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Biomedical subjects

A Lurie

Publications and source records attributed to A Lurie.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Pharmacology of mucociliary transport].

Muco-ciliary transport is only effective because of the coordination of the ciliary beats (metachronous) and the harmony between mucus and cilia. The tip of the cilia is in contact with a jellyform layer of mucus propelled to the oropharynx. This jellyform layer has a complex rheological behaviour: it flows like a liquid and shapes like solid elastic. When the rheological properties of bronchial secretion are abnormal, mucociliary transport becomes inefficient. However, the most fluid secretions are not necessarily best transported, because the elasticity and viscosity to guarantee efficient muco-ciliary transport can only vary within defined limits. The mechanism regulating the ciliary beats is poorly understood; the bronchial secretions conduct impulses through the autonomic nervous system as well as mediators such as histamine and the metabolites of arachidonic acid. Mucociliary function may be studied either, directly through mucociliary transport or through mucociliary clearance. A fall in mucociliary activity can be produced by a primary ciliary disorder, by bronchial disease or the consequences of respiratory infection. General anaesthetics and Atropine slow mucociliary transport but Ipratropium bromide does not; Theophylline and sympathomimetics speed it up. The expectorants are mucolytics (proteolytic enzymes, N-acetyl-cysteine), there are agents to correct hydration anomalies of the bronchial secretion (water, hypertonic sodium chloride) iodides, antifibrins by substitution, anti-inflammatory agents and mucoregulatory agents (S-carboxymethylcysteine, bromhexine). The efficacy of the greater part of these expectorants has not been established in vivo by controlled therapeutic trials.

Anesthetics↗

Coordination of services to methadone mothers and their addicted newborns.

Maternity social workers and workers in hospital methadone clinics often experience conflict about reporting child abuse and neglect. This article discusses how earlier and more aggressive reporting of child abuse and neglect can be accomplished if methadone clinics are integrated into social work departments of hospitals and include social workers on their staffs.

Child Abuse↗

Immunologic studies in asymptomatic hemophilia patients. Relationship to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Asymptomatic hemophilia patients receiving Factor VIII concentrate were found to have normal natural killer (NK) cells and B cells, and an inverted T helper/suppressor ratio due to an increase in cells of T suppressor phenotype. In contrast, a hemophilia patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) exhibited nonfunctional NK cells, low B cells, and an inverted T helper/suppressor ratio due to very low numbers of T helper cells. Hemophilia patients on cryoprecipitate therapy exhibited normal immune parameters. A high percentage of hemophilia patients on both treatments had antibody to hepatitis B virus. The isolated finding of elevated levels of T suppressor cells in hemophilia patients receiving Factor VIII concentrate has not been recognized as an early indicator of impending AIDS, and longitudinal studies will be required to determine its clinical significance.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The professional connection with self-help groups in health care settings.

The growth of self-help groups relating to health and mental health agencies has been a significant phenomenon of the past decade. Self-help groups offer important benefits to their members as they provide a structure for mutual aid and support and a forum for social/legislative action around a felt social problem. As therapeutic and physical extenders of services they are of significance to professional providers. This paper provides a framework for the professional social worker to view the self-help phenomenon, presents a typology of self-help groups relating to health care agencies, and describes the role of social work in several self-help groups.

Humans↗

Assessment of the calcium loading test in differentiating between various forms of idiopathic hypercalciuria.

The oral calcium loading test for the differential diagnosis of the various forms of idiopathic hypercalciuria has raised much interest, since it might provide the basis for a selective, optimal treatment of the different hypercalciuric states. We have assessed the ability of this test to differentiate between the two major forms of idiopathic hypercalciuria: renal and absorptive hypercalciuria. The test was performed in 32 idiopathic hypercalciuria patients. Based on generally accepted criteria that have been established according to the results of calcium and cAMP measurements in plasma and urine, 31% of the patients could be classified as having renal hypercalciuria and 13% as having absorptive hypercalciuria, whereas the remaining 56% did not fit either of these categories. In view of the expense and logistics involved in performing the test, the finding of an approximately 50% efficacy rate in distinguishing between the forms of idiopathic hypercalciuria raises serious doubts regarding the value of its routine implementation.

Adult↗

Heterogeneity in the composition of commercial heparins: comparison of anticoagulant activities and biochemical compositions of anionic density-fractionated heparins.

In this study the nature of compositional heterogeneity in commercial heparins was investigated. Five hog-mucosal (HM) and one beef-lung (BL) heparin were subjected to partition fraction in a two-phase system of 1-butanol containing hexadecylpyridinium chloride/aqueous NaCl, a system which fractionates heterogeneous heparins larger than 10,000 daltons according to anionic density. The heparins differed markedly in purity as determined by both the galactosamine content of the unfractionated preparations and the amount of uronate extracted at lower NaCl concentrations in the fractionation scheme. All fractions afforded linear plots of the logarithm of clotting time vs heparins concentration in the APTT assay with human plasma, thereby permitting measurement of concentration--independent specific activities. Equivalent fractions from different HM heparins had similar compositions, and with the exception of an unbleached sample, had equivalent specific APTT anticoagulant activities. These latter were linearly related to the square of anionic density. In contrast, the BL heparin behaved quite differently. Its most abundant fractions were extracted at higher NaCl concentrations than was the case for HM heparins, little systematic variation in anionic density was observed, and its fractions had much lower specific activities than equivalent HM fractions.

Animals↗

Severe Fletcher factor (plasma prekallikrein) deficiency with partial deficiency of Hageman factor (factor XII): report of a case with observation on in vivo and in vitro leukocyte chemotaxis.

A case of cross-reacting material-negative Fletcher trait with additional partial deficiency of Hageman factor (HF, Factor XII) is described. Although the patient presented with a recent history of frequent epistaxis, he had no other personal or family history of a tendency toward bleeding or infection. Similar to other cases of Fletcher trait, his plasma showed a markedly prolonged partial thromboplastin time which could be corrected by prolonged incubation with the surface-activator kaolin. Surface-induced fibrinolysis, amidolysis of alpha-N-benzoyl-proline-L-phenylalanine-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide, and cold-promoted enhancement of factor VII activity, reactions requiring the presence in the plasma of fletcher factor (prekallikrein), in addition to Hageman factor and Fitzgerald factor (high-molecular weight kininogen), were also defective. In vivo chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes (Rebuck's skin window technique) in response to skin abrasions was defective, but was normal when diphtheria-tetanus toxoid was also applied. In vitro leukocyte chemotaxis (Boyden chamber technique) in response to normal or patient's own serum activated with zymosan was normal. Together with previous observations that kallikrein generated chemotactic activity, possibly via activation of C5, the present observations suggest that prekallikrein activation may be important for in vivo leukocyte chemotactic response to skin abrasion. The inheritance of Fletcher trait in this patient is unclear.l Although the father was an apparent heterozygote, the mother was completely normal for Fletcher factor procoagulant activity and antigen. The mild Hageman factor deficiency in the patient did not contribute significantly to the plasma defects described and was likely inherited from the father who had a low HF procoagulant activity.

Blood Coagulation↗

The social work advocacy role in discharge planning.

The social work role in discharge planning must include an advocacy function. This is important to facilitate discharge planning and can be carried out in three related areas: (1) political advocacy--to improve governmental programs, (2) resource development advocacy--to meet unmet needs; and (3) case advocacy--to ensure that programs are accessible and appropriate for eligible patients and families. This role is particularly suited for social workers because of their training and experience and should be included as part of their contribution to comprehensive health care.

Humans↗