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Biomedical subjects

Z Klein

Publications and source records attributed to Z Klein.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Application of comparative genomic hybridization technique for detection of chromosomal aberrations in benign cystic teratoma.

Benign cystic teratoma, also known as dermoid cyst, is the most common of all ovarian neoplasms accounting for 10%-20% of all ovarian cysts. Most have a normal 46,XX karyotype. Less than 2% can undergo malignant transformation. By using the comparative genomic hybridization technique on nine benign ovarian cysts we were able to show two cases with chromosomal aberrations not seen before in dermoid cysts but known to be involved in malignant ovarian tumors. We speculate that these are the tumors carrying the potential for malignant transformation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Replication pattern of the p53 and 21q22 loci in the premalignant and malignant stages of carcinoma of the cervix.

BACKGROUND: Loss of replication synchrony during the S-phase of the cell cycle has been shown to be associated with aneuploidy in malignant cells. METHODS: The replication pattern of cervical cells obtained from normal patients and from patients with preinvasive and invasive carcinoma of the cervix was evaluated. The fluorescence in situ hybridization technique was applied to Papanicolaou smear slides using p53 and 21q22 loci. Asynchrony was determined by the presence of one single and one set of double dots in the same cell. RESULTS: The rate of asynchrony in low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was not significantly different from that of normal controls. However, the rate of asynchrony was significantly higher in the high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and even higher in the invasive carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe these results reflect impairment of the replication control of homologous loci and that this phenomenon may be correlated to the phenotype of the tumor.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21↗
PubMed1996

Polyserositis as an unusual sign of methotrexate toxicity.

We present a 46-year-old patient who underwent an abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for persistent trophoblastic disease. Single-agent chemotherapy with alternate methotrexate 1 mg/kg/day and leucovorin 0.1 mg/kg for 8 days was instituted on the first postoperative day. Various adverse symptomatology developed, culminating in a unique side effect, polyserositis. To the best of our knowledge, the wide spectrum of side effects, the short time lapse after onset of chemotherapy, and their severity are uncommon in a patient receiving her first chemotherapeutic treatment with MTX.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1996

Low molecular heparin (Enoxaparin) as an alternative treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis in gynecologic oncology patients.

While heparin has been the standard treatment in established deep vein thrombosis (DVT), it carries associated potential hazards of hemorrhage and induction of thrombocytopenia. Enoxaparin (Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharm. Inc., France) is a low molecular weight heparin which has antithrombotic properties, and has been demonstrated effective in prophylaxis of DVT, apparently without severe treatment related bleeding complications. Six patients with genital malignancies, presenting with Doppler sonography confirmed deep venous thrombosis, were treated with Enoxaparin. A uniform dosage of 2 mg/kg/day in two divided doses was administered subcutaneously for 10 days during hospitalization and then continued on an out-patient basis. The clinical symptoms of venous thromboses diminished in all six patients. Enoxaparin represents an effective treatment of DVT, with the potential advantage of a lessening hemorrhagic complications. With administration of low molecular heparin, the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is not dramatically altered, making laboratory monitoring unnecessary. Our clinical findings demonstrate an easily applied therapy for gynecologic oncology patients, which is potentially safer to use, less costly, and less dependent on laboratory monitoring than the normal regimen.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Psychometric characteristics of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS): reliability and factor structure for men and women.

The goals of this study were to examine the factor structure of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), to evaluate potential gender differences in factor composition, and to assess the reliability of the scale. The WURS was completed by 310 fathers and 305 mothers of children referred for evaluation of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For males, a five-factor solution (Conduct Problems, Learning Problems, Stress Intolerance, Attention Problems, Poor Social Skills/Awkward) accounted for 72 percent of the variance. There was also a five-factor solution for females (Dysphoria, Impulsive/Conduct, Learning Problems, Attention and Organizational Problems, Unpopular) which accounted for 71 percent of the variance. Symptoms of inattention and impulsivity loaded on separate factors for both men and for women. Test-retest reliability was examined with a different sample of 57 adults who completed the WURS on two separate occasions, 1 month apart. The WURS demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and temporal stability, and it may be a useful tool for the study of ADHD in adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of the prenylated protein methyltransferase in human endometrial carcinoma.

The processing of ras and of other GTP-binding proteins includes a final reversible step in which the carboxy terminal prenylated cysteine is methylated by the enzyme prenylated protein methyltransferase (PPMTase). The significance of this modification and of the role of PPMTase in human tumors has yet to be fully elucidated. Here we characterize the PPMTase of human endometrial carcinomas (tumors in which the frequency of ras gene mutations is relatively high) and compare it to the PPMTase of the normal endometrium. Our results show that in both types of tissues the enzyme is bound to the membranes. It can utilize synthetic substrates such as N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-L-cysteine (Km = 18-20 microM) and is blocked by the PPMTase inhibitor S-farnesylthioacetic acid (Ki = 2 microM). In vitro methylation assays and [alpha-32P]GTP blot-overlay assays showed that the major endogenous PPMTase substrates are small GTP-binding proteins. Methylation of these proteins in vitro is blocked by farnesylthioacetic acid. The kinetic properties of PPMTase from the carcinomas and the normal tissues are very similar. However, levels of PPMTase activity (but not of its endogenous substrates) are higher in the carcinomatous endometrium than in the normal one. The elevated enzyme activity is restricted to the crude mitochondrial fraction (8.0 +/- 0.4 vs. 5.4 +/- 0.1 pmol N-acetyl farnesylcysteine methyl ester formed/min/mg protein by the carcinoma and by the normal endometrial preparations, respectively). As this fraction is enriched in plasma membranes, it appears that the elevated enzyme activity could be related to ras protein methylation; if so, selective methylation blockers might inhibit the growth of endometrial carcinomas.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

The significance of plasma progesterone levels during early pregnancies achieved after in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Corpus luteum steroidogenesis is lower for in vivo ectopic pregnancy than for intrauterine pregnancy. There is a progesterone hallmark level distinguishing between viable intrauterine pregnancy and nonviable or ectopic pregnancy. This study attempts to answer whether this is also true for in vitro fertilization-treated patients. STUDY DESIGN: Using information retrieved from a computerized database, we compared the plasma 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone during the luteal phase and for every 2 to 3 days for several weeks during early pregnancy between those patients with proven ectopic pregnancies and those with singleton and multiple intrauterine pregnancies. Vaginal ultrasonography to detect an intrauterine gestational sac was performed from day 19. A total of 73 pregnancies resulted from the replacement of fresh embryos in our in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program. RESULTS: Only at day 10 post embryo transfer did those patients with ectopic pregnancy show statistically lower mean (SD) serum levels of E2 [2257 (SD, 2351) pmol/L] and plasma progesterone [PP; 221 (SD, 283) nmol/L] compared with patients with intrauterine pregnancy, whose mean E2 was 8846 (SD, 5871) pmol/L and mean PP was 805 (SD, 582) nmol/L (P = 0.008). For the rest of the follow-up until surgery was performed in ectopic pregnancy, there were no differences of statistical significance between extrauterine pregnancy and the intrauterine pregnancy groups. Furthermore, only on day 10 post embryo transfer, did we find a discriminatory zone (confidence interval, 95%) for E2 levels (903 to 3502 pmol/L for EP vs 6116 to 9493 pmol/L for a singleton and 4875 to 9493 pmol/L for multiple pregnancies). PP levels were 26 to 283 nmol/L for ectopic pregnancy versus 496 to 1096 nmol/L for both singleton and multiple pregnancies. An intrauterine gestational sac was visualized at a mean of 23.2 (SD, 4) days after embryo transfer. On this day, the mean P levels were 982.6 (SD, 286.2) nmol/L for intrauterine and 804.5 (SD, 502.4) nmol/L for ectopic pregnancies (P = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Except for day 10 post embryo transfer, the steroidogenesis in ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization treatment does not differ from successful intrauterine pregnancy. This observation negates an impaired steroidogenesis for ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and makes the PP level irrelevant in the diagnosis of pregnancy implantation.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗