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Biomedical subjects

E Cohen

Publications and source records attributed to E Cohen.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Cyclosporine eyedrops for the treatment of severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Twelve children with severe chronic vernal keratoconjunctivitis participated in a pilot study aimed at evaluating the effect of 2% cyclosporine eyedrops on the clinical course and symptoms of this disease. Eleven of the 12 children showed improvement after the first week of treatment. Nine patients demonstrated persistent improvement at the completion of the treatment schedule after six weeks. However, although seven of the children were symptom-free while being treated, only three were free of disease two months after cessation of the cyclosporine eyedrops. The other nine showed rapid recurrence of their symptoms.

Child↗

Amphetamine-induced stereotypic responses in Roman high- and Roman low-avoidance rats.

The effects of 0, 1, 3 and 5 mg/kg d, 1-amphetamine (AMPH) on male RHA/Verh and RLA/Verh rats were measured, at 25 and 55 min post-injection, using an observational method in which six categories of behavior were scored. RHA/Verh rats displayed a more rapid increase of AMPH-induced stereotyped behavior, mostly due to drug-related differences in scanning (head-bobbing), whereas the differences in rearing seen (RHA/Verh greater than RLA/Verh) were attributable to purely genetic effects. These results were compared with those of previous experiments which measured apomorphine-induced stereotyped behavior in these, and other, Roman lines. It was concluded that the RHA/Verh rats probably showed a stronger response to AMPH due to their higher, and more drug-responsive, striatal dopamine turnover rate.

Amphetamine↗

Effect of nifedipine and theophylline in asthma.

The effect of nifedipine, 10 mg po q.i.d. for 2 weeks, was studied in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial in nine patients with asthma receiving theophylline. Nifedipine did not significantly affect the mean (+/- SD) morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR; 336 +/- 130 L/min for drug vs. 349 +/- 92 L/min for placebo), evening PEFR (393 +/- 69 L/min for drug vs. 367 +/- 66 L/min for placebo), symptom score (27.4% +/- 22.9% for drug vs. 33.8% +/- 26.4% for placebo), or the number of albuterol inhalations per day (5.8 +/- 3.5 for drug vs. 6.2 +/- 4.1 for placebo). Furthermore, there was no change in PEFR 30, 60, or 120 minutes after nifedipine dosing. Nifedipine did not significantly affect the steady-state serum theophylline trough levels (9.1 +/- 2.2 mg/ml for drug vs. 10.2 +/- 1.9 micrograms/ml for placebo) or the theophylline pharmacokinetic parameters, such as the elimination t1/2, peak serum concentration, time to peak, and AUC(0-24). We conclude that nifedipine has little, if any, effect on the clinical status, PEFR, or theophylline serum levels in patients with asthma who receive theophylline.

Adult↗

The pulse oximeter: a non-invasive monitor of oxygenation during thoracic surgery.

The pulse oximeter continuously and non-invasively measures arterial saturation. The objective of the current study was to assess the value of this monitor during thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation. A total of 108 pulse oximeter saturation readings (SaO2[O]) were compared with PaO2 and calculated saturation (SaO2[C]) values. Hypoxia (PaO2 less than 70 mmHg) always resulted in a SaO2 (O) value below 95%. For the detection of hypoxia, the pulse oximeter had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 91% and a predictability of 70%. The correlation between SaO2(C) and SaO2(O) was good (r = 0.895). In the samples with a PaO2 below 100 mmHg the correlation between SaO2(C) and SaO2(O) was significantly better when the temperature was at least 36 degrees C (r = 0.956 vs. r = 0.706; p less than 0.005) or when the cardiac index was greater than 2.5 l/min/m2 (r = 0.896 vs r = 0.417; p less than 0.01).

Adult↗

Isolation and sequence of the cDNA for human protein S, a regulator of blood coagulation.

Protein S is a cofactor of activated protein C; together they function as a regulator of blood coagulation. A human liver cDNA library constructed in bacteriophage lambda gt11 was screened with DNA fragments from a full-length bovine cDNA clone encoding protein S. Several cDNA clones were isolated and sequenced. The combined cDNA sequences encoded the mature protein and 15 residues of the leader sequence when compared to bovine protein S. Human protein S is a single-chain protein consisting of 635 amino acids with 82% homology to bovine protein S. After an NH2-terminal gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing region, there is a short region with thrombin-sensitive bond(s), followed by a region with four repeat sequences that are homologous to the precursor of mouse epidermal growth factor. In contrast to the other vitamin K-dependent plasma proteins, the COOH-terminal portion of human protein S does not show any resemblance to serine proteases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A possible role for squalene in the pathogenesis of acne. I. In vitro study of squalene oxidation.

An in vitro study of the oxidation of squalene, and a description of factors acting on this transformation are presented. Thin layer chromatography was used to quantify the products generated by different oxidation processes. The results clearly show that squalene is a highly effective oxygen-scavenging agent. Its oxidation may first induce comedogenesis and, as a secondary event, cause a large reduction in oxygen tension in the human pilo-sebaceous duct. Porphyrins were confirmed to be highly efficient catalytic factors in the squalene oxidation process. The relationships between comedogenesis, bacterial colonization, and the role of sebum in the pathogenesis of acne are discussed in the light of these findings.

Acne Vulgaris↗

A possible role for squalene in the pathogenesis of acne. II. In vivo study of squalene oxides in skin surface and intra-comedonal lipids of acne patients.

Skin surface lipids and lipids from open and closed comedones in acne patients were analysed by thin layer chromatography. The results showed that these lipids were enriched in polar lipids, as compared with the skin surface lipids obtained from controls without acne. In both open and closed comedones, these polar lipids appeared to be derived mainly from the oxidation of squalene, which is in agreement with our previous in vitro results. We suggest that squalene oxidation is the link between comedogenesis and bacterial colonization, and based on this, we propose a hypothesis of the pathogenesis of acne.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Treatment and visual prognosis in Behçet's disease.

For the last decade we have observed and regularly followed 49 patients with the ocular type of Behçet's disease. Thirty-six patients were males and 13 were females. Regardless of whether the initial ocular presenting symptoms were in the anterior or posterior segment, both segments were involved within two years. Sterile hypopyon was recorded in 17 out of the 49 patients during the process of follow-up. In three of the patients hypopyon was the presenting symptom. Characteristically there was a lack of corneal or scleral involvement in the disease process. All patients responded initially to treatment with steroids, but 42 had a course of treatment with cytotoxic-immunosuppressive drugs for various lengths of time after 'resistance' to steroids developed. Although definitely effective in reducing the intensity of the ocular inflammatory processes, it is not clear yet whether these modes of treatment have any dramatic effect of the visual prognosis of the affected eyes. Despite intensive follow-up and treatment, loss of useful visual acuity has occurred in 74% of the eyes six to 10 years after the start of the ocular symptoms.

Azathioprine↗

Patient identification: a look at triage tags.

An ever-present problem that occurs with multiple-patient incidents is the identification of victims. After the victims are initially assessed, it is imperative that they be identified as to whether they require immediate care or whether they can wait awhile for care. A variety of triage tags have been developed across the country to provide this identification. In this article, we will examine some different tags in current use, and discuss consideration for their proper use.

California↗

Immune responses to herpes simplex virus in patients with recurrent herpes labialis: I. Development of cell-mediated cytotoxic responses.

Groups of subjects during acute (0-3 days) and convalescent (2-3 weeks) phase of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL), and other subjects seropositive or seronegative for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) antibody without any history of RHL, were tested for the appearance of cell-mediated cytotoxic responses by stimulating peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in vitro with ultraviolet-inactivated HSV-1 antigen, using the release of radiolabelled chromium (51Cr) from HSV-1-infected autologous, or allogeneic lymphocytes and K562 erythroleukemia cell line as nonspecific targets. Development of HSV specific cytotoxic response using autologous targets was essentially limited to subjects with RHL and in HSV antibody seropositive control subjects. Peak activity was observed during the acute phase of the disease, compared to the activity in the convalescent phase in seropositive subjects with RHL, and was preceded by high lymphoproliferative response to HSV. Higher cytotoxic responses against K562 cells were also observed in RHL subjects compared to the controls. Depletion of Leu-2+, Leu-3+ or Leu-11 effector lymphocytes from HSV-1-stimulated PBL cultures by treatment with complement and appropriate monoclonal antibodies resulted in significant reduction of cytotoxicity to HSV-1-infected autologous cells. However, cytotoxicity to K562 cells was reduced only after depletion of Leu-11+ cells. Low levels of allogeneic restriction were observed for cytotoxicity to HSV-1-infected targets. These observations suggest selective activation of virus specific Leu-2+ and Leu-3+ T cell subsets as well as natural killer cell mediated cytotoxic mechanisms during the active phase of recurrences of herpes simplex virus infection.

Adolescent↗

Chlorocyclohexane insecticides and male medfly attractants: similar stereospecificity for neuroactivity and interactions with a housefly [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding site.

[35S]t-Butylbicyclophosphorothionate [( 35S]TBPS) undergoes saturable specific binding to a membrane preparation from housefly thoraxes and abdomens with apparent Kd and Bmax values at equilibrium of 0.17 microM and 2.2 pmol/mg protein at 20 degrees C. Lindane is more potent than three other isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane as a toxicant for houseflies and in displacing [35S]TBPS from this housefly membrane preparation. This correlation of similar stereospecificity for neuroactivity and interaction with the TBPS receptor extends to the Mediterranean fruit fly male attractant trimedlure and its components and analogs. The relative attractancy of t-butyl cis-4-chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate and of three less active isomers of this trans-chlorocyclohexane-carboxylate parallel their potency in the [35S]TBPS binding assay. With both trimedlure and the related cyclohexene attractant siglure the trans-isomers are more potent than the cis-isomers as attractants and in displacing [35S]TBPS. Scatchard analyses indicate that lindane binds at the same site as [35S]TBPS. The hexachlorocyclohexane isomers and trimedlure components are much more potent inhibitors with membrane preparations from houseflies than from rat brain. The housefly TBPS receptor possibly serves as a model for the primary target sites, thereby suggesting that both the insecticide and the attractant may interact with some component of the putative GABAergic nervous or neuromuscular system.

Animals↗

The statistical properties of a stepwise procedure for testing the purity of fruit juice.

In many cases no fixed standards are available and a sample from a target population is used to provide the necessary quality-control norms. Furthermore, many products possess several correlated attributes that are relevant to the authenticity question. This article addresses some issues related to statistical tests used in such cases, focussing in particular on a procedure that has been lately proposed for differentiating between pure and adulterated fruit juice. The quality control of fruit juice is usually performed by comparing the values of several characteristics in the tested sample against some prespecified standards. In many cases those standards are based on the values found in a sample of a presumably pure juice, which is used as a "reference sample" or a "base sample". Several detection methods were recently proposed that use universal "base samples" and are supposed to be valid when applied to juices from different sources or different varieties. We compare the results yielded by the use of various "base samples" and show that the application of such a method to Israeli citrus juice leads to too many rejections of pure juices. We suggest that the main drawbacks of the method is the use of improper "base sample" that is not specific to the sample being tested.

Amino Acids↗

Data quality and DRGs: an assessment of the reliability of federal beneficiary discharge data in selected Manhattan hospitals.

New York County Health Services Review Organization (NYCHSRO), the physicians' professional standards review organization of Manhattan, examined whether diagnostic coding errors identified in Manhattan hospitals would affect reimbursement under a diagnostic-related group (DRG) method of financing inpatient services. A sampling of 1,027 Medicare and Medicaid cases representing discharges from 18 Manhattan hospitals during 1982 and 1983 revealed incorrect DRG assignment for 17.5% of patient record abstracts, but these appear to have been unsystematic rather than deliberate errors. The difference between estimated reimbursement based on original and reabstracted records was not statistically significant either in the aggregate or for specific hospitals. It is emphasized that while New York State's Prospective Hospital Reimbursement Methodology (in effect during the study period) is not solely dependent upon DRG's case-mix is one of several factors used to make adjustments to existing per diem rates. A key recommendation is that hospitals conduct internal monitorings with all involved departments to improve the quality of the data abstracting process.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗

Treatment of dialysis membranes for simultaneous dialysis and concentration.

Dialysis membranes used for simultaneous dialysis-concentration required pretreatment to remove uv-absorbing compounds leached from the membranes and to reduce the absorption of protein to the membranes. This was accomplished with sodium carbonate and ethanol or with "sulfur-removal solutions." Protein determinations were made with a micro-Bradford protein reaction and with uv absorbance at 280 nm. Soluble membrane components contributed to aberrant uv spectra and altered the ratio of 280/260-nm absorbance. Simultaneous dialysis and concentration in the micro protein dialyzer-concentrator apparatus, combining aspects of thin-layer dialysis and ultrafiltration, resulted in rapid removal of salts from the protein solutions. Prior treatment of membranes reduced uncertainties in retentate recoveries, eliminated uv-absorbing components of membranes, and improved recoveries of protein.

Acetates↗

Formation of tight junctions in epithelial cells. I. Induction by proteases in a human colon carcinoma cell line.

The experimental modulation of tight junctions (TJ) was studied in the human adenocarcinoma cell line HT 29 by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. The cell line has virtually no TJ when grown in culture. TJ could be induced by mild treatment with a variety of endopeptidases (trypsin, chymotrypsin, collagenase, elastase, plasmin, thrombin, papain, and pronase). Pronase induced the formation of TJ at low (but not at high) concentrations. All exopeptidases studied were unable to induce the formation of TJ. At 0 degree C the trypsin-induced formation of TJ was greatly slowed down although not entirely inhibited. However, when cells were briefly treated with trypsin at 0 degree C and subsequently transferred to 37 degrees C in the presence of protease inhibitors, TJ were rapidly assembled. Thus an induction phase at low temperature and an assembly phase at high temperature could be experimentally separated. When cells were briefly trypsinized at 0 degrees and subsequently kept at 0 degree C without trypsin for several hours, TJ still formed abundantly upon incubation at 37 degrees C. It appears therefore that the effect produced by the protease is retained for long periods in the cold.

Adenocarcinoma↗