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Biomedical subjects

A Levin

Publications and source records attributed to A Levin.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The analysis of a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutation influencing the expression of heat shock-inducible genes in Drosophila melanogaster.

The effect of a ts-mutation belonging to the cell-lethal type on protein and RNA synthesis under heat shock conditions has been investigated. The mutation studied, l(l)ts-403, localized in the X-chromosome has significant effect on the kinetics of protein synthesis in salivary gland subjected to heat treatment under in vivo and in vitro conditions. The animals homozygous for l(l)ts-403 are characterized by a rapid drop of label incorporation into heat shock proteins. It is shown that the mutation affects not only the kinetics of heat-shock proteins synthesis but their electrophoretic pattern as well. The experiments performed enable us to conclude that the presumptive regulatory gene realized its action at the level of transcription of heat shock loci.

Animals

Modern psychiatry in a general hospital.

An analysis of 3526 patients referred to the psychiatric unit of a general hospital from 1 January 1975 to 31 December 1977 is presented. The method of classification used was that of the revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association and the 8th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. A striking feature of this survey was the low prevalence of schizophrenia (9,8%). A noticeable trend was that more patients seemed to have less incapacitating psychiatric conditions. An exciting new facet of psychiatry is the increasing number of patients without apparent psychiatric illness who are referred to the unit. These include patients referred by colleagues for preliminary screening before organ transplantation, sex change operations, cosmetic surgery, sterilization and termination of pregnancy. Recommendations are made with regard to the role of psychiatric units in general hospitals.

Humans

Heat-shock DNA homology in distantly related species of Drosophila.

Polytene chromosomes of D. melanogaster and D. virilis were hybridized in situ with 125I labeled mRNA isolated from polysomes of D. melanogaster tissue culture cells incubated at 37 degrees C. 125I mRNA hybridized preferentially with subdivisions 87A and 87Cl of the D. melanogaster 3R chromosome; grains were also observed at regions 93D, 95D and over the chromocenter. A considerable cross hybridization of this mRNA with D. virilis polytene chromosomes was observed. The 29C region of the D. virilis second chromosome was the main site of hybridization. Significant grain numbers also appeared in region 20F of the same chromosome. The two regions mentioned belong to heat shock loci in the latter species. Based on label intensity we conclude that region 29C of D. virilis contains DNA sequences retaining molecular homology with those at subdivisions 87A and 87Cl of D. melanogaster. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed similar distributions of heat shock proteins in the two species studied.

Animals

The use of chlorazepate for premedication on the night before surgery.

Chlorazepate, a long-acting benzodiazepine, allayed anxiety before operation, being superior to placebo in a double-blind study in which the drug was given the night before surgery. Long-term relief of apprehension before surgery by the administration of chlorazepate, combined with a narcotic analgesic when indicated, is advocated.

Adult

Surgical restraint in the management of hepatic injury: a review of Charity Hospital Experience.

We have reviewed 546 cases of hepatic trauma treated from 1964 through 1976: 76 patients with blunt injury, 308 with gunshot wounds, and 162 with stab wounds. Hypovolemic shock was present in 22%. The overall mortality was 10%. Stab wounds had a negligible mortality of 0.6%, whereas 12% of patients with gunshots and 28% of patients with blunt trauma died. Management followed the general principles of control of hemorrhage and conservative debridement with avoidance of major procedures. Eighty-four per cent of patients required only drainage or suture and drainage. Only 8% had extensive debridement. An additional 5% (31 patients) underwent hepatic lobectomy. Hepatic artery ligation, as an isolated procedure, was not employed. Common bile duct cannulation was employed only six times. Mortality among patients treated by suture or drainage was 5.4%. When resection was required, a 52% mortality resulted. We conclude that the principles of conservative surgical treatment can give a satisfactory survival rate in most hepatic trauma.

Adolescent

Cannabis-related acute brain syndrome following major trauma.

An acute brain syndrome in a cannabis-dependent patient, who sustained multiple injuries, is described. Points of difference between this syndrome and delirium tremens are discussed. Recommendations are made regarding the treatment of this complication, which may follow multiple injuries or operative procedures.

Acute Disease

Alpha-Fetoprotein levels in normal males from seven ethnic groups with different hepatocellular carcinoma risks.

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) levels of 1,335 males (15 years and older) of seven ethnic groups (Chinese, Indians, and Malays from Singapore, Caucasians from Lyon, and Blacks from Nairobi, forest, and the savanna region of the Ivory Coast) were determined by radioimmunoassay. A few elevated levels (up to 30 nanounits/ml) were detected in some normal individuals, especially in the older age-groups. In addition, there was a systematic age-dependency of AFP levels particularly evident in the groups from Singapore-Lyon, in which there was a 50% AFP increase between the ages of 20 and 40. Comparison between Africans on the one hand and people from Singapore-Lyon on the other hand revealed highly significant differences (p less than 0.001), especially in the younger groups, whereas Chinese, Malays, and Indians from Singapore had very similar AFP pattern; this suggests an important role for environmental factors in the regulation of AFP levels. The age dependency of the presumed effect of environmental factors is in keeping with experimental data showing that young animals respond more vigorously to AFP-stimulating factors. Although the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) differs in the three Singapore groups (the highest in Chinese and the lowest in Indians), no relationship was observed in this study between mean AFP level and HCC incidence in Singapore.

Adult

Glomerular antigen complexes associated with transitional cell carcinoma.

An immunofluorescent pattern consistent with glomerular complexes of tumor antigen bound to IgM antibody has been observed in a patient without clinical or pathologic evidence of renal disease. The findings support the thesis that tumors may shed antigen capable of eliciting an immune response which may or may not be associated with clinically evident glomerulopathy.

Aged

Evidence of HTLV-I infection in Singapore prostitutes.

Sera obtained in 1987 from 63 male and 632 female Singapore prostitutes were screened for antibody to human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV)-I with a particle agglutination test. Of the 3 males and 4 females who were positive one had antibody to HTLV-I core and envelope antigen on Western Blot. Two subjects had presumptive antibody to HTLV-I core antigen and a third subject had such antibody on a repeat specimen in 1989. These sera were negative for HIV-1 antibody. There is evidence of infection with HTLV-I or a variant virus in this population. The infection is likely to have been sexually transmitted.

Adult

Simultaneous surgery for bilateral congenital cataracts.

In about one third of patients congenital cataracts are bilateral. If the cataracts are dense, and the patient an infant, bilateral simultaneous cataract removal reduces anesthetic risk, hospital stay, and cost and allows earlier optical correction. This study represents a retrospective survey of 32 eyes (16 cases) with simultaneous surgery for bilateral congenital cataracts. Bilateral simultaneous surgery can be performed to avoid a second general anesthesia in infants who have bilateral dense congenital cataracts.

Anesthetics