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Biomedical subjects

J Honig

Publications and source records attributed to J Honig.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Impact of community volunteers on immunization rates of children younger than 2 years.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a volunteer-driven outreach program on immunization rates in children younger than 2 years. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Pediatric ambulatory clinics in New York, NY. PATIENTS: A total of 163 children were randomly assigned to receive services from the volunteer-driven outreach program or to serve as control subjects. All children were (1) younger than 2 years, (2) no-shows for a scheduled appointment in the pediatric clinic, and (3) due or overdue for a vaccine. INTERVENTION: Immunization outreach, tracking, and follow-up were provided by community volunteers throughout follow-up (mean, 6.5 months). Control children were notified of immunization status at enrollment but received no further contact until the conclusion of follow-up (mean, 6.4 months). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Immunization status 6 months after enrollment. RESULTS: Significantly more intervention children were up-to-date with their vaccination series than controls (75% vs. 54%; P = .03). Children in the control group were 2.8 times more likely to be late for a vaccine than intervention children (odds ratio = 2.8; P = .02). In addition, an immunization delay of longer than 30 days at enrollment was a significant predictor of final immunization delay (odds ratio = 2.6; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: This volunteer-driven program significantly improved immunization rates among intervention children compared with controls. Results confirm previous findings that indicate an increased risk of an incomplete immunization series by 2 years of age among children who fall behind early in their primary vaccination series. However, control children were almost 3 times more likely to be late (for > or =1 vaccines) than intervention children, regardless of whether an earlier immunization delay was present.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1994

Interleukin-1 in human ovarian cells and in peripheral blood monocytes increases during the luteal phase: evidence for a midcycle surge in the human.

OBJECTIVE: Resident ovarian macrophages are thought to be critically involved in cyclic ovarian events. A prominent macrophage product, interleukin-1, has been shown to affect ovarian cell function. In this report we present evidence for an intrafollicular periovulatory interleukin-1 surge. Additionally, we demonstrate that interleukin-1 beta messenger ribonucleic acid in peripheral blood monocytes increases threefold during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle over that found in the follicular phase. STUDY DESIGN: Follicular fluid cells isolated as a byproduct of transvaginal oocyte retrievals in gonadotropin-stimulated in vitro fertilization cycles were immunoprobed for the presence of interleukin-1 protein. Late follicular phase cumulus and granulosa cells obtained from an aspirated preovulatory follicle were likewise probed. RESULTS: Although the in vitro fertilization-retrieved cells stained positive for interleukin-1 protein, the late follicular phase cells were devoid of the protein. Granulosa cells from in vitro fertilization cycles were examined for interleukin-1 protein binding sites with iodinated interleukin-1 alpha protein. These cells were found to have approximately 2000 binding sites per cell. Poly A+ messenger ribonucleic acid isolated from peripheral blood monocyte samples from women during the follicular and luteal phases and from male controls were probed for interleukin-1 ribonucleic acid content by means of Northern analysis. The luteal samples contained a threefold higher interleukin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid content that did the follicular phase samples or the controls. CONCLUSION: The ovarian interleukin-1 protein increase taken together with increased peripheral blood monocyte interleukin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid suggests that interleukin-1 production increases at midcycle.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Does the amount of endurance exercise in combination with weight training and a very-low-energy diet affect resting metabolic rate and body composition?

Effects of large (LA; 400 min/wk) and moderate (MA; 200 min/wk) amounts of endurance exercise in combination with weight training (3 d/wk) were compared with the effects of no exercise (C) in 23 obese females after a 12-wk, 3360-kJ/d very-low-energy diet (VLED). The LA group lost 6.5 kg more weight, mainly as fat (6.4 kg), than the C group (P < 0.05). No measurable differences were found among groups for decreases in resting metabolic rate (-729 to -1233 kJ/d; NS) or fat-free mass (-2.9 to -3.9 kg; NS). No improvements in aerobic capacity were achieved with the addition of exercise to a VLED (-0.079 to -0.037 L/min; NS). Strength indexes were improved (+16 to +5 kg; P < 0.05) or maintained with exercise (-3 kg; NS) whereas a loss (-9.3 kg; P < 0.05) or maintenance (+4.5 kg; NS) was found for VLED alone. Large amounts of endurance exercise in combination with weight training added to a VLED appear to improve weight and fat loss compared with a VLED alone.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Maple syrup urine disease: clinical, EEG, and plasma amino acid correlations with a theoretical mechanism of acute neurotoxicity.

Classical Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is a disease of infancy which is an inherited disorder of metabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). The BCAA are normally transaminated to branched-chain keto acids (BCKA). However, the enzyme required to metabolize the BCKA is deficient, resulting in elevation of both, the BCAA and the BCKA. One of the BCAA (isoleucine) produces a metabolite that causes the urine to smell like maple syrup. The elevations of the BCAA and BCKA are associated with an acute, critical neurotoxic condition often prior to the age of two weeks. The clinical state, the electroencephalogram-(EEG), and plasma BCAA levels were evaluated in 26 patients with classical and variant MSUD. Patients were seen from the time of diagnosis, often within a week after birth, and some were followed clinically for more than 20 years while on specific diet therapy. They were monitored by plasma BCAA (leucine, isoleucine and valine) levels and a total of 101 EEGs were performed during different phases of their illness. During periods of acute metabolic decompensation, there were marked clinical symptoms of neurotoxicity including opisthotonos, seizures, and coma with elevated BCAA plasma levels. The EEGs revealed spikes, polyspikes, spike-wave complexes, triphasic waves, severe slowing and bursts of periodic suppression. Occasionally paradoxical EEG arousal was noted while the patient was lethargic. During asymptomatic periods when the plasma BCAA were at low or normal levels, EEG abnormalities occurred in patients with and without residual neurological deficit. These observations included rolandic sharp waves (comb-like rhythm) which were observed in 7 of 15 patients less than two months of age. Additionally, paroxysmal spike and spike-wave response to photic stimuli were observed in 9 of 17 patients. Loading tests were performed on three patients. Clinical and EEG changes were most marked after leucine. Less dramatic EEG changes also occurred with the other two BCAA loads but without clinical manifestations. Elevation of the appropriate BCAA plasma level occurred after each load. These studies and a review of the literature suggest that one component of the pathophysiological mechanism for the acute neurotoxic effects in this disorder is related to a defect in glutamate, glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production. The BCAAs are transaminated to BCKAs. Further metabolism of the BCKAs are blocked because of enzyme deficiency required for decarboxylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition of cervical carcinoma cell line proliferation by the introduction of a bovine papillomavirus regulatory gene.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncogenes are expressed in the great majority of human cervical carcinomas, whereas the viral E2 regulatory gene is usually disrupted in these cancers. To investigate the roles of the papillomavirus E2 genes in the development and maintenance of cervical carcinoma, the bovine papillomavirus (BPV) E2 gene was acutely introduced into cervical carcinoma cell lines by infection with high-titer stocks of simian virus 40-based recombinant viruses. Expression of the BPV E2 protein in HeLa, C-4I, and MS751 cells results in specific inhibition of the expression of the resident HPV type 18 (HPV18) E6 and E7 genes and in inhibition of cell growth. HeLa cells, in which HPV gene expression is nearly completely abolished, undergo a dramatic and rapid inhibition of proliferation, which appears to be largely a consequence of a block in progression from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. Loss of HPV18 gene expression in HeLa cells is also accompanied by a marked increase in the level of the cellular p53 tumor suppressor protein, apparently as a consequence of abrogation of HPV18 E6-mediated destabilization of p53. The proliferation of HT-3 cells, a human cervical carcinoma cell line devoid of detectable HPV DNA, is also inhibited by E2 expression, whereas two other epithelial cell lines that do not contain HPV DNA are not inhibited. Thus, a number of cervical carcinoma cell lines are remarkably sensitive to growth inhibition by the E2 protein. Although BPV E2-mediated inhibition of HPV18 E6 and E7 expression may contribute to growth inhibition in some of the cervical carcinoma cell lines, the BPV E2 protein also appears to exert a growth-inhibitory effect that is independent of its effects on HPV gene expression.

Bovine papillomavirus 1↗
PubMed1992

Prognostic significance of tumor proliferative fraction and DNA content in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Analyses of tumor DNA content and proliferative fraction by flow cytometry have been useful as prognostic determinants in a variety of solid tumors. The significance of this analysis in Stage I (T1N0M0 and T2N0M0) non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCC) is unestablished. We determined DNA content (ploidy) and proliferative fraction (percentage S phase) on 44 surgically resected Stage I NSCC specimens obtained between 1977 and 1982. All cases had a minimum follow-up of 5 yr. Of the 44 cases, 27 were adenocarcinomas, 15 squamous cell carcinomas, and 2 large cell carcinomas. Of these, 32 (73%) had T1N0M0 lesions and 12 (27%) had T2N0M0 lesions. Overall 5-yr survival was 70%. All patients surviving 5 yr were free of detectable tumor. Patients with T1N0M0 lesions had an 81% 5-yr survival, but those with T2N0M0 lesions had a 42% 5-yr survival (p = 0.009). Analysis of tumor DNA content revealed 35 diploid tumors (79%) and 9 aneuploid tumors (21%). The 5-yr survival for diploid tumors was 77% compared with a 44% 5-yr survival in aneuploid lesions (p = 0.048). The median proliferative fraction was 6%. All patients with a percentage S phase less than 6% survived 5 yr, and 41% (9 of 22) of those greater than 6% survived 5 yr (p less than 0.001). When 8% S phase was used as a cutoff, 93% (28 of 30) below the cutoff survived 5 yr but only 21% (3 of 14) above the cutoff survived 5 yr (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Flow cytometric analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid in human granulosa cells as a function of chronological age and ovulation induction regimen.

We examined whether the proliferative index of granulosa cells as determined by flow cytometry varied with a women's age or ovulation induction regimen that included leuprolide acetate (LA). This prospective cohort study included three groups of patients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. Group I consisted of 9 women age less than or equal to 30 yr, who received LA plus human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG). Group II included 9 women age more than or equal to 40 yr, who received LA plus hMG. Group III consisted of 6 women age less than or equal to 30 yr who received hMG alone. A total of 79 preovulatory follicles containing greater than 10(4) granulosa cells were obtained from these 24 women and examined by flow cytometry. Group I was compared to group II to match for ovulation induction regimen and to examine proliferative index as a function of age. Group I was compared to group III to match for age and to examine proliferative index as a function of ovulation induction regimen. Outcome measures included proliferative index of granulosa cells as a function of age, ovulation induction regimen, ampules of hMG, estradiol on day of hCG, and serum FSH. Group I demonstrated a greater proliferative index than group II: 23.4% +/- 1.4 vs. 18.4% +/- 0.96 (P less than 0.01). Group I had a greater proliferative index than group III: 23.4% +/- 1.4 vs. 11.9 +/- 0.61 (P less than 0.001). Although both age and the presence of LA appeared to affect the PI, multiple linear regression demonstrated that only the addition of LA and not age, per se, had an independent effect upon granulosa cells undergoing proliferation (P less than 0.0005). We conclude that LA followed by hMG leads to an increase in the percentage of granulosa cells undergoing proliferation when compared to ovulation induction regimens that include hMG alone. Chronological age does not appear to have a significant independent influence upon the proliferative index.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

P-glycoprotein expression and multidrug resistance in adrenocortical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The response of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) to adjuvant chemotherapy has been disappointing with no significant impact on survival. The normal adrenal cortex has very high levels of P-glycoprotein, an energy-dependent efflux pump of a variety of structurally unrelated chemotherapeutic agents. P-glycoprotein has been implicated as a cause of multidrug resistance in a variety of neoplasms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate P-glycoprotein expression in ACC. METHODS: Eleven patients with ACC had paraffin-embedded tumor evaluated for P-glycoprotein expression. These were analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay with a battery of four anti-P-glycoprotein antibodies (MRK-16, JSB-1, UIC-2, MDR). RESULTS: All eleven cases showed intense, predominantly membrane immunoreactivity for P-glycoprotein. In 10 of the cases, most tumor cells were immunoreactive with at least three antibodies, and six of 11 cases were positive for all four antibodies. In this small series no correlation existed between P-glycoprotein expression and tumor grade, stage of disease, or survival. CONCLUSIONS: All 11 cases of ACC studied showed P-glycoprotein expression, which was similar to the normal adrenal cortex. This possible mechanism of multidrug resistance may help explain the significant chemoresistance seen in ACC.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1990

Human follicular fluids contain tissue macrophages.

Tissue cells obtained from the follicular fluids of women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were found to contain interleukin-1 beta mRNA by Northern analysis. Since macrophages are known to produce interleukin-1 beta, we examined the follicular fluids of 20 women undergoing in vitro fertilization as well as tissue sections of normal human ovary for the presence of macrophages and monocytes. Although granulosa-luteal cells predominate in follicular fluid, we found that resident macrophages and monocytes comprise 5-15% of human follicular tissue cells. In addition, we observed that macrophages are present in the human ovarian follicle as well as in the corpus luteum.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1984

Further studies of the structure of human placental acid alpha-glucosidase.

Acid alpha-glucosidase has been purified from human placenta to a specific activity of approximately 6800, (4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-glucoside as a substrate) or 55,400 mumol g-1 min-1 (glycogen or maltose as substrate). The purified enzyme gives rise to multiple protein bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), i.e., a major doublet of 82K and 69K , a minor doublet of 25K and 21K , and a faint band of 100K. All of the molecular weight species stained as glycoproteins with an intensity apparently proportional to their protein content, and were present in enzyme from individuals homozygous for the allozyme alpha-Glu 1. Isoelectric focusing revealed only enzymatically active proteins which, when analysed by SDS-PAGE, gave rise to multiple molecular weight species. Chromatography of I125-labeled, purified enzyme on Bio-Gel P-100 revealed only a radiolabeled, high-molecular-weight species which corresponded with enzyme activity. These findings suggest that, in the native state, the mature enzyme exists as a high-molecular-weight species, which is dissociable in SDS to several low-molecular-weight species. These results are consistent with reports that a 100K primary product of translation is post-translationally modified to yield polypeptides of lower molecular weights, and that all of the molecular species are absent in cells genetically deficient for acid alpha-glucosidase. The possibility that the low-molecular-weight (20- 25K ) protein bands in SDS-gels corresponded to a previously reported low-molecular-weight species generated by treatment with guanidine-HCl was investigated. The I125-labeled, purified acid maltase was dissociated by guanidine into two equal peaks of approximately 64K and 28K molecular weight. Surprisingly, both peaks, when analyzed on SDS-gels, yielded identical and equally intensely staining bands of 64K molecular weight. These results suggest that the mature acid alpha-glucosidase is made up of polypeptides which are bonded in the native state by at least two different types of interaction, one type which is dissociable in SDS and one type which is dissociable in guanidine but not in SDS. The nature and possible function of the 25K polypeptide generated only by guanidine-HCl remains to be determined.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1984

Confirmation of the regional localization of the genes for human acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) by somatic cell hybridization.

We have confirmed the localization of human acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) to 17q21----q25 and of adenosine deaminase (ADA) to 20q13----20qter by examination of hybrid clones derived from a fusion between a human cell line carrying a 17/20 balanced translocation (17pter----17q25::20q13----20qter;20pter-- --20q13::17q25----17qter) and a mouse line deficient in thymidine kinase. These hybrids were constantly maintained in HAT selective media in order to select for the presence of the human thymidine kinase gene on the intact chromosome 17 (17q21----22) or the 17/20 (17pter----17q25::20q13----20qter) translocation chromosome. We detected human GAA by rocket immunoelectrophoresis, using a heterologous antibody raised against human acid alpha-glucosidase. A clone which contained the 17/20 translocation and no intact chromosome 17 was still positive for GAA. This finding confirms the exclusion of GAA from 17q25----17qter reported by Nickel et al. (1982). Combined with earlier results (Weil et al. 1979), GAA can be assigned to 17q21----17q25. A clone which contained only the 17/20 translocation chromosome and no intact chromosome 20 contained ADA. This confirms the previous localization of ADA to 20q13.2----qter by gene dosage studies (Philip et al. 1980).

Adenosine Deaminase↗