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Biomedical subjects

R Halperin

Publications and source records attributed to R Halperin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Human decidua-associated protein hDP200 appears to be a rheumatoid factor.

The amino acid sequences of the amino-terminal of the two different polypeptide chains of the human decidua-associated protein hDP200, with apparent molecular masses of 55 and 25 kDa, were determined. The amino-terminal sequence of the 55 kDa chain revealed that it is an immunoglobulin heavy chain, of the VH-III subgroup and the amino-terminal sequence of the 25 kDa chain showed that it is a human kappa V-III light chain. The sequence data indicate that hDP200 is an immunoglobulin. The ability of the hDP200 molecules to form high molecular weight complexes with immunoglobulins of other classes suggest that hDP200 is a rheumatoid factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Water quality, waterborne disease and enteric disease in Israel, 1976-92.

Israel experienced a large number of waterborne disease outbreaks between 1975 and 1985, followed by a steep decline in the period 1986-92. Large-scale community waterborne disease outbreaks occurred primarily in the late 1970s, and in 1985 (the Krayot, four small towns neighboring Haifa), but substantial outbreaks occurred as late as 1989, with 4 during 1986-90, and 1 during 1991-92. New water standards, including mandatory chlorination of all community water supplies, came into effect in late 1988. Water quality, as monitored by the Ministry of Health, showed a marked improvement even when measured by the more stringent standards of the 1988 regulations. Long-term trends in the total of reported enteric infectious diseases from all sources, including typhoid, hepatitis, Shigella and Salmonella in Israel are examined. Typhoid, which has been declining since the 1960s, peaked in 1985 with the large waterborne disease episode of the Krayot. Shigella and total hepatitis incidence increased slowly up to the mid-1970s, followed by large increases during the 1975-85 period, then by a rapid decline up to 1991. Shigella, from childhood contacts in kindergartens, increased in 1992. Salmonella incidence continues to increase steadily. Mandatory chlorination and more stringent water standards have had an important impact on water quality and on waterborne disease outbreaks in Israel. Empiric evidence suggests that improving water quality may also be a factor in the changing patterns of some enteric diseases and the total burden of enteric disease in Israel.

Chlorine↗
PubMed1991

Specificity of smooth pursuit eye movement and visual fixation abnormalities in schizophrenia. Comparison to mania and normal controls.

Smooth pursuit eye movements (SPEM) were assessed in 30 schizophrenic patients, 12 lithium-free manic patients, and 20 normal controls. Compared to schizophrenic patients, manic patients evidenced less SPEM impairment in an attention enhancing, sinusoidal target motion condition and had superior performance during a visual fixation condition. SPEM and visual fixation dysfunctions may be more common in schizophrenic than in acutely manic patients, even when the latter are characterized by marked attentional dysfunction, poor interepisode psychosocial functioning, and psychosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Desmin as an immunochemical marker of human decidual cells and its expression in menstrual fluid.

The expression of intermediate filament proteins in human endometrial tissue was examined. Desmin was selectively expressed in decidualized stroma, as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE analysis and positive response with a monoclonal antibody specific for desmin in ELISA and in western blot analysis. The same monoclonal antibody specifically stained human decidual cells in decidualized endometrium (secretory endometrium) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections prepared from diagnostic curettage samples. Desmin was also detected in menstrual fluid. Therefore, desmin might serve as a biochemical and histochemical marker of human decidualized endometrium.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1990

Identification, immunoaffinity purification and initial characterization of a novel 71 kD human decidua associated protein by use of specific monoclonal antibodies.

This study is part of an ongoing attempt to identify and characterize proteins associated with the human decidual tissue. A novel decidual-associated glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 71 kD named hDP71 (human decidual-protein 71), has been identified and purified by immunoaffinity technique using monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies recognizing the hDP71 were raised against a partly purified preparation of decidual associated proteins, which was obtained by immunoabsorption of serum proteins from crude decidual extract. Although the hDP71 was copurified with another decidual-associated glycoprotein, the previously described hDP200 (Halperin et al., 1989), evidence is presented showing that the monoclonal antibodies described above are specific for hDP71.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Identification, immunoaffinity purification and partial characterization of a human decidua-associated protein.

A crude extract of pooled early-pregnancy decidual tissue was enriched for soluble decidual proteins by exhaustive affinity absorption with antibodies to human serum proteins immobilized on Eupergit C. The partly purified extract was used to prepare monoclonal antibodies. A monoclonal antibody was obtained recognizing an antigen present in extract of decidual tissue and not in extract of proliferative endometrium. The monoclonal antibody was used for immunoaffinity purification of the decidua-associated protein. By SDS-PAGE analysis, under reducing conditions it yielded 2 bands at apparent molecular weights of 55,000 and 25,000. Under non-reducing conditions a single protein band at apparent molecular weight of 200,000 was observed. The Mr 200,000 protein was named hDP200 and the Mr 55,000 protein was named hDP55. It is suggested that hDP55 is a subunit of the hDP200. The hDP200 did not react with polyclonal antibodies specific for PP12 and PP14. PP14 has been shown to be immunologically indistinguishable from PEP and alpha 2-PEG. Our data therefore suggest that hDP200 is a novel human decidua-associated protein.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1989

Regional differences in the induction of behavioral supersensitivity by prolonged treatment with atypical neuroleptics.

Some atypical neuroleptics have been shown to exert selective effects on the nigrostriatal or mesolimbic dopamine systems as assessed by behavioral, biochemical and electrophysiological measures. This specificity appears to occur using chronic or acute schedules of drug administration. This study examined the effect of chronic administration of haloperidol, clozapine, sulpiride and metoclopramide on stereotypy and locomotor activity elicited by direct injection of dopamine in to the striatum or nucleus accumbens, respectively. Each rat was pre-treated with a neuroleptic drug or vehicle control for 21 days. Five days after the termination of drug treatment, each rat was injected with 10 micrograms dopamine bilaterally, and stereotypy or locomotor activity was measured. Rats pre-treated with metoclopramide exhibited an enhanced stereotypy response, and rats pre-treated with haloperidol, clozapine or sulpiride exhibited enhanced locomotor activity compared to controls. The extent to which these results demonstrate the selective action of these drugs in sensitizing dopamine systems is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Waterborne enteric disease outbreaks in Israel, 1976-1985.

Waterborne enteric disease remains a major public health problem in developing countries, as well as in developed countries, such that the World Health Organization declared 1981-90 the International Water Decade. Israeli experience with waterborne disease outbreaks in the decade 1976-85 is reviewed. Community water systems accounted for 52 outbreaks, with 25 occurring between 1976 and 1980 and 27 between 1981 and 1985. Total cases reported in these outbreaks were 7,681 and 10,880 respectively. In the latter period, reported cases resulting from these outbreaks constituted a very high percentage of the total reported cases of diarrheal disease in the country. The waterborne disease outbreaks were mostly due to secondary contamination of water systems due to human error and poor maintenance. In comparison with the United States, Israel experienced 18.7 times as many community waterborne disease outbreaks per capita. The need for routine preventive chlorination, and filtration on a selective basis, of community drinking water systems is strongly indicated, as recommended in current United States and World Health Organization guidelines in order to improve this grossly substandard aspect of Israeli public health.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1988

Microbiologic drinking water quality in Israel: standards, monitoring, and treatment.

Drinking water quality depends on standards, monitoring and treatment. Israel's microbiologic water standards are less stringent than those currently recommended internationally, and have focused primarily on bacteriologic levels. Compliance with routine monitoring requirements averaged 86% in 1985-86. However, compliance with retesting of contaminated samples averaged 49% in 1985-86. Compliance with treatment recommendations of district sanitary engineers has also been poor. Poor water quality continues to be a public health problem in Israel, and has contributed to a relatively high incidence of waterborne disease. Current international guidelines recommend filtration and chlorination, particularly for surface water and other contaminated sources. Israel should make this a major public health priority.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of the two-needle strategy for reducing reactions to DPT vaccination.

Using a blinded crossover design, we tested the hypothesis that changing the needle on the syringe after drawing up diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine and before injecting it reduces local complications by eliminating deposition of aluminum phosphate adjuvant in the subcutaneous track of the needle. Two hundred twenty-three children (52.7%) received a two-needle vaccination while 200 (47.3%) received a one-needle vaccination. Three hundred forty-six parents (81.8%) returned a questionnaire reporting their child's reaction within 48 hours of injection. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of redness, swelling, tenderness, or limp or in parental measurements of redness and swelling between the one- and two-needle groups. Moreover, we found no differences in the frequency of systemic side effects, including fever, vomiting, anorexia, and crying. These results do not support the practice of changing needles to reduce diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine reactions.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1985

Effect of chronic haloperidol and quinacrine coadministration on striatal HVA levels and stereotypic behaviors in response to apomorphine in the rat.

The effects of chronic administration of quinacrine, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, on striatal homovanillic acid (HVA) levels and behavioral sensitivity to challenge with a dopamine agonist were examined in rats. Moreover, the ability of chronic phospholipase A2 inhibition to modulate the behavioral supersensitivity and striatal HVA reduction induced by chronic haloperidol administration was also examined. Daily intraperitoneal injection of quinacrine resulted in a significant reduction of striatal HVA levels. Coadministration of haloperidol with quinacrine in this paradigm caused a more profound reduction of striatal HVA levels than either drug administered alone. That this effect of combined administration is not simply due to postsynaptic effects of quinacrine on dopamine receptor sensitivity is suggested by the fact that behavioral supersensitivity was not induced by quinacrine alone nor was the behavioral supersensitivity induced by the quinacrine-haloperidol combination greater than that induced by chronic haloperidol administration alone. There were no effects of any treatment condition on striatal levels of serotonin (5-HT) or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). These data implicate phospholipase A2 activity in the regulation of dopaminergic transmission.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

A study of the reliability of reported premorbid adjustment in schizophrenic patients.

A study was conducted to determine the interrater reliability and the inter-informant reliability of two rating scales commonly used with schizophrenic patients. Both scales were completed by two informants for each of 45 schizophrenics. The Levels of Functioning Scale, which measures current social functioning, gave consistent results both between raters and between informants. The Premorbid Asocial Adjustment Scale, which measures social functioning during childhood and adolescence, produced very high reliability between raters but very poor reliability between informants. This suggests that much of the data collected about premorbid adjustment of schizophrenic patients are not accurate and that attempts to correlate reported premorbid adjustment with biological measures may be invalid. Ways of increasing the reliability and validity of premorbid adjustment measures are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Chronic administration of three neuroleptics: effects of behavioral supersensitivity mediated by two different brain regions in the rat.

This investigation assessed the relative abilities of three neuroleptics to supersensitize behaviors mediated by the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopamine (DA) systems. Rats were treated with either haloperidol, thioridazine, fluotracen or vehicle for 21 days. Stereotypy, in response to DA injection to the striatum, or locomotor activity, in response to DA injection to the nucleus accumbens, were measured after the termination of drug treatment. Pre-treatment with haloperidol enhanced both behavioral responses to central DA injection, while pre-treatment with thioridazine did not enhance either behavior. Pre-treatment with fluotracen enhanced the locomotor response to DA injection to the nucleus accumbens, but did not alter stereotypy after DA injection to the striatum. Neuroleptics differ in their ability to supersensitize the same DA-related behavior, and act selectively to supersensitize behaviors mediated by different DA systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Relationship of adrenergic and electrical brain stimulation induced feeding responses.

Electrical and adrenergic brain stimulation can induce eating in satiated animals. This report explores the interrelationship of brain feeding systems mediating eating in response to norepinephrine and electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus in rats. It was found that simultaneous adrenergic and electrical brain stimulation resulted in a significant increase in food intake as compared to each stimulation condition alone. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of the alpha-adrenergic receptors in the hypothalamus attenuated feeding in response to adrenergic, but not electrical brain stimulation. Results are interpreted to suggest that these feeding systems are independent at the level of the diencephalon. The role of the vagus nerve as an efferent link through which these brain systems may influence feeding behavior is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma: a new epidemiologic trend? A matched-case comparison with ovarian serous papillary cancer.

The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma (PPSPC) as compared with ovarian serous papillary cancer (OSPC), and to study the clinicopathologic features and the frequency of germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in patients with PPSPC compared with those with OSPC. The study group included 28 cases of PPSPC. The comparison group included 35 female patients with OSPC, matched for stage, grade, and histologic subtype. All tumors were staged as either IIIB, IIIC or IV according to FIGO criteria. The patient characteristics, family and personal history of malignancies, the prevalence of germline BRCA mutations, clinicopathologic findings, presenting symptoms, pre- and intraoperative findings, and survival were compared in a matched-case retrospective study comparing patients with PPSPC vs. those with OSPC. Statistical analysis was made using Student's t-test, Chi-square, Wilcoxon, Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. Women with PPSPC had a significantly earlier menarche (P = 0.037) and a higher number or births (P = 0.03) than women with OSPC. No difference was found with regard to the prevalence of germline BRCA mutations in women with PPSPC compared with women with OSPC (7.1% vs. 25.7%). There was a significant increase (P = 0.02) in the incidence of abdominal distension as reported by PPSPC (64%) vs. OSPC patients (26%). Significantly more women with PPSPC than with OSPC presented with clinical ascites (P = 0.0001) and without palpable pelvic mass (P = 0.000001). On exploratory laparotomy, significantly more women with PPSPC than with OSPC had a minimal disease in the pelvis (P = 0.0087). Three-year survival analysis demonstrated a significantly worse survival rate for the PPSPC group than for the OSPC group (P = 0.017). A significant increase in the prevalence of PPSPC compared with OSPC was observed during the study years (P = 0.00001). We concluded that PPSPC and OSPC might be two distinct cancers, presenting a new epidemiologic trend regarding the increased incidence of PPSPC.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Simultaneous carcinoma of the endometrium and ovary vs endometrial carcinoma with ovarian metastases: a clinical and immunohistochemical determination.

The aim of this study was to perform a clinical and immunohistochemical comparison between simultaneous independent tumors involving endometrium and ovary and metastatic endometrial tumors, and to try to find clinical and /or immunohistochemical parameters differentiating between these two entities. Sixteen cases of simultaneous independent primaries of endometrium and ovary, presenting the same histologic type, were compared with 12 cases of primary endometrial cancer, demonstrating ovarian metastases. The comparison related to patients' characteristics and immunohistochemical expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER,PR), bcl-2, HER-2 /neu, p53, and cell proliferation marker Ki-67 in endometrial and ovarian tumors. The only clinical parameter differentiating significantly between the groups was the prevalence of familial cancer, being more frequent in the group of metastatic tumors (P = 0.03). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the same immunostaining in endometrium and ovary for all immunohistochemical parameters in cases of metastatic endometrial cancer. Conversely, 62.5% of cases with simultaneous tumors of endometrium and ovary could be differentiated from metastatic tumors by distinct immunohistochemical expression of ER and PR in endometrial and ovarian tumors (P = 0.0006), and 31.3% of cases could be differentiated by distinct immunostaining for bcl-2 (P = 0.03). Immunohistochemical parameters HER-2 /neu, p53 and Ki-67 were not appropriate for the distinction between the two study groups. We conclude that the application of immunohistochemical analysis may play an important role in the differentiation between cases of simultaneous independent carcinomas of endometrium and ovary vs. cases of endometrial carcinoma with ovarian metastases.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗