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Biomedical subjects

Z Ackerman

Publications and source records attributed to Z Ackerman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Evaluation of pleural fluid in patients with cirrhosis.

Although fluid analysis usually is the first step toward identifying the cause of pleural effusion in patients with cirrhosis and ascites, there are no available data on the reliability of this approach, therefore, we retrospectively evaluated hematologic and biochemical parameters from pleural fluid analysis in 21 patients with hepatic hydrothorax (with proven peritoneal-pleural communication) and 6 patients with primary pleural disease (2 with tuberculosis, 3 with parapneumonic effusion, and 1 with empyema). The criteria developed by Light were diagnostic of pleural "exudate" in only one of six patients with primary pleural disease, concentrations of leukocytes, total protein (TP), albumin, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in both fluids were measured and pleural fluid-to-ascites ratios of these measurements were calculated. Only ratio values for leukocytes and TP were higher in the group of patients with primary pleural disease compared with those with hepatic hydrothorax. Ratio values for leukocytes and TP overlapped between both groups during baseline conditions and during episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and pleuritis. We conclude that pleural fluid analysis has limited diagnostic efficacy in the patient with cirrhosis. Data collected by other methods--clinical and radiologic--should assist in arriving at the correct diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Open-access endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract: is it indicated and efficient? Retrospective and prospective studies in an Israeli population.

Open-access endoscopy has recently gained popularity in referring patients for endoscopic procedures. Retrospective (looking into patients' medical files) and prospective studies (using 2 different questionnaires, and evaluating a selection system) were conducted, comparing the efficacy of open-access endoscopy for patients referred by either family practitioners or gastroenterologists. In the retrospective study, 673 patients (mean age 48.8 years, male-58%) underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The main indications for upper endoscopy were epigastric pain (71%), heartburn (18%) and vomiting (13%). Severe endoscopic findings were not different between the study groups. Normal or mildly abnormal findings were diagnosed in 75% of patients in both groups. In the prospective study, 361 patients were referred for upper endoscopy (mean age 50.2 years, male-58%). Although there were significantly (p < 0.01) fewer normal and more mild endoscopic findings in the patients referred by gastroenterologists, as compared with family practitioners, there was no difference in the clinically significant (severe) endoscopic findings. Previous ulcer, smoking, gender, age and nocturnal pain were predictive for severe endoscopic findings. There was a linear correlation between the severity of the scoring system and the endoscopic findings. The results of the present study, which reveal nonsignificant differences in the indications for and the findings of endoscopies, indicate that selection of patients for endoscopy can be safely done by family practitioners. In order to reduce the number of referred patients with no gastrointestinal pathology, a better scoring system to detect at-risk patients should be developed.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Captopril-associated "pseudocholangitis'. A case report and review of the literature.

Captopril, a competitive inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme, is widely used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Captopril is known to be associated with dermatologic, hematologic, and pulmonary adverse effects. However, hepatotoxicity is extremely rare. A patient with severe cholestatic jaundice induced by captopril is presented. On admission to the hospital, the patient was diagnosed and treated as having cholangitis. Review of the literature showed similar occurrences in other patients. Patients treated with captopril who develop "atypical cholangitis" should be suspected of having captopril-associated liver damage.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Vitamin C status and colonic neoplasia.

PURPOSE: A subnormal status of vitamin C has been associated with an increased risk for several malignant diseases and may play a causative role in their development. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this occurs also in neoplasms of the colon. METHODS: We have studied dietary intake and status of vitamin C in a consecutive group of patients with adenomatous colonic polyps (n = 31) and compared it with that of patients with no such history and a normal colonic mucosa, as confirmed by colonoscopy (n = 54). RESULTS: Dietary intake of this vitamin, as assessed by the dietary recall method, was similar in the two groups, as were the levels of vitamin C in plasma and leukocytes. There were no significant differences in intake of dietary fiber, fat, vitamin A, or calcium between the two groups. Lack of association between vitamin C intake or status and colonic polyps persisted after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in this population, a deficient status of vitamin C is not an important factor in colonic neoplasia.

Adenomatous Polyps↗
PubMed1996

Renal vasoactive mediator generation in portal hypertensive and bile duct ligated rats.

BACKGROUND/METHODS: Vasoactive substances may have a role in the pathogenesis of functional renal abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis. We determined renal vasoactive mediators in rats with portal hypertension since the balance in each part of the kidney between the vasodilator activity of prostaglandin E2 and the vasospastic activity of thromboxane A2, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4, endothelin-1 and platelet activating factor may determine renal function. Rats with partial portal vein ligation (n = 7), complete bile duct ligation (n = 6) and sham operated (n = 10) were studied. Three weeks following surgery renal function tests, including fractional excretion of sodium [Fe(Na)] were measured. Rats were anesthetized, splenic pulp pressure was measured, kidneys were removed, and cortex, medulla and papilla were separated and homogenized for determination of prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4 and endothelin-1 by radioimmunoassay (ng/g) and platelet activating factor activity (pg/10 mg) by platelet aggregation. RESULTS: Pulp pressure was > 13 mmHg in portal vein ligated and bile duct ligated and 6 mmHg in sham operated rats. In bile duct ligated rats there was a 70% decrease in Fe(Na) and a significant decrease in cortical and papillary prostaglandin E2, whereas cortical thromboxane B2 and platelet activating factor activity in the cortex, medulla and papilla were double that of sham operated rats. A similar but insignificant trend of changes was found in portal vein ligated rats. Medullary leukotriene B4 was significantly decreased in bile duct ligated rats. Papillary leukotriene B4 was not detected in bile duct ligated and portal vein ligated rats. Renal leukotriene C4 generation in the three groups was either unchanged (papilla) or beyond detection (cortex and medulla). Medullary and papillary endothelin-1 in portal vein ligated and bile duct ligated rats were 178%-130% higher than in sham operated rats. A significant negative correlation was found between Fe(Na) and cortical and medullary thromboxane B2 generation and medullary platelet activating factor activity. CONCLUSIONS: 1) In bile duct ligated rats enhanced intrarenal generation of thromboxane A2 and platelet activating factor may contribute to decreased renal sodium excretion. 2) The role of decreased intrarenal prostaglandin E2 and increased intrarenal endothelin-1 content in bile duct ligated rats is not yet understood. 3) Renal leukotriene generation is either decreased or undetected in portal vein ligated and bile duct ligated rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Ascites in Nephrotic syndrome. Incidence, patients' characteristics, and complications.

The pathophysiology of ascites in patients with cirrhosis is complex and includes increases in hepatic sinusoidal pressure, the formation of hepatic and splanchnic lymph, renal sodium retention, and hypoalbuminemia. However, the role of hypoalbuminemia in ascites formation is controversial. Evaluating ascites in hypoalbuminemic patients with nephrotic syndrome could add to our understanding of the role of hypoalbuminemia in ascites development. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 52 adults and 21 children with nephrotic syndrome who were hospitalized in the Hadassah University Hospital on Mount Scopus during 1981-1994. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of ascites between pediatric (52%) and adult patients (23%) (p = 0.024). Pediatric patients had lower serum albumin levels than adults (1.70 +/- 0.08 g/dl vs. 2.10 +/- 0.07 g/dl, p = 0.001). Adult patients with ascites had lower serum albumin levels than adult patients without ascites (1.80 +/- 0.13 g/dl vs. 2.20 +/- 0.07 g/dl, p = 0.01). This difference was not found in pediatric patients. Temporary fluctuations in liver enzymes (up to four times the upper limit of normal for transaminases) were evident in five patients from the pediatric group with ascites, whereas all pediatric patients without ascites had completely normal liver enzymes (p = 0.035). Among the 12 adult patients with ascites, seven had liver disease (three with cirrhosis and four with amyloidosis), and two had right-sided congestive heart failure. Among the 40 adult patients without ascites, only four had liver disease (amyloidosis). The plasma albumin levels of the patients with amyloidosis without ascites were higher than patients with amyloidosis with ascites (1.90 +/- 0.10 g/dl vs. 1.50 +/- 0.07 g/dl, p = 0.03). Two patients with nephrotic syndrome and ascites (one without liver disease) had episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Ascites in nephrotic syndrome is more common in children than in adults. Although in most pediatric patients ascites formation is probably a common manifestation of the general fluid retention, in most adult patients with nephrotic syndrome ascites can be attributed to both hypoalbuminemia and the presence of liver disease or congestive heart failure, with increased hepatic sinusoidal pressure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Gastric and colonic inflammatory and vasoactive mediators in experimental portal hypertension.

Rats with portal hypertension and experimental liver disease may exhibit increased susceptibility of the gastric mucosa to damage by noxious agents, and increased bacterial translocation through the bowel wall. The aim of this study was to determine mucosal gastric and colonic generation of vasoactive substances, because they may contribute to the altered mucosal function. Rats with partial vein ligation (n = 7), complete bile duct ligation (n = 6) and sham-operated rats (n = 10) were studied. Three weeks following surgery rats were anesthetized, splenic pulp pressure was measured, stomachs and colons were removed and mucosa was extracted for determination of prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4 and endothelin-1 by radioimmunoassay (ng/g) and platelet activating factor activity (pg/10 mg) by platelet aggregation. Pulp pressure was > 13 mmHg in partial vein ligated rats and bile duct ligated rats and 6 mmHg in sham-operated rats. No macroscopic or microscopic lesions were seen any of the removed tissues. Gastric mucosal prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 generation were decreased by 35% and 7%, respectively, in bile duct ligated rats (bile duct ligated versus sham-operated, p < 0.05 for prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2). Gastric leukotriene B4 and C4 generation, platelet activating factor activity and endothelin-1 content did not differ significantly among the three groups. A different pattern of changes was observed in the colon. Colonic leukotriene B4 generation and endothelin-1 content were increased in bile duct ligated rats by 105% and 210%, respectively (bile duct ligated versus sham-operated, p < 0.05 for leukotriene B4 and endothelin-1). The decreased gastric mucosal prostaglandin E2 generation of bile duct ligated rats may render the gut mucosa of these animals relatively ischemic and vulnerable to damage by noxious agents. The increased colonic leukotriene B4 generation and the increased endothelin-1 content of the colonic mucosa of bile duct ligated rats may promote inflammatory and ischemic changes in the colonic mucosa and may enable bacterial translocation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Role of small bowel biopsy in the endoscopic evaluation of adults with iron deficiency anemia.

OBJECTIVES: The recommended evaluation of adult patients presenting with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) includes the performance of colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. IDA is a common feature in patients with celiac disease and, in several, may be the only presenting sign. The performance of small bowel biopsy (SBB) for the evaluation of celiac disease as the cause of IDA is not routinely recommended. The aim of the present study was to determine the yield of SBB performed during routine endoscopy of adults with IDA. METHODS: We prospectively studied 93 patients with IDA. Three control groups were included: 23 patients with steatorrhea, 37 patients with idiopathic diarrhea, and 9 patients in whom SBB was performed for miscellaneous indications. RESULTS: Eleven patients with IDA and two patients with steatorrhea had SBB findings compatible with celiac disease. None of the patients from the other two groups had similar findings. Two patients with IDA, who were later diagnosed to suffer from celiac disease, presented: one with occult blood in the stool and the other with rectal bleeding. Subgroup analysis of patients with IDA revealed that patients with celiac disease were younger, had significantly more episodes of diarrhea, lower mean hemoglobin level, and longer duration of anemia than those without celiac disease. Other mucosal abnormalities were found in a substantial number of patients with celiac disease: esophagitis, gastritis, duodenitis, hemorrhoids, and colitis. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of adult Israeli patients who present with IDA are found, on SBB, to have mucosal abnormalities compatible with the diagnosis of celiac disease. The presence of esophagitis, gastritis, or duodenitis on esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or other abnormalities on colonoscopy, do not exclude the coexistence of celiac disease. Celiac disease should be included and routinely looked for in the differential diagnosis of adult patients with IDA.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Enhanced colonic nitric oxide generation and nitric oxide synthase activity in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Recent studies have suggested that nitric oxide (NO.), the product of nitric oxide synthase in inflammatory cells, may play a part in tissue injury and inflammation through its oxidative metabolism. In this study the colonic generation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and nitric oxide synthase activity was determined in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Colonic biopsy specimens were obtained from inflammatory bowel disease patients and from normal controls. Mucosal explants were cultured in vitro for 24 hours and NOx generation was determined. Nitric oxide synthase activity was monitored by the conversion of [3H]-L-arginine to citrulline. Median NOx generation by inflamed colonic mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis was 4.2- and 8.1-fold respectively higher than that by normal human colonic mucosa. In ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis nitric oxide synthase activity was 10.0- and 3.8-fold respectively higher than in normal subjects. Colonic NOx generation is significantly decreased by methylprednisolone and ketotifen. The decrease in NOx generation by cultured colonic mucosa induced by methylprednisolone suggests that NO synthase activity is induced during the culture and the steroid effect may contribute to its therapeutic effect. Enhanced colonic NOx generation by stimulated nitric oxide synthase activity in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease may contribute to tissue injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Enhancement of HBsAg detection in serum of patients with chronic liver disease following removal of circulating immune complexes.

Patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma may lack serological evidence of previous hepatitis B virus infection. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that circulating immune complexes may interfere with the detection of low levels of HBsAg in such patients. Sera from 190 patients were initially screened for the presence of circulating immune complexes. Patients belonged to three clinical categories: asymptomatic HBsAg carriers (50 patients), chronic liver disease (30 patients) and hepatocellular carcinoma (110 patients). Forty-one of the group of 190 patients (21%) were positive for circulating immune complexes. Sera from 21 patients were selected for further evaluation. The sera of 13 chronic liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HBsAg negative, hepatitis B virus-DNA negative, with or without evidence of previous hepatitis B virus infection) and eight HBsAg positive carriers (four asymptomatic, three with chronic liver disease and one with hepatocellular carcinoma) were passed through a Clq affinity column (first column) to remove circulating immune complexes. Unbound material was then passed through a monoclonal IgG2a anti-HBs affinity column (second column). Unbound material (following both columns) contained free HBsAg, as determined by monocolonal radio-immunoassay, in eight patients in whom HBsAg had been undetectable in the original serum. Removal of circulating immune complexes from the serum of the three HBsAg positive patients with chronic liver disease also caused a significant increase in measurable circulating HBsAg compared with the original serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Enhanced gastric nitric oxide synthase activity in duodenal ulcer patients.

Nitric oxide, the product of nitric oxide synthase in inflammatory cells, may have a role in tissue injury through its oxidative metabolism. Nitric oxide may have a role in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer and may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the association between gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori and peptic disease. In this study, calcium independent nitric oxide synthase activity was detected in human gastric mucosa suggesting expression of the inducible isoform. In 17 duodenal ulcer patients gastric antral and fundic nitric oxide synthase activity was found to be two and 1.5-fold respectively higher than its activity in the antrum and fundus of 14 normal subjects (p < 0.05). H pylori was detected in the antrum of 15 of 17 duodenal ulcer patients and only in 7 of 14 of the control subjects. Antral nitric oxide synthase activity in H pylori positive duodenal ulcer patients was twofold higher than in H pylori positive normal subjects (p < 0.05). In duodenal ulcer patients antral and fundic nitric oxide synthase activity resumed normal values after induction of ulcer healing with ranitidine. Eradication of H pylori did not further affect gastric nitric oxide synthase activity. These findings suggest that in duodenal ulcer patients stimulated gastric mucosal nitric oxide synthase activity, though independent of the H pylori state, may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

The effect of nizatidine on duodenal ulcer healing and on mucosal inflammatory mediators.

The aim of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of nizatidine on duodenal ulcer healing and generation of mucosal prostaglandin estradiol and inflammatory mediators. Fifty-five patients with endoscopically proven active duodenal ulcer received either nizatidine 300 mg or placebo, once nightly, for 4 weeks, when a second endoscopy was performed. Healing was defined as complete epithelialization of the ulcer crater. At both endoscopies mucosal biopsies were obtained for determination of prostanoids and inflammatory mediators. Nizatidine and placebo induced ulcer healing in 76% and 60.9% of the patients, respectively, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Nizatidine treatment did not significantly affect mucosal leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4 or platelet activating factor generation. It is concluded, therefore, that the antisecretory effect is probably the main mechanism responsible for nizatidine's therapeutic effects in peptic ulcer disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Thrombocytopenic purpura as a manifestation of acute hepatitis A.

Extrahepatic autoimmune manifestations are rare in patients with acute hepatitis A infection. We describe a 34-year-old man in whom severe autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura developed as the manifestation of acute hepatitis A infection. Thrombocytopenic purpura is rarely described in association with hepatitis A, but to our knowledge has never been reported as a manifestation of acute hepatitis A.

Acute Disease↗