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Biomedical subjects

B F Smith

Publications and source records attributed to B F Smith.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Glycosylated haemoglobin and serum insulin antibodies in type I diabetes.

Type 1 diabetics receiving once (Group 1, n = 72) and twice (Group 2, n = 48) daily subcutaneous injections of conventional beef insulin were compared, on a cross-sectional basis, in respect of insulin antibody binding by serum and total glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1). Patients in Group 1 had higher insulin antibody binding (25.2 +/- 15.8% vs 17.0 +/- 13.9%; p less than 0.01) and higher HbA1 levels (12.5 +/- 2.0% vs 11.0 +/- 1.8%; p less than 0.001) than patients in Group 2. An inverse correlation (tau = -0.28, p less than 0.01) was observed between HbA1 and insulin antibody binding in C-peptide non-secretors of Group 1 but not in Group 1 C-peptide secretors, nor in C-peptide secretors and/or non-secretors of Group 2. It is suggested that in Type 1 diabetics who receive a single daily insulin injection and who have no endogenous insulin secretion, insulin antibodies may aid glycaemic control by prolonging insulin action.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Human gallbladder mucin accelerates nucleation of cholesterol in artificial bile.

The gallbladder bile of patients with cholesterol gallstones is characterized by two abnormalities: (a) supersaturation with cholesterol and (b) accelerated nucleation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals. We studied the ability of purified human gallbladder mucin to nucleate artificial bile in vitro. Human gallbladder mucin at concentrations of 2 and 4 mg/ml accelerated the nucleation time of cholesterol crystals in model bile. The mean number of cholesterol crystals in artificial bile incubated for 10 days with 4 mg/ml of human gallbladder mucin was 2327/mm3 (p less than 0.01) vs. control of 51/mm3. The number of crystals found in model bile was dependent on the concentration of human gallbladder mucin (2-16 mg/ml) and the time of incubation (4-14 days). Human gallbladder mucin was associated with an increase in the number of liquid crystals after 4 days of incubation, which then decreased in number as solid cholesterol monohydrate crystals formed. Nucleation by human gallbladder mucin was significantly increased only with cholesterol saturation indices greater than 1.0, and in biles containing 10% but not 3% total lipid by weight. Pooled human gallbladder mucin from gallbladders with and without stones both increased nucleation significantly when compared with controls. Increased nucleation of saturated model bile was also observed with purified monkey cervical and bovine gallbladder mucin, but not with porcine gastric mucin. These observations provide further evidence that human gallbladder mucin may contribute to cholesterol gallstone formation in humans by accelerating nucleation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals from supersaturated gallbladder bile.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Results of a nationwide survey of analyses for creatine kinase and creatine kinase isoenzymes.

More than 300 laboratories participated in an interlaboratory survey of creatine kinase (CK, EC 2.7.3.2) determinations in which they analyzed seven lyophilized samples for total CK and CK isoenzymes and furnished information about their methodology. The samples were not necessarily intended to mimic typical patients' specimens but rather to determine the analytical ability of the laboratories to distinguish isoenzyme fraction CK-MB from CK-BB and to detect small but abnormal amounts of CK-BB. For total CK measurement, most laboratories used an NADP+ reduction method monitored at 340 nm (89%), and reported results in units per liter (U/L) (99%) at either 30 degrees C (34%) or 37 degrees C (60%). Despite the variety of analytical conditions, most laboratories (89%) correctly reported results within their normal range for all samples. The 287 laboratories that reported isoenzyme distributions in the samples used either cellulose acetate (37%) or agarose (44%) electrophoresis, ion-exchange chromatography (9%), or immunoinhibition (7%). Results from laboratories that used nonspecific CK-MB immunoinhibition techniques were biased when a significant amount of CK-BB isoenzyme was present.

Chemistry, Clinical↗
PubMed1983

Bovine gallbladder mucin binds bilirubin in vitro.

Gallbladder mucin glycoprotein and bilirubin are frequently identified at the center of human cholesterol gallstones, suggesting that mucin-bilirubin complexes might function as nucleating agents for cholesterol gallstones. This study was undertaken to determine if bovine gallbladder mucin was capable of binding bilirubin in vitro. Chromatography of dialyzed bovine gallbladder bile on Sepharose 4B revealed that bile pigment (OD420) eluted in a high-molecular weight fraction also containing mucin, as well as in an included (low-molecular weight) fraction. When bilirubin (98.8% as IX alpha by high-pressure liquid chromatography) and purified bovine gallbladder mucin were ultracentrifuged in a sucrose density gradient, the presence of bilirubin-mucin complexes was observed. Alteration of the polymeric structure of mucin with mercaptoethanol caused loss of its ability to bind bilirubin, suggesting that the native polymeric configuration is required. These results indicate that mucin can bind bilirubin in vitro, and might explain their occurrence in the nucleus of human cholesterol stones.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Maximal conservation and minimal usage of blood products in open heart surgery.

Open heart surgery has previously been associated with the use of large volumes of blood products. This paper describes methods of blood conservation and a simple method of intraoperative autotransfusion that together have resulted in minimal blood product usage in elective open heart surgery cases. This has reduced our dependence on blood bank supplies for the performance of elective open heart surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Scanning electron microscopy of the infective eggs of Hydatigera taeniaeformis.

Scanning electron microscopy of the outer surface coat of the infective eggs of Hydatigera taeniaeformis examined at high magnifications revealed the presence of scale-like features. At low magnifications the surface of eggs appeared smooth. Eggs that were fractured showed a thick inner surface layer of ridges and striations. A second layer characterized by a smooth membrane surface presumably the basement membrane was observed beneath the innermost surface layer. When the eggs were treated with 0.02 M of EDTA the outer surface coat became distorted and the emerging hooks of the embryo could be seen. Small, spherical bosses were observed on the surface of some eggs. Other eggs possibly at an earlier stage of development contained pit-like depressions.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The ultrastructural localization of alkaline phosphatase activity in the tegument of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis.

Alkaline phosphatase activity of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis was studied by means of electron microscopy. Beta-glycerophosphate was used as the substrate. The reaction product was localized within the microtriches of the distal cytoplasm, and in the cytoplasm and processes of perinuclear cells. Activity was also demonstrated within circular and longitudinal muscle bundles and in calcareous corpuscles.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1979

The ultrastructural localization of acetylcholinesterase activity in the scolex of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis.

Acetylcholinesterase activity in the scolex of the cysticercus of Hydatigera taeniaeformis was studied by means of electron microscopy. Acetylthiocholine iodide was used as the substrate and 10(-4) M of eserine used to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity. The sites of activity were visualized within the microtriches of the distal cytoplasm, muscle bundles, cytoplasm, vesiculated bodies, flame cells and hooks of the rostellar region. Enzyme activity was also localized within the nuclear membrane, neuroplasm, and membranes of nerve cells.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1975

A study of thyroid stimulating activity in human serum with the highly sensitive cytochemical bioassay.

The cytochemical bioassay is able to detect minute amounts of thyroteopin and thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins. Estimations of serum TSH by the cytochemical bioassay are in good agreement with values obtain by radioimmunoassay. In untreated hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease the TSH levels are significantly lower than in control subjects. Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins showed a delayed time corse of action in the bioassy and this provided a voncenient method of distinguishing between the two thyroid stimulators.

Animals↗
PubMed1969

Obstruction of bowel due to lesion in the myenteric plexus.

Two patients are described who were found to have a destructive lesion of the myenteric plexus. In one the upper small intestine was involved and the clinical picture was of recurrent pseudo-obstruction; in the other the lesion was in the distal colon and resulted in intractable constipation. The lesion cannot be demonstrated by conventional histological techniques, being seen only in silver preparations cut parallel to the bowel wall, and may have been overlooked in the past. The aetiology is unknown.

Adult↗