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Biomedical subjects

F Tabak

Publications and source records attributed to F Tabak.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Results of hepatitis B vaccination in sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is known to be associated with defects in cellular immunity, especially in reference to T helper lymphocytes. Anergy to a tuberculin skin test is most characteristic of this disease. OBJECTIVES: To further the data on impaired immunity, we studied the antibody response to hepatitis B vaccination in patients with sarcoidosis. METHODS: Serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc) were studied in 40 patients with sarcoidosis (32 female, 8 male; mean age: 45 +/- 11 years, range: 25-66 years) with a mean duration of disease of 6 years. While all the markers were negative in 22 patients (55%), 2 had isolated anti-HBc positivity and 16 had both anti-HBc and anti-HBs antibodies. Thirty-five age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were studied as controls. Recombinant HBV vaccines (Genhevac B Pasteur, 20 microg) were administered (at 0, 1, and 6 months) to 16 of the seronegative cases and the controls and antibody titres were measured 1 month after the last dose. The tuberculin skin test was negative in all cases. RESULTS: While none of the vaccinees in the diseased group responded, the control group yielded an antibody response rate of 85. 7% (30/35), with a mean titre of 257.9 mIU/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with sarcoidosis were invariably unresponsive to standard vaccination, while some of the diseased subjects had already mounted a natural antibody response, either before or after the development of the original disease. Cellular immunodeficiency in sarcoidosis could be a suitable model for studying immunological interactions between HBV and the host.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A case of cervical Brucella spondylitis with paravertebral abscess and neurological deficits.

Spondylitis is one of the more frequent osteoarticular complications of Brucella infection, but cervical spine involvement is rare. We report here a case of cervical Brucella spondylitis with paravertebral anterior epidural abscess which resulted in neurological deficits. The diagnosis is based on clinical history supported by Brucella serology, radiological findings and histological evidence.

Abscess↗
PubMed1998

Bronchobiliary fistula due to alveolar hydatid disease: report of three cases.

Bronchobiliary fistula is a serious complication of echinococcosis of the liver. Surgical and endoscopic treatments have been used successfully in the management of bronchobiliary fistula due to hepatic hydatid cysts. However, very little information exists on the management of bronchobiliary fistula due to alveolar hydatid disease. We report here the efficacy of various potential therapies in three cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Long-term efficacy of interferon-alpha and ursodeoxycholic acid in treatment of chronic type C hepatitis.

Interferon-alpha (IFN) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) combined have a controversial role in the treatment of chronic type C hepatitis. We studied the long-term efficacy of both drugs alone or in combination. In a three-year period, 108 patients were randomized into three treatment arms: (1) IFN alone 3 MU three times a week (N = 49), (2) IFN 3 MU three times a week + UDCA 250 mg twice a day (N = 45), and (3) UDCA alone 250 mg twice a day (N = 14). Response was defined as complete normalization of serum ALT. For the responders at the end of six months, the treatment was run to 12 months. Nonresponders (NRs) of the first group were crossed over to combination and NRs of the combination received 6 MU three times a week IFN+UDCA for the next six months. The enrollment to the UDCA alone arm was stopped early, since only 1/14 normalized serum ALT at the end of third month. However, 12/14 completed six months and 11 NRs received IFN 3 MU three times a week alone for the next six months. Twelve discontinued treatment due to side effects. Responders were followed-up untreated for 18 months. Sustained response (SR) was defined as persistence of normal serum ALT levels in this period. At the end of six months, 22/45 (48%) from the IFN-alone and 23/39 (58%) from the combination group responded. Twenty NRs from former and 15 of latter group were crossed over. While none of the 20 from the IFN-alone group responded to the combination, 1/15 NRs of the combination group responded to dose escalation. SR was achieved in 9/45 (20%) of the IFN alone and 7/39 (18%) of the combination group. The mean time form the end of the treatment to the relapse was not different between the groups. Five of 11 UDCA NRs responded to IFN with SR in 2. It was concluded that UDCA as a single agent is ineffective in achieving response in the treatment of chronic type C hepatitis. Combined with IFN, it increases response rate insignificantly although this is not sustained.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A rare complication of miliary tuberculosis: intestinal perforation.

Small bowel perforation is a rare complication of miliary tuberculosis. We report the case of a 21-year old patient who developed a small bowel perforation 70 days after the initiation of adequate tuberculosis treatment. We also present a review of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fibrinolytic activity and d-dimer levels in Behçet's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombophlebitis occurs in a third of patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS). The thrombotic tendency in BS has been studied with inconclusive results perhaps due to the inadequate numbers of patients studied during the acute phase of the thrombosis as well as the lack of appropriate diseased controls. We have studied tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and its inhibitor (PAI-1), and d-dimer levels in BS patients with and without thrombosis both in the acute and chronic phases along with suitable diseased and healthy controls. METHODS: t-PA and PAI-1 were studied by ELISA and d-dimer by semiquantitative latex agglutination slide test in 30 BS patients without deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 10 BS with acute DVT (ADVT), 25 BS with chronic DVT, 27 with ankylosing spondylitis, 26 diffuse systemic sclerosis, 15 patients with ADVT due to other causes, 10 patients with sepsis, and 23 healthy controls. RESULTS: The t-PA levels in BS with ADVT were significantly lower than those in patients with ADVT due to other causes (7.4 +/- 6.2 vs. 13.4 +/- 6.3, P = 0.027) while PAI-1 levels did not show significant differences between the groups (P = 0.60). The numbers of patients with d-dimer levels of > or = 0.5 microg/ml in BS with ADVT were similar to those found in patients with ADVT due to other causes (9/10 vs. 14/14). CONCLUSION: The relatively low t-PA levels point to a defect in fibrinolysis in BS. d-dimer levels are increased in the acute phase of thrombosis in BS.

Acute Disease↗