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Biomedical subjects

S R Rosenthal

Publications and source records attributed to S R Rosenthal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Development of vaccines for bio-warfare agents.

There is a recognized need for the development of new vaccines (as well as other biologicals and drugs) to counteract the effects of a potential bio-terrorist or bio-warfare event in the U.S. domestic population and military forces. Regulation of products to protect against potential bio-warfare agents poses unique challenges since the usual measures of efficacy that require exposure to natural disease may not currently be possible, for epidemiological and ethical reasons. To help to address this issue, the FDA has published and requested comments on a proposed animal rule intended to address certain efficacy issues for new agents for use against lethal or permanently disabling toxic substances. Recent product development activity has focused on Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and variola major (smallpox), agents that are regarded as highest priority in posing a risk to national security. FDA resources exist to assist vaccine developers with regard to the novel challenges posed in the dinical development of these products.

Biological Warfare↗
PubMed1993

Two-dose measles vaccination schedules.

As measles continues to exact a high toll on infant mortality, particularly in developing countries, optimal strategies for the control of the disease are under discussion. As part of this debate, the place of 2-dose measles immunization schedules is reviewed regarding their potential as a strategy to improve measles control. To date, WHO has not recommended the use of a 2-dose schedule. A number of industrialized countries have already adopted a 2-dose schedule, often choosing to administer measles vaccine in the same injection as mumps and rubella vaccines. However, at present not enough is known about such schedules in developing countries to make global recommendations. Further research should include randomized controlled trials of early 2-dose schedules to investigate both technical and epidemiological issues such as the effect of blunting immunity and the duration of antibody. Long-term safety should be determined through studies of adequate size. Programmes already using 2-dose schedules are encouraged to evaluate their impact on disease incidence, cost, vaccine usage, and effect on coverage. Until further evaluation is complete, a high and timely coverage with one dose of measles vaccine in all areas remains the first priority for all immunization programmes.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

Carnitine deficiency: a possible cause of gastrointestinal dysmotility.

An infant with delayed development and peripheral myopathy, nourished on a soy-based liquid diet deficient in carnitine, had gastrointestinal dysmotility manifested by postprandial vomiting, oral drooling, delayed gastric emptying and infrequent bowel movements. Oesophageal manometry showed a reduced lower oesophageal sphincter pressure for age with abnormal distal motility. Serum carnitine concentration was 9.9 mumol l-1. After dietary supplementation of carnitine the gastrointestinal symptoms resolved, oesophageal manometry returned to normal, and serum carnitine increased to 37.2 mumol l-1. Dietary carnitine deficiency in infancy may be a cause of smooth muscle dysmotility of the gastrointestinal tract.

Bottle Feeding↗
PubMed1986

Cancer precursors and their control by BCG.

I am proposing a theory which states that stimulation of the immune system at birth detects and destroys embryonic cells or components thereof, including subcellular pattern defects, molecular structure defects and so forth which may be the source of malignancy not only in infancy but throughout life. The facts are that: Fetal rests or stigmata thereof remain in many of the organs of the body--the liver, the kidney, the spleen, the brain and so forth. These rests are usually absorbed by the end of the first year of life, but recent evidence indicates that stigmata of this fetal tissue may remain throughout one's entire life and be precursors of cancer. In animals and in humans, the antigens from malignant neoplasms crossreact with anti-fetal antibodies. Many tumors express fetal antigens and secrete fetal products. Alpha-feto-protein was found in adult cancer of the liver; carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) has been reported in cancer of the colon-rectum; fetal alkaline phosphatase has been found in many adult cancers. Fetal tissue injected into animals will immunize these animals against certain transplanted tumors. Recently, in a lecture at Salk Institute, Sir Peter Medawar, Nobel Prize winner in medicine and until recently the head of the British Medical Research Council, described the use of quasi-fetal tissue as helpful in treating cancer of the adult. The infant's immune system is not fully developed. In fact, one can transfuse an infant without typing because he has built no antibodies to the blood types in early infancy. It has been shown in individuals of any age who are immune-deficient, either by heredity or acquired that the rate of malignancy may be as high as 10,000 times that of the general population. The immune system controls cancer development to a great extent. Published data suggests that the immune system detects and destroys embryonic cells or components thereof that may be a locus for cancer development. Our studies demonstrated that in some 85,353 BCG vaccinated newborns followed over a period of 20 years, there was an overall 74 percent reduction in the death rate from all forms of cancer when compared to a similar group not vaccinated. The differences were highly significant statistically. At an International Symposium, "BCG Vaccination Against Cancer and Leukemia" held in Chicago October 4-6, 1982, papers were presented from the U.S.A. (83), Austria (7), and Israel (54) which support the thesis of a lowering of mortality from cancer and leukemia in infants vaccinated at birth with BCG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Thermal injury mortality in germfree and conventional animals.

Studies in germfree (GF) rats and mice demonstrated that GF animals were as sensitive if not more so to thermal injury than conventional (CV) animals. Death occurred in both groups after a similar period of time. There was no evidence of infection in either group. Using GF animals in other forms of injury such as hemorrhagic shock, others report that death occurred with equal frequency in both GF and CV animals. It is therefore postulated that sepsis cannot be the basic cause of death in severely traumatized patients. It is of utmost importance to control the toxic effect of tissue breakdown products before the vicious cycle of depressed immunological function and malnutrition ensues. A method of neutralizing the toxic effects of thermal injury by competition is described. Competitin is an "antitoxin" produced in vitro from "toxin(s)" isolated from burned human skin. Competitins to other toxin(s) have been produced and it is postulated that competitins may also be produced from the breakdown products of all forms of injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Cancer precursors and their control by stimulation of the immune system.

BCG vaccination at birth according to our studies and those from Montreal, Austria, and Israel, lowers the mortality from leukemia and, in my studies, to all forms of cancer followed over a period of 20 years. It has been proposed by several studies that the lymphoreticulo-endothelial system detects and destroys neoantigens such as would be the case in remnant embryonic antigens. It follows that stimulation of the immune system would be desirable at birth to augment the removal of such neoantigens. There are numerous vaccines which stimulate the immune system, and BCG is among the foremost. I propose, therefore, that the mechanism of cancer mortality reduction in those BCG vaccinated at birth was at least in part due to the detection and destruction of embryonic cells or components thereof. To prove this theory, I recommend: Retrospective studies be done in those BCG vaccinated at birth and those not vaccinated for the incidence of cancer and leukemia over the years. Test cells, sera, and urine of those BCG vaccinated and non-vaccinated for the presence of embryonic antigens or antibodies. BCG vaccinated individuals should have lower titers of fetal antigens or antibodies than the non-vaccinated. Examine the organs on post mortem of BCG vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals who died from trauma for the presence of fetal antigens or antibodies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Growth failure and inflammatory bowel disease: approach to treatment of a complicated adolescent problem.

Severe retardation of linear growth occurs in a minority of children with Crohn's disease. It appears to be associated with increased disease activity and decreased caloric intake. Why some children are affected and others are not is unknown, but some degree of growth retardation is probably more prevalent than is generally appreciated. The use of somatomedin-C levels may be of some future value in predicting which children will be affected. Growth failure is often difficult to treat and requires vigorous medical and nutritional support. No current treatment is without attendant problems. Proper and frequent assessment of growth and development will help ensure intervention while growth potential still exists in these children. Large cooperative studies are needed to compare the effects of various treatment plans on the growth velocity and ultimate stature of children with Crohn's disease-related growth retardation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Burn toxin and its competitin.

A "toxic factor' has been isolated and purified from scalded normal human skin; it is lethal to mice and toxic to HeLa and HEP2 cell lines in tissue culture. The toxic factor in both crude and purified form is antigenic in rabbits, producing an antisera that neutralizes the in vivo and in vitro effects of "burn toxin', similar to that of the convalescent sera of burned human subjects. The sonicate of the toxic glycoprotein named competitin is relatively non-lethal and protects against the lethal effect of the toxic factor. The action of the purified burn toxic factor and its competitin is at the ATP site of actomyosin preparations. The data presented suggests that the purified burn toxic factor and its competitin compete for the same receptor sites in the myocardium. A thesis is presented that states that it is vital to neutralize the toxic effects of burn breakdown tissue products in severely burned subjects before the vicious cycle of depressed immunological function and malnutrition ensues. Competitin produced in vitro from toxic factor(s) generated scalded normal human skin is offered as a means of neutralizing the toxic factors(s).

Actomyosin↗
PubMed1975

BCG in cancer and leukemia treatment and prophylaxis-A review.

Five international oncology meetings crystallized the concept that the immune system plays a dominant role in the prevention and inhibition of neoplasia; that the cancer antigens are relatively weak, therefore eliminating weak or uneffective cellular immunity which is paramount in tumor rejection; that humoral antibodies against neoplastic antigens may block the cytotoxic action of T cells against the tumor cells. A number of agents have been found capable of stimulating the immune system (T-cell activation) but from a clinical standpoint BCG had had the widest application in a variety of tumors and leukemia. Thus the emphasis in this review will be on BCG.

Antibody Formation↗