Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Hunt

Publications and source records attributed to J Hunt.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Antibodies to laminin in preeclampsia.

Laminin is a large basement membrane glycoprotein localized in the trophoblast, glomerular basement membrane and in the mesangial matrix of human glomeruli. It promotes the attachment of epithelial cells to basement membrane collagen. We have found that 14 sera from 52 patients with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia contain IgG and IgM antibodies which react with placental and kidney basement membranes. These antibodies were specific for laminin and did not react with other basement membrane proteins. They were able to fix complement. They have been demonstrated by radial immunodiffusion, radioimmunoassay and immunofluorescence blocking studies. In primary cultures they were shown to impair the attachment of trophoblast cells to basement membrane collagen. High levels of circulating immune complexes were detected only in sera from preeclamptic patients with circulating antibodies to laminin. The auto-antibodies to laminin could play a major role in the pathogenesis of severe preeclampsia by impairing the attachment of trophoblast cells to placental basement membranes and by fixation to the glomerular basement membranes and mesangial matrix.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1986

Verrucous carcinoma of the vulva associated with an unusual type 6 human papillomavirus.

An unusually rapid growing vulvar verrucous carcinoma found associated with human papillomavirus type 6 is described. Both human papillomavirus structural antigens and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences were detected in the tumor biopsy. The human papillomavirus genome was isolated and compared with the genome of human papillomavirus type 6b, which was cloned from an anogenital wart. The two genomes were extremely homologous in genomic organization and DNA sequence, except for a region on the viral genome containing the virus control elements. A discussion of this observation and how it could relate to the importance of viral subtypes follows.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Ex vivo perfusion of plasma over protein A columns in human mammary adenocarcinoma. Evidence for a protein A leaking by radioimmunoassay.

A solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for detection of protein A in human serum or plasma using plates coated with specific goat anti-protein A IgG and affinity-purified anti-protein A F (ab')2 fragments labelled with 125Iodine as a tracer. This RIA detected 25 ng of protein A per ml of serum or plasma. The 'intra-plate' coefficient of variation (CV) was 4.26%, whereas the 'inter-plate' CV was 5.86%, even in the presence of aggregated IgG. The presence of protein A was searched for by this RIA in samples collected during ex vivo perfusion of the plasma of patients suffering from a metastatic mammary adenocarcinoma either over columns of 'native' protein A (seven patients; group A) or over columns of protein A in which the Fc-binding capacity was destroyed (five patients; group B). A protein A leaking occurred with the same incidence (about 20% of the sessions) in both groups. However, major acute side effects (hypotension, chills, mild fever, etc.) and necrolytic responses were seen only in some patients from group A. In these cases, the incidence of side effects, but not of tumoricidal responses, increased with the protein A serum concentrations reached 1 h after the end of the sessions (25-150 ng ml-1). The data suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of ex vivo protein A immunoadsorption in breast cancer is related to the Fc-binding capacity of the columns rather than to a leakage of 'native' protein A into the blood stream.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

Do diagnosis-related groups accurately reflect the disease? Pancreatic pseudocyst: a case in point.

Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) have been mandated by the federal government to promote fiscal responsibility and insure cost containment. A retrospective analysis of demographic and cost data was conducted on 115 patients operated on for pancreatic pseudocyst. The DRG 191 criteria are as follows: major pancreas, liver plus shunt procedure; mean length of stay (LOS), 20.8 days; outlier cutoff LOS, 41 days; hospital reimbursement, $11,367.82; and day outlier rate, $86.57. The overall LOS was 34.6 days (range, one to 138 days). Sixty-six percent of the patients exceeded the DRG LOS and 37% exceeded the day outlier cutoff of 41. The number of days from admission to surgery varied from one to 65 (mean, 15.7 days). Hospital charges and DRG reimbursement were compared in 23 patients. In nine patients with a LOS of 19.9 days, DRG reimbursement exceeded charges by $34,308. In 14 patients whose charges exceeded reimbursement, the loss was $142,156. Hospital costs and LOS seem to be related to the natural history of the disease and its necessary treatment, rather than to unnecessary diagnostic procedures. Unless surgeons assess and establish medical standards, economic pressures will have a negative impact on patient care and physicians' practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Patient selection for in vitro fertilization: physical and psychological aspects.

The impact of maternal age, previous childbearing, and the type of underlying pathology on the success rate of an IVF program is explored. There is no difference in the pregnancy rate or in the abortion rate with increasing maternal age, and a similar result is seen in relation to previous childbearing. A reduced fertilization rate is seen in couples classified as having unexplained infertility, dyspermia, and male immobilizing sperm antibodies. The pregnancy rates in the first two groups are satisfactory once fertilization has occurred, but there have been no ongoing pregnancies if there are circulating sperm immobilizing antibodies present in either the male or the female. The psychological problems facing the infertile patient are discussed with special reference to in vitro fertilization.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1985

Trilostane therapy for advanced breast cancer.

Forty-one postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer have been treated with trilostane, a 3 beta D-hydrogenase delta 5-isomerase inhibitor, for periods of up to 1 year. One patient responded to trilostane and in six patients the disease was stabilized. The remaining patients failed to respond to therapy. Six patients who failed to respond to trilostane subsequently responded to other forms of endocrine therapy. It is concluded that trilostane alone is not a useful agent in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Monitoring exposure of nursing and pharmacy personnel to cytotoxic drugs: urinary mutation assays and urinary platinum as markers of absorption.

In a study to determine whether hospital staff who handle cytotoxic drugs show signs of drug absorption, urinary mutagenicity assays gave positive results in a high proportion of non-exposed control subjects as well as in "exposed" hospital staff and were therefore considered unsuitable for routine monitoring. Determination of urinary platinum levels with atomic-absorption spectrophotometry of untreated urine may be a useful alternative. With this method platinum levels were below the reliable limits of detection in nurses and pharmacists who handled cytotoxic drugs (including platinum-containing drugs) and in controls. The urine of cisplatin-treated patients contained an average platinum level of 7 micrograms/ml, suggesting that contact with urine from patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy may be hazardous.

Absorption↗