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Biomedical subjects

A Askari

Publications and source records attributed to A Askari.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The older living renal donor: prognosis for the donor and recipient.

Results after 46 renal transplants from living donors more than 50 years old are presented. There were no complications after transperitoneal nephrectomy and renal function remained stable in all donors. The mean followup for transplant recipients was 6.2 years. The 2-year patient and graft survival rates were 76.1 and 60.9 per cent, respectively, while the corresponding 5-year rates were 60.5 and 46.5 per cent, respectively. These results suggest that age per se should not eliminate living related kidney donation.

Age Factors↗

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase: effects of detergents on the cross-linking of subunits in the presence of Cu2+ and o-phenanthroline.

When (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is reacted with Cu2+ or Cu2+-phenanthroline, cross-linking of the two subunits (alpha and beta) occurs. The major products are alpha,beta- and alpha,alpha-dimers. The alpha,beta-dimer is unstable in the presence of EDTA, but becomes stable when it is first exposed to digitonin or Triton X-100. Conversion of alpha-CU2+-beta to alpha-S-S-beta is suggested. If the enzyme that is pretreated with these detergents is used, only the stable alpha,beta-dimer is obtained, and the formation of alpha,alpha-dimer is inhibited. The data are consistent with alpha 2 beta 2 quaternary structure of the enzyme.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Prepubertal gonorrhea.

Two cases of gonococcal urethritis in male children are presented and the records of 45 other children with gonorrhea are reviewed. The presentation, diagnosis and treatment are discussed. Data on the mode of transmission are presented with emphasis on the high incidence of gonorrhea in family members or close contacts of infected children, or a history of sexual abuse.

Child↗

Re-evaluation of the relationship between the positive inotropic effect of ouabain and its inhibitory effect on (Na+ + K+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in rabbit and dog hearts.

Previous studies have shown that in the ouabain-exposed rabbit heart, although positive inotropy and inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase are induced concomitantly, the extent of inhibition of the enzyme remains constant when positive inotropy is washed out; and in the dog heart, if positive inotropy without arrhythmias is induced by ouabain, inhibition of the enzyme is not detected. The purpose of this work was the re-evaluation of these previous findings. Rapid recovery of the enzyme from small tissue samples was achieved by homogenization in 1 M KCl and centrifugation. When the enzyme was prepared by this method from ouabain-exposed rabbit and dog hearts, ouabain remained bound to the enzyme. The extent of inhibition of the enzyme was measured by the fluorimetric assay of K+-dependent 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase before and after removal of bound ouabain. Correlation between the extent of inhibition of this activity and that of (Na+ + K+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity was established. Utilizing these refined methods, the following results were obtained. In the rabbit heart, positive inotropy and enzyme inhibition occurred concomitantly. Washout of the effect resulted in partial reactivation of the enzyme. In the dog heart, the previous findings were confirmed. The results are not inconsistent with the hypothesis that enzyme inhibition is the cause of the positive inotropic effects. They do suggest, however, the need for further testing of the hypothesis.

Animals↗

Localized scleroderma with cutaneous calcinosis. A distinctive variant.

Two patients had a distinctive variant of localized scleroderma. Both have a history of sclerodermatous changes of the skin over the face developing relatively late in life and accompanied by hair loss, cutaneous calcification, and prominent beaking of the nose. A striking lack of systemic involvement also was noted.

Aged↗

Steroid myopathy in connective tissue disease.

In eight women with polymyositis (three patients), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (three patients), rheumatoid arthritis (one patient) and shoulder-hand syndrome (one patient), weakness developed during high dose prednisone therapy. These women were studied using serial functional and manual muscle tests, determination of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transminase (SGOT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and serum aldolase levels, and urinary excretion of creatine. Insidious onset of weakness was characteristic. Myalgias were seen in five patients and unusual sudden weakness in two. Weakness was always most severe in the pelvic girdle muscles; there was a lesser involvement of shoulder girdle and distal muscles. Serum muscle enzyme levels were normal in all cases, but urinary creatine excretion was invariably increased and proved to be the most sensitive laboratory indicator for clinical diagnosis and for monitoring patient improvement. Serial urinary creatine excretion and serum enzyme studies were of value in differenting steroid myopathy from a flare of myositis in patients with connective tissue disease. Diagnosis and effective management were achieved by the use of readily available laboratory and clinical procedures without resorting to muscle biopsy.

Adolescent↗