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Biomedical subjects

J Wasserman

Publications and source records attributed to J Wasserman.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Treatment of patients with disseminated colorectal cancer with recombinant human alpha 2-interferon. Studies on the immune system.

The influence of recombinant human alpha 2-interferon (alpha 2-IFN) therapy on various aspects of the immune system was studied in 18 patients with disseminated colorectal cancer. The IFN was given as continuous (20 X 10(6) units/m2 three times weekly) or intermittent (50 X 10(6) units/m2 daily for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks) treatment. Natural killer (NK) cell activity increased during continuous treatment and in the patients receiving repeated cycles of IFN, all cycles seemed to be associated with an elevation of NK activity. Prior to treatment, addition of IFN to the assay in vitro induced an enhancement of NK activity, whereas during treatment, IFN in vitro did not cause any further enhancement of NK activity. The proportions of total T cells, suppressor T cells and helper T cells, as measured by Leu 1, Leu 2a and Leu 3a monoclonal antibodies, were not altered to any major extent during treatment. This was found to be the case also for the number of cells detected by monoclonal antibodies against NK cells (Leu 7). The phagocytic activity of granulocytes was not altered during IFN therapy, whereas the capacity of these cells to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) increased after the first injection of IFN. The in vivo influence of high doses of highly purified recombinant alpha 2-IFN on NK cells and granulocytes seems to be similar to that of partially purified natural IFN-alpha.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1984

Changes of blood T cell subsets in patients receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

The number of T helper (Th) and T suppressor (Ts) cells, as defined by monoclonal antibodies, of the blood lymphocyte population was examined in breast cancer patients receiving postoperative cyclic therapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. The total number of lymphocytes was reduced to approximately 50% at the end of the 17-month period of chemotherapy. Identification of Th and Ts subsets with the aid of Leu-3a and Leu-2a antibodies revealed that the former was reduced to a higher relative extent than the latter, thus reducing the Th/Ts ratio highly significantly during the entire treatment period. A reduced ratio was also observed in a group of patients having completed their treatment 2-3 yr earlier.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Possible role of prostaglandin producing monocytes in the depression of mitogenic responses of blood lymphocytes following radiation therapy.

Previous studies have shown that the depression of mitogenic responses of cultured blood lymphocytes following radiation therapy can largely be explained by immunosuppressive cells. In this investigation we have shown that the addition of silica, a monocyte toxic agent, to the cultures enhance the PHA- and PPD-responses of the cells at completion of irradiation. Such an effect, however, was not noted before radiation treatment was started. Similar results were obtained by adding indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, to the cultures. The results thus indicate that immunosuppressive monocytes which mediate their activity by prostaglandins are involved in the reductions of mitogen responses of blood lymphocytes following irradiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Antibody against Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Swedish homosexual men.

Sera of 30 Swedish homosexual men belonging to the group at risk for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were examined for antibodies against various opportunistic parasites. Antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi were found in 33%, to Pneumocystis carinii in 43%, and to Toxoplasma gondii in 37%. The results indicate that E. cuniculi might be transmitted among homosexual men.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Relation between skin anergy, lymphadenopathy and T-cell subsets in Swedish homosexual men.

Reversed T-helper/T-suppressor ratios were found in 20/43 symptomatic homosexual men. A significant lower number of T-helper cells was found in patients with skin anergy. No differences were noticed in total lymphocytes or in any of the other T-cell subsets, when subjects with and without skin anergy or lymphadenopathy were examined.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Selected results from an evaluation of the New Jersey Diagnosis-Related Group System.

After briefly describing the New Jersey Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system and comparing/contrasting it with the Medicare prospective payment plan, selected findings from an evaluation of the New Jersey DRG experience are presented. The discussion highlights the system's effect on ways in which hospitals are organized and managed, and its preliminary economic and financial impact.

Cost Control↗
PubMed1984

Prognostic value of various immunological tests in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy.

Eighty-three patients, operated for carcinoma of the breast, received adjuvant therapy with chlorambucil, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-flourouracil. This group was subjected to a study exploring prognostic value, as defined by disease-free survival, of some immune variables. These included numbers of blood lymphocytes expressing membrane receptors for sheep erythrocytes (mainly T-cells), receptors for C'3 (mainly B-cells) and proliferative responses of the cells to phytohemagglutinin, purified protein derivative of tuberculin and in a mixed lymphocyte culture. Follow-up time was 30-71 months after start of adjuvant therapy. None of these variables showed any significant relation to prognosis in the present patient material. In addition, there was no detectable relation between numbers of eosinophils in the blood and disease-free survival. The well-known importance of tumor size and/or involvement of axillary nodes was, however, confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Influence of human interferon-alpha therapy on cytotoxic functions of blood lymphocytes. Studies on lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and natural killer cell activity.

Various cytotoxic functions of blood lymphocytes were studied in 101 patients undergoing daily treatment with human interferon-alpha (IFN). Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity were not altered to any major extent after 1 day or 1 week of IFN therapy. After 3 and 6 months of treatment a decrease in these functions was observed in most patients. Natural killer cell activity increased following the first injection of IFN and remained elevated during 1 year of IFN therapy.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗
PubMed1983

Non-invasive aneurysm detection using digital signal processing.

The attributes and performance expectations of a relatively low cost, non-invasive, aneurysm detection system have been studied. The developed system required that bio-acoustic data be captured at the patients' eyes, conditioned, transformed into the frequency domain, and analysed in some systematic fashion. It was admitted that the signal transducers were in need of improvement. Several low cost spectral analysers were built and tested. This system transformed the patient's bio-acoustic signal into a power spectrum. Features, representative of the patient's medical state, were extracted from the power spectrum and were input to a double-linked tree structure. Together with the medical class information, the structure can be searched to find the best statistical estimate of a patient's medical status. Experiment on generated and patient data, support the validity of the chosen diagnostic scheme.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Changes of blood T cell subsets following radiation therapy for breast cancer.

The changes of the size of various T cell subsets in the blood, as defined by monoclonal antibodies and Fc-receptors for IgG and IgM, were examined in 11 women after postoperative radiation therapy (45 Gy) for breast cancer. All subsets of T cells were significantly reduced at completion of irradiation. The most extensive depletion was noted in a subset with receptors for IgG, which may exert suppression. Approximately 1 year later this subset had recovered significantly in parallel with another subset, also rich in suppressor T cells, which was detected by monoclonal antibodies. On the contrary, T cell subsets rich in cells with helper activity did not exhibit any significant recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Renal function and biopsy changes during the course of Henoch-Schönlein glomerulonephritis.

Renal function studies were performed in 18 subjects in different stages of Henoch-Schönlein glomerulonephritis (HS GN). Nine children were serially investigated, and nine adolescents or young adults, who were considered to have clinically recovered, were investigated only once, 10.5-14 years after the onset. Inulin and PAH clearance, as well as sodium excretion, were determined during hydropenia (HP) and 3% volume expansion (VE) with isotonic saline. In most patients in the former group a renal biopsy was performed during the first investigation and again one year later. The early disturbances in renal function resembled those we have found in other types of GN. The GFR was normal during HP or after VE in most cases one year after the onset. The natriuretic response to VE was decreased in most patients initially, and this was found to persist in half of the patients 2-3 years after the onset. Pathological urinalyses then indicated disturbances in the renal handling of sodium. A reduced capacity to excrete sodium, however, did not seem to be of prognostic significance since all patients, except one who developed renal insufficiency and hypertension, had normal urinalyses and blood pressure six years after the onset. This study provides no evidence that subjects with previous HS GN will later develop impaired renal function or be predisposed to hypertension.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1983

Single cell protein as an occupational hazard.

Single cell protein (SCP) intended for animal feed purposes was produced in a pilot plant. The SCP consisted of Methylomonas methanolica, a pseudomonas species which is an obligate methanol user. The SCP was cultured in fermenters and later dewatered and dried in a spray-drier. Seven of eight research workers had febrile reactions 6-12 hours after exposure to SCP dust. All workers had high titres of IgG and IgM antibodies against the pseudomonas species as measured with indirect ELISA and passive haemagglutination techniques. The mechanism behind the febrile reaction is judged to be a non-immunological reaction caused by endotoxins. By increasing the particle size of the SCP through using different drying procedures, a product which generated less dust was obtained.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1983

T lymphocyte subpopulations in alopecia areata and psoriasis: identification with monoclonal antibodies and Fc receptors.

A comparison of T lymphocyte subpopulations as defined by Fc receptors and monoclonal antibodies was investigated in 9 patients with alopecia areata and alopecia universalis (AA and AU) and in 6 patients with psoriasis. It was shown that there was higher proportion of T lymphocytes with Fc receptors for IgG (Tg cells) in patients with alopecia (AA and AU) and psoriasis. The proportions of total T lymphocytes (Tt), T lymphocytes with Fc receptors for IgM, T suppressor/cytotoxic cells (Leu2A), T helper/inducer (Leu3A) as defined by monoclonal antibodies were within normal range as compared to the normal donors. The possible reason of the dissociation between Tg and T suppressor (Leu2A) cells could be that these cells belong to different subpopulations.

Adult↗