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Biomedical subjects

J Brenner

Publications and source records attributed to J Brenner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The riddle of the uvula.

Since ancient times, the uvula has been a subject of interesting and contradictory observations. On the one hand, it was regarded as having a functional role in speech and in immunology, but on the other hand it was regarded as a potentially hazardous organ, possibly responsible for sudden infant death syndrome. None of these hypotheses, however, has been proved. In a previous study on patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, we suggested that the most important function of the uvula is connected with the muscularis uvula. Its function could be related to drinking while bending over. This previous assumption was that the uvula is a phylogenetic remnant from mammals that drink while bending their neck downward. In the present study, the soft palate of eight different mammals was macroscopically and microscopically studied and compared. Of all animals in the study, a small underdeveloped uvula was found only in two baboons. We found that the human uvula consists of an intermix of serous and seromucous glandular masses, muscular tissue, and large excretory canals. The serous and seromucous glands are absent in the other mammals. Thus, the uvula is a highly sophisticated structure, capable of producing a large quantity of fluid saliva that can be excreted in a short time. Both uvula and speech serve to differentiate human beings from animals. Our conclusion is that the uvula is possibly an accessory organ of speech, and may be another marker of human evolution that differentiates man from other mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The fat content of milk from dairy cattle infected with bovine leukosis virus.

Two groups of cows infected with the bovine leukosis virus (BLV) were kept on two different diets and the fat content of their milk was assayed. The results were compared with those obtained from two comparable groups of BLV-free cows. The cows in each group were of similar ages, those in the groups on the poorer diet being 1-4 months post partum, while those on the richer diet were 5-7 months post partum. The mean percentage of fat in the milk from uninfected cows on the poorer diet was 2.94 while that from the similar infected cattle was 3.06. Uninfected cows on the richer diet produced milk containing 3.39% fat, while those that were infected produced milk containing 3.30% fat. No statistical differences in milk fat production were observed between the BLV seropositive and seronegative cows.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of two novel inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus protease on the maturation of the HIV gag and gag-pol polyproteins.

The ability of two novel synthetic compounds to inhibit the HIV protease-mediated processing of HIV-1 precursor polyproteins was investigated in an in vitro gag-protease mixed lysate assay system and in an assay using recombinant baculoviruses engineered to express the HIV-1 gag and pol genes in cultured insect cells. With the in vitro mixed lysate assay we have shown that both compounds at 1 microM can completely inhibit the HIV-1 and HIV-2 protease-mediated release of p24 from the HIV-1 gag precursor at pH 5.5 and pH 7.0. In the intracellular baculovirus system these compounds were shown to inhibit the protease-mediated maturation of gag and also the excision of the protease moiety from its precursor.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Use of milk samples and monoclonal antibodies directed against BLV-p24 to identify cattle infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV).

An indirect double-antibody sandwich (IDAS) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using milk samples was developed to identify cows infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV). Two monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) were used. One, which was directed against BLV core protein p24, was used to coat ELISA plates; the other was used to prepare a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugate directed against bovine immunoglobulin. The IDAS-ELISA detected antibodies directed against BLV-p24 in 97% of the milk samples collected from known seropositive cows identified by the agar gel precipitation test (AGTP). Even when milk samples were diluted 1:50, 93% of the seropositive cows were identified. Only 0.43% of the 4000 milk samples collected in The Netherlands reacted nonspecifically. Nonspecific binding disappeared, however, when these samples were diluted 50 times in BLV-negative milk. In a comparative evaluation of BLV test-kits in various European laboratories, our IDAS-ELISA using McAb directed against p24 was one of the most sensitive.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The implication of BLV infection in the productivity, reproductive capacity and survival rate of a dairy cow.

The objective of the present study was to find out whether BLV infection, known to cause immunodisturbances in cows, might also bring about decreased productivity, reproductive rate and a shorter life span. More than 100 pairs of dairy cows, and a whole population of 3000 milch cows, were studied for this report. The findings revealed that a BLV-positive cow had a shorter life span than both its seronegative counterpart and the entire milch cow population. It also produced a total of 3.5% less milk and had a mean of 48 more days open than did the BLV-negative cow. The differences in survival rate were highly significant, while, at a level of 5%, those of productivity and reproductive rate were not. The implications of these findings are discussed. A highly significant correlation was also shown between BLV infection and the persistence of Trichophyton verrucosum infection in cows. The presented data indicate that BLV infection might affect the immune system of a cow to such a degree that it ceases to be productive enough to be kept within a herd. Thus it is usually culled before any severe symptoms of disease emerge.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of shock waves on suspended and immobilized L1210 cells.

L1210 mouse leukemia cells have been exposed to different doses of shock waves generated by underwater spark discharge at 18 kV in an experimental lithotripter (XL1, Dornier). Histological and flow cytometric investigations revealed severe damage and a LD50 of about 420 shock waves when the cells were treated as suspensions. Cells immobilized in gelatine, however, were unaffected, indicating that secondary effects are responsible for the cellular damage. Possible mechanisms such as cavitation, jets, and shear forces are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The possible enhancement of parvovirus vaccination on the mortality rate of diseased dogs.

A survey was conducted by using questionnaires dealing with morbidity and mortality of young dogs. Seventy-one clinical evaluations of diseased dogs were included in this survey. The cases were divided into 3 groups according to their vaccination history: 1. dogs vaccinated with the parvovirus and distemper live modified vaccine; 2. dogs vaccinated with the killed parvovirus vaccine; 3. non-vaccinated dogs. Statistical analysis of the information obtained by analyzing the questionnaires gave the following results: The survival rate of the non-vaccinated and killed parvovirus vaccine-vaccinated dogs was significantly higher than that of the dogs which were vaccinated by the live modified vaccine. No such difference was encountered between groups 2 and 3. This finding, once more, supports the notion that the live modified parvovirus vaccine may have an immunosuppressive property.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cisplatin. A phase II evaluation in previously untreated patients with soft tissue sarcomas.

A Phase II trial of moderately high-dose cisplatin (120 mg/m2 with mannitol diuresis) was conducted in 26 previously untreated patients with soft tissue sarcomas. One partial response (major response rate, 4%) and two minor responses were seen. Severe nausea and vomiting and transient increases in the serum creatinine level were the most common side effects of treatment. Cisplatin has minimal activity as a single agent in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A comparison of low- and high-dose cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy as initial postoperative treatment in advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, and cisplatin were given as the initial postoperative treatment to 35 patients with Stages II through IV ovarian cancer of epithelial origin during two time periods. During the first period the dose of cisplatin was 60 mg/m2 and during the second period it was 120 mg/m2, while the dose of cyclophosphamide and Adriamycin remained unchanged. No differences with regard to survival, progression-free interval, rate, and outcome of second-look laparotomy between 18 consecutive patients who received the low-dose and 17 consecutive patients who received the high-dose cisplatin were observed. The complication rate was significantly higher in the high-dose treatment group. Low-dose cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy seems therefore to be the preferable initial postoperative treatment.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1986

Abdominopelvic irradiation for stage II-IV ovarian carcinoma patients with limited or no residual disease at second-look laparotomy after completion of cisplatinum-based combination chemotherapy.

Abdominopelvic irradiation was given to 18 stage II-IV ovarian carcinoma patients who completed cisplatinum-based combination chemotherapy, were in complete clinical remission, and who underwent second-look laparotomy. The survival as well as the progression-free interval (PFI) was significantly longer in patients with a negative second-look laparotomy than in those with limited residual disease at this operation. Abdominopelvic irradiation was not effective in patients with limited residual disease at second-look laparotomy (3 year survival--34.3% and median PFI from second-look laparotomy--4.8 months). Even in patients with a negative second-look laparotomy the median PFI was only 13 months from this operation and the 3-year survival was 87.5%. The results were similar to other comparable series in which no treatment was administered to patients with a negative second-look laparotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Humoral and cellular responses in calves experimentally infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV).

In order to elucidate whether infection by Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) might induce an immunodeficient state, we inoculated sixteen calves with BLV. The calves were followed up for two years and were tested for humoral and cellular responses using various parameters, namely the appearance of antibodies to the BLV antigens, the changes in the numbers of lymphocytes involved, and the ratio between the two main populations of lymphocytes. Antibodies to the BLV antigens were of both the IgG and the IgM classes of immunoglobulins. The levels of antibodies of the IgM class were higher than those of IgG. There was a temporary decrease of reactive antibodies to the BLV antigens, to below detectable levels, during the 14-24 weeks post infection. A significant decrease in the level of plasma IgM was found in all BLV infected calves exhibiting lymphocytosis, while the level of IgG in the plasma of all experimental calves did not diverge significantly from the initial values, throughout the experiment. BLV infection was followed by lymphocytosis of B-cells in most infected calves, which persisted for the whole course of the experiment, while a decrease in the population of T-cells in peripheral blood was observed for a period of several months in all infected calves.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect of treatment on fertility and sexual function in males with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of testis.

The effects of therapy on the sexual ability and fertility of sixty-seven patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis were analyzed. Ten of 38 patients had subfertile sperm counts before therapy. Normal ejaculation was preserved in only 7/61 patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. In five of these patients, sperm analysis was done after chemotherapy; all had complete azoospermia. An effort to restore ejaculation with imipramine yielded only minimal response in 4/9 patients who received this drug. No major long-term effects on the libido were observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

A comparison of postoperative radiotherapy with postoperative chemotherapy in stage II-IV ovarian cancer patients.

A retrospective comparison between 28 stage II-IV ovarian cancer patients who received postoperative abdominopelvic irradiation and 15 such patients who received postoperative cis-platinum, Adriamycin, and Cytoxan chemotherapy was made. In both treatment groups there was a trend for a longer progression-free interval and 3-year survival in patients with residual tumor masses of less than 2 cm in diameter. In these patients there was also a trend favoring radiotherapy. However, all differences were not significant. Criteria for the choice of either modality of postoperative therapy of ovarian cancer patients remain to be determined. Nevertheless, the efficacy of both modes of treatment does not differ greatly.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1984

Use of a synthetic antigen to predetermine the responsiveness of cattle to vaccine-induced immunity.

Groups of healthy, virus-infected and leukaemic cattle were injected with synthetic multichain poly(Tyr, Glu)-poly(Ala)--poly(Lys) in order to predetermine responsiveness to vaccine-induced immunity. Immunospecific purification of antibodies, precipitin reactions and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests were carried out on sera collected at various intervals after immunization. Of the methods employed, the ELISA had the advantage of specificity, sensitivity and speed for screening the humoral immune response of cattle to antigenic stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Vaccination trials against Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (large-colony-type) infection in goats.

Vaccination trials against Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides in suckling and weaned kids are described. A formalin-killed vaccine with adjuvant was used. Challenge to the vaccinated suckling kids was by ingestion of dam's infected milk and by subcutaneous inoculation of 10(6) organisms, and to the vaccinated weaned kids, by subcutaneous inoculation alone. The weaned 6-week-old kids were vaccinated, given a booster 3 weeks later and challenged 1 month after that. Serological monitoring was by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The six control kids remained serologically negative and after challenge were pyrexic and mycoplasmaemic. All died or were killed in extremis, with a characteristic cellulitis at the site of inoculation, arthritis and swollen spleen. In contrast, the vaccinated kids remained healthy. There was a modest antibody response to the initial vaccination and a further steep rise after the booster. After challenge the organism was recovered only from the lymph nodes proximal to the site of challenge in some animals, and from the liver and kidney in two animals. All the vaccinated suckling kids were unaffected by ingestion of their dam's infected milk. The kids that received only one vaccine inoculation on the day of birth, and one control kid, succumbed to subcutaneous challenge, whereas the kids that were given a booster, except for one, remained healthy.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Chemotherapy of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma with use of DVA (vindesine sulfate), adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (DAC).

Thirty-four patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma were treated with a three-drug combination including vindesine sulfate (DVA), Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide (DAC) (S9). Thirty-one patients are evaluable of whom 23 were previously untreated. Among the latter group there were six complete responses (26%) and five partial responses (22%), for a major response rate of 48%. No major responses were seen in the eight previously treated patients. The median duration of responses was 8 months. Leukopenia and peripheral neuropathy were the major complications of treatment. Gastrointestinal toxicity was mild. Adriamycin cardiotoxicity was seen in two patients. Although the overall response rate to DAC is comparable to that of other combinations, it may offer the advantages of an increased complete response rate and less gastrointestinal toxicity.

Antineoplastic Agents↗