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Biomedical subjects

R M Knobler

Publications and source records attributed to R M Knobler.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Receptor-mediated photo-cytotoxicity: synthesis of a photoactivatable psoralen derivative conjugated to insulin.

4'-Aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen has been chemically conjugated to insulin using a carbodiimide derivative. The psoralen moiety retains its photochemical reactivity as evidenced by its ability to crosslink DNA after exposure to long wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA, 320-400 nm). This chimeric molecule has been used to selectively kill a population of lymphocytes whose expression of insulin receptors has been stimulated with phytohemagglutinin. Insulin carries the psoralen into the cell via receptor-mediated endocytosis, where it is subsequently activated by exposure to UVA light. The UVA induced activity of AMT-insulin can be blocked by the presence of native insulin. The viability of unstimulated lymphocytes was not affected by AMT-insulin and UVA light. The hybrid insulin-psoralen molecule may be a prototype for a family of phototoxic drugs which can be selectively delivered to subsets of lymphocytes.

Cell Survival↗

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma is a malignancy of helper T cells, which have a propensity to infiltrate the skin. The incidence of the disease appears to exceed that of Hodgkin's disease, making it the most common lymphoma of adults. Advances in our knowledge of the biology of the malignant T cells should facilitate new and more effective forms of treatment.

Administration, Topical↗

Incidence of chancroid in Vienna from 1980 to 1988.

The authors report on a retrospective study of the occurrence of chancroid in the city of Vienna during the past 10 years. After identifying two patients at the authors' department with chancroid in March 1988, the authors investigated the frequency with which this disease presented during the last 10 years. Of 32 patients, six presented between 1977 and 1980, and one patient in 1987. The remaining 25 patients were diagnosed within a 4-month period in 1981, suggesting a limited outbreak. The source of this infection could be traced to Turkey; infected prostitutes contributed to further spread in Vienna. All patients were treated successfully with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Efficient control of this outbreak can be attributed to inpatient treatment of the prostitutes. Appropriate and timely treatment must be preceeded by careful and exact diagnosis of this disease whose clinical picture is constantly diverging from its classical form.

Austria↗