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Biomedical subjects

N Levin

Publications and source records attributed to N Levin.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Acute hemolysis due to profound hypo-osmolality. A complication of hemodialysis.

Acute hemolysis in maintenance hemodialysis patients is not a rare occurrence. Significant hemolysis is life-threatening and may be unrecognized because of nonspecific symptomatology. This paper reports observation of a severe hemolytic episode in a hemodialysis patient. The hemolysis was associated with a sudden drop in serum osmolality and profound hyponatremia, resulting from accidental dialysis against deionized water. Recognizing the condition and treating it promptly by dialysis with physiological dialysate are essential for patient survival.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

Effect of renal failure and dialysis on the serum concentration of the aminoglycoside amikacin.

Serum and dialysate levels of amikacin were determined at appropriate intervals after a 300-mg intravenous dose as a continuous infusion in six patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing hemodialysis and in three patients on peritoneal dialysis. The mean serum half-life of amikacin was 3.75 h during (or after) hemodialysis and 29 h during (or after) peritoneal dialysis. Although not on hemodialysis in the same six patients, the serum half-life was 28 h. The results indicate that the maintenance dose of amikacin should be markedly decreased in patients with severe renal failure even if they are treated with peritoneal dialysis, and that serial serum antibiotic concentrations are essential to prevent cumulative toxicity of the drug.

Adult↗

Effects of renal failure and dialysis on cefazolin pharmacokinetics.

Serum and urinary levels of cefazolin were determined after a 500-mg parenteral dose in eight azotemic volunteers. The mean peak serum concentration was 1.5 to 5 times the levels obtained in nonazotemic patients. The serum half-life of cefazolin was increased significantly. In patients on dialysis, the mean serum half-life of cefazolin was 4.05 h during (or after) hemodialysis, and 32.1 h during (or after) peritoneal dialysis. There was a significant decrease in cefazolin removal when dialysate flow or membrane surface area of the dialyzer were decreased. It was also shown that one circuit through the dialysis unit caused measurable decrease in cefazolin concentration. These data and previously published reports suggest: (i) the maintenance dose of cefazolin can be decreased in azotemic patients; (ii) patients on hemodialysis will require an additional half dose after dialysis because of efficient removal during hemodialysis; and (iii) patients on peritoneal dialysis do not require an extra dose.

Cefazolin↗

Oral phenylalanine and tyrosine tolerance tests in Parkinsonian patients.

Reduction of dopamine concentrations in the brains of patients with Parkinsonism, together with reported clinical improvement after the administration of dihydroxyphenylalanine, has led to the hypothesis that impaired hydroxylation of tyrosine may be associated with the disease. To test this hypothesis oral loading tests with L-phenylalanine and tyrosine were carried out in patients and controls. After phenylalanine lower blood levels of this were found in Parkinsonian patients than in controls, but tyrosine levels were the same. After tyrosine lower levels of this were also found in patients compared with controls. It is suggested that these findings indicate a decreased rate of tyrosine utilization in Parkinson's disease together with intestinal malabsorption; the latter is supported by the finding of abnormal D-xylose tolerance in these patients.

Adult↗

Tissue Respiration and Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation of NaCl-Treated Pea Seedlings.

The effect of sodium chloride added to root medium of pea seedlings on respiratory activity of tissue segments and on isolated mitochondria was studied. Salinization enhances the respiration of leaves about one-third on a fresh weight, dry weight or protein basis. Roots and stems show only 10 to 15% respiratory stimulation. The onset of respiratory increase in leaves roughly parallels the increase in NaCl content and the decrease in growth rate. At a later stage the elevated respiration is apparent in treated plants even though the concentration of NaCl reaches a plateau and osmotic adjustment is being reached. Stimulation of respiration was found in both etiolated and green plants. Experiments with DNP show that simple uncoupling by salt is not involved; the respiratory increase in control and treated tissue is proportionally the same.In accordance with increased respiration rates observed in vivo, mitochondria from salt-treated plants show higher rates of oxygen uptake on several substrates. The effect of NaCl added during growth is long term and is distinct from the effect of NaCl added to mitochondria isolated from control plants. Since P/O ratios are not affected by NaCl, the potential for oxidative phosphorylation in salt-affected tissue appears to increase. It is postulated that this increase may lead to changes in ADP and ATP content, and in turn, affect regulation of metabolic pathways.

Journal Article↗

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration of aminoglycoside antibiotics in critically ill patients.

The effect of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration on the clearance of either tobramycin or gentamicin (mean dose, 1.65 +/- 0.36 mg/kg) was studied in eight critically ill patients. Mean aminoglycoside clearance by hemofiltration was 3.47 +/- 1.93 mL/min and total body clearance was 11.92 +/- 3.51 mL/min. Hemofiltration clearance (HFCL) was directly correlated with hemofiltration flow rate (HFQR): HFCL (mL/min) = 1.03 HFQR (mL/min)-0.88 (R = .89). Mean volume of distribution was 0.31 +/- 0.08 L/kg, and the elimination rate constant was 0.020 +/- 0.01 hr-1. Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration was responsible for the removal of between 3% and 36% of each aminoglycoside dose in 24 hours. In critically ill patients with changing hemofiltration flow rates, measurement of multiple serum aminoglycoside concentrations is necessary to accurately assess dosing requirements and avoid ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Adult↗