Evaluation of class II major histocompatibility complex antigen expression for the differential diagnosis of cyclosporine A nephrotoxicity from kidney graft rejection.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
J Barrett
Publications and source records attributed to J Barrett.
Emergency thoracotomy. Care of the patient in the ER.
Although the decision to perform an ER thoracotomy is not an easy one, it should be considered in patients with penetrating trauma who arrive in an agonal state or without vital signs. Rapid transportation of these patients to a facility that has personnel who are skilled in performing ER thoracotomies offers their only hope for survival. Properly equipped and staffed ORs must also be available in the facility to render definitive care for these patients.
Emergencies↗
Carbohydrate metabolism in Brugia pahangi (Nematoda: Filarioidea).
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Animals↗
Lead retention in blood and brain after preweaning low-level lead exposure in the rat.
Newborn rats of the albino Wistar strain were exposed to lead from birth to 20 days of age through mothers milk, from dams which were fed diets containing 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0% powdered lead. Subsequent determination of tissue lead revealed a direct relationship between the lead levels in both blood and brain of the pups and the lead dosage to which they were indirectly exposed via the dams' milk. Lead retention in both tissues was still evident at 100 days of age, with the relative elevation of lead levels being an order of magnitude higher in brain than in blood. There were no obvious signs of lead intoxication in the pups, apart from mild growth retardation in the group with the highest lead burden. However there was a significant retardation in behavioral development observed on two of four measures which were employed. It was concluded that brief exposure to low lead levels in infancy can have long lasting consequences in the brain and in behavior.
Animals↗
Amino acid catabolism in the nematodes Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Panagrellus redivivus. 1. Removal of the amino group.
The major transaminase in Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Panagrellus redivivus and rat liver was the 2-oxoglutarate-glutamate system, with relatively few amino acids acting as donors for the pyruvate-alanine and oxaloacetate-aspartate systems. The relative effectiveness of the different amino acid donors in the three transaminase systems was similar in all three tissues. Both H. polygyrus and P. redivivus can oxidatively deaminate a range of L-amino acids, although D-amino acid oxidase activity was low. Serine and threonine dehydratase activity and histidase activity were present in H. polygyrus and P. redivivus and both nematodes were also able to deaminate glutamine, asparagine and arginine. When NAD(H) was the cofactor the glutamate dehydrogenases of H. polygyrus and P. redivivus showed similar regulatory properties to the mammalian enzyme. However, with NADP(H) the results were anomalous. The capacity of both nematodes to transaminate and oxidatively deaminate amino acids was broadly similar and comparable to mammalian tissue. Glutamate dehydrogenase is probably the major route for deamination in these nematodes. A complete sequence of urea cycle enzymes could not be demonstrated in either P. redivivus or H. polygyrus.
Amino Acids↗
Amino acid catabolism in the nematodes Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Panagrellus redivivus. 2. Metabolism of the carbon skeleton.
All of the enzymes of proline catabolism were present in Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Panagrellus redivivus and the activities were, in general, similar to those found in rat liver. Both nematodes were also shown to be able to catabolize the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine, by pathways similar to those found in mammalian liver. There were no significant differences in amino acid catabolism between the animal-parasitic and free-living species of nematode.
Amino Acids↗
Resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. Alterations of the intracranial pressure after normal saline, 3% saline and dextran-40.
Resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock by infusion of isotonic (normal) saline (NS) is accompanied by a transient elevation in intracranial pressure (ICP), although cerebral edema, as measured by brain weights at 24 hours, is prevented by adequate volume resuscitation. The transient increase in ICP is not observed during hypertonic saline (HS) resuscitation. The effect of colloid resuscitation on ICP is unknown. Beagles were anesthetized, intubated, and ventilated, maintaining pCO2 between 30-45 torr. Femoral artery, pulmonary artery, and urethral catheters were positioned. ICP was measured with a subarachnoid bolt. Forty per cent of the dog's blood volume was shed and the shock state maintained for 1 hour. Resuscitation was done with shed blood and a volume of either NS (n = 5), 3% HS (n = 5), or 10% dextran-40 (D-40, n = 5) equal to the amount of shed blood. Intravascular volume was then maintained with NS. ICP fell from baseline values (4.7 +/- 3.13 mmHg) during the shock state and increased greatly during initial fluid resuscitation in NS and D-40 groups, to 16.0 +/- 5.83 mmHg and 16.2 +/- 2.68 mmHg, respectively. ICP returned to baseline values of 3.0 +/- 1.73 mmHg in the HS group with initial resuscitation and remained at baseline values throughout resuscitation. NS and D-40 ICP were greater than HS ICP at 1 hour (p less than .001) and 2 hours (p less than .05) after resuscitation. These results demonstrate that NS or colloid resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock elevates ICP and that HS prevents elevated ICP.
Animals↗
Acute subdural hematoma: direct admission to a trauma center yields improved results.
We studied 128 patients admitted over a 12 1/2-year period to the Cook County Hospital Trauma Unit with acute subdural hematoma (ASDH): 82 were admitted directly and 46 were admitted after transfer from another hospital; 59% of the entire group died and only 27% obtained a functional recovery. As a group, the transferred patients, who suffered delays of several hours before receiving definitive surgical care, fared significantly worse than the patients with equivalent trauma who were admitted directly. The mortality of the transferred patients was 76%, compared to 50% of the direct admit patients. The outcome was also worse for transfer patients who experienced a 'lucid interval' or with alcohol intoxication. We conclude that the delays associated with failure to admit patients with ASDH directly to a head trauma center cause an excessive mortality and morbidity which could potentially be avoided by proper triage.
Adolescent↗
Characterization and partial purification of a serum protein which stimulates the release of human placental lactogen in vitro.
The factors that regulate the release of human placental lactogen (hPL) are poorly understood. To determine whether hPL is regulated by a factor(s) in pregnancy serum, placental explants were exposed for up to 9 h to a pool of serum samples from 50 women in the third trimester. In static explant cultures, the addition of the serum (0.6-10.8 mg protein/ml) caused a dose-dependent and reversible increase in hPL release during a 6-h period. The maximum release by the explants exposed to pregnancy serum was 200-250% greater than that of control explants, and the half-maximal dose was 2-3 mg/ml. Perifusion of placental explants with 15% pregnancy serum (final concentration, 10.5 mg protein/ml) also caused a significant release in hPL within 15 min, which reached a maximum of 200-225% above control levels. Two other pools of pregnancy serum samples as well as individual samples from four pregnant women also stimulated hPL release. Although pregnancy serum significantly stimulated hPL release, there was no increase in either the release of hCG or trichloroacetic acid-precipitable 35S-labeled proteins. Serum from nonpregnant women and men, as well as bovine serum, also stimulated hPL release, but their potencies were only 20-25% that of pregnancy serum. Chicken and porcine serum (10.8 mg/ml each) caused only small (less than 10%) increases in hPL release, and purified human albumin and ovalbumin had no effect. Dialysis or ultrafiltration of pregnancy serum using membranes with mol wt exclusions of 10K daltons caused no loss of activity. Delipidation of pregnancy serum with acetone-ethanol or acid-charcoal also caused no loss of activity, but treatment with trypsin caused greater than 95% loss of activity. Purification of the stimulatory activity by successive chromatographies on Sephadex G-150, Cibacron blue, and Sephadex G-75 resulted in an approximately 800-fold increase in specific activity. Approximately 90% of the total activity eluted from Sephadex G-75 with an apparent mol wt of 31,000, the remainder eluted in the void volume. Although partially purified pregnancy serum stimulated hPL release, the active fractions did not affect the release of rat LH, FSH, or GH from rat pituitary cells or the release of PRL from human decidual explants. Incubation of placental explants in calcium-deficient medium blocked the stimulatory effect of the partially purified pregnancy serum by greater than 90%. These studies indicate that human serum contains a protein(s) that causes a specific, rapid, dose-dependent, and reversible increase in hPL release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Adult↗
A four-year experience with splenectomy versus splenorrhaphy.
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Humans↗
Ultrastructural changes during recovery from anabiosis in the plant parasitic nematode, Ditylenchus.
Ultrastructural changes after desiccation and rehydration of the anabiotic fourth-stage juveniles of the plant parasitic nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kuhn) Filipjev are described and quantified. Anabiotic juveniles retain their structural integrity, although the cuticle decreases in thickness and the muscle cell sarcoplasm condenses. In contrast the structure of the non-anabiotic nematode Panagrellus silusae is completely disorganized by desiccation. Following rehydration of D. dipsaci there is a lag phase of 2-3 hr before the nematodes become active. During this period the juveniles undergo an ordered series of morphological changes. The lipid droplets within the intestinal cells coalesce and the cuticle increases in thickness. The muscle cell sarcoplasm expands, the spacing of the thick myofilaments increases and the mitochondria swell before recovering a more normal appearance. These morphological changes, together with earlier metabolic studies, indicate that repair occurs during the lag phase prior to recovery. This may involve membrane repair and the re-establishment of the ionic gradients essential for normal muscle and nerve function.
Adaptation, Physiological↗
Low level lead effects on activity under varying stress conditions in the developing rat.
The study was designed to determine whether lead ingestion by nursing rats would affect the way offspring reacted to the stress inducing properties of the test environment both as juveniles and mature rats. Dams were exposed to diets with 0.0, 0.2, 0.4 or 1.0 percent by weight metallic lead. Mean blood-lead levels of pups at weaning were 4, 25, 36 and 55 micrograms/100 ml of blood respectively. The stress factor was varied by (1) changing the test apparatus, i.e., forcing rats to occupy an open field or allowing the animal to be a free agent in the start box of a T-maze; (2) testing rats under a longitudinal and a cross-sectional experimental design to vary familiarity with the apparatus; and (3) comparing behavior in the presence or absence of noise. Reactivity was assessed by examining the inter-and intra-session pattern of ambulations and defecations. Analysis of data revealed that lead treated rats demonstrated the greater response to stress. This response was generally dose related although recovery was dependent upon the test applied and measures taken. The findings provide a conceptual framework to account for varied results across previous studies.
Aging↗
Depression and hypochondriasis in family practice patients with somatization disorder.
The relationships specified in DSM-III between somatization disorder and depression, and somatization disorder and hypochondriasis require further validation and easier methods of detection for use by primary care physicians. The authors investigated hypochondriacal and depressive symptoms in 13 family practice outpatients with somatization disorder. Pain complaints and depressive symptomatology were present in over 75% of this group, while hypochondriacal symptoms were present in 38%. The mean score on the somatization scale of the Hopkins Symptom Check List (HSCL-90) was greater than that reported for any other group. These findings support the separation of somatization disorder and hypochondriasis and suggest the need for better delineation of depressive subtypes in somatization disorder. The somatization scale of the HSCL-90 should be a useful screen for somatization disorder in future research.
Adult↗
Sphingomyelin synthesis in Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda).
Adult Hymenolepis diminuta incorporated label from L[U-14C]serine, [1-14C]palmitic acid, [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA and cytidine-5'-diphospho[methyl-14C]choline into the various intermediates of sphingomyelin synthesis (ketosphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, sphingosine, ceramide and sphingomyelin). From the results it was concluded that H. diminuta possessed the five enzymes involved in sphingomyelin synthesis, namely serine palmitoyl-transferase, 3-oxosphinganine reductase, flavoprotein dihydrosphingosine reductase, sphingosine acyltransferase and ceramide choline-phosphotransferase.
Acyltransferases↗
The metabolism of xenobiotic compounds by Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea).
The hydrolytic, reductive and oxidative enzyme systems involved in the phase I biotransformation of xenobiotic compounds have been investigated in Hymenolepis diminuta. Adult H. diminuta are able to carry out a range of hydrolytic and reductive reactions, but in common with other helminths oxidative detoxification reactions were absent (oxidative demethylation, aniline hydroxylation, nitrobenzene hydroxylation, biphenyl hydroxylation). These oxidative reactions were readily demonstrated in rat liver. Extracts of H. diminuta hydrolysed nitrophenylphosphates and inorganic pyrophosphate, but not arylsulphates, nor could epoxide hydratase activity be detected. N-Deacetylase activity was present. However, O-deacetylase activity could not be demonstrated, although butyrate and palmitate, but not benzoate, esters were hydrolysed. H. diminuta was capable of hydrolysing a range of alpha-and beta-glycosides, but not beta-glucuronides. Extracts of H. diminuta reduced azo-compounds, aldehydes and disulphides, but ketones and aromatic nitro-compounds were not reduced. The phase I detoxification systems of H. diminuta differ considerably from those of its rat host; the results also suggest that, within the cestodes, there may be considerable species variation in detoxification reactions.
Aniline Compounds↗
Alterations of capillary flow during sepsis.
Normal red cells are flexible and can thus negotiate small capillaries with ease. Impaired red cell deformability (RCD) has been found in patients with uremia, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes. This study was performed in order to determine if impaired RCD is present during sepsis. The RCD of citrated whole blood (WB) and citrated buffy coat-poor whole blood (BCP) from ten septic patients was compared to ten age-, sex-, and race-matched control patients. The samples were passed through polycarbonate 5 micron pore filters at -10 cm H2O pressure according to the technique of Reid. A red cell deformability index was calculated for each patient by multiplying the volume of blood flowing through the apparatus in a 1-minute period by the hematocrit. The results show very highly significant decreases of flow in both the WB and BCP blood in the septic group. Alterations in flow in the WB can be explained on the basis of changes in the buffy coat fraction and/or the red cell deformability. A decrease in flow in the BCP blood can be explained in terms of a diminished deformability of the red cells themselves. This increased rigidity of the red cells could, in part, explain the AV shunting and decreased microcirculatory flow seen in the septic state.
Capillaries↗
Increased uptake of bone radiopharmaceutical in diabetic neuropathy.
Uptake of radiopharmaceutical was markedly abnormal in all phases of the bone scan in the feet of patients with diabetic neuropathy. Bone scans were performed in three groups of patients; diabetics with neuropathic osteoarthropathy (Charcot joints); diabetics with neuropathy but no evidence of osteoarthropathy and non-diabetic controls. Uptake was monitored in three phases; during the first 2 min after injection, then at 4 min and finally at 4 h. Uptake in all three phases was markedly increased in the neuropathic subjects, not only in those with osteoarthropathy but also in those with no radiological abnormalities. Increased uptake at 2 and 4 min indicates increased blood flow which can also result in increased uptake at 4 h. Increased blood flow secondary to peripheral neuropathy may lead to excessive bone resorption, susceptibility to fracture and finally the development of neuropathic osteoarthropathy of the diabetic foot.
Adult↗
Acetaldehyde formation by mitochondria from the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus.
The mitochondrial fraction from the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus decarboxylates pyruvate to produce significant amounts of acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde formation is stimulated by thiamin pyrophosphate, shows a sharp optimum at pH 6.8 and is greater under anaerobic than aerobic conditions. The pyruvate decarboxylase activity cofractionates with, and is probably a partial reaction of, the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Acetaldehyde production is modulated by NAD+, ATP and acetyl-CoA and is greatly stimulated by lipoic acid. The pyruvate decarboxylase system is extremely sensitive to thiol-group inhibitors and is inhibited by oxygen in the presence of pyruvate.
Acetaldehyde↗