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Biomedical subjects

R Weitz

Publications and source records attributed to R Weitz.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Methotrexate-induced leukoencephalopathy is treatable with high-dose folinic acid: a case report and analysis of the literature.

An episode of leukoencephalopathy is reported in a 13-year-old girl who, after standard radiotherapy for a posterior fossa medulloblastoma, received 8 treatments with a protocol containing a 4-hour infusion of 500 mg/m2 methotrexate and 12 mg intrathecal methotrexate. The leukoencephalopathy, documented clinically and by CT and EEG, cleared after 2350 mg of leucovorin (citrovorum factor, folinic acid) was given in addition to the 135 mg given as part of the therapy. A review of the literature suggests that leukoencephalopathy may be prevented by high doses of leucovorin and can be treated by high doses, if lower doses were used initially. When high dose leucovorin was not used, residual neurological damage is not unusual.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Alagille syndrome associated with moyamoya disease.

A 22-month-old girl with the typical manifestations of Alagille syndrome presented with acute right hemiparesis. Cerebral angiographic studies demonstrated the presence of complete occlusion of both internal carotid arteries with the formation of a collateral network of vessels compatible with the diagnosis of Moyamoya disease. This rare association has not been reported previously.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Radiological colpocephaly: a congenital malformation or the result of intrauterine and perinatal brain damage.

The term colpocephaly, meaning disproportional enlargement of the occipital horns of the lateral ventricles, was considered in the past to be a distinct congenital malformation acquired in early intrauterine life. During the last few years several cases were reported in whom a variety of intrauterine and perinatal causes could be associated with this radiological picture. We report on 9 children with radiological colpocephaly in whom intrauterine and/or perinatal injury to the developing brain seemed to be the cause of colpocephaly. It is evident from our observations that "radiological colpocephaly" is a non-specific finding caused frequently by CNS damage acquired during intrauterine and perinatal life.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Uncertainty and the lives of persons with AIDS.

This article uses interview data to explore how 23 gay and bisexual men who had AIDS were affected by and managed uncertainty. Before diagnosis these individuals had to find ways to cope with uncertainty about their risk of contracting AIDS and about their initial symptoms. After diagnosis they had to find answers to their questions about why they contracted this disease, whether they would be able to function in the short run, whether their illness would kill them, and whether they would be allowed to live and (if death was unavoidable) to die with dignity. The data suggest that persons with AIDS respond to the uncertainties of their illness by attempting to assert as much control as possible over their lives, through such divergent strategies as seeking and avoiding knowledge about their illness.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Imipramine binding to platelets of children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity.

High-affinity [3H]imipramine binding to platelets was investigated in 11 boys with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity (ADDH) before and after 28 days of methylphenidate (MPH) treatment, and the results were compared to [3H]imipramine binding parameters (Kd, Bmax) of 10 age-matched normal boys. The binding parameters for imipramine binding sites did not differ between ADDH children and controls. Moreover, the beneficial therapeutic effect of MPH was not accompanied by any alteration in the binding values. This study is consistent with other studies that failed to demonstrate involvement of the serotonergic system in the pathophysiology of ADDH and in the therapeutic effect of MPH.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1987

Effects of acute and chronic methylphenidate administration on beta-endorphin, growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol in children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity.

The effect of 5 mg/p.o. methylphenidate (MPH) challenge on beta-endorphin (beta-EP), growth hormone (GH), prolactin (Prl) and cortisol was investigated in 16 children suffering from attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) before and after 4 weeks MPH treatment. The study population consisted of 13 males and 3 females aged 6-11 years. All patients were drug free for at least 3 months prior to investigation. The severity of ADDH symptomatology and response to MPH chronic treatment was assessed using parent/teacher abbreviated Conners rating scale. Blood samples for beta-EP, cortisol, Prl and GH were drawn before initiation of treatment (basal pre-treatment level), 2 hours after MPH challenge, 4 weeks after MPH treatment (basal post-treatment level) and 2 hours after re-challenge with MPH. Chronic MPH treatment resulted in a decrease in basal Prl levels (5.5 +/- 2.8 vs 3.7 +/- 1.9 ng/ml; p less than 0.05). Pre-treatment challenge stimulates significantly both beta-EP (15.0 +/- 7.5 vs 12.5 +/- 5.3 pmol/l; p less than 0.05) and cortisol secretion (20.6 +/- 6.6 vs 12.6 +/- 5.8 micrograms/dl; p less than 0.05), and suppressed Prl secretion (4.0 +/- 1.5 vs 5.5 +/- 2.8 ng/ml; p less than 0.05). Re-challenge with MPH enhanced beta-EP levels (14.9 +/- 8.6 vs 10.6 +/- 5.0 pmol/l; p less than 0.05) but failed to affect cortisol, Prl and GH secretion. The acute and chronic neuroendocrine effects of MPH administration might be related to its dopaminergic and adrenergic agonistic activity. It might be that the stimulatory effect of single and repeated acute MPH administration on beta-EP release contributes to the beneficial effect of MPH treatment in ADDH children.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1987

Benign congenital hypotonia. A clinical study in 43 children.

The clinical features and short-term follow-up of benign congenital hypotonia (BCH) were studied in a group of 43 children. All children were referred for the evaluation of delayed motor performance during the first year of life. The hypotonia was mild in 35 children and moderate in 8. A "sitting-on-air" posture was found in 26 children (60%), and bottom shuffling (scooting) in 8 (19%). Thirty-six children were followed to the end of their third year of life. At this age minor neurological abnormalities could be found in 16 (44%) including hypotonia in 7, clumsy gait in 11 and speech delay in 3. In 30% of the cases there was a family history of delayed motor achievements. However, no significant differences were found between familial and non-familial cases regarding either clinical presentation or residual neurological findings. In view of the similarity in the clinical presentation of different causes of infantile hypotonia, the syndrome of BCH should be recognized. In such cases, because of the expected benign course, invasive diagnostic procedures may be withheld while the child is kept under follow-up, and be considered only in cases without complete recovery.

Child Development↗
PubMed1987

Vitamin B12 deficiency due to a strictly vegetarian diet in adolescence.

A 14-year-old white girl suffered from severe neurologic disturbances caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, due to failure to provide vitamin B12 supplementation to a strictly vegetarian diet. The disturbances resolved completely following treatment with vitamin B12. Physicians should be alert to the necessity for vitamin B12 supplementation for strict vegetarians, who eat no meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

English midwives and the Association of Radical Midwives.

Concern about the apparently shrinking role of the British midwife led in 1976 to the formation of the Association of Radical Midwives (ARM). This paper describes the emergence and ideas of ARM. Comparison of ARM philosophy with the beliefs of a sample of English midwives reveals considerable support for ARM's non-medicalized philosophy of childbirth and its specific proposals for systemic change. Few English midwives, however, consider themselves "radical midwives" or agree with ARM that their role has shrunk and training suffered. The conclusions suggest several reasons why English midwives' support for ARM and its beliefs is limited.

Midwifery↗
PubMed1986

Successful non-neurotoxic therapy (without radiation) of a multifocal primary brain lymphoma with a methotrexate, vincristine, and BCNU protocol (DEMOB).

A 3.5-year-old boy with a multifocal primary lymphoma of the brain was treated successfully without neurotoxicity with a treatment regimen that did not include radiation. The protocol of Dexacort (dexamethasone), methotrexate, Oncovin (vincristine), and BCNU (carmustine) (DEMOB), which was developed with the use of MTX pharmacokinetic studies, was given over 7.5 months, and resulted in tumor disappearance on computerized tomography scans and marked improvement in clinical status. The patient remains in good health 3 years after diagnosis (March 1985).

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗