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Biomedical subjects

S Berman

Publications and source records attributed to S Berman.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1971

Inactivated eastern equine encephalomyelitis vaccines prepared in monolayer and concentrated suspension chick embryo cultures.

Eastern equine encephalomyelitis vaccines were prepared with virus propagated in stationary monolayer cultures and in concentrated suspension cultures of primary chick embryo cells. Virus pools for vaccine preparation were inactivated by three different methods: 0.05% formalin, 41 C heat, and 0.16% beta-propiolactone. Heat-and beta-propiolactone-inactivated vaccines maintained high hemagglutinating titers in the fluid state for at least 10 months, whereas formalin-inactivated vaccines lost their hemagglutinating activity within a few hours after treatment. The hemagglutinin of beta-propiolactone-inactivated virus particles was more dense than the hemagglutinin of the parent virus particles, as determined by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The increase in density may be due to the degradation or removal of the lipid from the virus envelope. When administered to guinea pigs, all three vaccines stimulated hemagglutination-inhibiting, complement-fixing, and neutralizing antibodies and afforded protection against a live virus challenge. Test results showed that vaccines prepared with virus propagated in concentrated suspension cultures were more immunogenic and stimulated greater serologic responses in guinea pigs than vaccines derived from monolayer-propagated virus. The beta-propiolactone-inactivated vaccine was most protective, the heat-inactivated (41 C) vaccine next, and the formalin-inactivated vaccine least potent.

Animals↗
PubMed1970

Pulse labeling of RNA of mammalian cells.

When cells from a hypotetraploid strain of Ehrlich ascites tumor are exposed to uridine-(3)H either in vivo or in vitro, the amount of radioactivity incorporated into RNA reaches a maximum within ten minutes, after which any further incorporation stops. (3)H-uridine triphosphate disappears from the acid soluble pool within 30 minutes and the findings indicate that the RNA of these cells can be pulse labeled without the use of any antibiotic or the need of a "chase." The stability of the pulse labeled RNA in the presence of pentobarbital (an inhibitor of RNA synthesis) indicates the virtual absence of RNA breakdown. However, actinomycin D, at a dosage of 250 mug/mouse in vivo and 10 mug/ml in vitro produces breakdown of labeled RNA, thus confirming earlier observations that the drug is not a suitable tool for RNA kinetics determinations. The pulse-labeled RNA leaves the nucleus slowly and some radioactive RNA is still present in the nuclear fraction after 24 hours. Radioactivity begins to appear in cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA after 20 minutes and continues to increase up to six hours.

Animals↗
PubMed1968

Freeze-drying various strains of Shigella.

Of six candidate strains of Shigella prepared in Brain Heart Infusion broth as freeze-dried vaccine, low survival rates were obtained with two of the most promising strains. Survival rates with these two strains were increased to acceptable levels when the organisms were suspended in a medium consisting of 8.2% sucrose, 0.01 M phosphate, 0.07% monosodium glutamate, and 2.5% human serum albumin. Alteration of the freezing temperature did not improve the recovery rates significantly.

Bacterial Vaccines↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of maternal-fetal medicine subspecialization on the frequency of trial of labor in term pregnancies with breech presentation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of subspecialization in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) on the frequency of a trial of labor in term pregnancies with breech presentation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 332 singleton pregnancies > or =37 weeks with nonfootling breech presentation that delivered over a 6-year period (1994-1998) at a university-based, tertiary care hospital. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether the delivery was attended by an MFM or non-MFM obstetrician-gynecologist. Demographic and clinical data were compared between groups and outcome variables included whether the patient had an attempt at vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery after a labor attempt, or vaginal breech delivery. RESULTS: The frequency of labor attempt (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9-2.3), vaginal breech success rate (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-1.5), and overall cesarean rates (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5-1.7) were similar between groups. Using discriminant function analysis, only nulliparity (R2 = 1.6%, F = 6.0, P = 0.005) and birthweight (R2 = 2.0% F = 6.4, P = 0.01) were associated with trial of vaginal delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Subspecialization in MFM had no impact on the frequency of trial of labor in the term pregnancy with a breech presentation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of sexual function, interest and activity in depressed men.

Sexual function, interest, and activity were assessed in drug-free outpatient depressed men (n = 26) and in age-matched healthy control men (n = 20) by means of the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI), a retrospective sexual function questionnaire (SFQ), and a prospective daily sexual function log. Good test-retest reliability over 1 month was demonstrated for the DSFI and the SFQ in depressives and controls. Compared to healthy controls, depressed men reported significantly lower sexual interest and satisfaction, but no less sexual activity, on both retrospective questionnaires and prospective daily logs. Depressed men also showed significantly more negative body image and less 'manly' sexual role function as measured by the DSFI. Significant partial correlations (controlling for the effects of anxiety) were found between severity of depression and sexual interest, satisfaction, and role.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prenatal alcohol consumption. Self versus collateral report.

The reservations expressed about the accuracy of patient self-reports of drinking may be heightened when obtaining information about prenatal alcohol consumption, which may be subject to fears of social or medical disapproval. Thus, clinicians may seek collateral reports to confirm patients' reports during this critical time. The purpose of this study is to compare the self and collateral reports of antepartum alcohol consumption by 247 pregnant women, obtained shortly after the initiation of prenatal care, and again after delivery. Collateral reports of subjects were exceeded by the subjects' self-reports of alcohol consumption before pregnancy and in the antepartum.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of acute respiratory infections in children of developing countries.

Acute respiratory infections cause four and a half million deaths among children every year, the overwhelming majority occurring in developing countries. Pneumonia unassociated with measles causes 70% of these deaths; post-measles pneumonia, 15%; pertussis, 10%; and bronchiolitis and croup syndromes, 5%. Both bacterial and viral pathogens are responsible for these deaths. The most important bacterial agents are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus. The data on bacterial etiology of pneumonia during the first 3 months of life are limited, and almost no information on the role of chlamydia and pertussis in this age period is available. The distribution of viral pathogens in developing countries can be summarized as follows: respiratory syncytial virus, 15%-20%; parainfluenza viruses, 7%-10%; and influenza A and B viruses and adenovirus, 2%-4%. Mixed viral and bacterial infections occur frequently. Risk factors that increase the incidence and severity of lower respiratory infection in developing countries include large family size, lateness in the birth order, crowding, low birth weight, malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, lack of breast feeding, pollution, and young age. Effective interventions for prevention and medical case management are urgently needed to save the lives of many children predisposed to severe disease.

Acute Disease↗