Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Falk

Publications and source records attributed to R Falk.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Case-control study of diet and mesothelioma in Louisiana.

Data were analyzed from a case-control interview study of malignant mesothelioma in Louisiana, which gathered information on usual diet and on lifetime occupational exposure to asbestos. Thirty-seven patients with malignant mesothelioma of the pleura (n = 32) or peritoneum (n = 5) were matched to controls according to age, sex, race, and factors related to case ascertainment (hospital and date of diagnosis, or parish and date of death). Twenty-one of the 37 cases were judged by masked occupational review to have been exposed to asbestos (57%), compared to seven of 37 controls (19%). Seven additional cases and 10 additional controls had occupational histories suggestive of asbestos exposure. With regard to usual diet before illness, cases reported less frequent consumption of homegrown produce (p = 0.005), cruciferous vegetables (p = 0.005), and all vegetables combined (p = 0.09) than did the controls. An estimate of usual carotene intake was also significantly lower in cases (p = 0.03). Dose-dependent reductions in risk were seen with increasing consumption of vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables (p for trend = 0.013). These associations were not explained by differences in asbestos exposure as measured by the occupational review. The results indicate that consumption of vegetables or some vegetable-related constituent may have a protective effect on developing mesothelioma.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Prostaglandins inhibit proliferation of the murine P815 mastocytoma by decreasing cytoplasmic free calcium levels [( Ca+2]i).

Prostaglandins inhibit the proliferation of the murine P815 mastocytoma. The mechanism of this antitumour activity remains undefined. In several cell systems, the action of PGs is inhibited at the cell surface receptor by pertussis toxin likely through regulatory G proteins involved in the inhibition of adenyl cyclase or activation of phospholipase C. We therefore determined the effect of prostaglandins on the biochemical consequences of activation of these pathways; i.e. concentrations of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cytosolic free Ca+2 concentrations [( Ca/2]i) respectively. PGD2 (6 ug/mL), PGE1 (10 ug/mL) and PGB1 (50 ug/mL) maximally inhibited (3H)-thymidine incorporation to DNA. PGF2 alpha did not affect DNA synthesis. PGE1 (10 ug/mL) induced a three fold increase in cAMP concentrations. In contrast, the other prostaglandins did not alter cAMP concentrations. Maximal growth inhibitory doses of PGD2, PGE1 and PGB1 decrease [Ca+2]i, as measured by the fluorescence of Indo-1, from 320 +/- 5 nM to 172 +/- 20 nM, 161 +/- 12 nM, and 151 +/- 18 nM respectively. PGF2 alpha did not alter [Ca+2]i. Therefore, in contrast to the effects on cAMP, the decrease in [Ca+2]i was concordant with the inhibition of DNA synthesis. This suggests that PGs may inhibit proliferation through decreasing [Ca+2]i in the P815 mastocytoma.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1987

Deposition of large particles in human lung.

Twenty-four nonsmoking males, all without history of pulmonary disease, were randomly divided into four groups of six subjects each. The subjects in each group inhaled monodisperse Teflon particles labelled with 111In (half-life 2.83 days); 8.2, 11.5, 13.7 and 16.4 micron aerodynamic diameter, respectively. Radioactivity in head and throat, lung and stomach was determined after 0, 3 and 24 hrs using a profile scanner. For some subjects radioactivity was also determined using a whole-body scanner at 3.5 and 24 hrs. After the 24-hr determination the subjects inhaled labelled Teflon particles again, this time with a filter in front of the mouth. Average values for total deposition in the body, obtained using a profile scanner, whole-body scanner and filter measurements, agreed fairly well. Lung retention values obtained by whole-body and profile scanning also agreed well. The average deposition in the lung, expressed as a percentage of total deposition, was 49, 31, 21 and 13% for the four particle sizes (8.2-16.4 micron). Alveolar deposition, determined as retention at 24 hrs and expressed in percent of total deposition, was 15, 4, 4 and 1%. For the smallest particle sizes the deposition values agreed with earlier investigations. However, for the larger particles the two deposition values were higher than expected when compared to earlier studies.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1986

What is a gene?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Genetics↗
PubMed1986

Childhood familial pheochromocytoma. Conflicting results of localization techniques.

Childhood familial pheochromocytoma was investigated in four patients by abdominal computed tomographic scan, [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine scan, and vena caval catecholamine sampling. Results conflicted with surgical findings. Computed tomographic scan identified all four adrenal tumors but missed two midline tumors in one patient. [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine scan identified two of three adrenal tumors but also suggested extra-adrenal tumors not confirmed at operation in two of three patients. Vena caval sampling for catecholamines confirmed all adrenal tumors but suggested additional tumors not verified at operation in two of three patients. All patients are asymptomatic and have normal urinary catecholamines 15 to 51 months after operation. Because of the frequency of multiple tumors in familial pheochromocytoma, different diagnostic techniques were employed. False-positive results were more frequent with [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine and vena caval sampling. Reinterpretation of the [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine scans at a later date led to less false-positive interpretation, although the false-negative rate remained unchanged. More pediatric experience with [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine scans and vena caval sampling in familial pheochromocytoma is needed. Confirmation of tumor and its localization rest with meticulous surgical exploration.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1986

Role of amniocentesis in ultrasound-detected fetal malformations.

Sixty-three patients with antenatally diagnosed fetal malformations over the period of 14 months were prospectively offered genetic amniocentesis, irrespective of gestational age. An additional 15 patients were excluded from the study because of a known lethal malformation (13 anencephaly, two amniotic bands). Twenty patients accepted amniocentesis, and seven chromosomal disorders were found. Obstetric management was altered in some of these patients as a result of the anomalies.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Prevention of cyclosporine (CyA) nephrotoxicity by synthetic prostaglandins.

Acute and chronic nephrotoxicity directly attributable to cyclosporine (CyA) administration remains an obstacle to its successful use. The studies presented in this report characterize the cytoprotective properties of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 in a lethal CyA-induced nephrotoxic rodent model. Wistar-Furth rats (200-250 g) receiving CyA alone (100 mg/kg/day) showed marked deterioration in renal function with severe histologic renal lesions and death of the majority of animals by day 7. The prostaglandin treated group (10/micrograms/kg/day) administered concomitantly with CyA demonstrated near normal renal function and histology by the eighth day after CyA discontinuation, and in a significant improvement in animal survival of 85% (p less than 0.001, n = at least 20 rats/group). These studies demonstrate a novel approach to a major problem with cyclosporine and should have exciting clinical potential.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The characterization and partial purification of hepatocyte proliferation factor.

This report presents further evidence that the liver is the source of the factor responsible for the initiation and/or stimulation of hepatic regeneration. Initial experiments for the isolation and characterization of the active factor are presented. The factor was isolated from the cytosol of regenerating livers (RLC). After an in vivo exposure to RLC, hepatocytes were pulsed in vitro with 3H-thymidine to measure DNA synthesis. Rat and porcine RLC stimulated DNA synthesis in hepatocytes isolated from growing (nonhepatectomized) livers of weanling rats, or from regenerating livers of adult rats. The ability of porcine RLC to stimulate hepatocyte DNA synthesis demonstrated that the factor responsible was not species-specific. In contrast, normal non-regenerating liver cytosol did not stimulate hepatocyte DNA synthesis. Further experiments also revealed that the factor is heat stable. The activity responsible for the increased DNA synthesis was called hepatocyte proliferation factor (HPF). The assay for detecting HPF activity in the nonhepatectomized recipient will facilitate further characterization and purification of HPF.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Long-term lung clearance in humans studied with Teflon particles labeled with chromium-51.

Six healthy nonsmoking males inhaled 4-micron diameter Teflon particles labeled with chromium-51. Lung retention was measured for approximately 300 days. Three subjects inhaled "high-leaching" particles and three "low-leaching" particles. The high-leaching leaching particles leached 0.26%/day in water at 37 degrees C for the first 100 days and the low-leaching particles 0.065%/day. On an average, urine sampled for 24 h contained 0.13% of the lung burden for the high-leaching particles and 0.02% for the low-leaching particles. Thirty percent of the long-term clearance occurred with a fast phase, with half-times ranging from 4.5-45 days, and 70% with a slow phase, with half-times ranging from 200-2500 days. The fast phase was similar for the high-leaching and low-leaching groups. The slow phase varied widely among the subjects. There was no clear-cut relationship between half-time and type of particle. However, it seems probable that the slow phase was dependent on the degree of leaching, i.e., the half-times for elimination of intact particles from the lung are even slower. The large differences in long-term clearance among subjects indicate that long-term exposure to highly insoluble particles will result in large differences in lung burden. Subjects with a low capacity to eliminate alveolarly deposited particles are thus expected to be more susceptible to diseases in the alveolar part of the lung, i.e., diseases caused by certain insoluble particles.

Adult↗