Bottled lemon juice--a cryptic source of invasive Candida infections in the immunocompromised host.
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Beverages↗
Biomedical subjects
C Berger
Publications and source records attributed to C Berger.
ASSIST: an alternative management information system for social services in health care.
This paper describes a flexible, relational database management system designed explicitly with the needs and realities of social work in health care settings in mind. A variety of broad-based applications as well as organizational factors influencing implementation of automated information system are also discussed.
Decision Support Systems, Management↗
[Serum cholesterol levels in a representative sample of the adult population of Porto Alegre].
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Adult↗
[Maternal-fetal Haemophilus influenzae infections].
In a systematic screening programme for neonatal infections involving 16,008 births, Haemophilus influenzae was isolated in 14 mother-infant couples (0.8 to 1,000 births). Comparisons with other series published in the U.S.A. showed similar circumstances of occurrence and initial clinical manifestations. However, the course of the infection was different, since there was no septicaemia or meningitis in our series. This raises the question of whether the strains responsible for the disease in the U.S.A. have a particular aggressiveness that is unidentifiable by serotype or biotype. In view of the post-partum occurrence of pelvic infections after isolation of H. influenzae during high risk deliveries, asymptomatic parturient women should be treated prophylactically. The 14 strains of H. influenzae isolated, most of them non capsulated and 2/3 of them of biotype IV, probably were of genital origin, although there was no evidence of cervico-vaginal infection. These results are consistent with the concept of genitotropic H. influenzae.
Female↗
Treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma by extracorporeal photochemotherapy. Preliminary results.
Systemically disseminated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is generally resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We tested a treatment involving the extracorporeal photoactivation of biologically inert methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen) by ultraviolet A energy to a form that covalently cross-links DNA. After oral administration of methoxsalen, a lymphocyte-enriched blood fraction was exposed to ultraviolet A (1 to 2 J per square centimeter) and then returned to the patient. The combination of ultraviolet A and methoxsalen caused an 88 +/- 5 percent loss of viability of target lymphocytes, whereas the drug alone was inactive. Twenty-seven of 37 patients with otherwise resistant cutaneous T-cell lymphoma responded to the treatment, with an average 64 percent decrease in cutaneous involvement after 22 +/- 10 weeks (mean +/- SD). The responding group included 8 of 10 patients with lymph-node involvement, 24 of 29 with exfoliative erythroderma, and 20 of 28 whose disease was resistant to standard chemotherapy. Side effects that often occur with standard chemotherapy, such as bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal erosions, and hair loss, did not occur. Although the mechanism of the beneficial effect is uncertain, an immune reaction to the infused damaged cells may have restricted the activity of the abnormal T cells. This preliminary study suggests that extracorporeal photochemotherapy is a promising treatment for widespread cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Administration, Oral↗
Utility of molecular genetic analysis of bcr rearrangement in the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia.
Two DNA probes for the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) of chromosome # 22 have been used to determine the proportion of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cases that can be diagnosed by Southern blot analysis. Studies on 17 normal individuals and 17 patients with lymphomas and leukemias (other than CML) indicated that for the restriction enzymes chosen, only expected germ line DNA bands were obtained. In contrast, novel DNA bands interpreted as being the product of translocation within the bcr region could be demonstrated in 31 of 31 cases of Ph-positive CML. One commercially available 1.2 kb bcr probe detected most cases of CML. Because of the frequent presence of deletion of part of the bcr region, however, a probe from the 5' end of bcr is essential to detect some cases. An analysis of the bcr breakpoints occurring in CML patients suggested a difference in the location of the breakpoints for the blast crisis patients versus chronic phase patients although the difference between these two groups was not statistically significant. It is concluded that bcr analysis provides a powerful aid in the diagnosis of CML. This technique is of particular merit in cases when cytogenetic analysis is inconclusive and has considerable potential for improved speed and sensitivity of diagnosis.
Chromosome Banding↗
Selective killing of T lymphocytes by phototoxic liposomes.
Two-fold specificity in drug delivery obtained through the localized activation of drugs by physical means and the attachment of drugs to proteins that bind to target cells might be used for highly selective cancer chemotherapy or for immunosuppression. Toward this end, a monoclonal antibody against an antigen on the surface of T lymphocytes was covalently attached to liposomes containing a phototoxic drug, pyrene, bound to the lipid bilayer. When unfractionated peripheral blood lymphocytes, or B- and T-cell lines, were irradiated after treatment with these liposomes, T cells were killed while B cells were spared, demonstrating the validity of the approach in a simple in vitro assay.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
Induction of an immature T-cell phenotype in malignant helper T cells by cocultivation with epidermal cell cultures.
The possible inductive effect of epidermal cells on T-cell maturation has been examined employing an in vitro cocultivation technique. Mononuclear cells from 6 patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and from 12 healthy volunteers were studied. In the 6 CTCL patients, all showed an expansion of the helper T-cell subpopulation and in one patient with leukemic CTCL, there was almost complete replacement of peripheral blood mononuclear cells by malignant cells with a helper T-cell phenotype. Epidermal cells derived from normal human skin were cultured to confluent monolayers, and were cocultivated with the mononuclear cells from CTCL patients or normal controls for 48 h at a density of 10(6)/ml. Following cocultivation, the surface phenotype of the cells from the 12 healthy volunteers and 5 of the patients with CTCL showed no significant phenotypic change. In the patient with leukemic CTCL, however, the surface phenotype of the malignant T cells had changed, with the acquisition of the T6 antigen by the majority of the cells. Cells cocultivated in medium alone and with human fibroblast monolayers showed no change in surface phenotype. The malignant T cells from the leukemic CTCL patient failed to react in a mixed lymphocyte culture to lymphocytes from 2 different healthy donors, and showed no phenotypic change following culture with these lymphocytes, indicating that the phenotypic change seen was not due to allogeneic stimulation.
Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
[Doppler examination of the umbilical arteries. Its role in the surveillance of pregnancy].
Pregnancies with a high risk of fetal growth retardation are at present watched by using clinical observations and biological parameters including ultrasound and estimation of the fetal heart rate. The Doppler waveform in the umbilical arteries provides information about circulatory resistance in the placenta. An index of resistance "R" is evaluated on the Doppler trace. The purpose of this study is to describe the score (with its possibilities and limitations) for this parameter "R" to follow-up pregnancies with fetal growth retardation and to compare it with ultrasound, biological and clinical parameters that are commonly used. Two groups of pregnancies have been explored: pregnancies with hypertension and pregnancies with idiopathic fetal growth retardation. Abnormal values of "R" correlate well with failure of fetal growth. Furthermore pathological values of "R" do not correspond to the same population as abnormal values of the other parameters. In some cases "R" is disturbed before the others are. In conclusion, this study shows that the index increases the accuracy of detection and the follow-up of chronic fetal growth retardation, particularly in cases of pregnancies with vascular placental pathology.
Birth Weight↗
[Doppler examination of the umbilical and cerebral arterial circulation of the fetus].
Umbilical circulation can be explored by Doppler ultrasound methods very easily. The umbilical arteries spectrum provides information on the placental circulation. The diastolic flow is directly related to the vascular resistances of the placenta (Rp). In cases of pathological pregnancies with hypertension the decrease in the diastolic flow and the increase in the resistance index Rp have been correlated with intra-uterine fetal growth retardation. The specificity of this index Rp is of 95% but the sensitivity much more lower (approximately 70%). For that reason Doppler assessment of the fetal circulation in other areas has been recently carried out. Fetal cerebral arteries have been explored during normal pregnancies. The index of cerebral resistances as defined by Pourcelot Rc = S-D divided by S (with S systolic amplitude and D diastolic amplitude) show similar variations to the placental index but later in the pregnancy. During the pregnancy the cerebral index is higher than the placental one and the cerebro placental ratio (CPR) superior to 1. During pathological pregnancy (hypertension) with fetal growth retardation one of the index Rc or Rp may be out of the normal range but the cerebro placental ratio CPR is always lower than 1. The follow up of both the umbilical and cerebral circulation increases notably the accuracy of the Doppler method for the detection of intra-uterine fetal growth retardation.
Cerebrovascular Circulation↗
[Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm and pregnancy: apropos of a case of neurosurgical intervention during pregnancy].
The authors report a case of an aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery that was operated on after 28 weeks of amenorrhoea without any sequelae for the mother or the fetus. The article gives precise details of the neurosurgical procedures carried out in this pregnant woman and how and what neurosurgical anaesthesia was administered while the aneurysm was cured and the pregnancy continued. Finally the obstetrical and neurosurgical care is discussed. The neurosurgeons decided on the operation in view of the neurological findings. Once the neurosurgical decision has been made, the obstetrical procedures depend practically on the length of amenorrhoea. Briefly, we would suggest the following: before 31 weeks of amenorrhoea: curing the aneurysm and going on with the pregnancy; after 32 weeks of amenorrhoea: first to carry out a caesarean section and during the same operation to treat the vascular malformation.
Adult↗
Reactivity of monoclonal antibody BE 2 in different stages of mycosis fungoides and in benign dermal infiltrates.
The cutaneous infiltrate in mycosis fungoides (MF) is predominantly composed of T4-positive T-cells. Attempts to distinguish the early stages of this condition from benign inflammatory infiltrates using anti-T3, T4 and other T-cell-associated antibodies have hitherto been unsuccessful. Recently a monoclonal antibody BE 2 has been described as selectively reacting against leukemic cells in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. To investigate whether the BE 2 antigen is differentially expressed in different stages of MF and benign dermatoses, thus facilitating diagnosis, especially of early MF, the reactivity of monoclonal antibody BE 2 against cutaneous infiltrates from such conditions was assessed. In the early stages of MF only a small number of reactive cells was present. In benign inflammatory infiltrates, especially in those that clinically and histologically were hardly distinguishable from early MF, BE 2 reactivity was essentially the same as in eczematous-stage MF. Lesions from plaque and tumor stage MF contained large numbers of BE 2-reactive cells. Our results indicate that expression of BE 2 is associated with the stage of a given MF lesion and is essentially identical in early MF and eczematous lesions with a similar histopathological appearance.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
DNA demethylation induced by 5-azacytidine does not affect fragile X expression.
Experiments were performed to determine the role of DNA demethylation in fragile X expression. Fragile X positive lymphoblastoid cells were treated with 5-azacytidine and harvested for analysis of fragile X expression both directly following treatment and after a recovery period in the absence of the drug. The effectiveness of 5-azacytidine treatment in inducing DNA demethylation was concurrently monitored by analysis of methylation changes at random autosomal loci in isolated DNA from treated cells. Under conditions where 5-azacytidine was found to inhibit fragile X expression, no DNA demethylation was observed. At the time when demethylation did occur, fragile X expression was not affected. These results strongly indicate that DNA demethylation is not involved in fragile X expression.
Azacitidine↗
[Congenital auriculo-ventricular block with severe fetal repercussions].
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Edema↗
[Obliteration of a bronchopleural fistula by the YAG laser under thoracoscopy].
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Aged↗
Use of novel chemical supplements in the establishment of three human malignant lymphoma cell lines (NU-DHL-1, NU-DUL-1, and NU-AMB-1) with chromosome 14 translocations.
Three new cell lines have been established from patients with malignant lymphoma utilizing a human diploid feeder layer, pooled human serum, and the chemical supplements L-cysteine, iron-saturated transferrin, and bathocuproine disulfonate, a copper chelator. After a short period of growth, the 3 cell lines were successfully weaned from the feeder layers but continued to require human serum and the chemical supplements for up to 9 months of culture. The cell lines are currently grown in RPM1-1640 medium and fetal calf serum without further supplementation. The NU-DHL-1 cell line was established from the involved lymph node of a 73-year-old White male with diffuse large-cell lymphoma. The cell line expresses cytoplasmic IgM/lambda heavy and light chains, is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative, and is positive for several B-cell markers, indicating that it is derived from a mature-B-cell neoplasm. The NU-DUL-1 cell line was established from the cerebrospinal fluid of a 42-year-old White male with undifferentiated lymphoma, non-Burkitt's type, who initially presented with a mediastinal mass and had subsequent involvement of the central nervous system. The cell line is EBV-negative, but surprisingly it is positive for early B-cell markers. The NU-AmB-1 cell line was established from the abdominal mass of a 12-year-old Hispanic male with undifferentiated lymphoma, Burkitt's type. The cell line is EBV-positive and expresses early B-cell markers. All 3 cell lines are aneuploid or pseudodiploid and contain chromosome 14q+ abnormalities including a newly described complex translocation t(?;1;8;14) in the NU-AmB-1 cell line. The establishment of these cell lines was made possible by refinements in the cell culture of the human malignant lymphomas. The availability of well-characterized lymphoma cell lines with specific chromosomal translocations will aid molecular and cellular studies designed to identify the biological significance of genomic rearrangements.
Cell Line↗
The delivery of phototoxic drugs to selected cells.
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Antibodies↗
Effects of the benzimidazole derivatives pimobendan and 2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-5-(5-methyl-3-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-6- pyridazinyl) benzimidazole . HCl on phosphodiesterase activity and force of contraction in guinea-pig hearts.
The effects of pimobendan (UD-CG 115 BS) and UD-CG 212 Cl (2-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-5-(5-methyl-3-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-6- pyridazinyl)benzimidazole X HCl) on force of contraction, beating frequency, and on adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activity were investigated in isolated preparations from guinea-pig hearts. Both benzimidazole derivatives exerted a concentration-dependent positive inotropic effect in guinea-pig papillary muscles. The efficacies were similar to that of dihydroouabain. The positive inotropic effect of both benzimidazoles was accompanied by an enhancement of the rate of force development and a prolongation of the contraction. Both benzimidazole derivatives inhibited phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in a crude preparation from guinea-pig ventricles. However, at the concentrations producing maximal positive inotropic effects in papillary muscles, pimobendan and UD-CG 212 Cl diminished PDE activity only by about 20-30%. Since both benzimidazoles did not affect adenylate cyclase in a particulate membrane preparation a stimulation of the cAMP synthesis can be ruled out. As recently reported for pimobendan, this study provides functional evidence that the positive inotropic effect of UD-CG 212 Cl is also at least partially mediated by cAMP. Firstly, the positive inotropic effect of UD-CG 212 Cl was inhibited by carbachol, adenosine and (-)-N6-phenyl-isopropyladenosine. Secondly, UD-CG 212 Cl potentiated the inotropic effects of isoprenaline and histamine. UD-CG 212 Cl had no positive chronotropic effect and pimobendan increased the beating frequency only slightly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗