Biomedical subjects

Itzhak Levi

Publications and source records attributed to Itzhak Levi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Lymphocyte G-protein receptor kinase (GRK)3 mRNA levels in bipolar disorder.

Linkage studies in bipolar disorder were positive for markers in the region of chromosome 22q12.1 including the gene coding for G-protein receptor kinase (GRK)3. Two of six variants of the GRK3 5'-UTR/promoter were reported to be associated with bipolar disorder. GRK3 protein levels in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from bipolar patients originating from families with linkage to chromosome 22q11 were reported to be decreased compared to those of control subjects and correlated with disease severity. We compared GRK3 mRNA levels in fresh lymphocytes from 31 bipolar patients vs. 26 control subjects, using real-time RT-PCR. No overall difference was found between patients and controls. However, GRK3 mRNA levels were markedly and significantly reduced in the subgroup of patients with no family history of a major psychiatric disorder compared with patients with family history.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Health provider determinants of nonattendance in pediatric otolaryngology patients.

INTRODUCTION: Nonattendance for otolaryngology appointments disrupts the management of medical care and leads to ineffective use of resources. The determinants of nonattendance in pediatric otolaryngology patients have not been well documented. OBJECTIVES: To investigate health provider determinants of nonattendance in pediatric otolaryngology patients. STUDY DESIGN: We assessed the effects of waiting time for an appointment and the timing of the appointment (during the day, week, and year) on nonattendance proportions during a 1 year period. Chi square tests were used to analyze statistically significant differences of categorical variables. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 2,628 pediatric visits were included in the study. The overall proportion of nonattendance at the pediatric otolaryngology clinic was 33.0%. Nonattendance proportions were 32.7% between 7 AM and 9 AM; 28.3% between 9 AM and 2 PM, and 36.5% between 2 PM and 8 PM (P < .001). The proportion of nonattendance was 24.1% when there was a short waiting time for an appointment (0-7 days), and 36.3% when there was an intermediate waiting time (7-15 days), and 36.6% when there was a long waiting time (15 days and above)(P < .001, P < .012, respectively). CONCLUSIVE: Health provider determinants of nonattendance in pediatric otolaryngology clinic appointments include the waiting time for an appointment and the hour of the appointment within the day.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Postmortem parietal cortex TPH2 expression is not altered in schizophrenic, unipolar-depressed, and bipolar patients vs control subjects.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is a neurotransmitter synthesized in the raphe nuclei of the brain stem in the central nervous system (CNS) and also in the periphery. Dysfunction of the serotonergic system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT biosynthesis. For more than a decade, only one gene encoding TPH was identified in vertebrates. Recently, a second TPH gene, designated TPH2, was detected, located on human chromosome 12, a susceptibility region for affective disorders. TPH2 is predominantly expressed in the brain, whereas the classical TPH gene, TPH1, is expressed in peripheral tissues. The discovery of the brain-abundant TPH2 gene justifies a new concept of the CNS serotonergic system. TPH2, rather than TPH1, has now become a candidate gene for 5-HT-related affective disorders. We compared TPH2 mRNA levels in postmortem parietal cortex of unipolar-depressed, bipolar, and schizophrenic patients vs control subjects, using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. No significant difference in TPH2 mRNA levels was found among the four diagnostic groups. The lack of difference might suggest that this gene is not involved in the etiology of of these psychiatric disorders. Alternatively, it is possible that the parietal cortex is not the relevant brain area involved in the pathophysiology of these disorders or that posttranscriptional modifications of TPH2 mRNA occur in these patients, causing changes in protein levels and/or enzymatic activity.

Actins↗

PubMed2003

Determinants of long-term satisfaction after vertical banded gastroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The long-term usefulness of vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) in achieving weight loss is controversial, and adverse effects related to the procedure may attenuate patient satisfaction. Our objective was to evaluate patient satisfaction, and to identify parameters that are related to such satisfaction, 3 to10 years after VBG. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent VBG in one surgical ward were invited for a follow-up study 3 to 10 years after surgery. Questions relating to symptoms and quality of life were evaluated in a personal interview using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 122 patients who underwent VBG from 1986 to 1992, 75 patients were located and agreed to participate in the follow-up study. The average time since surgery was 5.4 +/- 1.8 years. The average weight loss was 24.9 +/- 12.4%, representing an excess body-weight loss of 58.6 +/- 30.4%. Overall, 65% of the patients were satisfied with the results of surgery while 19% expressed dissatisfaction. Significant improvement was seen in respiratory difficulties, ability to perform physical exercise, and mental status. Successful weight loss and the frequency of respiratory difficulties were the only independent parameters associated with patient satisfaction. Although vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux and difficulty in swallowing occurred in over two-thirds of the patients, their presence was not correlated with patient dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: Despite the presence of a multitude of adverse effects, the majority of our patients were satisfied with the long-term results of VBG. Successful weight loss and improvement in respiratory difficulties were the major determinants of patient satisfaction.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Severe Coxsackie virus B infection in preterm newborns treated with pleconaril.

UNLABELLED: Four preterm newborn infants with severe multisystem Coxsackie virus B infection were treated with an oral suspension of pleconaril (5 mg/kg per day). The patients had myocarditis, fulminant hepatitis, meningoencephalitis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. All four infants recovered, and no adverse effects of the treatment were noted. CONCLUSION: pleconaril needs to be comprehensively evaluated in this population.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2002

Biological Warfare: Implications for Antimicrobial Use.

Biological warfare is intended to incapacitate a large number of individuals at a single exposure, creating epidemic-type disease, death, and social chaos. The organisms with potential for immediate use as bacteriologic weapons are Bacillus anthracis, Brucella melitensis, Yersinia pestis, and Vibrio cholera, all necessitating antibiotic therapy for a cure. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that a biological attack, or even a hoax, would requiure thousands of individuals over a large area to begin antibiotic therapy. Issues such as antibiotic availability, logistical problems in antibiotic distribution, development of drug resistance, side effects influencing the individual, and adverse effects on the community due to the impact of mass therapy on the ecology, make biological warfare the most apocalyptic scenario for the creation of a "postantibiotic era."

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Long-term dietary changes after vertical banded gastroplasty: is the trade-off favorable?

BACKGROUND: Insufficient data exist about the long-term health consequences of gastric restriction procedures used for treatment of obesity. The long-term nutritional changes that occur after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) were evaluated. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent VBG surgery in one surgical ward were invited for a follow-up study 3-10 years after the surgery. Demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated from the patients' medical charts. Dietary assessment was performed using a food frequency questionnaire, which included 52 frequently consumed food items. RESULTS: Of the 122 patients who underwent VBG between 1986-1992, 75 (62%) participated in the follow-up study. The average time since surgery was 5.4 +/- 1.8 years, and the average weight loss was 24.9 +/- 12.4%. Most of the patients eat only one major meal daily, and only one-third regularly ingest solid foods. Dietary analysis revealed a decreased intake of most nutrients compared with pre-surgery, with the exception of dairy products, sweet foods and fluids. The greatest decrease was found in the consumption of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, followed by meat, fish and complex carbohydrates. CONCLUSION: While the weight loss itself and the reduction in fat consumption that are seen after VBG are probably beneficial, the long-term effects of the decreased consumption of fruit, vegetables, other complex carbohydrates and fish may counterbalance these benefits. The net effect of this trade-off on future health is difficult to predict and requires long-term evaluation of clinical outcome.

Adult↗