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Biomedical subjects

D S Sherman

Publications and source records attributed to D S Sherman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Management of protease inhibitor-associated diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a common and often inadequately treated complication in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Diarrhea has a significant impact on quality of life (QOL) and can contribute to malnutrition, weight loss, immunosuppression, and mortality. In addition, diarrhea may have a significant impact on compliance with antiretroviral therapy; however, this impact has not been adequately assessed. Medications, including protease inhibitors (PIs), are recognized as a common cause of diarrhea. Treatment of PI-associated diarrhea is largely nonspecific; most of the available literature is published only in abstract form and is based primarily on retrospective and survey data. Agents for which some efficacy has been shown for treatment of PI-associated diarrhea include oat bran, psyllium, loperamide, calcium carbonate, SP-303, and pancrelipase. Practitioners and patients need to work together to determine which treatment modality is appropriate based on efficacy, cost, and lifestyle. Management of diarrhea is crucial to improving QOL, controlling weight loss, and enhancing overall efficacy of antiretroviral therapy.

Antidiarrheals↗

Fludrocortisone for the treatment of heparin-induced hyperkalemia.

OBJECTIVE: To report the use of fludrocortisone for heparin-induced hyperkalemia and to briefly review the available literature relating to heparin-induced hyperkalemia. CASE SUMMARY: A 34-year-old African-American man was admitted to the hospital for pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis. His hospital course was complicated by the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe sepsis, acute renal failure, placement of a tracheostomy, and recurrent nasopharyngeal bleeding. The patient also developed a subclavian vein thrombosis with extension to the cephalic and basilic veins secondary to placement of a pulmonary artery catheter; anticoagulation with heparin was required. On day 9 of heparin therapy, the patient developed symptomatic hyperkalemia refractory to conventional therapies. Oral fludrocortisone 0.1 mg/d was initiated with resolution of the hyperkalemia within 24 hours despite the continued administration of heparin. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE (1966-October 1999) search was performed to identify case reports and clinical trials discussing heparin-induced hyperkalemia or the use of fludrocortisone for hyperkalemia. DISCUSSION: Heparin has the potential to induce hyperkalemia by several mechanisms, including decreased aldosterone synthesis, reduction in number and affinity of aldosterone II receptors, and atrophy of the renal zona glomerulosa. Fludrocortisone promotes potassium excretion by its direct actions on the renal distal tubules. In this patient, fludrocortisone resulted in a significant and rapid decrease in serum potassium even with continued heparin administration and acute renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that fludrocortisone is a reasonable alternative therapy for patients with hyperkalemia secondary to heparin therapy when the continued administration of heparin is necessary.

Adult↗

A possible role for the 3'-untranslated region in developmental regulation in Trypanosoma brucei.

A series of Trypanosoma brucei transfection vectors was constructed in which transcription of the luciferase gene was driven by the procyclic acidic repetitive protein (procyclin) promoter. The untranslated regions surrounding the luciferase gene were derived from the actin, fructose bisphosphate aldolase, or PARP loci. Trans-splicing of the resulting transcripts occurred as expected, but the site of 3' polyadenylation was upstream of the position anticipated. The nature of the 3'-untranslated region was crucial to the level of expression in bloodstream forms.

Animals↗