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B Simpson

Publications and source records attributed to B Simpson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Significance of IgG and IgM HCV antibody secretion in vitro in patients with chronic hepatitis C: correlation with disease activity and response to interferon-alpha.

Hepatitis C virus antibodies are found in the serum of most patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, the significance of the humoral response is still uncertain. In this study, in vitro IgG and IgM anti-hepatitis C virus secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic hepatitis C was analyzed. Peripheral-blood mononuclear cells from 21 of 36 patients (58.3%) secreted IgG anti-hepatitis C virus in vitro, as demonstrated with anti-hepatitis C virus-specific enzyme immunoassays and recombinant immunoblot assays. Ten of the 36 patients (27.8%) showed both IgG and IgM anti-hepatitis C virus core in vitro. In 9 of these 10 patients, IgM anti-hepatitis C virus was also detected in serum. Patients with in vitro IgM or IgG anti-hepatitis C virus secretion had higher ALT levels in serum than did patients without such secretion in vitro (99.5 +/- 22.1 and 85.6 +/- 34.4 vs. 38.1 +/- 37.4 U/L; p < 0.0001, p < 0.001). Furthermore, with a histology activity score it was demonstrated that patients with in vitro IgM or IgG HCV antibodies (or both) had more severe chronic active hepatitis than did patients without in vitro hepatitis C virus antibody secretion (p < 0.01). To analyze the therapy outcome, we included in this study 18 patients who had received interferon-alpha previously. Seven of eight in vitro hepatitis C virus antibody-positive patients were nonresponders, whereas the in vitro hepatitis C virus antibody-negative patients were mostly complete therapy responders (8 of 10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alanine Transaminase

Hepatitis C core antibody detection in acute hepatitis and cirrhosis patients from Tunisia.

The detection of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Core antibodies is an important addition to HCV antibody testing. In this study it appears to be more specific than the first generation HCV tests and in combination with the detection of anti-C33c antibodies, it is possibly more sensitive. In Tunisia hepatitis C virus is implicated by the presence of anti-Core antibodies in only 8% of the adult cases of acute hepatitis as opposed to 60% for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 4% for Hepatitis A virus (HAV). In contrast to the low prevalence of HCV infection among acute hepatitis cases, HCV infection is implicated in 35% of the cirrhosis cases. These results stress the potential importance of HCV infection in the development of cirrhosis which is a relatively common disease in North Africa.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Incidence of hepatitis C virus infection in burn patients: detection of anti-C100, anti-C33c and anti-Core antibodies.

Anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies were searched for in 45 burnt patients, at the time of burn injury and more than 6 months after burn injury. HCV infection was detected in 18% as a consequence of the numerous transfusions of blood or blood derivatives used during the post-burn treatment. Five patients displayed evidence of anti-C100, anti-C33c and anti-Core antibodies together; two patients had only anti-C100 and anti-C33c antibodies, and the last one showed only anti-Core antibodies. Chronic hepatitis was observed in 83% of HCV infections. Kinetics of appearance of anti-HCV antibodies varied between patients. Anti-Core is generally the first to be detected at high levels; however, in at least one case it was detected only two and a half months after C100 and C33c antibodies.

Alanine Transaminase

Quantitation of whole molecule human chorionic gonadotropin and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin subunit in the Abbott IMx analyser.

An assay for the quantitation of the serum levels of free and whole molecule-associated beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin on the Abbott IMx analyzer is described. The assay detects human beta-chorionic gonadotropin with a sensitivity of approximately 0.5 IU/l while showing no cross-reactivity with follitropin (1000 IU/l) or thyrotropin (2.0 IU/l), and 0.02% cross-reactivity with lutropin (1000 IU/l). Haemoglobin (7.50 milligrams), bilirubin (0.50 milligrams), and triacylglycerols (10.6 milligrams) did not interfere with the assay. Pooled within-run, between-run, and total assay CVs were less than or equal to 5.2%, and less than or equal to 2.7%, and less than or equal to 6.3%, respectively. Values obtained with this assay correlated well (r = 0.98, n = 228) with those values obtained using the Hybritech TandemR-R HCG (Total Beta-HCG) IRMA. The normal range of the assay was found to be less than or equal to 5 IU/l (n = 311). The assay protocol provides results for up to 23 serum samples in approximately 47.5 minutes with the ability to report the human beta-chorionic gonadotropin concentrations of 5 specimens in approximately 15.5 minutes. We conclude that this is an acceptable assay for monitoring human beta-chorionic gonadotropin levels associated with normal pregnancy, reproductive pathology, and reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization or embryo transfer.

Chorionic Gonadotropin

The role of the professional nurse. A report from the Task Force of the Department of Nursing at the Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.

In order to deal with the nursing shortage the Department of Nursing at the Montreal General Hospital commissioned a series of task forces to study recruitment and retention issues and to develop recommendations for the department. Welcoming the involvement of nurses at all levels in the organization, the task forces became a method of developing objectives and strategies to foster decentralized decision-making and professional practice, to organize care efficiently and effectively and to market nursing. This article examines the work of the Task Force on the Professional Role of the nurse. Background information on the development of the task forces, a description of current behaviours of nurses, a vision of the future role and recommendations for the support required to develop the role are included.

Hospitals, General

Abortion.

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Abortion, Legal

Abortion.

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Abortion, Induced

Triamcinolone acetonide Aqueous nasal spray in patients with seasonal ragweed allergic rhinitis: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Because some patients may prefer aqueous nasal sprays and once-daily dosing for relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms, a new aqueous formulation of triamcinolone acetonide (TAA Aqueous) was developed. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to compare the efficacy and safety of once-daily administration of 220 micrograms/d of TAA Aqueous for 1 week, followed by either 220 micrograms/d or 110 micrograms/d for an additional 2 weeks, with that of placebo in 429 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Patients recorded the severity of symptoms (nasal stuffiness, discharge, sneezing, nasal index [the sum of the first three variables], nasal itching, and eye symptoms) on daily diary cards. Patients' and physicians' global evaluations of efficacy were made at the end of the 3-week study period. Both regimens of TAA Aqueous significantly improved symptoms compared with placebo at most time points. Patients demonstrated significant improvements in nasal symptoms as early as the first day of treatment (within 12 to 16 hours based on treatment in the morning and symptom assessment at bedtime). Although TAA Aqueous 220 micrograms/d provided numerically greater reductions in nasal symptoms compared with 110 micrograms/d, these differences in efficacy over the last 2 weeks were not statistically significant. The incidence of adverse effects with both TAA Aqueous regimens was low and comparable to that of placebo. In summary, during the first week of therapy, TAA Aqueous 220 micrograms/d significantly reduced nasal symptoms. During the last 2 weeks of therapy, the 110 micrograms/d regimen of TAA Aqueous was effective as continued therapy for most patients. Both the 110 micrograms/d and 220 micrograms/d regimens of TAA Aqueous provided significantly better relief of nasal symptoms than did placebo.

Administration, Intranasal