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Biomedical subjects

S Shulman

Publications and source records attributed to S Shulman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A study of the detection of sperm antibody in cervical mucus with a modified immunobead method.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a new immunobead binding test (IBT) procedure that will detect sperm antibody in cervical mucus (CM), especially in very small samples of mucus. DESIGN: After the interaction of donor sperm with bromelin-dissolved CM, the motile sperm cells were separated from other cells and debris and then tested with a standard immunobead method. SETTING: The CM and serum samples were obtained from a sequence of referred patients who were sent to this testing laboratory. PATIENTS: There were 60 women who provided 64 samples of CM and 41 samples of blood serum. They were partners in infertile couples. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A useful distinction was made between positive and negative results for the mucus samples by this CM-IBT procedure. The usable samples of mucus could be as little as 0.05 g (wet weight). RESULTS: From the 60 women, seven mucus samples were positive; in the repeated testing, the same results were obtained with five of the six positive samples and seven of seven negative samples. CONCLUSION: This method (CM-IBT) can be clinically useful for detecting sperm antibody in CM, especially because it is effective for tiny samples. In this method, the motile sperm cells are better separated from the debris after the incubation step. When the IBT was applied to the serum samples from the same women, there was no correlation between serum-IBT and CM-IBT, showing that both materials must be tested.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1991

The relationship between female sexual practices and the development of antisperm antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if female sexual practices are associated with the development of antisperm antibodies. DESIGN: Anonymous questionnaire. SETTING: Tertiary care; private practice. PATIENTS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients undergoing antisperm antibody testing; 32 responded. INTERVENTIONS: Cervical mucus and serum obtained at midcycle. MAIN OUTCOME: Female sexual practices were found not to be related to the development of antisperm antibodies. RESULTS: The percent (44.4) of women with antisperm antibodies who practice anal intercourse was not different from the percent (35.7) without these antibodies who engage in the same practice, and the percent (94.4) of women with antisperm antibodies who practice oral intercourse was not different from the percent (92.8) without these antibodies who engage in this practice. CONCLUSION: Female sexual practices do not appear to be related to the development of antisperm antibodies.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Failure to confirm the presence of a retrovirus in cultured lymphocytes from patients with Kawasaki syndrome.

We and others previously reported DNA polymerase activity in culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute Kawasaki syndrome (KS). In the present study, we further characterized the previously detected polymerase activity and attempted to confirm its presence in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from additional patients with KS. Characterization experiments indicated that the polymerase activity was typical of a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase rather than viral reverse transcriptase. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from 17 additional KS patients were negative for reverse transcriptase activity in three laboratories. Our findings do not provide support for a retroviral etiology of KS. Further studies should continue to focus on infectious agents in efforts to elucidate the etiology of KS.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1991

Children with phenylketonuria: the interface of family and child functioning.

Functioning and coping of 43 families with children with phenylketonuria (PKU) was investigated. A significant positive correlation was found among perceived family cohesion, dietary adherence associated with metabolic control, and child IQ. Parental education also significantly related to dietary adherence and to higher IQ level in the child. In addition, paternal perception of family adaptability was related to the child's IQ. Child depression as perceived by the parents was related to family functioning and coping variables. Functioning of PKU families is discussed in relation to current theories of family functioning under stress.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Growth delay in homeless children.

This study compared the growth of homeless children with National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) standards and with growth of age-matched domiciled children of similar income level. Homeless children (n = 167) had lower height percentiles when compared with domiciled children (n = 167; P less than .001) and when compared with NCHS standards (P less than .001). The weight-height percentiles of homeless children did not differ from NCHS standards; however, domiciled children had higher weight-heights when compared with the homeless (P less than .001) and with NCHS standards (P less than .001). After controlling via regression analysis for the effects of potentially confounding factors that affect growth, it was found that homeless children from larger families and with single mothers accounted for the lower height percentiles observed. After controlling for confounding factors, domiciled children still had increased weight-height percentiles when compared with the homeless group. Duration of homelessness was not associated with decreased height or weight-height among homeless children. Homeless children in this study exhibited a pattern of stunting without wasting which is characteristic of poor children experiencing moderate, chronic nutritional stress. They exhibited a greater degree of nutritional stress than domiciled children at a similar income level and than that reported in other groups of poor children in the United States. Preexisting social factors in the families of homeless children were important in explaining the observed growth abnormalities. Further exploration of the associations between social characteristics of homeless children and their families and the growth of these children is warranted.

Body Height↗