The American journal of the medical sciences
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Case Reports
Reversible hepatomegaly and diabetes mellitus in an adult with disseminated histiocytosis X.
Histiocytosis X rarely disseminates in an adult. The authors describe an unusual patients who presented with multiple areas of cutaneous and bone involvement. During the course of his disease he developed massive hepatomegaly. ⋯ No pancreatic nor pituitary abnormalities were identified. The combination of histiocytosis X, hepatomegaly, and diabetes mellitus has not been previously reported. The medical literature is reviewed with an emphasis on disseminated histiocytosis X in adults and the mechanism of glucose intolerance in liver disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Combined low-dose medication and primary intervention over a 30-month period for sustained high blood pressure in childhood.
Studies of the pathobiologic consequences of high blood pressure in childhood, as well as those following blood pressure levels into young adulthood, indicate that early intervention in the natural history of essential hypertension is warranted. In an exploratory study of the concept, 95 children out of 1604 (aged 8 to 18 years), who persistently scored higher than the 90th percentile for blood pressure over a 4-month period, considering the race, sex, and height of the children, were studied. Five series of replicate measurements with 30 total observations were obtained. ⋯ Furthermore, analyses suggested that the blood pressure change, at least in the first month, was mostly attributable to drug therapy. Moreover, the mechanism of blood pressure change appeared to be race-specific, with whites having pulse rate changes and blacks having significant weight changes, which were associated with blood pressure change. This trial shows further research is warranted to determine optimum approaches for early treatment of essential hypertension to prevent future hypertensive disease.
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The Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a fulminant form of respiratory failure affecting many seriously ill patients. The early manifestations of ARDS are caused by increased permeability of the alveolo-capillary barrier leading to pulmonary edema, stiff lungs, and a large right-to-left intrapulmonary shunt. ⋯ ARDS therapy remains largely supportive and has had little impact on mortality. The complications of infection and multiorgan failure play important roles in determining ARDS outcome.
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Previously the authors have observed a reduction of the ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) in a mild diabetic model. This investigation examines the role of more severe hyperglycemia in altering the ventricular fibrillation threshold and how the sympathetic nervous system modulates the response. Alloxan diabetes was induced in eight male mongrel dogs 3-5 years of age (Group 2), for comparison with matched controls (Group 1). ⋯ Both groups had similar coronary blood flow responses by the thermal method, as well as changes in arterial pressure. While no change occurred in Group 1, a progressive rise of norepinephrine (NE) concentration was observed in coronary venous effluent of Group 2 (p less than .01). The basal arterial-coronary sinus difference was-123 +/- 52 pg/ml, which rose during pacing in Group 2 to a peak of -376 +/- 9.3 pg/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Comparative Study
Comparison of tracheal aspirates and protected brush catheter specimens for identifying pathogenic bacteria in mechanically ventilated patients.
Bacterial respiratory infections are common in patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation, and antibiotic selection often is based upon the results of smears and cultures of tracheal aspirates (TA). This study was designed to determine the reliability of gram stains, cultures and antibody-coating of bacteria in TA by comparing them with the results of quantitative cultures of specimens obtained by protected brush catheters (PBC) inserted into involved areas of lung parenchyma. Twenty-two patients on mechanical ventilation for at least 72 hours, with new radiographic infiltrates and fever, were studied. ⋯ Cultures of TA revealed potential pathogens in 20 patients, and in 15, multiple pathogens were present. The bacteria isolated from PBC also were present in 14 of the 16 patients with greater than or equal to 10(3) CFU in PBC cultures (88%). Antibody coating was present in TA from 12 patients, and antibody coating correlated poorly with cultures of PBC specimens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)