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Biomedical subjects

D J Mazanec

Publications and source records attributed to D J Mazanec.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Conservative treatment of rheumatic disorders in the elderly.

Rheumatic syndromes are the most common cause of limited activity and disability in elderly patients. Those over age 65 are particularly susceptible to adverse reactions to antirheumatic therapy, especially to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A therapeutic approach that emphasizes safety by fully utilizing nondrug therapy, employing conservative prescribing techniques, and monitoring high-risk patients for adverse reactions is the focus of this article.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Methotrexate for corticosteroid-resistant polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis.

Three patients (one with polymyalgia rheumatica with jaw claudication and two with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis) were initially treated using prednisone (40-60 mg daily). The response was good in all three, but each experienced exacerbation of symptoms and elevation of Westergren sedimentation rates (WSR) with dose reduction. The addition of methotrexate (7.5-12.5 mg/wk) resulted in diminished symptoms and lower WSR and proved to be steroid-sparing.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Drug-induced osteoporosis.

Use of corticosteroids has been most frequently associated with bone loss, but heparin and methotrexate, when used in relatively high doses, have also been linked to the development of osteoporosis. Clinical features of bone loss associated with these agents, possible pathophysiologic mechanisms, and strategies for avoiding this complication are reviewed.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1987

Abnormal lymphocyte function in scleroderma: a study on identical twins.

This paper describes immunologic studies on a set of identical twins discordant for the presence of scleroderma. The affected twin had a low absolute T-cell count, low numbers of T4 helper/inducer cells, and an increase in the T8 suppressor/cytotoxic cell count. The T cells of the patient responded poorly to mitogens and to allogeneic and autologous stimuli. By contrast, T-cell-helper activity for pokeweed mitogen-induced IgM synthesis was markedly enhanced in the patient. Furthermore, activated mononuclear cell supernatants from the patient markedly enhanced the synthesis of collagen by normal cultured fibroblasts. The unaffected twin by contrast displayed normal responses in these assays. The results suggest that the immunologic defects in scleroderma are not entirely genetically determined.

Diseases in Twins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methotrexate for systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective analysis of 17 unselected cases.

We report a retrospective study of 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were treated with oral methotrexate given as a mean weekly dose of 8.47 +/- 1.72 mg. Methotrexate treatment resulted in symptomatic improvement in 57% of patients and allowed the reduction of the mean daily dose of prednisone from 16.66 mg initially to 8.99 mg at one year follow-up. Twelve of 17 patients (70.6%) experienced at least one episode of toxicity. Factors which might be associated with toxicity are analyzed. Because of its potential as a corticosteroid-sparing agent, controlled studies of methotrexate for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus are indicated.

Adult↗