PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Bein

Publications and source records attributed to M Bein.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

The secreted aspartic proteinases as a new target in the therapy of candidiasis.

Secreted aspartic proteinases (Saps) are important virulence factors in different types of candidiasis caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans). The various isoenzymes are expected to fulfil different tasks during mucosal or disseminated infections. It could be shown that the introduction of the proteinase inhibitors like saquinavir and indinavir in the therapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients has an effect on Sap activity in vitro as well as in vivo. Therefore, drugs like the HIV proteinase inhibitors could play an essential role in the treatment of candidiasis in the future, especially if further adapted to this target.

Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases↗
PubMed1983

Prevalence and clinical correlates of pulmonary arterial hypertension in progressive systemic sclerosis.

Forty-nine patients with progressive systemic sclerosis who had undergone extensive studies including pulmonary artery catheterization as part of an ongoing prospective study of the natural course of progressive systemic sclerosis were evaluated. The overall prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension in this population of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis was 33 percent, and among 10 subjects with the CREST syndrome the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension was 50 percent. The relation between pulmonary arterial hypertension documented at catheterization and abnormal results of noninvasive studies suggesting pulmonary hypertension, including physical examination, chest x-ray, electrocardiography, echocardiography, single-breath diffusing capacity, and vital capacity, was studied. Diffusing capacity was significantly lower in those patients with definite pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure of 22 mg Hg or more) compared with those with a normal mean pulmonary artery pressure, and a diffusing capacity below 43 percent of predicted showed the greatest sensitivity (67 percent) of any single diagnostic test in detecting definite pulmonary hypertension. Chest x-ray suggesting pulmonary hypertension was the least sensitive of the tests evaluated, but showed the greatest specificity (100 percent) in identifying patients with pulmonary hypertension. A classification matrix based on discriminant function analysis utilizing the combination of diffusing capacity below 43 percent of predicted and chest x-ray and electrocardiographic findings correctly identified 75 percent of patients with definite pulmonary hypertension and 97 percent of patients with a normal pulmonary artery pressure, but failed to identify correctly patients with mild pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure of 20 mm Hg). These findings indicate that specific noninvasive studies are helpful in assessing the likelihood of normal or definitely elevated pulmonary artery pressures in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis, but patients with mild pulmonary hypertension are not likely to be identified by these noninvasive studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Detection of thymoma in myasthenia gravis.

Twenty patients with myasthenia gravis had chest radiography, conventional tomography, and computed tomography (CT) of the thorax within 1 month of thymectomy. Four of the six macroscopic tumors were detected on routine chest radiography; conventional tomography provided no additional information. CT detected all six macroscopic tumors and provided additional information that was not available by other procedures. However, 18 patients (90%) had anterior mediastinum densities on CT, which could not be distinguished preoperatively from thymic tumors. All six patients with macroscopic tumors had serum antistriational muscle antibody titers; this test was negative in 10 of 11 patients (91%) without thymoma. Chest radiography, CT of the thorax, and antistriational antibodies are the tests recommended for detection of a thymoma in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1979

Small airways in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS).

Obstructive disease involving peripheral airways has been noted in diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease, including sarcoidosis and cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. The possibility of obstruction of small airways in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) has been suggested by widespread bronchiolectasis and peribronchial fibrosis noted at necropsy. We performed pulmonary function studies in 39 subjects (22 nonsmokers and 17 smokers) with PSS, most of whom had functional evidence of interstitial pulmonary involvement (increased static recoil pressure and reduced diffusing capacity). The 1 second forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1:FVC) was normal in all subjects. Although the severity of the restrictive process was greater in nonsmokers compared with that in smokers, the maximal mid-expiratory flow rate, closing volume, closing capacity, volume of isoflow, change in maximal expiratory flow at 50 per cent of vital capacity during 80 per cent helium--20 per cent oxygen breathing compared with air breathing (delta Vmax50), ratio of dynamic to static lung compliance at different breathing frequencies and upstream airway conductance at static recoil pressures of 5 and 10 cm H2O were nearly always normal in the nonsmokers but were frequently abnormal in the smokers with PSS. These findings suggest that diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease due to PSS generally does not lead to functional evidence of obstruction in peripheral airways and that when the latter is found it can likely be attributed to the effects of concomitant cigarette smoking.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early intervention for human immunodeficiency virus in Baltimore Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinics. Impact on gonorrhea incidence in patients infected with HIV.

BACKGROUND: High incidences of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) after posttest counseling have been documented in patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Baltimore STD clinics. In July 1991, the authors instituted an HIV early intervention program providing long-term medical care and social work services. This study compares the incidence of gonorrhea after post-HIV+ test counseling in patients diagnosed with HIV before and after the institution of the early intervention program. METHODS: Medical records of a cohort composed of all patients newly diagnosed with HIV and those who underwent posttest counseling for HIV in 1991 to 1993 in two Baltimore STD clinics were reviewed. Patients were offered early intervention medical and social work services. Gonorrhea incidence in this cohort was compared to a historical cohort diagnosed and counseled for post-HIV+ testing in 1988 to 1989 who were not offered early intervention services. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 418 days (range, 26 to 703 days). After post-HIV+ test counseling, gonorrhea developed in 39 of 468 (8.3%) men in the 1989 cohort and 13 of 400 (3.3%) men in the 1991 to 1993 cohort. Controlling for variable length of follow-up, the 1991 to 1993 cohort had a relative risk of 0.442 for the development of gonorrhea during the study period (95% confidence interval, 0.225 to 0.790; P = 0.006). Incident gonorrhea after post-HIV+ test counseling also was associated with a prevalent gonorrhea condition at the time of HIV diagnosis (RR = 3.02; 95% CI, 1.75 to 5.23; P = 0.0001) and failure to return for post-HIV+ test counseling as scheduled (RR = 2.27; 95% CI, 1.17-4.43; P = 0.013). After adjustment for gonorrhea at the time of HIV diagnosis and failure to return for scheduled posttest counseling, the difference in gonorrhea incidence between men in the two cohorts remained statistically significant (RR = 0.494; 95% CI, 0.260 to 0.941; P = 0.032). In comparison, overall gonorrhea rates in Baltimore changed little between 1988 and 1993. No significant difference was found in gonorrhea incidence in women, which may have been the result of active gonorrhea screening during the 1991 to 1993 period, which was not performed in 1988 to 1989. CONCLUSIONS: Providing clinical care to persons with HIV may facilitate the reduction of high-risk behaviors that lead to incident STDs and further HIV transmission.

Adult↗