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Biomedical subjects

R Haberkern

Publications and source records attributed to R Haberkern.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Briquet's syndrome in adolescence.

Briquet's syndrome, originally described more than 100 years ago, has recently become a subject of concern for physicians who work with adolescents. It is a chronic disorder that primarily affects women, is characterized by many symptoms involving a number of organ systems, and usually has a frustrating clinical course. It typically begins in the second or third decades, and only rarely subsides with time. Multiple diagnostic procedures, medications, and surgical operations are common, usually without evidence of significant disease. Complications can include substance abuse, depression, and suicide. Management centers upon viewing the symptoms as the patient's attempts to communicate difficulties in coping with stress.

Adolescent

Experimental chronic glomerulitis.

Three of 16 rabbits injected (intravenously) daily with crystalline bovine serum albumin (BSA) for periods in excess of 10 wk developed chronic glomerulonephritis. In vivo, animals with chronic proteinuria formed variable quantities of soluble complex after injection of antigen while animals without proteinuria exhibited rapid removal of the injected BSA. In vitro studies demonstrated that a major part of the antibodies produced by rabbits with chronic nephritis lacked precipitating properties. Interpretations of these observations were presented in the discussion. It is suggested that, in addition to quantity, quality of antibody plays an important role in the development of chronic serum sickness. Complexes formed with nonprecipitating antibody, which are less rapidly removed from circulation, would have a greater opportunity to deposit in glomeruli and induce inflammation.

Animals