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Biomedical subjects

A S Levin

Publications and source records attributed to A S Levin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

An outbreak of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease in a renal transplant unit in São Paulo, Brazil. Legionellosis Study Team.

From June 1989 to March 1990 there were eight cases of Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in a renal transplant unit. There were seven cases of pneumonia and one case of pleural effusion. A study was conducted to identify the source of the outbreak. Legionella anisa was cultured from tap water. Twenty-seven staff members of the unit were serologically tested and antibody titres were positive in two. The probable source of infection was the potable water system. Control measures were hyperchlorination and heating of the water, after which there were no further cases during 5 months' follow up. We believe this is the first reported Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Latin America.

Brazil↗
PubMed1990

A phase I/II study of trichosanthin treatment of HIV disease.

Trichosanthin, a ribosomal inhibitor protein, blocks HIV replication in lymphocytes and macrophages. This agent was used to treat 51 patients with advanced HIV disease in a dose-escalation study in which three injections were administered over a 9-21-day period in a dose range of 10-30 micrograms/kg per injection. The maximum tolerated dose was estimated to be 30 micrograms/kg. Reversible but severe fatigue and myalgias were the major dose-limiting side-effects; mild leucocytosis and elevations in serum transaminases were noted and were reversible. Non-dose-related reversible mental status changes were seen in six patients and were considered to be associated with the drug. This was usually manifest as dementia, but progressed to coma in two patients. This reversed, but the sequelae resulted in death in one patient. Decreases in serum p24 antigen levels were noted 1 month after the first infusion in 10 of 18 patients who entered the study with elevated levels; one converted to negative. Values usually remained low to the end of the study period (2 months). In those patients with CD4+ cell levels greater than 50 x 10(6) cells/l significant decreases in sedimentation rate and increases in CD4+ cell numbers were also noted. These changes were found at all dose levels but only in patients receiving three infusions.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Association between clinical symptoms and lymphocyte abnormalities in a population with chronic domestic exposure to industrial solvent-contaminated domestic water supply and a high incidence of leukaemia.

An unusually high incidence of leukaemia and recurrent infections was noted in children exposed in utero to domestic water supply contaminated with industrial solvents including trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and 1,2-transdichloroethylene. Medical and laboratory investigations were carried out on 28 family members of the patients with leukaemia with particular emphasis on the immunological system to determine if they displayed symptoms associated with acute or chronic exposure to these chlorinated hydrocarbons. The principal organ systems affected were neurological, immunological and cardiological. Damage to these systems was found in all subjects by history, physical and laboratory parameters. Damage to the immunological system was manifest by altered ratios of T lymphocyte subpopulations, increased incidence of auto-antibodies, increased infections and recurrent rashes.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Information value of right precordial ECG leads in the diagnosis of right ventricular myocardial infarct].

An analysis of the right ECG precordial leads in 61 patients with left ventricular posteroinferior myocardial infarction and in 55 patients with combined affection of the right and left ventricular posteroinferior walls revealed a high informative value of ST segment elevation for recognition of right ventricular myocardial infarction on the 1st day. Further on the formation of the QS complex in V3R-5R leads was of certain value. Combined assessment of ST segment elevation and the QS formation in the right precordial leads significantly increased diagnostic potentialities in the detection of right ventricular myocardial infarction.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1987

"Toxic torts".

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

Copper metabolism in American retinitis pigmentosa patients.

Serum copper, serum caeruloplasmin, and urinary copper excretion were measured in 38 American patients (and 15 family members) with recessive, dominant, and X-linked forms of retinitis pigmentosa. No abnormalities were found, in contrast to the findings of a recent study on Indian patients. Our data argue against a role for copper metabolism in ordinary retinitis pigmentosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Copper and zinc levels in serum from human patients with sarcomas.

Serum copper levels (SCL) and serum zinc levels (SZL) were evaluated in 19 patients with sarcomas, 12 of which were osteosarcomas at various stages. Patients with primary or metastatic osteosarcoma had elevated SCL, whereas amputated osteosarcoma patients who were clinically tumor-free had nearly normal SCL. Patients with primary osteosarcoma had elevated SZL, those with metastases had depressed zinc levels, and amputated patients who were clinically tumor-free and nearly normal SZL. Thus, the ratio of SCL:SZL in metastatic osteosarcoma patients is higher than in patients with primary osteosarcoma. SCL and SZL are compared to clinical histories for selected patients. Patients with the more advanced disease and poorest prognoses had the most elevated SCL and highest SCL:SZL ratios. It appears that the determination of SCL and SZL in osteosarcoma patients may be of value in prognosis and therapy evaluation; furthermore, the ratio of SCL:SZL may be useful in discriminating between patients with primary and metastatic osteosarcoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Circadian rhythm of stimulated lymphocyte blastogenesis. A 24 hour cycle in the mixed leukocyte culture reaction and with SKSD stimulation.

The in vitro measurement of stimulated T lymphocyte blastogenesis by the incorporation of 14C-thymidine can be shown to be an acceptable and precise measurement with highly significant variations in blastogenesis over a 24 hr period. This circadian rhythm for human T lymphocyte blastogenesis has been demonstrated with specific antigen (SKSD) and in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC). The hours of peak reactivity were different for the SKSD stimulation and the MLC reaction. This biologic cycle in T cell reactivity has significant implications for the immunologic response.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Standardization of tissue culture conditions for spontaneous thymidine-2-14C incorporation by unstimulated normal human peripheral lymphocytes: circadian rhythm of DNA synthesis.

The rate of DNA synthesis by human lymphocytes was studied in vitro by measuring unstimulated thymidine-2-14C incorporation (spontaneous lymphocyte blastogenesis; SLB). Freezing lymphocytes and extracting DNA after thawing did not alter the radioactive label count rate and was as efficient as extracting DNA immediately after culture. Omission of fetal calf serum also did not alter the rate of DNA synthesis. Standards established as optimal for studies of SLB were: cell concentration, 1.0 times 10(6)/ml/tube; 14C-TdR concentration, 0.4 mjCi/tube; duration of incubation, 8 hr. In sets of identical samples obtained by specimen division, the variation in counts was 6%. To achieve reproducibility of results; it was essential to count the lymphocytes, and then to ensure that each tube contained almost precisely known numbers of cells. Diurnal variations in the rate of DNA synthesis by circulating lymphocytes of healthy men were measured in vitro by SLB at 2-hr intervals for 24 hr. Leukocyte counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin, plasma cortisol, and body temperature were monitored concurrently. The DNA synthesis rate varied in a 24-hr cycle with peaks at 10 A.M. and 11:00 P.M.., depressions at 4 A.M. and 4 P.M. The rate was correlated with body temperature and hematocrit level, and inversely related to the absolute eosinophil count.

Adult↗