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Biomedical subjects

S Levin

Publications and source records attributed to S Levin.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Receptors for peanut agglutinin (Arachus hypogea) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: possible clinical significance.

The presence of lymphocyte receptors for peanut agglutinin in significant numbers (greater than 15%) was identified on leukemic cells from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (3/4), B-cell ALL (B-ALL) (2/4), null cell ALL (8/17), and on normal fetal thymic lymphocytes but not on normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) binding was blocked specifically on leukemia lymphoblasts and thymic lymphocytes by the addition of galactose to the medium. When all immunologic subgroups of ALL are combined, preliminary data suggest that of the 13 ALL patients having greater than 15% PNA-positive lymphoblasts, 8 had relapsed, whereas none of the 12 ALL patients with less than 15% PNA-positive cells have recurrent disease at this time. It is likely that analysis of PNA receptors on ALL lymphoblasts may be a useful adjunct to the existing clinical and immunologic prognostic indicators.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

In vitro cell-mediated immunologic assay for cow's milk allergy.

The production of a lymphokine, the leukocyte-migration-inhibition factor (LIF), by peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to an in vitro challenge with bovine beta-lactoglobulin was assayed in infants and children suspected of having allergy to cow's milk protein. Of the patients studied, 24 had cow's milk allergy, 24 were normal control subjects, 18 had recovered from milk allergy, 10 were newborns, and 10 were babies suffering from acute gastroenteritis. All patients with milk allergy demonstrated significant LIF production in response to beta-lactoglobulin (23.5% +/- 6.4%). In the normal control subjects, LIF was 3.1% +/- 4.3% (P < .0005). Only two of the 24 control subjects and two of the ten newborns had high-normal values bordering on the positive. None of the ten babies with acute gastroenteritis gave a positive response. Most of the children who had recovered from milk allergy and were ingesting cow's milk had negative assays. This cell-mediated immune assay is shown to be a reliable test for the diagnosis of sensitivity to milk protein in infants and children, and for determining dietary treatment and when this treatment can be safely terminated. In most cases, its use should eliminate the need for the potentially dangerous and ethically questionable provocation test, as well as the need for repeated intestinal biopsies.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Production of immune and viral interferon by lymphocytes of newborn infants.

The ability of lymphocytes from newborn infants to produce two types of interferon was compared with that of lymphocytes from older children and adults. Cord blood lymphocytes were as capable of producing both viral interferon (stable at pH 2.0) following stimulation with polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidilic acid and immune interferon (unstable at pH 2.0) following stimulation with phytohemagglutinin as lymphocytes from older individuals. In a mixture of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells, it was the former that produced the interferon. Interferon may be important in the defense mechanism of the newborn infant against viruses and other microbial agents.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Immunoglobulin levels in children with celiac disease: variations with age and diet.

Serum immunoglobulins were evaluated in 110 children with celiac disease ranging in age from three months to 15 years. IgG, IgM and IgA were evaluated in all the patients when they were on either a normal or a gluten-free diet and the findings were analyzed by age and type of diet. IgG and IgM levels were generally higher than normal. The type of diet did not affect the results. IgA levels were higher in untreated (normal diet) than in treated (gluten-free diet) celiac patients or normal subjects. The IgA levels returned to normal when the patients were on a gluten-free diet. The variations in immunoglobulin levels among the different age groups of celiac patients reflect the normal variations in serum immunoglobulins with age. It is suggested that the higher IgA levels in untreated celiac disease patients are evidence of chronic stimulation of the B cell immune system and that this could be a factor in the high incidence of lymphoreticular abnormalities and malignant tumors in adults with celiac disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Serum lipid response to a high-caloric, high-fat diet in agricultural workers during 12 months.

The effect of a gluttony diet in healthy subjects was studied over an observation period of 12 months. Twenty-six agricultural workers, all of them Yemenite Jews, received a high-caloric, high-fat diet, and the changes in serum cholesterol (CH), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and body weight were assessed. Yemenite Jews as a group are characterized by low serum CH levels and by a low incidence of coronary artery disease. For a period of 7 months the subjects received a diet of 4553 cal/day, more than double their original "Yemenite diet". After this time they resumed their customary low-caloric diet for 3 months, and thereafter for another 2 months they continued with the high-caloric food regimen. The high-caloric, high-fat diet resulted in the expected increase of serum CH. A similar increase of high-density lipoprotein-CH was found. Serum triglyceride levels changed inversely to those of CH. It is suggested that the altered relation of calories derived from carbohydrates to those derived from fats brought about the decrease of triglycerides, and this irrespective of the increased intake of carbohydrates and fats. The rather small gain of body weight over the trial period--despite the doubled caloric intake--is similar to other studies that showed that the ability of normal individuals to gain weight through overeating varies considerably.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Pneumococcal endocarditis in infants.

A case of pneumococcal endocarditis in an infant is reported together with a review of seven cases previously described in the literature. The prominent presenting symptoms of this usually fatal disease consisted of tachycardia, tachypnea, and cardiomegaly. A new murmur was heard in six of the eight patients. Fever was infrequent. Blood cultures were positive when done. The mitral valve was the site of infection in seven of the patients. In contrast to adult patients, pneumonia and meningitis are rarely encountered in children with pneumococcal endocarditis. The disease was fatal in all four patients before the penicillin era and in three of four patients who received penicillin.

Cardiomegaly↗
PubMed1979

Children's understanding of monosyllabic nouns in quiet and in noise.

A four-alternative, forced choice adaptive procedure was used to measure the lowest intensity at which children could identify monosyllabic nouns that had been standardized to be understandable (at comfortable listening levels) to inner city, 3-year-old children. Results showed no age-related performance changes when the words were presented against a 12-talker babble or against filtered noise. In quit, however, performance improved between the ages of 5 and 10 years. Performance of children with learning problems was poorer than performance of children achieving normal school progress, even though clinical measures of auditory sensitivity showed no differences. Results are discussed in terms of "semantic closure" skills of children.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Immunologic reaction of psychotic patients to fractions of gluten.

Production of a leukocyte migration inhibition factor by peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to challenge with gluten fractions was studied in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses compared with normal individuals and with children and adolescents with celiac disease. The schizophrenic and other psychotic patients could be subdivided into two groups, one that responded in the leukocyte migration inhibition factor test as the celiac patients did and one that responded as the normal control subjects did. The psychotic and schizophrenic patients did not show any evidence of malabsorption. The authors speculate that gluten may be involved in biological processes in the brain in certain psychotic individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Effect of thymic humoral factor on cellular immune factors of normal children and of pediatric patients with ataxia telangiectasia and Down's syndrome.

Cellular immune functions of nine Down's syndrome patients and of nine was Ataxia telangiectasia vs. nine normal children and nine cord bloods, were evaluated using in vitro assays of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The in vitro assays included E rosette formation, antilymphocytic cytotoxicity by an antithymic antiserum and leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) production. The mitogens and antigens used were phytohemagglutinin, purified protein derivative, and monilia antigen. The effect of a thymic hormone (THF) on these parameters was evaluated and it was administered therapeutically to three Down's syndrome patients and to two patients with Ataxia telangiectasia. Most deficient T-cell functions were reversed to normal after incubation of the lymphocytes with THF, or after THF therapeutic administration. In two Down's syndrome cases, the clinical course was not altered by THF administration, while one seemed to benefit from it markedly. One of the Atactic patients recovered from a severe viral infection, while the other died from intractable bronchopneumonia.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗