Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Marks.
Analyzed data from an earlier reported experience with colorectal cancer at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, compared with findings observed and analyzed from 1959 to 1977 indicate a changing pattern of distribution of colorectal cancers. These changes lead to therapeutic conclusion that fiberoptic flexible sigmoidoscopy is the preferred diagnostic tool.
Flexible fiberoptic colonoscopy, to have the maximum effect upon the management of patients having, suspected of, or at risk of having colorectal neoplastic disease, must be applied in accordance with substantial guidelines. Schemes for the application of colonoscopy have been designed for the early and accurate diagnosis of benign and malignant polypoid lesions. Colonoscopy has proven effective in confirming radiographic findings and the removal of pre-malignant and superficially malignant lesions. When applied in accordance with appropriate guidelines, flexible fiberoptic colonoscopy should provide not only secure surveillance in those individuals at high risk, but also should reduce appreciably the morbidity and mortality of colorectal neoplasia.
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OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between acculturation and five health practices, including cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, obesity, and sleeping habits. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 573 Latinas, aged 46 to 92 years. Participants were recruited from 17 publicly subsidized housing projects in Los Angeles, Calif. Health practices information was obtained through an interview. RESULTS: Regression analyses showed an interaction between age and acculturation: the effects of acculturation on health practices were stronger among Latinas aged 64 years and under than among their 65 to 74 year-old counterparts. Level of acculturation did not affect the likelihood of engaging in healthy practices for elderly women (aged 75 and over). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that acculturation negatively affects the health practices of middle-aged Latinas, who are at a particularly critical age during which chronic diseases emerge. Intervention programs are needed to encourage adoption of healthy practices, particularly exercise and weight control, at an earlier stage in life.
The researchers studied the self-reported practices of men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Los Angeles concerning notifying past sexual partners of their risk of infection. The sample of 111 men consisted of 87 Hispanics, 14 whites, 9 blacks, and 1 Asian. Ninety-three percent identified themselves as homosexual or bisexual, and 13 percent reported having injected a nonprescription drug. Seventy-five percent had tested HIV seropositive within the previous 8 months. Subjects were asked about notifying sexual partners with whom they had contact in the 12-months before the subject tested HIV seropositive. Of the 111 subjects, 39 (35 percent) reported that they had attempted to inform 1 or more past partners. Of those who attempted, 30 subjects (76.9 percent) reported notifying at least 1 partner. Overall, the 111 subjects reported a total of 926 individual sexual partners during the 12 months; 51 partners (5.5 percent) were informed of their risk by the subjects. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that those with the most past sexual partners were least likely to attempt to notify any partner. The same inverse relationship was obtained for actual notification and may stem in part from the greater frequency of nonidentifiable partners among those reporting many encounters. The extent and quality of posttest counseling regarding partner notification was not assessed. However, rates of attempted notification were nonsignificantly higher among those who received private professional counseling, who belonged to a support group, or who received social support from family or friends. The data suggest that without concerted and culturally appropriate counseling, many HIV infected persons do not attempt to notify past sexual partners of their risk.
We have previously shown that anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab2) that functionally mimic the epitope defined by anti-colorectal carcinoma (CRC) monoclonal antibody (Ab1) CO17-1A induce in cancer patients highly specific anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab3) which are Ab1-like in their binding specificity to tumor cells and antigen. Ab1 GA733, originally produced against gastric carcinoma, binds to the same antigen as Ab1 CO17-1A, but to a different epitope. Ab2 against Ab1 GA733 produced in goats have been previously shown in experimental animals to functionally mimic the epitope defined by the Ab1. For the purposes of studying immune responses, this Ab2 preparation was administered to 12 patients who had previously been diagnosed with CRC but whose tumors were excised prior to Ab2 therapy. Patients were injected subcutaneously with escalating doses (0.5-4 mg) of Ab2 precipitated to alum. Ten of the 12 patients produced antibodies to the administered Ab2. In six patients a fraction of these antibodies bound specifically to the Ab2 and not to normal goat IgG. These anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab3) shared idiotopes with the Ab1 and bound to antigen-positive, but not antigen-negative, cultured tumor cells. The Ab3 specifically inhibited binding of the Ab1 to tumor cells and therefore may bind to the same epitope as Ab1. Our studies demonstrate that Ab2 are highly specific modulators of cancer patients immune responses to their tumors.
Six boys and six girls 11 +/- 1.5 years of age living in the endemic goiter area of Tîrgovişte, Romania were studied. Three of the children of each sex did have a palpable endemic goiter, three did not. The children followed a diurnal activity pattern synchronized by their school routine and ate their usual three meal diet. Urine was collected at 4-hour intervals over a 24 hour span (six samples). Urinary volume, pH, total (T) solids, protein, glucose, phosphorus, uric acid, urea nitrogen, creatinine, total and nondialyzable (ND) sodium and potassium were determined by conventional methods and the total and nondialyzable (ND) portion of urinary calcium, magnesium, and zinc and the ND portion of aluminum, copper, boron, lead and silicon were determined by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system.
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INTRODUCTION: This longitudinal study examined the prevalence and demographic correlates of unprotected insertive and receptive anal intercourse among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men who were aware of their serostatus. METHODS: Participants (n = 395), sampled randomly at two HIV outpatient clinics in Los Angeles, completed two waves of self-administered questionnaires (separated by approximately 7-9 months) that measured sexual behaviors in the previous 60 days. RESULTS: The cross-sectional prevalence of unprotected insertive anal intercourse was 11.2% at time 1 and 7.1% at time 2. Longitudinal analysis indicated that nearly 15% of the participants had engaged in that high-risk behavior either at time 1 or time 2 and approximately 4% had engaged in the behavior at each time period. Similar rates of unprotected receptive anal intercourse were observed. These high-risk activities were more prevalent with seropositive and unknown serostatus partners than with seronegative partners. The rate of anal intercourse risk behaviors was higher among asymptomatic men and among those who were exclusively gay. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate considerable differences in the prevalence of stable and occasional high-risk sexual behaviors among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. Simple cross-sectional analyses cannot capture the stability or variation in behavior across time and, thus, may generate misleading conclusions about disease transmission, especially if the partner's HIV serostatus is not considered in the analysis. The findings indicate a need for focused safer-sex interventions for seropositive men. The HIV outpatient clinic is an ideal setting for such interventions.