Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Matsaniotis.
Thirty nine children with 71 hydatid cysts were given mebendazole orally in a dose of 100-200 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks and were followed up for a mean (SD) of 63 (24) months. Twenty children (three of them after a second course) were cured and another two avoided at least one operation. No serious side effects of the drug were observed.
Socioeconomic factors are at least as important as narrowly defined medical care factors in determining the health status of the population. They also provide a stimulus for further research in the field of socioeconomic epidemiology.
Tumours of the head and neck in children are uncommon, representing only 2-3% of all head and neck tumours. During the twenty year period 1964-1983, 12,876 childhood tumours were submitted for pathological diagnosis. Of these 1,007 (7.8%) were in the head and neck region, and it is this group that has been analysed. 30.6% (308 cases) were malignant neoplasms, 27.8% (280 cases) were benign neoplasms, 24.2% (244 cases) presented as tumour-like conditions and 17.4 (175 cases) were dysplasias arising from embryonal remnants. The overall sex ratio was 1.5:1 in favour of males. Lymphomas accounted for 15.9% overall (52.3% of the malignant neoplasms). Of benign tumours, haemangiomas were the most frequent (38.5%) and of the tumour-like conditions, dermoid and epidermoid cysts accounted for 36.1%. Of the embryonal remnant dysplasias, thyroglossal duct cysts accounted for 71.4%.
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Several methods for fetal chromosome analysis using chorionic biopsy samples were compared. A modified direct method for culturing villi was considered to be the method of choice and details are presented of 186 pregnancies tested prenatally. The success rate in obtaining a fetal karyotype with the direct method was 93 per cent. The fetal loss rate in the prenatal series was 4.3 per cent and congenital abnormalities in the babies already born did not differ from the expected incidence.
Data concerning histories of Adenoidectomy (Ad), Tonsillectomy (T) and Appendectomy (Ap) were collected from the escorts (mainly mothers) of 2296 children 3-12 years-old. The children were admitted as outpatients at the First Department of Paediatrics of the University of Athens or the Polyclinic of the Children's Welfare Center of PIKPA in Pireaus, during the last six months of 1983. Among children with median age of about six years, 12 percent had already had at least one operation (Ad, T or Ap); this proportion increased to about 25 percent among children with median age of about 10 years. The cumulative incidence of Ad and/or T was higher among boys, whereas the cumulative incidence of Ap was higher among girls. The age adjusted cumulative incidence of Ap was significantly higher in the lower social class, whereas there was no social gradient with respect to Ad or T. There were strong intra-individual correlations among the three studied operations; in particular the age adjusted cumulative incidence of Ap was 2.9 times higher among children with Ad and/or T than among children without any of these operations. Since there are no apparent biomedical reasons to account for the observed intra-individual associations, it appears likely, that these associations reflect parental or physician's attitudes leading to unjustifiable operations in some of the children.
The immunogenicity of two low doses (5 micrograms and 10 micrograms ml-1) of hepatitis B vaccine was tested in 98 non-immune children. The seroconversion rate after the third dose was 100%. High seroconversion rates were observed even after the first dose as well as progressive increase in the geometric mean titres of the converters after each dose. The geometric mean titre in International Units one month after the third dose was higher (18 276 mIU ml-1) in children vaccinated with 10 micrograms ml-1, compared to children vaccinated with 5 micrograms ml-1 (11 313 mIU ml-1). The lowest seroconversion rate after the first and second doses and the lowest final mean geometric titre was observed in children aged 11-15 years.
A retrospective study was undertaken to estimate the incidence of hydatidosis among Greeks over 18 years of age. Discharge and operating room records in all community and private hospitals during the period 1 January 1969 to 31 December 1975 were reviewed, and new hydatid patients were registered. Hydatid disease was diagnosed in 4,202 adults. The average annual incidence of all hospital cases was 9.77 per 100,000 population. The diagnosis was confirmed at surgery in 3,397 patients (80.84%). The average annual surgical incidence was 7.89 per 100,000 inhabitants. The incidence of the disease varied among different geographic areas in the country; its percentage was highest in rural areas. In this series, both sexes were equally involved (P greater than 0.1). Solitary organ involvement occurred in 95.88% of cases. Cysts were localized in the liver in 69.64% and in the lungs of 23.43% of the cases with single organ involvement. Liver involvement was more frequent in women, while lung involvement was more frequent in men (P less than 0.001).
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Levels of retinol (vitamin A), carotenoids and triglycerides in the serum of 50 children with homozygous beta-thalassemia have been studied, as well as the ability of the small intestine to absorb a test meal containing retinol palmitate, triglyceride, d-xylose and glucose. On the other hand, 8 patients underwent a dark-adaptation test, and in 40 children with homozygous beta-thalassemia the levels of retinol-binding protein in the serum were estimated. The mean levels of retinol, carotenoids and triglycerides in the serum of the patients were: 23 +/- 4.1 micrograms/dl (controls: 36.3 +/- 4.9), 44 +/- 15.5 micrograms/dl (controls: 103 +/- 24), 117 +/- 20 (controls: 126 +/- 26), respectively. The absorption from the small intestine of retinol, triglycerides, glucose and d-xylose was normal. 6 out of 8 patients studied for visual function showed an abnormal dark-adaptation test, and these 6 children had low serum retinol levels. Finally, the mean serum levels of retinol-binding protein in the patients were 4.74 +/- 0.53 mg/dl (controls: 5.63 +/- 0.58). The low retinol levels were correlated with the low retinol-binding protein values which, in turn, could be due to the abnormal liver function of the patients.
A 19-month-old boy with repeated convulsions from the age of 7 months was found to have pseudo-vitamin D deficiency rickets. The convulsions were attributed to hypocalcaemia which is one of the main features of this type of rickets. High doses of vitamin D produced clinical, biochemical and radiographic cure.
Concentrations of luteinizing hormone in the serums of human neonates were altered when the neonates were exposed to prolonged, intense illumination (phototherapy) with their eyes covered. Concentrations decreased after 48 to 72 hours of exposure, increased 6 to 9 days after phototherapy, and subsequently returned to levels similar to those of controls. These data suggest that light may affect pituitary-gonadal function in the human neonate.
Serum tocopherol levels were found to be below normal (less than 0.5 mg/100 ml) in nine (50%) of 18 children with beta-thalassemia major receiving inadequate treatment with blood transfusions. The mean tocopherol levels were significantly lower in the children with beta-thalassemia (0.57 mg/100/ml +/- 0.20) than in the controls (1.08 mg/100 ml +/- 0.24). Serum total lipid levels were found to be low in children with beta-thalassemia. The difference between the mean total lipid level in the beta-thalassemic patients (365 mg/100 ml +/- 75) as compared to that of the controls (581 mg/100 ml +/- 94) was highly significant (P less than 0.01). The ratio of serum tocopherol to 1 g total lipids was lower in children with beta-thalassemia (1.41 mg/100 ml +/- 0.43) than in the controls (1.88 mg/100 ml +/- 0.46) and the difference was significant. Yet, only three out of the 18 children with beta-thalassemia showed a ratio of less than 0.8 mg/100 ml tocopherol per 1 g total lipid which may be considered indicative of tocopherol deficiency.
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The role of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in the regulation of rat liver bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT) was studied. Augmentation of UDP-GT activity was obtained by cAMP, but not by 3'-AMP. A single administration of glucagon initiated a rapid but limited increase in enzyme activity, which reached a maximum after 2 hr. Similar augmentation of the hepatic enzyme was produced by injection of N6,O2-dibutyryl cAMP. The nucleotide is the mediator for UDP-GT augmentation by glucagon. The injection of glucagon led within 20 min to a 40-fold increase in the concentration of cAMP. The augmentation of UDP-GT activity by glucagon or dibutyryl cAMP was fully inhibited by actinomycin D. A second stimulation of liver by glucagon or dibutyryl cAMP 4 hr after the first injection, produced a new increase of UDP-GT activity.
The clinical and immunologic features of an adolescent boy with recurrent pyogenic infections are presented. A cellular defect in neutrophil chemotaxis, hyperimmunoglobulinemia E, and a negative delayed cutaneous reaction to antigen from Candida albicans were found.
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Phosphodiesterase activity of mouse liver homogenates was estimated in presence and absence of levamisole. The enzyme activity was 1394 and 1399 nmoles/mg protein/30 min respectively. Our data show that levamisole does not affect the phosphodiesterase activity.