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A Finch

Publications and source records attributed to A Finch.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Distributions of hemostatic variables in blacks and whites: population reference values from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study measured hemostatic variables in nearly 16,000 men and women, aged 45 to 64 years, from four US communities. This report, based on the first 12,681 participants, presents distributions of fibrinogen concentration, factor VII activity, factor VIII activity, von Willebrand factor antigen, protein C antigen, antithrombin III activity, and activated partial thromboplastin time. Many of the hemostatic variables differed between blacks and whites, and by sex and age. For example, compared to whites, blacks had higher mean values of fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, and antithrombin III, and lower mean values of protein C. Some seasonal fluctuations in hemostatic variables were noted; most notably, mean values of factor VII were lowest and protein C were highest in subjects examined in the summer compared to those examined during the other seasons. These results provide population-based reference values on blacks and whites for those interested in the relation of hemostasis to disease.

Arteriosclerosis↗

Probability of finding a compatible sibling donor for bone marrow transplantation in Ireland.

This study was undertaken to ascertain the frequency of compatible sibling donors for individuals requiring bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in Ireland. During the study period 1984-89, a total of 392 patients were HLA typed. Of these, 218 (55.6%) had a compatible sibling donor. Among the latter there were 4 degrees of compatibility: 168 (42.9%) were HLA-A,B,DR identical MLC unreactive: three (0.8%) were HLA-A,B,DR identical MLC reactive: 12 (3.0%) were HLA-A,B,DR identical (no MLC performed) and 35 (8.9%) were HLA-A, B identical (no DR or MLC performed). The leukaemias and aplastic anaemia comprised 82.9% of all requests. The majority of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (64.4%), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (51.2%), chronic myeloid leukaemia (73.9%) and aplastic anaemia (77.3%) had a potential sibling donor. Subsequently 144 of these patients had an allogeneic BMT, 79.9% of which were for patients with leukaemia (acute and chronic). This study found that there was a higher probability of finding a donor within the family than reported in most series. A clear relationship was demonstrated between family size and the likelihood of obtaining a HLA-identical sibling donor.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Hemostatic variables in Japanese and Caucasian men. Tissue plasminogen activator, antithrombin III, and protein C and their relations to coronary risk factors.

Mortality rates of coronary heart disease are much lower in Japan than in the United States. The authors' previous report on coagulation factors showed that population levels of plasma fibrinogen and factor VII activity parallel this mortality difference. To investigate other hemostatic variables, the authors assessed indicators of fibrinolytic activity (tissue plasminogen activator antigen) and coagulation inhibition (antithrombin III activity and protein C) in 136 men aged 34-55 years in four different samples: rural Japanese, urban Japanese, Japanese Americans, and Caucasian Americans. Mean tissue plasminogen activator antigen was higher in Caucasians and Japanese Americans than in rural and urban Japanese (p less than 0.01), while a contrasting trend in mean antithrombin III activity was suggested (p = 0.10). No significant differences were observed in mean levels of protein C. After controlling for known coronary risk factors, mean levels of tissue plasminogen activator antigen remained significantly different across the four samples (p less than 0.01); mean antithrombin III activity was not different (p = 0.23). Population differences in tissue plasminogen activator antigen parallel the coronary heart disease mortality difference between Japan and the United States. Although no definite evidence is available showing that tissue plasminogen activator antigen is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, the present study suggests a positive ecologic association between this hemostatic factor and coronary heart disease mortality.

Adult↗

Hemostatic variables in Japanese and Caucasian men. Plasma fibrinogen, factor VIIc, factor VIIIc, and von Willebrand factor and their relations to cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Mortality rates of coronary heart disease are much lower and hemorrhagic stroke rates are higher in Japanese than in Caucasians. To investigate whether population differences in plasma concentrations of coagulation factors are consistent with these mortality differences, the authors examined, in 1987, a total of 136 men aged 34-55 years in four different samples: rural Japanese living in Akita, Japan; urban Japanese living in Osaka, Japan; and Japanese Americans and Caucasian Americans living in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. The mean plasma fibrinogen level in Caucasians was 290 mg/dl, which was significantly higher than that in each of the Japanese samples (223-250 mg/dl; test for difference: p less than 0.001). The mean coagulation activities of factor VII and factor VIII (factor VIIc and factor VIIIc) were higher in Caucasian and Japanese Americans than in rural and urban Japanese (p less than 0.01 for factor VIIc and p = 0.03 for factor VIIIc). von Willebrand factor did not differ significantly across the populations. The relations of these coagulation factors with other cardiovascular risk factors (age, body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2), blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, cigarette smoking, and alcohol intake) were also examined. Mean plasma fibrinogen was consistently higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers within each sample. Factor VIIc and factor VIIIc levels were positively associated with serum total cholesterol and serum triglyceride. No consistent associations were seen between von Willebrand factor and cardiovascular risk factors. After the authors controlled for these covariates, mean fibrinogen and factor VIIc levels remained significantly different, but factor VIIIc levels did not. Different levels of coagulation factors across these samples are probably attributable to differences in environmental factors, especially diet, as well as genetic differences between Caucasians and Japanese. Furthermore, the differences in plasma fibrinogen and factor VIIc levels may explain part of the difference in mortality from cardiovascular disease across these populations.

Adult↗

Altered gastrointestinal immune response in sarcoidosis.

Because of the possible clinical association between coeliac disease and sarcoidosis, the incidence of humoral sensitivity to dietary proteins was examined in patients with sarcoidosis. Raised concentrations of circulating IgG antibodies to alpha gliadin were found in 41/99 sarcoid patients whereas antibody levels to casein, beta lactoglobulin and ovalbumin were similar to normal controls. Subsequently, a group of 26 sarcoid patients were selected for small intestinal biopsy; 11 had raised and 15 normal alpha gliadin antibody (AGA) levels. One AGA positive patient had villous atrophy consistent with coeliac disease. Intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) counts were raised in AGA positive (median 30; 95% confidence limits 22-46) and AGA negative (median 24; 95% confidence limits 19-32) sarcoid patients when compared with a control group (median 13.5; 95% confidence limits 10-18) p less than 0.01. Serum IgG concentrations were raised in 11/52 patients tested but there was no correlation between IgG levels and the presence of IgG antigliadin antibodies. HLA Dr typing was done in 21 of the 26 biopsied patients. The coeliac disease associated antigen Dr3 was present in eight of 21 (38%) which is very similar to the prevalence in unselected blood donors (34%). There was no significant difference in IEL counts between Dr3 positive and Dr3 negative sarcoid patients. These findings suggest that in patients with sarcoidosis, there is an altered gastrointestinal mucosal immune response, accompanied in about 40% of patients by specific sensitisation to wheat protein.

Adolescent↗

Enthalphy changes associated with the denaturation of collagens of different imino acid content.

The enthalpy changes associated with the denaturation of acid-soluble and insoluble collagens prepared from sheep, cod, halibut and pike skin were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The enthalpy change associated with the soluble collagens decreased with decreasing imino acid content (from 1420 cal/mol for sheep to 736 cal/mol for cod) while the value for insoluble collagens was approximately constant at 1360 cal/mol. A possible explanation for these values in terms of the nautre of the bonds present in collagen is discussed.

Collagen↗

Structural and functional determinants of Mucor miehei protease. V. Enthalpy changes upon thermal denaturation in solution of varying pH.

The thermal denaturation of Mucor meihei protease was studied as a function of pH by differential scanning calorimetry. In both citric acid-Na2HPO4 and in acetic acid-sodium acetate buffers, maximum thermal stability was at pH 4.0-4.2. However, the maximum enthalpy changes associated with the denaturation process were buffer-dependent and occurred between pH values of 4.7 and 5.7.

Calorimetry↗

Dogged determination.

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Animal Welfare↗