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Biomedical subjects

J Greif

Publications and source records attributed to J Greif.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

The living canvas.

In the United States, body art has gradually moved from the fringes of society into the mainstream. This article focuses on the health issues surrounding this practice. The literature cites numerous infectious diseases and complications resulting from or linked to body art. Tattoos have been linked to skin neoplasms, piercing has been associated with hepatitis B and C risk, and branding is strongly associated with infection. Although it is a theoretical risk, no documented cases of HIV have been acquired from a tattoo or piercing. In general, tattooing, piercing and branding are unlicensed and unregulated industries. In many communities, tattoo artists and establishments are not subject to health inspections, body art practitioners are not required to be trained in anatomy, infection control or universal precautions, and the contents of tattoo dyes have never received FDA approval. Healing times for body art are variable, depending on type and location. Obtaining body art is a long-term commitment, and patients should be fully aware of this.

Art↗
PubMed1997

Median sternotomy wound complication: the effect of reconstruction on lung function.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the lung function of patients with median sternotomy wound complication during the early postmedian sternotomy period and to compare the long-term pulmonary effects of reconstruction using pectoralis major and rectus abdominis muscle flaps. The percentage of predicted, standardized forced vital capacity (FVC); the standardized forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC ratios of 45 patients with a median sternotomy wound complication were evaluated before and at a mean time of 10.6 months after wound reconstruction. Both mean FVC and FEV1 increased after wound revision compared with the prereconstruction results (8.4% and 9.2% increase, respectively). Patients with painful chest wall movement had the worst (60%) mean FVC and FEV1 before reconstruction when compared with a nonpainful complication. Reconstruction with a muscle flap was followed by an increase of 8.6% and 7.3% in FEV1 and FVC, respectively, from prereconstruction results. However, long-term results indicate that these patients have a mild, restrictive impairment of their lung function tests (LFTs), with about 80% of the predicted FVC and FEV1. Among the muscle flaps, the best improvement and best long-term LFT results were after sternectomy and reconstruction with a pectoralis major muscle flap as compared with a rectus abdominis muscle flap. Sternectomy and reconstruction with a muscle flap is a well-tolerated procedure associated with improvement of lung function compared with prereconstruction values. A pectoralis major muscle flap should be the first choice for muscle flap reconstruction while a rectus abdominis muscle flap should be reserved only for patients with good LFTs before reconstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Pleural effusion as a presenting symptom of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Pharmacological ovarian stimulation is an accepted technique for amplifying the normal process of follicular development and maturation. It has been in use for the past decade, especially in cases of infertility. Pleural effusion associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a complication of this therapy, may be more prevalent than is commonly accepted. Four young women presented to our department with dyspnoea caused by pleural effusion as a result of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The diagnosis of OHSS was based on a history of pharmacological ovarian stimulation, clinical and laboratory evidence of ovarian enlargement and exclusion of other potential causes of pleural effusion in young women, such as infections, malignancy, pulmonary embolism and collagen vascular diseases. The fluid characteristics in all cases were exudative, with low to normal LDH. All of these patients required fluid evacuation for symptomatic relief. Resolution was achieved with supportive measures and rest. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may be common enough to warrant routine consideration in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion in young women.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Home administration of nutritional & medical therapies for persons with AIDS.

With the increasing numbers of AIDS patients in home care settings, professional caregivers will be required to provide home infusion and to help informal caregivers in enteral and total parenteral nutrition. The first thing all caregivers--both professional and informal--need to understand is how the infusion devices work and what pointers will help keep the patients healthy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Eosinophilic lung reaction to aluminium and hard metal.

A nonsmoker drill polisher with interstitial lung disease is presented. The environmental exposure was mainly to aluminum oxide, aluminum silicate, and hard metals. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed high eosinophilia, and transbronchial biopsy specimen disclosed interstitial pneumonia with giant cell infiltrates and peribronchiolar accumulation of macrophages laden with opaque dust. Mineralogic studies done from the tissue revealed a high concentration of exogenous particles that were identified as hard metals and aluminum silicate. These findings are compatible with hard metal pneumoconiosis.

Aluminum Compounds↗
PubMed1994

Effect of budesonide on bronchial hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary function in patients with mild to moderate asthma.

Thirty-nine subjects were included in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in patients with mild to moderate asthma. The time-courses of change of FEV1, PEFR%, bronchial reactivity, and daily measures of asthma control were determined during 8 weeks of treatment after a run-in period of 2 weeks. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was assessed by the methacholine provocation method, defined as the dose of methacholine causing a 20% fall of FEV1 compared with baseline values. The trends of FEV1 and the percentage change in PEFR from baseline were significantly different between groups, in favor of budesonide (P < .05). Patient assessments of the effect of treatment showed that PEF improved significantly in the budesonide group only. The budesonide group increased their tolerability for methacholine provocation by 1.8 DD (doubling dose), which tended to be higher compared with the 0.8 DD of the placebo group. It is evident from this study and previous studies that more data are needed to establish the dose-effect relationship with time and severity of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Suppressive mechanisms of alveolar macrophages in interstitial lung diseases: role of soluble factors and cell-to-cell contact.

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) from patients with interstitial lung diseases, such as sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, suppress the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation of autologous peripheral lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the suppressive effect of alveolar macrophages of patients with interstitial lung disease is due, not only to the secretion of soluble factors prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1 (IL-1) but is also correlated to a direct effect of AMs on the expression of IL-2 receptors (IL-2R: CD25) and on the induction of IL-2 activity. We studied 26 subjects, 8 with sarcoidosis, 7 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and 11 controls. Alveolar macrophages of sarcoid and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients suppressed proliferation of autologous peripheral lymphocytes by 68 +/- 14% and 53 +/- 4.5%, respectively, compared to enhancement of 19 +/- 11% in three controls and suppression of 25 +/- 11% in the other six controls; the difference between subjects with interstitial lung disease and controls was significant. As already reported, the alveolar macrophages of sarcoid patients secreted large amounts of IL-1 (184 +/- 59 U.ml-1) whereas the alveolar macrophages from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients secreted large amounts of PGE2 (3.6 +/- 2 ng.ml-1 x 10(-5) cells) compared with 23 +/- 19 U.ml-1 IL-1 and 0.34 +/- 0.15 ng.ml-1 x 10(-5) cells respectively, of controls. Suppression by supernatants recovered from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated alveolar macrophages can only partially explain the high suppressive effect of alveolar macrophages of interstitial lung diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Blood transfusion and lung function in children with thalassemia major.

Pulmonary function tests were performed at rest and following blood transfusion on 17 patients with thalassemia major. At rest, diffusion capacity was significantly reduced (mean of 57 percent), and forced vital capacity was mildly reduced (mean of 85 percent). In two of the patients, arterial oxygen tension was low. Other pulmonary function results were in the normal range. Following blood transfusion, a significant drop was seen in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2 of 22 mm Hg) and in forced vital capacity (FVC) of 32 percent. These changes were dramatic and require further explanation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Alveolar haemorrhage with pleural effusion as a manifestation of epithelioid haemangioendothelioma.

A 22 year old male was admitted with haemoptysis. A chest X-ray showed bilateral confluent alveolar infiltrates. Bronchoscopy revealed blood oozing from all bronchopulmonary segments. Open lung biopsy disclosed bilateral effusions and large necrotizing nodules with pleural adhesions. Histological examination showed tumour cells, which were negative to epithelial and embryogenic markers but positive to factor VIII. This confirmed the diagnosis of an epithelioid haemangioendothelioma. This rare tumour, usually has an indolent course, whereas in our case it was complicated by alveolar and intrapleural bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cell-free supernatants of sarcoid alveolar macrophages suppress proliferation of sarcoid alveolar fibroblasts.

We have reported that alveolar macrophages (AM) isolated from sarcoidosis (SA) patients, as well as cell-free supernatants of these macrophages, markedly suppressed mitogenic stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL). We now show that cell-free supernatants of AM originating from sarcoidosis patients also suppress [3H]thymidine incorporation by fibroblast (Fb) cultures resulting from bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) of SA: 40.6% inhibition compared with only 8.2% by supernatants of AM obtained from nonsarcoid controls. The clones of proliferating Fb appeared in cultures of BAL cells after most of the macrophages were detached from the tissue culture surface and actively synthesized collagen, as demonstrated by ultrastructural studies. In confirmation with previously reported results, the same supernatants from AM of SA patients also suppressed mitogenic stimulation of PBL (35.7% inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation compared with only 16.3% inhibition by control supernatants). They also contained high amounts of IL-1 (178 compared to 9.2 U/ml of control supernatants), whereas the PGE2 content was within normal levels (0.28 compared to 0.19 ng/ml/10(5) cells in control supernatants). It is concluded that AM from SA patients release a factor(s) which suppresses the proliferation of alveolar fibroblasts.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Endobronchial metastasis of ovarian cancer. A case report.

An 83 years old woman with known ovarian carcinoma complained of dyspnea, dysphagia and hoarseness. Clinical and radiological investigations revealed a mediastinal metastasis involving and penetrating the right main bronchus. Palliation of dyspnea was achieved by laser therapy.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1990

A clinical and immunologic study of colchicine in asthma.

A double-blind, randomized, crossover chronic study was done to determine the efficacy of colchicine in 10 atopic patients with asthma. A constant dose of sustained-release theophylline and albuterol by inhalation, as needed, was administered. Compared to placebo, colchicine, 0.5 mg twice daily, significantly reduced the mean (+/- SEM) daily clinical score from 2.18 +/- 0.34 to 1.64 +/- 0.32 (p less than 0.05), and the daily number of inhalations of albuterol from 5.89 +/- 1.48 to 4.01 +/- 1.26 (p less than 0.02). Colchicine significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell function from 16.2 +/- 4.6% to 39.0 +/- 10.7%, which was similar to healthy volunteers (41.1 +/- 3.5%). Furthermore, colchicine significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased serum IgE from 248 +/- 63 to 188 +/- 46 IU/ml. Colchicine had no significant effect on pulmonary function tests, the early phase reaction of antigen-induced bronchial inhalation challenge, and immediate skin test responses. Thus, colchicine has immunomodulatory effects that may perhaps have a mild benefit in the treatment of asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Class II antigens of the major histocompatibility complex are increased in lungs of bleomycin-treated rats.

The expression of class II molecules (Ia) of the major histocompatibility complex by isolated alveolar macrophages (AM) and alveolar type II cells from the lungs of rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was examined. The percentage of Ia-positive AM and type II cells from rats treated with bleomycin as detected by flow cytometry was increased three times and two times, respectively, over the values obtained from control rats. The relative density of Ia expression, determined with a radioimmunoassay technique, showed a 50% increase in Ia density on AM and a 35% increase on type II cells. Recombinant interferon-gamma increased the expression of Ia on type II cells in vitro by 35% to the level obtained on type II cells in bleomycin-induced lung disease. We conclude that the increase of Ia expression on cells of the immune system and on pulmonary epithelial cells may have an important role in the initiation and/or amplification of inflammatory reactions in the lung and may contribute to the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Combined effect of inhaled verapamil and sodium cromoglycate on the airway response to hypertonic saline.

We evaluated the airway effect of inhaled verapamil by comparing it to aerosolized sodium cromoglycate. Airway hyperreactivity was assessed using inhaled hypertonic saline. Sodium cromoglycate prevented bronchoconstriction in all the patients. Inhaled verapamil induced significant bronchial constriction in two patients. The combination of verapamil with sodium cromoglycate was as effective as sodium cromoglycate. It was concluded that inhaled verapamil is not effective in preventing bronchoconstriction induced by hypertonic saline.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1990

Is there a change in asthma mortality in Israel?

The statistical data for asthma mortality in Israel from 1960 to 1986 are presented. From the analysis of the data it is clear that the asthma mortality rates in Israel were among the lowest reported (for the general population as well as for the 5 to 34-year age group), although a trend toward increase was seen during 1982 to 1986.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Suppressive activity of alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes from interstitial lung diseases: role of released soluble factors.

Two groups of patients suffering from interstitial lung diseases (ILD) namely sarcoidosis (SA) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were investigated for alveolar macrophages (AM), secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin 1 (IL-1), together with superoxide anion (O2-) production. Peripheral blood monocytes (PBMO) of the same patients were examined concomitantly for suppressive activity. Consistent with previous results, AM obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from ILD patients markedly suppressed the effects of PHA stimulation of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (APL): 61.8 +/- 9.7% suppressive activity compared to 15.5 +/- 15.4% in the control group (CO) P less than 0.001. The AM suppressive activity was correlated with an increase in PGE2 secretion: 3.861 +/- 2.194 ng/10(5) cells/ml in the IPF group, but not in the sarcoid group: 0.217 +/- 0.116 ng/10(5) cells/ml (P less than 0.001 between them). On the other hand, IL-1 secretion by AM was greatly increased in sarcoid patients (308 +/- 196 U/ml) but was within the normal limits in IPF (27.3 +/- 28.8 U/ml, P less than 0.01 between them). Therefore, an inverse correlation was found between degree of PGE2 secretion and IL-1 release by AM in ILD. O2-production by AM was markedly increased in all ILD patients but this mechanism is apparently not involved in suppressive activity. PBMO originating from ILD patients were less suppressive than the corresponding AM.

Adult↗