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Biomedical subjects

W Kaplan

Publications and source records attributed to W Kaplan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

An experimental model for chronic lymphedema.

Although a multitude of operations exist for the treatment of lymphedema, none is highly successful. An experimental model that reliably and easily produces chronic lymphedema in an extremity would be useful to study treatments in a controlled and comparative manner and would enhance our understanding of the physiology and treatment of lymphedema. Many models that simulate clinical lymphedema have been described, but they suffer from cumbersome protocols, high laboratory costs, and an inconsistent yield of permanent lymphedema. We describe an experimental model for chronic lymphedema in the lower extremity of the rat that creates a lymphatic block in the groin induced by radiation treatment and one operation--surgical division of the superficial and deep lymphatics. All animals develop stable chronic lymphedema of the lower extremity within days of operation, with swelling that persists for at least 9 months. A mortality rate of 8 percent was associated with this technique. Methods for quantification of limb swelling are described, as is analysis of the lymphatic block by lymphoscintigraphic imaging of lymph channels and nodes. This model has the advantages of simplicity of technique, cost-effective use of rodent subjects, reproducibility of lymphedema, and quantification of results.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody B6.2 in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Thirteen patients with metastatic breast carcinoma were given injections of 50-1593 micrograms of 131I-monoclonal antibody (MAb) B6.2 immunoglobulin G and F(ab')2 for pharmacokinetic evaluation and radioimmunoimaging. Blood clearance of the 131I-MAb-B6.2 was biphasic. The mean half-times (t 1/2 alpha, t 1/2 beta) for the immunoglobulin G were 3.5 +/- 1.7 and 20.9 +/- 11.0 h, respectively. The t 1/2 alpha for the F(ab')2 was 1.7 +/- 1.3 h, and the t 1/2 beta was 31.0 +/- 5.7 h. The percentage of protein bound 131I for the immunoglobulin G and for the F(ab')2 at 72 h was 73.7 +/- 11.4% and 58.2 +/- 14.5%, respectively. In vitro reactivity of MAb B6.2 with granulocytes isolated from normal subjects and patients was demonstrated by cytofluorometric and radioimmunoassays. MAb B6.2 was shown to bind with normal cross-reacting antigen, a cell surface antigen known to be expressed on normal human granulocytes. Reactivity with normal cross-reacting antigen on granulocytes is consistent with the skeletal images obtained during immunoscintigraphy of all 13 patients. A specific tumor image was observed in one patient. No toxicity was encountered. In spite of extensive preclinical data suggesting that 131I-MAb B6.2 would be a useful agent for radioimmunoimaging, the clinical utility of this reagent is probably limited because of the reactivity with granulocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Disseminated bilateral chorioretinitis due to Histoplasma capsulatum in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 31-year-old white male homosexual was healthy until March 1984, when he developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, which resolved with treatment. In April 1984 he developed fever, followed by hepatosplenomegaly, headaches, blurred vision, pancytopenia and pulmonary infiltrates. On June 11, intracytoplasmic yeast were noted within leukocytes on a peripheral blood smear, and amphotericin B was started. The patient developed progressive respiratory and renal insufficiency and died on June 13, 1984. Autopsy histopathology demonstrated disseminated histoplasmosis and Histoplasma capsulatum was cultured from numerous tissues. Ocular histopathologic examination using special fungal stains and electron microscopy revealed numerous budding yeasts characteristic of Histoplasma capsulatum in the choroid, retina and central retinal vein. Their identification as H. capsulatum was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Zygomycosis. Report of four cases with formation of chlamydoconidia in tissue.

The authors describe spheric to ovoid chlamydoconidia and mucoraceous hyphae in tissues from four patients, two with cutaneous and two with pulmonary zygomycosis. The diagnosis in each case was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining and the presence of characteristic hyphae in tissue. It is important that these conidia be recognized, because they can easily be mistaken for other fungi, nematode ova, or other microorganisms in tissue sections, thereby resulting in the potential for misdiagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala spinifera.

The second human subcutaneous infection due to Exophiala spinifera from the United States is described. Identification was based on the morphology of the fungus in tissue and the morphological features of the culture obtained from the biopsy material. Correct diagnosis and treatment with ketoconazole and 5-fluorocytosine cured the infection.

Flucytosine↗
PubMed1983

Studies of cervicovaginal smears for the presence of actinomycetes.

Cytologic and direct fluorescent antibody techniques were used to detect the presence of Actinomyces israelii and Arachnia propionica in cervicovaginal smears collected from 100 women, 94 of whom did not use intrauterine contraceptive devices. In no case were these organisms found. The possible significance of these results is discussed.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed1983

A zygomycotic infection in captive snakes.

We report disseminated, fatal fungal disease involving subcutaneous and visceral tissues in 4 captive snakes (1 Elaphe guttata, 2 Crotalus horridus, and 1 Pituophis melanoleucus). The etiologic agent, which was abundant in the lesion, had a rounded form in vivo with a prominent nucleus. These cells averaged 17 microns in diameter and reproduced by fission, forming clusters of two or four daughter cells. The etiologic agent was isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar from one of the snakes. It also grew well on various mycologic media, forming soft, raised, glabrous, tannish colonies. The colonies were composed of large spherical cells with prominent nuclei that reproduced by fission like those seen in tissue. In addition, some of the cells were observed to germinate, forming rudimentary hyphal filaments that were up to 8 microns in diameter and 100 microns in length, with occasional septa and thick-walled structures regarded as azygospores. We consider the fungus to be a zygomycete that may belong to the order Entomophthorales.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Development of fluorescent-antibody reagents for demonstration of Pseudallescheria boydii in tissues.

We prepared fluorescent-antibody reagents to detect and identify Pseudallescheria boydii in tissue. Antisera to broken mycelium and condidia (particulate antigens) and to culture filtrates (soluble antigens) of P. boydii were produced in rabbits. Antisera and globulin fractions of the antisera were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and evaluated for their ability to stain P. boydii in tissues. The conjugates were first tested with cultures of 25 P. boydii isolates and 26 heterologous fungi that are morphologically similar to P. boydii in tissues. Labeled antibody to the soluble antigens reacted only weakly with cultures of P. boydii. Labeled antibody to particulate antigens brightly stained all P. boydii isolates and cross-reacted with Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and a Scopulariopsis sp. The cross-reacting antibodies were removed by adsorption with A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum. The adsorbed conjugates stained P. boydii in Formalin-fixed tissues from experimentally infected mice and in Formalin-fixed tissues from humans and animals with natural infections. They did not stain the heterologous fungi in tissues.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1982

Canine protothecosis: review of the literature and report of an additional case.

A review of protothecosis in dogs revealed that this malady usually begins in the gastrointestinal tract and progresses to systemic involvement. Clinical signs generally include bloody diarrhea or blood-stained feces as well as blindness, ataxia, and polyuria. Histologically, myriads of protothecal organisms in different stages of development are found in the granulomatous lesions. Two main species have been culturally identified: Prototheca zopfii and P wickerhamii. In the absence of cultural studies, species identification can be accomplished readily by immunofluorescence. The present case involved P zopfii infection in a 5-year-old female Cocker Spaniel that had bloody diarrhea, with a history of bloody diarrhea 6 months earlier.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Communicating hydrocephalus caused by Aspergillus flavus.

A patient with a past history of sporadic parenteral drug abuse had communicating hydrocephalus associated with arachnoiditis over the lumbar spinal cord. The diagnosis of aspergillosis was made by a newly described immunofluorescent staining procedure and was later confirmed by culture. The spectrum of central nervous system aspergillosis associated with drug abuse is reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Cutaneous sporotrichosis in forestry workers. Epidemic due to contaminated Sphagnum moss.

In December 1975 and January and February 1976, an epidemic of cutaneous sporotrichosis occurred in Mississippi among forestry workers and other persons exposed to sphagnum moss used in packing pine seedlings. Seventeen cases were identified, 15 of which were from patients who had been exposed to sphagnum moss from a single source. Attack rates were significantly higher among workers exposed to this moss than among those not exposed. Sporothrix schenckii was cultured from the implicated batch of sphagnum moss but not from other batches. The source of contamination of the sphagnum moss that caused this epidemic and sphagnum moss associated with similar epidemics is unknown. One worker without cutaneous sporotrichosis may have had asymptomatic pulmonary sporotrichosis.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1978

Occurrence of Blastomyces dermatitidis in Israel. First autochthonous Middle Eastern case.

A nodule from the infrapatellar region of the left knee of a patient in Israel was found by fluorescent antibody staining to contain the tissue form cells of Blastomyces dermatitidis. The diagnosis was confirmed by culture and other mycological studies when a second lesion appeared below the right knee. This represents the first autochthonous case of blastomycosis from Israel and the Middle East.

Aged↗