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Biomedical subjects

J Kohn

Publications and source records attributed to J Kohn.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis on cellulose acetate.

A technique for the detection and demonstration of antigens or antibodies by means of countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis on cellulose acetate (CAM) is described. The method is simple, sensitive and rapid. There is no need for preliminary preparation. The samples are contained in wells punched in the CAM. The equipment required is commonly available in routine laboratories, and the whole procedure can be performed and the results obtained within 90 min.

Acetates↗

Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in extrahepatic biliary atresia, idiopathic neonatal hepatitis and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (PiZ).

Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were measured using a sensitive radioimmunoassay in 77 infants presenting with persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. A breed range of alpha-fetoprotein concentrations occurred in both the 23 infants with extrahepatic biliary atresia and the 35 with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis but the 13 with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency had uniformly low levels. High alpha-fetoprotein concentrations (above 10 000 mug/1) favoured the diagnosis of neonatal hepatitis especially in the first ten weeks of life, but the overlap between neonatal hepatitis and extrahepatic biliary atresia was large and alpha-fetoprotein determination cannot be recommended as a reliable method for distinguishing the two conditions. Serial alpha-fetoprotein values showed no consistent relationship with standard liver function tests and gave no guide to prognosis. There was an association between alpha-fetoprotein production and needle biopsy evidence of hepatic giant cell transformation. The uniformly low alpha-fetoprotein levels in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient infants with neonatal hepatitis is a new observation and possible mechanisms for disordered glycoprotein release are discussed.

Age Factors↗

Prognostic value of serum alpha-fetoprotein in fulminant hepatic failure including patients treated by charcoal haemoperfusion.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels have been measured sequentially by a radio-immunoassay method in 64 patients with fulminant hepatic failure. In 15 of the 64 patients (23%) AFP levels were raised but in only two did they exceed 500 ng/ml. Of the 23 survivors 11 (48%) had raised AFP levels compared with four of the 41 (9-8%) fatal cases (P less than 0-005). This rise in AFP levels was found early after the development of grade IV coma and constitutes an encouraging prognostic sign at a time when the liver function tests and EEG are unhelpful. A radioimmunoassay must be used if these small but significant rises in plasma concentration are to be detected. Twelve patients survived without showing a rise in plasma AFP at anytime during the illness. The four fatal cases who had raised AFP levels all had serious complications of fulminant hepatic failure. Charcoal haemoperfusion did not seem to increase the survival of AFP negative patients.

Adolescent↗

Articulatory-defective children's discrimination of their production errors.

Discrimination and production performance of seven severely misarticulating children was analyzed in terms of errors in distinctive features and phonemes. Their performance on the McDonald Deep Test of Articulation and a minimal pairs discrimination test was also compared to the performance of children without articulation errors on the same measures. The normal children performed equally well in production and discrimination. However, the articulatory-error children performed poorly on the production test but performed almost as well as the normal children on the discrimination test. A discrepancy in articulatory-error children's production and discrimination of their error phonemes was obtained. They discriminated features and phonemes they did not produce. Clinical relevance of these findings are discussed.

Auditory Perception↗

The pre-albumin fraction: a useful parameter in the interpretation of routine protein electrophoresis.

A technique of protein electrophoresis suitable for routine use which ensures good separation of the prealbumin fraction is described. The clinical value of visually estimating this protein fraction from the electrophoretic strip is shown with reference to 134 cases. Low levels of prealbumin were found to be associated with liver disorders, malignancy, collagen diseases, congestive cardiac failure, and burns. Finally, pitfalls in electrophoretic technique which may cause failure to visualize the prealbumin fraction are discussed.

Blood Protein Electrophoresis↗