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Biomedical subjects

A Adam

Publications and source records attributed to A Adam.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Characterization of a 30,000-35,000 m.w. monokine involved in the specific immune response: intracellular production, secretion and partial purification.

Peritoneal macrophages from normal mice which do not secrete interleukin 1 (IL 1) spontaneously release a factor with an approximate m.w. of 30,000-35,000. In contrast, in the presence of silica only IL 1 is produced. IL 1 as well as this macrophage-replacing factor (MRF) can restore the antibody response of macrophage-depleted spleen cells. IL 1, however, is the only one that has the capacity to increase the proliferation of thymocytes. In every strain of mice studied, including nude mice, we observed a spontaneous release of MRF and a silica-induced shift to the secretion of IL 1, except in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice. Macrophages from these mice are unable to secrete MRF spontaneously, or IL 1 when stimulated with silica. The kinetics of the secretion of MRF and IL 1 appear to be similar. Macrophages, regardless of whether they have been stimulated to secrete IL 1, produce an intracellular IL 1-like activity with an approximate m.w. of 15,000. In contrast, the intracellular PFC-restoring activity is widely distributed in the 15,000-60,000 m.w. range; one of these compounds could be related to IL 1 precursor and/or to MRF itself. Chromatofocusing and chromatography on Blue Trisacryl have led to a partial purification and resolution from a possible contamination by IL 1. Purified MRF induces, in conjunction with lymphokines, the differentiation of B cells into antibody-forming cells.

Animals↗

Selective visceral angiography in obscure postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding.

Postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding may be difficult to diagnose and treat. Selective visceral angiography localised the bleeding site in seven out of ten episodes of obscure postoperative gastrointestinal haemorrhage, and in two cases radiological embolisation was used successfully to control the bleeding. Angiography, preferably during an episode of haemorrhage, is recommended whenever possible for patients with undiagnosed postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding.

Aged↗

An enzyme-linked immunoassay for direct measurement of the gelatin-binding capacity of human plasma fibronectin.

A new solid-phase enzyme immunoassay measuring the gelatin-binding capacity of plasma fibronectin has been developed. This assay is based on the direct and high-affinity interaction between fibronectin and gelatin coated to polyvinyl chloride plates. The amount of fibronectin bound to gelatin is then measured by sequential incubation with a specific rabbit anti-human fibronectin antiserum, with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG antibodies and with substrate. The final degradation of the substrate is read at 492-650 nm in an ELISA processor. The assay allows the accurate detection of fibronectin concentrations ranging from 1 to 20 micrograms/ml, is inhibited by the addition of gelatin to plasma, is highly reproducible (interplate CV less than 10%), requires 100 microliter of plasma only and has been fully automated. Significant linear correlations were noted between total antigenic fibronectin (measured by laser nephelometry) and fibronectin gelatin-binding capacity in plasma from 310 blood donors. Both parameters were higher in men than in women and significantly increased according to age. Dissociation between immunoreactive fibronectin and fibronectin gelatin-binding capacity was observed in two polytraumatized patients. This enzyme immunoassay therefore provides a new method to investigate functional alterations of the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin in various pathological conditions.

Adult↗

Plasma prokallikrein and kininogens in burned patients.

Using specific immunological (1) and enzymatic (2) methods, we have measured prokallikrein, total, high, and low molecular weight kininogens in 36 severely burned patients. At admission to the intensive care unit, all constituents were significantly decreased when compared to previously defined reference intervals. The values remained low during the three first days after burn. The changes affecting total and low molecular weight kininogens were significantly correlated (p less than 0.05) with the severity of the burn area. Prokallikrein and kininogens levels were also closely related to the concentrations of C3c and C4 complement factors.

Adult↗

The radiology of fibrolamellar hepatoma.

Seven patients with fibrolamellar hepatoma were examined with computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography and angiography. On CT the tumours were large, of low attenuation, had a well-defined edge and some contained areas of calcification or necrosis. Ultrasonography revealed well-defined masses of mixed echogenicity, occasionally involving the portal vein. In one patient there was dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary tree. Arteriography showed vascular tumours with involvement of the portal vein in five cases and compression of the inferior vena cava in five cases. CT and ultrasonography are the most useful radiological investigations for suggesting the diagnosis of fibrolamellar hepatoma which should be considered in the case of any large solitary well-defined hepatic tumour in the noncirrhotic liver of a young person.

Adolescent↗

Acute phase plasma proteins in kininogen-deficient Brown Norway rats.

We examined whether Brown Norway rat plasma (BN/May Pfd f) contains alpha 1-cysteine proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-CPI), also called major acute phase alpha 1-protein or T-kininogen. T-kininogen is a low molecular weight kininogen from which kinin can be released by trypsin but not by kallikreins. The BN plasma reacted with rabbit anti-alpha 1-CPI gamma globulins. Purified alpha 1-CPI released a kinin-like activity with trypsin and with homogenate of salivary glands, as Brown Norway rat plasma did. High concentration of added rat urine induced a small release (10%) of kinin from alpha 1-CPI. Preincubation of Brown Norway rat plasma with rabbit anti-rat alpha 1-CPI gamma-globulins nearly suppressed the kinin-forming substrate of trypsin in this plasma. These results indicated that plasma of our Brown Norway rats contains only alpha 1-CPI as kinin-forming substrate. This plasma contains low amount of alpha 2-macroglobulin, while its content in orosomucoid and haptoglobin was a little larger than that of Wistar rat plasma.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Differentiating muscle damage from myocardial injury by means of the serum creatine kinase (CK) isoenzyme MB mass measurement/total CK activity ratio.

We immunoenzymometrically measured creatine kinase (CK) isoenzyme MB in extracts of myocardium and in homogenates of five different skeletal muscles. CK-MB concentrations in the former averaged 80.9 micrograms/g wet tissue; in the skeletal muscles it varied widely, being (e.g.) 25-fold greater in diaphragm than in psoas. CK-MB in skeletal muscles ranged from 0.9 to 44 ng/U of total CK; the mean for myocardium was 202 ng/U. In sera from 10 trauma and 36 burn patients without myocardial involvement, maximum ratios for CK-MB mass/total CK activity averaged 7 (SEM 1) ng/U and 18 (SEM 6) ng/U, respectively. Except for an infant (220 ng/U), the highest ratio we found for serum after muscular damage was 38 ng/U. In contrast, the mean maximum ratio determined in 23 cases of acute myocardial infarction exceeded 200 ng/U. Among seven determinations performed 8 to 32 h after onset of symptoms, each infarct patient demonstrated at least one ratio greater than or equal to 110 ng/U. Ratios observed after infarct were unrelated to treatment received during the acute phase. We propose a CK-MB/total CK ratio of 80 ng/U as the cutoff value for differentiating myocardial necrosis from muscular injury.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Carcinoid syndrome. Radiology.

The carcinoid syndrome is usually produced by an ileal carcinoid tumour that has metastasized to the liver but can also be caused by similar tumours in many other organs. These neoplasms create a variety of radiological appearances which are often characteristic. In recent years percutaneous embolization of hepatic carcinoid metastases has been successfully employed as part of the treatment of the syndrome.

Bronchial Neoplasms↗