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Query: UMLS:C0085584 (encephalopathy)
18,178 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report the first case of nonconvulsive status epilepticus as a complication of chemotherapy with the nitrogen mustard derivative ifosfamide. Our patient developed encephalopathy, upper extremity myoclonus, and a periodic, triphasic electroencephalogic pattern that resolved acutely with intravenous diazepam treatment. Since significant morbidity and mortality is associated with unrecognized status epilepticus, electroencephalogic monitoring and a trial of diazepam is indicated in encephalopathic patients with rhythmic electroencephalogic patterns while receiving treatment with ifosfamide.
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PMID:Ifosfamide-induced nonconvulsive status epilepticus. 821 72

A three compartment mathematical model was used to analyse the urea response to an alanine infusion in six control subjects, and in 15 patients with liver cirrhosis and variable degree of hepatocellular failure. Model-derived coefficients were used to calculate two parameters (Ymax and Tmax), able to describe the theoretical response of the conversion of amino acid derived nitrogen into urea, in response to a unit impulse in alanine concentration. They correspond to the maximum rate of conversion of nitrogen from an intermediary pool into urea and to the time delay between the impulse and Ymax, respectively. In cirrhosis, the apparent volume of distribution of infused alanine was smaller than in controls, while the conversion of alanine nitrogen into an intermediary pool of nitrogen and finally into urea nitrogen were both reduced. Also Ymax was reduced by 50% in cirrhosis, whereas Tmax was increased by 50%, and both significantly correlated with galactose elimination capacity (GEC; R2 = 0.706 and R2 = 0.505, respectively) and with antipyrine clearance (Ap Cl; R2 = 0.823 and R2 = 0.576, respectively). Model-derived assessment of urea appearance in response to alanine infusion is able to quantify the functional liver cell mass, and may prove useful for the study of nitrogen metabolism in cirrhosis, mainly in relation to encephalopathy.
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PMID:Model-derived assessment of urea appearance in response to alanine infusion: a quantitative measure of liver function in cirrhosis. 828 Aug 43

Malnutrition is common among patients with cirrhosis of the liver. During the last seven years a total of eight randomized studies concerning the effect of nutritional therapy on the clinical course of these patients have been published. In five of these trials nutritional therapy had an effect on the clinical course (reduced mortality, lessening of ascites and encephalopathy) and in the last three trials only effects on clinical chemistry variables related to liver function could be demonstrated. Overall one-month mortality decreased from 30% in the control groups to 14% in the treated groups, when all the trials were added together (total of 320 patients). Patients with liver cirrhosis have an increased requirement for protein to achieve nitrogen balance. Prescribing diets with restricted protein is no longer warranted in these patients, since protein intolerance is actually uncommon. In patients intolerant of protein, substitution of conventional protein with branched chain amino acids can be effective.
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PMID:[Nutritional therapy in patients with liver cirrhosis]. 832 92

Liver cirrhosis is associated with malnutrition in 10 to 90% of cases, following different authors. This prompted us to compare our previous studies with recent literature data in order to review this topic from a practical standpoint. Several pathophysiological factors are blamed for this state and mainly protein and lipid-restricted diets from among these. Some lean and fat body mass indices predictive of malnutrition are proposed taking into account the influence of liver disease in their evaluation. Nitrogen balance derangements and liposoluble vitamins and carotenoids plasma decrease are highlighted as sensitive nutritional parameters. After a brief review of amino acid, glucose and lipid metabolic derangements, some nutritional guidelines are provided by distinguishing oral selective supports from the parenteral nutrition. The latter, being reserved to moderate-severe encephalopathy or to hemorrhagic conditions, is proposed following an algorithm which takes into account different nutritional principles as a function of the severity of the clinical condition. During the first period (24-48 hrs) parenteral fluids, electrolytes, dextrose and whole blood or derivatives (when necessary) are provided; lactulose or lactitol via nasogastric tube, or by enema, are started as well. During the following 48-72 hrs branched-chain amino acids alone or enriched solutions are added taking into account an optimum calorie/nitrogen ratio. Finally, vegetable lipids, vitamins and oligoelements can be added if intravenous nutrition must be maintained, with a view of warranting the most complete nutritional approach to these severely malnourished patients.
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PMID:[Nutrition and malnutrition in hepatic cirrhosis]. 851 55

Some recent proposals in management of alcoholic liver disease are discussed focusing on early diagnosis and treatment of alcohol abuse itself, alcoholic hepatitis early mortality, clinical meaning of nutritional therapy, serological approach and treatment of hepatic fibrosis, and problems in liver transplantation for end stage alcoholic liver cirrhosis. CAGE or similar systematized brief questionnaires, and desialylated transferrin/total transferrin ratio as serological marker, seems to be interesting contributions to "hidden" alcohol abuse diagnosis and abstinence control while psycho-social support and voluntary incorporation to self-aid groups are the best weapons to reach persistent abstinence. Corticosteroids seems to improve survival in a selected group of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, specially in those presenting encephalopathy but free of GI bleeding, decompensated diabetes, active infections, pancreatitis, and other contraindications or adverse effects of these drugs. Relationship between direct toxicity and nutritional deficiencies in pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury are not clear enough, but malnutrition is generally present in patients requiring hospitalization, and related to clinical severity; oral, enteral or parenteral nutritional supplementation in this order of preference according to patients condition, associated or not with steroid anabolics, are useful in cases with moderate to severe alcoholic hepatitis or decompensated cirrhosis to eliminate the catabolic state, reaching a better nitrogen balance and liver function tests, without special adverse effects. A special role on liver regeneration is discussed. Antioxidants and supernutrients are special "modern" aspects of nutritional therapy in alcoholic liver disease generally related to the MEOS activation in chronic alcoholism, the excessive production of free radicals, and the depletion of glutathione, membrane phospholipids (specially phosphatidycholine), and vitamin A, E, and C. Natural supplements as soybean polyunsaturated lecithin, with high concentration of phosphatidycholine, or oral supplementation with natural metabolic products depleted from the liver of chronic heavy drinkers, such SAMe, have an interesting rationale based on experimental and clinical findings besides availability and costs. Carotenoids and tocopherols supplementation seems to be an useful tool, but are limited in the case of vitamin A because its special toxicity in chronic alcoholism. Serological markers of metabolism of liver connective tissue are clearly involved in fibrogenesis process and other inflammatory connected events; standardization of laboratory methods surely will result in new possibilities of non-invasive valuation of liver injury, evolution and therapeutic response; special histological damage such as sinusoidal "cappilarization" (type i.v. collagen and laminin), endothelial sinusoidal cell function (seric hyaluronate), or collagenase activity (TIMP-1 or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1) seems to be valuable by these new technologies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:[New suggestions for the management of alcoholic liver diseases]. 852 63

Zinc deficiency is common in cirrhosis and has been involved in the altered nitrogen metabolism. In this study, we measured the effects of zinc supplementation on the dynamics of amino acid-derived urea synthesis in cirrhosis with mild or latent encephalopathy. The hepatic conversion of amino acids into urea was studied in eight patients with advanced cirrhosis under controlled conditions of substrate availability (continuous alanine infusion), before and after 3-month oral zinc sulfate supplementation (600 mg/d). Eight more patients, matched for hepatocellular failure and encephalopathy, served as controls. Plasma zinc levels were reduced in all patients and returned to normal after oral zinc. The alanine-stimulated urea nitrogen synthesis rate in relation to alpha-amino-N concentration--the functional hepatic nitrogen clearance--increased by 25% after zinc supplementation, i.e., more urea was produced at any alpha-amino-N concentration. Basal and alanine-induced glucagon decreased by 50%, and the ammonia response to alanine decreased by 30%. Psychometric tests improved, as did routine and dynamic liver function tests and the Child-Pugh score. Also, the plasma concentration of lipid peroxides was reduced by zinc. No significant changes were observed in the control group. Our data indicate that long-term oral zinc speeds up the kinetics of urea formation from amino acids and ammonia. Changes in the hormonal drive and/or the antioxidant activity of zinc might be involved in the general improvement in liver function, whereas the beneficial effects on encephalopathy might stem from decreased ammonia.
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PMID:Zinc supplementation and amino acid-nitrogen metabolism in patients with advanced cirrhosis. 862 Nov 38

Aiming at a better understanding of the pathophysiologic basis of perinatal encephalopathy, we evaluated patterns of tissue oxygenation during hypoxia and hyperoxia. We utilized both laserspectroscopy and invasive tissue-Po2 microneed measurements synchronously in five newborn lambs (141-143 days of gestation). The model of artificial placentation provided defined changes of the blood gases, using a extracorporeal circuit with interposition of membrane lung. During hyperoxia, the Po2 at the blood outlet port of the lung was raised to > 300 mmHg for five minutes. During hypoxia, Po2 was diminished as oxygen at the gas phasis was replaced by nitrogen. After the induction of hyperoxia, a rise of tissue-Po2 was observed. The synchronously recorded data of the laserspectroscopy showed adequately rising HbO2 values in concordance (r = 0.97, p < 0.001). As a constant finding we did not observe Cyt-aa3 changes during induced hyperoxia with tissue-Po2 values of < 40 mmHg. Furthermore, no changes in blood volume occurred in this case. A different pattern of the laserspectroscopic parameters was found when the tissue-Po2 rose above a value of > 40 mmHg and Cyt-aa3 rose after a lag-time occurred. During induced hypoxia an immediate fall of tissue-Po2 corresponding with a fall of HbO2 in the spectroscopic tracing occurred (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). A fall of the Cyt-aa3 level was seen with a lag-time when the tissue-Po2 had reached values of below 10 mmHg. In addition, a rise of blood volume was recorded in all cases of induced hypoxia. In conclusion, the results indicated that cellular redoxe state remains stable over a large range of oxygen partial pressure changes.
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PMID:Cerebral tissue oxygenation during hypoxia and hyperoxia using artificial placentation in lamb. 870 32

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy is a hereditary syndrome showing impairment of muscle and the central nervous system. In this disorder, the following three syndromes have been identified on the basis of characteristic symptoms: Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), and myotonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF). In this report, we describe a case of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with renal disease. A 25-year-old man was referred to our hospital in May, 1992 for evaluation of long-standing proteinuria. He had a small stature, exotropia and no pretibial edema. No mental retardation was observed. Urinary protein excretion was 2.0 g/day and urine sugar was negative. Laboratory examination revealed a serum urea nitrogen 19 mg/dl, and a creatinine value of 1.5 mg/dl. Creatinine clearance was 45.8 ml/min. His serum and spinal fluid lactate value were elevated. Biopsied muscle showed an absence of ragged-red fibers, and the presence of an A-to-G point mutation at nucleotide pari 3243 in the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) in peripheral blood leucocytes. He was thought to have MELAS. On the renal biopsy specimens, light microscopic examinations showed minor glomerular abnormalities with two glomerular collapses and tubulo-interstitial damage. Electron microscopic examinations showed partial thickening of the glomerular basement membrane. We report here this rare case of MELAS with renal disease, and also review seventeen cases of mitochondrial encephalopathy associated with renal disease. The existence of a relationship between mitochondrial disorder and renal damage remains obscure.
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PMID:[A case of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy (MELAS)]. 871 14

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is associated with elevated arterial ammonia levels. The relationship is variable, in part due to ammonia methodology. One method, based on the indophenol reaction (IPh), is interfered with a number of amino acids including all aromatic amino acids. We have determined arterial ammonia simultaneously with the Blood Ammonia Checker II (BAC) as reference method and with the IPh method. The difference BAC-IPh, mumol/l, was assumed to express the interference in the indophenol method (IFI) by amino acids. It may be positive or negative. The aim was to establish the value of BAC in comparison with IPh in the diagnosis of liver disease and overt HE and to assess any added value of IFI. Of two reference groups without disturbances, A (n = 39) had not and B (n = 13) had encephalopathy. Group C consisted of 125 liver patients (34 no cirrhosis, 91 cirrhosis) of which 55 had no manifest HE (C:HE-) and 70 had HE (C:HE+). Median BAC ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), mumol/l: A 21, B 35, C 80, C:HE - 57 and C:HE+ 98 (A < B < C and A < B < C:HE - < C:HE +, P < 0.001). Median IPh NH3-N, mumol/l: A 27, B 30, C 30, C:HE - 25 and C:HE + 35 mumol/l (A = B = C and C:HE - < C:HE+, P < 0.01). IFI medians: A -6, B 3, C 40, C:HE - 29 and C:HE + 58 mumol/l (A < B (P < 0.05) < C (P < 0.0001); A, B < C:HE - and C:HE+; C:HE- < C:HE + (all P < 0.0001)). While BAC correlated weakly with IPh in the (sub)groups C, C:HE-, C:HE+ (r = 0.3, 0.3, 0.4, P < 0.05), it correlated strongly with IFI (r = 0.9, 0.9, 0.8, P < 0.0001). There was no correlation between IPh and IFI. BAC, as well as IFI, could discriminate all liver patients (C) from both reference groups A and B with 100% positive likelihoods. BAC, IPh and IFI could discriminate between HE- and HE+. To differentiate cirrhosis from non-cirrhosis the specificity of IPh was uniformly high and the sensitivity satisfactory, whereas BAC had a high sensitivity but an insufficient specificity. In conclusion, in blood, BAC is the ammonia determination of choice. It differentiates between reference groups (encephalopathic or not) and liver disease and the more so HE. The combination of BAC and IPh (indicating IFI) may eventually be shown useful to rapidly assess the severity of underlying liver disease in HE patients. In other biological fluids, IPh is excellent when the inhibiting influence of non-protein nitrogen substances is absent or can be eliminated.
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PMID:Arterial ammonia with Blood Ammonia Checker II and with indophenol reaction to assess presence of hepatic encephalopathy. 881 63

The treatment of hepatic encephalopathy is predominantly an empirical approach because the process pathogenesis of this syndrome is uncertain. Many treatment trials have been published, but few fulfill the usually accepted criteria for optimum study design. Lack of placebo controls, inadequate sample size and the difficulty in assessing the severity of encephalopathy are noteworthy examples. Treatments based on reducing ammoniagenic factors in the intestinal tract and promoting urinary waste nitrogen elimination are discussed. Other forms of therapy based on the false neurotransmitter and gamma-aminobutyric hypotheses are reviewed before outlining a practical approach to treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in clinical practice.
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PMID:Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. 887 51


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