Publications by authors named "P Birkenfeld"

Concerns have been raised over the use of iodine for disinfecting drinking water on extended space flights. Most fears revolve around effects of iodide on thyroid function. iodine (I2) is the form used in drinking-water disinfection.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Having experienced two cases of Boerhaave's syndrome (spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus), one a 42-year-old man, the other a 76-year-old woman, who both died of complications failing operative repair, the authors undertook a survey of the literature in order to evaluate the role of radiology in the detection of this life-threatening condition. An analysis of 118 clinically and 67 radiologically well-documented cases yielded pathologic findings in chest X-rays in 90% of the cases. Hydropneumothorax was found in 51%, pneumomediastinum in 30%, isolated pleural effusion in 25%, and infiltration of the parenchyma in 14% of the patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 40-year old man complaining of severe pain in the right mid-abdomen, nausea and vomiting was brought to the casualty department. Sonography revealed retroperitoneal masses in the right mid-abdomen and the left lower abdomen. These masses were confirmed by computed tomography and lymphography to be lymph node metastases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An unusually heavy load of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and autoimmunity to collagen are believed to be contributing factors to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present report presents data showing that p107, the major epitope of the EBV-encoded EBNA-1 antigen, cross-reacts with denatured collagen (DC) and keratin (K), suggesting a new likely link among RA, EBV-1, and these autoantigens. A radioimmunoassay using antigen-coated microtiter plates was used to demonstrate antibodies in sera of patients with RA and sera of healthy donors against p107, DC, and K.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The presence of actinomycin D during irradiation of HeLa cells leads to radiosensitization under aerobic but not under hypoxic conditions. Depending on the time interval between incubation with the drug and irradiation, pre- or post-treatment with actinomycin D also increases the radiosensitivity of HeLa cells irradiation in air. Pretreatment with actinomycin D does not inhibit recovery from potentially lethal radiation damage.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF