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Biomedical subjects

G Shulman

Publications and source records attributed to G Shulman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Tumor-associated antigens in breast carcinomas. Prognostic significance.

In an attempt to identify biologic markers that might predict prognosis in breast cancer patients, the presence or absence of seven tumor-associated antigens in 54 infiltrating breast carcinomas was correlated with tumor recurrence rates (minimum five-year follow-up), axillary lymph node metastases and tumor volume. Immunohistochemical kappa-casein was present in 30 (56%) tumors, alpha-lactalbumin in 39 (72%) tumors, secretory component of IgA in 26 (48%) tumors, carcinoembryonic antigen in 34 (63%) tumors, pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein in 7 (13%) tumors, beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin in 1 (2%) tumor and human placental lactogen in 0 (0%) tumors. There was no significant correlation between the presence or absence in tumor of any of the antigens, and prognosis as assessed either by 5-year recurrence rates (P greater than 0.18) or by the presence of axillary lymph node metastases (P greater than 0.20). No significant difference was noted in mean tumor volume (cm3) +/- SEM, between tumors with or without antigen immunoreactivity (P greater than 0.05).

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1985

Liver iron stores and hepatitis B antigen status.

Higher serum iron and ferritin levels noted in hepatitis B antigen (HBAg) carriers than in noncarriers suggests that virus might actively replicate in hepatocytes, stimulate ferritin synthesis, and result in increased liver iron stores. A comparative semiquantitative study of immunohistochemical ferritin (0-12) and hemosiderin (0-9) was performed on 54 normal, 13 cirrhotic, and 70 nonneoplastic livers from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, in each group, comparing amounts in HBAg-positive and HBAg-negative patients. Mean scores for ferritin and hemosiderin were high in all three groups, normal livers averaging 8.3 and 6, respectively, cirrhotic livers, 8.5 and 7.4, respectively, and carcinoma livers, 5.6 and 6.1, respectively. In each group, there was no significant difference in ferritin and hemosiderin mean scores in HBAg-positive and HBAg-negative patients. The large liver iron stores do not appear to be a consequence of hepatitis B virus infection alone. Their role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma is still to be elucidated.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1985

Changes in plasma haptoglobin and alpha-2-macroglobulin in hemophiliacs receiving factor replacement therapy.

Plasma proteins were studied in 84 patients with hemophilia A, who were receiving factor replacement therapy. Compared with age-matched controls, 63 patients (75%) had subnormal haptoglobin and 58 (69%) had elevated alpha-2-macroglobulin. Causes for depressed haptoglobin were sought by correlating ABO blood types, liver function tests, factor VIII procoagulant levels, and intensity of yearly exposure to clotting factor products. Subnormal haptoglobin levels in chronically transfused patients may relate in part to hemolysis from AB incompatability. However, depressed haptoglobin levels were also found in group O hemophiliacs without other evidence of hemolysis. Most patients lacked evidence of active liver disease, making synthetic deficiency unlikely. There was close correlation between depressed haptoglobin and severity of clotting factor deficiency. The degree of alpha-2-macroglobulin elevation correlated with severity of procoagulant deficiency but not with intensity of clotting factor replacement therapy. Since alpha-2-macroglobulin plays a major role in the catabolism of fibrinogen, elevated levels may represent a compensatory increase in response to exogenous fibrinogen contained in the clotting factor concentrates. Alternatively, since alpha-2-macroglobulin has potent immunosuppressive properties, the elevation may represent a response to transfused alloantigens. Whatever the underlying cause, it is likely the elevations are due to endogenous production rather than to transfusions since clotting factor concentrates contain minimal amounts of alpha-2-macroglobulin.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1985

Canthaxanthin.

Canthaxanthin is used as a food-coloring agent, a photoprotective agent in certain photodermatoses, a tan-simulating agent, and a pigment to darken vitiliginous skin. This article reviews the current literature on canthaxanthin and reports the evaluation of oral canthaxanthin as an artificial pigment for the management of vitiligo. Fifty-six patients were studied, using serum canthaxanthin levels, pre- and post-treatment photographs with standard conditions, physician assessment, and patient questionnaires evaluating treatment results. Canthaxanthin was rated "very satisfactory" by 10%, "satisfactory" by 35%, and "unsatisfactory" by 54% of patients. In light-skinned individuals, self-reports were "very satisfactory" in 27%, "satisfactory" in 45%, and "unsatisfactory" in 27%. In dark-skinned individuals, the treatment was less effective. Women were happier with the results than men. Major side effects were red stools and orange palms and soles. Canthaxanthin can be taken orally, is easy to use, and can be a cosmetically acceptable therapy in selected cases of vitiligo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Immunohistochemical ferritin in testicular seminoma.

Immunohistochemical ferritin was demonstrated in all 23 (100%) testicular seminomas studied with antisera to liver ferritin (largely of basic isoferritins) and to myocardial ferritin (containing more acidic isoferritins). With liver ferritin antibody immuno-stain was strong in 74% with a diffuse distribution in 41%. The remaining six tumors showed moderate immuno-stain, of diffuse distribution in two. The myocardial ferritin antibody showed the following: strong immuno-stain in 52%, 58% of diffuse distribution; and moderate immuno-stain in 30%, 86% of focal distribution. Although ferritin is widespread in nature, the facts that both basic and acidic isoferritins are present in the majority of testicular seminomas, and that serum ferritin levels are reported to be increased in over 80% of patients with seminoma suggest that the demonstration of raised serum ferritin levels in the face of negative or low serum assays for human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-fetoprotein possibly may prove to be useful in the diagnosis, and evaluation of extent and recurrence of testicular seminomas.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1984

Immunohistochemical ferritin in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Serum ferritin concentrations are elevated in 35% to 100% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). With an immunoperoxidase technique, ferritin was demonstrated in tumor tissue from 32 of 74 (43%) black southern African patients, and from 12 of 19 (63%) American patients with HCC (P greater than 0.1). Ferritin was present in nonneoplastic liver in 82% of African and 100% of American patients (P greater than 0.1). Moderate to large amounts of stainable hepatic storage iron (hemosiderin) were present in 76% of African and 67% of American patients (P greater than 0.1). Fifty-two (70%) African patients had macronodular cirrhosis. In the literature, 80% to 90% of American patients with HCC have cirrhosis. High serum ferritin levels in patients with HCC may be due to ferritin production by the tumor, or related to the associated iron overload and/or cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Discrimination of spatiotemporal patterns: the role of sustained and transient mechanisms.

The role of sustained and transient mechanisms in pattern and flicker perception has been examined in two discrimination experiments. In the first, observers were required to analyze the temporal or spatial properties of a stimulus that highly stimulated either sustained or transient mechanisms. The results were only partially consistent with a model identifying sustained mechanisms with pattern perception and transient mechanisms with flicker perception. In the second experiment a subthreshold summation paradigm was used to explore interactions among those mechanisms that encode the temporal and spatial properties of a stimulus. The effect of a subthreshold temporal-frequency change on discrimination performance could not be explained by models in which temporal-frequency and spatial-frequency changes are evaluated separately and then combined.

Discrimination Learning↗
PubMed1982

Endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinoma: an immunoperoxidase and histochemical study.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been demonstrated in endocervical but not in endometrial adenocarcinomas, suggesting a valuable differentiating feature. Using an immunoperoxidase technique for CEA, alcian blue (AB)-periodic acid-Schiff stain for acidic and neutral mucosubstances, respectively, and Mayer's mucicarmine for epithelial mucosubstances, 13 endocervical and 21 endometrial adenocarcinomas were studied to delineate differentiating criteria. CEA was present in all endocervical adenocarcinomas with strongly positive immunostaining in 69%, diffusely throughout the tumor in 77%, intracellularly in 77%, in luminal secretions in 39%, and at the cell surface in 31%. Only 11 (52%) endometrial adenocarcinomas contained CEA, 82% with weak immunostaining, 64% focally, 82% at the cell surface and 36% intracellularly. Mucin was present in 12 (92%) endocervical lesions with AB-positive intracellular and luminal secretion in 83%, strong positivity in 42%, and a diffuse distribution in 60% with all three stains. Moderate or small amounts of mucin were present in 19 (91%) endometrial lesions, focally in 80%, in luminal secretions in 94%, and intracellularly in 42%. Thus, the majority of endocervical adenocarcinomas showed abundant diffusely distributed intracellular CEA and mucin, and mucinous luminal secretions. Half of the endometrial adenocarcinomas contained focal small amounts of apical surface CEA. Mucin was present focally particularly in luminal secretions.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1981

Serum trace elements and vitamin A in leprosy subtypes.

Serum zinc, copper, iron, and vitamin A levels were determined in patients with leprosy and healthy controls. Leprosy patients were classified according to the Ridley and Jopling classification and divided into two main groups as follows: tuberculoid, which consisted mainly of borderline tuberculoid patients and lepromatous, which consisted of borderline lepromatous and true lepromatous patients. The lepromatous group was found to have significantly lower serum levels of zinc and iron and elevated levels of copper. Vitamin A levels were also significantly lower in the lepromatous groups than in the tuberculoid group. Furthermore, the true lepromatous vitamin A determinations were significantly lower than those of the borderline lepromatous patients. The mechanism of these alterations in trace elements is probably due to a redistribution of these metals from the blood to various tissues; brought about by the release of leucocyte endogenous mediators by continuing phagocytosis of tissue macrophages in the lepromatous group of patients.

Copper↗
PubMed1980

Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein measurements by laser immunonephelometry.

A method is described for measuring human alpha-fetoprotein concentration (AFP) in amniotic fluid by laser immunonephelometry showing results comparable with those obtained by radioimmunoassay. Advantages gained with the laser technique lie in its simplicity as a method which avoids use of radioactive materials, a more rapid 2 h turnaround time and a relatively small capital equipment outlay with minimal operating costs. Laser immunonephelometry appears to be an excellent alternative to radioimmunoassay for measuring AFP in amniotic fluid.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1980

Studies on the growth-inhibiting property of amniotic fluids from two United States population groups.

This study attempted to determine if lack of antimicrobial activity in amniotic fluid is the reason United States blacks have more amniotic fluid bacterial infection than whites. No significant interracial differences were found in a study of 111 fluids from whites and 56 fluids from blacks. It has been claimed that the phosphate:zinc ratio in amniotic fluid is an accurate predictor of antimicrobial activity. The present study found this often to be untrue. Amniotic fluids that lacked antimicrobial activity gained such activity when zinc was added, but the in vitro zinc levels required were usually higher than observed physiologic concentrations. Previous studies have claimed that antimicrobial activity first appears in the amniotic fluid in the third trimester of gestation. We found such activity in the majority of fluids by the end of the first trimester, with a Staphylococcus aureus indicator; in contrast, with Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae as test organisms, greater inhibition was observed after 35 weeks.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1980

Whole-blood platelet counts with an impedance-type particle counter.

The Clay-Adams Ultra-Flo 100 whole-blood platelet counter provides results that are accurate and precise for platelet counts greater than 20 x 10(9) per liter with virtually zero carryover from one specimen to the next. Comparison of results with those obtained by manual reference and Technicon Autocounter methods shows excellent correlation. The advantage of the Ultra-Flo 100 over the Technicon Autocounter lies in a smaller space requirement in the laboratory, a short start-up time, and minimal maintenance. This makes the Ultra-Flo 100 especially ideal for the stat laboratory. Operating costs of the Ultra-Flo 100 are comparable to those of other methods investigated, but rapid speed of operation has a significant effect on turnaround time.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

Quality of commercially available controls in laser immunonephelometry.

Lack of accuracy in expressing concentrations of specific proteins in different lots of Hyland calibrating reference and quality control materials, supplied for the Hyland PDQ laser nephelometer, prompted an attempt to find alternative and more reliable calibrating materials available commercially. Laser grade (Atlantic Antibodies) and radial immunodiffusion grade materials (Behring Diagnostics) were evaluated in this study. Using Atlantic Antibodies' calibrator, only five of 11 specific proteins assayed in Atlantic control serum were within acceptable ranges; precision was less than that using Hyland materials of identical lots. Mean values for each of 10 of the same 11 specific proteins of Behring control plasma assayed against Behring stabilised human serum, were within manufacturers' acceptable ranges; however, precision was less than that with Hyland materials from identical lots. Nine of the 11 specific proteins in a frozen serum pool sample, measured on the laser nephelometer, agreed well with results of the specific proteins measured by radial immunodiffusion, using the same Behring calibration and quality control. Only the Hyland materials were prediluted for use, which explains the greater precision that was obtained. Intercomparison of concentrations, as expressed by respective manufacturers, was largely unacceptable. Based on these results there is need, until satisfactory reagents become available, to standardise on one parent Hyland reference sample giving best precision and to calibrate all subsequent working standards against the parent reference.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

Immunocytoma in black and white South Africans.

The clinical and immunochemical presentations of immunocytomata in black and white South African patients are described. Age distribution in white patients is similar to previously published series. However, black patients with multiple myelomatosis and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia on average presented clinically ten and twenty years respectively earlier than white patients. No significnat differences in the various immunochemical classes of multiple myelomatosis was shown despite greater serum immunoglobulin concentrations (especially IgA) in the black population. Age adjusted incidence rates for multiple myelomatosis in South African blacks were as high as those in the United States and Jamaica. This finding contrasts with low rates previously reported in Africa. Furthermore, age adjusted incidence rates for multiple myelomatosis in South African whites were higher than those in whites reported in the United States. There was a higher incidence in blacks of fractures of the thoracolumbar spine with collapse and consequent paraplegia and urinary tract infection. While there was a greater frequency of solitary myeloma in black patients, cases of benign paraproteinaemia were seen only in white patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Crossed immuno-electrodiffusion in the diagnosis of immunoglobulin fragment abnormalities.

The use of crossed immuno-electrodiffusion in the diagnosis of alpha-chain disease is described. The same basic technique is applicable in diagnosis of diseases in which immunoglobulin fragment abnormalities may occur. Crossed immuno-electrodiffusion is shown to be a superior method for demonstrating the abnormaility by providing more powerful resolution. Immunoselection (an adaptation of the classical method of immuno-electrophoresis) or rocket immuno-electrodiffusion both have limitations which are overcome by the use of crossed immuno-electrodiffusion. Mixture of antibodies is avoided by separating antibody-containing gels with interposition of intermediate gel layers free of antibody. Furthermore, precipitin rockets of some specific proteins can also be identified morphologically.

Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate↗
PubMed1979

Comparison of specific protein assays in biological fluids by radial immunodiffusion and laser nephelometer.

Laser immuno-nephelometry is presently being used for measuring concentrations of specific proteins in biological fluids. Our findings have not substantiated the highly correlative results with radial immunodiffusion that have been reported. The reason for our poor correlation was found in the lack of uniformity in expressing concentrations of the different specific proteins in the calibrating standards. One value of the laser nephelometer was the greater precision obtained when comparing results to those measured by radial immuno-diffusion. Also, the laser was found to be more sensitive for measuring low level concentrations.

Blood Proteins↗