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Biomedical subjects

B Shapiro

Publications and source records attributed to B Shapiro.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Plasma and serum concentrations of DNA in pulmonary thromboembolism.

The value of circulating DNA concentrations in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) was assessed in 68 consecutive patients, of which 36 (Group 1) had clinical symptoms suggesting PE. The diagnosis of PE was established in 13 patients on the basis of pulmonary angiography (PA) (8 patients) and high probability ventilation-perfusion lung scanning (VPS) (5 patients). Pulmonary embolism was ruled out in 23 patients (by PA, 9 patients; by VPS, 14 patients). We found abnormally high DNA concentrations in 26 of the 36 patients (72%) with suggested PE, but there was no significant differences between patients with and patients without PE (p less than 0.05). The results were compared with the DNA concentrations in the remaining 32 patients (16 medical and 16 surgical cases) who had no clinical evidence of PE (Group 2). Increased DNA concentrations were found in 21 of these (66%). There was no significant difference in mean DNA concentrations between Group 1 and Group 2 (p less than 0.05). We conclude that pulmonary angiography and high probability ventilation-perfusion scanning remain the most reliable methods for the diagnosis of PE.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1982

The spectrum of pheochromocytoma in hypertensive patients with neurofibromatosis.

We have found an appreciable number of pheochromocytomas in patients with neurofibromatosis and concurrent hypertension (ten of 18 cases). At diagnosis, the patient age range was 15 to 62 years, the clinical appearance of the neurofibromatosis did not predict who would and who would not have pheochromocytomas, but the age at diagnosis was helpful in that our younger patients tended to have causes of hypertension other than pheochromocytoma. However, several causes of hypertension may coexist. The biochemical findings were highly diagnostic. The pheochromocytomas secreted epinephrine as well as norepinephrine and resided in or next to the adrenal gland. Where pheochromocytoma is the cause of hypertension, its resection generally results in a better control of hypertension than that obtained in patients whose BPs were elevated from other unknown causes.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1981

Fat associated with adipose lipase. The newly synthesized fraction that is the preferred substrate for lipolysis.

The incorporation of fatty acids by adipocyte fat cake was observed. The newly formed lipid was not extracted by petroleum either but remained in the lipase-containing residue. It was the first lipid to be hydrolyzed when the lipase was activated by exposure to the aqueous phase. The data presented indicate that the lipid fraction of the fat layer residue is the active compartment of cell acylglycerol and demonstrate that the compartmentation of acylglycerols into metabolic pools involves a physical separation between them.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1981

DNA in synovial fluid and the circulation of patients with arthritis.

DNA levels were measured in synovial fluids and sera of 106 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), gout, pseudogout, and posttraumatic arthritis (TRA). In synovial fluids, the highest concentration was found in rheumatoid arthritis (mean +/- SE 18 +/- 3 microgram/ml for seropositive and 9 +/- 1 microgram/ml for seronegative variants), gout and pseudogout (17 +/- 3 microgram/ml). In contrast, the levels in patients with OA or acute TRA were very low: 0.8 +/- 0.1 microgram/ml an 1.1 +/- 0.2 microgram/ml, respectively. The differences between the means of the first disease group and OA or TRA is statistically significant. A similar pattern was observed for DNA levels in the circulation: in rheumatoid arthritis, the mean concentration was 135 +/- 28 ng/ml and 164 +/- 39 ng/ml for seropositive and seronegative RA, respectively. Again the levels in OA and TRA were much lower, 52 +/- 18 ng/ml and 0 ng/Ml, respectively. The latter are not significantly different from the mean levels of 95 normal, healthy controls (14 +/- 3 ng/ml), whereas the concentration of DNA in the serum of RA patients is significantly higher than in OA, TRA, or normal controls. Serial determinations of DNA and other criteria of disease activity (leukocytes and protein levels in synovial fluid, blood sedimentation rate) in individual patients revealed a strong correlation of elevated values with active episodes. THe results suggest that these parameters reflect tissue damage.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1981

A multiobserver comparison of 99mTcO4 and 123I thyroid imaging.

The thyroids of forty patients were imaged using 2 mCi(74 MBq) 99mTc pertechnetate (99mTcO4) followed within one week by 2 mCi (74 MBq) 123I Iodide. The images obtained were evaluated by eight observers for 6 morphological criteria and assigned to 6 diagnostic categories with a confidence grading on a seven level scale (grade 1 being that for maximum confidence). Images were obtained with 123I for the same counts and the same times as those with 99mTcO4 and compared using an index in which the number of diagnostic categories and the mean confidence grading within each category were taken into account. The mean index obtained for 99mTcO4 images (9.2) was significantly greater (P less than 0.05, thus representing a lower observer confidence and less interobserver diagnostic agreement) than the mean indices for 123I equal count images (5.6) and 123I equal time images (6.8). The diagnoses made on the basis of 123I images were more frequently concordant with the final diagnosis after six months follow up (75% for equal counts and 77% for equal time) than those with 99mTcO4(63%). The radioisotope of iodine most suited to modern nuclear medicine instrumentation and with the most favourable radiation dosimetry is 123I which is recommended for those areas of thyroid imaging where iodine is superior.

Humans↗
PubMed1981

Clinical experience with 75Se selenomethylcholesterol adrenal imaging.

The results of quantitative adrenal imaging using 75Se selenomethylcholesterol in sixty-two subjects are analysed. The adrenal area was localized by a renal scan, lateral views of which enabled adrenal depth to be estimated. The first nineteen cases were scanned with a rectilinear scanner and the remaining forty-three cases imaged with a gamma camera. Quantitation of adrenal uptake was performed on computer-stored static images obtained 7 and 14 days post-injection of 75Se selenomethylcholesterol (3 and 6 days in the first ten cases studied). Normal uptake was found to be 0.07-0.30% of the administered dose. Overall predictive accuracy of the type of adrenal disorder of thirty-two patients with Cushing's syndrome ws 90.6%, this included twelve cases of Cushing's disease (mean uptake 0.58%), seven ectopic ACTH syndromes (mean uptake 0.69%), five unilateral adenomata (mean uptake 0.93%), three post adrenalectomy regrowths (mean uptake 1.37%), three adrenal carcinomas (mean uptake 0.01%), one congenital hyperplasia (mean uptake 3.4%) and one unilateral nodular hyperplasia. Overall predictive accuracy of the cause of Conn's syndrome in twenty-two cases was 86.4%; this included thirteen cases of bilateral hyperplasia (mean uptake 0.34%), eight unilateral adenomata (mean uptake 0.47%) and one patient with mineralocorticoid excess in whom the cause has not been confirmed. The mean uptake in the normal adrenal in cases of unilateral adenoma was 0.19% (range 0.07-0.30%). Causes of unsatisfactory adrenal imaging are examined. The procedure is recommended as the localizing and lateralizing technique of choice in Cushing's syndrome except where due to adrenal carcinoma, and as an important non-invasive technique in Conn's syndrome for the lateralization of adenoma.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1981

Effects of an ACTH short chain neuropeptide in man.

The authors studied the effect of an ACTH 4-9 analogue (the shortest behaviorally active fragment of the ACTH neuropeptide) on mood in normal aging volunteers. These mood changes, described as a sense of well-being, energy, and drive, are consistent with an arousal-stimulant mechanism of action of the compound. No effect of the compound was found on attention or memory. Because of its apparent safety and the lack of adverse effects, the authors suggest that this short chain neuropeptide be further explored in older individuals for its mood-elevating and potential antidepressant properties.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1981

Somatostatin is an agonist and noncompetitive antagonist of gastrin in oxyntic cell function.

Somatostatin inhibits gastric acid secretion in vivo by effects on oxyntic cells which may be indirect. Using quantitative cytochemistry, we have investigated the actions of somatostatin on guinea pig oxyntic cell carbonic anhydrase activity, an index of acid secretion. Cyclic tetradecapeptide somatostatin, in the range of 2.9 X 10(-15) to 2.9 X 10(-10) M, stimulated oxyntic cell carbonic anhydrase activity in sections of guinea pig gastric fundus with a linear dose-response between 2.9 X 10(-14) and 2.9 x 10(-11) M. The maximal response to somatostatin was 50% of that to gastrin. Gastrin stimulated oxyntic cell carbonic anhydrase in the dose range of 2.3 X 10(-15) to 2.3 X 10(-11) M. The addition of 2.9 x 10(-13) M somatostatin caused an inhibition of 38-75% of the carbonic anhydrase activity stimulated by various concentrations of gastrin. The addition of 2.3 X 10(-13) M gastrin (which caused 79% of maximal carbonic anhydrase activation), to each dose of somatostatin from 2.9 X 10(-15) to 2.9 X 10(-10) M did not alter the action of somatostatin, and the action of gastrin was reduced to that observed with somatostatin alone. The data indicate noncompetitive inhibition between somatostatin and gastrin. Thus, somatostatin is an intrinsic, albeit weak, stimulator of gastric oxyntic cell carbonic anhydrase activity, and despite this, is a noncompetitive antagonist of the action of gastrin. Gastrin is an agonist and noncompetitive antagonist of the action of somatostatin.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Single photon emission tomography of the pituitary: preliminary communication.

A specific application of single photon emission tomography to the relative quantitation of the pituitary region is described together with the results obtained in 19 patients with pituitary adenoma proven by air encephalography. These are compared with those obtained by X-ray computer tomography and conventional brain imaging and a superiority of single photon emission tomography is demonstrated in this small series.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1980

Lipolytic activity in adipocyte cell fractions.

Adipocytes release only negligible amounts of free fatty acids unless stimulated, but reveal considerable lipolytic activity when homogenized. Epinephrine treatment of the cells caused only a 20-40% increase in the activity of infranatants of homogenates while raising the activity associated with the fat layer up to 10-fold. Full activity (i.e. that of intact-activated cells) could be revealed by epinephrine treatment of the homogenate as well as by sonication of the fat layer in buffer. The combination of both treatments did not yield higher activities. The fat cake contains the bulk of the potential activities which are only realized when dispersed in the aqueous phase by sonication, or upon hormone activation of the whole homogenate. Increase in activity could also be obtained by removal of most of the lipid from the fat layer by extraction with petroleum ether. Re-introduction of extracted lipid inhibited lipolysis. The active enzyme could be separated by flotation at 1.12 specific gravity. The data suggest that the lack of activity in the intact non-stimulated cell may be due to the lack of availability of the aqueous phase to the enzyme.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1980

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in two siblings with decreased immunoglobulin A.

A brother and sister with classic, biopsy proved pulmonary alveolar proteinosis are described. Both had low serum and low normal secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels. A tendency for familial occurrence is possible and it is recommended that patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and their families, be evaluated for immunologic deficiencies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Tissue and serum somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in lean and obese Zucker rats.

Tissue and serum somatostatin levels were measured in genetically lean and obese Zucker rats. Immunoreactive somatostatin content was decreased in three central nervous system regions (hypothalamus, septum and preoptic area and thalamus) of obese rats but was increased in cerebral cortex. No differences were observed in antral or colonic somatostatin content but obese animals had significantly elevated pancreatic levels. Portal vein somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in contrast was significantly lower in obese rats. The widespread alterations in tissue and serum somatostatin-like immunoreactivity suggest either a diffuse abnormality of somatostatin physiology or a response to a generalised feature of the obese hyperinsulinaemic state.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Selenium 75 selenomethyl cholesterol: a new agent for quantitative functional scintigraphy of the adrenals: physical aspects.

Fifty-two patients with suspected or known adrenal disorders have been studied with 75Se selenomethyl cholesterol using a rectilinear scanner or gamma camera computer system. Radiation dosimetry was estimated from the blood clearance and whole body retention of 75Se selenomethyl cholesterol. A method of quantitation of adrenal uptake is described, use of which is essential for the separation of normal from hyperactive adrenal glands. The adrenal depth was found to vary between 4.4 and 12 cm. The lack of need for thyroid suppression and the availability and ease of handling and storage of 75Se selenomethyl cholesterol make it preferable to 131I iodo-cholesterol derivatives and the current agent of choice for adrenal imaging.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗