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Biomedical subjects

R A Feldman

Publications and source records attributed to R A Feldman.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Control of a type 1 poliomyelitis epidemic in British Guiana, 1962-63, with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine. 2. Virological aspects.

Epidemics of paralytic poliomyelitis have been reported with increasing frequency in the Caribbean area over the last decade. During the first weeks of a type 1 poliomyelitis epidemic in British Guiana in the winter of 1962-63, it was possible to study "wild" poliovirus infections in pre-school children, and to obtain information concerning the effectiveness of a country-wide control programme using trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine.Serological studies indicated that many Guianese children had had previous asymptomatic poliovirus infections by school age. However, there were more children with antibodies to types 2 and 3 than with antibodies to type 1. Following the first of two feedings of trivalent vaccine, there were significant increases in the percentage of children with poliovirus antibodies.Though begun only three weeks after the hospitalization of several paralysed children, a rectal-swab survey indicated that in some areas over one-third of the pre-school children were excreting "wild" poliovirus. In one area of the country, where only 2% of the children were excreting poliovirus type 1, vaccine feeding seemed most effective in containing the epidemic. These results support the suggestion that to be successful an epidemic control programme in a developing tropical country should be rapidly organized and completed.

Child, Preschool↗

Nursery salmonellosis: delayed recognition due to unusually long incubation period.

A nursery outbreak of diarrheal illness caused by Salmonella nienstedten initially involved seven infants cared for in one nursery; secondary infection subsequently affected one infant cared for in the same nursery as well as four other infants. Recognition of the outbreak was delayed due to an unusually long incubation period. The period from last known exposure to onset of diarrhea ranged from two to 18 days, with a median of ten days. The prolonged incubation period may have resulted from a low inoculum of the organism, from a previously unknown characteristic of Salmonella nienstedten, or may be an age-specific response. Hospital infection control personnel should be aware that nosocomial cases of salmonellosis may have a longer incubation period than has been previously recognized.

Cross Infection↗

Clinical characteristics of infant botulism in the United States: a study of the non-California cases.

We reviewed the clinical features of 99 cases of infant botulism reported to the Centers for Disease Control from states other than California for the period 1976 to 1980. There were no toxin-specific differences in the distribution of ages at onset or sex of the cases. For 76 (76%) patients for whom data were available the most common presenting symptoms were poor feeding (43%) and constipation (24%). Weak suck, poor head control, floppiness, weakness in extremities, difficulty swallowing, altered cry and constipation were reported in over three-fourths of the infants for whom data were available. Loss of facial expression, extraocular muscle paralysis, dilated pupils and depression of deep tendon reflexes occurred significantly more frequently among infants with type B botulism than among those with type A botulism. Ventilatory assistance was required for 61% of infants receiving aminoglycosides after the onset of weakness compared to only 26% of those infants not receiving aminoglycosides (P = 0.01). Infant botulism presents a characteristic clinical picture and should be suspected when an infant presents with weakness.

Aminoglycosides↗

Human cellular fps/fes cDNA rescued via retroviral shuttle vector encodes myeloid cell NCP92 and has transforming potential.

We have generated a cDNA copy of human c-fps/fes from a 13 kb genomic DNA by means of a retroviral shuttle vector, and have begun characterization of its biological and biochemical properties. The cDNA was able to direct the in vitro synthesis of a protein that was indistinguishable from myeloid cell c-fps/fes NCP92 by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera, electrophoretic mobility, tryptic fingerprint analysis, and its associated protein kinase activity. When the coding sequence of the gag-v-fps/fes P108 fusion protein in Gardner Arnstein Feline sarcoma virus was substituted with the recovered cDNA, the recombinant plasmid directed the expression of NCP92 in NIH 3T3 cells but no morphological transformation was observed. By contrast, when viral gag sequences were linked to the N-terminus of NCP92, the chimeric gene induced foci of transformed cells. These transformants were capable of anchorage independent growth, were tumorigenic in nude mice, and expressed a gag fusion protein kinase of high specific activity. The biological properties of this recombinant are discussed. We conclude that normal human c-fps/fes can be activated by N-terminal linkage to gag.

Cell Division↗

Epidemiologic analysis of a cluster of homicides of children in Atlanta.

Between July 1, 1979, and March 15, 1981, there were 22 unsolved homicides and two unsolved disappearances of Atlanta children. Using epidemiologic methods, we attempted to identify factors that had put children at an increased risk of homicide. That all victims in this cluster were black, killed away from home, and that asphyxiation was overrepresented suggests that the cluster was discrete. The cluster was not homogeneous in relation to location of the victim's area of residence or location of the body; however, the median distance of 9.3 miles from home to body suggests that in some cases a motor vehicle was involved. A neighborhood-based study of the male victims and age- and sex-matched controls showed that victims more often ran errands for money (relative risk, 7.9) and were more often alone on the streets or in shopping centers; therefore, they may have been more approachable than other children in the neighborhood.

Adolescent↗