Nonsurgical therapy of a splenic rupture in a hemophiliac.
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Abdominal Injuries↗
Biomedical subjects
J Herman
Publications and source records attributed to J Herman.
Beyond positivism: a metaphysical basis for clinical practice?
Medicine does not have its own unified body of scientific knowledge. Instead, physicians who are oriented to research make sporadic incursions into the basic sciences such as genetics, biochemistry, immunology, epidemiology, physiology, pharmacology and so on. These latter, taken together, comprise biomedicine which is said to have adopted the positivist epistemology or the Cartesian/Newtonian one that regards the scientist as an uninvolved observer of nature. In effect, medical science has come to rest on a theory of knowledge which links meaning to probability and considers prediction as the scientist's chief task. Like its predecessor, the probability theory of meaning rejects metaphysical speculation and remains connected to observations made, directly or indirectly, by means of the five senses. Despite some brilliant successes touching on relatively uncommon disorders, biomedicine cannot explain most day-to-day clinical activity. An understanding of what transpires between patient and doctor, of its diagnostic potential and therapeutic weight requires hermeneutic, or phenomenological, inquiry which brings about changes in both parties to it. Such a science, as ontological speculation has been called, cannot be deciphered by an epistemology couched in the imagery of physics and chemistry.
Metaphysics↗
The pressure of clinical circumstance.
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Decision Making↗
Do therapeutic interventions stand the test of time?
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Drug Evaluation↗
Detection of GPIV (CD36) mRNA in Naka- platelets.
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Antigens, CD↗
Alloimmune neonatal neutropenia due to an antibody to the neutrophil Fc-gamma receptor III with maternal deficiency of CD16 antigen.
Antibodies to the neutrophil-specific antigens NA1 and NA2 are associated with alloimmune neonatal neutropenia (ANN), autoimmune neutropenia of childhood, and acute pulmonary transfusion reactions. These antigens have been found to be located on the neutrophil Fc-gamma receptor III (FcRIII). The mother of a child with ANN was found to lack both NA antigens and to produce an antibody that reacted with all normal neutrophils tested. We used maternal antibody and a CD16 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that has specificity for FcRIII to immunoblot and immunoprecipitate neutrophil membranes of various NA phenotypes. Both antibodies immunoblotted an approximately 40- to 70-Kd glycoprotein (GP) on NA1, NA2-positive membrane, an approximately 40- to 55-Kd GP on NA1-homozygous membranes, and an approximately 55- to 70-Kd GP on NA2-homozygous membranes. Both antibodies also immunoprecipitated a 50- to 80-Kd GP from NA1, NA2-positive cells, a 50- to 60-Kd GP from NA1-homozygous cells, and a 55- to 80-Kd GP from NA2-homozygous cells. To further examine the specificity of the maternal antibody, sequential immunoprecipitation studies were performed using maternal antisera and a CD16 MoAb. After extracts of 125I surface-labeled neutrophils were precleared with maternal serum, CD16 MoAbs no longer immunoprecipitated any GP. Neither the CD16 MoAb nor a rabbit polyclonal antibody specific for FcRIII detected any GP in maternal neutrophil membranes by immunoblotting. Neutrophil FcRIII is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchored membrane GP as is decay accelerating factor and both are absent from neutrophils of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Maternal neutrophil membranes were probed with antibody specific for DAF and an 80-Kd GP was detected. This woman also has had no clinical evidence of PNH. These studies provide further evidence that the NA1 and NA2 antigens are on FcRIII and identify a healthy person whose neutrophils lack not only the neutrophil specific antigens NA1 and NA2 but multiple other epitopes of FcRIII and, therefore, likely lack FcRIII entirely.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
[Psychological and social aspects of fractures of the femoral neck].
At the Second Surgical Clinic of the Faculty Hospital with Policlinic in Olomouc 72 patients with fractures of the proximal end of the femur were treated. Sixty-four patients were operated and eight were treated primarily by conservative methods or death occurred before the planned operation. A total of 14 patients were discharged to domestic treatment, 32 patients were referred to other institutions, mostly sanatoria for the chronically sick. In the whole group a total of 61 various complications were recorded, 26 patients died during hospitalization at the surgical department, another four patients in other institutions. In addition to these somatic complications the authors investigated also psychosocial aspects. From the investigation ensues that in addition to adequate supervision and care few people have adequate social contacts, despite the fact that they do not live alone. In these patients we are more frequently faced with pessimism, fear or actual loss of interest in the future. In the care of these patients an important part is played by personal contact, a true emotional relationship and interest in the patient's problems. Our aim should be not only healing of the fracture but also mental wellbeing, optimism and mental balance, because patients then tolerate better certain restrictions and complaints.
Activities of Daily Living↗
Evaluation of lymphocyte phenotype and phytohemagglutinin response in healthy very low birth weight infants.
Sixteen healthy very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) were studied in a serial fashion over a 3-week period. Subjects were evaluated for lymphocyte phenotype, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response, and metabolic status including weight, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, albumin, pH, calcium, phosphorus, and ammonia. Lymphocyte phenotype determination showed a decreased proportion of CD3+ cells (66.8 +/- 10.4 vs 75.9 +/- 6.1, P less than 0.02) in VLBWI. When subsets of the CD4+ population were examined, VLBWI had a lower proportion of CD4+/CD29+ cells (8.2 +/- 5.8% vs 23.5 +/- 8.0%, P less than 0.0001) than adults and a higher proportion of CD4+/CD45R+ cells (35.6 +/- 12.4% vs 22.2 +/- 7.4%, P less than 0.03). The CD4+ subsets in VLBWI were similar to those seen in term infants. The peak PHA response in VLBWI was greater than that of adults (P less than 0.01). There was little change in the immune measurements over the 3-week study period. There were no strong correlations between any of the immunological measurements and the metabolic measurements except that the proportion of CD8+ cells increased with birth weight. Our findings demonstrate that immune measurements in healthy VLBWI differ from values found in adults but are similar to those of full-term infants. Lower proportions of the CD4+/CD29+ cells (the helper/inducer subset for antibody production) may contribute to some of the differences in immune function reported in neonates.
Ammonia↗
Anecdote and objectivity.
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Periodicals as Topic↗
In praise of audit.
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Drug Prescriptions↗
[Surgical treatment of patients with paraesophageal and mixed hiatal hernias].
In 1948-1990 the authors operated 112 patients with paraoesophageal and mixed hiatus hernias. 100 patients operated in 1988 were followed up on a long-term basis. Gastroesophageal reflux was recorded before operation in 52%, haemorrhage in 18%, an ulcer in the neck in 7% an incarceration and obstruction in 9%. Before the onset of the seventies hiatorrhaphy and gastropexy were performed. During check-up examinations in these patients relapses were recorded in 47%, reflux in 43%, subjective complaints in 26%. This made the authors change the surgical procedure and in subsequent years they performed hiatorrhaphy, fundoplication, fundophrenopexy and anterior gastropexy. The incidence of relapses of hernia during check-up examinations declined to 21%, of gastroesophageal reflux to 9% and subjective complaints to 10%. The follow-up period varied between 1 and 19 years. The surgical lethality was 2%.
Adult↗
[Surgical treatment of patients with paraesophageal and mixed hiatal hernias].
During the years from 1948-90, we operated on 112 patients with paraesophageal and mixed hiatal hernias. One hundred patients who had been operated on up to the year 1988 were followed up over a long period. Preoperatively gastroesophageal reflux occurred in 52%, hemorrhage in 18%, riding ulcer in 7%, and incarceration and obstruction in 9%. Up to the beginning of the seventies, hiatoraphy and gastropexy were carried out. In these patients, the checking showed the occurrence of the relapse of hernias in 47%, reflux in 43% and subjective complaints in 26%. This finding induced us to change the surgical procedure and, in the following years, we performed hiatoraphy, fundoplicatio, fundophrenopexy and anterior gastropexy. The checking showed a decrease in the occurrence of the relapse of hernias to 21%, gastroesophageal reflux to 9% and subjective complaints to 10%. The period of the follow-up ranged from 1 to 19 years. The operative letality was 3%.
Adolescent↗
[Long-term follow-up of patients surgically treated for para-esophageal and mixed hiatal hernias. Experiences with more than 100 surgical patients].
During the years from 1948-1990, we operated on 112 patients with paraesophageal and mixed hiatal hernias. One hundred patients who had been operated up to the year 1988 were followed up over a long period. Preoperatively, gastroesophageal reflux occurred in 52%, hemorrhage in 18%, riding ulcer in 7%, and incarceration and obstruction in 9%. Up to the beginning of the seventies, hiatoraphy and gastropexy were carried out. In these patients, the checking showed the occurrence of the relapse of hernias in 47%, reflux in 43% and subjective complaints in 26%. This finding induced us to change the surgical procedure and, in the following years, we performed hiatorhaphy, fundoplicato, fundophrenopexy and anterior gastropexy. The checking showed a decrease in the occurrence of the relapse of hernias to 21%, gastroesophageal reflux to 9% and subjective complaints to 10%. The period of the follow-up ranged from 1 to 19 years. The operative letality was 3%.
Adolescent↗
Outbreak of pertussis in a closed population with a high vaccination rate.
An outbreak of pertussis encompassing 78 cases in a population of 964 persons living on kibbutz is described. The attack rate was 36.1% among children aged 4 to 11 years, although all had been fully vaccinated. Female predominance and seasonal incidence conformed with what has been reported in the literature. The age distribution, however, was markedly different from that usually observed, indicating that local factors may influence the epidemiology of whooping cough. Despite the seeming paradox of the disease breaking out in a population with a high immunization rate, our results suggest that the vaccine had a protective effect in all age-groups. The incidence of pertussis in Israel in 1987 was considerably higher than that in the United States for the same year, and raises the question of changing the recommendations for vaccination here.
Adolescent↗