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Biomedical subjects

J D Faix

Publications and source records attributed to J D Faix.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Case report 705. Osteosclerotic sarcoidosis.

In summary, Sarcoidosis is a rare but well-recognized cause of diffuse osteosclerosis. The differential diagnosis of osteosclerosis is limited and includes osteoblastic metastases, sclerotic myeloma, myelofibrosis, and less common infiltrative bone marrow processes such as mastocytosis and sarcoidosis. In all of these entities the sclerosis is found most often in the axial (red marrow) skeleton. In this regard, it is interesting that cases of osseous sarcoid are usually lytic and located in the peripheral skeleton. In patients with osteosclerotic sarcoidosis, the diagnosis may be suggested by a past history of the disease or ancillary signs such as hilar node enlargement and subtle skin involvement. However, the specific diagnosis usually requires bone marrow biopsy with the demonstration of extensive, noncaseating granulomas.

Bone Diseases↗
PubMed1992

Development of time-resolved immunofluorometric assay of vascular permeability factor.

We describe a two-site time-resolved immunofluorometric assay for guinea pig vascular permeability factor (VPF) for quantifying VPF in different biological fluids. Antibody against the carboxy terminus (C-IgG) is immobilized on microtiter wells, and antibody against the amino terminus (N-IgG) is labeled with Eu(3+)-chelate. Line 10 tumor culture medium, known to be rich in VPF, is assayed in a two-step incubation. Bound Eu3+ is then quantified by dissociation into a fluorescent enhancement solution, with measurement of the time-resolved fluorescence. The analytical sensitivity is 0.35 VPF unit, and the intra-assay CV is about 20%. The assay is specific for VPF, because pre-treatment with the appropriate C- or N-peptide, or pre-extraction of VPF, greatly decreases fluorescence. The VPF immunoassay is highly correlated (r2 = 0.94) with the Miles permeability assay, the classical bioassay of VPF. In addition, the immunofluorometric assay is about 30-fold more sensitive than the Miles assay.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of thyroid deficiency in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to determine the current prevalence of gestational hypothyroidism, since maternal thyroxine deficiency is associated with poor obstetric outcomes and mental retardation in the surviving offspring. DESIGN: TSH concentrations were measured in the sera of women at 15-18 weeks of gestation. Those sera with TSH concentrations above 6 mU/l and the two sera closest in order with TSH concentrations below 6 mU/l were further analysed for T4, FT4, TBG, and antithyroid antibodies. Study criteria for hypothyroidism were sera with elevated concentrations of TSH plus both a free T4 concentration and a total T4 concentration and/or T4/TBG ratio more than two standard deviations below the mean for the control pregnant women. PATIENTS: The sera were from 2000 consecutive women in Maine being tested for alpha-fetoprotein concentration at 15-18 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: TSH concentrations above 6 mU/l were found in the sera of 49 women, 2.5% of the pregnant women. Six women with elevated TSH concentrations (range 6.9-54 mU/l) had both a FT4 concentration and a T4/TBG ratio and/or a T4 concentration more than two standard deviations below the respective control means, meeting the study criteria for thyroid deficiency, and thus giving a prevalence of 0.3%. The remaining 43 women with elevated TSH concentrations were classified as having compensated thyroid disease although some may have been hypothyroid. Fifty-eight per cent of women with TSH concentrations above 6 mU/l and 90% of the women with elevated TSH concentrations and at least one thyroxine index more than two standard deviations below the control means had positive titres of antithyroid antibodies as opposed to 11% of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is not known what severity of maternal thyroid deficiency is necessary to cause fetal brain damage, the present data indicate a sufficiently high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction to demand investigation of the mental development of the offspring of women with thyroid dysfunction and of the effect of replacement therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Antibody enhances lymphocyte proliferation in guinea pigs immunized to express cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity.

Lymphocytes from HSA-sensitized guinea pigs expressing cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH) proliferate in the presence of specific antigen. We report that this proliferative response is enhanced by the addition of anti-HSA antibody, either in the form of whole immune serum or as purified antibody. The enhancement was characterized as a marked shift of the antigen dose-response curve such that significant [3H]thymidine incorporation was observed at antigen concentrations much lower than those eliciting a comparable response in the absence of immune serum. Enhancement was antigen specific and required an intact immunoglobulin molecule. Antibodies capable of enhancing antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation could be isolated from serum by affinity chromatography as early as 7 days after sensitization and were also evident in sera obtained at later intervals. It is unlikely that such antibodies account for the progressive decline of CBH reactivity and they may actually influence its initial expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who subsequently developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In each case the coexistence of these two conditions was confirmed by pathological findings. Both patients responded to treatment, but one eventually died. A review of the literature suggests a possible relationship between the two disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Epithelioid sarcoma:radiologic and pathologic manifestations.

The radiologic and pathologic manifestations of epithelioid sarcoma are presented based on an analysis of five cases, and the literature is reviewed. This rare entity tends to orginate in the extremities and metastasizes primarily via the lymphatics. Although the lesion grows slowly, it recurs with high frequency. Males are affected three times as often as females. The differential diagnosis includes both malignant and benign entities. The natural history and methods of treatment are reported.

Adolescent↗