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S Bergman

Publications and source records attributed to S Bergman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Nerve injury induced by vibration: prevention of the effect of a conditioning lesion by D600, a Ca2+ channel blocker.

OBJECTIVES: Exposing a hind leg of a rat to vibration induces an injury to the sciatic nerve--a so called conditioning lesion. After such injury induced by vibration the regenerative capacity of the nerve is improved and can be detected as an increased axonal outgrowth from a test crush lesion to the same nerve. The purpose was to study whether the effect of a conditioning lesion induced by vibration can be prevented by local treatment with a Ca2+ channel blocker D600. METHODS: D600 (methoxyverapamil) or Ringer's solution was locally applied to the sciatic nerve on one side through a silicone tube connected to a miniosmotic pump, which was implanted subcutaneously. During the same period the hind leg was exposed to vibration (80 Hz; 32 m/s2 root mean squared) for five hours daily for five consecutive days. The other hind leg was not vibrated. After the end of exposure to vibration the sciatic nerves were crushed bilaterally (test crush lesions) and three or six days later the regeneration distances of sensory axons were measured by the pinch reflex test. RESULTS: Nerves in the control animals (without implanted miniosmotic pumps and nerves on to which Ringer's solution was locally applied) that were exposed to vibration showed a significantly increased outgrowth length of sensory axons from the test crush lesion compared with the non-vibrated side. Such an effect of a conditioning lesion from the exposure to vibration was suppressed by local application of D600. CONCLUSIONS: Local administration of a Ca2+ channel blocker D600 can prevent the effect of a conditioning lesion-that is, the nerve injury induced by vibration can be inhibited by D600. This may have implications for the treatment of patients with neuropathy of the hand induced by vibration.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The usefulness of the reticulin stain in the differential diagnosis of liver nodules on fine-needle aspiration biopsy cell block preparations.

We reviewed fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cell blocks of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 16) and benign hepatic processes (n = 16) to evaluate the significance of reticulin staining (Gomori stain) in combination with standard cytomorphologic and architectural criteria. We analyzed the staining pattern using semiquantitative grading: normal, variable, decreased, or virtually absent. Also, we graded the cell thickness of the hepatic trabeculae as greater than or less than three cells. Fourteen of 16 biopsy specimens of benign processes demonstrated a normal reticulin framework, with staining outlining hepatic trabeculae less than three cell layers in thickness. Staining was markedly decreased in one case of steatosis and virtually absent in one case of cirrhosis. In contrast, all of the 16 HCCs demonstrated either a virtually absent (7 of 16), decreased (6 of 16), or variable (3 of 16) reticulin staining pattern, with thickened trabeculae greater than three cell layers. We conclude that the reticulin stain is a useful adjunct in the differential diagnosis of liver nodules on FNAB cell block preparations and that it is particularly useful in distinguishing HCC from benign hepatic processes. Virtually absent or decreased reticulin staining and staining outlining trabeculae greater than three cells in thickness support the diagnosis of HCC. Normal reticulin staining outlining well-defined hepatic trabeculae less than three cell layers in thickness supports the diagnosis of a benign hepatic process.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1996

Kidney disease in the first-degree relatives of African-Americans with hypertensive end-stage renal disease.

The incidence of treated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States is four times more frequent in African-Americans (AAs) than in whites. This is explained neither by a greater prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus nor by socioeconomic issues. To investigate familial risk of renal disease in AAs, we examined the records of 472 AA dialysis patients in Jefferson County, Alabama. Applying strict criteria, we identified 85 index cases of ESRD associated only with hypertension (H-ESRD). We examined the records of 75 index cases and studied the first-degree relatives of 40 patients. The numbers of men and women with H-ESRD were similar (38 and 37, respectively). There was no statistical difference in age at the onset of dialysis (women 53.7 +/- 13.5 years [+/-SD] and men 49.2 +/- 12.2 years; P = 0.0863). We found evidence for renal disease in 26 of 40 (65%) index cases with participating families. Hypertension was present in all 40 families (100%) and diabetes mellitus was present in 24 families (60%). Eighteen of the 75 H-ESRD index patients had a first-degree relative with ESRD. In total, we found evidence for renal disease in 35 of 75 (47%) We conclude that there is a strong concordance of renal disease in the families of AAs with H-ESRD.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Giant cell tumor of the pancreas arising in the ovarian-like stroma of a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.

We describe a malignant mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas with ovarian-like stroma within which an osteoclast-like giant cell rich tumor arose. This rare tumor had a unique immunohistochemical profile with the giant cells staining for vimentin, leukocyte common antigen, and the monocyte/macrophage marker CD68, whereas the mucinous epithelium stained for epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin. The immunohistochemical findings are consistent with two lines of differentiation, one epithelial and the other suggesting mesenchymal differentiation of the giant cell tumor with an immunophenotype similar to giant cell tumor of bone. The coexistence of these two rare tumors suggests that they are histogenetically related. The findings of a giant cell tumor arising in the ovarian stroma indicates that the stroma of mucinous tumors is not always an innocuous component of the tumor.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Efficacy of Chinese acupuncture on postoperative oral surgery pain.

One of the challenges of acupuncture research is designing appropriate control groups. To address this problem, after surgical third molar extractions 19 patients were randomly assigned to an acupuncture group (n = 11) or a placebo acupuncture group (n = 8). The length of time for reaching moderate pain and pain intensity after oral surgery were recorded by standard patient self-report. The results indicated that subjects treated with acupuncture reported longer pain-free duration times (mean, 181 versus 71 minutes; p < or = 0.046) and experienced less pain intensity than those who received placebo acupuncture. This study provides a model for an acupuncture control that could examine the placebo effect in clinical acupuncture research.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed1995

"Streptococcus milleri" strains displaying a gliding type of motility.

Isolates belonging to the "Streptococcus milleri" species group that appear to exhibit a gliding type of motility, which is expressed as spreading growth on certain types of agar media, are described. These strains resembled a biotype of "S. milleri" that is usually isolated from genitourinary sources and is notable for its ability to ferment a wide array of carbohydrates. This biotype, which is currently included in the species Streptococcus anginosus, has been implicated in cases of neonatal infection. The "S. milleri" isolates which we studied lacked any observable organelles of motility and gave negative results when they were tested in conventional motility test medium stab cultures. Colonies growing on certain agar media, however, spread over the surfaces of plates and increased in area with increasing time of incubation. Chocolate agar supported maximum spreading, while this characteristic was barely discernible on blood agar. Electron microscopy studies revealed that there was more production of extracellular glycocalyx by motile strains than by a nonmotile isolate having a similar biotype. The results of an analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that the motile strains are closely related to S. anginosus and represent a distinct rRNA population within the "S. milleri" species complex.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Single dose and multidose analgesic study of ibuprofen and meclofenamate sodium after third molar surgery.

The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of meclofenamate sodium with ibuprofen after dental impaction surgery. This study was double-blind and used a unique methodology. Patients (N = 254) were first randomized into the single dose phase of the study that included placebo, meclofenamate 50 mg, meclofenamate 100 mg, ibuprofen 200 mg, and ibuprofen 400 mg, followed by a 7-day multidose phase in which patients in the placebo group were rerandomized into one of the active treatment cells. In the single dose phase, all active treatments were significantly more efficacious than placebo for every summary analgesic measure. A positive dose-response was seen for both active drugs with meclofenamate 100 mg and ibuprofen 400 mg exhibiting the greatest efficacy for pain relief, pain reduction, time to remedication, and overall evaluation. Side effects were reported by 26 patients. They were evenly distributed among treatment groups with headache and drowsiness being the most common. During the multidose phase, there were only small differences in efficacy measures among active treatment groups. However, meclofenamate produced a higher incidence of stomach cramps and diarrhea than did ibuprofen (8.8% and 7.2% versus 0.8% and 0.8%). This study indicates that higher doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most effective immediately after surgery and that lower doses of these drugs can be used after the first postoperative day. The side effect profile of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics is best observed with the use of a multidose study design.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1991

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in first-void urine collected from men and women attending a venereal clinic.

Cervical, urethral and first-void urine (FVU) specimens from 196 men and 245 women attending a venereal outpatient clinic were studied by culture and a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (CHLAMYDIAZYME). Confirmatory chlamydial testing by a direct fluorescence assay (DFA) (MICROTRAK) was performed on the sediments of the positive EIA samples from culture-negative patients. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 11% of the men and 12% of the women. Of the women, 67% were positive in both sampling sites and 33% in the cervix only. No further cases were found when a female urethral swab was cultured. All the chlamydia-positive urine samples were obtained from women who were positive in the urethra. The denominator used to calculate sensitivities was the combination of patients with culture- and EIA-positive results which could be confirmed by DFA. The sensitivity of our culture method was 85% for men and 77% for women. In men, the sensitivity of EIA was greater on urine than on urethral specimens (77% vs 62%; p less than 0.1). In women, the sensitivity of EIA on urine was significantly poorer than that on cervical specimens (54% vs 85%, p less than 0.001). The specificity of EIA ranged between 94 and 100%. Our study suggests that it may be worth using FVU in a trial for the diagnosis of genital chlamydial infections in symptomatic men, but not in symptomatic women.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Antichlamydial activity of saliva.

Saliva collected from adults with no antichlamydial antibodies in their serum or saliva, was tested for its capacity to inhibit the formation of inclusions of Chlamydia trachomatis in McCoy cell cultures. Pooled saliva, diluted in tissue culture medium and sterilized by filtration, was found to reduce the inclusion count by up to about 40%. However, the pretreatment of the chlamydial organisms for 2 hours with diluted saliva caused a 75% decrease in the number of inclusions. The inhibitory activity, which was concentration-dependent, seems to affect the attachment of the chlamydial elementary body to the host cell by acting on both the chlamydiae and the McCoy cells. Saliva did not seem to affect the intracellular development of the chlamydiae. The inhibitory activity was not affected by trypsin treatment, while absorbtion with a gel of a chelating agent caused total loss of the antichlamydial effect. The purpose of our study was to test saliva for its possible antichlamydial activity and to partially characterize the active principle.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Products of three accessory genes, pilB, pilC, and pilD, are required for biogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pili.

The polar pili of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are composed of monomers of the pilin structural subunits. The biogenesis of pili involves the synthesis of pilin precursor, cleavage of a six-amino-acid leader peptide, membrane translocation, and assembly of monomers into a filamentous structure extending from the bacterial surface. This report describes three novel genes necessary for the formation of pili. DNA sequences adjacent to pilA, the pilin structural gene, were cloned and mutagenized with transposon Tn5. Each of the insertions were introduced into the chromosome of P. aeruginosa PAK by gene replacement. The effect of the Tn5 insertions in the bacterial chromosome on pilus assembly was assessed by electron microscopy and sensitivity of mutants to a pilus-specific bacteriophage. The resultant mutants were also tested for synthesis and membrane localization of the pilin antigen in order to define the genes required for maturation, export, and assembly of pilin. A 4.0-kilobase-pair region of DNA adjacent to the pilin structural gene was found to be essential for formation of pili. This region was sequenced and found to contain three open reading frames coding for 62-, 38- to 45-, and 28- to 32-kilodalton proteins (pilB, pilC, and pilD, respectively). Three proteins of similar molecular weight were expressed in Escherichia coli from the 4.0-kilobase-pair fragment flanking pilA with use of a T7 promoter-polymerase expression system. The results of the analyses of the three genes and the implications for pilin assembly and maturation are discussed.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed1989

Informal versus formal supports for impaired elderly people: determinants of choice on Israeli kibbutzim.

Among 269 functionally impaired elderly people residing on 53 Israeli kibbutzim, those cared for principally by informal caregivers were compared with those cared for principally by formal caregivers. The major findings were that the variables differentiating between primary reliance on formal versus informal care are similar to those that have been found in other studies, and that the availability of formal resources was not accompanied by withdrawal of informal supports.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Factors relating to institutional risk among elderly members of Israeli kibbutzim.

Characteristics of 269 functionally impaired elderly persons and their primary caregivers were examined in relation to long-term care planning. Contrary to expectation, there were no differences in rates of institutional risk between those elderly residents of Israeli kibbutzim cared for primarily by formal caregivers and cared for by informal caregivers. Lack of informal caregivers emerged as an important risk factor for institutional risk, even in the service-rich environment of kibbutzim.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Indoor and outdoor activities of aged women and men as related to depression and well-being.

This article examines the relations between reported level of activity and measures of affect in old people exploring possible sex differences. It was hypothesized that these relations are mediated by the satisfaction from the specific activity. The sample consisted of fifty-four women and forty-five men, ranging in age from sixty to eighty, functioning normally in the community. A questionnaire assessed participants' levels of indoor/outdoor activities. Participants rated their satisfaction for each of these activities. Negative affect was measured by Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale, and positive affect was measured by Bradburn's Well-Being (Affect-Balance) Scale. For male respondents, results showed significant negative correlations between depression and both activities, and significant positive correlations with respect to well-being. Significant positive correlation was obtained only between well-being and outdoor activity for female respondents. When satisfaction from the specific activity was controlled for, only two correlations remained significant in the male participants, lending partial support to the hypothesis. A multiple regression analysis revealed reported levels of activity could predict both depression and well-being for men much better than for women, whereas satisfaction from activity could do that much better for women than for men. Discussion deals with the sex differences regarding the meaning of activity in old age and its implications for affect. The differentiation between kinds of activity as well as measures of affect is also referenced.

Activities of Daily Living↗