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Biomedical subjects

J Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to J Weiss.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Purchasing infant shoes: attitudes of parents, pediatricians, and store managers.

Questionnaires designed to collect data about the purchase of shoes for normal infants were completed by 104 parents in a university ambulatory unit, 127 practicing pediatricians, and 36 shoe store managers. Infants received their first pair of walking shoes at an average age of 8.1 months (range: 4 to 12 months) and at an average cost of $14.56 (range: $2 to $43). Most of these shoes had laces (95%), high tops (87%), hard soles (74%), and special arch supports (50%). Of the 104 children, 73 had shoes before they were walking (average cost: $13.21) and 35 wore walking shoes before they were even standing (average cost: $12.68). Parents obtained much more information about shoes from friends and relatives than from physicians. Those parents who obtained most of their information from salespersons spent the most for shoes. The average cost of shoes recommended by store managers was $18.74. Although 77% of pediatricians felt that inexpensive canvas sneakers are adequate, only 28% of the salespersons and 37% of the parents believed that wearing sneakers is healthy.

Attitude↗
PubMed1981

Los Angeles air pollution and asthma in children.

Indices of air pollution, meteorological conditions and airborne allergens were correlated with emergency room census and hospitalizations for asthma at the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) during a six-month period encompassing high and low periods of air pollution. In addition, patients in residence at the Sunair Home for Asthmatic Children (SHAC) were studied during a 10-day peak air pollution period. Increases in asthma emergency room visits and hospitalizations correlated significantly with increases in nitric oxide, coefficient of haze, hydrocarbons, Santa Ana wind conditions and total airborne allergen counts. Significant correlations were also found with decreases in ambient levels of O3, SO2, temperature and relative humidity. Among SHAC patients morning peak flow levels were significantly lower during the 10-day peak pollution period than during two control periods of low pollution. However, neither differences in clinical symptoms experienced by these patients nor their need for additional medication were observed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1980

A plea for conservation of kidney in renal adenocarcinoma associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

We report 3 cases of bilateral renal cell carcinoma associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease. Treatment consisted of local excision or simply shelling out of the lesion from the surrounding tissue. The 3 patients are free of disease (followup 6 to 36 months). Although multifocal the lesions are removed easily; thus, normal renal function is preserved and patients are spared the morbidity and mortality associated with hemodialysis or transplantation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1980

Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to purified bactericidal leukocyte proteins: relation to binding and bacterial lipopolysaccharide structure.

The sensitivity or resistance of gram-negative bacteria to antibacterial systems appears to be related to the length of the saccharide chain of the bacterial envelope lipopolysaccharides (LPS). To explore this relationship further, we made use of two bactericidal, membrane-active cationic proteins, recently purified to near homogeneity, one from human and one from rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). We have studied the effects of these two closely similar proteins on strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, each separate strain differing in the saccharide chain length of its outer membrane LPS. Binding of these proteins to the bacterial outer membrane is required for killing, and is accompanied by an almost immediate increase in outer membrane permeability to normally impermeant actinomycin D. Sensitivity to the bactericidal and permeability-increasing activities of the human and rabbit proteins increases with decreasing LPS-saccharide chain length (chemotype: [S < Ra < Rb(3) < Rc < Rd(1)]). S. typhimurium G-30 and E. coli J5, mutant strains lacking UDP-galactose-4-epimerase, synthesize incomplete LPS (chemotype Rc) when grown without galactose, and are then as sensitive to both PMN proteins as the S. typhimurium strains 395 R10 (Rd(1)) and R5 (Rb(3)). However, when these mutants are grown with galactose, they synthesize complete LPS (chemotype S) and exhibit nearly the same relative insensitivity as the smooth strains S. typhimurium 395 MS and E. coli 0111:B4. The differences among strains in sensitivity to the effects of the proteins on bacterial viability and permeability correspond to differences in bacterial binding of these PMN proteins. Thus, at protein concentrations that produce maximal antibacterial activity toward the rough bacteria, but little or no activity toward the smooth strains, rough bacteria bind from 3- to 10-fold more protein (S. typhimurium 395 R10; S. typhimurium G-30, and E. coli J5 [grown without galactose]) than do the smooth bacteria (S. typhimurium 395 MS; E. coli 0111:B4; S. typhimurium G-30 and E. coli J5 [grown with galactose]). These findings suggest that bacterial sensitivity or resistance to these purified bactericidal PMN proteins is determined by the binding properties of the outer membrane, which in turn depends upon the LPS-saccharide chain length.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Increased echogenicity of the spleen in benign and malignant disease.

Infiltration of the spleen in hematopoietic malignancy can produce diffusely increased parenchymal echo return on gray scale ultrasonography. In 13 patients with splenomegaly and an increased splenic echo pattern, nine had diagnoses of hematopoietic malignancy. Contrary to previous reports describing low-level echo return and increased anechoic conditions with infiltrating malignancy of the spleen, the patients in this report show that increased splenic echogenicity can be associated with malignant involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The action of human and rabbit serum phospholipase A2 on Escherichia coli phospholipids.

We have compared the properties of phospholipase A (E.C. 3.1.1.4) activity in whole human and rabbit serum toward the phospholipids of Escherichia coli. Using as substrate E. coli labeled during growth with either [1-(14)C]-palmitic acid or [1-(14)C]oleic acid, and then autoclaved to inactivate E. coli phospholipases and to render the labeled phospholipids accessible to exogenous phospholipases, we show that the deacylating activity in both human and rabbit serum is almost exclusively of the A(2) type. Rabbit serum is at least 20-fold more active than human serum. Activity in both sera is maximal at physiological Ca(2+) concentrations (2 mM) and is abolished by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. To examine hydrolysis of intact (unautoclaved) E. coli treated with 25% serum, use was made of a phospholipase A-deficient E. coli strain (E. coli S17), thereby eliminating the possible contribution of bacterial phospholipases to degradation. Human and rabbit serum are about equally bactericidal toward E. coli and cause comparable structural damage. However, only rabbit serum produces substantial hydrolysis of the phospholipids of intact E. coli S17. Heated (56 degrees C, 30 min) rabbit serum is non-bactericidal and retains phospholipase A(2) activity toward autoclaved, but not intact E. coli. The ability of heated serum to degrade phospholipids of intact E. coli S17 is restored, however, by adding 25% normal human serum, which is bactericidal. In this combination, doses of heated rabbit serum containing as much phospholipase A(2) activity (toward autoclaved E. coli) as is present in 25% unheated rabbit serum, produce roughly the same extent of hydrolysis of intact E. coli as does normal rabbit serum alone. Low doses with a phospholipase A(2) activity comparable to that of normal human serum elicit little or no hydrolysis. These findings indicate that hydrolysis of the phospholipids of intact E. coli S17 by serum occurs when: 1) the serum is bactericidal, and 2) when sufficient phospholipase A(2) is present. The difference in phospholipid hydrolysis that accompanies killing of E. coli by human or rabbit serum appears to reflect, therefore, the different amounts of phospholipase A(2) activity in the two sera. Phospholipid degradation is not required for the bactericidal action of serum. Bacterial phospholipid breakdown may be important, however, in the overall destruction and digestion of invading bacteria by the host.-Kaplan-Harris, L., J. Weiss, C. Mooney, S. Beckerdite-Quagliata, and P. Elsbach. The action of human and rabbit serum phospholipase A(2) on Escherichia coli phospholipids.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Multiple basaloma and meningioma following long-term arsenic therapy].

A case of multiple basal-cell carcinomas and a meningioma after long-term arsenic ingestion is reported. A relationship between arsenic intake and basal-cell carcinomas is well known, whereas a meningioma associated with arsenic therapy has not been reported yet. Results of experimental tumor research could suggest a connection between arsenic intake and the development of a meningioma.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

An economic analysis of a pediatric housestaff practice.

Pediatric residency programs that stress primary care education are attempting to develop ongoing model practice experiences for their house officers. This paper describes such a model practice and outlines the expenses and revenues involved. In the initial 12 months of operation, revenues have offset 64% of total program costs. Out methods of balancing financial and educational goals are discussed. Program directors are urged to make cost analysis an important part of the evaluation of innovative primary care programs.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1979

Separation and purification of a potent bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein and a closely associated phospholipase A2 from rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Observations on their relationship.

Two antibacterial proteins from rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes, a potent bactericidal cationic protein that increases the envelope permeability of susceptible gram-negative bacteria and a phospholipase A2, have been purified to near homogeneity by ion exchange, gel filtration, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The apparently noncatalytic bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein has an approximate molecular weight of 50,000 and is isoelectric at pH 9.5 to 10.0. The molecular properties, including amino acid composition, and the antibacterial potency and specificity of this rabbit leukocyte protein and of the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein from human granulocytes that we have recently purified (J. Biol. Chem. 253, 2664-2672, 1978) are closely similar. Both proteins kill several strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Rough strains are more sensitive than smooth strains. All gram-positive bacterial species tested are insensitive to high concentrations of either rabbit or human protein. The phospholipase A2, purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose, ran as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 14,000 and had a specific enzymatic activity comparable to that of purified phospholipases A2 from other sources. Separation of the phospholipase A2 from the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein has no noticeable effect on the bactericidal and permeability-increasing activities of the purified bactericidal protein, but removes the ability of the phospholipase A2 to hydrolyze the phospholipids of intact Escherichia coli. Upon recombination of the phospholipase A2 with the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, the phospholipase A2 regains its activity toward the phospholipids of intact E. coli suggesting that these two antibacterial leukocyte proteins act in concert.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

Incorporation of [U-14 C]glucose into metabolites of brain, liver and blood of rats pretreated with reserpine or phenothiazines.

Parkinsonism was induced in rats by using phenothiazines (Butyrylperazin and Thioproperazin). (P-group), or reserpine, (R-group). [U-14 C)D-glucose was administered when the symptoms of Parkinsonism had become fully developed. Concentrations and radioactivities of different metabolites were studied in brain, liver and blood serum. 1. Both types of treatments resulted in a decrease in the synthesis of amino acids from [14C]glucose in the brain. The concentrations of amino acids and the glycogen remained uneffected. Phenothiazines enhanced the conversion of lipids, while reserpine increased their concentration. 2. Reduced de novo synthesis of amino acids was recorded in the liver. Phenothiazines resulted in the storage of glycogen and lipids; reserpine resulted in the storage of lipids and enhanced the conversion of glycogen. 3. Both treatments caused a fall in the amino acid concentration of the blood serum. A rise in the specific radioactivity of blood amino acids was observed in the P-group, while a decrease in specific radioactivity was observed in the R-group. A hyperglycemia was induced in the R-group with reduced specific radioactivity of glucose in both P-and R-groups. A reduction in lipid concentration of blood serum was achieved with an increased specific radioactivity in P-group and decreased radioactivity in R-group. 4. The changes in amino acids common to both treatments are also observed in human Parkinsonism.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

[Electron-microscopic investigations on the localisation of the thiamine pyrophosphatase in the hippocampus of the Wistar rat (author's transl)].

This report describes the ultratopochemical localization of the thiamine pyrophosphatase in the pyramidal cells of the CA3 region of Wistar rat hippocampus. Attention was focussed on the occurrence of the enzyme out of the Golgi field. Thiamine pyrophosphatase was demonstrated in dendrites and - to a lesser extent - in axons. TTPase containing synapses were rather seldom and belonged to the axo-dendritic type. A hypothetic model concerning the transport and the distribution of the enzyme within the cell is presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Occurrence and ultrastructure of mast cells in the hypothalamus of teleost fishes].

From 56 light-, fluorescence- and electronmicroscopically investigated brains of fishes mast cells could be found only in 4 cases. They were concentrated in the meninges of one pike (Esox licius) and in the meninges and at larger blood-vessels of the hypothalamus of 2 trouts (Salmo trutta fario). In the hypothalamus of a carp (Cyprinus carpio) an infiltration of mast cells was detectable in the meninges, at blood-vessels and capillaries, between neuronal and glial fibres and sub- and intraependymaly. Contrary to the pike the granules of the mast cells of the carp show changes, hinting at release of their content. Junctions between mast cells and capillary walls or ependymal cells are characterized by structures indicating an enhanced cytopempsis. The present results are compared with observations on mast cells in the brain and peritoneum of mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Is thiamine pyrophosphatase a reliable marker of the neuronal Golgi apparatus? A critical analysis.

The thiamine pyrophosphatase histochemical technique is believed to be a suitable approach to the selective staining of the Golgi vesicles of all animal cells, icluding the neuron. However, during the past decade a considerable number of data have been published, suggesting that the TPPase is in general a membrane-associated enzyme in the brain, which can be found in subcellular fractions other than Golgi lamellae. It has therefore become necessary to reconsider the view that thiamine pyrophosphatase is an exclusive marker enzyme of the Golgi apparatus.

Animals↗