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Biomedical subjects

Y Shachor

Publications and source records attributed to Y Shachor.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Implications of simultaneous tests for tuberculin and non-tuberculous mycobacteria antigen in the elderly.

It is well established that old people living in institutions are more susceptible to tuberculous reactivation and exogenic infection than the general population. Therefore, annual screening with a tuberculin (T) skin test is suggested. Unfortunately, the specificity and sensitivity of this test is limited because of cross-reactivity with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and anergy. We therefore investigated the possibility that a simultaneous test with NTM antigen might be helpful in the interpretation of the T test in the elderly. We tested 220 inhabitants of a geriatric institution in Israel simultaneously with T and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum sensitin (S). Ninety-six subjects reacted to the T test, and 64 of them reacted to S as well. In this last group, 38 reacted more to T, 22 more to S, and 4 reacted equally to both antigens. Of the 124 subjects who did not react to T, 24 did react to S and 123 were retested with T. Twenty-two of the latter group had a positive booster effect, but 9 of the positive booster responders initially reacted to S. The difference between the proportions of the positive booster effect in the responders and the non-responders to S was significant. We conclude that in an area where infection with NTM is present a simultaneous S test may clarify the meanings of initial and booster-positive responses to T in the elderly, as well as exclude anergy when the T test is negative.

Aged↗

Long-term survival of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following mechanical ventilation.

Fifty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who survived their first artificial ventilation were followed for 15 years. Five-year survival was 30%, median survival 23.5 months, and average survival 44.9 months. Sudden death occurred in 47% of the patients (40% at home and 7% in the hospital). Using multivariate analysis, survival correlated positively and significantly with partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) on discharge (P less than 0.02), presence of wheezes or rhonchi (P less than 0.02), absence of right heart failure on admission (P less than 0.02), and male sex (P less than 0.05), and negatively with age (P less than 0.03). Sixty percent of the patients were artificially ventilated at least twice. Prognosis was better as the number of ventilations increased after the first ventilation. Our finding that discharge PaO2 was the factor that correlated best with survival suggests that treatment for these patients consist of continuous long-term use of domiciliary oxygen.

Cause of Death↗

Malignant thymoma with peripheral blood lymphocytosis.

A 37-year-old woman with a giant, lymphocytic predominant thymoma involving the pleura and accompanied by a sharp peripheral blood lymphocytosis is described. Only electromicroscopic and immunohistologic studies could exclude the alternative diagnosis of mediastinal lymphoma. The tumor and peripheral blood lymphocytes were characterized as T4 lymphocytes. The thymoma responded very well to a combination of radiation and cytotoxic therapy. Forty-two months after diagnosis, the patient is still is complete remission.

Adult↗

Transcutaneous monitoring of blood gas tensions in patients on intermittent peritoneal dialysis.

A relative contraindication to intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) is chronic lung disease. To evaluate whether the instillation of 2 L of fluid into the peritoneal cavity affects respiratory function, five IPD patients were studied in the supine position during the first 4 h of a routine IPD session. Blood gas tensions were monitored transcutaneously throughout the study period. At the onset of dialysis, mean transcutaneous blood oxygen tension (PtcO2) was 70.6 +/- 9.1 mm Hg. It decreased to 55 +/- 9.9 mm Hg (22% change from basal values) during the instillation of dialysate. Upon drainage, PtcO2 returned to baseline. This sequence of events repeated itself on subsequent exchanges, although with decreasing decrements of PtcO2 with each consecutive exchange (decrease to 58.6 +/- 7.05, 61 +/- 6.5, 63.8 +/- 5.2 mm Hg corresponding to 16%, 12.7%, and 9.6%, respectively, during the second to fourth exchanges). Transcutaneous blood carbon dioxide tension, PtcCO2, showed a very mild increase during the study (33 +/- 7.1 to 38 +/- 6.0 mm Hg). In two patients, the same study protocol was performed during the last 4 h of an IPD session. In these two patients, there was only a 5% variation of PtcO2 from baseline values. These results suggest that an adaptive response to the hypoxemia induced by dialysate instillation rapidly occurs in IPD patients.

Adult↗

Pulmonary embolism after short-term treatment of acne vulgaris with ovulation suppressor agents.

A case of recurrent pulmonary embolism with infarction is described. The patient, a 28-year-old woman, had been treated over a four-month period with a preparation of cyproterone acetate plus ethinyloestradiol for acne vulgaris. It is suggested that the use of oral contraceptive preparations for the treatment of innocent disorders should be avoided when factors that may potentiate a thrombogenic effect are present.

Acne Vulgaris↗