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Biomedical subjects

A Halpern

Publications and source records attributed to A Halpern.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: report of a case with bacteriologic, immunologic, and electron microscopic studies.

A case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is presented. The patient developed protein-losing enteropathy, generalized gastrointestional polyposis, skin pigmentation, onychodystrophy, and alopecia. This patient also exhibited certain unusual features such as: fluctuating dermal manifestations, sclerodermalike skin changes, elevated levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, retinal detachment, cataracts, and cerebellar atrophy. Bacteriologic studies of small intestinal fluid, chromosomal analysis, immunologic investigations, and morphologic studies failed to provide any etiologic clues.

Adult↗

Irradiation of micro-organisms with mono-energetic X-rays; biological consequences of the Auger effect.

The radiation resonance effect reported previously for isolated biomolecules has now for the first time been observed in a cellular system. Dried bacteria, Micrococcus denitrificans, in which TdR in DNA was partially substituted by BUdR, were subjected to mono-energetic X-rays of energies below or above the K-edge for Br. Subsequently, the colony-forming ability was assayed. For photon energy slightly above the K-edge, the lethality/rad was greater than that below the K-edge. This is interpreted in terms of the Auger effect initiated selectively by photo-absorption in constituent Br atoms. The differential absorption of low-energy photons in constituent atoms of DNA is also discussed.

Animals↗

Quantitative ESR-studies of decay-produced radicals in 5-iododeoxyuridine labeled with 125I, 131I or tritium: role of the Auger effect.

In view of the enhanced biological damage caused by the "Auger nuclide" iodine-125, we have carried out quantitative ESR-studies of the radical formation in polycrystalline 5-iododoeoxyuridine (IUdR) resulting from the following internal or external radiation sources: (1) Decay of 3H, 125I or 131I in labeled IUdR; (2) Lanthanum K-photons corresponding to the K-edge of iodine; (3) 60Co gamma-rays. The results clearly indicate that inner shell ionization with its accompanying Auger effect as caused by the lanthanum K X-ray produces about 30% more free radicals per unit dose absorbed than 60Co gamma-rays, when considering the long-lived secondary radicals. Similarly, the concentration of free radicals is by about 30% higher in 125I- than in 131I-labeled IUdR at comparable doses. In the case of 3H-labeled IUdR the dose curve is almost identical with that observed for 125I-labeled IUdR. The results are discussed in terms of a localized radiation damage from low energy electrons.

Cobalt Radioisotopes↗

Chemical and biological consequences of beta-decay. Part 2.

In Part 1 of this article physical and chemical effects of beta-decay in labelled molecules were reviewed and their potential importance for breaking predetermined and specific bonds were pointed out. After incorporation of labelled biomolecules in living systems, such as viruses, phages or cells, the radioactive decay of the label alters the biological behaviour of the system, in the extreme case causing loss of the ability to reproduce, the extent of these consequences depending strongly on the type of radioisotope. Now Part 2 includes a brief discussion of biological effects associated with beta-decay emphasizing the relative importance of local transmutation and internal radiation effects from the decay of 3H, 14C, 32P, 33P, 35S and 125I. Attempt is also made, whenever possible at the present stage of understanding, to correlate biological effects with chemical processes on a molecular level.

Animals↗

Chemical and biological consequences of beta-decay. Part 1.

Radioactive decay in a labelled molecule leads to specific chemical and biological consequences which are due to local transmutation effects such as recoil, electronic excitation, build-up of charge states and change of chemical identity, as well as to internal radiolytic effects. In the present paper these effects are reviewed emphasizing the relation of the chemical alterations on a molecular level to the biological manifestation. Potential importance of this type of research for biomedical applications is pointed out. In part 1 we review the underlying physical and chemical principles and consequences of beta-decay of 3H, 14C, 32P, 33P, 35S and 125I for gaseous and simple condensed organic systems. Part 2 which will appear in the next issue will include the discussion of biological effects associated with beta-decay.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗

Mechanism of action of phenethylbiguanide (phenformin) in man. III. interrelationship between ethanol and phenethylibiguanide (PBG) in normal and diabetic subjects.

A standard 4-hr ethanol infusion (236 mg/min) after a 3-day fast with and without phenformin (25 mg q.i.d.), with blood drawn every hour for 8 hr, was performed on five normal subjects, eight obese nondiabetics, seven obese chemical diabetics, and four nonobese diabetics. Control infusion induced in all subjects a decline in blood sugar levels during and/or after the alcohol challenge, with a parallel decrease in basal plasma insulin. Hypoglycemia and the decrease in insulin secretion were associated with increased plasma free fatty acid concentration. Addition of phenethylbiguanide (PBG) to the preparatory 3-day fast resulted in a greater drop in the blood glucose levels of the normal control subjects, obese and nonobese diabetics; in the obese nondiabetics, however, significantly lower degree of blood glucose decrease than control was elicited. Furthermore, obese nondiabetics altered their blood glucose-insulin interaction with apparent increased responsivess of the B cells of PBG. The results suggest that effects of phenformin on blood glucose levels are more dependent on the metabolic state of the patient than on a property of the drug itself.

Adolescent↗