PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Horowitz

Publications and source records attributed to S Horowitz.

174 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

IL-1beta and IL-6 in community-acquired pneumonia: bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia versus Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in 20 patients with bacteremic Streptococcus pneumoniae community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were compared with these cytokine levels in 20 patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae CAP. All 40 patients survived hospitalization and underwent a follow-up examination one month later. Serum IL-1beta and IL-6 levels were determined by the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method using commercial kits. In the acute phase of CAP, IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the S. pneumoniae group (p = 0.014), while IL-1beta levels were higher in the M. pneumoniae group (p = 0.046). In the convalescence phase, the two cytokines were detected in a considerable number of patients in both groups. In this phase, only the level of IL-1beta was significantly higher in the M. pneumoniae group than in the S. pneumoniae group (p = 0.03). We conclude that the levels of IL-1beta and IL-6 are different between patients with S. pneumoniae-CAP and M. pneumoniae-CAP during the acute phase. In the convalescence phase, cytokine levels remain high in some of the CAP patients, but a significant difference between the groups exists only for IL-1beta. Further studies are required.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cell-specific increases in metallothionein expression in the human placenta perfused with cadmium.

Metallothionein (MT) is a cysteine-rich protein that may have both a nutritional and a protective role by binding either physiologic or toxic concentrations of metals in cells. The objective of this investigation was to measure the inducibility of MT mRNA and protein, and to determine their specific cellular localization following exposure to 20 microM cadmium (Cd) in the perfused human placenta for periods up to 8 h. MT mRNA was quantitated using slot blot hybridization with an MT IIa genomic clone and MT transcripts were localized via in situ hybridization. MT protein was measured using a 109Cd-binding assay and localized by immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal antibody to MT in fresh placental tissue from nonsmoking mothers and in tissue perfused for 4 or 8 h with CdCl2 (20 microM). Perfusions were performed on placentae from which fresh samples were also obtained. In fresh term placentae, MT mRNA was barely detectable using both slot blot and in situ hybridization. Slot blot hybridization for MT message demonstrated a dramatic increase of at least 70-fold above fresh after 8 h of perfusion with 20 microM CdCl2. In this time frame, however, statistically significant increases in MT protein were not detected. Following perfusion for 4 and 8 h with 20 microM CdCl2, accumulation of MT transcripts was shown, in situ, to occur in stromal and endothelial cells with a small but detectable increase in trophoblast cells. These results were consistent with the localization of the MT protein after perfusion with Cd and also correlated with areas of stromal edema. Thus, while the trophoblast cells are in direct contact with Cd in maternal perfusate, the cells of the villous core and fetal endothelial cells are most responsive to Cd exposure with regard to MT expression. Lower levels of MT expression in trophoblast cells may leave this cell type more susceptible to Cd toxicity, while higher levels of MT expression in cells of the villous core and endothelial cells may provide these cells with more protection.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detached ciliary tufts mistaken for peritoneal parasites: a warning.

Detached ciliary tufts of columnar epithelial cells from the female genital tract may be mistakenly identified as protozoa when examined in wet mounts of fluid specimens in the laboratory because of their appearance and motility, although they are generally identified correctly in fixed specimens prepared for cytologic examination. A case of such mistaken identity in specimens from a gynecologic patient was documented, and the literature on ciliary tufts was reviewed. Infectious disease and gynecology consultants should be alert to the potential confusion arising from the presence of ciliary tufts in body fluids.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatotoxic reactions associated with carbamazepine therapy.

Hepatotoxic reactions in patients receiving carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy have been reported, and some have been considered fatal. We present two patients with hepatic dysfunction secondary to CBZ therapy. Liver biopsies were compatible with hepatotoxic damage, and the symptoms were reversible with medication withdrawal. Our patients are representative of those in the literature, most of whom have granulomatous hepatitis and sometimes have associated cholangitis. The patients with fatal reactions differed clinically and pathologically from the others, and may represent a different entity. The clinical syndrome resembles a viral hepatitis. Elderly patients seem to be particularly susceptible and their hepatic function should be monitored closely when CBZ therapy is initiated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The manipulated mesenchymal stem cells in regenerated skeletal tissues.

Ample experimental examples have been accumulated during the last 3 decades indicating the ability of exogenous sources of cultured cells to serve as implants accelerating cartilage regeneration in defects of articular surfaces. In some cases, the repair tissues form complete spatial reconstruction of the defect. In other cases, either the spatial reconstruction is incomplete or the quality of the reparative tissue is inadequate. A delayed pace of endochondral ossification in the deep zones of the subchondral region of the defects, or ossification above the tide mark, within the superficial cartilaginous articular regions have been noted. Therefore, even in this promising approach of biological resurfacing procedure results are not certain, and further investigative research efforts are required. In the current study, a comparison of implantations of various cultured cells of four different sources were tested in an avian system. The reparative tissue outcomes are divided into three grades: full regeneration success, partial success, and failure of regeneration according to qualitative histological parameters and quantitative observation of the gross specimen. Defects that failed to regenerate a completely filled lesion were found to contain cells carrying the preskeletal-precartilaginous characteristic marker of FGFR3. The findings based on the above parameters suggest that autogeneic, chondrocytic-enriched bone marrow derived mesenchymal cells are superior to other cell sources for articular cartilage regeneration. Grafting of defects with these cells results in a 100% success rate. Allogeneic limb bud-derived mesenchymal cells and allogeneic embryonal chondrocytes have both reached a success of 75% of completely filled defects. Allogeneic chondrocytic-enriched bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells yielded a 31% success rate. Untreated defects completely failed to heal. In successfully healed defects no cells of the reparative tissue carry the FGFR3 marker 3 months postimplantation. In partially healed defects, FGFR3 positive staining is present in fibrous cells at the invaginated surface. These latest findings may suggest some kind of proliferation failure in such cases.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors predicting 12-month outcome of elderly patients admitted with hip fracture to an acute care hospital.

Elderly patients (n = 121) with hip fracture were followed to determine if: (1) outcomes measured 12 months post-fracture differed significantly from pre-fracture measures, and (2) patient characteristics on hospital admission predicted three outcomes (site of residence, function, and walking status) 12 months later. At 12 months fewer patients resided at home. They had declined functionally. Baseline cognition, residence site, function, and walking individually predicted outcomes. However, outcomes were predicted best by multiple variables. These findings can be used to educate patients, their families, and the public on outcomes and their determinants after hip fracture.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical applications of Doppler echocardiography].

In this review, we demonstrate the normal patterns of flow and some quantitative applications of Doppler echocardiography combined with two-dimensional imaging. Flow information can be accurately measured and valve gradient calculations can be made in patients with stenotic diseases. Further corroborative work in this area is necessary before definitive statements can be made, but this appears to be a promising noninvasive technique which can be applied at the bedside or in an ambulatory setting with a fair degree of confidence.

Atrial Function↗