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Biomedical subjects

D Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to D Weiss.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Computer management of the data of automated perimetry using Octopus 2000 R].

Current perimetry involves automated, static and punctual procedures, which permit the examiner to obtain a numerical value of the sensibility concerning the points tested. Besides its precision and its reliability, perimetry can be used in data processing management due to the characteristic of easy duplication of the examinations. We use a micro-computer which is seperate from the Octopus 2000 R (Apple IIc) and the disc (OmnisII) to process the files. The study is composed of the following areas: the storage and the data processing of patient files, the transformation of numerical data a graphics display, the study of the percentage of loss of surface according to the decibel of sensibility. The data processing of files improves storage according to the criteria defined by the examiner and helps avoid inconvienent research. The graphic transformation of numerical data into isopteres of chosen sensibility improves the definition of the zones of intermediate sensibility. The calculations of the percentage of loss of surface according to the decibel of sensibility allows the appreciation of the size of defects based on depth and quantification. It is also easy to make the comparison between the two fields.

Aphakia, Postcataract↗
PubMed1984

[Cricopharyngeal achalasia in stroke patients].

A 68-year-old man developed severe swallowing difficulties after a cerebrovascular accident: he was unable to take food. Nutrition was assured via a gastrostomy ( Witzel fistula). Nonetheless there was steady weight loss. A cricopharyngeal achalasia was finally discovered to be the cause of the swallowing problem. Myotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle completely abolished it.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Prognosis after sudden cardiac death without associated myocardial infarction: one year follow-up of empiric therapy with amiodarone.

Thirty-three consecutively referred patients with cardiac arrest from ventricular arrhythmias unassociated with a new acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were commenced on amiodarone therapy and followed for a minimum of 12 months. The dose of amiodarone was adjusted to maximum tolerance and not according to the incidence of asymptomatic ventricular premature complex activity. Eight patients died including five sudden deaths. Five out of the eight deaths occurred either within 3 months of therapy or when the dose of amiodarone was less than 400 mg/day. The majority of patients were found to have corneal microdeposits or either thyroid or liver function abnormalities, although none had any clinical manifestation. Ten patients had neurologic side effects. In summary, although the overall cardiac mortality seemed to be reduced by amiodarone therapy and the drug appears to be well tolerated by patients, its role in the prophylaxis against recurrent ventricular fibrillation may be enhanced by a regimen of higher loading and maintenance doses.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of amiodarone therapy in the treatment of drug-resistant cardiac arrhythmias: long-term follow-up.

The clinical efficacy of amiodarone in the management of complex cardiac arrhythmias refractory to therapy with two or more conventional or other investigational antiarrhythmic agents was determined by long-term follow-up in patients who had received the drug for at least 3 months. A total of 181 patients, classified into four groups (group 1, supraventricular arrhythmias, n = 42; group 2, frequent ventricular premature complexes, n = 46; group 3, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, n = 16; and group 4, sustained ventricular tachycardia, n = 77) received a daily maintenance dose of 200 to 800 mg amiodarone for up to 30 months. There was a total of 26 deaths (14%). Ten of these were probably attributable to arrhythmia, although all patients had either good or excellent response to therapy over a mean follow-up of 14.9 months prior to death. The drug had to be permanently discontinued because of side effects in only three patients, and in the majority of patients with side effects, symptoms could be alleviated with adjustment of dosage, thyroid replacement therapy, or temporary cessation of therapy. We conclude that amiodarone is highly effective in high-risk patients with complex refractory cardiac arrhythmias, and that close monitoring and prompt recognition of side effects and appropriate adjustment of dosage or institution of supplemental or replacement therapy (in less than 5% of patients) will allow continuation of amiodarone. The benefit of suppression of symptomatic arrhythmias and the potential of prevention of sudden death clearly outweigh the modest incidence of severe side effects.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

The efficacy of Ajmaline in ventricular arrhythmias after failure of lidocaine therapy in the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Forty-three patients in the acute phase of myocardial infarction who were resistant to conventional doses of lidocaine received Ajmaline intravenously (50 mg bolus followed by constant infusion rate of 1-1.5 mg/min). Dangerous ventricular arrhythmias were abolished in 72% of this group of patients (group A). In the remaining patients (28%), Ajmaline was found to be ineffective (group B). There was no reduction of systolic or diastolic blood pressure and there was an insignificant increase in heart rate. Atrio-ventricular or intraventricular conduction defects appeared in 46% of the patients described. There was a statistically significant increase in occurrence of heart blocks in group B patients and among these complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB) was the most prevalent. Atrio-ventricular or intraventricular conduction defects were transient, appearing between 8-36 h (mean 23 h), and were not accompanied by reduction of ventricular rate. Conduction defects disappeared within several hours (up to 24 hours) after Ajmaline was discontinued. It is concluded that Ajmaline administered by this regimen is an effective alternative agent for patients with ventricular arrhythmia not controlled by lidocaine in the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Ajmaline↗
PubMed1983

[Hyperthyroidism in the aged].

Clinical symptoms in elderly patients with hyperthyroidism are atypical and uncharacteristic. In 13 patients with overt hyperthyroidism a goiter was found in only half the patients, eye signs in just three of them. Tachycardias, sometimes even paroxysmal tachycardias, predominate. In old people the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is frequently missed, in 11 of 13 patients the disease was diagnosed following transfer to the rehabilitation center. About 50% of patients were iodine contaminated and this may have contributed to the disease. Data are presented to demonstrate that hyperthyroidism in old age may be a life threatening disease.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Electrophysiologic effects of chronic amiodarone therapy in patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

Detailed electrophysiologic studies were performed in nine patients with chronic refractory ventricular arrhythmias before and after 7 to 20 weeks (mean 11 weeks) of amiodarone therapy. The amiodarone dose at the time of the repeat study ranged from 400 to 800 mg/day. The drug reduced the sinus rate (p less than 0.001) and prolonged the sinoatrial conduction time (p less than 0.05) with some prolongation of the corrected sinus node recovery time. Intra-atrial conduction was slightly prolonged both in sinus rhythm and during atrial pacing. Anterograde conduction through the AV node was significantly prolonged both in sinus rhythm (p = 0.001) and during atrial pacing (p less than 0.005), and Wenckebach AV block was seen at significantly lower atrial pacing rates after the drug (p less than 0.005). The HV interval was prolonged both in sinus rhythm (p less than 0.05) and during atrial pacing (p = 0.001), and so was the QRS width during atrial pacing (p less than 0.005) and the QT interval in sinus rhythm (p less than 0.005) and during atrial pacing (p less than 0.005). Significant prolongation of the refractory periods in the atrium, AV node, and ventricular muscle were also seen following the drug. We concluded that the significant electrophysiologic effects of this drug throughout the heart during chronic oral use attest to its clinical effectiveness in patients with atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. With due care and despite its effects on the HV interval and QRS width, it can be used in patients with intraventricular conduction defects complicating severe organic heart disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

The potentiation of warfarin anticoagulation by amiodarone.

The potentiation of the anticoagulant effect of sodium warfarin by amiodarone is reported in 10 patients. Amiodarone appears to augment the depression of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors caused by warfarin by an uncertain mechanism, and may lead to serious bleeding. The maintenance dose of warfarin should be halved when amiodarone and warfarin are prescribed together.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Veterans Administration cooperative study on aphasia: a comparison of individual and group treatment.

Five Veterans Administration Medical Centers participated in an investigation designed to compare individual with group treatment for aphasic patients who had suffered a left hemisphere cerebral vascular accident. Patients who met selection criteria were assigned randomly to either traditional, individual, stimulus-response type treatment of specific language deficits or group therapy designed to improve communication through group interaction and discussion with no direct treatment of specific language deficits. All patients received eight hours of therapy each week beginning at four weeks postonset and continuing until 48 weeks postonset or until they dropped out of the study. A battery of language measures and a clinical neurologic evaluation were administered at intake and every 11 weeks a patient was in the study. Results show both individually and group-treated patients made significant improvement in language abilities. Individual treatment resulted in significantly better overall performance on the Porch Index of Communicative Ability; however, no significant differences were observed between groups on the other language measures. If the traditional belief is correct that significant spontaneous recovery is complete by three to six months postonset, significant improvement in both groups beyond 26 weeks postonset indicates both individual and group treatment are efficacious methods for managing aphasic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Oral Hygiene Skill Achievement Index II.

The utility of any index depends on its validity, reliability, and administrative feasibility. The Oral Hygiene Skill Achievement Index (S.A.I.) was found to be a valid measure of oral hygiene skill in that registered dental hygienists received greater than 90% of the total possible points. The S.A.I. was found to have an initial reliability of r greater than or equal to 0.91 and a repeat reliability of r greater than or equal to 0.96. The S.A.I. requires less than 10 minutes to administer, 40 minutes to teach, and 1 hour and 40 minutes to learn. The results suggest that S.A.I. should be a useful instrument for both clinical and research use.

Achievement↗
PubMed1980

Induction of surface glycoprotein expression by cyclic AMP in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Surface expression of a membrane glycoprotein of 135,000 molecular weight (P135) was inducible by adenosine 3',5' -cyclic monophosphate in Chinese hamster ovary cells, CHO-K1 clone. Cells were cultured in the presence or absence of cyclic AMP derivatives, chemicals influencing cytoplasmic cyclic AMP levels, or inhibitors of protein or RNA synthesis. Surface proteins wre radiolabeled by a lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination reaction and analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Surface expression of P135 increased 3---5-fold inthe presence of N6,O2' -dibutyryl cyclic AMP or 8-parachlorophenylthio cyclic AMP. Induction was also observed after treatment with prostaglandins E1 and F2 alpha, but not with sodium butyrate. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Roche compound Ro20-1724, enhanced the effect of N6,O2' -dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Metabolic incorporation of [35S]methionine into P135 was increased by N6,O2' -dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The induction was sensitive to inhibitors of protein and RNA biosynthesis. These results are consistent with a proposal that cyclic AMP controls the synthesis of this protein. Metabolic incorporation of a radioactive precursor suggested that P135 was a glucos-amine-containing glycoprotein. P135 appeared to be strongly associated with cell membrane because it was resistant to extraction of plasma membrane by cole 0.1 N NaOH.

4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone↗
PubMed1980

The effect of contrast media of low osmolality on the peripheral arterial blood flow in the dog.

The intravascular contrast media in current use are solutions of salts of tri-iodinated substituted benzoic acids. Haemodynamic changes following injection of these contrast media are due mainly to their high osmolar concentration which is five to eight times physiological levels. In this study we compare the effect in dogs on femoral arterial flow following femoral arterial injection of three new low osmolality contrast media (Amipaque, Iopamidol and Hexabrix) compared to conventional contrast media (Coronary 280). Conventional salts such as Conray 280 cause a marked vasodilatation and increase in femoral blood flow to about twice pre-injection levels. The three new low osmolality contrast media cause much less vasodilation and increase in femoral blood flow (+32%). There was no significant difference between the effects of any of the three new media. The experiment suggests that any of three new low osmolality contrast media should be suitable for femoral arteriography as they cause much less vasodilatation (and therefore discomfort) than conventional contrast media. Our results do not indicate a preference for any of the three new contrast agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Ribosomal protein alterations in thiostrepton- and Micrococcin-resistant mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

Ribosomal proteins of parental thiostrepton- and micrococcin-sensitive Bacillus subtilis cysA14 and thiostrepton-and micrococcin-resistant mutants were compared. Several electrophoretic and immunochemical techniques showed unambiguously that BS-L11 was not present on 50 S ribosomal subunits from the six thiostrepton-resistant mutants. Protein BS-L11 reappeared in all six revertants from thiostrepton resistance to thiostrepton sensitivity. No definitive protein alteration could be ascribed to the mutation from micrococcin sensitivity to resistance. It was also demonstrated that B. subtilis protein BS-L11 is homologous to Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L11. The finding that ribosomes from thiostrepton-resistant mutants do not contain protein L11 suggests that L11 not only is involved in binding of thiostrepton, but also, when mutationally altered, confers resistance to this antibiotic. Although the ribosomes of these strains do not contain protein L11, all thiostrepton-resistant mutants showed the same viability as the parental strain. Thus protein L11 cannot be obligatory for the structure and function of the ribosome.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1979

Effects of irradiation on mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus.

A retrospective study of 54 patients with histologically proven malignant mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus was undertaken with main emphasis on the evaluation of the effects of irradiation on pelvic tumor control. The tumors were staged according to the FIGO classification for endometrial carcinoma and 24 were classified as Stage I, 10 as Stage II, 13 as Stage III and seven as Stage IV. Patients with Stage I and II were treated with surgery alone (9 patients, three surviving) or preoperative intracavitary irradiation (13 patients, eight surviving) or preoperative combination of intracavitary and external irradiation (12 patients, six surviving). Five patients with Stage III and IV were treated with surgery alone, two were treated with a combination of irradiation and surgery and 11 with radiation alone. None of these patients survived. In seven patients showing no residual tumor in the uterine specimen after irradiation, no pelvic failures were noted, whereas seven of 17 (41.2%) with residual tumor developed pelvic recurrences. In patients with Stage I treated with surgery alone, three out of six recurred in the pelvis whereas only three of 17 (17%) receiving preoperative irradiation developed pelvic recurrences. However, in Stage II six of eight patients treated with preoperative irradiation failed in the pelvis. Correlation with the doses of irradiation given to the uterus or the pelvic lymph nodes indicate that with doses below 5000 rads a significantly higher number of pelvic recurrences take place, whereas these are uncommon with doses over 6000 rads. The difference in pelvic recurrences between dosage levels is not, however, statistically significant. It is suggested that patients with Stage I and II malignant mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus should be treated with preoperative radiation and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Patients with more advanced disease have extremely poor prognosis and should be treated with radiation therapy alone. This tumor has a high propensity to spread through lymphatics and hematogenous metastases are seen in approximately 75% of the patients. Because of this dissemination, significant improvements in survival rate will not be seen until effective cytotoxic agents are available.

Female↗