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B Moskovitz

Publications and source records attributed to B Moskovitz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Percutaneous ablation of malignant kidney tumors in rabbits by low frequency radio energy].

Radio-frequency (RF) current has been used successfully to ablate normal human tissue. To investigate further the clinical application of this modality in tumors, we studied the potential of using RF percutaneously to destroy experimental kidney tumors. 35 outbred albino rabbits underwent direct-implantation of renal VX2 tumor during open surgery. After 21 days, ultrasonography was performed to show tumor presence and size. A shielded RF needle was designed to be inserted percutaneously through an introduction needle. An electrical insulation shield covering the RF needle was retractable, controlling the length of exposure of the RF needle inside the tissue. 22 days after tumor implantation, RF was applied via this special needle using a ZoMed International RF generator. In one group of rabbits the procedure was performed under direct vision during open surgery, while in another group treatment was percutaneous, the needle guided by palpation of the tumor. Rabbits were killed 3 days later and revealed 4-25 mm intra-tumoral RF-induced lesions. A direct relation was found between lesion size and the power and duration of RF applied (at 7.5 W, R = 0.48, and P = 0.32). Based on our preliminary results we can conclude that RF may have clinical applications in the near future for percutaneous local tumor control in parenchymal organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Low inguinal approach for correction of recurrent varicocele.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low inguinal (or subinguinal) approach in the treatment of recurrent or persistent varicocele after surgical treatment. Recurrent varicocele was diagnosed in 23 patients who previously underwent surgical treatment. The technique used consisted of low inguinal incision at the level of the external inguinal ring without opening the external oblique aponeurosis. External spermatic veins (cremasteric veins) were dissected and selectively ligated. Then the spermatic fascia was incised and the internal spermatic veins were identified and ligated individually. Postoperative radioisotope scan, scrotal examination and sperm analysis were used for treatment evaluation. Twenty-one (91.3%) had negative postoperative scan and no signs of varicocele on physical examination. A marked improvement of sperm analysis was noted in 19 patients (p<0.05), while two had only minor improvement. Two patients had positive postoperative scans without improvement of semen analysis. Neither atrophy nor azoospermia were detected on follow-up examination in any of these men, however, one patient developed hydrocele. This study indicates a good surgical outcome and improvement of semen quality without significant complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Clinical significance of tumor angiogenesis in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between angiogenesis and various histopathologic features as well as clinical outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Microvessel density was quantified by using immunocytochemical staining of endothelial cells for factor VIII-related antigen of 36 specimens taken from patients with pathologic Stage pT1 or pT2 RCC. All patients underwent radical nephrectomy and were followed for a mean time of 97.3 months. RESULTS: No association was noted between microvessel count (MVC) and either cell type, architecture, or tumor size. Inverse correlation was noted between MVC and nuclear area (P = 0.006), nuclear elipticity (P = 0.016), nuclear roughness (P = 0.039), and histologic grade (P = 0.047). Patients having tumors with low MVC had significantly better survival rate compared with those with high MVC neoplasms (P = 0.0014, by Cox proportional hazards method). CONCLUSIONS: Despite lack of correlation with known predictors of survival, MVC provides independent prognostic information for patients with localized RCC.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Minimally invasive pervaginam procedures for the treatment of female stress incontinence using a new pubic bone anchoring system.

The purpose of this ongoing study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new minimally invasive pervaginam cystourethropexy and sling procedures for the treatment of female genuine stress urinary incontinence. A total of 75 women (mean age, 52.8 years) underwent either a cystourethropexy or a sling procedure. A miniature bone anchor and a staple-like bone anchor driver were used for the fixation of periurethral tissue or a xenogenic sling to the pubic bone. With a mean follow-up of eight months, 61 patients (82%) were completely cured of stress incontinence, 10 (14%) reported a more than 50% decrease in pad usage, and 4 patients showed failure early following surgery. The exclusively pervaginam cystourethropexy and sling procedures are minimally invasive, safe, and effective. Further experience and longer follow-up are necessary to establish their role in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Value of nuclear morphometry for differentiating localized from metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using nuclear morphometry of primary renal cell carcinoma to differentiate cases with localized tumors from those with metastases. METHODS: Using an interactive image analysis system, nuclear morphometry was performed on hematoxylin- and eosin-stained slides of 40 primary renal tumors. There were 18 cases with organ-confined disease and 22 with advanced stage. RESULTS: The most significant shape descriptor to differentiate between the two groups was mean nuclear regularity factor (889.5 +/- 24.4 vs. 701.1 +/- 157.3, p = 0.00015). The combination of mean nuclear area and mean nuclear regularity factor enabled accurate prediction of metastatic potential in 36 (85%) cases. CONCLUSION: Nuclear morphometry measured by image analysis provides prognostic information on patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A profile of the behavioral changes produced by facilitation of AMPA-type glutamate receptors.

A newly developed group of benzoylpiperidine drugs that enhance AMPA-receptor-gated currents ("ampakines") has been shown to improve memory encoding in rats across a variety of experimental paradigms. The present experiments were intended to i) provide a partial profile of the behavioral changes produced by ampakines, ii) test if two ampakines (BDP-12 and BDP-20) that differ significantly in their effects on AMPA receptor kinetics produce similar behavioral profiles, and iii) determine if physiological potency is reflected in behavioral potency. BDP-20 reduced two measures of exploratory activity in aged rats but increased speed of performance in a radial maze; the drug also caused substantially improved retention of spatial information. These results are similar to those obtained with BDP-12, an analog that differs from BDP-20 in its effects on ligand binding to the AMPA receptor and on the physiological responses of the receptors to glutamate. BDP-20 was approximately ten-fold more potent in behavioral effects than BDP-12, which agrees with the relative potencies of the two drugs as assessed with excised patches and excitatory synaptic responses. These findings indicate that ampakines, though differing in their effects on AMPA-receptor-mediated responses, have similar effects at the behavioral level.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Incisionless per vaginal bone anchor cystourethropexy for the treatment of female stress incontinence: experience with the first 50 patients.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of women with genuine stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 women (mean age 51 years) was treated for type I or II stress urinary incontinence. A miniature bone anchor and a staple like bone anchor driver were used for fixation of periurethral tissue to the public bone. RESULTS: The procedure was successfully performed in all patients without intraoperative bleeding. No significant persistent postoperative pain was noted and only 1 patient had urinary tract infection. Concomitant vaginal hysterectomy, cystocele repair or perineoplasty was performed in 33 cases. At 12-month followup 41 patients (82%) are completely continent, 7 patients (14%) reported more than 50% decrease in pad usage and 2 cases are considered surgical failures. Mean operative time was 28 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that our new minimally invasive procedure provides a safe, effective and easy to learn alternative for treatment of women with anatomical stress incontinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The role of vimentin expression in predicting the long-term outcome of patients with localized renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic significance of vimentin intermediary filament expression by tumour cells in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) localized to the kidney. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with localized RCC (pT1,pT2) were assessed in a retrospective study. Tumour cells were evaluated immunohistochemically for vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and polyclonal cytokeratin expression. The prognosis of cases expressing positive vimentin expression in tumour cells was compared with that of cases with no expression. Additional clinical information and conventional histological grade of the tumours were also included in the survival analysis. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of patient survival and tumour recurrence showed a statistically significant association between vimentin-positive tumours and poor patient outcome; the EMA stain showed borderline significance and histological grade was significantly associated with prognosis. The combination of tumour vimentin expression and histological grade provided a better predictor of prognosis and proved to be the best independent prognosticator of survival by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Vimentin expression by tumour cells provides important prognostic information for patients with localized RCC; the combination of vimentin expression and histological grade is a better predictor for survival than grade or vimentin expression alone.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1997

The impact of tumor size on clinical outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma treated by radical nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: We investigated the influence of tumor size on clinical outcome in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma treated with radical nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the records of 54 patients with pathological T1, T2 renal cell carcinoma for age, sex, histological grade, cell type, architecture, deoxyribonucleic acid ploidy pattern, nuclear morphometry and vimentin expression. Variables found to predict outcome were correlated with tumor size, which was further tested for its prognostic value. RESULTS: The best predictors of prognosis were grade, ploidy pattern, nuclear morphometry and vimentin expression. Small (less than 5 cm.) and large (larger than 5 cm.) tumors had similar distribution of prognostic variable subgroups. No differences in progression rate or survival were noted between the tumor size categories. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that small renal tumors may follow unfavorable courses and require aggressive treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Oral fluconazole for Candida urinary tract infection.

Fungal urinary tract infections are increasingly prevalent in hospitalized patients. This trial compares the efficacy of oral fluconazole along with catheter replacement to that of catheter replacement alone for treatment of funguria. The study group patients (n = 30) were given 100 mg of fluconazole followed by 50 mg/day for 14 days and had their catheters replaced on day one. The control group, randomized on a 1:1 basis (n = 30) had only a catheter replacement. Seventeen and 21 patients in the study and control groups, respectively, had Candida albicans, 8 and 5 had Candida tropicalis, and 5 and 4 had Candida glabrata. The MICs of the organisms were determined by the E test. The MIC90 of the C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata were 12, 16, and 64 micrograms/ml, respectively. Funguria disappeared in all study group patients within a week but recurred in only 1 patient 8 weeks after enrollment in the study. Although fluconazole caused a more rapid and an almost complete eradication of funguria and urinary WBCs, catheter replacement alone was followed by an 87-93% clearance of urinary findings at 8 weeks of follow-up. These results suggest that in patients with funguria low-dose fluconazole induces a more rapid clearance of urinary findings than does catheter replacement alone.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

[Hemospermia].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Blood↗
PubMed1996

[Transthoracic approach for removing adrenal masses].

Early results with the transthoracic approach for removing adrenal tumors were evaluated. Between May 1994 and December 1995, 8 women and 5 men (aged 18-74) with adrenal masses underwent transthoracic adrenalectomy. All were excised successfully with short operation times (mean: 86 min), minimal blood loss (151 ml), limited use of parenteral analgesics (1.3 days), early ambulation (1.7 days post operation) and a short period of parenteral nutrition (1.7 days), resulting in reduced hospital stay (mean 6.7 days). With the transthoracic approach procedures are quick and safe even for large, malignant, and hormone-producing tumors. Recovery is easy with brief hospitalization. It provides excellent exposure of the adrenals, enables good control of bleeding vessels and is therefore our preferred method for removing adrenal masses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Facilitation of glutamate receptors reverses an age-associated memory impairment in rats.

The accuracy of memory for recent events is reported to decay between young adulthood and middle age in humans (Crook et al., 1990; Crook and West, 1990; Thomas et al., 1977) due to impairments in acquisition and/or retention (Craik, 1977; Huppert and Kopelman, 1989). Effects of this kind are also found in comparisons of middle-aged (12-18 months) vs. young adult (3 months) rats in tests requiring retention of recently sampled spatial cues (Kadar et al., 1990a; Kadar et al., 1990b; Goudsmit et al., 1990; Weiss and Thompson, 1991). The causes of such changes in memory processing are unknown but might be expected to involve age-related losses in forebrain glutamate receptors (Bahr et al., 1992; Magnusson and Cotman, 1993; Wenk et al., 1991); these receptors mediate fast excitatory transmission in many brain regions and play an essential role in the production of long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity that has been implicated in memory encoding (Landfield and Lynch, 1977; Moore et al., 1993). In the present communication we report results indicating that a drug that enhances AMPA-type glutamate receptors acts centrally to selectively increase hippocampal spatial cell firing and improves both acquisition performance and memory retention in middle-aged rats to levels equivalent to those found in young adult animals.

Age Factors↗