Biomedical subjects

J Lumeng

Publications and source records attributed to J Lumeng.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

A quantitative study of environmental asbestos exposure in Honolulu.

The increased use of asbestos in various industries in past decades has led to increases in environmental asbestos pollution. Incidental exposure to asbestos is inevitable, and has generated public concern. We performed the following study aimed at determining the level of environmental asbestos exposure in Honolulu, and our results indicate that the levels of environmental asbestos in Honolulu are the lowest in the nation.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Interferon alpha-2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: early experience.

The antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of interferon were assessed in the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in multi-ethnic patients to prevent viral replication and chronic liver damage. Three million units of recombinant interferon alpha-2b were administered three times a week for 48 weeks to a group of 9 active Hepatitis C patients. A clinical response was defined as normalization of serum ALT values. Serum was frozen and stored for Hepatitis C viral assays. Four patients normalized their liver functions. When viral levels were measured only two patients had unmeasurable levels of HCV RNA after treatment. Therapeutic results were observed and much work needs to be done to improve therapy because a serious epidemic is predicted for the future.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Long-term low dose interferon alpha-2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in multi-ethnic patients in Hawaii.

The antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of interferon were assessed in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in multi-ethnic patients to prevent viral replication and chronic liver damage. Five million units of recombinant interferon alpha-2b were administered three times a week for 48 weeks to a group of 18 chronic active hepatitis B patients. A complete response was defined as seroconversion to anti-HBe and/or loss of HBe antigen. Seroconversion to anti-HBe in 5 of 12 (42%) chronic active hepatitis B patients occurred after 48 weeks of therapy. HBV-DNA decreased to undetectable levels in 8 of 12 (67%) patients. This chronic low-dose interferon administration regimen demonstrated responses comparable to other studies.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1994

The immunologic staging of chronic active hepatitis B patients in Hawaii.

The hepatitis B antigen/antibody levels and natural killer cell activity status of chronic hepatitis B patients identified by the Hawaii State Department of Health were evaluated to select chronically infected hepatitis B patients for interferon therapy and to determine possible immunodeficiencies. The presence of hepatitis Be antigen denotes active replication of the virus. Ninety-five patients were studied: 17/95 (18%) had chronic active hepatitis B, 71/95 (75%) were hepatitis B carriers and 7/95 (7%) had seroconverted. NK activity to the erythroleukemia K562 cell and virus-infected HSV-1 cell of the chronic active and carrier population (P < .05) were lower than that of the control population and those who had spontaneously seroconverted. Of this population 18% were identified with active viral infection and would be candidates for interferon therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1988