to whether or not the pad includes erectile tissue. Histological examination of 11 retrodiscal pads revealed thick-walled muscular arteries, thin-walled veins and numerous vascular sinuses, which is different from the erectile tissue of the corpora cavernosa. Its histological features and position within the joint suggest that the retrodiscal pad may function differently from other human joints due to: (1) the large amount of distraction it undergoes relative to its size and (2) its location anterior to the ear.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Spontaneous tonsillar bleeding; secondary to acute tonsillitis in children.

Serious spontaneous tonsillar bleeding in three children was considered with respect to cause(s) and therapy. In two of the children the cause was related to streptococcal infection, and to hemophilus in the third child. A clinical and laboratory follow-up on our diagnosis indicated an infectious cause in each instance, inducing superficial vascular wall erosion. In our clinic the incidence of this relatively rare medical phenomenon in 254 cases of acute tonsillitis, has been only 1.2%. The children were successfully treated with conservative local treatment, such as cauterization and systemic antibiotics.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Basement-membrane thickening of the vocal cords in sudden infant death syndrome.

Sudden infant death syndrome remains the leading cause of death in infants between the ages of 1 month and 1 year. Diagnosis at autopsy is usually reached by process of elimination, as no obvious cause of death is recognized. The larynges of 23 sudden infant death syndrome victims, as well as 6 infants and 3 fetuses who died of other known causes, were examined in this study. While thickening of the basement membrane of the vocal cords was apparent in all sudden infant death syndrome victims, no such finding was present in the larynges of infants and fetuses dying of other causes. Thus, it is suggested that basement-membrane thickening may serve as a diagnostic tool for identification of sudden infant death syndrome at autopsy.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed1990

Correlation between mastoid pneumatization and position of the lateral sinus.

The distance between the lateral sinus and the external ear canal was measured in 148 patients (150 ears) with completely sclerotic (nonpneumatized) mastoids and in 75 healthy random control subjects (150 ears), with pneumatized mastoids. A highly significant difference (p less than .0001) was found between the two groups, the mean distance (+/- SD) among patients being 7.8 +/- 1.7 mm, while among controls it was 13.5 +/- 2.8 mm. Moreover, a significant positive correlation (p less than .001) was found within the pneumatized control group itself, between the sinus' distance and the degree of mastoid pneumatization. The results of this study may be interpreted by those who espouse environmental theories as denoting that infantile otitis media will determine the position of the lateral sinus. However, those who favor the genetic explanation may maintain that since the position of the sinus is established prenatally and involves organogenetically the shape of the skull, the final position is unlikely to be influenced by postnatal otitis media.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Mastoid pneumatization in otosclerosis.

The extent of mastoid pneumatization in 150 otosclerotic ears was compared with that of 150 healthy control ears. The size of mastoid pneumatization was measured by use of the Schüller lateral x-ray projection with the help of computed planimetry. The measurements showed the average pneumatized area in otosclerotic ears to be 17.4 +/- 5 cm2, in contrast to 12.9 +/- 4 cm2 for the healthy control ears. The difference between the two groups was highly significant (p less than .0001). While both groups showed a bell-shaped distribution of the measured pneumatized area, the curve of the otosclerotic ears was shifted significantly to the right. Our findings indicate a link between otosclerosis on the one hand and highly pneumatized mastoids on the other. This link between a hereditary disease and a specific type of pneumatization points to the likelihood that heredity also plays some role in determining the final type of pneumatization.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Cholesteatoma in children.

Of 325 previously untreated cholesteatomas, 109 were found to be in children 13 years old and younger--however, these 109 ears were not found to consist of one clinical entity. Sixty-three of the 109 ears presented a marginal perforation or a retraction pocket, at the level of Shrapnell's membrane or beyond the postero-superior quadrant. In this group the cholesteatoma was distributed mainly in the attic and mastoid and was associated with a non-cellular mastoid. A second group comprising 31 ears presented with cholesteatoma behind an intact drum and were considered to be primary cholesteatomas. These were distributed mostly in the tympanic cavity as cystic epidermoid formations--their mastoid was usually pneumatized. Eight cholesteatomas were related to a central perforation. These ears presented features very similar to the primary cholesteatomas i.e., a pneumatized mastoid and tympanic cavity distribution. The similar features of this group make us think that they may have also originated as primary cholesteatomas which eventually perforated and bring the percentage of primary cholesteatomas in children to 38.3%. Seven of the 109 ears with cholesteatoma were of an indeterminate character.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Onset of endogenous synthesis of epidermal growth factor in neonatal mice.

We have analyzed mouse fetuses and neonates for the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-specific mRNA. No detectable EGF-specific mRNA was found in fetuses, fetal membranes, or placentae from Day 9 of gestation through birth or in the early neonatal period. While the kidneys begin to produce EGF specific transcripts by two weeks postpartum, the salivary glands begin to produce detectable levels of EGF mRNA only after weaning and even then at levels far below the adult amount. Reports of EGF and EGF-related material in rodent fetuses failed to determine whether this material was of maternal or fetal origin. We now conclude that authentic EGF in these embryos is probably of maternal origin. We have performed experiments designed to determine whether EGF can be transported into the fetus. A small percentage of 125I-EGF administered to pregnant females either systemically or directly into the uterine arteries reached the fetus itself. The uterus and the placenta attained a high level of labeling, whereas the amniotic fluid and yolk sac were virtually devoid of the tracer. In the neonatal period, milk may be the physiologically relevant source of EGF. We have found that 125I-EGF ingested by neonates was absorbed into the circulation, reached many internal organs, and was eventually excreted in the urine. Previously demonstrated EGF receptors in mouse embryonic cell types may be activated by either alpha type transforming growth factor or maternal EGF transported via the placenta.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Benign osteoblastoma of the mandible.

A rare case of benign osteoblastoma of the mandible, with clinical, radiologic, and histologic findings, is reported. The difference between benign osteoblastoma and osteoid osteoma is discussed, since these lesions share similar features that are seen in the case presented. It is suggested that both lesions should be diagnosed as one entity.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The eustachian tube muscles in otitis media. A comparison between eustachian tube muscles in healthy and inflamed ears.

The cross-sectional area of the tensor palati (TP) and levator palati (LP) muscles in the mid-portion of the Eustachian tube was measured in serially sectioned histological specimens of 35 temporal bones (TB). 17 of the TBs presented acute or secretory otitis media. The other 18 TBs showed no evidence of inflammatory disease. No significant differences were found between the mean sizes of the muscles coming from TBs with acute and secretory otitis media and of those from TBs without signs of inflammation. The cross-sectional area of the LP was found to be significantly larger than that of the TP. These results raise the question as to the actual role of the muscles' size in inflammatory middle ear disease in infants and children, and as to the role of the LP.

Acute Disease↗