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Biomedical subjects

S Levin

Publications and source records attributed to S Levin.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Saccadic eye movements of schizophrenic patients measured by reflected light technique.

In order to evaluate the integrity of their saccadic system, we have examined saccadic eye movements and smooth pursuit in a small group of schizophrenic patients, using precise infrared recording instrumentation. There were no significant differences between mean saccadic latencies of patients and controls. Both groups had mean latencies within the normal range of 200-250 msec. Saccades of schizophrenic patients appeared to have normal trajectories and dynamic characteristics. Three of the six schizophrenic patients and one of the three normal controls had smooth pursuit tracking characterized by saccadic intrusions and saccadic smooth pursuit tracking. Occasional saccadic intrusions and saccadic smooth pursuit tracking appeared in the records of all other subjects, but with considerably lower frequency. These results, emerging from reflected light methods, confirm a previous report of normal saccadic latencies in schizophrenic patients using an electrooculographic technique.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Assay of an interferon-induced enzyme in white blood cells as a diagnostic aid in viral diseases.

Interferon is part of the system of defence against viral infections and has important cell-regulatory and immunoregulatory functions. It is, however, not always possible to quantify circulating interferon in patients. An assay has been developed to measure an interferon-induced enzyme in white blood cells. The activity of this enzyme is constant in healthy subjects but increases by 2-10 times in 85% of patients with acute viral infections. It is also enhanced in autoimmune diseases and in virus-related malignancies and neurological disorders. The enzyme level was not raised in bacterial infections or non-infectious diseases studied. This simple and rapid biochemical assay of the interferon system could be used for diagnosis and evaluation of many diseases.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1981

Effect of gluten-free diet on an immunological assay for coeliac disease.

The leucocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) test for the presence of lymphocytes sensitised to gluten was evaluated over the past 4 years in patients with coeliac disease and correlated with the presence of gluten in the patients' diet. 149 LIF tests were done in 66 coeliac patients, 35 of whom were on a normal diet. However, 7 of 8 clinically and histologically diagnosed cases of coeliac disease who were LIF negative when first tested on a normal diet became LIF positive when placed on a gluten-free diet, so that 94% of patients with coeliac disease were LIF positive. On a prolonged gluten-free diet about 50% of LIF-positive cases became negative. The response to the LIF test seems to be related to gluten intake, with higher LIF values when the patient is taking gluten, and lower values when gluten is eliminated from the diet.

Celiac Disease↗
PubMed1981

The dying patient -- attitudes and responses.

This study was designed to ascertain the attitudes and responses of the dying patient, both to himself and to those around him, particularly the medical care team. The sample chosen consisted of 75 patients suffering from various terminal illnesses. We studied the patients' reactions on being told about their illness, the manner in which they were told, how they reacted to their illness and the way the medical care team, family and friends treated them. The role of religion as a support system with regard to 'accepting death' was investigated. Recommendations regarding doctor-patient relationships are made.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Community-acquired purulent meningitis of unknown etiology. A continuing problem.

The clinical features and hospital course of 132 patients with purulent meningitis of unknown etiology (PMU) were compared with those of 1,032 patients with proven bacterial meningitis; all patients were admitted to a major referral center for meningitis treatment between 1954 and 1976. Most patients had no major underlying illnesses. Patients with PMU were more frequently older, "pretreated" with antibiotics, had longer duration of symptoms, evidenced less marked alterations of mental status, and died later in the hospitalization; however, the mortality and frequency of neurologic complications were similar to those in patients with bacterial meningitis. Patients with PMU who also had hemorrhagic rashes had fewer neurologic complications and none died; these patients comprised a distinct group in terms of better prognosis. New methods for rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis have only partially resolved the diagnostic dilemma of PMU.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Juvenile and adult types of chronic granulocytic leukemia of childhood: growth patterns and characteristics of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells.

Peripheral blood and bone marrow cells from three children with the juvenile (Ph1 negative) type of chronic granulocytic leukemia and from one with the adult (Ph1 positive) type were cultured in soft agar, and their specific growth patterns were evaluated. Greatly increased numbers of colonies were obtained in all cases, particularly from peripheral blood cells. By morphologic, cytochemical and ultrastructural criteria, colonies from one juvenile type and from the single adult type patients were found to be almost exclusively granulocytic, whereas in the other two juvenile type leukemia patients colonies were either granulocytic or macrophage. Moreover, both growth patterns were obtained in the same patients on different occasions. It appears that the leukemic cell populations of the juvenile and the adult forms of chronic granulocytic leukemia do not arise from different cell lines. Rather, both are the progeny of the common monocyte-granulocyte progenitor cell, whose abnormal proliferation and differentiation along either the granulocytic or the monocytic pathway is probably directed by fluctuations in humoral and/or microenvironmental factors.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1981

A comparison of the antiproliferative and antiviral activities of alpha-, beta- and gamma-interferons: description of a unified assay for comparing both effects simultaneously.

An assay system is described which allows simultaneous measurement of antiviral (AV) and antiproliferative (AP) activities of various interferons (IFNs) with the same indicator cells and tests one biological function, i.e. the reduction of DNA synthesis. Human IFN-alpha, -beta, and -gamma preparations were investigated for their respective AV and AP activities. In repeated independent experiments the AP:AV ratio was found to be constant for each IFN preparation. However, striking difference in the AP:AV ratios was found between the preparations, being highest in IFN-gamma and lowest in IFN-alpha. The validity of this assay was substantiated by the observation that the AP activity of the IFNs is not influenced by virus once the cells are protected by sufficient amounts of IFN and that the score of the microscopically assessed cytopathic effect (CPE) strongly correlates with the reduction of [3H]TdR uptake in the cultures. The AP:AV ratio of a Corynebacterium parvum induced IFN resembled that of the IFN-alpha-reference, suggesting that contrary to previous reports, the C. parvum induced is of alpha type. It is suggested that the assay system presented here provides a simple means not only of comparing AP and AV ratios of various IFNs but also of characterizing IFNs of unknown type.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1981

Saccadic eye movements in psychotic patients.

Schizophrenic and manic-depressive patients executed saccades to target displacements of 2 to 24 degrees. The latencies, velocities, and accuracy of their saccadic eye movements were normal, although patients' saccadic latencies increased more than controls' for stimulus displacements greater than 10 degrees. In contrast to their normal saccadic latencies, patients had significantly slower than normal mean finger-press latencies. The results have implications for the significance of motoric and attentional deficits in the major psychoses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Monitoring of interferon therapy by assay of (2'--5') oligo-isoadenylate synthetase in human peripheral white blood cells.

With the increasing number of patients undergoing experimental interferon therapy, there is a need for a method for monitoring how the patients respond to the drug. Interferon induces in cells exposed to it the accumulation of several enzymes, among them the (2'-5') oligo-A synthetase. A simple method previously developed was used to measure this enzyme in extracts of a small number of peripheral white blood cells. In 60 healthy volunteers, the enzyme level in the mononuclear cell fraction was found to be relatively high and constant. Daily intramuscular injections of 1--2 x 10(6) units leukocyte type interferon (IFN-alpha) increased the enzyme level 7--8 fold in mononuclear cells and in granulocytes. The enzyme stayed high until IFN injections were stopped. Patients with defective response to IFN were identified. We propose that this method be used for continuous monitoring of the patient's response whenever interferon therapy is undertaken.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1981

Client, treatment, and therapist variables related to outcome in brief, systems-oriented family therapy.

Client, therapist, and treatment characteristics were examined with respect to how much of the variance they could account for in a variety of outcome measures. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine relationships among each of the client, therapist, and treatment characteristics studied and the various outcome measures. For the 219 families that were treated with brief family therapy, only a relatively low amount of variance in any of the outcome measures could be accounted for. The amount of explained variance, however, varied considerably from one outcome measure to the other. When the more homogeneous groups of clients (single parents or adolescent identified patients) were considered, the amount of explained variance generally showed an increase. Different sets of client, therapist, and treatment variables accounted for the variance in these outcome measures across client groups, demonstrating both the complexities of the relationships and the relative independence of various outcome measures. New variables are suggested for future research.

Adolescent↗