PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Tepper

Publications and source records attributed to R Tepper.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Beta-endorphin levels in the follicular fluid of human oocytes fertilized in vitro.

This study was carried out in order to investigate the relationship between beta-endorphin (beta-ep) levels in plasma and follicular fluid and fertilization rates of oocytes from women undergoing treatment in our in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program. Nine women suffering from severe tubal damage, with regular menstrual cycles, were studied. Follicular growth was induced with clomiphene citrate, combined with human menopausal gonadotropins. Analysis of follicular fluids and plasma showed no significant difference in beta-ep levels. The larger follicles (greater than 2 ml volume) had significantly higher beta-ep levels than smaller follicles (less than 2 ml volume; p less than 0.001); however, there was no significant difference in the fertilization rates of their oocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

TNF, interferon-gamma and cell-mediated cytotoxicity in anorexia nervosa; effect of refeeding.

"Natural" cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC), spontaneous release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by mononuclear cells in vitro and PHA-induced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production were examined by standard methods (confirmed by neutralization with monoclonal antibodies) in 14 female patients with marked weight loss due to anorexia nervosa (AN) and 16 matched healthy controls. We found a significant increase in TNF production in AN, as well as a depressed CMC and IFN-gamma production. Following successful refeeding and nutritional rehabilitation of the AN patients, all results normalized to levels similar to those of controls. Thus, undernutrition in AN is accompanied by changes in cytokines and defective "natural" cytotoxicity. The implications in vivo are unclear but our findings may reflect nutritional-related immunodeficiency in AN and moreover, the increased TNF-release may further suppress food intake and enhance tissue catabolism in anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of five clomiphene citrate dosage regimens: follicular recruitment and distribution in the human ovary.

One hundred fifty-six women with cycle disorders presenting as absence or infrequency of ovulation and with luteal phase deficiency (group II, according to the World Health Organization classification) received clomiphene citrate (CC) for ovulation induction. The administered dosage ranged from 50 to 250 mg/d. The follicular development in terms of numbers of small (less than 8 mm), intermediate (9 to 15 mm), and large (greater than 15 mm) follicles and their distribution in either one or both ovaries on the day of assumed ovulation was related to the dosage of CC. A statistically significant increase was found in the total number of follicles in relation to the dosage of CC (P less than 0.003). In view of the development of the mature follicles, the gradual increase in CC daily dosage was thought to be associated with additional mature follicles before ovulation. However, this increased follicular recruitment was not regarded as statistically significant. Treatment with low doses of CC resulted in follicular development in only one ovary, whereas increased follicular recruitment after high CC dosage was found in association with follicular development in both ovaries.

Clomiphene↗
PubMed1989

Serum growth hormone binding protein activity in healthy neonates, children and young adults: correlation with age, height and weight.

Serum growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) activity was estimated in healthy neonates (n = 6), children and adolescents (n = 97) and young adults (n = 19). GHBP activity was measured by incubating 125I-hGH (human growth hormone) (approximately 25,000 c.p.m.) with serum (100 microliters) in the presence and in the absence of excess unlabelled hGH, followed by separation of specifically bound 125I-hGHBP complexes from free 125I-hGH by gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA44 minicolumns. The results are expressed as the percentage specific binding relative to an adult reference serum (%RSB), after correction for endogenous hGH of the unknown serum. The between-assay coefficients of variation for two sera of %RSB activity of 51.2 and 115.4% were 6.0 and 7.0% respectively. In neonates, low values of serum GHBP were found (%RSB = 27.1 +/- 5.0 SEM) followed by a major rise during the first 6 years of life to a mean value (%RSB = 68.3 +/- 4.1 SEM) which more than doubled that of neonates. Thereafter, values rose progressively throughout childhood and puberty to reach maximum values in young adults (%RSB = 95.0 +/- 3.1 SEM). A novel observation was that serum GHBP activity correlated significantly with height standard deviation score (SDS) (males: r = 0.77, P less than 0.001; females: r = 0.56, P = 0.01) and weight SDS (P less than 0.001) for both sexes before puberty. During puberty GHBP correlated only with weight SDS in males (r = 0.60, P less than 0.01). In all age groups studied, no correlation could be found between serum GHBP and height velocity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Novel application of video image processing to biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

ALADIN (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) is an automated instrument that uses video imaging (computer-assisted guided video camera) for the determination of biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility test reactions. This collaborative investigation compared video-generated results obtained with ALADIN with visually determined findings. Both approaches were used to view identical reactions. Overall agreement for biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility tests was greater than 95%. This study demonstrates that video imaging is an acceptable approach for determining microbial responses to biochemical and antimicrobial agents and may provide, with appropriate computer modifications, more accurate and reproducible results than are possible by visual scrutiny.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed1988

The effect of clomiphene citrate and tamoxifen on the cervical mucus.

The anti-estrogenic effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) and tamoxifen (TMX) on cervical mucus was evaluated in a prospective crossover study. Ten women underwent randomized alternate cyclical treatment with either 100 mg CC, 40 mg TMX daily, or with placebo. The effect of CC, TMX and placebo on serum estradiol (E2), cervical mucus secretion and on the development of ovarian follicles was evaluated. Compared with placebo, treatment with CC and TMX significantly increased the number of mature ovarian follicles on the day of assumed ovulation (p less than 0.05), elevated E2 secretion (p less than 0.05) and decreased cervical score (p less than 0.05). It can be concluded that anti-estrogenic agents reduced the secretion of cervical mucus. However, in most cases, the excessive E2 production due to multiple follicular growth overcomes the anti-estrogenic effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Ultrasonic assessment of fetal colon by comparing ratios of colon circumference to abdominal circumference in normal pregnancy and two abnormal cases. A preliminary study.

Fetal gastrointestinal malformations occur with an incidence of approximately 6/1,000 births and can often be diagnosed in utero by ultrasound. Antenatal knowledge of these abnormalities can potentially decrease fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality because the appropriate preparations can be made in advance of delivery. Changes in ultrasonic images of the fetal colon were measured by comparing ratios of colon circumference to abdominal circumference in 136 normal pregnancies. Normal values of these parameters are given for gestational age. Two abnormal case reports are included to exemplify the clinical applications.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of pulmonary parenchymal disease by magnetic resonance imaging.

Thirty-eight patients with a wide variety of different disorders of the lung have been imaged using magnetic resonance. The disorders studied include congenital abnormalities, acute and chronic inflammation, vascular disorders, primary and secondary tumours of the lung, haematomas and infarcts. Magnetic resonance imaging identified all lesions seen on chest radiographs, but it is not quite as sensitive as computed tomography is for detection of very small abnormalities. Magnetic resonance may provide information to aid in differentiation of a wide variety of disorders causing diffuse pulmonary abnormality and might also prove helpful in differentiating acute inflammation from pulmonary collapse or fibrosis. In some disorders, such as lobar emphysema, cystic adenomatoid malformation and sequestration, the findings on the magnetic resonance scan alone will permit a correct diagnosis to be made in many cases. It is believed that magnetic resonance imaging has more potential for pulmonary imaging than has previously been recognised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Menopausal hot flushes and plasma beta-endorphins.

Plasma beta-endorphin levels were measured in five women in physiologic menopause suffering from frequent episodes of hot flushes, recorded objectively by the measurement of finger temperature. Significantly lower levels of plasma beta-endorphin levels were found at the onset of the hot flushes than five to 20 minutes before (P less than .001). After the flush there was a significant rise of plasma beta-endorphin levels at five, ten, and 15 minutes (P less than .002).

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1983

A polypeptide secreted by transformed cells that modulates human plasminogen activator production.

A diffusible factor produced and secreted by malignant murine cells was capable of inducing plasminogen activator production by normal diploid human fibroblasts. The factor's ability to induce plasminogen activator was insensitive to treatment with nucleases, but its activity was destroyed by digestion with proteases. It is proposed that such a factor would play a role in malignancy if it would recruit normal cells that were adjacent to transformed cells to produce plasminogen activator which could result in tumor-promoted proteolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Modulation and mapping of a human plasminogen activator by cell fusion.

Neoplastic cells, transformed cells and some normal mammalian cells secrete large amounts of plasminogen activator (PA), an arginine-specific protease which converts plasminogen to plasmin. To study the regulation of PA, we have obtained two classes of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids. PG19, a mouse PA+ cell line, was fused with C32 (human PA+) or human diploid fibroblasts (PA-). All hybrids secreted PA. Human- and mouse-specific forms of PA were distinguished in these hybrids by electrophoretic methods. While all hybrids produced the murine PA, many produced the human PA and some did not. All hybrids which produced human PA had chromosome 6 in common. The absence of each of the other human chromosomes did not affect PA expression, while the absence of chromosome 6 correlated with the lack of human PA. We conclude that chromosome 6 carries the structural gene for human PA. These experiments also show that the fusion of mouse PA+ cells with human PA- cells results in the activation of the human PA gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Value of experience of general practice in geriatric medicine.

This is a review of lessons learned during thirteen years in general practice and experience of caring for elderly patients in three different types of practice. Attitudes and relationships with general practitioners as a consultant geriatrician are described. There is comment on the future training of general practitioners in geriatric medicine, the value of prophylactic care and the use of geriatric clinics in health centres. The need is stressed for proper management of acute disease, the better use of drugs and of ancillary services and the correct handling of relatives. Death should be regarded as a positive and not a negative end to life.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Magnetic resonance imaging of inflammatory lung disorders: preliminary studies in children.

Magnetic resonance(MR) scans were performed on 14 children with a variety of inflammatory disorders of the lungs. MR successfully identified disease in all of the children and accurately localized the disease within the lung fields. In patients with pneumonia and lung abscesses the acute inflammation was associated with a marked increase in signal intensity on T2 when compared with T1 weighted images. One patient with an inflammatory pseudotumor demonstrated a smaller increase in signal intensity on T2 weighted images than was seen in acute pneumonia. Abscess cavities were well identified along with the wall thickness. In patients with diffuse lung disease (diffuse histoplasmosis, miliary tuberculosis, Letterer-Siwe disease, and allergic alveolitis), each disease appeared different on the MR images. These preliminary studies indicate that magnetic resonance imaging is effective for identifying pulmonary disease in children and may improve the radiologist's ability to differentiate pulmonary disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Granulosa cell tumors of the ovary: do they have any unique ultrasonographic and color Doppler flow features?

The aim of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic and Doppler flow attributes of granulosa cell tumors (GCT) of the ovary and to compare these attributes to those of epithelial tumors of the ovary. Among 13,475 gynecological patients who were scanned in our ultrasound unit between 1992 and 1996, seven patients had GCT. The final diagnosis was confirmed, postoperatively, by pathologic examination and by applying the WHO classification. The ultrasonographic findings of the GCT patients were compared to those recorded in a second group of 29 patients who had been diagnosed with epithelial tumor of the ovary. The sonographic appearance of GCT of the ovary was semi-solid and the endometrium was thick in six of the seven patients. Doppler flow studies of vessels within or in the contour of the lesions showed the resistive index (RI) to be 0.448 +/- 0.018. The epithelial tumors had a similar appearance and flow pattern except for the presence of ascites in one-third of the patients. Ultrasound scanning, including color Doppler flow, did not contribute data that could assist in differentiating between GCT and epithelial tumors of the ovary.

Adult↗