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Biomedical subjects

E Miller

Publications and source records attributed to E Miller.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Operative transluminal balloon angioplasty. Adjunct to coronary bypass for extended myocardial revascularization of more than 3000 lesions in 1000 patients.

Operative transluminal coronary artery balloon angioplasty has been used for over 3000 lesions in 1000 patients since 1980. Initially it was only used for distal stenoses not accessible to coronary bypass grafting in 200 patients. Recatheterization of patients who had intraoperative transluminal balloon angioplasty of the proximal left anterior descending, right, and circumflex coronary arteries 3 years previously revealed excellent patency of both the bypass grafts and the dilated native coronary arteries. This observation supports the thesis that with properly constructed bypass anastomoses competitive flow does not significantly mandate graft thrombosis. Subsequently, intraoperative balloon angioplasty has been performed for both proximal and distal stenoses in 800 patients to improve native coronary artery perfusion and maximize revascularization. Follow-up from 1 to 7 years revealed perioperative myocardial infarction in 21 patients (2.1%) and death in 19 patients (1.9%). Recatheterization from 1 to 7 years after the operation in 51 patients (41 with symptoms) revealed that patency was almost as prevalent in arteries subjected to angioplasty (82%; 137/167) as in bypass grafts (84%; 102/122). Intraoperative balloon angioplasty appears to improve coronary artery perfusion without detrimental competitive flow when used with bypass grafts.

Adult↗

Fetal infection after maternal reinfection with rubella: criteria for defining reinfection.

Five cases of asymptomatic maternal reinfection with rubella are described that occurred in England and Wales during 1985-8 and resulted in intrauterine infection. The criteria for diagnosing reinfection are described. In four cases the rubella contact was with the woman's own children. Two women had therapeutic abortions, rubella virus being recovered from the products of conception, and three were delivered of infants with congenitally acquired disease. Though the risks associated with maternal reinfection with rubella are very small and being measured in a prospective study, it is hoped that the recently introduced augmented programme of rubella vaccination will reduce rubella in the community and therefore this small risk still further.

Female↗

Outcome in newborn babies given anti-varicella-zoster immunoglobulin after perinatal maternal infection with varicella-zoster virus.

281 newborn babies whose mothers had chickenpox and 25 whose mothers had herpes zoster during the perinatal period were investigated. IgG antibody was present at birth in all babies born more than 7 days after the onset of maternal chickenpox. When the mother's rash appeared 7-3 days before delivery progressively fewer babies were born with antibody, and no infant born less than 3 days after the onset had antibody at birth. Infants were given 100 or 250 mg of anti-varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) shortly after birth or the onset of post-natal maternal chickenpox. 1 infant died, without neonatal varicella. Of the 280 surviving infants 169 (60%) were infected--134 (48%) with chickenpox and 35 (13%) without clinical features. The clinical attack rate was highest (60%) in infants whose mothers had chickenpox between 7 days before and 7 days after delivery. Chickenpox was severe in 19 infants, 16 of whom were exposed to maternal chickenpox between 4 days before and 2 days after delivery. There was no evidence that a severe outcome was associated with transplacentally acquired infection. Perinatal maternal herpes zoster did not cause neonatal infection. VZIG should be given to infants at risk, including those whose mothers have chickenpox during the last 7 days of pregnancy.

Chickenpox↗

Cholesterol esterification as a limiting factor in accumulation of cell cholesterol: a comparison of two J774 macrophage cell lines.

It was previously reported by Tabas et al. that J774 macrophages, unlike mouse peritoneal macrophages, accumulate large amounts of cholesteryl esters when incubated with native low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Comparison of the cell line (designated J774A.2) used in those experiments with its parent line (J774A.1) indicates that it is a variant with a greater rate of cholesterol esterification. This large difference in cholesterol esterification was accompanied by only a small difference in rates of LDL uptake and degradation by the J774A.2 line. The J774A.2 cells have become a variant line through either mutation or selection which has enhanced its susceptibility to foam cell formation by its markedly increased ability to esterify cholesterol.

Animals↗

Increased blood pressure during potassium depletion in normotensive men.

Epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse relation between potassium intake and the prevalence of hypertension. To investigate the effect of dietary potassium restriction on blood pressure, we used a randomized crossover design to study 10 healthy, normotensive men randomly assigned to isocaloric diets (each lasting nine days) providing either low (10 mmol per day) or normal (90 mmol per day) amounts of potassium, while sodium intake was maintained at the subjects' usual levels (120 to 200 mmol per day). With the low-potassium diet, plasma potassium levels declined from 3.8 to 3.2 mmol per liter (P less than 0.001), but plasma sodium and chloride levels were unchanged. The average daily excretion of urinary sodium (+/- SEM) on the low-potassium diet was significantly lower than that with the normal-potassium diet (10 +/- 10 vs. 144 +/- 10 mmol; P less than 0.001). The mean arterial pressure did not change significantly during normal potassium intake, but it increased over the nine days of the low-potassium diet from 90.9 +/- 2.2 to 95.0 +/- 2.2 mm Hg (P less than 0.05). Both mean arterial (P less than 0.01) and diastolic (P less than 0.005) pressures were significantly higher after the low-potassium diet than after the normal-potassium diet. Potassium depletion suppressed plasma aldosterone levels but had no effect on plasma renin activity or on arginine vasopressin or catecholamine levels. A saline infusion further increased the mean arterial pressure in the potassium-depleted subjects but had no effect in the control group (P less than 0.05). We conclude that short-term potassium depletion increases blood pressure in healthy, normotensive men and permits further increases in blood pressure after saline loading. We found no evidence that the hypertensive effect of potassium depletion resulted from changes in either renal hemodynamics or circulating levels of vasoactive hormones.

Adult↗

Improved detection of allele loss in renal cell carcinomas after removal of leukocytes by immunologic selection.

We used immunologic selection to remove contaminating leukocytes from primary renal cell carcinomas and to improve detection of chromosome 3p allele loss. Leukocytes were removed from disaggregated renal cell carcinomas by a double-antibody, magnetic bead separation technique. Before immunologic selection, the preparations contained 26% +/- 15% (SD) tumor cells (n = 7); after immunologic selection, the preparations contained 76% +/- 12% tumor cells. The recovery of tumor cells in the purified preparations was about 10%. Detection of allele deletion was facilitated by immunologic selection. This method may be useful in allele deletion analysis of other human solid tumors that are contaminated with host leukocytes and, with appropriate modification, may be applied to tumors that are contaminated with other cell types.

Alleles↗

Detection of rubella virus in fetal and placental tissues and in the throats of neonates after serologically confirmed rubella in pregnancy.

From 35 therapeutic abortions performed because rubella had occurred at 2-19 weeks of pregnancy, 120 fetal organs, 12 specimens of mixed products of conception, and 15 placentae were tested for rubella virus. Virus was isolated from 10 out of 11 fetuses (91 per cent) from women infected at 2-8 weeks, from 5 out of 8 (63 per cent) infected at 9-10 weeks, and from 2 out of 16 (13 per cent) infected at 11-19 weeks. Hybridization tests for viral RNA on 39 fetal organs from eight cases revealed infection in four additional fetuses. Virus was isolated from only 3 out of 15 aborted placentae, but hybridization tests on six placentae revealed infection in three additional specimens. Hybridization was superior to virus isolation for detecting rubella infection in products of conception and is therefore potentially the better method for examining chorionic villus biopsies. Rubella virus was isolated from the throats of 4 out of 9 infants (44 per cent) infected during the first 12 weeks of gestation, but from none of 13 infected after 17 weeks. Infants in the latter group are unlikely to infect susceptible contacts.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

Acute toxicity of industrial surfactants to Mysidopsis bahia.

Three- to eight-day old Mysidopsis bahia were used to evaluate the acute toxicities of 17 industrial surfactants having a wide range of physiochemical characteristics. LC50s based on nominal concentrations covered approximately three orders of magnitude (less than 1 to greater than 4,000 mg/L). The base structure of the surfactants (i.e., aromatic or aliphatic, branched or linear) was not a factor controlling toxicity. Low solubility surfactants with low ethylene oxide (EO) molar ratios were the most toxic surfactants tested. Ethylene oxide chain length was the best predictor of toxicity, and would be a good parameter to use to "screen" for surfactant toxicity in hazard assessment. Substitution of terminal OH with SO3 or PO4 reduced toxicity of a selected group of surfactants. Sensitivity of M. bahia up to 26 days old was not significantly different from that of 3- to 8-day old animals. Use of one surfactant as a reference toxicant demonstrated that sensitivity of M. bahia was consistent throughout the various tests.

Animals↗

Serum IgG, IgA, and IgM responses to pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and agglutinogens 2 and 3 after infection with Bordetella pertussis and immunization with whole-cell pertussis vaccine.

Class antibody responses to pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), and agglutinogens 2 and 3 (Agg 2/3) were studied in 114 patients with pertussis, 49 family contacts of patients with pertussis, and 139 infants attending vaccination clinics. IgG responses to FHA and PT were similar in patients with pertussis and in infants immunized three times with whole-cell pertussis vaccine. IgA responses to FHA and PT were greater in patients with pertussis than in vaccines, and a serum log10 titer of IgA to PT greater than 1.9 was a useful discriminant of Bordetella pertussis infection. When compared with patients with pertussis, vaccinees had a greater IgG response to Agg 2/3 and an equivalent IgA response to Agg 2/3. Serologic responses to FHA, PT, and Agg 2/3 were common in family contacts but were smaller than the responses in patients with pertussis. Initial titers of IgG to FHA and IgA to FHA were significantly higher (P less than .005 and P less than .05, respectively) in family contacts aged 3-10 y than in patients with pertussis in an identical age group.

Agglutinins↗

Sclerosing orbital pseudotumor: a unique clinicopathologic entity.

A case of orbital pseudotumor is presented that histologically showed dense fibrosis invading bone and adjacent sinuses, and failed to respond to either steroids or radiation therapy. "Orbital pseudotumor" remains a sobriquet for a variety of clinical and histopathologic entities including a monomorphous lymphocytic benign or malignant neoplasm; a polymorphous reactive inflammatory lesion; and a densely fibrosing sclerotic variant that appears to behave more aggressively, often locally invades adjacent structures, and may be related to a multifocal fibrosclerosis that also includes retroperitoneal fibrosis, Riedel's sclerosing thyroiditis, mediastinal fibrosis, and sclerosing cholangitis. This "sclerosing orbital pseudotumor" is felt to represent a unique clinicopathologic entity, and an approach to its treatment is described.

Adult↗

Cell position and light influence C4 versus C3 patterns of photosynthetic gene expression in maize.

C4 plants such as maize partition photosynthetic activities in two morphologically distinct cell types, bundle sheath (BS) and mesophyll (M), which lie as concentric layers around veins. We show that both light and cell position relative to veins influence C4 photosynthetic gene expression. A pattern of gene expression characteristic of C3 plants [ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) and light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein in all photosynthetic cells] is observed in leaf-like organs such as husk leaves, which are sparsely vascularized. This pattern of gene expression reflects direct fixation of CO2 in the C3 photosynthetic pathway, as determined by O2 inhibition assays. Light induces a switch from C3-type to C4-type gene expression patterns in all leaves, primarily in cells that are close to a vein. We propose that light causes repression of RuBPCase expression in M cells, by a mechanism associated with the vascular system, and that this is an essential step in the induction of C4 photosynthesis.

Cell Compartmentation↗

Surveillance of antibody to measles, mumps, and rubella by age.

Before the introduction of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine a survey was carried out to measure antibody prevalence to the three viruses by age. A total of 8716 samples of serum collected by five public health laboratories in different parts of England during 1986-7 were tested. Despite the current measles vaccination programme 60% of children aged 1-2 years did not have measles antibody and over 80% did not have antibodies to mumps and rubella. In the 3-4 year age group 17% of the children were susceptible to measles, 55% to mumps, and 73% to rubella. The results suggest that vaccinating children early in the second year of life will be necessary to eliminate the three diseases. The survey provides baseline data for continuing surveillance of the immediate and long term effects of the new vaccination strategy.

Adolescent↗

Outcome of confirmed periconceptional maternal rubella.

61 pregnant women in whom confirmed rubella occurred from 5 weeks before to 6 weeks after the last menstrual period (LMP) were followed up prospectively. In 39, the pregnancy was terminated and the fetal tissues or mixed products of conception were examined for rubella virus. In 22, the pregnancy continued to term and cord serum was tested for specific IgM antibody. No evidence of intrauterine infection was found in 38 pregnancies in which the mother's rash appeared before, or within 11 days after, the last menstrual period. The shortest interval at which fetal infection occurred was when the rash appeared 12 days after the last menstrual period. All 10 pregnancies in which the rash appeared 3-6 weeks after the last menstrual period resulted in fetal infection: 4 of these pregnancies went to term, and all 4 infants were damaged. The risk to the fetus when rubella occurs before the mother's last menstrual period is probably negligible.

Female↗

Rational programme for screening travellers for antibodies to hepatitis A virus.

A blood test and a saliva test for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti HAV) were offered to British travellers seeking human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) prophylaxis. The specimens were tested by an IgG capture and a competitive radioimmunoassay (GACRIA, COMPRIA). By GACRIA 211 subjects were anti-HAV positive and 358 anti-HAV negative on both serum and saliva. 10 other seropositive subjects had weakly positive saliva reactions. There were three discrepant results. For the population investigated HNIG use could be minimised at no extra cost by first testing the saliva of those greater than 40 years old, frequent or long-stay travellers, those born in HAV endemic areas, and those with a history of jaundice. Of the 51% of travellers tested for these reasons 20% were anti-HAV positive. They made up 76% of all those with antibody.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Nonabsorbable radioactive material in the treatment of carcinomas by local injections.

Nonabsorbable radioactive material was used in treating malignant lesions by local injection. One hundred thirty-five Lewis Wistar rats were inoculated subcutaneously with tumor cells. After 7 days, the rats grew tumors of approximately 1 X 1 X 1 cm at the injection site. The rats then were divided into two groups; 50% were kept as a control group while the other 50% received single injections of 1 mCi yttrium 90 (90Y) microspheres directly into the center of the tumor. This study shows a significant reduction of the tumor growth rate in treated animals. Tumor sizes after 4 days averaged 1.31 ml in the treated rats and 9.74 ml in the control group. Excluding animals that had complete regression of the tumor, treated rats lived an average of 30.8 days from the day of treatment compared with the control rats, which lived an average of 17.4 days. Pathology examinations showed no effects from injected radioactive materials in the liver, bone marrow or the kidney. Examination of the injected area after 6 months showed that microspheres remained locally and that the tumor was replaced with collagen tissue.

Animals↗