PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Wexler

Publications and source records attributed to S Wexler.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Low levels of serum calcium, phosphorus and plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D in cirrhosis of the liver.

In a retrospective analysis of 78 patients with liver cirrhosis, we found low serum levels of calcium and phosphorus. The low calcium levels showed a better correlation with high activity of aspartate aminotransferase than with low levels of albumin. In addition, there was a relationship between low calcium and low phosphorus levels. Therefore, factors other than, and in addition to, hypoalbuminemia seem to be responsible for the low calcium and phosphorus levels in cirrhosis patients. Although low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were found in 23 of our patients, there was no indication that hypovitaminosis D was causative factor in the hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗

Agar overlay plaquing technique for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in HeLa monolayers.

The solid agar overlay procedure used for viral plaquing was adapted to the study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa plaques in HeLa monolayers. After adsorption of the organism to the HeLa monolayers, an overlay consisting of 10% newborn calf serum (NBCS), 90% Eagles basal medium (EBM), and 1.5% agar containing neutral red was added. Plaques developed after 24 hr of incubation at 37 C which were indistinguishable from viral lesions. Optimal conditions for plaques included: serum in the adsorption fluid as well as the overlay medium; 1-hr adsorption time; healthy HeLa monolayers; and the presence of EBM. The formation of plaques instead of colonies in agar was due to the inhibitory effect of NBCS or EBM. By omitting both of these components from the overlay, colonies appeared in place of plaques. Adult bovine serum acted in a similar bacterial colony-suppressing fashion, but fetal or agamma calf serum did not. Furthermore, NBCS or adult bovine serum when incorporated in the overlay medium instead of fetal or agamma calf serum displayed a plaque-suppressing effect by reducing the number and size of plaques formed. The findings lend further evidence to support the hypothesis that P. aeruginosa may produce plaques from a protected intracellular site within HeLa cells.

Animals↗

The effect of amniotic fluid on intraperitoneal adhesion formation--an experimental study.

In an attempt to investigate the relative paucity of intraperitoneal adhesions after cesarean sections, we tested the effect of amniotic fluid on adhesion formation in rat model. Trauma was induced to the uterine serosa in 40 rats. Amniotic fluid was intraperitoneally instilled in 20 rats and saline in another 20 rats acting as controls. No inhibitory effect of the amniotic fluid could be demonstrated. The effect of the amniotic fluid and the saline solutions on fibroblastic proliferation was examined in vitro using fibroblastic cell cultures. No direct effect on fibroblast proliferation was found. It is concluded that it is not the direct effect of the spilled amniotic fluid that inhibits adhesion formation after the performance of cesarean sections.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Cervical cerclage--its role in the pregnant anomalous uterus.

Twenty-nine cases of cervical incompetence were found among 98 women diagnosed as having a congenital uterine anomaly on hysterosalpingography, a high incidence of 30%. The highest incidence was found in the bicornuate uterus group--38%. The incidence of premature delivery and late abortion was higher in this group than in the rest of the patients with uterine anomalies (55% and 68%, vs. 45% and 32%). An obvious improvement in obstetrical performance was noted after cerclage. In the cervical incompetence group, term deliveries increased from 26% to 63%. Premature deliveries and late abortions dropped from 74% to 37%. Even in the patients with anomalous uterus without proven diagnosis of cervical incompetence, term deliveries increased from 64% to 96%, and pregnancies terminating prematurely dropped from 35.6% to 4%, following cerclage. No doubt exists as to the need for cerclage in cases of cervical incompetence. We also believe it should be performed prophylactically in cases of bicornuate uterus. The concept of routine prophylactic cerclage in all cases of uterine anomalies should be considered.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗