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Biomedical subjects

J Graber

Publications and source records attributed to J Graber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Interferon-beta-1a induces increases in vascular cell adhesion molecule: implications for its mode of action in multiple sclerosis.

We investigated soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM) levels and MRI lesions over 24 weeks in 15 Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) patients randomized prospectively to receive once-weekly (qw) IFN-beta-1a 30 mug intramuscularly (IM) (Group I, 8 patients) or three-times-weekly (tiw) IFN-beta-1a 44 mug subcutaneously (SC) (Group II, 7 patients). Both groups demonstrated a significant increase in sVCAM during treatment when compared to pre-treatment levels. Patients on IFN-beta-1a 44 mug SC tiw had a significant (p<0.0001) mean increase in sVCAM of 321.9 ng/ml which was significantly greater (p<0.0001) than with IFN-beta-1a 30 mug IM qw (68.6 ng/ml). There was a negative correlation between combined unique (CU) MRI lesions and sVCAM levels within the IFN-beta-1a 44 mug SC tiw group (slope=-0.00106, p=0.009). We postulate that the mode of action of IFN-beta therapy in MS may involve the induction of an increase in sVCAM. sVCAM could bind VLA-4 on T-cells and intercept their adhesion to the blood brain barrier (BBB). This mechanism is consistent with the observed clinical effect of IFN-beta in reducing MRI contrast enhancing lesions.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

In vitro HgCl2 exposure of immune cells at different stages of maturation: effects on phenotype and function.

This is the first study to investigate the hypothesis that the immunotoxic effects of inorganic mercury may be modulated by inherent differences in the responsiveness of immune cells related to the age of the donor. We exposed cells from lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus, collected from 7- and 10-day-old CD.1 pups, as well as from adult CD.1 mice, in terms of the effects of mercury in vitro on responses to Con-A stimulation with respect to proliferation, cytokine production, and cell phenotype. The effects of mercury on proliferation were age and organ dependent, while effects on cytokine production were only age dependent. Effects of mercury were observed only on splenocyte T-cell subpopulations and only in cells from 10-day-old pups and from adults. Mercury had no effect on IFN-gamma and IL-4 production by splenocytes from 7-day-old pups, but significantly decreased release of these cytokines by splenocytes from 10-day-old pups and adults. Hg did not affect IL-4 production by lymph node cells or thymocytes. In lymph node cells Hg affected IFN-gamma production only at 7 days. These data indicate that inherent properties of immune cells at different stages of development may influence the response to immunotoxicants.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A prospective study of familial and social influences on girls' body image and dieting.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the emergence of body image concerns and dieting behaviors in early adolescence as a function of girls' perceptions of family relationships, maternal modeling of dieting behaviors and body image concerns, and familial and peer pressures to diet. METHOD: Self-report measures were obtained from 77 White girls and their mothers in early adolescence (mean age = 12.3 years) and 1 year later. RESULTS: Girls' perceptions of family relations and mothers' perceptions of daughters' weight at Time 1 significantly predicted girls' dieting behavior 1 year later over and above Time 1 dieting and body image. Only girls' previous body image and dieting behaviors significantly predicted more body dissatisfaction 1 year later. Girls' body image was found to mediate the relationship between family relations and dieting at Time 1 assessment, but not over time. DISCUSSION: The importance of implementing early prevention and interventions programs is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Black and white girls' racial preferences in media and peer choices and the role of socialization for black girls.

This exploratory research compared Black and White girls' racial preferences as exhibited through their media (music and television) and peer choices. The sample included 140 8- and 9-year-old Black and White girls of various socioeconomic levels. Findings suggested that both Black and White girls have more Black music preferences than White or no-race music preferences. Also, both Black and White girls made more White television program choices than Black or no-race choices. In their peer selections, all girls preferred same-race peers. Black mothers who engaged in racial socialization practices had girls who were more likely to prefer Black music and television to the other categories. Further, Black mothers who promoted more cultural distance and mothers who were poor had girls with more same-race peer preferences.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1996

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome: the first 100 US cases.

In the spring of 1993, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) "emerged" in the southwestern United States, where a multiagency investigation led to the rapid description of this new clinical entity and its etiology. Analysis of the first 100 US cases identified showed that the disease was distributed in 21 states, had gone unrecognized since at least 1959, and had a distinct spring-early summer seasonality. Of the infected persons, 54% were male; 63% were Caucasian, 35% were Native American, and 2% were African American. The average age of case-patients was 34.9 years, and 8 were children or adolescents aged < or = 16 years. The overall case-fatality rate was 52%. There was a 91% concordance among serologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular results. HPS in the United States is caused by at least three newly described pathogenic hantaviruses, each of which has a distinct rodent host, and cases of HPS have been recently recognized in Canada and South America. National surveillance of this sporadic disease remains essential for further defining the epidemiology and clinical spectrum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

An international collaborative study of the effects of coinfection with human T-lymphotropic virus type II on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 disease progression in injection drug users.

To determine whether human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type II coinfection affects progression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection, longitudinal data on 370 HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) with known HIV seroconversion dates from four cohort studies were pooled. HTLV infection was determined by EIA and confirmed and typed by Western blot. Proportional hazards models were used to determine whether HTLV-II infection was associated with AIDS or AIDS-related mortality. Regression analyses were used to compare declines in CD4 cell percents in singly and dually infected persons. Of 370 IDUs, 61 (16%) were HTLV-II-coinfected. During follow-up, 43 (12%) developed and 24 (6%) died of AIDS. HTLV-II coinfection was not associated with progression to AIDS (relative hazard [RH], .82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-1.94]) or AIDS mortality (RH, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.62-4.60). Rates of decline in CD4 cell percent were similar in singly and dually infected IDUs. These results suggest that HTLV-II does not affect the progression of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Lightning accident with eight victims: case report and brief review of the literature.

A case of a lightning accident with eight victims is presented. The patients presented with typical injuries, such as cardiocirculatory arrest, apnea, burns, lightning paralysis, and rupture of internal organs. Two of three patients with cardiocirculatory arrest were successfully resuscitated. A brief description of the spectrum of typical lightning injuries, as well as the recommended therapy concepts, are given.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Outcome assessment for epilepsy surgery: the impact of measuring health-related quality of life.

Epilepsy surgery is an increasingly common treatment for intractable epilepsy; yet there is no clear consensus among experts on how to report epilepsy surgery outcome. Most published outcome reporting systems focus on seizure frequency and type but differ in how they define clinically distinct outcome categories. We used a reliable and valid measure of self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the Epilepsy Surgery Inventory (ESI)-55, as an external standard by which to evaluate seven previously published, seizure-based outcome classification systems. The ESI-55 was administered to 133 adults who had previously undergone surgery for intractable epilepsy, and results were linked to data on their seizure occurrence before and after surgery (over the year prior to their HRQOL reports). These 133 patients were classified according to each seizure-based outcome system, and variation in HRQOL across outcome groups was evaluated using analysis of variance. Results reveal noteworthy variation in the extent to which different systems reflect patients' HRQOL at follow-up. We modified existing systems to derive a seizure-based surgery outcome system that most closely reflects HRQOL when applied over the latest 1-year postoperative interval.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Spinal anaesthesia in a patient with Takayasu's disease.

We report the successful anaesthetic management of therapeutic abortion under spinal anaesthesia in a 32-yr-old woman with Takayasu's disease. The pathology and pathophysiology of this syndrome and their impact on anaesthesia are discussed.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗
PubMed1992

A health-related quality of life instrument for patients evaluated for epilepsy surgery.

The goals of surgery in treating intractable epilepsy are to eliminate seizures and improve quality of life. This report describes the development of the Epilepsy Surgery Inventory (ESI)-55, a 55-item measure of health-related quality of life for epilepsy patients. The ESI-55 includes the following scales (number of items in parentheses): health perceptions (9), energy/fatigue (4), overall quality of life (2), social function (2), emotional well-being (5), cognitive function (5), physical function (10), pain (2), and three separate scales of role limitations due to emotional, physical, or memory problems (5 items each). Also included is one change in health item. The ESI-55 was completed by 89% of 224 adults who had undergone a protocol evaluation for epilepsy surgery since 1974. Alpha internal consistency reliability coefficients ranged from 0.76 to 0.88 except for social function (alpha = 0.68). Multitrait scaling analyses supported item discrimination across scales. Factor analysis confirmed previously identified mental and physical health factors, and yielded a third factor defined by cognitive function and role limitations scales. Construct validity was supported by correlations of the ESI-55 with a mood profile instrument. Analysis of ESI-55 scale scores by seizure classification showed that the 44 patients who were seizure-free following surgery scored higher than did 55 patients who continued to have seizures (P less than 0.05 for all comparisons); 43 patients having seizures without loss of consciousness scored in between. Results of this study indicate that the ESI-55 is reliable, valid, and sensitive to differences in seizure status.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Laser laparoscopic herniorraphy: a clinical trial preliminary results.

Laser laparoscopic inguinal herniorraphy represents an extension of current technology. Based on the principles of preperitoneal inguinal herniorraphy, it is performed by internal incision of the peritoneum and identification of the musculofascial defect through a laparoscope. Polypropylene mesh is then passed down the laparoscope, placed into the defect to obliterate the space, and the edges of the peritoneum are then reapproximated. Results in 20 patients with an 11 month followup indicates success in nineteen exhibiting early resumption of activity (3.3 days) and minimal pain (2.1 Tylenol #3 tablets per patient). One early recurrence suggests that anatomic identification of a direct space hernia may be difficult and that routine support of this area with additional mesh may be a requirement of a complete inguinal hernia repair.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1982

The use of thermography in the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of feprazone on rheumatoid arthritis.

By means of the exploration of patients suffering from an active, unequivocal rheumatoid arthritis it was possible to show the unequivocal, and antiinflammatory effect of 4-phenyl-1,2-diphenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (feprazone, Zepelin). Moreover, it was documented that thermography is a very suitable medium to furnish proof of this effect and can be used to the advantage of the patients in clinical routine. The physiological processes of the production and distribution of heat must be taken into account to avoid false interpretation of thermograms.

Aging↗