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Biomedical subjects

L Dean

Publications and source records attributed to L Dean.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

A worksite smoking cessation intervention involving the media and incentives.

This study evaluated an attempt at 38 workplaces to help employees stop or reduce their levels of smoking. In past research, worksite support groups, in combination with a media smoking cessation program and self-help manuals, were found to be effective in helping employees quit smoking. Unfortunately, recidivism was found at the follow-up evaluations. The present study replicated the results of the previous worksite smoking cessation program with support groups, a television intervention, and self-help manuals. At this postpoint, 42% of employees provided groups plus incentives were abstinent compared to only 15% who were only provided self-help materials. An important difference in this study was that there were also monthly follow-up support groups and incentives. Work settings can be a source of stress and conflict, which can precipitate relapse. At a 12-month follow-up, 26% of those participants who were provided support and incentives were abstinent compared to 16% who were only provided the self-help materials.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Barbara Snell Dohrenwend memorial lecture. The impact of AIDS on a gay community: changes in sexual behavior, substance use, and mental health.

This report describes progress made to date on a study of the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community of New York City. Using a model of the life stress process described by Barbara Dohrenwend and her colleagues, the AIDS epidemic was conceptualized as a community stressor resulting in two key stress-inducing events: death of loved ones due to AIDS and potential illness and death of oneself due to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It was hypothesized that these stressors would be significantly related to three domains of health outcomes: sexual behavior, drug and alcohol use, and psychological distress. Descriptive trends over time are provided for both the health outcome variables and the stressor variables. Cross-sectional analyses for 3 years of data provide evidence in support of the main hypothesis. The implications of these findings are discussed from the standpoints of methodology, public health, and the psychology of stress processes in community settings.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

A comparative evaluation of a restrictive smoking policy in a general hospital.

The impact of a restrictive smoking policy on the behavior and attitudes of smokers and non-smokers was assessed by surveying random cross-sectional samples of hospital employees before, six months after and 12 months after the policy was implemented, and comparing responses with those of employees of a hospital with no restrictive policy. Effectiveness of policy implementation was also evaluated. Results indicated that the policy was well-publicized and was approved by virtually all the non-smokers and the majority of the smokers. Following implementation, employees in the smoking policy hospital were less likely to report being bothered by smoke at their work stations than were employees of the comparison hospital. Six months and one year after the policy change, smokers reported lower smoking rates while at work, although quit smoking rates and home smoking rates were similar in both hospitals.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Rete testis fluid (RTF) proteins: purification and characterization of RTF albumin.

A major 68-kDa protein in ram rete testis fluid (RTF) is shown to be chemically and immunologically indistinguishable from albumin in ovine serum. Data obtained with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of RTF demonstrate the presence of additional proteins with a molecular mass of 68 kDa that do not react with antisera against sheep serum albumin. Biochemical characteristics of albumin preparations isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography from ovine serum and from RTF were compared. Albumin from both sources had the same apparent molecular mass of 68 kDa, the same isoelectric point of approximately 4.2, and neither bound specifically to Concanavalin A. Analysis of tryptic peptide maps, obtained with reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, indicated no significant differences between digests of the two purified albumin preparations. Results indicate that RTF albumin and serum albumin are the same protein, which implies that RTF albumin may originate from serum. Albumin levels in RTF, collected from different rams and measured by radioimmunoassay, varied between 46 and 164 micrograms/ml, constituting between 11 and 17% of total RTF protein, while albumin levels in sheep plasma were 40,000 micrograms/ml. The protein composition of RTF is discussed in relation to the relative amounts of various components contributed by testis cells and the amounts derived from serum.

Albumins↗
PubMed1987

Disparate histologic responses in simultaneously resected primary and metastatic osteosarcoma following intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Seven patients with newly diagnosed metastatic osteosarcoma underwent simultaneous resection of the primary tumor and metastases following intravenous (IV) neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Histologic response was assessed in all tumor specimens. Disparate responses were noted between primary tumor and metastases and, in some cases, between two or more metastatic tumor deposits. The diverse histologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy suggests tumor cell heterogeneity. Changing postoperative therapy on the basis of the histologic response induced in the primary tumor may not be appropriate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Xylocandin: a new complex of antifungal peptides. I. Taxonomy, isolation and biological activity.

Xylocandin is a complex of novel peptides with potent antifungal activity that is produced by Pseudomonas cepacia ATCC 39277. The complex was isolated from the fermentation broth by extraction with butanol-methanol, 9:1, followed by collection of the precipitate formed upon concentration of the solvent extract. Purification was effected by chromatography on reversed phase and size exclusion gels followed by TLC on silica gel. These techniques afforded eight components: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1 and D2. A mixture of the two closely related components, xylocandins A1 and A2, displayed potent anticandidal and antidermatophytic activities in vitro. The activity was diminished by the presence of serum or vaginal washings. No antibacterial activity was demonstrable.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Catacandins, novel anticandidal antibiotics of bacterial origin.

Two novel antibiotics, catacandin A and catacandin B, were isolated from the fermentation broth of the bacterium, Lysobacter gummosus, by extraction and adsorption, reverse-phase and gel filtration chromatography. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties, they are acyltetramic acids that are easily distinguishable from others in this class. Catacandin A and catacandin B possess good anticandidal activity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1982

Simultaneous evaluation for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and myeloperoxidase in leukemia.

A technique for dual staining of cells using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) is described. The technique has been applied to cells of two patients. One patient had chronic myelomonocytic leukemia evolving into acute myelomonocytic leukemia. The other patient had chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. Our findings indicate that TdT and MPO are exclusive markers except for a rare precursor cell with dual staining in one patient. This study supports the concept of acute mixed leukemia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1982

Determination of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase on bone marrow smears by immunoperoxidase.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is a marker of lymphoblastic disorders. Previously, the technique for determining TdT on smears was by indirect immunofluorescence. An immunoperoxidase procedure for detecting TdT on smears is reported. Results are in a comparable range with the indirect immunofluorescent technique. As discussed in this paper, TdT by immunoperoxidase may offer certain advantages over the indirect immunofluorescent procedure.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1981

Quantitation of tobramycin by solid-phase immunofluorescence.

Tobramycin usage, as for most aminoglycoside antibiotic usage, may require careful monitoring to avoid irreversible toxicity. Several methods for tobramycin quantitation are available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of solid-phase immunofluorescence as an alternative. Tobramycin was quantitated in the sera of 81 patients by radioimmunoassay and solid-phase immunofluorescence. No statistically significant or medically important difference was demonstrated (bias, 0.006 micrograms/ml, t = 0.09, s = 1.02, r = 0.97). Within-run and run-to-run precision for the two methods were comparable. Interference by gentamicin could not be demonstrated. Solid-phase immunofluorescence may be an acceptable alternative method for tobramycin quantitation in some laboratories.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1980

Experience with the CAM vision stimulator: preliminary report.

Eighty-four children with at least 2 lines of amblyopia were treated with the CAM vision stimulator. 91% of the children who had received no previous amblyopia therapy showed improvement, 73% achieving 6/12 vision or better. Of children in whom previous occlusion therapy had failed 73.8% improved. The treatment appears to be effective, rapid, and well tolerated. Our initial impressions have been sufficiently favourable to stimulate further clinical evaluation.

Adolescent↗