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Biomedical subjects

S Weitzman

Publications and source records attributed to S Weitzman.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Characterization of glomeruli by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in a case of Wilms' tumor.

A patient with an abdominal mass was found to have a Wilms' tumor. Light microscopic examination showed that, in addition to blastema, stroma, and tubules, the tumor contained an unusually large number of glomeruli. Glomerular basement membranes stained positively by immunohistochemistry for laminin, collagen type IV, fibronectin, and Goodpasture antigen. Staining for Goodpasture antigen was seen only after acid-urea treatment, which was similar to findings in fetal and infant glomeruli. Glomerular cells stained positively for actin, myosin, and desmin, but there was no staining for factor VIII or Ulex europaeus agglutinin I, indicating an absence of endothelial cells. These findings were supported by electron microscopy, which showed basement membrane material, visceral epithelial cells, and mesenchymal cells (presumably primitive mesangial cells) in glomeruli, but no patent capillaries or capillary endothelium. Hence, the glomeruli in this case of Wilms' tumor were immature and also showed aberrant glomerulogenesis.

Female↗

Early vs. late refeeding in acute infantile diarrhea.

A randomized ambulatory trial was performed to compare early (6-h) vs. late (24-h) refeeding in acute infantile diarrhea. Ninety infants with mild dehydration were enrolled in the study. Following an initial oral rehydration period (WHO formula), refeeding was introduced using a diet based on either breast milk or cow's milk. Early (n = 53) and late (n = 37) refeeding groups were similar in ethnic background, socioeconomic level, relevant past history, nutritional and clinical state, and stool pathogens. Infants were assessed upon their initial visit, at 24 and 48 h, and at 7 and 14 days thereafter for evaluation of weight, hydration state, stool frequency and need of hospitalization. No significant differences in the above parameters were observed between the two groups. Different patterns of refeeding (breast milk vs. cow's milk) in both early and late refeeding groups showed no significant differences in the features studied. Since the short-term clinical outcome following early refeeding in acute infantile diarrhea is not different from late refeeding, we suggest that early refeeding should be preferred, particularly in developing populations, in order to minimize the adverse nutritional effects of prolonged fasting during recurrent bouts of gastroenteritis.

Acute Disease↗

Brain computed tomography in morbid obesity before and after gastric restriction surgery: a prospective quantitative study.

Linear brain parameters were measured by CT in 19 patients with morbid obesity (mean weight 126.4 +/- 20.5 kg) and 20 age and sex matched normal weight subjects (mean weight 62.6 +/- 14.9 kg). Ventricular parameters were slightly smaller and cortical parameters were slightly larger in the preoperative obese than in control subjects. However, only the four cortical sulci ratio was significantly different in the two groups (P = 0.02). After gastric restriction surgery and drastic weight loss (mean postoperative weight 82.9 +/- 27.4 kg), all the ventricular and cortical parameters increased, with significant change in the frontal interhemispheric fissure ratio (P less than 0.05). Obese patients followed for 23 months after surgery had less striking changes than those followed for 6 months. Morbidly obese subjects have altered brain CT dimensions which are partly reversible after weight correction.

Adult↗

Proper use of metered-dose inhalers: the role of the primary care physician.

We interviewed 50 primary care pediatricians and family physicians in order to assess their skills in instructing patients on the proper use of inhalers. Although 36 of them claimed that they were personally instructing their patients, major defects in their skills were observed. Whereas only 3 could personally perform all seven essential steps of an inhalation maneuver correctly, 20 failed on three to seven steps. Twelve failed on all steps. It is suggested that inadequate patient instruction by physicians may play a significant role in the incorrect use of inhalers by asthmatic children.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Limited joint mobility and other rheumatological manifestations in diabetic patients.

Limited joint mobility was diagnosed in 42.9% of Type I and 37.3% of Type II diabetic patients. Abnormally thick skin was detected in 31.4% of Type I and 33.7% of Type II diabetic patients. Skin abnormalities were observed mainly in patients with L.J.M. There was a high prevalence of hand flexor tendon abnormalities (18.6%). Decreased range of shoulders and hips and flexor tendon abnormalities were significantly more common in patients with LJM. No significant association was found between LJM and grip strength, joint complaints, family history of rheumatic diseases, hypoglycemic attacks, cardiovascular diseases and autonomic neuropathy.

Adolescent↗

The effect of surgical weight reduction on sleep quality in obesity-related sleep apnea syndrome.

Obesity-related sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) was diagnosed in 13 patients evaluated for gastric bypass surgery. A diagnostic sleep study was performed whenever a specially designed questionnaire revealed characteristic signs of sleep disturbances. Pretreatment polyhypnographic recordings of patients with SAS demonstrated considerable reduction of deep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stages with a correspondent prolongation of wake within sleep or non-REM sleep stages I and II. After surgical weight reduction repeated polyhypnographic recordings revealed considerable improvement or even a complete recovery of breathing in sleep and a normalization of sleep structure. Non-REM deep sleep stages (III and IV) augmented from 5.51% +/- 2.53% (mean + SEM) to 22.69% +/- 3.56% (p less than 0.002), and the REM stage increased from 9.91% +/- 1.78% to 18.15% +/- 2.13% (p less than 0.005). Surgical weight reduction in obesity-related SAS is a valuable therapeutic measure for this respiratory derangement, as well as for sleep quality.

Female↗

Antineutrophil antibodies in infectious mononucleosis.

Antineutrophil antibodies were detected in the serum of 12 of 14 patients with acute Epstein-Barr virus-induced infectious mononucleosis. These antibodies were present in two patients with mononucleosis and severe neutropenia, and in 10 patients with mononucleosis uncomplicated by severe neutropenia. Antineutrophil antibodies were not detected in serum from five patients with cytomegalovirus-induced mononucleosis, or five renal allograft recipients with primary or reactivation Epstein-Barr virus infection. This study suggests that antineutrophil antibodies are among those produced by the polyclonal activation induced by Epstein-Barr virus during acute infectious mononucleosis.

Adult↗

Wilms' tumor and glomerular disease. Occurrence with features of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and secondary focal, segmental glomerulosclerosis.

A case of bilateral Wilms' tumor occurred in which a renal biopsy performed for proteinuria showed features of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type 1 and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). A review of the literature for similar cases revealed 24 patients with Wilms' tumor associated with glomerular disease; MPGN was present in one of these cases and FSGS in six. In our patient, circulating immune complexes were detected in the serum and likely played a role in the pathogenesis of the MPGN; the FSGS may have resulted from hyperperfusion of the remaining glomeruli in a kidney that was largely replaced by Wilms' tumor.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Aspects of the epidemiology of Crohn's disease in the Jewish population in Beer Sheva, Israel.

The epidemiology of Crohn's disease in Jews in the Beer Sheva district of Israel was studied. The mean annual incidence per 10(5) population was 1.1 for the period 1961-80 and 1.8 for the period 1976-80. The crude prevalence rate on 31 December 1980 was 14.0 per 10(5) population. The unadjusted prevalence rates by place of birth were: Israeli-born 6.9, European/American-born 24.6 and Asian/African-born 19.4 per 10(5) population. The age-adjusted prevalence rates were: Israeli-born 9.7, European/American-born 15.8 and Asian/African-born 12.5 per 10(5) population. The study has demonstrated: 1) that Crohn's disease has a low prevalence in Jews in this district; 2) that Crohn's disease is not as uncommon in Asian/African-born Jews as was previously thought; 3) that the low crude rate of Crohn's disease in Israeli-born Jews in this district is partially accounted for by the age distribution of the population; and 4) that environmental rather than genetic factors appear to determine the incidence of Crohn's disease in this district.

Adolescent↗

Systolic time intervals in diabetes.

The systolic time intervals at rest of 16 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and 30 Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) otherwise healthy adult diabetic patients selected from primary health care clinics were compared with those of age- and sex-matched normal subjects by paired analysis. There was no significant difference in prevalence of smoking, body mass index, fasting serum cholesterol or mean blood pressure between the diabetic and control groups. Mean rate-corrected pre-ejection period (diabetic patients: 132.7 +/- 2.1 ms, normal subjects: 134.6 +/- 3.5 ms (+/- SEM), left ventricular ejection time (diabetic patients: 413.9 +/- 3.0 ms, normal subjects: 421.5 +/- 4.7 ms) electromechanical systole (diabetic patients: 544.9 +/- 2.5 ms, normal subjects: 548.0 +/- 3.5 ms) and pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time ratio (diabetic patients: 0.36 +/- 0.01, normal subjects: 0.34 +/- 0.01) were not significantly different between the two groups (p greater than 0.05) and systolic time intervals did not correlate with duration of diabetes or type of treatment. Thus, we did not detect subclinical cardiomyopathy in healthy diabetic patients by this technique. However, a statistically significant skew in the distribution of systolic time intervals in the diabetic group (p less than 0.025) suggests the possibility of an 'at risk' population in which a more sensitive technique might demonstrate impaired ventricular performance.

Cardiomyopathies↗

Uncomplicated pneumonia: an evaluation of determinants of length of hospitalization.

A study was carried out on the length of hospitalization of patients with uncomplicated pneumonia. Three medical wards with comparable admissions criteria and characteristics of patients had different lengths of hospitalization (5.4, 8.1 and 9.1 days). Quality of care, defined by a score based on agreed-upon criteria of patient management and scored by independent observers, was similar for the three wards. There were also no differences in the rates of rehospitalization or complications. In the ward with the shortest hospital stay, predischarge chest X-rays were not performed; in the other two wards, 19.8% of the patients had a repeat chest X-ray before discharge. The difference in the proportion of predischarge X-rays did not explain the differences in length of stay. The data suggest that hospitalization practices should be periodically reviewed to ascertain their contribution to the length of hospitalization. The shortest hospitalization period for uncomplicated pneumonia observed on one of the medical wards seems reasonable and was not associated with obvious major complications in this small group of patients. Since only a small percentage of chest X-rays return to normal by the end of the 1st wk, and in view of their questionable contribution to therapeutic decisions, the usefulness of the predischarge chest X-ray is doubtful.

Adolescent↗

Use of epidemiology in primary care.

There is increasing interest in developing a stronger relationship between epidemiology and primary care. The practice of primary care, either individual-, family- or community-oriented, goes from examination and definition of health problems through planning, intervention, surveillance and evaluation. In individual-oriented primary care, the use of epidemiology is mainly based on the application of knowledge and principles. Community-oriented primary care requires, in addition, the application of epidemiological methods to perform surveys designed to quantify health problems in the community, thus allowing for planning of preventive and curative services.

Adult↗