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Biomedical subjects

M Jacob

Publications and source records attributed to M Jacob.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Diagnostic efficacy of cutaneous nerve biopsy in primary neuritic leprosy.

The role of nerve biopsy in the diagnosis of primary neuritic leprosy was evaluated in a study of 77 patients who had symptoms of peripheral neuropathy without hypopigmented patches, positive skin smears, or a skin biopsy consistent with leprosy. A biopsy of a representative cutaneous nerve near the site of the neurological deficit was taken for histopathological examination and acid-fast staining. Nearly half of the patients had leprosy confirmed by nerve biopsy, and the entire spectrum of leprosy was represented. No significant relationship was seen by age or sex or type of neuropathy. The duration of symptoms did not correlate with the severity of nerve damage as seen histologically. The probability of false-positive or false-negative results is discussed in light of clinical management. Being a relatively simple office procedure, a cutaneous nerve biopsy is strongly recommended as an important diagnostic tool, particularly for primary neuritic leprosy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

In-vivo degradation pathway of an excised intervening sequence.

A study of the distribution in heterogeneous nuclear RNP (hnRNP) of the different forms of the first intervening sequence (IVSI) from the E3 transcription unit of adenovirus serotype 2 suggests a three-step pathway for IVS excision and degradation. First, the lariat IVS is formed in a large RNP of the size of premessenger RNP where it is resistant to nuclease attack. Second, the lariat IVS is released from this large structure as a small RNP where it is very susceptible to enzymic degradation. Third, the lariat IVS is linearized after the release of the small RNP. Our studies suggest that only the intact lariat and linear IVS are involved in the excision-degradation pathway in vivo, whereas the lariat nicked in its circular part and the IVS trimmed at its 3' end are not pre-existing but generated during isolation of hnRNA or hnRNP.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1987

Salmonella ealing infections associated with consumption of infant dried milk.

In an outbreak of Salmonella ealing infections in November and December, 1985, the proportion of infants infected was in excess of the normal distribution pattern and the cases were geographically widespread. All the infected infants had been fed with a dried-milk product from one manufacturer. Despite intensive efforts to isolate S ealing from packets of the product, it was found only in low numbers in 4 of 267 sealed packets. The source of infection was traced to the factory spray-drier, which had a hole in its inner lining, allowing escape of powder and its return from contaminated insulation material. The plant was closed and the equipment scrapped and later replaced. It is recommended that raw milk and whey, which frequently contain salmonellae, should not be allowed onto the site of milk-drying plants.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Nuclear non-polyadenylated RNAs containing the first intervening sequence of the major late premessenger RNA from adenovirus-2: characterization and distribution in ribonucleoproteins.

The nuclear non-polyadenylated RNA from HeLa cells infected with adenovirus-2 was examined for the presence of molecules containing the first intervening sequence (IVS1) of the major late premessenger RNA. Four molecules with the approximate size of free IVS1 in sucrose gradients (1021 nucleotides) were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and characterized by complementary methods: S1 nuclease mapping, susceptibility to debranching enzyme, RNAase-H-directed cleavage. The results indicate that the most abundant RNA form is the excised lariat IVS1. We also find linear IVS1 and a randomly nicked lariat, the latter probably being made during RNA isolation. The fourth RNA is a leader 1-IVS1 molecule. No truncated IVS1 which might indicate that IVS1 is excised by several cycle of cleavage-ligation was detected. A study of the distribution of the four RNAs in hnRNP shows that they are part of RNPs of about 70 S. However, each RNP has distinct sedimentation characteristics and sensitivity to salt dissociation. Together, the results suggest that the excised lariat IVS1 is released from the large late premRNP under the form of a 70 S RNP, where it is linearized.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1987

Structure, self-regulating sequences, and institutional third parties in therapy: the Veterans Administration as a model.

This article examines the structural organization and sequences of interaction among therapists, institutions, and patients and their families that contribute to the problem of institutional dependence. Our contention is that when patients have become dependent on an institution for the livelihood and/or for the stability it represents, they are only one part of a systemic relationship characterized structurally by enmeshed boundaries, and sequentially by self-regulating feedback loops. We use this premise to outline the nature of the enmeshed transactions in patient-therapist, patient-institution, and therapist-institution relationships. Family interfaces with this triad are also addressed. Sequentially, we outline the interactions among patient, family, therapist, and institution that lead to hierarchical incongruities. These sequences tend to produce self-regulating feedback loops that perpetuate and maintain the structure of the system and its patterns of interaction. The final part of this article demonstrates how we strategically use a therapy team to manipulate the hierarchical incongruities and, hence, the recursive complementarity, that characterize the interactions between and among the members of this suprasystem. Besides manipulating the role of the therapist through team intervention, we also present several paradoxical and structural interventions that have been helpful when institutions have become third parties to therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pregnancy-related affective episodes among women with recurrent depression.

The authors examined 52 women with recurrent depression to determine the differences between women with and without histories of pregnancy-related affective episodes. The women with histories of such episodes (N = 24) had been significantly younger at illness onset, were more severely depressed at baseline, and tended to show less emotional stability. The EEG-recorded sleep of the women with pregnancy-related affective episodes was distinguished by longer REM sleep time and more REM activity, differences accounted for almost entirely by the women with histories of only postpartum episodes.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A psychoeducational workshop for depressed patients, family, and friends: description and evaluation.

Since 1982 depressed patients enrolled in a treatment study at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and their family and friends have participated in a day-long psychoeducational workshop conducted by the clinic's staff. The workshop is designed to help family and friends become useful, long-term resources for patients with recurrent depression and to enlist their assistance in the treatment study. During the morning session, the group discusses the symptomatology, theory, etiology, and treatment of depression, and staff describe the treatment study. In the afternoon, patients and their families and friends meet separately, the patients to discuss methods of coping with depression and interacting with significant others, and the families to discuss the impact of the patient's depression on their lives and to share common problems. More than 83 percent of family and friends who evaluated the workshop considered it moderately or extremely helpful. The results of the evaluation are summarized.

Consumer Behavior↗
PubMed1987

Pathomechanics of congenital and acquired hallux varus: a clinical and anatomical study.

Hallux varus was observed in 69 feet among patients from a rural Indian population. This included three types of congenital hallux varus. The congenital "primary" type was the commonest and was not associated with any other foot deformity. Among the acquired forms was idiopathic hallux varus of middle age, which developed spontaneously in unshod persons and progressed gradually. Hallux varus following chronic arthritis was part of a consistent pattern of foot deformities in which the first ray collapsed in a zig-zag manner in two planes. Although the development of hallux varus is often due to intrinsic muscle imbalance, hallux varus secondary to chronic arthritis seems to occur as a result of both intrinsic and extrinsic muscle imbalance associated with midtarsal and subtalar arthritis. Muscular factors contribute to progression of the deformity also. No anatomical basis for a racial predilection for the deformity was noted. Failure to use footwear could account for the higher incidence of hallux varus in India.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Effect of variations in dietary calcium on renal and intestinal calcium-binding proteins.

This study was designed to determine if protein-induced calciuria was related to alterations in the intestinal and renal calcium-binding proteins (CaBP). Weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing low, normal, or high Ca and protein diets for 2 wk. Twenty-four-h urine and fecal samples were collected before the termination of the study. Plasma, kidney, duodenum, ileum, and femur samples were obtained for selected mineral and CaBP analyses. Growth was significantly depressed on the low protein diets and this was independent of Ca levels. Hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and increased renal CaBP were associated with the high Ca intakes but not with the high protein diets. It is suggested that in conditions where Ca intakes are high, the renal CaBP has a role in Ca excretion and responds to changes in Ca concentrations occurring in the distal tubule. No loss of femur Ca was seen in rats on the high protein diets.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Recurrent depression: an assessment of family burden and family attitudes.

Recognition that a psychiatrically ill family member has profound effects on family life and significant others has stimulated the need for more precise assessments of family members. The authors evaluated the burden experienced by those in the immediate environment of an individual with recurrent depressive illness as well as the beliefs they hold about the illness. This report presents a preliminary body of data on the level and types of distress shared by family members, especially family members living with the patient. Such information is valuable in designing educational interventions for family members in order to explore their attitudes and belief systems about depressive illness, to decrease the impact of family and other relationship stress on the patient, and to enhance the significant others' support of the patient.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1986

In vivo splicing of the premRNAs from early region 3 of adenovirus-2: association of precursors, intermediates and products with hnRNP.

To elucidate the function of hnRNP in the splicing of premRNA, we studied the distribution of the transcripts from the early region 3 of adenovirus-2 in hnRNP from infected HeLa cells. In addition to premRNAs and mRNAs, we detected excised IVS 1 and the products of cleavage of premRNA at the 5' splice site of IVS 1 (free leader 1 and IVS 1-exon 2). All these molecules were present in hnRNP and persisted in the salt-resistant complexes after a 400 mM KCl treatment. None of them was exclusively part of the salt dissociable monoparticles. The precursors, intermediates and products of the splicing reaction were associated with both monoparticles and salt resistant complexes. This eliminates the possibility that one of the classes of RNP is exclusively involved in one of the steps of RNA processing. Whereas the size of hnRNP was related to that of its RNA for most molecules, the small molecules free leader 1 and excised IVS 1 were found in the large hnRNP containing premRNA as well as in small size hnRNP. A probable interpretation of these results is that the cleavage products are associated with the premRNP complex immediately after cleavage and are then released in the form of an individual RNP.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1986

In vivo splicing of the premRNAs from early region 3 of adenovirus-2: the products of cleavage at the 5' splice site of the common intron.

The nuclear transcripts of the early region 3 from adenovirus-2 were studied for the presence of the cleavage products of premRNA at the 5' splice site of the first intervening sequence. Two molecules, free exon 1 and intron-exon 2-poly(A) were characterized by complementary methods including Northern blotting, RNase and S1 nuclease mapping, hybrid-selection and primer extension. The intron of the intron-exon 2 molecule is at least partially in a lariat form. A study of the time course of appearance of the 2 molecules shows that their formation occurs after the synthesis of premRNA, the lag period being no more than 1-2 min and before the formation of mature mRNA which starts accumulating after 3-4 min. These data are compatible with the idea that the 5' cleavage products are splicing intermediates in vivo.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1986

Serum and semen zinc levels in normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men.

Zinc is necessary for growth, sexual maturation and reproduction. Because high concentrations of zinc are found in the male reproductive system, a relationship between zinc and male infertility has been suggested. We studied 11 unselected men who presented to a Reproductive Endocrinology Clinic with histories of infertility and low sperm counts. Reproductive hormones and semen and serum zinc levels were measured. All men had semen analyses performed on at least three separate occasions. A similar set of laboratory evaluations were performed on 11 other men who had normal semen analyses and no history of infertility. No abnormalities of reproductive hormones were found in either group. Mean serum zinc levels were significantly lower in the infertile men (p less than 0.05). Mean semen zinc levels were not significantly different. There was no correlation between serum and semen zinc levels in either group. A significant correlation was found between sperm count and semen zinc (r = 0.66, p less than 0.05) in the volunteers with normal counts, but not in the oligozoospermic men. The results obtained in this study suggest that lowered serum zinc is more common than formerly appreciated in unselected patients with infertility. The high level of zinc found in semen is due primarily to the secretions of the prostate gland and reflects prostatic stores. Serum zinc is thought to be a reasonable indicator of zinc status. The lack of correlation between serum zinc and semen zinc found in our study suggests that mild zinc deficiency may lower serum zinc while the larger prostatic zinc stores remain unaffected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗