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Biomedical subjects

R M Levine

Publications and source records attributed to R M Levine.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Making sense of symptoms: self-categorization and the meaning of illness and injury.

A central theme in both medical sociology and health psychology is how people make sense of their symptoms. Both literatures, despite their stress on different aspects of the health evaluation process, see illness in terms of matching present symptoms to an underlying understanding of illness. In this paper we argue that such accounts have difficulty in explaining the impact of contextual factors on how symptoms are evaluated. We therefore propose a model based on self-categorization theory (Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher & Wetherell, 1987). It is proposed that symptoms are evaluated, not against pre-existing illness representations, but by reference to their impact on situationally salient identities. In support of this and experiment is described which involves students who are training to be physical education (PE) teachers. They are defined either in terms of a 'PE student' identity or in terms of a 'gender' identity and asked to evaluate a number of scenarios which describe different illnesses and injuries. Overall, the results provide clear evidence that the significance ascribed to scenarios depends on which identity is salient and hence indicate the viability of a self-categorization theory approach to symptom evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Headache and acute illness in children.

Thirty-seven children with headaches who were seen in a walk-in clinic were matched to 37 headache-free controls. Thirty percent of the headache group and 11% of the headache-free control group had a body temperature above 38 degrees C (p less than 0.05). Nonrhythmic pain was more commonly associated with fever than was rhythmic pain (p less than 0.05). Of 34 headache subjects who completed questionnaires, those with more intense headaches reported a greater number of headache-exacerbating factors (p less than 0.01). Bilateral headaches were more painful than unilateral headaches, and in two thirds of the subjects, the intensity of pain paralleled the course of the underlying illness. A family history of migraine was more common in the headache group as compared to the headache-free control group (p less than 0.05). Headaches associated with acute illnesses may be a precursor to later migraine.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Effects of estrogen and tamoxifen on the regulation of dihydrofolate reductase gene expression in a human breast cancer cell line.

We have studied the effects of estrogen and the antiestrogen tamoxifen on the regulation of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene expression in a methotrexate-resistant (MTXR) human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, which contains a 50-fold increase in the level of DHFR enzyme and amplified DHFR gene sequences. Despite their selection for methotrexate resistance, the MTXR cells have retained many characteristics of the parental MCF-7 cell line. Concentrations of estrogen receptors as well as their binding affinity to estradiol are identical in both cell lines. MTXR MCF-7 cells remain sensitive to estrogen and respond to estradiol with an induction of progesterone receptors, as well as increases in the rate of DNA synthesis and cell growth. Incubation of MTXR MCF-7 cells with estradiol results in an additional 1.5- to 3.0-fold increase in their already elevated level of DHFR. The hormone-induced increases in DNA synthesis and DHFR levels are similar both with respect to the time course of inductions, as well as their dose response to estradiol. However, these two estrogen-induced effects are not coupled, since the induction of DHFR occurs even in the absence of concomitant DNA synthesis. Estradiol has no effect on DHFR enzyme stability; thus, the entire effect of estrogen on DHFR levels results from the increased synthesis of this housekeeping enzyme. In contrast, treatment of MTXR MCF-7 cells with the antiestrogen tamoxifen reduces the rate of DHFR enzyme synthesis, resulting in lower cellular levels of DHFR. These MTXR MCF-7 cells represent a useful model in which to study the mechanisms involved in the modulation of DHFR gene expression by estrogen and tamoxifen. Since the level of DHFR is a critical determinant of methotrexate cytotoxicity understanding, the regulation of DHFR gene expression may have clinical implications for the use of hormonal therapy in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1983

Rh mosaicism and aberrant MNSs antigen expression in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

This is, to our knowledge, the first report of combined Rh and MNSs antigen alteration in a leukemic patient. Red blood cells of a chronic myelogenous leukemia patient demonstrated mixed field reactions with anti-Rho (D) reagents in August 1980. Earlier tests indicated he was Rho (D) positive in 1967, but Rho (D) and Du negative from 1973 to 1980. Titration studies with anti-hr' (c) and anti-hr" (e) indicated depressed expression, and there was also very weak s expression. One hundred per cent of cells studied from 1967 to 1980 were Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) positive. No abnormalities in chromosomes associated with the Rh or MNSs blood groups 1 and 4, respectively, were noted. Phenotypes from August 1980 through September 1981 revealed normalization of red blood cell antigen status with an increase of Rho (D) positive cells from 35% to 100%. Chromosomal studies in October, 1980 and June, 1981 revealed Ph1 mosaicism with 25 and 75% Ph1 negative cells, respectively. These findings suggest that normalization of previously altered red blood cell antigen expression may reflect resurgence of normal stem cell lines.

Female↗
PubMed1983

Intralesional corticosteroids in the treatment of nodulocystic acne.

We evaluated the effectiveness of intralesional injections of corticosteroids in the therapy for nodulocystic acne. Triamcinolone acetonide at a concentration of 0.63 mg/mL was as efficacious as a higher concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. Betamethasone phosphate had little, if any, effect on nodulocystic acne lesions at concentrations of 3.0, 1.5, and 0.75 mg/mL, when compared with saline controls.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1982

Dihydrofolate reductase gene amplification and possible rearrangement in estrogen-responsive methotrexate-resistant human breast cancer cells.

Methotrexate-resistant (MTXR) human breast cancer cells have been obtained which are 1000-fold less sensitive to this drug than the wild type MCF-7 cells from which they were derived. The resistant cells contain approximately a 25-fold increase in the activity of the target enzyme dihydrofolate (DHF) reductase. Enzyme inhibition studies and methotrexate affinity studies fail to reveal any difference in the DHF reductase present in the MTXR cells compared to wild type MCF-7 cells. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrates the presence of elongated marker chromosomes in the resistant cells which are not found in the parental cell line. Analysis of the DNA from MTXR and wild type MCF-7 cells using Southern blot hybridization indicates that the MTXR MCF-7 cells contain more copies of DHF reductase gene sequences than do wild type MCF-7 cells. These experiments also suggest that the amplified DHF reductase gene sequences in MTXR cells may have undergone a uniform structural rearrangement involving the 5' flanking sequences during the process of amplification. MTXR MCF-7 cells respond to estradiol by increasing cell growth, and the level of DHF reductase in the MTXR cells is further induced following administration of estradiol. Radiolabeling studies demonstrate that estrogen stimulates the actual synthesis of DHF reductase in human breast cancer cells.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

Drug interactions with brain biogenic amines and the effects of amphetamine isomers on locomotor activity.

Administration of single IP doses of 1.0 or 4.0 mg/kg of d-amphetamine evoked an increase in mouse spontaneous motor activity (SMA); in contrast, 1.0 mg/kg of l-amphetamine had no significant effect, while 4.0 mg/kg caused a decreased SMA. Pretreatment with aMT or pargyline had little effect on the actions of the l-isomer, but reduced the magnitude and duration of the stimulatory effect of d-amphetamine. Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine had little effect on the actions of d-amphetamine but completely abolished the depressant actions of the l-isomer. Reserpine pretreatment markedly reduced basal SMA levels; such pretreatment caused both d- and l-amphetamine to act as stimulants of SMA.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1977

Drug interactions on body temperature maintenance in the mouse.

Exposure of mice to an environmental temperature leads to a loss of body temperature and death in 5-6 hours. Intraperitoneal injection of water or d-amphetamine exacerbates this effect, while caffeine has a modest antagonistic effect. The combination of caffeine and d-amphetamine is synergistic and leads to a rapid loss in body temperature with death occurring in less than 3 hours.

Animals↗