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Biomedical subjects

U Lewinski

Publications and source records attributed to U Lewinski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia associated with AA amyloidosis.

It is widely accepted that amyloidosis in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is exclusively due to amyloid light-chain deposition. However, only a small number of previous reports have actually characterized the type of amyloid in WM. We now report the third patient with WM and amyloid A protein (AA) amyloidosis. This patient developed malabsorption, nephrotic syndrome, and orthostatic hypotension. AA was immunohistochemically demonstrated in the rectal biopsy. In conjunction with previous examples of AA amyloidosis, the present report raises the possibility that AA amyloidosis may also occur in WM patients.

Aged↗

Effect of an iron supplement on body iron status and aerobic capacity of young training women.

Serum iron deficiency has a high incidence in female athletes. We investigated the effects of a daily oral iron supplement, (160 mg) administered during an intensive 7-week physical training programme, on body iron status, and the maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) of 13 women (group A) compared to 15 who took a placebo (group B). The subjects were 19 years old. Blood samples were obtained before training began and on days 1, 7, 21 and 42 of training. They were analysed for packed cell volume (PVC) and for haemoglobin (Hb), 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), haptoglobin, iron and ferritin concentrations. The VO2max was measured on days 0, 21 and 42 of training. Following 21 days of training Hb, PCV and ferritin were significantly higher (P less than or equal to 0.01) in group A compared to group B. Over the training period Hb rose by 9.3% and 2.4% in groups A and B, respectively. At the end of training 66% of group B exhibited ferritin concentrations below 10 ng.ml-1, while none of group A had such low values. Mean VO2max of group A had increased by 7.5% following 21 days of training (P less than or equal to 0.01) and by 15.3% after 42 days. No appreciable increase in VO2max had occurred in group B by day 21 (significantly lower than VO2max of group A; P less than or equal to 0.05), however by day 42 it had increased by 14.3% (P less than or equal to 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Fatal aspiration pneumonia caused by an esophageal foreign body.

Esophageal foreign body accompanied by respiratory complications is a rare condition. A few cases have been reported, only two of them in adults. We describe the case of a 34-year-old mentally retarded patient who was hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia and died 48 hours after admission. At autopsy, the prominent finding was a 3 X 3-cm stone impacted into the upper esophagus and compressing the trachea from behind. The possibility of an esophageal foreign body should be included in the differential diagnosis of unexplained respiratory distress or aspiration pneumonia in adults.

Adult↗

The prognostic value of serum acetylcholinesterase in myocardial infarction. Theoretical and clinical considerations.

The aim of the present work was to determine experimentally the prognostic value of reduced activity of serum acetylcholinesterase (ACE) in cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the first part of the research we studied the mechanism of this reduction by comparing the serum results with the levels of the enzyme in cardiac tissue in such cases. It was found that ACE activity is reduced in serum and also in cardiac tissue in AMI, in contrast to creatine kinase (CK) that is augmented in serum but reduced in cardiac tissue. This fact was interpreted as a "reduced cardiac flow of ACE," in contrast to the "augmented cardiac clearance of CK" in similar cases. In the second part of our research, 50 patients, admitted in our hospital for AMI, were examined and their blood analysed mainly for ACE and CK at brief intervals (every 2-3 days), during hospitalization, and thereafter every 1-2 weeks for 1-4 months. From the results of ACE activity it was possible to classify these variations into four groups, each of them having a defined prognostic value for the evolution of the AMI, a persistent reduced serum activity being interpreted as a bad, severe prognosis, with high morbidity or mortality (groups II and III). We suggest, therefore, that the determination of ACE in serum in cases of AMI, especially before discharge home of such patients, may be an additional useful laboratory test in such cases.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Actinomycin-D, levamisole chemoimmunotherapy of refractory malignant melanoma.

Sixty adult patients with disseminated melanoma refractory to DTIC or Dacarbazine were given chemoimmunotherapy with intermittent high single dose Actinomycin-D and Levamisole. Actinomycin-D was given at a dose of 1.5-2.0 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 to 4 weeks. Levamisole was given in a dose of 150 mg/day for two consecutive days each week (50 patients) and in a dose of 200 mg every other day (10 patients). Antitumor responses consisted of 2% complete remissions (CR), 2% partial remissions (PR), and 33% disease improvement less than PR or stabilization (S). Comparison of these patients who received Actinomycin-D + Levamisole with those on an immediately preceding study in a similar population where Actinomycin-D was given as a single agent revealed no difference in response rates. Patients who responded to Actinomycin-D + Levamisole (CR + PR + S) survived significantly longer (35 weeks) than nonresponders (12 weeks, p less than 0.01). Survival was not longer (p less than .05) in responding patients (CR + PR + S) receiving Actinomycin-D + Levamisole (35 weeks) compared to those responding to Actinomycin-D alone (18 weeks, p = 0.09). Hematologic toxicity was tolerable with median lowest granulocyte counts of 1.6 x 10(3)/microliter and platelet counts of 134,000/microliter. Other toxic effects were predominantly nausea, vomiting, and mucositis. In those patients who received alternate day Levamisole there was greater gastrointestinal upset as well as fever, rash and central nervous system toxicity which was unacceptable.

Adult↗

Two abnormal clones in the bone marrow cells of a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is considered to be a clonal disorder, although most investigations have failed to show chromosomal abnormalities. The present patient suffered from PNH and exhibited in bone marrow cells two abnormal clones with 47 chromosomes in addition to cells with 46 chromosomes. One clone showed trisomy 9, a finding previously reported in leukemias and myeloproliferative disorders. Thus, PNH seems to be a clonal myeloproliferative disease.

Aged↗

Ultrastructural and functional studied on the lymphocytes of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and nuclear extrusion.

The cells of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) showed a peculiar phenomenon of nuclear blebbing and nuclear extrusion, observed by transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy. Protein synthesis of the lymphocytes was 3 times higher than that of cells of other 3 patients with CLL, but was lower than the synthesis of cells from a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Similar results were observed when RNA synthesizing activity of the cells was examined. On the other hand, thymidine incorporation proceeded in a similar rate in the patient's and the ALL lymphocytes, whereas in those CLL patients it was merely detected. The morphological findings and the synthesizing activities of the cells suggest that the patient's disease represents an intermediate form between CLL and ALL.

Cell Nucleus↗

A new cytogenetic aspect of polycythemia vera.

The cytogenetic findings in a group of 15 polycythemic patients are reported. G and C banding techniques were used on bone marrow and peripheral blood preparations. Major chromosomal aberrations were found in four out of the 15 patients, an incidence similar to that found in other studies on polymorphism. The most interesting finding concerned the chromosomal polymorphism of the pair 19. A possible relation to the etiology of the disease is discussed.

Adult↗

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy study on plasma cell leukemia.

The peripheral blood cells of a patient with acute plasma cell leukemia were examined with transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopes. The TEM features of the immature plasma cells comprised lobulated and irregulary shaped nuclei, with scanty heterochromating and bizarre nucleoli, parallel arrays of endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasmic fibrils and numerous polymorphic mitochondria. SEM examination of the cells showed long, thin irregular ruffles, or round blebs on the cell surface, with appearance different from this observed on other types of leukemia. A remarkable clinical and hematological remission was achieved with administration of melphalan and steroids.

Acute Disease↗

Vincristine-induced myocardial infarction.

A patient with lymphosarcoma treated with weekly injections of vincristine developed an acute myocardial infarction immediately after the second injection of vincristine. After he recovered from the infarction, the treatment was continued and he developed an additional myocardial infarction. In vivo and in vitro studies have not revealed any effect of vincristine on the clotting mechanism. The possible causes for the association of vincristine-treated lymphoma and myocardial infarction are discussed.

Animals↗