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Biomedical subjects

M Beller

Publications and source records attributed to M Beller.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal-glucosides).

The synthesis is described of highly acid-sensitive, 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal-glucosides) as potential anti-cancer prodrugs. Reaction of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-O-trimethylsilyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (4) severally with various aliphatic and alicyclic ketones and methyl trimethylsilyl ether, in the presence of catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, afforded the corresponding acetylated acetal-beta-glucosides, e.g., acetone gave 1-methoxy-1-methylethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7a). Likewise the alpha-anomer (8a) of 7a was obtained from the alpha-anomer of 4. Deacetylation of the tetra-acetates then gave the acetal-alpha- and -beta-glucosides.

Acetals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Aldicarb food poisonings in California, 1985-1988: toxicity estimates for humans.

Three outbreaks of food poisoning involving watermelons or cucumbers and caused by the carbamate pesticide aldicarb occurred in California between 1985 and 1988. For each outbreak, and for an outbreak of aldicarb poisoning associated with English cucumbers previously reported in the literature, dosages of aldicarb sulfoxide that caused the illnesses were estimated. Estimated dosages ranged between 0.0023 [corrected] and 0.06 mg/kg body weight, and most were well below the 0.025 mg/kg Lowest Observed Effect Level (LOEL) for subclinical blood cholinesterase depression previously reported for humans. These findings are consistent with aldicarb sulfoxide (ASO) illnesses that have occurred in other states. Aldicarb appears to be more toxic than previously suspected. Scientific and regulatory implications are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The contribution of reinfection to gonorrhea incidence in Alaska, 1983 to 1987.

Gonorrhea case reports to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services were used to study the contribution of reinfection to rates of gonorrhea infection in Alaska. The case reports of 13,910 infections among 11,132 persons who had laboratory-proven gonorrhea between 1983 and 1987 were examined. Among 1,886 persons who had multiple infections, the average number of infections per person was 2.5 (range = 2-11). These persons accounted for 33.5% of all infections and 16.9% of all patients with gonorrhea from 1983 to 1987. Compared to persons with one infection, those having multiple infections were more likely to be Alaska Natives (relative risk = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.6-1.9) and less than 21 years of age (relative risk = 1.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-1.4). There was no difference in risk between men and women. Two thirds of the reinfections occurred within 12 months of the initial infection. If gonorrhea incidence were calculated based on the number of people infected rather than as a "case rate," the mean annual rate (per 100,000) from 1983 to 1987 decreased from 1,644 to 1,228 (a 25.3% decrease) for Alaska Natives and from 316 to 267 (a 15.5% decrease) for non-Natives. Reporting gonorrhea incidence rates by number of persons infected rather than by total number of cases more accurately measures gonorrhea morbidity in a population and will allow prevention efforts to be directed to those persons who contribute the most to perpetuating the disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Emerging infectious diseases in Alaska and the Arctic: a review and a strategy for the 21st century.

Emergence of new, previously unknown, and drug-resistant infectious diseases pose a major threat to global health. The emergence of infectious diseases in Alaska and the Arctic parallels the resurgence of infectious diseases worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a strategy to revitalize the capacity to protect the public from emerging infectious diseases by improving four major public health activities: surveillance and response, applied research, infrastructure and training, and prevention and control. The plan targets high-priority emerging infectious disease problems and particular groups of people at increased risk. These target areas encompass a number of diseases of special concern in Alaska, such as drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, foodborne botulism, alveolar hydatid disease, viral hepatitis, Helicobacter pylori infections, Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteremia and meningitis, and infections of immunocompromised persons, pregnant women and newborns, and tourists. To address these and other emerging infectious disease issues, including the threat of bioterrorism in Alaska and the Arctic, future issues of Alaska Medicine will include updates on specific emerging infectious diseases for health care providers, clinical laboratory workers, and community public health professionals who form the front lines for recognizing, treating, and preventing emerging infectious diseases.

Alaska↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Over-representation of Samoan/Pacific Islanders among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections at a large family practice clinic in Anchorage, Alaska, 1996-2000.

Two pediatricians in Anchorage observed that among patients of Samoan/Pacific Islander (S/PI) descent, bacterial wound cultures that grew Staphylococcus aureus often yielded methicillin-resistant isolates. The Alaska Section of Epidemiology performed chart reviews of patients that visited a large family practice clinic in Anchorage, Alaska, from 1996 through April 2000, and who were diagnosed with a skin infection. Eight of 204 patients were identified with culture-confirmed MRSA infections. Eighty percent (4 of 5) of S/PI patients had resistant isolates compared with 12% (4 of 34) of non S/PI patients (Yates corrected chi2 = 8.61, p-value = 0.003). Although subject to limitations, these data support similar findings documented by other studies that suggest MRSA infections disproportionately affect persons of S/PI origin. This study also suggests that it would be prudent to reduce the threshold of clinical suspicion for obtaining a skin culture among S/PI patients in Alaska, and avoid beta-lactam antibiotics until culture results are received.

Alaska↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology and public health in the Yagodnoye district.

Yagodnoye District (population 48,622 as of January 1, 1991) is one of seven administrative districts in the Magadan Region of the Russian Republic, USSR. The population age-distribution is different from that of the United States or Alaska with a larger proportion of persons 20-49 years of age and relatively few people greater than or equal to 60 years of age. Public health and epidemiologic services are provided by a Sanitation and Epidemiology Station with a staff of approximately 108 persons, including 19 doctors. Major activities include Environmental and Occupational Health, Vector Control, Bacteriology Laboratory, and Epidemiology. Epidemiologic services are highly focused on infectious diseases despite the apparent presence of other major public health problems.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Results of an indoor air pollution investigation.

After the opening of a new elementary school in fall 1986, several members of the school's staff noticed symptoms they attributed to the workplace. An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Branch (OSHA) of the Alaska Department of Labor found no major health problems and concluded that fireproofing at the school may have caused a petroleum-like odor. In fall 1987, parents reported illness in their children that they attributed to school attendance. Subsequent epidemiologic investigation found that student and staff absentee rates were not increased and were similar to other schools in the district. Testing conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirmed that the petroleum-like odor was due to the fireproofing. Toxicologic information and the results of air sampling confirmed that no adverse health effects would be expected from the product. By working together with NIOSH, OSHA, the school district, and a consulting mechanical engineer, deficiencies in the school's ventilation system were discovered and immediately corrected with interim engineering changes. Only by bringing multiple agencies together and openly sharing findings with concerned parents and staff were the problems at the school resolved.

Absenteeism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surveillance for tuberculosis in Alaska, 1986.

The incidence of tuberculosis in the Native population in Alaska (92.2/100,000) continues to be higher than the U.S. tuberculosis incidence (9.3/100,000). This paper describes tuberculosis surveillance in Alaska and estimates the "predictive value positive" for cases recorded by the surveillance system during 1986. (Predictive value positive refers to the proportion of all people identified who actually have the disease.) Active surveillance components included an itinerant chest clinic and survey chest roentgenography program, epidemiologic case investigations, and skin testing. Passive components included cases reported by health-care providers and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Half of all new cases were reported by health-care providers. Only 42% of cases were bacteriologically confirmed (vs 87% nationwide) suggesting that some cases may have been false positives. many cases did not have a contact investigation completed. Recommendations to improve the surveillance system include: 1) following the Centers for Disease Control/American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria more closely, 2) increasing the number of cases which have contact investigations completed, and 3) targeting surveillance activities towards high risk subgroups such as Southeast Asian immigrants.

Alaska↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Self-reported illness among travelers to the Russian Far East.

This study evaluated the risk of travelers to the Russian Far East developing acute gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms. Passengers and crew on 10 commercial airline flights from the Russian Far East to the United States were asked to complete a health questionnaire that asked age, sex, country of residence, length of stay, foods and beverages consumed, and about gastrointestinal or "flu" symptoms. Questionnaires were returned by 353 of 662 persons (53.3 percent). The most frequently reported symptoms were diarrhea (N = 18; 5.1 percent) and "flu" symptoms (N = 15; 4.2 percent). Among those people who reported symptoms, most were sick for 3 days or less, although 10 (27.0 percent) were still sick at the time that they entered the United States. Age and sex were not associated with symptoms. Persons who drank untreated tap water were more likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms (relative risk = 2.7; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.2, 5.9) while those who drank bottled or canned fruit juice were protected (relative risk = 0.4; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.2, 0.8). The incidence of "flu" symptoms was similar to the rate for the general population of the United States while the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms was increased and only slightly less than the rate among travelers to developing countries. Travelers may wish to restrict consumption of untreated tap water and increase consumption of fruit juices. Additional work is needed to identify the pathogens responsible for acute illness among travelers to the Russian Far East.

Adult↗