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Biomedical subjects

B S Skikne

Publications and source records attributed to B S Skikne.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fatal chemotherapy-induced encephalopathy following high-dose therapy for metastatic breast cancer: a case report and review of the literature.

Chemotherapy-induced encephalopathies occur in a variety of clinical settings and the most detailed accounts have been described following combination methotrexate and radiation therapy. The case described herein developed severe encephalopathy following a high-dose chemotherapy protocol used in the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the breast. Visual symptoms developed 3 weeks after completing high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Over the next several weeks, additional neurologic deficits developed and continued to progress despite various treatment interventions. Diffuse deep gray matter damage was identified on MR imaging and a brain biopsy revealed pathological findings similar in many respects to those described for methotrexate/radiation, cisplatin, BCNU and/or 5 FU/levamisole-related leukoencephalopathy. The patient succumbed to complications resulting from the CNS disorder, 8 weeks after the onset of symptoms. This case is unusual for two reasons. First, the patient developed severe encephalopathy following a high-dose chemotherapy protocol commonly used in the treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma and second, the encephalopathy involved primarily deep gray matter structures rather than white matter.

Adult↗

Effects of erythropoietin therapy on iron absorption in chronic renal failure.

The effect of erythropoietin administration on the absorption of dietary and therapeutic iron was examined in patients with anemia of chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis. Absorption from test meals tagged extrinsically with iron 55, iron 59, or both was determined 2 weeks later by using incorporated red blood cell radioactivity and whole body counting. In an initial study of food iron absorption, the effect of initiating erythropoietin therapy was determined by measuring the absorption of heme and nonheme iron before and 2 weeks after the administration of 64 U/kg body weight erythropoietin (range, 46-85 U/kg body weight) three times weekly. Absorption of heme iron increased 1.6-fold from 18.6% to 30.1% (P < .05), and nonheme iron increased 3.7-fold from 1.3% to 4.9% (P < .01) after erythropoietin therapy. In a second study therapeutic iron absorption was evaluated at baseline and after erythropoietin administration (63 U/kg body weight (range, 48-74 U/kg body weight) three times weekly). The absorption of 50 mg of iron as ferrous sulfate increased 2.4-fold from 3.8% to 9.4% (P < .05) when given without food and 4.2-fold from 1.4% to 5.9% (P < .05) when given with food after erythropoietin administration. After adjusting for changes in iron stores with serum ferritin after erythropoietin therapy, the enhanced erythropoiesis associated with erythropoietin therapy increased absorption about 2-fold, which was similar to the response observed previously in normal subjects. In a final study we examined the absorption of therapeutic iron during the steadystate phase of erythropoietin therapy after an erythroid response to erythropoietin had occurred. The absorption of 50 mg of iron was lower than that occurring with the initiation of erythropoietin therapy at 2.2% when given alone and 1.3% when taken with food. We conclude that iron absorption with or without erythropoietin stimulation is unimpaired in patients with chronic renal failure.

Adult↗

Reversible methotrexate associated lymphoproliferative disease evolving into Hodgkin's disease.

We describe a case of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease (NSHD) developing in a 61-year-old woman with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis treated with oral methotrexate (MTX) 5 to 15 mg/week for 5 years. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed splenomegaly and marked abdominal and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. MTX was discontinued; several weeks later prednisone 10 mg/day was added to control worsening polyarthralgia. Repeat CT at 3 months showed almost complete regression of the splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. However, CT studies at 10 months showed asymptomatic progression of lymphadenopathy, which on biopsy revealed NSHD. Patients with apparently reversible MTX associated lymphoproliferative disorder require periodic monitoring for asymptomatic development of malignant lymphoma.

Antirheumatic Agents↗

An assessment of dried blood-spot technology for identifying iron deficiency.

The present study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of using ferritin and transferrin receptor measurements on dried capillary blood spots to identify iron deficiency (ID) in public health surveys. Measurements on serum and blood spots prepared from venous blood were performed in 71 healthy subjects, 41 of whom were iron-replete and 30 who had ID, either without (n = 20) or with (n = 10) anemia. Parallel measurements were performed on hemolyzed whole blood and washed hemolyzed red blood cells to assess the erythrocyte contribution of ferritin and transferrin receptor to dried blood samples. The concentration of ferritin in dried blood samples was threefold higher than serum assays due to the release of ferritin from hemolyzed erythrocytes, which diminished the usefulness of ferritin measurements for detecting ID. On the other hand, there was negligible erythrocyte contribution to the measurement of transferrin receptor in dried blood spots. The most sensitive parameter in dried blood spots was the ratio of receptor/ferritin, which was suitable for identifying iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), but less reliable than serum assays for detecting milder ID without anemia. We conclude that tandem measurements of serum ferritin and transferrin receptor in dried blood spots can be used to facilitate the identification of IDA in epidemiologic studies.

Adult↗

Markers of masked iron deficiency and effectiveness of EPO therapy in chronic renal failure.

Recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is well established in the management of anemia of chronic renal disease. However, a number of clinical issues, including the best laboratory indicators of an imminent marrow response to rHuEPO replacement, the ideal measurements to detect masked iron deficiency, and optimal methods of iron replacement, remain unanswered. To investigate these issues, studies were performed in anemic chronic hemodialysis patients. A number of standard hematologic measurements in addition to automated reticulocyte counts (Sysmex R-1000) and serum transferrin receptors (TfR) were obtained in these patients. A response to initiation of rHuEPO administration could be predicted if the serum TfR concentration was less than 6 mg/L (normal, 3.8 to 8.5 mg/L). In patients on rHuEPO, an imminent hemoglobin response to an increased rHuEPO dose could be predicted after 1 week based on a greater than 20% increase from baseline in the serum TfR or absolute reticulocyte count, with a sensitivity of 92%. In patients on rHuEPO replacement with serum ferritin levels greater than 30 microg/L, none of the panel of tests, including serum TfR, reliably detected masked iron deficiency. In a long-term study over 5 months in patients on a stable maintenance dose of EPO, a gradual decline in total body iron occurred, even in subjects with initial adequate iron stores, and despite taking 50 mg elemental iron daily as oral ferrous sulphate. The serum TfR is useful for predicting a hemoglobin response when initiating rHuEPO therapy, and combined with automated reticulocyte counting it is valuable for predicting a hemoglobin response when increasing the dose of rHuEPO. The serum TfR loses its specificity for detecting tissue iron deficiency in patients on maintenance rHuEPO therapy because of increased erythropoiesis, which itself raises serum TfR levels.

Adult↗

Alveolar macrophages accumulate iron and ferritin after in vivo exposure to iron or tungsten dusts.

Extracellular iron present in alveolar structures may contribute to oxidative lung injury induced by toxic mineral dusts by enhancing dust-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) can sequester iron within ferritin and limit generation of hydroxyl radicals. In the current study we sought to assess whether AMs accumulate iron and ferritin after in vivo exposure to a dust with high iron content, to iron oxide, or to an inflammatory dust, calcium tungstate. We performed lung lavage 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days after intratracheal instillation of mineral dust in saline solution or instillation of saline solution alone and quantitated cell recovery and AM content of iron and ferritin. Instillation of iron oxide increased neutrophil recovery only on a day 1 when compared with results in controls, whereas calcium tungstate increased neutrophil recovery through day 14. AMs recovered after instillation of iron oxide contained increased amounts of iron and ferritin, beginning on day 1 and progressing through day 56 after treatment (7.57 +/- 0.38 microgram iron per 10(6) AMs vs 1.54 +/- 0.28 microgram iron per 10(6) AMs for controls, p < 0.001; and 5908 +/- 768 ng ferritin per 10(6) AMs vs 395 +/- 20 ng ferritin per 10(6) AMs, p < 0.001). AMs recovered after calcium tungstate instillation also contained increased amounts of iron and ferritin beginning 14 days after treatment, with greatest content 42 days after treatment (4.85 +/- 0.68 microgram iron per 10(6) AMs, p < 0.001, and 2274 +/- 736 ng ferritin per 10(6) AMs, p < 0.001). Tumor necrosis factor, which can enhance iron accumulation by macrophages, was spontaneously released by AMs recovered from tungsten-treated rats. These studies indicate that AMs accumulate iron and ferritin in response to both iron loading of the lungs with iron oxide exposure and lung inflammation induced by calcium tungstate exposure.

Adult↗

Ferritin excretion and iron balance in humans.

Under normal circumstances, most of the lumenal iron taken into the intestinal mucosal cell is stored within the cell as ferritin and subsequently is lost in the faeces when the cell exfoliates at the end of its lifespan. To evaluate whether faecal iron proteins reflect mucosal cell iron as well as whole body iron and to examine further the kinetics of gastrointestinal iron transport, faecal H-rich and L-rich ferritin were measured in normal subjects and patients with iron deficiency and genetic haemochromatosis. In normal and iron-deficient subjects, the concentration of L-rich but not H-rich faecal ferritin correlated closely with body iron status. In genetic haemochromatosis, the faecal L-rich and H-rich ferritin concentrations were lower than expected for their body iron status. The administration of oral iron to normal subjects led to a rise in L-rich ferritin. Administration of oral or parenteral iron to patients with iron deficiency led to a prompt rise in both forms of faecal ferritin, although the relative increase of L-rich ferritin was greater than that of H-rich ferritin with oral iron administration. Faecal ferritin correlated closely with iron stores in normals and patients with iron deficiency but faecal ferritin levels were lower than expected in genetic haemochromatosis, similar to that previously noted in the duodenal mucosal cells of these patients.

Administration, Oral↗

Iron deficiency: the global perspective.

The prevelance of IDA in industrialized countries has declined in recent decades, but there has been little change in the worldwide prevalence. IDA is currently estimated to affect more than 500 million people. Recent studies have indicated that anemia per se, the most common manifestation of iron deficiency, is less important from a public health standpoint than liabilities associated with tissue iron deficiency. The most important of the latter are an impairment in psychomotor development and cognitive function in infants and preschoolers, a deficit in work performance in adults, and an increase in the frequency of low birth weight, prematurity, and perinatal mortality in pregnancy. There have been several recent advances in combatting nutritional iron deficiency. One of the major problems has been in distinguishing iron deficiency from other causes of anemia seen epidemiologically such as malaria, HIV infection, chronic inflammation, hemoglobinopathies, and protein energy malnutrition. When combined with serum ferritin and hemoglobin determinations, the serum transferrin receptor assay is a valuable addition in epidemiologic surveys because it provides a quantitative measure of functional iron deficiency and it distinguishes true IDA from the anemia of chronic disease. The most difficult challenge is to develop effective methods of supplying iron to large segments of a population. Supplementation with iron tablets is suitable for only brief periods of need such as during pregnancy. The poor compliance with existing supplementation programs is believed to be due mainly to the gastrointestinal side effects of oral iron which can be eliminated by the use of a gastric delivery system. The most effective long-term strategy is to increase the intake of bioavailable iron in the diet. The customary approach has been to fortify a food staple such as wheat, rice, sugar, or salt, and thereby increase the iron intake of the entire population. However, because of concerns about the risk of cancer and heart disease in individuals with high iron stores, there is an increasing reluctance to supply iron to individuals who do not require it. A more effective strategy is to fortify food vehicles that are targeted to segments of the population at greatest risk of iron deficiency such as infants and school children. Because of the strong inhibitory properties of diets in regions of the world where iron deficiency is most prevalent, the use of NaFeEDTA has important advantages for food fortification.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗

The physiological significance of circulating transferrin receptors.

A soluble truncated form of the tissue transferrin receptor has been recently identified in human serum. The concentration of this serum receptor appears to reflect the total mass of tissue receptor and is consequently elevated with tissue iron deficiency and enhanced red cell production. When coupled with the serum ferritin, the serum transferrin receptor concentration provides a sensitive, quantitative index of iron status over a wide spectrum. While the physiological significance of the circulating receptor is still unknown, this new laboratory measurement will play an important role in the clinical and epidemiological detection of iron deficiency anemia.

Erythropoiesis↗

Increased release of ferritin and iron by iron-loaded alveolar macrophages in cigarette smokers.

The lower respiratory tract of cigarette smokers contains an increased amount of iron that is predominantly sequestered within alveolar macrophages (AM), but is also present in alveolar epithelial fluid. Extracellular ferritin-bound iron could potentially be released by reductants present in cigarette smoke and catalyze generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals capable of causing oxidant injury. To determine whether AM are a source of alveolar extracellular ferritin and iron, we assessed in vitro release of iron, ferritin, and transferrin by AM recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of 27 healthy subjects including nine nonsmokers (NS), nine light smokers (LS), and nine heavy smokers (HS). Release of iron in vitro over 20 h was increased in AM recovered from LS (2.24 +/- 0.21 nmol/10(6) AM/20 h, p < 0.001) and HS (3.11 +/- 0.32 nmol/10(6) AM, p < 0.001) compared with NS (1.28 +/- 0.08 nmol/10(6) AM). Release of ferritin in vitro over 20 h was also increased in AM recovered from LS (71 +/- 24 ng/10(6) AM, p < 0.05) and HS (176 +/- 35 ng/10(6), p < 0.001) compared with NS (18 +/- 3 ng/10(6) AM). AM recovered from 12 smokers (8 HS, 4 LS) contained greater than 10 nmol of iron per 10(6) cells. These iron-loaded AM released a greater percentage of cell ferritin stores in vitro over 4 h (8.4% +/- 1.1, p < 0.01) than did AM from NS (3.2% +/- 0.6). Release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) over 4 h was substantially less (2.9% +/- 0.3, p < 0.001) than ferritin release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Serum form of the erythropoietin receptor identified by a sequence-specific peptide antibody.

The present investigation was undertaken to search for soluble forms of the erythropoietin receptor in human serum using polyclonal antibody against an amino terminal peptide sequence in the extracellular domain. This sequence was located adjacent to the amino terminus at residues 25-38. When this antibody was used for Western blots of solubilized membranes from nucleated bone marrow cells, a protein consistent with native erythropoietin receptor was seen. Purified soluble ectodomain of the erythropoietin receptor displayed appropriate reactivity with this antibody. When sera from normal subjects and patients with a range of hematologic disorders were examined by Western blotting, a protein with a molecular mass of 34 Kd was detected in sera from patients with enhanced erythropoiesis including sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and megaloblastic anemia. This protein was rarely detected in normal serum but appeared when normal subjects were treated with recombinant erythropoietin and disappeared after full treatment of patients with megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency. The protein was not detected after myeloablation for bone marrow transplantation but appeared with marrow engraftment. Reactivity of this protein with the peptide antibody was competitively inhibited by the amino terminal peptide sequence. An additional 48 Kd protein was detected that showed minimal variation in intensity with differing degrees of erythropoietic activity. Detection of this protein could not be inhibited by the addition of synthetic peptide. Our findings indicate the presence of a soluble form of the erythropoietin receptor related to the extracellular domain that is highly correlated with enhanced erythropoiesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Decreased fibrinolytic potential in patients with idiopathic avascular necrosis and transient osteoporosis of the hip.

A thrombotic etiology has been suggested as the cause of idiopathic avascular necrosis of the hip, although the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are unknown. Transient osteoporosis of the hip has also been suggested to represent bone marrow edema that may be related to ischemia. We evaluated four patients with idiopathic avascular necrosis and one patient with transient osteoporosis of the hip for thrombotic potential placing a special emphasis on the fibrinolytic system. All five patients had identifiable abnormalities of fibrinolysis. Four patients had elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and one patient had an inadequate increase in tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) post venous occlusion. Serum triglycerides were increased in three of the patients. These findings suggest an association between decreased fibrinolytic potential and the subsequent development of avascular necrosis and transient osteoporosis of the hip. These patients should have an evaluation of the fibrinolytic system with tPA and PAI-1 levels as well as a lipid profile.

Adult↗

The clinical significance of serum transferrin receptor levels in sickle cell disease.

Serum transferrin receptor (TfR) levels were measured in 182 children with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, 47 with sickle cell-haemoglobin C (SC) disease and 41 normal (AA) controls on their eighth birthday. Highly significant elevations occurred in SS compared to SC disease and in SC disease compared to AA controls. Females had higher levels than males in controls but lower levels than males in SS and SC disease. In SS disease, serum TfR levels tended to rise with age from 2 to 8 years, the change within individuals correlating with a change in reticulocyte count (r = 0.38, P = 0.017) and fall in fetal haemoglobin levels (r = -0.51, P = 0.004). Serum TfR levels did not change with infection or painful crisis but were markedly elevated in hypersplenism and fell following splenectomy in these subjects. In the aplastic crisis, serum TfR levels tended to rise following clinical presentation and then fall, reflecting the reticulocyte counts. These observations are consistent with serum TfR levels being a useful indicator of the degree of erythropoietic expansion in sickle cell disease.

Age Factors↗

Serum transferrin receptor.

The transferrin receptor plays a critical role in iron metabolism by precisely controlling the flow of transferrin iron into body cells. A soluble truncated form of the receptor can be detected in human serum using sensitive immunoassays, and the initial clinical experience with this new measurement indicates that it reflects the total body mass of tissue receptor. Serum receptor levels rise significantly with tissue iron deficiency and the heightened demand for iron associated with expansion of the erythroid marrow. The serum receptor provides a quantitative measure of functional iron deficiency and distinguishes the associated anemia from that of chronic disease. If iron deficiency is excluded, the serum receptor provides a quantitative measure of total erythropoiesis that is more sensitive and less invasive than bone marrow examination currently used to assess red cell precursor mass. Performed in conjunction with serum ferritin measurements, the serum receptor will be useful in establishing the true prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in population studies.

Anemia↗

Serum transferrin receptor in the megaloblastic anemia of cobalamin deficiency.

In order to further study the relation between transferrin receptor and erythropoiesis we examined serum receptor levels in megaloblastic anemia, which is the classic example of ineffective erythropoiesis. We studied 33 patients with unequivocal cobalamin deficiency, only 22 of whom were anemic. High serum transferrin receptor levels were found in 12 patients, all of whom were anemic and had high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels; in contrast, only 10 of the 21 patients with normal receptor levels were anemic. Receptor correlated most strongly with LDH (r = 0.573, p < 0.001) and, inversely, with hemoglobin values (r = -0.560, p < 0.001); it also correlated with ferritin and total bilirubin levels, but not with cobalamin, MCV or erythropoietin. No association was found with the hemolytic component of megaloblastic anemia, represented indirectly by haptoglobin levels. Changes induced by cobalamin therapy were also examined in 13 patients. Transferrin receptors rose in all 6 patients who initially had high levels and in 2 of 3 patients who had borderline levels, but not in the 4 patients with initially normal levels. The receptor levels began to rise within 1-3 days, peaked at about 2 weeks and returned to normal at about the 5th wk. The findings indicate that serum transferrin receptor levels reflect the severity of the megaloblastic anemia. The elevated receptor levels rise further with cobalamin therapy, however, as effective erythropoiesis replaces ineffective erythropoiesis, and these persist until the increased erythropoiesis returns to normal.

Anemia, Megaloblastic↗

Alveolar macrophage content of isoferritins and transferrin. Comparison of nonsmokers and smokers with and without chronic airflow obstruction.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) contain iron and ferritin, and concentrations of both are increased in AM of smokers compared with nonsmokers. Ferritin stores iron in a nontoxic form but can release iron in the presence of reducing agents and thereby catalyze the generation of toxic hydroxyl radicals via the Haber-Weiss reaction. Two distinct isoferritins are found in peripheral monocytes, L ferritin and H ferritin. H ferritin is the predominant isoferritin in human monocytes and is more effective than L ferritin in detoxifying iron in vitro. In this study we quantitated content of H and L ferritins, transferrin, and iron in AM recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of 24 subjects, including eight nonsmokers, eight smokers with normal spirometry, and eight smokers with chronic airflow obstruction (CAO). Of total AM ferritin in nonsmokers 95% was composed of L ferritin. Smokers without CAO demonstrated a 6.5-fold increase in the AM content of L ferritin (1,886 +/- 266 versus 290 +/- 51 ng, mean +/- SEM; p less than 0.0001) and a 3.8-fold increase in H ferritin (61 +/- 18 versus 16 +/- 2 ng per 1 x 10(6) AM, p less than 0.01) compared with nonsmokers. Compared with smokers without CAO, AM recovered from smokers with CAO demonstrated a greater increase in L ferritin (5,059 +/- 493 versus 1,886 +/- 266 ng per 1 x 10(6) AM, p less than 0.002) but a similar increase in H ferritin (64 +/- 8 versus 61 +/- 18 per 1 x 10(6) AM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Effect of enhanced erythropoiesis on iron absorption.

To examine the influence of erythropoiesis on iron absorption, radioiron absorption tests were performed in normal subjects before and after a course of recombinant erythropoietin. The absorption of heme and nonheme iron from a standard meal was measured in nine subjects, and the absorption of a therapeutic dose of ferrous sulfate given with or without food was determined in an additional 11 subjects. The subcutaneous administration of 100 U recombinant human erythropoietin/kg body weight given on 10 successive days over a 2-week period induced a brisk increase in erythropoiesis and a sharp decrease in iron stores. With the standard meal, there was a modest increase in heme iron absorption from 47.0% to 58.6% (p < 0.05) and a dramatic five-fold rise in nonheme iron absorption from 5.9% to 31.8% (p < 0.001). The absorption of 50 mg iron as ferrous sulfate increased from 2.0% to 17.9% when given with food (p < 0.001) and from 7.0% to 24.6% when given with water (p < 0.001). To assess the effect of erythropoiesis independently of the induced changes in iron status, the absorption data were adjusted to a common serum ferritin level. The relative increase in iron absorption was still significant for both dietary nonheme iron (ratio 2.51, p < 0.02) and ferrous sulfate given with food (ratio 2.99, p < 0.01). It is concluded that the striking enhancement of iron absorption following regular erythropoietin administration in normal subjects is related to the combined effect of diminished iron stores and augmented erythropoiesis.

Adult↗