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Biomedical subjects

M Farbstein

Publications and source records attributed to M Farbstein.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Calcium supplements interact significantly with long-term diet while suppressing rectal epithelial proliferation of adenoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Calcium supplements to the western-style diet may reduce the risk for colorectal neoplasia. Using rectal epithelial proliferation (REP) measurements as a biomarker of response to intervention, the authors evaluated the effects of 1-year calcium supplementation in adenoma patients and its possible interactions with the patients' dietary and lifestyle habits. METHODS: Consenting adenoma patients, without a family history of colorectal neoplasia, were randomly selected to receive 3.75 g calcium carbonate (1.5 g Ca2+) daily or to receive no treatment. All had their long-term dietary and lifestyle habits assessed and their REP labeling index (LI) evaluated before and at end of follow-up. The change in LI was compared between groups, and statistical associations were examined between mean nutrient consumption and treatment effect and between lifestyle and treatment effect. RESULTS: Fifty-two adenoma patients (33 treated and 19 untreated) completed intervention and follow-up. There were no significant differences between study groups in age, weight, cigarette smoking, or medication use. The LI decreased in 58% of calcium-intervened patients and in only 26% of nonintervened patients (P = 0.04); the mean LI x 100 (+/- standard deviation) of the former fell from 5.04 +/- 1.93 to 4.54 +/- 1.58, and rose from 4.32 +/- 1.58 to 4.93 +/- 1.58 in the latter (P = 0.04). A lower fat, a higher carbohydrate, fiber, or fluid intake each interacted with the calcium supplementation to decrease the LI (P = 0.02, 0.001, 0.02, and 0.08, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term calcium supplements significantly suppressed REP in adenoma patients, and long-term dietary habits contributed to this effect. Patient diet should be assessed when researchers use REP as a biomarker in calcium chemoprevention studies. Study results indicated that relevant dietary counseling may be useful in addition to calcium supplements in persons at increased risk for colorectal neoplasia.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2000

The role of nutritional habits during gestation and child life in pediatric brain tumor etiology.

Our aim was to evaluate the role of maternal nutritional habits during the period of gestation and of children subsequent diet in the etiology of pediatric brain tumors. All cases of incident nervous system tumors under age 18, diagnosed between 1984 and 1993 (n = 300) in Israel were identified. Two matched population controls per case were selected (n = 574). Personal interviews, using a semi-quantified three-step food frequency questionnaire, were performed. Univariate analysis showed that increased child consumption of vegetable fat [p trend 0.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-3.2], carbohydrates (p trend 0.05; CI 1.0-5.9), and vitamin E (p trend 0.05; CI 1.0-3.3), were significantly associated with brain tumor risk. No associations were found with nitrate, nitrite or vitamin C. A significant positive association with potassium consumption (p trend 0.01; CI 1.1-3.7) was noted during gestation. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the only persisting associations were with vegetable fat (OR = 1.36; CI 1.06-1.73) in the child diet and potassium intake during gestation (OR = 1.44; CI 1.04-1.99). In conclusion, nutritional associations with pediatric brain tumor etiology, remain unsubstantiated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Pre-illness dietary factors in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: The effect of environmental factors has been demonstrated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nutrition may be one of them. AIM: To investigate the pre-illness diet in patients with recent IBD in comparison with matched population and clinic controls. METHODS: Quantified dietary histories were obtained from 87 patients with recent IBD (54 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 33 Crohn's disease (CD)) and 144 controls. Odds ratios (OR) for IBD were derived for intake levels of various foods. RESULTS: A high sucrose consumption was associated with an increased risk for IBD (OR 2.85 (p = 0.03) against population controls and 5.3 (p = 0.00) against clinic controls). Lactose consumption showed no effect while fructose intake was negatively associated with risk for IBD (NS). Similar trends were noted in UC and CD. A high fat intake was associated with an increased risk for UC; this was particularly marked for animal fat (OR 4.09, p = 0.02) and cholesterol (OR 4.57, p = 0.02). A high intake of fluids (p = 0.04), magnesium (p = 0.04), vitamin C, and fruits (NS) was negatively associated with the risk for IBD, while a positive association was found for retinol (p = 0.01). Most of the findings were similar in UC and CD except for potassium and vegetable consumption which showed a negative association only with risk for CD. CONCLUSIONS: An association was found between pre-illness diet and subsequent development of UC and CD. The effect of dietary components may be primary or modulatory.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Nutritional and lifestyle habits and water-fiber interaction in colorectal adenoma etiology.

Adenomatous polyps are neoplasms that may progress to colorectal cancer. The role of diet and other lifestyle habits in their etiology is now being elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of nutritional habits, weight and weight gain, tobacco smoking, and physical activity in adenoma etiology. A quantified dietary history questionnaire was designed to evaluate long-term dietary habits in addition to more recent ones. The study population comprised 196 adenoma patients and matched asymptomatic, screened controls. Statistical analysis used multivariate conditional logistic models, adjusting for total energy intake and physical activity. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for adenoma associated with highest versus lowest tertiles of mean daily intake were as follows: for energy, OR 3.7 and CI 2.1-6.7; for animal fat, OR 2.4 and CI 1.2-4.7; for tobacco smoking, OR 3.1 and CI 1.1-2.8; and for weight gain, OR 2.2 and CI 1.2-4.1 (P for linear trend for all, < or = 0.01). Significant negative associations were found with intake of total carbohydrates (OR, 0.3; CI, 0.1-0.7) and fluids (OR, 0.4; CI, 0.2-0.8) (P for both < 0.01) as well as for physical activity (OR, 0.6; CI, 0.3-0.9; P = 0.03). Increased risk for adenoma was observed with decreased intake of carotene (OR, 0.6; CI, 0.3-1.0; P = 0.06), vitamin E (OR, 0.6; CI, 0.3-1.0; P = 0.07), and dietary fiber (OR, 0.6; CI, 0.3-1.3; not significant). The OR of interaction between water and dietary fiber was significant (OR, 0.7; CI, 0.6-0.9; P = 0.01), suggesting a synergistic protective effect. Specific dietary and lifestyle habits were identified as independent factors associated with colorectal adenomas; of special interest is the interaction between water and fiber intake. Avoiding these factors might delay or prevent neoplasia.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1980

Explanation for apparent hypoxemia associated with extreme leukocytosis: leukocytic oxygen consumption.

We investigated the hypoxemia associated with extreme leukocytosis in leukemic patients. In vitro experiments showed that the rate of decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood samples from such patients was proportional to the white cell count. In the presence of normal white cell count no drop in PO2 was observed. We conclude that a low arterial oxygen tension in the presence of extreme leukocytosis reflects oxygen consumption by leukocytes rather than true hypoxemia. Both normal as well as leukemic leukocytes appear to exhibit this phenomenon.

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of right atrial catheter for prolonged iv support in cancer patients.

A right atrial catheter has proven to be a well-tolerated technical advance for patients requiring prolonged vascular access. It is easily inserted and suited for ambulatory maintenance by the patient. Catheters are utilized for a wide spectrum of iv medications with an acceptably low complication rate. Most significantly, the infection rate is negligible, despite severely compromised hosts. Their use should be considered for any patient in whom problems with vascular access are anticipated. This report comprises our experience with the first 70 catheters in 66 patients in the Hematology/Oncology service.

Ambulatory Care↗