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Biomedical subjects

C Cohen

Publications and source records attributed to C Cohen.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Estrogen receptor status in malignant melanoma.

Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity demonstrated in malignant melanomas by histochemical and biochemical assays suggested the possibility of hormonal management and improved prognosis as for breast carcinoma patients. We studied the ER status of 5 primary and 28 metastatic malignant melanomas with a commercial immunohistochemical kit (ER-ICA monoclonal), that utilizes monoclonal anti-ER and a peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique, and by a histochemical method using fluorescein-conjugated estradiol (Fluoro-Cep Estrogen assay), on frozen sections. In addition, we conducted a biochemical assay [dextran-coated charcoal cytosolic assay (DCC)] in 16 cases. All 33 cases were ER negative by ER-ICA and Fluoro-Cep: 11 biochemical assays were negative (less than 3 fmol ER/mg protein), four were in the borderline range (3 to 10 fmol ER/mg protein), and one was positive (greater than 10 fmol ER/mg protein) at 11 fmol. The melanomas in 97% of the cases we studied were ER negative by two or three different assays. Low-level estrogen binding of MM tissues may be the result of interactions other than with Type I true ER. The low frequency of ER positivity of malignant melanomas appears to preclude the clinical use of ER status as an indicator for response to hormonal manipulation in patients with malignant melanoma.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Effect of caffeine on histamine bronchoprovocation in asthma.

It was recently reported that caffeine may reduce the clinical symptoms of asthma and may prevent the clinical manifestations of this disease. The effect of caffeine on histamine responsiveness is unknown. The effect of caffeine (5 mg/kg) and placebo on histamine responsiveness (the provocation concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1, PC20) was studied in 10 subjects with mild asthma (prechallenge FEV1 84% of predicted value). The PC20 for histamine bronchoprovocation after caffeine ingestion was 2.65 (95% confidence limits 0.99, 7.10) mg/ml. After placebo the PC20 was 1.89 (0.96, 3.71) mg/ml. It is concluded that caffeine in a dose equivalent to about three cups of coffee has a very small effect, if any, on histamine bronchoprovocation in those with mild asthma. Specific instructions about not having drinks containing caffeine before histamine challenge are therefore not necessary.

Asthma↗
PubMed1990

Sexual and physical abuse histories and psychiatric symptoms among male psychiatric outpatients.

Of 125 consecutive male patients at an adult psychiatric outpatient clinic, 48% reported histories of sexual abuse and/or physical abuse. The mean scores on the global severity index of the SCL-90-R at the first visit were significantly higher for those who reported histories of abuse than for those who had no such history. Childhood abuse also was associated with high levels of psychiatric symptoms in these men.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Use of hospital services by homeless families in an inner London health district.

Over the past decade the number of families in London who were considered officially to be homeless appreciably increased. In response to this many families have been given temporary accommodation, usually in bed and breakfast hotels, while awaiting permanent rehousing. About 200 of the roughly 600 hotels in London that provide such accommodation are located in the area of the former Paddington and North Kensington Health Authority, now part of Parkside Health Authority. The use made by the homeless population of hospital services was studied by finding out the numbers of inpatients admitted to hospital and the numbers presenting to the walk in paediatric clinic and the casualty department at one hospital. These figures were compared with those for local residents and the overall workload. The bed and breakfast population were high users of inpatient beds, the casualty department, and the paediatric clinic. Overall, about one tenth of the beds were used by these people. The health authority receives no additional funding for this group of patients. Further research is needed to find out if the high use of hospital services made by these patients reflects their increased morbidity or their inability to obtain primary care services.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMed1989

A lambda gt11 cDNA recombinant that encodes Dirofilaria immitis paramyosin.

The cDNA synthesized from mRNA of Dirofilaria immitis female adult worms was cloned into the expression vector lambda gt11. Screening the library with a hyperimmune rabbit antiserum raised against adult worm homogenates yielded several antigen positive clones. One of these clones, lambda cDi2, was recognized by rabbit antisera raised against either D. immitis L-3, adult, Brugia malayi L-3 or Onchocerca volvulus adult worm antigen, as well as by antisera from humans naturally infected with O. volvulus or Wuchereria bancrofti. Affinity-purified anti-lambda cDi2 antibodies reacted with a 97-kDa protein on Western transfers of adult D. immitis antigen extracts that were reduced with beta-mercaptoethanol. The whole rabbit anti-D. immitis adult antiserum depleted of anti-lambda cDi2 antibodies exhibited decreased reactivity to this 97-kDa band. A monoclonal antibody (IA6) that specifically binds Schistosoma mansoni paramyosin also recognised a 97-kDa protein in D. immitis extracts upon Western transfer. The deduced amino acid sequence of partial DNA sequence from lambda cDi2 showed some similarity to nematode myosin, and gave a stretch of 82 amino acids that is 91.5% identical to Caenorhabditis elegans paramyosin: thus, lambda cDi2 encodes D. immitis paramyosin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Failure of behavioral dependence induction and oral nicotine bioavailability in rats.

As failure to induce behavioral dependence to oral nicotine (0.31 mM) might be caused by taste aversion. Sixteen rats were presented nicotine around the taste aversion threshold (0.025 mM then 0.05 mM) as only source of fluid for 10 weeks. Eight of them had undergone portacaval anastomosis (PCA) to increase bioavailability of nicotine by preventing liver first-pass. Weekly choice sessions between nicotine and water demonstrated neither aversion nor preference for nicotine. In 10 control and 11 PCA rats accustomed to drink 0.31 mM nicotine, plasma nicotine was determined after 3 ml/kg intragastric nicotine-solution. In both groups, 0.05 mM nicotine did not lead to detectable levels but 0.31 mM nicotine led to peak levels higher than seen in man after smoking. Similar levels were recorded after spontaneous nicotine drinking in 8 isolated and 18 grouped normal rats accustomed to 0.31 mM nicotine. Drinking nicotine for at least 10 weeks did not induce behavioral dependence in these rats. This cannot be explained by poor nicotine bioavailability by oral route.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Automated immunohistochemical estrogen receptor in fixed embedded breast carcinomas. Comparison with manual immunohistochemistry on frozen tissues.

Estrogen receptor (ER) status of breast carcinomas determines prognosis and treatment. Biochemical ER assays are expensive and time-consuming and require fresh tumor. Immunohistochemical ER was assessed in 68 breast carcinomas, by an automated method using routinely processed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, and manually with the use of snap-frozen tissues with a monoclonal anti-ER and peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. The paraffin sections were digested with DNase to enhance development of signal. Positive nuclear ER was obtained in 9 (13%) fixed tissues and 36 (53%) frozen tissues. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of a positive test result, as compared with the biochemical assay, were 25%, 100%, and 100% for the paraffin section technique, and 89%, 88%, and 89% for the frozen sections. Although it is specific, lack of sensitivity, resulting from loss of ER with fixation and room temperature handling, renders this immunohistochemical technique unacceptable on fixed tissues. However, ER immunostain on frozen tissue is an acceptable alternative to biochemical assay.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1989

Histogenesis of extramammary and mammary Paget cells. An immunohistochemical study.

To define the histogenesis of the Paget cell and possibly identify differences in cells from the two sites, six vulvar and 23 mammary specimens from Paget's disease lesions were studied for immunocytochemical antigens. All vulvar and 21 (91%) mammary lesions were strongly reactive for glandular cytokeratin. All lesions showed immunopositive Paget cells with epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). An apocrine antigen, gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP-15), decorated 66.5% and 56.5% of extramammary and mammary lesions, respectively. All vulvar Paget cells stained for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a frequency significantly greater than the 35% in mammary lesions (p = 0.02). However, CEA is expressed by both eccrine and apocrine sweat glands and their tumors. Vulvar Paget cells were negative for lysozyme, casein, lactalbumin, and S100 protein, compared with 9%, 4%, 4%, and 26% in nipple lesions. S100 protein expression is similar to that in mammary ductal carcinoma (32%). The glandular origin of both extramammary and mammary Paget cells is indicated by the presence of glandular cytokeratin, EMA, and CEA. Approximately 60% of all cases in both sites showed evidence of apocrine derivation (GCDFP-15 positivity). Variable antigen expression suggests possible malignant transformation of pluripotent germinative cells able to differentiate in an apocrine or an eccrine direction, or in both.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

Determinants of prolonged length of hospital stay after coronary bypass surgery.

The length of hospital stay after coronary surgery was studied in 4,683 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization followed by coronary surgery at Emory University Hospital or Crawford Long Hospital between the years 1981 and 1986. Length of stay after coronary surgery had a median and modal value of 7 days. There was, however, a long statistical tail of patients with a prolonged length of stay extending out to more than 180 days. Prolonged length of stay (greater than 10 days) could be correlated with preprocedural variables such as age, elective versus emergency status, angina class, ejection fraction, and gender. Length of stay increased from a mean of 6.9 +/- 1.4 days under the age of 40 years to 10.9 +/- 12.1 days over the age of 70 years (p less than 0.0001). Length of stay was correlated with the periprocedural variables of wound infection, neurologic event, arrhythmias, pneumonia, postoperative myocardial infarction, mortality, and pericarditis. Length of stay increased from 8.8 +/- 9.6 days without a neurologic event to 21.1 +/- 17.9 days with a neurologic event (p less than 0.0001). Similarly, without a wound infection, the average stay was 8.7 +/- 8.9 days; with a wound infection, the average stay was 32.2 +/- 25.8 days (p less than 0.0001). The correlates of prolonged stay were tested in another population comprising 781 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization followed by coronary artery bypass grafting in 1987. The predictors of prolonged stay in the 1987 population were wound infection, pneumonia, arrhythmias, age, neurologic events, postoperative infarction, and ejection fraction. Thus, length of hospital stay after coronary surgery may be predicted by multiple preprocedural and periprocedural variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Between patient and doctor. Improving the quality of care for serious mental illness.

The quality of care typically rendered to seriously mentally ill patients in this country does not reflect the extraordinary expansion and refinement in recent decades of scientifically based psychiatric diagnostic and therapeutic capacities. In this paper, the authors examine reasons for the disparity between the quality of the scientific base and the quality of care, citing recent historical influences and contemporary obstacles, and then propose strategies for change.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Histogenesis of renal cell carcinoma and renal oncocytoma. An immunohistochemical study.

The histogenesis of renal cell carcinoma and oncocytoma is controversial. We compared immunohistochemical profiles of normal kidney, nine carcinomas, and six oncocytomas. Carcinomas and oncocytomas expressed the following antigens respectively: proximal tubule--Uro 3 (56 & 67%), alpha-1-antitrypsin (89 & 50%); proximal and distal tubule--Uro 10 (67 & 83%); distal tubule--B2-microglobulin (100 & 100%); distal/medullary tubule--epithelial membrane antigen (89 & 83%), neuron-specific enolase (78 & 100%), glandular cytokeratin (78 & 100%), epidermal keratin (67 & 67%); and medullary tubule--Uro 8 (89 & 83%). All tumors, except one oncocytoma, had at least one positive reaction for each antigen group. Oncocytomas predominantly stained for distal/medullary tubular antigens; none showed a predominance of proximal tubular antigens. Carcinomas also demonstrated largely distal/medullary tubule antigens; 44% showed prominence of proximal tubular antigens as well. Assignment of an exclusive proximal, distal or medullary tubule origin to renal neoplasms does not appear valid. Divergent histogenesis from a precursor stem cell is likely.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1988

Phosphorylatable serine residues are located in a non-helical tailpiece of a catch muscle myosin.

Myosin from a molluscan catch muscle displays unusual properties: when phosphorylated in the rod by an endogenous heavy-chain kinase, myosin solubility is enhanced and the molecule folds (Castellani & Cohen, Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, (1987) 4058-62). We have now localized the sites of phosphorylation to the carboxy-terminal end of the rod by selective proteolytic cleavage. Two major stretches of sequence, 18 and 21 residues long, have been identified, each containing a single residue of phosphoserine. Analysis of the amino-acid sequence of these two peptides indicates that they form a non-helical tailpiece. We discuss how phosphorylation of this tailpiece might influence enzymatic activity in catch muscle thick filaments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Normal aerobic and anaerobic exercise data for North American school-age children.

The purpose of this study was to establish normative data for untrained, healthy North American children by means of the James protocol for bicycle ergometry. Data were obtained on 151 of 185 children (70 girls and 81 boys). Their ages ranged from 7 years 6 months to 12 years 9 months. All subjects were divided into groups by gender and body surface area (BSA). Maximum heart rates were greater in girls. The mean difference between maximum and recovery heart rates differed significantly by gender, girls taking longer to recover than boys. Maximum oxygen consumption (measured in cubic centimeters per minute per kilogram body weight) did not differ in boys and girls. Ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) occurred when there was an isolated increase in the slope for ventilatory equivalent for oxygen consumption (VE/VO2) with no change in the slope for ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) when both were plotted against time. Absolute oxygen consumption (VO2) at VAT increased with BSA in both sexes, and, when normalized to body size and expressed as a percent of VO2 maximum, no significant difference was observed between the sexes. These data may be used in the fitness evaluations of preadolescent children from North America.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1988

An interdisciplinary psychoeducation program for schizophrenic patients and their families in an acute care setting.

A psychoeducation program in an acute care inpatient psychiatric setting involves schizophrenic patients and their families in a range of educational interventions that are responsive to their particular strengths and vulnerabilities. Patients receive one-on-one instruction about their illness from a psychiatrist and the nursing staff and learn community living skills in classes and tutorials conducted by occupational therapists. Families discuss ways of coping with the patients' illness in a series of meetings with a social worker, and they attend workshops led by a team of clinicians and an administrator, who advise them of current perspectives on the illness and its management and about how to negotiate the mental health system. A mental health library keeps staff, family, and patients abreast of recent literature about schizophrenia. The authors believe the program prepares patients to live in the community better than do programs whose goals are limited to symptom reduction or crisis intervention.

Adaptation, Psychological↗