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Biomedical subjects

C A Lee

Publications and source records attributed to C A Lee.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Disruption of the mouse cyclooxygenase 1 gene. Characteristics of the mutant and areas of future study.

Surprisingly, disruption of the COX-1 gene resulted in generally healthy mice. This is in spite of the fact that prostaglandin levels in the tissues examined were reduced by greater than 99%. The results obtained to date with the COX-1 deficient mice indicate that some of the physiological roles previously attributed to COX-1 may not be entirely correct. Ongoing studies with the COX deficient mice are aimed at better defining the physiological roles of the cyclooxygenases and concomitantly the mechanisms by which NSAIDs cause their biological effects.

Animals↗

Orthopaedic surgery in hemophilic patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

Patients registered at the author's hemophilia center between 1982 and 1994 were studied to establish whether major orthopaedic surgical procedures accelerate the fall of CD4 lymphocyte counts of patients with hemophilia who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, and whether patients who had surgery had different rates of development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome or death when compared with patients who did not have surgery. The patients were divided into four groups: Group 1, 22 patients who were human immunodeficiency virus positive undergoing orthopaedic surgery; Group 2, 89 patients who were human immunodeficiency virus positive not undergoing orthopaedic surgery; Group 3, 18 patients who were human immunodeficiency virus negative undergoing orthopaedic surgery; and Group 4, 135 patients who were human immunodeficiency virus negative not undergoing orthopaedic surgery. There was no significant difference between the rates of decline of CD4 lymphocyte counts for patients who were human immunodeficiency virus positive who underwent surgery when compared with human immunodeficiency virus positive patients who did not undergo surgery, nor was there any significant difference between the two human immunodeficiency virus negative groups. There were no significant differences in the rate of development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome or mortality rates between patients who had surgery and those who did not.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Serum beta 2-microglobulin at HIV-1 seroconversion as a predictor of severe immunodeficiency during 10 years of followup.

In order to examine the relevance of early immune activation to the long-term course of HIV infection, we evaluated the ability of the serum beta 2-microglobulin level measured in 63 haemophiliacs on average 4.9 months from HIV seroconversion to predict the rate of development of server immunodeficiency (CD4) lymphocyte count 50/mm3) or AIDS over the following 10 years. Patients with higher beta 2-microglobulin values tended to develop severe immunodeficiency/AIDS more rapidly than those with lower levels (relative risk 1.68 per 1 mg/L increase; 95% CI 1.26-2.26; p = 0.0004). Older patients also progressed more rapidly, and these two factors acted independently (relative risk 1.65 per 1 mg/L increase; 95% CI 1.21-2.72; p = 0.002 for beta 2-microglobulin and 1.22 per 10 years; 95% CI 1.01-1.48; p = 0.04 for age). These results provide further evidence that the long-term course of HIV infection can, to some extent, be predicted soon after infection. Older patients with high beta 2-microglobulin levels warrant close monitoring and consideration for early antiretroviral therapy.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of immunodeficiency and AIDS defining conditions in HIV negative and HIV positive men with haemophilia A.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothesis that high usage of clotting factor concentrate, rather than HIV infection, is the cause of immunodeficiency and AIDS in men with haemophilia. DESIGN: A comparison of AIDS defining conditions and CD4 counts in HIV positive and HIV negative patients with haemophilia matched for usage of clotting factor concentrate. SETTING: A comprehensive care haemophilia centre. SUBJECTS: 17 HIV positive and 17 HIV negative male patients with haemophilia A (age range 12-60 at beginning of study period) who had received similar amounts of clotting factor concentrate yearly over the years 1980-90. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical events listed as AIDS defining in the Centers for Disease Control AIDS definition; CD4 lymphocyte counts; death. RESULTS: Of 108 HIV positive male patients with haemophilia A, only 17 could be matched to an HIV negative patient. This was due to the much higher average usage of factor VIII in the HIV positive group. Between 1980 and 1990, 16 clinical events occurred in nine of the 17 HIV positive patients. No event occurred in the 17 HIV negative patients. In each pair the mean CD4 count during follow up was, on average, 0.5 x 10(9)/l lower in the HIV positive patient. CONCLUSION: These data reject the hypothesis that high usage of clotting factor concentrate, rather than HIV infection, is the cause of immunodeficiency and AIDS in men with haemophilia.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Transfusion-transmitted disease.

Many patients with haemophilia are infected with viruses, due to treatment with blood products--particularly from large pool clotting factor concentrates before 1985. AIDS in haemophilic patients was first described in 1982 and it has significantly reduced the life expectancy of these patients. Although no new sero-conversions have occurred since 1986, management of HIV in haemophilia remains a clinical challenge. Transfusion-associated hepatitis was recognized in 1943, and it is now an important complication of haemophilia treatment. Vaccination against HAV is recommended. Intensively-treated older haemophilic patients usually have serological evidence of HBV infection. HBV transmission has been stopped, but hepatitis B vaccination is still practised, because HDV requires HBV for propagation. Many patients are infected with HCV: before 1985 almost all patients who received clotting factor concentrate developed non-A, non-B hepatitis, now recognized as HCV. Treatment strategies are being developed for HCV in haemophilic patients. Parvo virus can be transmitted by clotting factor concentrate; it is very resistant to sterilization processes, transmission causing severe illness even in immuno-competent individuals. New blood-borne viruses responsible for sero-negative hepatitis include: GBV-A, B and C, and HGV. Although there is no link between CJD and haemophilia, there is concern about possible blood product transmission.

Blood↗

Transmission of symptomatic parvovirus B19 infection by clotting factor concentrate.

The risk of acquiring diseases from transfusion of blood and blood products is well recognized and the issue of parvovirus in haemophiliacs is not a new one. We report two patients with haemophilia acquiring iatrogenic parvovirus B19 infection, resulting in life-threatening sepsis in one, and immunocompetent adult. Over the last 10 years there has been great progress in manufacturing safer products with regard to enveloped viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C. A recent outbreak across Europe of hepatitis A in haemophiliacs treated with plasma-derived factor VII concentrates has made haemophilic treaters concerned about the known (parvovirus B19 and hepatitis A) and the unknown non-lipid enveloped viruses that may be contained in the clotting factor concentrates, because these are resistant to the existing viral inactivating techniques. The possibility of HIV itself mutating into a non-lipid enveloped virus emphasizes the need to seek and use safer products.

Adult↗

Co-ordinate regulation of Salmonella typhimurium invasion genes by environmental and regulatory factors is mediated by control of hilA expression.

During infection of their hosts, salmonellae enter intestinal epithelial cells. It has been proposed that when Salmonella typhimurium is present in the intestinal lumen, several environmental and regulatory conditions modulate the expression of invasion factors required for bacterial entry into host cells. We report here that the expression of six different S. typhimurium invasion genes encoded on SPI1 (Salmonella pathogenicity island 1) is co-ordinately regulated by oxygen, osmolarity, pH, PhoPQ, and HilA. HilA is a transcriptional activator of the OmpR/ToxR family that is also encoded on SPI1. We have found that HilA plays a central role in the co-ordinated regulation of invasion genes by environmental and regulatory conditions. HilA can activate the expression of two invasion gene-lacZY fusions on reporter plasmids in Escherichia coll, suggesting that HilA acts directly at invasion-gene promoters in S. typhimurium. We have found that the regulation of invasion genes by oxygen, osmolarity, pH, and PhoPQ is indirect and is mediated by regulation of hilA expression by these environmental and regulatory factors. We hypothesize that the complex and co-ordinate regulation of Invasion genes by HilA is an important feature of salmonella pathogenesis and allows salmonellae to enter intestinal epithelial cells.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Increased numbers of primed activated CD8+CD38+CD45RO+ T cells predict the decline of CD4+ T cells in HIV-1-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To look for surrogate markers in HIV-1 infection that can predict the decline of CD4+ T cells. METHODS: Multiparameter flow cytometric analyses of CD8+ lymphocytes were performed. These cells were investigated for their expression of the activation marker CD38+ within the naive (CD45RA+) and primed (CD45RO+) subsets. Serial CD4 counts were plotted for each patient and the straight line that best fitted was obtained using least squares regression. Differences in rate of decline were tested using analysis of variance, after each patient was weighted by the reciprocal of the variance. RESULTS: Baseline levels of percentages of CD8+CD38+ T lymphocytes predict the CD4 decline in HIV-1-infected patients. Within the CD8+ subset, the primed CD8+CD38+CD45RO+ population was responsible for this prediction. Conversely, the naive CD8+CD38+CD45RA+ population was not predictive. Patients who initially showed a percentage of CD8+CD38+ T lymphocytes above the median (> 25%) had a more marked decline in CD4+ T cells when compared to individuals with percentages of CD8+CD38+ T lymphocytes below the median value (79.3 and 21.2 x 10(6)/l mean CD4 cell decline per year, respectively). Similarly, percentages of CD8+CD38+CD45RO+ T cells above the median value (> 7%) were also associated with a more rapid decline (69.4 and 14.2 x 10(6)/l mean CD4+ cell decline per year). These results were statistically significant after adjustment for the baseline CD4 count and beta 2-microglobulin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Percentages of activated CD8+ cells expressing CD38+ can predict the rate of decline (slope) of the CD4+ T cells. This resides in the CD45RO+ primed population. An early prediction of the CD4+ slope will allow the clinician to target treatment to those patients that are most likely to benefit.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Effects of caffeine and theophylline on acetaminophen pharmacokinetics: P450 inhibition and activation.

Metabolism of acetaminophen (APAP) to its reactive metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI) is mediated by cytochrome P450. A pharmacokinetic study was conducted to quantitate changes in the formation clearance (Cl(f)) of NAPQI to assess in vivo the activation and inhibition of NAPQI formation by methylxanthines. Cl(f) of NAPQI was unaltered by methylxanthine administration in saline-pretreated rats. In phenobarbital-induced rats receiving a nontoxic dose of APAP (100 mg/kg i.v.), a single dose of caffeine (100 mg/kg i.p.) co-administered with APAP increased the Cl(f) of NAPQI formation from 0.58 +/- 0.47 to 2.08 +/- 1.1 1 ml/min/kg (P = .01). Unlike caffeine, theophylline (93 mg/kg i.p.) had no effect on the Cl(f) of NAPQI in phenobarbital-induced rats. The increase in the Cl(f) of NAPQI immediately after a single dose of caffeine demonstrates that P450 activation by caffeine can occur in vivo, as we observed previously in microsomes. The same dose of APAP and methylxanthines also was administered to rats induced with methylcholanthrene. The co-administration of either a single dose of caffeine or theophylline diminished the Cl(f) of NAPQI by 86% (P = .01) and 52% (P = .03), respectively. These in vivo results agree with our previous studies of the effects of the methylxanthines on the formation of NAPQI in rat liver microsomes.

Acetaminophen↗

Safety profile of porcine factor VIII and its use as hospital and home-therapy for patients with haemophilia-A and inhibitors: the results of an international survey.

A multicentre retrospective survey was conducted to re-assess the use of porcine factor VIII (HYATE:C), its side effects and the selection of patients for regular or home-therapy. 15,152,000 units of HYATE:C were used by 154 patients. The median inhibitor cross-reactivity to porcine VIIIC of 137 patients was 15%, 27% of patients lacking cross-reactivity. An absent, intermediate or brisk specific antiporcine anamnestic response was observed in 29, 40 and 31% of patients respectively. Seven patients were treated on-demand as home-therapy for a median 6.2, range 1.5-13 years, 23 further patients were treated regularly in hospital for a median of 3, range 2-7 years. This group used 8,319,000 U of porcine VIIIC for 2,000 bleeding episodes. The incidence of transfusion reactions was 0.001%, 0.64% and 2.3%, for domiciliary infusions, infusions in multiply treated in-patients, and unselected in-patient infusions, respectively. The risk of reactions was dose-related. A post-infusion fall in platelet count was common, but usually transient and clinically insignificant. This was also dose-related (r = -0.64, p = 0.002). Marked reductions in platelet count were occasionally seen, usually with intensive replacement therapy. The relative lack of side effects observed amongst patients treated at home is attributable to the low, median 33 U/kg, dose used by this group. A subgroup of inhibitor patients, identifiable by their absent or modest anamnestic response to porcine factor VIII may be treated regularly and safely with this product in small doses, over a period of years.

Animals↗

Pathogenicity islands and the evolution of bacterial pathogens.

The term pathogenicity island has been used to refer to large chromosomal regions in pathogenic bacteria that encode virulence genes. This article reviews the recent history of this term and considers what characteristics define a pathogenicity island. It appears that pathogenicity islands can confer complex virulence phenotypes and were acquired by bacteria from unrelated organisms, leading to interesting hypotheses about how bacterial pathogens evolved. It is likely that mechanisms that generate pathogenicity islands continue to operate and may contribute to the emergence of bacterial pathogens with new virulence properties.

Bacteria↗

Strontium-89 for treatment of painful bone metastasis from prostate cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: To review the current use of strontium-89 (89Sr) to treat pain related to bony metastasis secondary to prostate cancer. DATA SOURCES: Published articles. DATA SYNTHESIS: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. The disease's most common site of metastasis is the bones. Bone metastasis leads to unrelenting pain. If healthcare providers are able to manage a patient's pain successfully, the patient's quality of life improves. CONCLUSION: When conventional therapies fail, 89Sr can be used as an alternative or an adjunct to pain management of bony metastasis in prostate cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nursing intervention primarily involves assessing pain, monitoring analgesics until 89Sr can begin to take effect, educating patients on using other medications with 89Sr, and assessing fatigue resulting from 89Sr-induced myelosuppression. As pain decreases, nurses also should monitor patients' activity levels, since they are at risk for pathologic fractures.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Prostaglandin synthase 2 gene disruption causes severe renal pathology in the mouse.

The prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase isoform 2, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), is induced at high levels in migratory and other responding cells by pro-inflammatory stimuli. COX-2 is generally considered to be a mediator of inflammation. Its isoform, COX-1, is constitutively expressed in most tissues and is thought to mediate "housekeeping" functions. These two enzymes are therapeutic targets of the widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). To investigate further the different physiologic roles of these isoforms, we have used homologous recombination to disrupt the mouse gene encoding COX-2 (Ptgs2). Mice lacking COX-2 have normal inflammatory responses to treatments with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate or with arachidonic acid. However, they develop severe nephropathy and are susceptible to peritonitis.

Animals↗

Prostaglandin synthase 1 gene disruption in mice reduces arachidonic acid-induced inflammation and indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration.

Cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 (COX-1 and COX-2) are key enzymes in prostaglandin biosynthesis and the target enzymes for the widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To study the physiological roles of the individual isoforms, we have disrupted the mouse Ptgs1 gene encoding COX-1. Homozygous Ptgs1 mutant mice survive well, have no gastric pathology, and show less indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration than wild-type mice, even though their gastric prostaglandin E2 levels are about 1% of wild type. The homozygous mutant mice have reduced platelet aggregation and a decreased inflammatory response to arachidonic acid, but not to tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. Ptgs1 homozygous mutant females mated to homozygous mutant males produce few live offspring. COX-1-deficient mice provide a useful model to distinguish the physiological roles of COX-1 and COX-2.

Animals↗