PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Rybczynski

Publications and source records attributed to J Rybczynski.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Hypercarotenemia and transaminitis in female adolescents with eating disorders: a prospective, controlled study.

PURPOSE: Hypercarotenemia and transaminitis are reported as laboratory features of anorexia nervosa. However, the specificity and sensitivity of an elevation in serum carotene and transaminase are not known. Therefore, a prospective study was undertaken to determine the clinical utility of these serum markers. METHODS: Serum carotene was measured in 46 female adolescents between 13 years and 18 years of age (21 anorexia nervosa, 17 bulimia nervosa, 8 unclassified eating disorders). Findings were compared to levels of carotene in serum samples obtained from similarly aged females with either chronic inflammatory bowel disease (22 Crohn disease, 11 ulcerative colitis) or acute medical symptoms not associated with undernutrition or intestinal inflammation (N = 26), and 21 children of either sex with dyspeptic symptoms. RESULTS: Serum carotene was elevated in 6/46 (13.0%) females with eating disorders compared with only 2/80 (2.5%) children in the three comparison groups (p < 0.01). Hypercarotenemia was present in 4/21 girls with anorexia nervosa compared with 0/17 females with bulimia nervosa (p = 0.11). Transaminitis was present in 38.5% (AST) and 7.7% (ALT) of eating disorder patients. Liver enzyme abnormalities, however, did not correlate with hypercarotenemia. Transaminitis was also not specific for eating disorders since transaminitis was observed with comparable frequency in the three comparison groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that hypercarotenemia is a laboratory feature in some subjects with eating disorders, in particular, anorexia nervosa. The low sensitivity (13.0%) does not provide justification for its use as a screening test. However, in complicated diagnostic settings a serum carotene determination could prove useful because the specificity (97.5%), positive predictive value (75.0%), and negative predictive value (66.1%) of an elevated carotene were high. These data also show that elevated carotene levels are not associated with hepatic abnormalities. Although transaminitis is reported as a laboratory feature of eating disorders, the prevalence of such abnormalities in this study was not higher than in age-matched comparison groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Determination of bupivacaine in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. Levels after scalp infiltration in children.

The local anaesthetic bupivacaine could be very useful for analgesia in pediatric neurosurgery. Since systemic toxic reactions to bupivacaine are correlated with high plasma levels it was important, as an adjunct to clinical evaluation, to measure plasma bupivacaine. This report describes a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantitation of plasma bupivacaine. Sample preparation involves extraction into ether followed by back-extraction into HCl. After evaporation, the acid extract is redissolved and separated by reversed-phase chromatography. The assay is linear to 5 mg bupivacaine/L and shows excellent recovery and precision. With samples from children undergoing brain surgery following scalp infiltration with either 0.125% or 0.25% bupivacaine, plasma levels peak within 10 min, then fall rapidly to a plateau by 30 min. This plateau is maintained for at least 120 min. In no case did we find supposed toxic levels of bupivacaine.

Brain↗
PubMed1991

Scalp infiltration with bupivacaine in pediatric brain surgery.

To evaluate whether local anesthetic scalp infiltration blunts hemodynamic responses to craniotomy in anesthetized children (age, 2-18 yr), two concentrations of bupivacaine (0.125% and 0.25%) with vasoconstrictor (epinephrine 1:400,000) were compared with control data when a solution of vasoconstrictor alone was injected. Arterial plasma levels of bupivacaine were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Statistically significant increases in mean arterial pressure and heart rate above baseline measurements occurred in the control group during the period between scalp incision and dural reflection (P less than 0.05). Both concentrations of bupivacaine prevented these increases. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate during scalp incision and scalp reflection were significantly higher in the control group than in both bupivacaine groups (P less than 0.05). Peak bupivacaine plasma levels (mean +/- SD) occurred either 5 or 10 min after infiltration and were significantly higher in the 0.25% group (0.48 +/- 0.31 microgram/mL) than the 0.125% group (0.14 +/- 0.13 microgram/mL) (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that bupivacaine infiltration blocks the hemodynamic response to craniotomy. A concentration of 0.125% bupivacaine with 1:400,000 epinephrine is as effective as 0.25% bupivacaine with 1:400,000 epinephrine at reducing the hemodynamic response to craniotomy. Because the lower concentration of bupivacaine produces lower blood levels, we recommend 0.125% bupivacaine with 1:400,000 epinephrine as a useful, safe adjunct to general anesthesia in children undergoing craniotomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The physics, pathophysiology, and management of high velocity gunshot wounds.

The authors report on a gunshot wound of the foot with subsequent infection and nonunion. The pathophysiology of a gunshot wound is discussed with special emphasis on the temporary cavity and permanent cavity produced, and how this affects skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone. The prognosis of a given wound is also determined by a thorough examination of the bullet design, its velocity, and potential for tissue disruption. Proper management of the wound is discussed relative to debridement technique and surgical care. Four principles of management for gunshot wounds include recognition or diagnosis, reduction, retention or immobilization, and restoration of function. Some of the pitfalls are discussed including inadequate assessment of the wound relating to its extent and mismanagement.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hallux amputation for diabetic osteomyelitis.

Digital amputation for infection in the diabetic patient requires accurate assessment of wound healing potential as a function of clinical and noninvasive studies of cutaneous blood flow. The diabetic propensity for staphylococcal infection, microangiopathy, and delayed wound healing may be questionable in light of recent literature. X-rays, xeroradiographs, and bone scans are useful guides to osseous infection involvement. Amputation technical planning is mandatory. Proper assessment results in a dynamic functional amputation stump with little impact on gait.

Adult↗