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Biomedical subjects

H C Kim

Publications and source records attributed to H C Kim.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Smoking, hemoglobin levels, and birth weights in normal pregnancies.

Of 811 otherwise healthy, nonanemic, pregnant Norwegian women, 43% smoked during the third trimester. No significant association existed between smoking habits and hemoglobin levels during the third trimester, but the fairly small number of heavy smokers (greater than 10 cigarettes per day) may have precluded the discovery of subtle true differences. Birth weights were transferred to a weight-for-dates percentile scale, based on the distribution of the total Norwegian birth population over an 11-year period. With a grouping in quartiles according to this scale, a strong correlation between smoking habits and low birth weights emerged, with 47% of newborn infants of heavy smokers falling in the lowest quartile. Levels of hemoglobin were inversely correlated to birth weight quartiles, equally in mothers who smoked and those who did not smoke. However, when birth weights were grouped according to maternal hemoglobin at term, the tobacco-related effect on birth weight appeared only with levels of hemoglobin above 12 gm/dl, being particularly strong for levels above 13 gm/dl. Hemoglobin levels of 9.0 to 11.9 gm/dl appeared to protect from growth retardation the fetuses of nonanemic mothers who smoked. Studying ponderal, or weight-by-length, indices, we found that growth-retarded babies of mothers who smoked tended to be thin, thus indicating that they had been deprived of nutrients.

Adult↗

Maternal hemoglobin concentration is closely related to birth weight in normal pregnancies.

Maternal Hb levels during the third trimester were studied in relation to certain maternal and fetal parameters in 877 apparently normal pregnancies. Low Hb levels at term were closely associated with increased frequency of newborns in the heavy weight-for-date group. Conversely, high maternal Hb levels were closely associated with an increased frequency of newborns in the light weight-for-date group. The maternal Hb levels both in the early third trimester and at term were significantly higher in mothers of small-for-date newborns than in those with newborns of normal weight. In both groups the maternal Hb levels increased significantly during the third trimester of pregnancy. High maternal Hb levels both early and late in the third trimester of pregnancy should be a matter of concern rather than of reassurance.

Adult↗

The predictive value of total estriol; HPL and Hb on perinatal outcome in severe pre-eclampsia.

The prognostic value of total maternal plasma estriol, human placental lactogen (HPL) and hemoglobin (Hb) with regard to perinatal outcome was compared in 74 cases of severe pre-eclampsia. No combination of the tests predicted all cases of fetal and newborn pathology. HPL was the most reliable single test in cases of intra-uterine growth retardation, while Hb was the best predictor of severe fetal pathology and perinatal distress. In cases of severe fetal and neonatal pathology, the prognostic value of the combination of HPL and Hb was more reliable than the combination of all the three tests.

Adult↗

Life-threatening complications in a child with hemoglobin SD-Los Angeles disease.

Hemoglobin SD-Los Angeles is an uncommon sickle hemoglobinopathy. We describe a boy with documented Hb SD-Los Angeles who had experienced acute splenic sequestration, pneumococcal sepsis, aplastic crisis and functional asplenia during his first two years of life. We suggest that children with Hb SD-Los Angeles are at similar risks for the life-threatening complications which characterize sickle cell anemia and should receive the same comprehensive medical care currently recommended for children with Hb SS disease.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Effect of transfusion therapy on arteriographic abnormalities and on recurrence of stroke in sickle cell disease.

Stroke is a relatively frequent and severe complication of sickle cell disease. We performed cerebral arteriograms in 30 patients with sickle cell disease to evaluate the cause of acute neurologic deficits and to assess the effects of transfusion therapy given for a year or more after the acute episode. Twenty-three patients with motor and speech deficits had multiple abnormalities of major cerebral arteries. The internal carotid and anterior and middle cerebral arteries showed stenosis and/or occlusion at their common junction. Irregular luminal surfaces suggested that endothelial damage and intimal hyperplasia were the basis of stroke. Prolonged transfusion therapy nearly stopped progression of stenosis and markedly decreased the irregularity of the luminal surfaces; in 4 untransfused patients, the degree of stenosis doubled and the luminal abnormalities persisted. Prior to transfusion, 90% of patients had recurrence of stroke. With transfusion therapy, only 10% of patients had recurrence despite persistent arterial abnormalities. Clinical recurrences per patient-month decreased 75-fold. The patients tolerated prolonged transfusion therapy well, despite progressive iron accumulation. Seven patients with smooth abnormalities of a single artery, nonocclusive changes, or with normal arteriograms did not receive transfusions. Only one of this group had recurrence of symptoms.

Acute Disease↗

RBC destruction caused by a micropore blood filter.

Two infants who received whole blood filtered through commercially available woven stainless steel micropore filters experienced a sudden onset of hemoglobinuria. The plasma hemoglobin level in one child was 200 mg/dL. To investigate whether filters might lead to RBC destruction, we experimentally quantitated filter-induced hemolysis using standard conditions. Our studies in vitro show that hemolysis decreases with increased speed to transfusion. Hemolysis is particularly extensive with blood stored more than 14 days, but measurable hemolysis occurs with blood stored for as little as one day.

Blood↗

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of hemophilic arthropathy.

This study was undertaken to investigate the safety and efficacy of nonaspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in controlling the pain and stiffness of hemophilic arthropathy. Data were collected from eight adult hemophilic patients in successive double-blind controlled studies using choline magnesium trisalicylate (CMT) and ibuprofen (IPF). In seven patients, neither drug consistently affected bleeding times, platelet aggregation studies, frequency of joint hemorrhages, or frequency of factor infusions. In one patient, platelet aggregation appeared to be affected by CMT and bleeding time became markedly prolonged after IPF therapy. Three patients taking CMT and four patients taking IPF reported greater relief of pain and stiffness with the drugs than with placebos. Our results suggest that IPF and CMT can benefit the hemophiliac and that they can be used safely in most hemophilic patients under closely supervised conditions.

Adult↗

Response of blood coagulation parameters to elevated endogenous 17 beta-estradiol levels induced by human menopausal gonadotropins.

To elucidate the relationship between estrogen and thrombosis, we studied blood coagulation parameters in women whose ovaries were stimulated with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG). Daily hMG administration over 1 to 2 weeks in seven anovulatory women increased plasma 17 beta-estradiol levels fivefold over the pretreatment value. Of the coagulation parameters, the fibrinogen level increased significantly from an initial value of 248 +/- 11.7 mg/dl (mean +/- SEM) to 353 +/- 32.2 mg/dl after hMG treatment (P less than 0.05), with a significant positive correlation between estrogen and fibrinogen levels (r = +0.762). In addition, a thrombokinetics study showed that the maximal rate of change in optical density of the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time was significantly increased, suggesting that the coagulation factors involved in extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways could be increased by estrogen. Antithrombin III levels decreased gradually during hMG administration. Thus, increased endogenous estrogen levels appear to induce the so-called "hypercoagulable state" through both an increase in coagulation factors in the coagulation cascade system and a decrease in antithrombin III, a potent natural inhibitor of activated coagulation factors. Patients on a regimen of hMG treatment for induction of ovulation serve as excellent models for the study of alteration of "natural" estrogen-mediated coagulation parameters.

Adult↗

Globin chain synthesis in Hb J Baltimore-beta (+)-thalassemia.

An American black family in whom hemoglobin J Baltimore and beta (+)-thalassemia genes coexisted is described. The proposita is a 23-year-old woman with a hemoglobin (Hb) level of 11.5 g/dl, microcytic, hypochromic indices, increased values of Hbs A2 and F, and alpha/non-alpha synthetic ratio of 1.52. Hbs A and J Baltimore (beta 16 Gly---Asp) constituted 12% and 81.3%, respectively, of her total hemoglobin. Her sister had a very similar peripheral blood picture, but Hbs A and J Baltimore constituted 6.8% and 85.5%, respectively, of her total hemoglobin, and the alpha/non-alpha synthetic ratio was 1.39. The mother had beta(+)-thalassemia trait only, a moderate degree of anemia, and greater synthetic imbalance (alpha/non-alpha raio of 1.73). These findings suggest that the presence of the Hb J Baltimore gene ameliorates the effects of a coexistent beta-thalassemia gene.

Adult↗

Laboratory identification of inherited hemoglobinopathies in children.

The early identification of some clinically significant hemoglobinopathies and the precise differentiation of hemoglobin variants are important to provide early comprehensive medical care to prevent some serious complications, assess prognosis, and offer genetic counseling. Laboratory approaches to screen for and confirm inherited hemoglobinopathies in children are presented. Methods include routine screening procedures as well as techniques available in research laboratories, with emphasis on readily available procedures. Since microcytic hypochromic anemia is the most common type of anemia in children under two years, attention is given to the differentiation of thalassemia trait from iron deficiency. The step-by-step work-up is also described for differentiating beta-thalassemia from alpha-thalassemia.

Black People↗

Inclusions in red blood cells containing Hb S or Hb C.

To demonstrate and characterize red cell inclusions in 101 persons with Hb S or Hb C disorders three methods were used: (1) examination of unstained blood smears by dark field microscopy (DFM), (2) examination of blood smears after acid elution and staining (AE), and (3) measurement of membrane-associated denatured haemoglobin (MADH) in ghosts. The control group had inclusions in less than 5% of red cells by DFM and AE and the mean percentage of MADH per total cellular Hb was 0.030+/-0.016%. The highest percentages of red cells with inclusions and of MADH were present in clinically severe haemoglobin disorders, e.g. homozygous sickle cell disease (Hb SS) with less than 10% Hb F and Hb SOArab, with successively lower percentages in moderate to severe disorders, e.g. Hb SS-alpha thalassaemia, Hb-S-beta0 thalassaemia, Hb SC disease, and Hb SS with more than 10% Hb F, indicating agreement in results by three methods. In asymptomatic or mild disorders, e.g. Hb-S-beta+ thalassaemia, Hb CC, Hb AC and Hb AS, the results by AE and measurements of MADH were the same or similar to those in controls, while those by DFM were different. Of 56 patients with Hb SS or Hb SC, the group with functional asplenia had higher percentages of MADH and of red cells with inclusions than those with functioning spleens. Our study suggests that inclusions in sickling disorders may be due to denatured Hb S, with AE being the more accurate method for visualizing these inclusions, as results by this method correlate better with the amount of MADH than those by DFM.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of type B and non-A, non-B hepatitis in hemophilia: relationship to chronic liver disease.

To assess the relationship of liver dysfunction and hepatitis markers in hemophilic patients treated with factor VIII or IX concentrates, we studied 103 patients with hemophilia A and B for 6-36 mo. Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase was noted in 79% of the patients, with 51% of the patients showing persistent elevation for longer than 6 mo. Thirteen patients (12%) were HBsAg-positive, with 8 patients showing persistence of HBsAg and abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase for more than 6 mo. Overall, anti-HBs was detected in 77% of patients. Twelve episodes of acute hepatitis were documented in 10 patients during 36 mo. Six episodes were due to hepatitis B virus. The remaining 6 episodes were due to non-A, non-B hepatitis with negative HBsAg and absence of seroconversion to hepatitis B virus, hepatitis A virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus. In the six episodes of non-A, non-B hepatitis, the incubation period was less than 10 days in 3 patients and 30 days in 2 patients. In all cases with non-A, non-B hepatitis, the illness was symptomatic, but mild. Serum alanine aminotransferase returned to normal within 4 mo in 2 patients, but in 3 patients serum alanine aminotransferase persisted longer than 6 mo. One patient developed an acute B hepatitis 40 wk after non-A, non-B hepatitis. Thus, infection with the hepatitis B virus still remains prevalent as a cause of acute hepatitis in hemophiliacs receiving commercial factor concentrates, and accounts for chronic liver dysfunction in patients with persistent HBs antigenemia. In addition, acute non-A, non-B hepatitis, appears to be relatively common in hemophiliacs, and non-A, non-B virus may account for many cases of persistent liver dysfunction in these patients.

Acute Disease↗