Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Schlesinger

Publications and source records attributed to M Schlesinger.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Antigenic changes in lymph-node cells after administration of antiserum to thymus cells.

Mice of the RIII and C57BL strains were treated with rabbit antiserum to thymus (ATS), and cells of their lymph nodes were analyzed serologi-cally at intervals after treatment. While lymph-node cells of untreated mice were sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of isoantibodies against the theta antigen, lymph-node cells of ATS-treated mice showed a significantly reduced sensitivity. Three days after ATS treatment lymph-node cells of most mice were completely refractory to the cytotoxic effect of theta antibodies. Administration of normal rabbit serum elicited only a slight reduction of the sensitivity of lymph-node cells to the cytotoxic effect of theta antibodies. The results support the hypothesis that ATS treatment selectively affects a population of thymus-dependent circulating lymphocytes.

Animals↗

Serological analysis of thymus and spleen grafts.

Thymus and spleen grafts from neonatal C57BL mice were implanted beneath the kidney capsule of (A x C57BL) F(1) hybrids. At various intervals after implantation, the grafts were analyzed serologically. Cells of each graft were tested for the presence of cells of host origin, TL (thymus-leukemia) antigenicity, and sensitivity to the cytotoxic effect of guinea pig serum (GPS). Thymus grafts showed partial repopulation by host cells 11 days after grafting, and some grafts were completely repopulated by host cells 13 days after grafting. All thymus grafts were fully repopulated 18 days after grafting. With one exception, thymus grafts contained no significant number of TL-positive cells within 14 days after grafting. TL-positive cells appeared in thymus grafts examined 15 days after implantation, and their number increased up to the 18th day after implantation. Cells residing in thymus grafts remained sensitive to GPS throughout the period of observation. The acquisition of thymus-distinctive serological properties by host cells repopulating thymus grafts was similar in intact and in thymectomized recipients. Spleen grafts were completely repopulated by host cells as early as 8 days after grafting. The cells residing in spleen grafts remained TL-negative throughout the period of observation, and were refractory to the cytotoxic effect of GPS. It is thus apparent that, while both spleen and thymus grafts are invaded by TL-negative cells, only those entering the thymus acquire the antigen. The nature of the process by which the thymus endows thymus-distinctive properties on cells entering it is discussed.

Animals↗

Computer analysis of factors influencing frequency of infection in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Data from a prospective study of the clinical course in 223 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus followed for 655 patient-years were analyzed by computer to determine the influence on frequency of infection of 1) corticosteroid dose; 2) azathioprine; 3) active disease, measured by new disease exacerbations, elevated ESR, hypocomplementemia, active urinary sediment, and proteinuria; 4) uremia; and 5) leukopenia. The frequency of all infections, and of bacterial and opportunistic infections specifically, increased progressively with increasing steroid dose. Azathioprine use, independent of steroid dose, did not account for an increased risk of bacterial, opportunistic, or nonspecific viral infections. Leukopenia did not predispose to infection, except possibly when associated with azathioprine-induced bone marrow suppression. Active renal disease, especially when manifested by abnormal urine sediment, was associated with an increase in infection frequency.

Azathioprine↗

Disclosure of HIV status to medical providers: differences by gender, "race," and immune function.

OBJECTIVE: The authors used data from a larger study to explore differences by gender, self-reported racial identification, and immune function in disclosure of HIV-positive serostatus to medical providers (dentists, family doctors, and emergency room [ER] and obstetrics-gynecology [ob/gyn] providers). METHOD: The authors analyzed interview responses from a convenience sample of African American and white men and women receiving HIV medical care at urban hospitals and clinics in St. Louis. Missouri. RESULTS: Of 179 respondents using at least one of three types of providers, 124 (69%) disclosed their HIV status to all applicable types of providers, 39 (22%) disclosed to only one or two types of providers, and 16 (9%) did not disclose to any of these types of providers. "Race" and CD4 count, but not gender, were independently associated with disclosure to dentists, family doctors, and ER providers in multivariate logistic regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in disclosure rates, especially among patients who may be asymptomatic, suggest a need for public health education of both medical providers and patients with HIV.

Adolescent↗

A broader vision for managed care, Part 1: Measuring the benefit to communities.

For the past quarter-century managed care plans have been judged almost exclusively in terms of their influence on the health and health care of individual enrollees. However, policymakers are now paying attention to the ways in which health care organizations affect the broader well-being of their communities. These forms of "community benefit" emerged originally from legal criteria for tax exemption but are increasingly applied to all health care organizations, whatever their form of ownership. In this paper we identify different paradigms for defining community benefit and trace the factors that have encouraged or discouraged their application to health care. We suggest several strategies encouraging managed care plans to broaden their goals to include community benefit.

Community Health Planning↗

A broader vision for managed care, Part 2: A typology of community benefits.

Applying a "community benefit" standard to managed care is difficult because prevailing definitions of community benefit have been drawn largely from the hospital industry, which has different operating practices and capabilities than managed care plans do. To formulate a more comprehensive and appropriate typology for managed care, we describe four different conceptual perspectives on community benefit and identify actual plan practices that match each perspective. We propose a "balanced model" for encouraging community benefit through public and private policies.

Charities↗

Chronic illness and plan satisfaction under managed care.

This DataWatch uses data from the 1993 Employee Health Care Value Survey (EHCVS) to compare the experiences of respondents with and without chronic illnesses under managed care. After controlling for potential confounders, we found that chronic illness was associated with increased odds of dissatisfaction in both independent practice association plans and prepaid group practices, but not under fee-for-service coverage. Chronic illness appeared to exacerbate difficulties and to attenuate the benefits experienced by healthy persons under managed care. We conclude that persons with chronic illnesses may be at particular risk under managed care; their experiences may warrant particular attention when health plan performance is being monitored.

Adult↗

Some aspects of the humoral and neutrophil functions in post-comatose nawareness patients.

Post-comatose unawareness (PCU) is one of the possible outcomes of severe brain injury. Patients with severe brain injury have an increased susceptibility to severe nosocomial infections for multifactorial reasons, including immune suppression at different levels. We studied different immunological aspects in 11 PCU patients. Impaired humoral immunity was found in 27% of them. Two patients had decreased haemolytic activity of the classical complement pathway, associated with decreased levels of the components C1q, C1r and C4. Another patient had very low levels of IgG2 and IgG4. The neutrophil killing activity was impaired in these three patients, but was completely restored with the addition of a heterologous serum, suggesting a humoral defect. Neutrophils showed normal chemotaxis and random migration, and the superoxide anion release by neutrophils was also found to be normal. Understanding the immunological events in PCU patients contributes to a better and more intensive therapeutic approach, which might accelerate the rehabilitation of these patients.

Adolescent↗