Biomedical subjects

Jacob Amir

Publications and source records attributed to Jacob Amir.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

[Pediatric liver transplantation--experience at Schneider Children's Medical Center].

BACKGROUND: Introduction of segmental graft transplantation from living donors and split livers from cadaver donors has led to major advances in liver transplantation (LTx) in children. AIM: To report our initial experience with pediatric LTx performed at our center. METHODS: Data collection on all children undergoing LTx between the years 1996-2003 including the analysis of the graft and patient survivals and reports of complications. RESULTS: Forty LTx were performed in 38 children at the mean age of 6.2 years, including two retransplants. There were 15 whole liver allografts and 25 segmental grafts including: 12 living donor grafts, 5 splits and 8 reduced grafts from cadaver donors. At 40 months mean follow-up period, patient and graft survival were 81% and 72.5%, respectively. There was post-transplant mortality in seven cases--5 children died during the first month and two children passed away after 6 months (recurrent disease) and 14 months (metastatic tumor). Vascular complications included: one early and one late portal vein thrombosis (5%) and six cases of hepatic artery thrombosis (15%). In the latest group, 3 grafts were salvaged by thrombectomy and another 3 children underwent re-transplantation. There were two bile leaks (5%) and 6 bile duct strictures (15%). The bile-duct strictures were successfully corrected by surgery in one child and by transhepatic dilatation in another 4 children. One child remained with intrahepatic strictures in one of the two hepatic segments. CONCLUSIONS: The use of segmental liver allografts enables the performance of pediatric liver transplantation in Israel. Gathered experience and enhanced skills will ensure improved results over time.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Occult constipation: a common cause of recurrent abdominal pain in childhood.

BACKGROUND: An estimated 10% of all children are subject to recurrent attacks of abdominal pain of unknown origin. When no organic cause is found, the working diagnosis is usually functional abdominal pain. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possible causative role of occult constipation. METHODS: We defined occult constipation as the absence of complaints of constipation on initial medical history or of symptoms to indicate the presence of constipation. The diagnosis was made by rectal examination and/or plain abdominal X-ray. RESULTS: Occult constipation was found to be the cause of RAP in 42.6% of children examined. Treatment consisted of paraffin oil and phosphate enema. In 82.84% of cases the abdominal pain subsided considerably or disappeared within 2 weeks to 3 months of treatment. On telephone interview of the parents at 1-1.5 years after discharge, 96.5% reported that both the abdominal pain and constipation had subsided or disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Occult constipation can be easily identified and treated in a large number of children with RAP who were diagnosed as having functional abdominal pain.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMed2003

Absolute neutrophil count in aseptic and bacterial meningitis related to time of lumbar puncture.

Previous studies have demonstrated that during the first 24 hours of illness caused by aseptic meningitis, polymorphonuclear cells predominate in cerebrospinal fluid and decline afterward. To test the hypothesis that the absolute neutrophil count and percentage of polymorphonuclear cells in cerebrospinal fluid of bacterial meningitis patients are elevated and sustained after 24 hours compared with that of patients with aseptic meningitis. Seventy-two patients with aseptic meningitis and 13 with bacterial meningitis participated. All patients with aseptic meningitis and four patients with bacterial meningitis were followed-up prospectively. The patients were enrolled in four groups according to the interval between onset of symptoms and performance of the lumbar puncture (<12 hours, 12-24 hours, 24-36 hours, and >36 hours). In aseptic meningitis the mean absolute neutrophil count was 182, 164, 79, and 68 cells/mm(3), respectively (P = 0.025). In bacterial meningitis the absolute neutrophil count was 28, 1,466, 5,853, and 235 cells/mm(3), respectively. The mean percentage of polymorphonuclear cells in aseptic meningitis was 49%, 46%, 40%, and 26%, respectively (P = 0.038); in bacterial meningitis, 70%, 83%, 81%, and 58%, respectively. The findings suggest that the absolute neutrophil count and the polymorphonuclear cell percentage in cerebrospinal fluid have different kinetics in aseptic vs. bacterial meningitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Citrobacter koseri (diversus) meningitis in an otherwise healthy adolescent.

Citrobacter infection is commonly reported in neonates and immunocompromised patients. Citrobacter koseri (diversus) is an important cause of neonatal meningitis and brain abscess formation. It adults, however, Citrobacter infection with central nervous system involvement is rare, and is usually associated with an underlying disorder. This report describes a 12-y-old previously healthy girl with Citrobacter koseri meningitis. Intravenous treatment with ceftriaxone for 10 d led to complete recovery. Head computed tomography and brainstem-evoked response audiometry were normal. On follow-up, the patient was completely healthy. Previously reported cases of C. koseri meningitis in the adult population were associated with underlying predisposing factors. In this case a normal, healthy adolescent was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone without any of the known neurological complications observed in the neonatal cases.

Ceftriaxone↗

PubMed2003

Lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme in cerebrospinal fluid of children with infantile spasms.

Increased levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been reported in association with several intracranial pathologies. We studied LDH isoenzymes in the CSF of children with infantile spasms. CSF samples collected from 12 patients (aged 4-9 months) with infantile spasms were analyzed for total LDH isoenzymes activity, and were compared to samples from 15 normal children. Mean total LDH activity in the CSF was 34.62 +/- 6.52 U/l. Patients with infantile spasms had a lower LDH-1 percentage and higher LDH-3 percentage; the differences from the control group were statistically significant (p < 0.01). LDH-4 and LDH-5 had similar values in both groups. Infantile spasm is apparently associated with a distinct LDH isoenzyme pattern in the CSF. More studies are needed to confirm the rise in LDH-2, LDH-3 and to determine the optimum time of analysis.

Humans↗

PubMed2003

Post-infectious acute cerebellar ataxia in children.

Acute cerebellar ataxia is a relatively common neurologic disorder among children. Our aim was to characterize the clinical picture, etiology, and prognosis of acute cerebellar ataxia. The medical records of all children with a diagnosis of acute cerebellar ataxia hospitalized in our center and Hasharon Medical Center from 1990 to 2001 were reviewed. The diagnosis of acute cerebellar ataxia was based on the following criteria: acute onset of ataxia with or without nystagmus; absence of known genetic predisposing factors, such as familial degenerative disorders; and absence of drug intoxication, bacterial meningitis, and metabolic disorders. Thirty-nine children were identified; 54% were male; mean age at presentation was 4.8 +/- 3.8 years. All patients were observed for at least 1 year. A prodromal febrile illness was noted in 74.4%: varicella, 31%; mumps, 20%; nonspecific viral infection, 15.4%; mycoplasma, 5%; Epstein Barr virus, 3%. Latency from the prodromal illness to the onset of ataxia was 8.8 +/- 7.4 days. The most common associated neurologic findings were nystagmus and dysmetria. Full gait recovery took less than 2 weeks on average, and the longest duration of neurologic signs was 24 days (mumps-related). Acute cerebellar ataxia in childhood is a self-limited disease. The recovery was faster than that reported in previous publications and was complete in all children without any neurologic sequelae. Imaging studies are needed only in atypical presentation or if there is no spontaneous improvement after 1 to 2 weeks.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

Use of the urine color test to monitor compliance with isoniazid treatment of latent tuberculosis infection.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To apply the Arkansas color method in order to evaluate drug compliance and factors that can predict treatment adherence in patients being treated for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) with a single daily dose of isoniazid (INH). DESIGN: Prospective study of adherence of 105 patients aged 1 to 75 years who were treated with a single daily dose of INH for LTBI. INTERVENTIONS: Patients or their parents were interviewed regarding parameters that may affect compliance. Urine samples were collected and tested for INH metabolites with the Arkansas color method. RESULTS: Nonadherence to treatment was found in 28.5% of patients. There was no statistically significant correlation among the following parameters: gender; age; diagnosis; mode of administration (self or parents); duration of treatment; dose of INH per weight; or interval since last intake of dose. Twenty-six patients were randomly checked for treatment adherence on two separate visits, and nonadherent patients were informed immediately and their condition was fully explained to them. Five of six patients who were nonadherent in the first visit and were examined twice became adherent in the second visit. Three of 20 patients who were adherent in the first visit became nonadherent. CONCLUSION: Almost one third of the patients who received LTBI treatment with INH were nonadherent to treatment. No factor was found to predict adherence. The Arkansas method can be used by the family physician and is a simple, immediate method to follow-up patients with LTBI who are treated with INH.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Admission to the intensive care unit for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis: a national survey before palivizumab use.

OBJECTIVE: Preterm infants, especially those with chronic lung disease (CLD), are considered more susceptible to severe respiratory illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection than healthy term infants, and are therefore targeted for prophylactic administration of immune globulins. The impact of this practice on the more severe cases of bronchiolitis (i.e., pediatric intensive care unit [PICU] admission, mechanical ventilation, mortality) has not been reported to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate PICU admissions, need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality attributable to RSV bronchiolitis in Israel before the introduction of RSV prophylaxis to the country. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective survey of 11 PICUs in Israel during the RSV season (November 2000-March 2001). PATIENTS: All patients admitted to the PICU because of bronchiolitis, and the subgroups who needed mechanical ventilation or who died, were analyzed for known risk factors, namely, prematurity, CLD, and chronic oxygen dependence. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients with RSV bronchiolitis met the inclusion criteria, of whom 33 were mechanically ventilated. Most of the patients (84% total admission, 88% ventilated) were born after 32 weeks' gestation, and 89% and 88%, respectively, did not have CLD. Only 16% and 9%, respectively, met any of the American Academy of Pediatrics criteria for RSV prophylaxis, such that 84% of the whole sample and 91% of the ventilated patients were not candidates for RSV prophylaxis. Five patients died, 2 of them with cyanotic heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the infants with severe RSV bronchiolitis were born at term and did not have CLD. The great majority of patients admitted to the PICU for bronchiolitis were not candidates for RSV prophylaxis. Administration of RSV prophylaxis to the predefined high-risk population could be expected to yield no significant change in PICU admissions or number of infants needing mechanical ventilation. New risk-stratified guidelines for RSV prophylaxis are needed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2002

Papular purpuric rash due to parvovirus B19 with distribution on the distal extremities and the face.

We describe 3 patients who presented with a distinctive clinical picture of the purpuric rash called "gloves-and-socks syndrome" which was characterized by an acral distribution of the rash that involved not only the distal part of the extremities but also the chin and perioral area. Serologic analysis for parvovirus B19 yielded positive results. Parvovirus B19 should be included in the evaluation of febrile purpura.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Neurologic abnormalities in children presenting with diskitis.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic impairment is not considered a clinical manifestation of diskitis in children and has seldom been associated with it in the medical literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe neurologic findings and their implications in children with diskitis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective medical records review of children discharged with a diagnosis of diskitis between January 1992 and December 2000. The study included children in whom the diagnosis was based on the presence of clinical findings, laboratory evidence of an inflammatory process, and findings on imaging studies compatible with diskitis. RESULTS: Neurologic findings of decreased muscle strength or hyporeflexia in the lower extremities were found in 7 (41%) of 17 children who met the diagnostic criteria for diskitis. Five of the 7 underwent magnetic resonance imaging, 2 of whom demonstrated intraspinal inflammatory involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic impairment does not exclude the diagnosis of diskitis and may be a common manifestation of the disease in children. Nevertheless, when neurologic findings are present, advanced imaging studies are needed to exclude intraspinal involvement.

Child↗

PubMed2002

Pseudotumor cerebri manifesting as stiff neck and torticollis.

Stiff neck and torticollis are significant signs of neurologic disease. Nuchal rigidity is often associated with meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and posterior fossa tumor. Torticollis may be encountered in inflammatory disorders, such as cervical lymphadenitis, or it can be a sign of spinal cord syrinx or of central nervous system neoplasm. We report on three prepubertal children in whom stiff neck and torticollis were the presenting signs of pseudotumor cerebri. In all, the removal of 6-7 mL of cerebrospinal fluid led to prompt relief of symptoms and signs. We suggest that in the presence of unexplained stiff neck or torticollis in children, the optic discs should be examined to exclude pseudotumor cerebri.

Child↗

PubMed2002

Reference values for lactic dehydrogenase activity and isoenzyme distribution in cerebrospinal fluid in neonates with fever but no evidence of cerebral disease.

Levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been used to evaluate a variety of neurologic disorders. However, few studies have been performed on neonates. CSF samples were collected from 39 neonates, 19 aged 1-4 weeks and 20 aged 5-8 weeks with neonatal fever. Findings were compared to those in 15 infants mean age 10 +/- 6.4 months with suspected nervous system disease and normal CSF findings. Mean total LDH activity in the CSF was significantly higher in the first month of life than in the second month of life and compared with the control group (p <0.001). The LDH isoenzyme pattern was also different, with lower values of LDH-1 than LDH-2 and -3 in the study groups. Differences were significant among all three groups for LDH-1 (p <0.001) and between the whole study group and the controls for LDH-2 and -3 (p <0.001). We propose reference values for total LDH activity and LDH isoenzyme distribution in the CSF of normal neonates.

Fever↗

PubMed2002

Influence of circumcision technique on frequency of urinary tract infections in neonates.

An increase in urinary tract infection (UTI) during the first weeks after traditional Jewish circumcision has been reported. Circumcision can be performed by a nonmedical person (mohel) or by a physician, with the main difference being in hemostasis techniques. We assessed the effect of circumcision procedure on development of UTI in neonates. Circumcision performed by a mohel was associated with higher incidence of UTI compared with that by physicians. Hemostasis technique and shaft wrapping are postulated risk factors.

Bandages↗

PubMed2002

[Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis--clinical aspects and anti-viral treatment].

UNLABELLED: Herpetic gingivostomatitis is the most common specific, clinical manifestation of primary herpes simplex type I infection. It is prevalent in the 1-3-year age group. The disease involves the buccal and gingival mucosa, and tongue and lasts approximately 2 weeks. Two recent open studies reported a more rapid regression of symptoms after treatment with acyclovir suspension. Three randomized double-blind placebo-control trials have clearly demonstrated that early acyclovir treatment significantly shortens the duration of all clinical manifestations and infectivity of affected children compared to placebo. RECOMMENDATION: In conclusion, we recommend acyclovir for the treatment of herpetic gingivostomatitis. Treatment should begin within the first three days of disease onset. The proposed therapeutic dose is 15 mg/kg, 5 times daily for 5 days.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fixed drug eruption in the genital area in 15 boys.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is manifested as localized, circumscribed, round or oval plaques that characteristically recur in the same site with each use of the offending drug. The drugs most commonly implicated are phenolphthalein, barbiturates, antibiotics, salicylates, contraceptives, and anticonvulsants. FDE can appear on different parts of the body. The sites of predilection are the lips, genitalia, and sacral area. There are no reports of large series of pediatric patients with FDE involving the genitalia. We describe 15 boys with genital FDE associated with several drugs. Their average age at diagnosis was 3.2+/-2.2 years (range 6 months-8 years). The clinical presentation usually consisted of swelling and erythema of the penis and/or scrotum associated with pruritus, restlessness, urinary retention, and painful micturation. The diagnosis was supported by clinical history. The causative drugs were identified and confirmed by a provocation test, resolution after the drug was stopped, and a positive migration inhibiting factor (MIF) test. Genital FDE in children is uncommon, but the drugs associated with this entity are in such widespread use in pediatric practice that its recognition may be important, especially considering its easy treatability.

Child↗