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Biomedical subjects

G Hirsch

Publications and source records attributed to G Hirsch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Contrast medium injected into juvenile bone cysts to analyze interior morphology and guide intracavity corticosteroid treatment.

In connection with treating juvenile bone cysts with intracavital corticosteroid injections, the interior cyst anatomy was analyzed at cystography in 13 children aged 4 to 15 years. Only 4 children had a true unicameral cyst; the others had 2 or more cysts or had compartments with free or restricted communication to the main cyst. Cysts and compartments which had not been reached by steroids may continue to grow. Optimum treatment may therefore require injections at different sites guided by cystography. Neither conventional criteria of cyst activity nor repeated bone scintigraphy 3 months after treatment could predict whether the treatment would lead to final healing.

Adolescent

A phase II study of idarubicin in the treatment of measurable gastric cancer.

Idarubicin is one of the new anthracycline analogues. It has a higher therapeutic index than either doxorubicin or daunorubicin in a variety of murine leukemias and solid tumors. The authors performed a multicenter Phase II trial of idarubicin in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Seventeen patients with measurable metastatic disease were entered into the trial and treated with idarubicin at a starting dose of 15 mg/m2. This dose was escalated or reduced according to toxicity. There were no documented responses. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. These data did not compared favourably with the data on doxorubicin in the treatment of gastric carcinoma. A conclusion could not be reached on whether idarubicin has minimal activity in the treatment of gastric carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma

Relationship between performance on lumbar dynamometry and Waddell score in a population with low-back pain.

A prospective, blinded cohort study was performed to investigate the relationship between biomechanical variables measured during lumbar dynamometry and several psychological tests and measures of nonorganic pain behavior. Eighty-five men, aged 18-60 years, who had had low-back pain for longer than 5 weeks participated in the study. Nonorganic pain behavior was measured with the Waddell score, and lumbar function was measured with the Isostation B-200 Lumbar Dynamometer. Two brief psychological tests, the Coopersmith Self-Esteem inventory and an analog self-rating of wellness, were also administered. Relationships between biomechanical variables and psychological tests were calculated with the t-test, the Pearson r correlation, analysis of variance, and multiple step-wise logistic regression. Patients who exhibited excessive illness behavior (Waddell Scores 3-5) performed significantly worse (P less than .01) on almost all biomechanical variables. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Score and "feelings" score had a slightly weaker but still significant correlation with motor performance. The results suggest that poor performance on biomechanical testing in this population may be a form of abnormal illness behavior and thus may not accurately reflect organic alterations of neuromusculoskeletal function.

Adult

Appearance during chick embryogenesis of vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (calbindin-D28K).

The appearance of the vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (calbindin-D28K) in embryonic chick tissues was determined using a sensitive immunohistochemical assay to elucidate the possible role of calbindin-D28K during embryogenesis. This protein first occurs in renal, cerebellar and intestinal cells during the final stages of maturation and/or differentiation. It is during this period of their development that these tissues become functional. On the basis of our observations, we suggest that the onset of cell function may be coupled with the appearance of calbindin-D28K.

Animals

Training graduate students in parent conference skills.

Twelve graduate students were trained in three categories of parent conference skills: communicating diagnostic information, communicating recommendations, and organizing the conference and interacting with parents. Training done individually with each student consisted of written programmed learning materials plus oral practice. Training effects were measured during role-play and actual parent conferences. Training effectiveness was assessed with a multiple baseline design across three skill categories. Eleven of 12 students exhibited significant skill acquisition and nine generalized skills to an actual parent conference. Professionals and parents of developmentally delayed children attested to the importance and effectiveness of the training program. Results demonstrated that parent conference skills can be operationalized, trained, and generalized to actual conferences.

Adult

Fracture of the anterior tibial spine in children.

Considerable differences of opinion exist concerning the best treatment of anterior tibial spine fractures in children. In this retrospective study of 32 cases, residual symptoms and/or clinical instabilities were found in 16 instances. Open surgery is suggested for displaced fractures in patients 10 years and older.

Adolescent

On the use of infrared spectroscopy for the in vivo measurement of the water content of the horny layer after application of dermatologic ointments.

Infrared-spectroscopic investigations of the water content of the stratum corneum after application of emulsions and wash solutions are reported. As a methodologic variation infrared spectroscopy is applied after stripping the skin to determine the hydration of various depths of the stratum corneum by ointments. Using soap as an example, a method of correcting the overlap effects between the ointment and skin spectrums is presented which expands the application possibilities of infrared spectroscopy. An o/w emulsion with plenty of water and a w/o emulsion containing less water produce to almost the same degree a hydration of the deeper layers of the stratum corneum which lasts for at least 40 min. The report in the literature that soap solutions produced a stronger hydration of the stratum corneum and surfactant solutions is not supported.

Adult

Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis in children - the reliability of skeletal scintigraphy.

Thirty-nine bone scans were performed in children (1 week - 14 years of age), with symptoms and signs of acute osteomyelitis. All but two scintigrams were obtained within the first week of the disease. Nine scans showed locally increased isotope accumulation. The diagnosis of osteomyelitis was later confirmed by radiological examination or by positive cultures. Twenty-nine scans were reported negative. Nevertheless, four patients developed characteristic radiological signs of osteomyelitis. In one of these four cases a decreased uptake ("cold" lesion) in the scintigram was over-looked. In spite of surgical drainage the patient developed chronic osteomyelitis. It is concluded that bone scanning is a valuable adjunct in the early diagnosis of osteomyelitis. A negative scintigram, however, does not exclude this diagnosis. A "cold" lesion may indicate a high pressure abscess and a risk for sequestrum formation. Prompt surgical drainage is advocated when such lesions are encountered in the scintigram.

Acute Disease