Anorexia nervosa and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Pelvic floor dysfunction in women with eating disorders is an underexplored area. We present a case of pelvic floor dysfunction in a nulliparous woman with anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia Nervosa↗
Biomedical subjects
E Cortes
Publications and source records attributed to E Cortes.
Evaluation of the fascial technique for surgical repair of isolated posterior vaginal wall prolapse.
OBJECTIVE: To study the anatomic and functional efficacy and assess long-term success of the fascial technique in the repair of rectocele. METHODS: Forty-two women with symptomatic posterior vaginal wall prolapse of at least stage II underwent a surgical repair using the technique of reconstruction of the rectovaginal septum. These women were evaluated at 6 weeks and 18 months postoperatively for anatomic improvement in the grade of their rectocele and a functional improvement in their vaginal, bowel, and sexual symptoms. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent (40 of 42) were assessed at 6 weeks and 78.5% (33 of 42) attended follow-up at 18 months. Preoperative symptoms included 1) vaginal protrusion (78%); 2) defecation symptoms (76%), which included fecal incontinence alone in 9.5%, evacuation difficulties in 57%, and both fecal incontinence and evacuation difficulties in 9.5%; and 3) sexual dysfunction (33%). At 6-week follow-up there was resolution of vaginal protrusion in 87.5%, and bowel symptoms in 87%. At 18 months there was anatomic cure in 92%, improvement in defecation in 81%, and improvement of sexual dysfunction in 35%. No major complications were seen. CONCLUSION: This technique is effective in providing relatively long anatomic cure of the rectocele and resolution of its symptoms.
Adult↗
[Recurrent methemoglobinemia: look for repeated use of poppers].
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Adult↗
2D NMR analysis of highly restricted internal rotation in 2-methylthio-3H-4-p-bromophenyl)-7-[(ortho- and para-substituted)-phenylthio]-1, 5-benzodiazepines.
The complete assignments of twelve 4-aryl-7-thioaryl-1,5-benzodiazepines 1H and 13C spectra, performed with the use of high resolution variable solvent and temperature 1D and 2D techniques (e.g. HOMOCOSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC), lead to the determination of conformational equilibria between two rotamers having the aromatic ring of the thioaryl oriented in a perpendicular or helical orientation toward the benzodiazepine ring. The restricted rotation was evaluated from the population of these conformers.
Benzodiazepines↗
Inhaled NO and almitrine bismesylate in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: effect of noradrenalin.
The combination of inhaled nitric oxide with almitrine bismesylate has been proposed for the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome in order to divert pulmonary blood flow away from poorly ventilated toward well-ventilated areas. The aims of this prospective and comparative study were to: 1) confirm the beneficial effects on oxygenation of this association; 2) evaluate the haemodynamic effects of this association; and 3) evaluate the influence of noradrenaline (a nonspecific vasoconstrictor) on the modification of gas exchange related to inhaled NO and/or almitrine bismesylate. Forty-one sedated paralysed and ventilated patients were investigated. Haemodynamic and blood gas measurements were performed in a fixed order: baseline; inhalation of NO for 30 min.; intravenous infusion of almitrine bismesylate; and concomitant administration of inhaled NO and almitrine bismesylate. Inhaled NO and almitrine bismesylate increased arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2)/inspiratory oxygen fraction (FI,O2) (p<0.001). The association of inhaled NO with almitrine bismesylate resulted in a dramatic improvement in Pa,O2/FI,O2 (p<0.0001 versus almitrine bismesylate, p<0.05 versus inhaled NO). In patients receiving noradrenalin (n = 19), almitrine bismesylate had no effect on oxygenation. The present study confirmed that the combination of inhaled NO with almitrine bismesylate improved oxygenation, and demonstrated that almitrine bismesylate has no effect on oxygenation in patients receiving noradrenalin.
Administration, Inhalation↗
Effectiveness of cloxacillin with and without gentamicin in short-term therapy for right-sided Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. A randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: It is often difficult to administer extended antibiotic therapy in the hospital for right-sided Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. Although the effectiveness of single-drug therapy given for 4 to 6 weeks and that of two-drug therapy given for 2 weeks have been shown, no data are available on the effectiveness of short-course single-drug therapy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of cloxacillin alone with that of cloxacillin plus gentamicin for the 2-week treatment of right-sided S. aureus endocarditis in intravenous drug users. DESIGN: Open, randomized study. SETTING: An academic tertiary care hospital in Barcelona, Spain. PATIENTS: 90 consecutive intravenous drug users who had isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, had no allergy to study medications, and had no systemic infectious complications that required prolonged therapy. An efficacy subset consisted of 74 of these patients who did not meet an exclusion criterion. INTERVENTION: Cloxacillin (2 g intravenously every 4 hours for 14 days) alone or combined with gentamicin (1 mg/kg of body weight intravenously every 8 hours for 7 days). MEASUREMENTS: Clinical or microbiological evidence of active infection after 2 weeks of therapy, relapse of staphylococcal infection, or death. RESULTS: In an analysis of the efficacy subset, treatment was successful in 34 of the 38 patients who received cloxacillin alone (89% [95% CI, 75% to 97%]) and 31 of the 36 patients who received cloxacillin plus gentamicin (86% [CI, 71% to 95%]). Three patients died: one in the cloxacillin group and two in the combination therapy group. Of the 37 patients who completed 2-week treatment with cloxacillin, 34 (92%) were cured, and 3 (8%) needed prolonged treatment to cure the infection. Of the 34 patients who completed 2-week treatment with cloxacillin plus gentamicin, 32 (94%) were cured and 2 (6%) required treatment for 4 weeks. One patient in the combination group had relapse. CONCLUSIONS: A penicillinase-resistant penicillin used as single-agent therapy for 2 weeks was effective for most patients with isolated tricuspid endocarditis caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Adding gentamicin did not appear to provide any therapeutic advantages. Additional studies to confirm the therapeutic equivalence of short-course therapy with penicillinase-resistant penicillin alone and therapy with combined regimens are warranted.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Palladium-103: a new radioactive source in the treatment of unresectable carcinoma of the pancreas: a phase I-II study.
Palladium-103 (Pd-103) is introduced in brachytherapy procedures because of its favorable physical properties, including its low energy, rapid dose fall-off, short half-life, and total cumulative dose delivery at a higher dose rate than iodine-125 (I-125) isotope. Intraoperative brachytherapy using I-125 pellets was reported to provide significant palliation and meaningful prolongation of life in highly selected patients with unresectable carcinoma of the pancreas. After considering some of the advantages of Pd-103 over I-125, we designed a phase I-II clinical trial to assess the feasibility of intraoperative Pd-103 in unresectable carcinoma of the pancreas to study the related morbidity when combined with chemotherapy and external beam radiation, and to evaluate the impact on palliation and local control rates. Between December 1989 and December 1993, 15 patients with biopsy-proven unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with interstitial Pd-103 implants during laparotomy. In 13 patients the lesion was located in the head of the pancreas, in one patient in the uncinate process, and in one patient in the body of the pancreas. The stage distribution was as follows: T1 = 2; T2 = 6, and T3 = 7. In addition, all patients underwent biliary and gastric bypass. The mean number of Pd-103 pellets was 45; the mean total activity to obtain a matched peripheral dose (MPD) of 11,000 cGy was 68.9 mCi. The mean tumor volume encompassing the MPD was 16.5 cc. All patients received postoperative external beam radiation (4,500 cGy over 4 1/2 weeks) and chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C). This combined treatment, consisting of intraoperative brachytherapy using Pd-103 and postoperative external beam radiation with chemotherapy, was well tolerated in all patients. These were no treatment-related mortalities, and no serious complications, such as bleeding or fistula formation. Pain relief was obtained within 3-6 weeks in 10 out of 12 patients presenting with pain. Survival ranged from 6 to 24 months (median 10 months). The study suggests that Pd-103 can be considered an alternative to I-125 for interstitial brachytherapy for unresectable carcinoma of the pancreas. Symptom relief appeared to occur faster and complications are significantly less. However, this study did not show any improvement in the median survival rate over I-125 due to the advanced stage cancer in the majority of patients in the study.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Prophylaxis of visceral leishmaniasis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of two regimens with allopurinol or pentavalent antimony as secondary prophylaxis for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. DESIGN: Retrospective, nonrandomized, open trial. SETTING: A 1,000-bed academic tertiary institutional hospital in Barcelona. PATIENTS: Forty-six individuals over 14 years old with HIV infection, who recovered from an episode of VL between January 1988 and February 1995. INTERVENTIONS: Twenty patients did not receive any prophylaxis, nine received 300 mg/8 h of allopurinol, and 17 received 850 mg once-a-month of pentavalent antimony. Patients were followed-up every 3 months, and the endpoint of study was relapse of VL. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients had recurrent VL: 13 of 20 in the control group (65%), 5 of 9 in the allopurinol group (56%), and 3 of 17 in the antimonial group (18%). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the probability of remaining relapse-free at 12 months were 9% without prophylaxis (95% CI, 0-22%), 21% with allopurinol (95% CI, 0-51%), and 93% with antimonials (95% CI, 82-100%) (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the only significant variables related to relapsing course of VL were assignment to the antimonial group, and the fact that the patient had experienced a previous episode of VL. CONCLUSIONS: Pentavalent antimony given once a month is effective in the prevention of VL relapses in HIV-infected individuals. It is a low-cost treatment that proved to be well tolerated. Therefore, pentavalent antimony should be considered a suitable agent for secondary prophylaxis against VL.
Adult↗
Tumor ploidy as a risk factor for disease recurrence and short survival in surgically treated Dukes' B2 colon cancer patients.
The risk factors for colon cancer recurrence following a curative intent surgery include the tumor location and size, the presence of adhesions, perforation, bowel obstruction, depth of invasion, histological grade, percentage of S phase content and cell kinetic profile. The DNA content of tumor cells has recently been suggested as an additional prognostic factor. In this study we assessed the tumor ploidy as a prognostic factor for recurrence and survival in colon cancer patients. The DNA content of colon cancers in 20 Dukes' B2 patients followed up at our center, who relapsed either locally or systemically, following surgical treatment was measured by image analysis. The data were pair-matched for age, sex, tumor site and grade, and the period of follow-up with 20 Dukes' B2 patients who had no evidence of disease. Aneuploidy occurred in 16 (80%) patients with recurrence, whereas only in 8 (40%) in the control group. Nonaneuploid DNA content was found in 12 (60%) patients of the control group, but in only 4 (20%) patients with a relapse. Aneuploidy was associated with a significantly higher tumor recurrence rate (p = 0.024) and shorter overall survival (p < 0.002). Our data point to a possible indication of a systemic adjuvant chemotherapy in Dukes' B2 colon cancer patients who have aneuploid tumors on image analysis. This should be further investigated in a prospective controlled randomized study.
Aged↗
Tumor ploidy as a risk factor for disease recurrence and short survival in surgically-treated Dukes' B2 colon cancer patients.
The risk factors for colon cancer recurrence following a curative intent surgery include the presence of metastatic disease, the tumor location and size, number of positive lymph nodes, the presence of adhesions, perforation, bowel obstruction, depth of invasion, histological grade, percentage of S-phase content, and cell kinetic profile. The DNA content of colon cancers in 20 Dukes' B2 patients in follow-up evaluation at our center, who relapsed, either locally or systemically following surgical treatment was measured by image analysis. The data were pair-matched for age, sex, tumor site, and grade with 20 Dukes' B2 patients who had no evidence of disease. Aneuploidy occurred in 16 (80%) patients with recurrence, as compared with only in 8 (40%) in the control group. Aneuploidy was associated with significantly higher tumor recurrence rate (P = 0.024) and shorter overall survival (P < 0.002). Our data may point out a possible indication for systemic adjuvant chemotherapy in Dukes' B2 colon cancer patients who have aneuploid tumors on image analysis. This warrants further investigation in a prospective controlled randomized study.
Adult↗
Changing the substrate specificity of penicillin G acylase from Kluyvera citrophila through selective pressure.
Escherichia coli (muT, mutD, Leu-) cells transformed with plasmid pYKD59 harbouring the pac gene encoding penicillin acylase (PA) from Kluyvera citrophila ATCC 21285 were exposed to environmental conditions that made expression of this enzyme essential for growth. Under these conditions, spontaneous mutants were isolated that used adipyl-L-leucine as the sole source of L-leucine. DNA sequencing of the mutant pac genes identified a transversion mutation of thymine to guanine at position 1163. This mutation was located in the beta-subunit of the enzyme and resulted in conversion of Phe-360 to valine. The assignment of this mutation to the shift in substrate specificity was further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Secondary-structure prediction of the region surrounding Phe-360 suggests that this mutation should not produce any significant structural change. The purified mutant acylase was able to hydrolyse adipyl-, glutaryl-, valeryl-, caproyl-, heptanoyl- and phenoxyacetyl-L-leucine at pH 5 with greater efficiency than the wild-type enzyme. However, the mutant enzyme was not able to hydrolyse glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid and had lost 90% and 50% of activity on penicillin G and phenylacetyl-L-leucine respectively. Nevertheless, mutant PA retained its original activity on 6-nitro-3-phenylacetamidobenzoate and p-nitrophenylphenylacetate, suggesting that the binding specificity of PA by the acyl and amine moieties of the substrate are not independent phenomena. The small differences observed between the c.d. spectra of the mutant enzyme recorded at pH 5 and 8 suggest the existence of different conformational states at the two pH values, but these differences were indistinguishable from those observed in the native enzyme and cannot be correlated with the shift in substrate specificity. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to change the specificity of PA by laboratory evolution and use it to identify the amino acids involved in substrate recognition. However, the synchronous participation of the alpha- and beta-subunits in the complex induced-fit-like mechanism of acylases suggests that, to obtain new enzymes for industrial application, the selection pressure should be specifically designed for the compound of interest.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Streptococcus milleri as a cause of antecubital abscess and bacteremia in intravenous drug abusers.
S milleri should be added to the list of organisms producing wound infections in parenteral drug addicts. Recovery of "viridans streptococci" from an antecubital aspirate should prompt the clinician to request speciation, examine closely for abscess formation, and anticipate prolonged antibiotic therapy.
Abscess↗
Antibiotics: too many names.
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Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Topographical analysis of canine parvovirus virions and recombinant VP2 capsids.
The distribution of epitopes defined by monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) on the surface of canine parvovirus (CPV) virions and recombinant VP2-capsids was established using immunoelectron microscopy. A correlation appeared to exist between the linear position, neutralizing activity and immunogold staining. Both viral capsids and recombinant capsids gave similar patterns of immunostaining. The neutralizing MAbs that recognized epitopes not previously identified by Pepscan or immunoblotting gave a clear staining. However, MAbs 3C9 and 3C10, identified by Pepscan and immunoblotting as recognizing linear epitopes, did not show any labelling (3C9) or only scattered labelling (3C10). MAb 3C9 recognizes an N-terminal domain of VP2. MAb 4AG6, which recognizes the same linear epitope as 3C10, did not bind to the capsids, indicating a different orientation. An immunofluorescence assay was performed to supplement the B cell epitope characterization. In contrast to other MAbs that gave nuclear and cytoplasmic staining, MAb 3C9 gave a preferential nuclear staining. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that the N terminus of VP2 is barely, or not at all, exposed on the surface of the native virions, but becomes accessible after some virion steric change (e.g. after attachment to the cell receptor).
Animals↗
Recurrent Salmonella arizona infection after treatment for metastatic carcinoma.
Serious Salmonella arizona infection may be acquired through the ingestion of rattlesnake meat used as a folk medicine remedy. We report a patient with metastatic carcinoma and a remote history of rattlesnake meat ingestion who developed recurrent S. arizona bacteremia and reactivation of tuberculosis after receiving corticosteroid and radiation therapy. Physicians should be aware of the potential for rattlesnake-associated S. arizona infection to occur as either the presenting manifestation or as a complication in immunosuppressed patients who may take folk remedies, especially Hispanics who live along the United States-Mexico border.
Animals↗
Short-term polycose substitution for lactose reduces calcium absorption in healthy term babies.
A vitamin D-independent paracellular and not saturable mechanism important for intestinal calcium absorption turned out to be less effective in lactose-free diets. Twelve normal term babies with identical repletion levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) were fed sequentially with starting formulas that differed only in their carbohydrate sources: lactose (control) and polycose. A 3-day test was performed after a 1-week adjustment to the new diet. Fecal excretion of calcium was significantly higher in the lactose-free formula period compared to the control one: 56.6 (13.9) versus 39.6 (12.8) mg/kg/day (p less than 0.02); subsequently, the net retention was considerably higher and statistically significant (p less than 0.01) for the control period versus the lactose-free formula period: 99.4 (15.3) versus 78.1 (14.3). Plasma 25D values were 21.8 (9.1) and 23.7 (7.1) ng/ml at the beginning of the lactose and polycose periods, respectively, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D values were 64 (62) and 75 (45) pg/ml, not significant. Results suggest that formulas containing polycose as the sole carbohydrate source may reduce the intestinal absorption of calcium in term newborns, but determining long-term biological significance requires further observation.
Calcium↗
Beta-interferon therapy in patients with poor-prognosis Kaposi sarcoma related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A phase II trial with preliminary evidence of antiviral activity and low incidence of opportunistic infections.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of high doses of beta-ser-interferon (recombinant human 17-serine beta-interferon) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and Kaposi sarcoma. DESIGN: A nonrandomized, controlled trial of two high-dose regimens of beta-ser-interferon administered until tumor progression, toxicity, or an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining opportunistic infection occurred. SETTING: An AIDS treatment clinic at a tertiary care center. PATIENTS: A sequential sample of 39 patients with biopsy-proven, AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma were enrolled during a 2-year period. Thirty-eight patients were evaluable for response. Most patients (35 of 38) had one or more of the following clinical or laboratory predictors for a poor response to interferon therapy: HIV p24 antigenemia, low CD4 cell numbers, elevated beta 2-microglobulin levels, previous opportunistic infections, or previous systemic chemotherapy. INTERVENTIONS: Beta-ser-interferon was self-administered subcutaneously at home 5 days per week. The first 21 patients used 90 million IU/d, and the remainder used 180 million IU/d. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Six patients (16%) had a major clinical response, and 15 (39%) had stable disease for prolonged periods. Toxicities were minimal; the major toxicity was a skin reaction at the injection site. The HIV p24 antigen level declined more than 50% in 8 of the 19 patients with initial values greater than 50 pg/mL. Antiretroviral activity and antitumor activity were seen only in patients with normal initial beta 2-microglobulin levels. Minimal changes were seen in CD4 and CD8 cell numbers. Only 1 patient had an opportunistic infection while on study, but five other patients developed infections after treatment was discontinued for an incidence of six opportunistic infections in 285 patient-observation months. CONCLUSIONS: The high doses of interferon did not improve the major response rate in patients with poor-prognosis, AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma. There was, however, a suggestion of antiviral activity in patients with normal beta 2-microglobulin levels and a decrease in the expected incidence of opportunistic infections.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
HIV-1, HIV-2, and HTLV-I infection in high-risk groups in Brazil.
We conducted a serologic survey for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type I (HTLV-I) in 704 Brazilians with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or at risk for it. The study population included 70 homosexual men (11 of whom were prostitutes), 58 bisexual men (19 of whom were prostitutes), 101 female prostitutes from three socioeconomic groups, 13 wives of men with hemophilia who were seropositive for HIV-1 antibodies, and 47 blood donors with positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory tests for syphilis, all from Rio de Janeiro; 86 female prostitutes from two rural towns in Minas Gerais; 133 patients with AIDS from São Paulo; and 196 men with bleeding disorders who were seropositive for HIV-1 antibodies on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The prevalence of HIV-1 infection was highest in the homosexual male prostitutes (45 percent), the wives of patients with hemophilia (38 percent), the bisexual men (28 percent), the homosexual men who were not prostitutes (19 percent), and the female prostitutes from the lower class (9 percent). Combined HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection was found in 3 percent of the patients with AIDS and in 1 percent of the homosexual men. The prevalence of HTLV-I infection ranged from 1 percent in rural female prostitutes to 13 percent in HIV-1-positive men with bleeding disorders in Rio de Janeiro. Combined HIV-1 and HTLV-I infection occurred in 1 to 11 percent of some male subgroups. We conclude that in Brazil HIV-1 infection is already well established among homosexuals, bisexuals, and lower-class female prostitutes, with bisexual men probably acting as a bridge between the heterosexual and homosexual communities, that HTLV-I infection is prevalent in groups at risk for AIDS, and that HIV-2 infection has already been introduced into the country.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗