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Biomedical subjects

S Ruben

Publications and source records attributed to S Ruben.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Emergency department visits and hospitalizations for respiratory disease on the island of Hawaii, 1981 to 1991.

This study examined trends in and patterns of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for respiratory disease on the island of Hawaii from 1981 to 1991. We found that emergency department visit rates and hospitalization rates for both asthma and COPD for 1987 to 1991 increased in all regions of the island in comparison with such rates for 1981 to 1986. Rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, but not asthma, were significantly higher in the high-exposure Kona side of the island than in the intermittent-exposure Hilo side of the island during 1983 and 1988 to 1990. We also found that during the weeks that winds were from the west, blowing volcanic air pollution toward Hilo, emergency department visits for asthma increased 15%. Some of the results of our study support the hypothesis that volcanic air pollution affects respiratory health on the island of Hawaii, while other results do not. Any future studies should include measurements of air pollutant levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Iso-electric focusing of aqueous humour IgG in multiple sclerosis.

Samples of aqueous fluid were obtained from 35 "controls" who were people undergoing routine cataract surgery. Similar samples were taken from seven patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and a previous history of optic neuritis, either at cataract surgery or as an elective procedure. Oligoclonal bands were found in only one subject who suffered from the MS-uveitis syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Retrobulbar botulinum toxin for treatment of oscillopsia.

Two cases are presented in which multiple episodic retrobulbar botulinum toxin injections have diminished incapacitating acquired oscillopsia and nystagmus and improved visual acuity. One transient ptosis occurred in six procedures. Improvement duration averaged approximately three months. This is a simple, safe and effective therapy where alternative treatments are typically unsatisfactory.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The visual outcome of peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes.

Twenty eyes with age related peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes were studied retrospectively to establish visual outcome in relation to treatment with argon laser, position and size. There was no statistical difference in final visual acuity in relation to laser treatment, size of membrane, nor position of the membrane at presentation. Despite these findings, there is evidence that laser treatment may delay the progression of visual loss.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Correlation of peripheral displacement thresholds and optic disc parameters in ocular hypertension.

Both peripheral displacement thresholds and measurement of optic disc parameters have been advocated in the early diagnosis of glaucoma at the stage before scotomata are detected on conventional visual field assessment. The peripheral movement displacement thresholds were measured in 50 eyes of 50 patients with ocular hypertension and a significant correlation was found with neuroretinal rim areas measured using a computerised image system. There was also a significant correlation with optic disc diameter but no correlation with cup-disc ratio. The results support the proposition that measurement of peripheral movement displacement thresholds may be a useful tool in the detection of early glaucomatous optic nerve damage.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1994

Estimation of optic disc size using indirect biomicroscopy.

The use of the 90 dioptre fundus lens in conjunction with slit-lamp biomicroscopy as a method of estimating optic size was evaluated in a series of 37 patients. The measurements taken from the Haag-Streit slit-lamp were compared with values obtained planimetrically in order to assess a conversion factor and also the reliability of the method. This technique is a quick and easy method of obtaining an estimate of optic nerve head size in the clinic, but cannot replace more accurate methods of optic disc planimetry.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Ab interno pulsed dye laser sclerostomy for the treatment of glaucoma: preliminary results of a new technique.

Ab interno gonioscopic laser sclerostomy in conjunction with iontophoretic staining of the sclera was performed on 12 patients with end-stage glaucoma in order to ascertain the feasibility of the technique. In 9 of 12 patients (75%) a visible sclerostomy was formed and mean intraocular pressure (IOP) dropped from 36.3 mmHg prior to treatment to 25.3 mmHg at 1 week, a fall of 30.3%. The drop in IOP was maintained throughout a 3-month follow-up period, with 6 of 11 patients having IOP controlled below 21 mmHG. The procedure is described together with our preliminary results, and possible advantages and areas of improvement for the technique are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The incidence of complications associated with retrobulbar injection of anaesthetic for ophthalmic surgery.

A retrospective study of the incidence of complications associated with the use of retrobulbar injections was carried out on a sample of 1083 consecutive patients. The overall incidence of retrobulbar haemorrhage (1.3%) compared favourably with previous reports, but was found to be related to the experience of the surgeon. None of the more serious ocular complications of retrobulbar injection occurred in this sample. The relative safety of this technique is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Pituitary adenoma presenting as the Foster-Kennedy syndrome.

A 27-year-old man presented to the casualty department with visual failure. Clinically he demonstrated the Foster-Kennedy syndrome. Computed tomography revealed a large space-occupying lesion which was subsequently shown to be a pituitary adenoma. The literature is reviewed and possible mechanisms of the Foster-Kennedy syndrome are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pseudallescheria Boydii keratitis.

Pseudallescheria Boydii is one of the rarer organisms known to cause mycotic keratitis, only 13 previous cases having been reported in the literature. What is believed to be the first case of Pseudallescheria Boydii keratitis successfully treated with topical Miconazole is reported here.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1989

The human immunodeficiency virus rev protein is a nuclear phosphoprotein.

The human Immunodeficiency virus rev protein is one of several key regulatory proteins involved in the control of viral structural protein synthesis and replication. In this report, we identify the 20-kDa rev protein as a nuclear phosphoprotein. Post-translational modification was observed solely on serine residues. In vitro kinase reactions utilizing a derivative of Rev purified from Escherichia coli identified a nuclear kinase capable of phosphorylating exogenously added rev protein. Our results suggest that the nuclear kinase activity observed in vitro is likely to be responsible for the in vivo post-translational modification of Rev.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Structural and functional characterization of human immunodeficiency virus tat protein.

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify functional domains present within the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tat protein. Transient cotransfection experiments showed that derivatives of tat protein with amino acid substitutions either at the amino-terminal end or at cysteine residue 22, 37, 27, or 25 were no longer able to transactivate HIV long terminal repeat-directed gene expression. Incubation of Tat expressed in Escherichia coli with zinc demonstrated that both authentic Tat and cysteine mutation derivatives could form metal-protein complexes. The tat proteins that contained alterations within the cluster of positively charged amino acid residues retained their ability to transactivate gene expression, albeit at markedly reduced levels. Indirect immunofluorescence showed that the authentic tat protein and the amino-terminal and cysteine substitution mutants all localized in the nucleus, with accumulation being most evident in the nucleolus. In contrast, nuclear accumulation was greatly reduced with the basic-substitution mutations. Consistent with this result, a fusion protein that contained amino acids GRKKR, derived from the basic region, fused to the amino-terminal end of beta-galactosidase also accumulated within the nucleus. These results demonstrate that the 14-kilodalton tat protein contains at least three distinct functional domains affecting localization and transactivation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Functional significance of phosphorylation to the human immunodeficiency virus Rev protein.

The human immunodeficiency virus Rev protein is posttranslationally modified by a serine kinase activity present in the nucleus of the cell. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify the site of phosphorylation. Changing of serine residues 92 and 99 dramatically reduced Rev phosphorylation, suggesting that at least one, if not both, of these residues is the one recognized by the Rev-specific serine kinase. Similarly, a truncated Rev protein lacking the 25 carboxy-terminal amino acids was not phosphorylated. By using two independent assays, both the serine mutant proteins and the truncated form of Rev were found to be fully functional. Thus, phosphorylation and the 25 carboxy-terminal amino acids appear to be dispensable for protein function.

Gene Products, tat↗
PubMed1988

Cellular transcription factors and regulation of IL-2 receptor gene expression by HTLV-I tax gene product.

Expression of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R alpha) gene is activated by the transcriptional activator protein, Tax (previously referred to as the tat gene product), encoded by the human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I). Multiple protein binding sites for specific DNA-protein interactions were identified over the upstream IL-2R alpha transcriptional regulatory sequences. However, only one region, which includes the sequence motif GGGGAATCTCCC, was required for activation by both the tax gene product and mitogenic stimulation. Remarkably, this sequence also bound the nuclear factor NF kappa B, which is important for induction of kappa-immunoglobulin gene expression. A model is presented whereby regulation of cellular gene expression by the HTLV-I tax gene product occurs via an indirect mechanism that may involve a post-translational modification of preexistent cellular transcription factors.

Base Sequence↗