Showing papers by "Jewish Hospital published in 1977"

Low incidence of estrogen receptor in breast carcinomas with rapid rates of cellular replication.

Abstract: The results of assay for estrogen receptor (ER) in the tumor cytosol and thymidine labeling indices (TLI) of 63 primary invasive carcinomas of the breast were analyzed. The ER assay was performed by using dextran-charcoal to adsorb unbound tritiated estradiol-17beta (E2) in cytosol. The TLI was measured as the number per hundred of neoplastic cell nuclei labeled by tritiated thymidine. A significant association between low TLI and presence of ER was found. Wereas all 19 tumors with TLI less than 2.5 contained ER in the primary lesion or in axillary metastases and ER was found in 25 of 30 tumors with TLI between 2.5 and 10, only 4 of 14 tumors with TLI greater 10 contained ER (p less than 0.001). TLI and saturable binding of E2 were significantly negatively correlated (r=-0.436,P. less than 0.001). It is concluded that dedifferentiation in breast carcinomas is associated with both high TLI and absence of ER, and suggested that the carcinomas with the most rapid proliferative rates will include the highest proportion of tumors unresponsive to hormonal therapy.

Panic-fear in asthma: Requests for as-needed medications in relation to pulmonary function measurements

Abstract: Requests for as-needed medications and treatments (PRNs) by asthmatic patients scoring high, moderate, or low on the Asthma Symptom Checklist panic-fear category were studied for days when patients were matched at normal, intermediate, and subnormal levels of pulmonary function. Low panic-fear patients were the least likely to request PRNs regardless of the pulmonary function level. In contrast, high panic-fear patients often requested PRNs at each level of pulmonary function. Only moderate panic-fear patients made progressively more PRN requests on days when pulmonary functions were lower. These observations and others concerning the adverse influence of extreme panic-fear coping styles upon the treatment of asthma were discussed.

Pharmacokinetics of coumarin and its 7-hydroxy-metabolites upon intravenous and peroral administration of coumarin in man.

Abstract: The pharmacokinetics of coumarin (C) upon i.v. and p.o. administration and its metabolites 7-hydroxy-coumarin (7-HC) and 7-hydroxy-coumarin glucuronide (7-HCG) have been studied. Six healthy volunteers were involved in this investigation. Four of the volunteers participated in a crossover study. Coumarin was administered i.v. and p.o. in dose sizes of 0.25 mg/kg and 0.857 mg/kg, respectively. Coumarin is rapidly absorbed p.o., however the availability to systemic circulation is less than 4%. The rest of the dose appears quantitatively as 7-HC and 7-HCG in systemic circulation suggesting an extensive firstpass effect. Coumarin and 7-HCG are best fitted to an open two-compartment model, whereas 7-HC is best fitted to an open one-compartment model. The biological half-life of both C (0.80 vs. 1.02 h) and 7-HCG (1.47 vs. 1.15 h) was not significantly different for the two routes of administration. The large total clearance of C again suggests a first-pass effect; while that of 7-HCG, which is nearly exclusively eliminated into urine, indicates active tubular secretion of the glucuronide.

Panic-fear: a personality dimension related to length of hospitalization in respiratory illness.

Abstract: In a prior study,1 development of a 15-item Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Panic-Fear scale was described which relates to the reported frequency of Panic-Fear symptoms (e.g., feeling scared, panicky, worried, and frightened) on the Asthma Symptom Checklist (ASC). High MMPI Panic-Fear scale scores describe fearful, highly emotional individuals who profess to have their feelings hurt more easily than others, to feel helpless and to give up easily in the face of difficulty. High-scoring asthmatic patients were found to have been prescribed more intensive oral corticosteroid regimens at the time of discharge from a residential treatment facility months after testing. This relationship was not attributable to differences in pulmonary function.In the present study, the results of the earlier research were expanded in several ways. First, the MMPI Panic-Fear scale was found to be related to an aspect of medical intractability, i.e., length of hospitalization, in two chronic respiratory illne...

Central nervous system involvement in sle

Abstract: The clinical course and diagnostic profile of 13 patients with central nervous system involvement and systemic lupus erythematosus (CNS-SLE) are presented. The diagnostic yield for each procedure was measured as the percent abnormal: CSF total protein was 38%; increased CSF IgG 69%; decreased CSF hemolytic C4 10%; increased CSF anti-DNA 64%; electroencephalogram 80%; flow brain scan 50%; and static brain scan 0%. No single procedure was consistently abnormal, but the battery of tests provided a useful and specific CNS-SLE diagnostic profile.

Clinical value of bronchial provocation testing in childhood asthma

Abstract: Previous studies have shown a positive relationship between the results of skin tests, radioallergosorbent tests, and bronchial provocation testing The purpose of this study was to compare the results of skin and bronchial provocation testing to determine the extent to which the results of provocation testing could be predicted from puncture and intracutaneous skin tests In the 1,596 provocation tests performed in 276 patients, more than 90% of patients with a wheal greater than or equal to 5 mm in diameter on skin testing by puncture technique using 1:20 wv allergen extract experienced positive reactions on provocation testing for most antigens If the wheal produced by puncture testing was less than 5 mm in diameter, a large wheal on intracutaneous testing only slightly increased the likelihood of a positive challenge, but if the wheal on intracutaneous testing was less than 5 mm, a positive challenge did not occur It is concluded that the results of provocation tests may often be predicted from simple skin testing, and that in clinical use, provocation testing is likely to be useful primarily in patients for whom skin testing indicates moderate sensitization to allergens

The binding of carbon monoxide to cytochrome c oxidase.

Abstract: The effect of CO on the optical absorbance spectrum of partially reduced cytochrome c oxidase has been studied. The changes at 432 and 590 nm suggest that the cytochrome α2+3. CO compound is formed preferentially and that concomitantly a second electron is taken up by the enzyme. From the CO-induced changes at 830 nm it is concluded that in the partially reduced enzyme addition of CO causes reoxidation of the copper component of cytochrome c oxidase. Addition of CO to partially reduced enzyme (2 electrons per 4 metal ions) also brings about a decrease in the intensities of electron paramagnetic resonance signals of high-spin heme iron near g= 6 and of the low-spin heme at g= 2.6. Concomitantly both the low-spin heme a signal at g= 3 and the copper signal at g= 2 increase in intensity. These results demonstrate that formation of the reduced diamagnetic cytochrome a3· CO compound is accompanied by reoxidation of both the copper component detectable by electron paramagnetic resonance and possibly also by cytochrome a.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia with syncope.

Abstract: Thirty-two cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia complicated by syncope, cardiac arrhythmias or convulsions, singly or together, have been reported in the world literature. A further case is described and the clinical features of these thirty-three are reviewed. It is recommended that treatment should be undertaken as a matter of urgency. In the first place, Carbamezapine, with often the addition of Atropine, may prove effective. However, surgical intervention appears to give a better chance of permanent relief. Four alternative methods of surgery are discussed and the cervical or the intracranial approach recommended. Surgery should not be delayed in patients who fail to respond to medical treatment or in whom recurrence of symptoms occurs.

Evolution of the lymphoid system II. Evidence for immunoglobulin determinants on all rainbow trout lymphocytes and demonstration of mixed leukocyte reaction

Abstract: Indirect fluorescent antibody analyses utilizing antiserum specific for rainbow trout serum immunoglobulin (Ig) demonstrated that essentially all rainbow trout lymphocytes from thymus, spleen, anterior kidney and peripheral blood possess either Ig determinants or structures which cross-react with those determinants found on serum Ig. Peripheral blood leukocytes from rainbow trout were found to be caple of participating in a mixed leukocyte reaction. This observation is discussed in terms of the evolution of T cell function.

Leukocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate in asthmatic children Effects of adrenergic therapy

Abstract: Blood specimens for measurement of leukocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) were obtained at weekly intervals from asthmatic children who were participating in a double-blind, crossover study to compare the effects of two adrenergic agents and a placebo. When patients were treated with the placebo, the basal measurements and the cyclic AMP responses of leukocytes to in vitro stimulation with epinephrine (10(-4) M) were similar to those of normal subjects but within one week after initiation of treatment with an adrenergic bronchodilator, leukocyte cyclic AMP responses to adrenergic stimulation in vitro decreased and remained low during the remainder of the treatment period. Within one week after discontinuation of adrenergic therapy, leukocyte cyclic AMP responses returned to the control level. Our results indicate that the alterations in leukocyte cyclic AMP metabolism which have been observed previously in asthmatic patients may result from medications used for treatment of asthma.

Granulocytic sarcoma of the brain.

Abstract: An unusual case of granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) of the parenchyma of the brain occurring in a patient with acute myelocytic leukemia in remission is described and the literature reviewed. The patient presented with an intracranial mass without clinical evidence of meningeal involvement. The value of 99mTc scan in CNS leukemia is shown.

Panic-Fear in asthma: Generalized personality trait vs. specific situational state

Abstract: Previous studies have found that both ASC and MMPI Panic-Fear scale scores are related to the maintenance of the medical intractability of asthma. Despite the large overlap of these two scales, they measure somewhat different aspects of "Panic-Fear". The ASC measures a situational response (state variable) to breathing difficulties, while the MMPI measures a more stable, diffuse, and global personality characteristic (trait variable). The present study analyzes the relationship between these state and trait variables as they relate to the intensity of prescribed discharge medication. The results indicate that it is the trait variable which is more important in the maintenance of the medical intractability of asthma. The state variable is implicated in maintaining the illness only to the extent that it is a specific manifestation of the trait variable.

Preprototype of an automated microbial detection and identification system: a developmental investigation.

Abstract: The AutoMicrobic System is an automated, computerized instrument that uses highly selective media and an optical system for detection, enumeration, and identification of bacteria and some yeasts in 13 h. A preprototype instrument (AutoMicrobic System-1) and its urine culture kit (Identi-Pak), developed for the detection, enumeration, and identification of eight species or groups of bacteria and of Candida species and Torulopsis glabrata in urine specimens, was evaluated during its development. An overall agreement of approximately 90% between the preprototype instrument and conventional (manual) culture methods has been obtained both with 1,473 seeded (simulated) and 1,688 clinical (mono- or polymicrobial) specimens containing 70,000 (or more) colony-forming units per ml of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella-Enterobacter species, Proteus species, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia species, group D enterococci, or yeasts (Candida species and T. glabrata). Lower agreements in identification were obtained with Pseudomonas aeruginosa-containing (average of 75% in clinical specimens) and Staphylococcus aureus-containing (76%) specimens. Comparison of specimens tested simultaneously in two preprototype systems resulted in ⋜4% disagreement; true negativity agreements in all specimen groups tested were at least 94%. Among problems remaining are adaptation of system for specimens other than urine, improvement of sensitivity for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, and standardization of manual methods used for comparison and validation.

Dose-response effects of albuterol aerosol compared with isoproterenol and placebo aerosols: response to albuterol, isoproterenol, and placebo aerosols.

Abstract: Albuterol aerosol was an effective bronchodilator as reflected by indices of pulmonary function obtained from spirometry and flow volume curves; Compared with isoproterenol, there were minimal side effects even at the highest doses, and bronchodilation lasted significantly longer. In addition albuterol was successfully used by a patient with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis who was unable to tolerate isoproterenol, as well as by some patients with idiosyncratic responses to isoproterenol; A few patients appeared to derive little benefit from either albuterol or isoproterenol.

H-Y Antigen: Expression in Human Subjects with the Testicular Feminization Syndrome

Abstract: Androgen-insensitive subjects with a 46,XY karotype develop as phenotypic females despite presence of testes. The white blood cells of these females type H-Y antigen-positive indicate that expression of the H-Y cell surface component is androgen-independent.

Assessing bronchodilator responsiveness.

Abstract: This report concerns the difficulty in distinguishing variation due to drug effects from the spontaneous daily variation in baseline levels of pulmonary function in the evaluation of bronchodilator responsiveness in asthmatic children. Both prospective and retrospective studies were employed to assess the importance of the influence of the baseline level of function from which change is measured on the degree of responsiveness observed. It was found that for baseline levels up to approximately 90% of the predicted normal value, all patients had the capacity to respond significantly to a bronchodilator. However, there was no limit of baseline function below which a significant response did not occur.

Karyotyping of bone-marrow cells in hematologic diseases.

Abstract: Cultures of bone-marrow cells incubated for 5 h at 4 degrees had cells in metaphase with elongated chromosomes which were easily Giemsa banded. Colcemid was not necessary for metaphase arrest at this temperature. This technique made possible routine karyotyping of patients with leukemia and other hematological diseases in which the detection of aberrations was otherwise difficult.

Size variation polymorphisms of the short arm of human acrocentric chrosomes determined by R-banding by fluorescence using acridine orange (RFA).

Abstract: One hundred normal Caucasians were studied by the RFA technique to estimate the frequencies of size variation of the short arm of acrocentric chromosomes. Each size variation was classified into one of five levels. The most frequent size level(code) was 3; therefore, this was regarded as the 'average' size. If one excludes the average size, the frequencies of size variation by RFA for chromosome 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22 were 22.5, 19.5, 14.5, 19, and 17% respectively. There was no significant difference for the overall frequencies of size variation between sexes. Furthermore, the RFA technique detects more variation in the size of human acrocentric chromosomes than any other method.

Thymidine labeling index of human breast carcinoma. Enhancement of in vitro labeling by 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine.

Abstract: Inhibitors of thymidylate synthetase, 5-fluoro-2′ -deoxyuridine (FUDR) and 5-fluorouracil (FU), enhanced in vitro thymidine labeling of human breast carcinoma cells. Their use resulted in an increase in the measured thymidine labeling index (TLI) of breast carcinomas by increasing detectability of labeled nuclei in autoradiographs. The TLI was measured with FU or FUDR enhancement in primary breast carcinomas from nine women younger than age 50, and from 30 women 50 years or older. The mean and geometric mean TLI were 8.0 and 6.3 respectively for the younger group, and 4.0 and 2.8 respectively for the older group. Similar significant age-associated differences were noted in a series of 133 TLI measurements without FU or FUDR. The TLI was not significantly correlated with primary breast carcinoma size or number of axillary nodal metastases. The capacity to form axillary metastases must be related to factors other than the rate of cell replication in breast carcinomas.

Re-examination of F plasmid replication in a dnaC mutant of Escherichia coli.

Abstract: The replication of an F′ plasmid in a dnaC mutant, thermolabile for initiation of chromosomal replication, has been re-examined using a novel DNA-DNA annealing assay. Plasmid replication ceases rapidly at non-permissive conditions, consistent with a direct role for the dnaC product in the replication of F.

Radioimmunoassay of some hormones simultaneously measured in serum and breast cyst fluid

Abstract: Blood and breast cyst fluid were drawn simultaneously for hormonal determination. There was no difference between serum and cyst fluid values of PRL and TSH. A significant difference was noted for LH (p<0.01) and FSH (p<0.05), serum concentrations being higher than cyst fluid concentrations.