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Biomedical subjects

D Braverman

Publications and source records attributed to D Braverman.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Thoracic spine spasms secondary to hemorrhagic intestinal ulcer.

A case of thoracic spine spasms secondary to a bleeding duodenal ulcer is presented. A 41-year-old male with 14-week history of thoracic spine spasm was treated with bed rest, spinal manipulation, physical therapy, medication, and a thoracolumbar brace. Subsequently, a provocative thoracic discogram performed at T9-T10 created periscapular pain and also reproduced the presenting thoracic spasms. Intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty (IDET) was performed at the T9-T10 level, but without sustained relief. The patient presented to a spine center for evaluation. The diagnosis of thoracic discogenic disease was suspected. A second provocative thoracic discogram was performed and failed to reproduce his thoracic spasms. Three weeks after being referred to a chronic pain management physician, the patient presented to a local emergency room with hema-temesis. An endoscopic evaluation revealed a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Following medical treatment of the duodenal ulcer with a proton pump inhibitor the patient had complete resolution of his thoracic spasms. This represents the first reported case of thoracic spine spasms as an initial presenting symptom of a bleeding peptic ulcer.

Journal Article↗

Carbohydrate malabsorption and the effect of dietary restriction on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and functional bowel complaints.

BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate malabsorption of lactose, fructose and sorbitol has already been described in normal volunteers and in patients with functional bowel complaints including irritable bowel syndrome. Elimination of the offending sugar(s) should result in clinical improvement. OBJECTIVE: To examine the importance of carbohydrate malabsorption in outpatients previously diagnosed as having functional bowel disorders, and to estimate the degree of clinical improvement following dietary restriction of the malabsorbed sugar(s). METHODS: A cohort of 239 patients defined as functional bowel complaints was divided into a group of 94 patients who met the Rome criteria for irritable bowel syndrome and a second group of 145 patients who did not fulfill these criteria and were defined as functional complaints. Lactose (18 g), fructose (25 g) and a mixture of fructose (25 g) plus sorbitol (5 g) solutions were administered at weekly intervals. End-expiratory hydrogen and methane breath samples were collected at 30 minute intervals for 4 hours. Incomplete absorption was defined as an increment in breath hydrogen of at least 20 ppm, or its equivalent in methane of at least 5 ppm. All patients received a diet without the offending sugar(s) for one month. RESULTS: Only 7% of patients with IBS and 8% of patients with FC absorbed all three sugars normally. The frequency of isolated lactose malabsorption was 16% and 12% respectively. The association of lactose and fructose-sorbitol malabsorption occurred in 61% of both patient groups. The frequency of sugar malabsorption among patients in both groups was 78% for lactose malabsorption (IBS 82%, FC 75%), 44% for fructose malabsorption and 73% for fructose-sorbitol malabsorption (IBS 70%, FC 75%). A marked improvement occurred in 56% of IBS and 60% of FC patients following dietary restriction. The number of symptoms decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.01) and correlated with the improvement index (IBS P < 0.05, FC P < 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Combined sugar malabsorption patterns are common in functional bowel disorders and may contribute to symptomatology in most patients. Dietary restriction of the offending sugar(s) should be implemented before the institution of drug therapy.

Adult↗

An unusual case of shoulder pain.

Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal ailment. The process of determining the etiology of shoulder pain can be difficult. The differential diagnoses include: both intracapsular and extracapsular lesions; and neurologic, vascular, postural, and visceral causes. We present an unusual case of shoulder pain accompanied by loss of shoulder range of motion (ROM), initially thought to be caused by an intrinsic shoulder disorder. However, it ultimately was determined that a cervical radicular disorder caused both the impaired ROM and the patient's shoulder pain.

Journal Article↗

Sulfasalazine hepatotoxicity.

Hepatotoxicity has been recently described as a rare complication of sulfasalazine therapy. Two patients with hepatic damage after sulfasalazine treatment are reported. Liver biopsy performed in one patient revealed granulomatous hepatitis. On rechallenge with 5 aminosalicylic acid enema the second patient developed a hypersensitivity reaction without hepatic involvement.

Adult↗

Why more women than men have cholesterol gallstones: studies of biliary lipids in pregnancy.

More women than men have cholesterol gallstones. This probably to a large extent owing to ovarian hormones. Our preliminary studies suggest that the biliary lipid composition and gallbladder function may be abnormal in pregnancy. Studies are in progress to clarify these suggestive changes. We hope that the studies will allow us to determine the relevance of pregnancy to the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones.

Adult↗

Metoclopramide for gastroparesis diabeticorum.

Three patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and with symptoms due to gastric retention proved to have gastroparesis diabeticorum. The diagnosis was established by the beefsteak-barium meal. After the administration of metoclopramide, gastric emptying improved and the diabetes was easily controlled. Gastroparesis diabeticorum is one cause of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and may be helped by the administration of metoclopramide.

Adult↗