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Biomedical subjects

S Oster

Publications and source records attributed to S Oster.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

No evidence for loss of hippocampal neurons in non-Alzheimer dementia patients.

OBJECTIVE: To use stereological methods for estimating the total number of neurons in hippocampi of non-Alzheimer demented patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hippocampi from six women with severely impaired memory but without Alzheimer pathology were compared with six mentally intact age-matched female controls. The total number of neurons was estimated in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus, the hilus of the dentate gyrus, the pyramidal cell layer of CA3 and CA2, the pyramidal cell layer of CA1 and the cellular layer of subiculum using the optical fractionator. RESULTS: The total neuron number was the same in the dementia cases, 22.4 x 106, compared with 22.7 x 106 in the controls (P = 0.85). No region-specific group differences or side difference were found. Two cases without clinical signs of dementia but with abundant plaques and tangles in hippocampus and neocortex had total neuron numbers within normal limits. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that severely impaired memory can occur in the presence of intact numbers of hippocampal neurons in non-Alzheimer dementia and that nerve cell loss in the hippocampus might be characteristic for Alzheimer's disease, and perhaps other forms of primary cortical dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Toxoplasma encephalitis with atypical manifestation and normal CT].

A case of cerebral toxoplasmosis in a HIV-positive man with unusual clinical manifestations and a normal computed tomographic (CT) scanning is presented. Even though most patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis have focal neurological deficits on physical examination, the patients can also present with more diffuse symptoms. Neither the lack of antitoxoplasma antibodies nor normal findings at CT scanning exclude the diagnosis of toxoplasma encephalitis. The sensitivity is higher with magnetic resonance than with CT scanning. We present a case story that demonstrate how delusive cerebral toxoplasmosis can be in HIV positive patients. It is recommended that the possibility of cerebral toxoplasmosis be considered in every HIV-positive patient with neurological symptoms and empirical therapy be instituted on wide indications.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

Cerebral atrophy in AIDS: a stereological study.

Stereological estimates of mean volumes, surface areas, and cortical thicknesses were obtained on formalin-fixed brains from 19 men with AIDS and 19 controls. Volumes of neocortex, white matter, central brain nuclei, ventricles and archicortex were estimated using point counting and Cavalieri's unbiased principle for volume estimation. In AIDS, the mean volume of neocortex was reduced by 11%, and that of the central brain nuclei by 18%. Mean ventricular volume was increased by 55%. Mean neocortical thickness was reduced by 12%. The mean volume of white matter was reduced by 13%. The findings in 6 clinically demented AIDS patients were not statistically different from the rest of the group.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1991

A randomized trial of cefepime (BMY-28142) and ceftazidime for the treatment of pneumonia.

Cefepime is a new cephalosporin with a broad antimicrobial spectrum that includes Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To study the efficacy and safety of cefepime for treatment of pneumonia, 65 patients were randomized to therapy with either cefepime or ceftazidime at a two to one ratio. Of the 57 evaluable patients, 89% of the cefepime patients and 84% of the ceftazidime patients were cured clinically or improved. Haemophilus spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria spp. were common pathogens. Bacteriological cure was achieved in 31 (91%) of cefepime patients and 17 (100%) ceftazidime patients. Adverse clinical and laboratory reactions possibly due to study drug occurred in 9 (21%) cefepime patients and in 1 (5%) ceftazidime patient. Most reactions were mild and resolved with discontinuation of study drug. In this study, cefepime appeared as effective as ceftazidime for the treatment of pneumonia.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Juvenile ceroid-lipofuscinosis and calcifications of the CNS.

The post-mortem brains and spinal cords of 20 juvenile ceroid-lipofuscinosis (JC-L) cases from 1973 to 1987 were investigated. Clinical course of the disease was characterized by impaired vision from the age of 5-8 years, progressive dementia, seizures, somatic retardation, and early death (16-29 years of age). Microscopy showed classic intracytoplasmic autofluorescent lipopigment in the nerve cells throughout the CNS and viscera. Immunoperoxidase staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) showed marked gliosis with enlarged reactive astrocytes mainly in the superficial layers of the cerebral cortex. Calcifications of the nervous system principally along the outer and inner brain surfaces were demonstrated by X-ray, macroscopic examination and microscopy. We suggest that the calcifications are secondary to a suspected generalized metabolic error.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Open trial of cefepime (BMY 28142) for infections in hospitalized patients.

The safety and efficacy of cefepime, a new broad-spectrum, semisynthetic parenteral cephem antibiotic, were evaluated in an open trial at a single hospital. Seventy patients were treated with cefepime: 44 had lower respiratory tract infections, 4 had urinary tract infections, and 22 had skin or soft tissue infections. Of 65 clinically evaluable patients, 64 (98%) had satisfactory responses. No mortality or superinfections occurred. Of 57 respiratory and urinary tract pathogens, 54 (95%) were eradicated and 3 (5%) persisted after therapy. Five bacteremias (two with Streptococcus pneumoniae and one each with Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, and a coagulase-negative staphylococcus) were eradicated. MICs ranged from 1 to 8 micrograms/ml for 13 S. aureus and 9 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and were less than or equal to 0.125 micrograms/ml for 10 streptococcal isolates. Adverse effects occurred in two patients: transient diarrhea and Clostridium difficile toxin in the stool in one patient and loose bowel movements and increased transaminases in the other patient. Cefepime appeared to be well tolerated in humans and was effective against a wide range of isolates, including S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.

Cefepime↗
PubMed1989

Current recommendations and future prospects in the treatment of toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma infection is highly prevalent throughout the world and causes disease in diverse populations. Effective treatment regimens are available for each clinical entity of toxoplasma, but problems of incomplete clinical efficacy, drug potency, drug safety, and length of treatment remain. No well-controlled clinical trials in humans have been performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment. Primary treatment of toxoplasmosis is with the synergistic combination of pyrimethamine and sulphonamide. This is considered the treatment of choice for severe disease, disease in immunocompromised patients, and congenital toxoplasmosis. Spiramycin, a macrolide antibiotic, is frequently used alone or alternately with pyrimethamine and sulphonamide for pregnant women with the acute acquired infection to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis. Clindamycin is used frequently to treat acute flares of toxoplasmic chorioretinitis and as second-line therapy for toxoplasmic encephalitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Inadequacies in the treatment of toxoplasmosis in immunosuppressed patients, exemplified by experience with AIDS patients, should provide the impetus for well-designed trials to find and evaluate more potent and better-tolerated agents. Classes of new drugs that have been investigated and show some promise include: (a) macrolides (roxithromycin, azithromycin); (b) folic acid antagonists (piritrexim and trimetrexate), and (c) purine analogues (arprinocid). Immunomodulators have attracted interest, and interferon-gamma alone and in combination with roxithromycin is effective in murine models. Interleukin-2 is also effective in the murine model.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Lafora's disease and brain calcifications.

The brain from a 22-year-old man with progressive myoclonal epilepsy (Lafora's disease) was examined. Besides widespread inclusion bodies in the nerve cells calcifications were seen on the inner and outer surface of the brain. No gliosis was present but the astrocytes were enlarged. They were unrelated to the inclusion bodies, as demonstrated in combined stainings with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-PAS or GFAP-Bodian. A transport of an abnormal metabolic product is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Carumonam versus ceftazidime for urinary tract infections.

Carumonam is a new monobactam antibiotic with potent activity against gram-negative aerobes. To study the efficacy and safety of carumonam for treatment of complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections, 54 patients were randomized to therapy with either carumonam or ceftazidime. Of 42 patients who could be evaluated, 82% of the carumonam-treated patients and 80% of the ceftazidime-treated patients were cured clinically. At 5 to 9 days posttherapy, microbiologic criteria indicated that 13 carumonam-treated patients (48%) and 8 ceftazidime-treated patients (53%) were cured. Patients with indwelling bladder catheters at the end of therapy had a markedly worse microbiologic outcome than those without catheters. Enterococcus sp. reinfection was common in both groups. Possible adverse clinical and laboratory reactions occurred in six carumonam-treated patients (21%) and four ceftazidime-treated patients (27%). Most reactions occurred at the end of therapy and resolved with discontinuation of the study drug. In this small study, carumonam appeared as safe and as effective as ceftazidime for the treatment of complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Isolation of Gardnerella vaginalis in pure culture from the uterine cavity of patients with irregular bleedings.

Hysterectomy was performed in three patients because of persistent irregular vaginal bleeding. Before the operation samples were taken from the cervical os for cultivation of Gardnerella vaginalis, yeasts, viruses, Chlamydia trachomatis, and aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Immediately after the operation, the uterus was opened under sterile conditions and samples obtained from the isthmus and fundus of the uterine cavity were examined microbiologically. In all three patients G. vaginalis was grown in pure culture from the fundus. Serum antibody titres against G. vaginalis were significantly raised in all three patients, and histology revealed mononuclear cells in the endometrium. The isolation of G. vaginalis from the endometrium of patients with clinical and histological signs of inflammation and with antibodies to G. vaginalis in serum indicates that the organism may play a causative role in endometritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Astrocytes in the prenatal central nervous system. From 5th to 28th week of gestation. An immunohistochemical study on paraffin-embedded material.

The CNS from 30 normal fetuses aged 5-28 weeks were studied in GFAP stained paraffin-embedded material. The technique of preparation, autopsy and fixation is described in details. GFAP reacting glial cells developed first in the spinal cord at 7 weeks, and appeared in all regions of CNS during fetal life in a systematic way but with a temporal variation. The supporting and guiding properties of the fibrillary astrocytes are stressed.

Astrocytes↗
PubMed1986

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and the mesencephalic nucleus. A neuropathological study.

The ganglion Gasseri and the brainstem were examined in three old patients with herpes zoster without predisposing diseases with special reference to the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus. The primary lesions in the semilunar ganglion vary with the length of the course. Secondary changes in the brainstem were as expected from pons to the second cervical segment of the cord. Besides, we observed degeneration, inflammation and glial nodules in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus in two patients. According to Brodal this nucleus presumably corresponds to the semilunar and spinal ganglia. As herpes zoster virus is prone to attack the sensory nuclei our findings support this hypothesis.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Laryngeal papillomas: classification and course.

Seventy-one cases of laryngeal papillomas have been reviewed. Based on differences in age at presentation, female: male ratio and multiple versus solitary papillomas, the cases were classified into 4 groups: multiple juvenile papillomas, solitary juvenile papillomas, multiple and solitary adult papillomas. The clinical course in the groups is described. The authors do not support the common opinion that juvenile papillomas are influenced by puberty.

Age Factors↗