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Biomedical subjects

A May

Publications and source records attributed to A May.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Immunosuppressive and virostatic actions of sterones from Petunia hybrida Vilm].

10 Ergostan-3-on derivatives presumably in the majority ergosta-1,4-dien-3-on derivatives could be isolated from Petunia hybrida VILM. Two were identified as the known compounds petuniasterone A and petuniasterone-C-22-O-acetate. The structures of two other compounds named petuniasterone-D-diacetate and 30-hydroxypetuniasterone A could be elucidated. The molecular formulas of the remaining substances were ascertained by mass spectroscopy. The petuniasterones inhibited the proliferation of stimulated human lymphocytes in non-cytotoxic concentrations, possessing therefore possibly immunosuppressive effects. Extracts of the plant and fractions containing a synergistically effective blue fluorescing substance retarded the multiplication speed of influenza viruses; pure petuniasterones were ineffectiv under our conditions in this regard.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1988

Painful crises in sickle cell disease--patients' perspectives.

One hundred and two patients returned structured questionnaires sent to clinics for sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom in order to gain greater insight into the patients' perception of painful crises. Most patients who suffer pain crises experience a prodromal stage that should be investigated further to find out if prophylaxis is possible. Cold, exertion, and tiredness were the most important precipitating factors. Despite the increase in the amount of knowledge about sickle cell disease in recent years, and though 29 out of 88 patients (30-40%) believed that medical services were improving, 33 out of 88 (30-40%) were still experiencing long delays in being treated in hospital. A third of patients do not seem to receive adequate pain relief.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

5-Aminolaevulinic acid synthase activity in developing human erythroblasts.

5-Aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) synthase activity was measured in highly purified preparations of age-matched human erythroblasts. Enzyme activity in immature normoblasts was four-fold higher than that found in late orthochromatic normoblasts. ALA synthase activity in the immature erythroblasts in primary acquired sideroblastic anaemia (PASA) was reduced and remained unchanged during further erythroid differentiation. The pattern of erythroblast ALA synthase activity in two patients with congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) and in one patient with beta-thalassaemia intermedia was similar to that found in PASA. This study has clearly demonstrated reduced erythroblast ALA synthase activity in PASA but has also found reduced enzyme activity in conditions in which ring sideroblasts are not prominent. This would suggest that haem synthesis is abnormal in PASA but that reduced erythroblast ALA synthase activity does not inevitably lead to ring sideroblast formation.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed1988

Medical education for minorities at a US medical school.

The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSM) has initiated new efforts to build a regional minority applicant pool and to expand its educational programmes to accommodate students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Specific interventions include: establishment of medical career planner position to coordinate region-wide outreach; pre-entry education; and support activities once enrolled. This study describes specific services and presents sociodemographic and performance data on 56 minority and 280 majority students entering the UWSM between 1981 and 1985. Economic status and educational background of minority students were significantly below that of majority students, several flexible academic policies enabled most students to achieve mastery in courses and to progress through the curriculum. The educational data base utilized in this study, and those at other institutions, can assume important roles in the identification of problem areas in the education of disadvantaged students and in evaluation of the interventions attempted.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1988

[Isolated and transient hyperphosphatasemia in young children].

This report concerns a transient and isolated hyperphosphatasemia in a 33 month-old infant. Such a case is asymptomatic and benign. There is an important increase in enzymatic activity which includes both fractions (bone and liver). Pathophysiology is still unclear. This biological data is worth being known in order to avoid useless and always normal investigations.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1987

Influenza vaccination of the elderly: perceptions and policies of general practitioners and outcome of the 1985-86 immunization programme in Trent, UK.

The policies, organization and outcome of the influenza vaccination programmes for the elderly were studied in randomly selected general practices in Trent during the winter of 1985-86. Data from 127 practices, covering approximately one-fifth of the 668 800 people in Trent 65 years of age and older, were studied in detail. Altogether 87% of practices offered vaccine to selected elderly patients and 93.5% gave it upon request. However, less than one-fifth of the elderly population covered by the survey were vaccinated against influenza and the number of doses prescribed by individual practitioners and practice immunization rates varied considerably. The higher immunization rates were correlated with certain practice immunization policies and procedures Reasons for non-acceptance of vaccine were also identified. The observations suggest that provision of educational materials about the risks and benefits of influenza vaccine and a re-appraisal of practice strategies relating to the influenza immunization programme may increase the number of elderly people who are immunized.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Haemoglobinopathy screening in a 'low-risk' area of the United Kingdom: South Glamorgan, Wales.

Figures collected over 2 1/2 years of screening of women attending the antenatal clinics of South Glamorgan, Wales, showed that the percentage of women identified as a risk for haemoglobinopathy trait (7.4%) was almost twice that estimated from the 1981 Census data (4.1%) and that the incidence of a thalassaemia trait in these women (0.38% beta; 0.68% alpha) was similar to that of an area of supposedly greater risk in London (0.46% beta; 0.42% alpha). Figures from one laboratory showed that without a scrutiny of all antenatal clinic blood counts for thalassaemic indices some thalassaemia traits will be missed. The apparent incidence of the HbS trait was 0.13%, and reasons for this being an underestimate are given.

Female↗
PubMed1986

Measurement of 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity in whole and fractionated human bone marrow: effect of myeloid cell lysis by monoclonal antibody.

A sensitive radiochemical assay for the measurement of bone marrow and erythroblast 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase (EC 2.3.1.37) was developed and optimized with respect to sample preparation and reagent concentration. Succinylacetone (4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid) was used to prevent ALA utilization during the incubation period. Sample purification on a Sep-Pak cartridge (Waters Associates) followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) allowed rapid isolation of pure ALA-pyrrole, free from radioactive succinate and other contaminants. ALA synthase activity was measured in unfractionated bone marrow and in samples from which myeloid cells had been removed by monoclonal antibody-mediated cell lysis. Myeloid-derived ALA synthase was calculated and found to contribute approximately half of the total unfractionated marrow enzyme activity. This suggests that results from previous studies using unfractionated bone marrow which have assumed that myeloid cells are an insignificant source of ALA synthase require reappraisal.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed1986

Increased alpha:non-alpha globin chain synthesis ratios in myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloid leukaemia.

Globin chain synthesis ratios (alpha:beta + gamma) in leucocyte free reticulocytes from six of 11 patients with various myelodysplastic syndromes were high, ranging from 1.28 to 2.43. High ratios were also found for reticulocytes from two of four patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia. Of the eight cases in which high ratios were found, seven were in patients who were either undergoing leukaemic transformation or who had already transformed. The reason for these findings is not known, but an understanding of the mechanism may give us further insight into the process of leukaemic transformation.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus type A and B by phenolic polymers].

Ten synthetic polymers of diphenolic compounds (KOP, HYKOP, CHOP, 3,4-DHTOP Na-ADROP, NH4-ADROP, Na-NORADROP, NH4-NORADROP, GENOP, and 2,5-DHTOP) as well as two phenolic polymers of natural origin (Na-humate, NH4-humate) were tested for their effectiveness on several strains of influenza virus type A and B. The allantois-on-shell system was used for primary screening. Virus multiplication was assessed by means of the infectious titer. All substances tested were found to exert inhibitory effects on influenza virus type A, while 3,4-DHTOP, Na-ADROP, NH4-ADROP as well as GENOP were effective against either type. The highest titer reductions (greater than 4.0 log 10 ID50) were obtained with KOP and HYKOP against influenzavirus A/Brasil/11/78 and with 3,4-DHTOP, KOP and HYKOP against influenzavirus A/Hongkong/1/68. Only GENOP showed antiviral activity against all virus strains tested so far.

DNA Replication↗