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Biomedical subjects

A Hay

Publications and source records attributed to A Hay.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Histological and immunohistochemical study of hepatitis B virus in human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Because the risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and hepatitis B (HBV) are similar and therefore coinfection is not uncommon, a detailed histological and immunohistochemical study of chronic hepatitis B infection in a group of 20 HIV positive Caucasian males (who did not have AIDS) and 30 HIV negative controls were undertaken. Using both the conventional histological classification and the Knodell histological activity index it was shown that HIV negative patients were more likely to have active disease and also more scarring than HIV positive patients. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression was not significantly different between the two groups but expression of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) and HBV-DNA polymerase was greater in those who were HIV positive. HIV positive patients are therefore more likely to have immunohistochemical markers of active viral replication, although histologically, liver disease is less severe. These findings have important implications for assessing the biopsy specimens in this group of patients and for treatment strategies aimed at improving their immune function.

Adult↗

Use of a pharmacologic indicator to compare compliance with tablets prescribed to be taken once, twice, or three times daily.

By use of an interview, return tablet count, and a pharmacologic indicator (low-dose phenobarbital), we compared compliance with tablets prescribed to be taken once, twice, or three times daily. One hundred seventy-nine patients with type II diabetes were randomly allocated to take one 2 mg phenobarbital tablet once, twice, or three times daily for 28 days. Phenobarbital level/dose ratios indicated that compliance was similar with once- and twice-daily regimens, and both were better than thrice-daily dosing. Mean return tablet counts suggested that compliance was best with the once-daily regimen; both twice- and thrice-daily regimens were similarly inferior. This difference between the techniques may be explained by the inadequacies of the residual tablet count, which identified only 13% of cases identified by phenobarbital. We conclude that compliance with the once-daily regimen was best, but that compliance with a twice-daily regimen was very similar, and both were superior to dosing three times a day.

Drug Administration Schedule↗

Cyclic esotropia in a patient with unilateral traumatic aphakia: case report.

Cyclic esotropia is a rare and poorly understood condition normally treated by correcting the deviation measured on the squinting day. Control in some patients with this condition can be gained by correcting their refractive errors, thereby improving acuity. We report on an adult patient who developed cyclic esotropia after unilateral traumatic aphakia with failed contact lens wear whose squint was corrected by secondary intraocular lens implantation. This may be explained by the reduction in the degree of aneisokonia which subsequently improved steropsis.

Adult↗

A three-dimensional investigation of temporomandibular joint loading.

A mathematical model of the muscle groups applied to the human mandible is developed to study the forces developed on the condyles during maximum unilateral occlusion. The results show that the reaction forces are in approximately a 2:1 ratio with the balancing side condyle carrying the greater load. Furthermore, the direction in which these condylar reactions occur is presented.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Effects of danazol on mineral homeostasis in normal postmenopausal women: preliminary communication.

The effects of danazol on calcium homeostasis in normal postmenopausal women was examined in a 14-day study utilizing a dosage of 800 mg per day. Danazol caused significant falls in plasma ionized calcium and in the fasting urinary calcium/creatinine ratio, indicating inhibition of bone resorption. Retention of phosphate was also observed as expected with this anabolic agent. The plasma total alkaline phosphatase was also depressed by the drug, which had no effect on hepatocellular function as measured by plasma AST. Certain effects induced by treatment with danazol were still apparent two weeks after cessation of treatment. The drug was well tolerated and androgenic side effects were not seen. It is suggested that the minimal dose regimen of danazol which exerts a calcium-sharing effect should be identified, and that this regimen should be considered for use in a prospective study of the effects of danazol on bone mineral content in the postmenopause.

Bone Resorption↗

The effect of low-dose phenobarbitone on three indices of hepatic microsomal enzyme induction.

The effects of low-dose phenobarbitone on three indices of hepatic enzyme induction were studied. Eight healthy volunteers took phenobarbitone 7.5 mg daily for 4 weeks followed by 15 mg daily for 4 weeks; five subjects took 30 mg daily for a further 2 weeks. Phenobarbitone 15 mg daily produced a significant rise in antipyrine clearance (P less than 0.05). Phenobarbitone 30 mg daily produced a further rise, but probably because of the reduced numbers of subjects, this did not achieve significance (P = 0.06). Urinary 6-beta-hydroxycortisol and D-glucaric acid levels did not change significantly and remained within the range seen in subjects not taking enzyme-inducing drugs. We conclude that phenobarbitone 7.5 mg daily produces little (if any) enzyme induction whereas 15 mg, or more, may have the potential to produce drug interactions through enzyme induction.

Adult↗

pH affects fruiting and slug orientation in Dictyostelium discoideum.

We have demonstrated two interesting facts about the transition from the migration stage to the final fruiting stage of Dictyostelium discoideum. One is that fruiting is favoured on acid substrata, and secondly, migrating slugs tend to migrate towards the acid side of a pH gradient. The suggestion is offered that these results can be interpreted in terms of the effects of NH3. It appears to be an additional mechanism (besides phototaxis and thermotaxis) to assure that the final fruiting takes place in a favourable environment.

Chemotaxis↗

Effect of phototherapy on plasma 25(OH)-vitamin D in neonates.

The possibility that phototherapy may increase plasma levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D was assessed by measuring levels before and after 48 h continuous phototherapy using a standard phototherapy unit (Vickers, Basingstoke , England). There was no significant increase in plasma 25(OH)-vitamin D after 48 h phototherapy and it is concluded that such treatment does not stimulate photobiosynthesis of vitamin D.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2↗

The contribution of dietary vitamin D and sunlight to the plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the elderly.

Total plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and its components 25-OHD2 and 25-OHD3 were measured during the winter in young and elderly healthy persons and in elderly women patients in a long-stay mental hospital. The long-stay patients had no exposure to sunlight or other ultraviolet irradiation, but their diet alone maintained an average total 25-OHD level of 16 nmol/l (range, 10.3-26.5 nmol/l), with most values within the ranges observed in the other two groups, although the average value was lower. The plasma 25-OHD2 which is derived exclusively from vitamin D2 in the diet was similar in all three groups and the vitamin D intake was also similar in the two elderly groups. 25-OHD3 is obtained from the diet as well as from the skin and in the elderly patients the diet alone maintained equal concentrations of 25-OHD2 and 25-OHD3. These findings taken together suggest that the diet accounted for 70 per cent of the total 25-OHD in the active elderly in winter compared with 50 per cent in the young subjects. In all our subjects, young or old, the diet was the major source of vitamin D.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2↗

Functional defects of fowl plague virus temperature-sensitive mutant having mutation in the neuraminidase.

A fowl plague virus (FPV) temperature-sensitive mutant ts 5 having mutation lesions in the gene coding for the neuraminidase has been obtained. The mutant induced synthesis of cRNA, vRNA and proteins in cells under non-permissive conditions, but formation of virions including non-infectious ones was defective. The neuraminidase and haemagglutinin synthesized under non-permissive conditions possessed functional activity and could migrate from the rough endoplasmic reticulum into plasma membranes; however, cleavage of the haemagglutinin was reduced. In ts 5-infected cells under non-permissive conditions the synthesis of segments 5 and 8 of cRNA and vRNA was predominant both early and late in the reproduction cycle, and the synthesis of P1, P2, P3, HA and M proteins was reduced after approximately 3 hours. The data obtained suggest that involvement of the neuraminidase in the formation of infectious virions may have no direct association with the enzymatic activity of this protein, and that the mutation in the neuraminidase may affect regulation of replication and transcription processes.

Cell Membrane↗