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Biomedical subjects

J Pink

Publications and source records attributed to J Pink.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Evaluation of the quality of frozen minced red hake: use of fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy.

The quality of frozen minced red hake was assessed by FTNIR spectroscopy in transmission mode. The region 1530-1866 nm was best correlated to dimethylamine (DMA) concentration, which is an accepted quality index for frozen gadoid fish. Partial least-squares (PLS) analysis showed that this technique predicts the DMA content sufficiently well for quality assurance (SD/SEP > 3). The PLS calibration was equally successful when five narrow spectral regions were chosen instead of the continuous spectrum, indicating that a cheap filter instrument may be developed for industrial use.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Damage-sensing mechanisms in human cells after ionizing radiation.

Human cells have evolved several mechanisms for responding to damage created by ionizing radiation. Some of these responses involve the activation or suppression of the transcriptional machinery. Other responses involve the downregulation of enzymes, such as topoisomerase I, which appear to be necessary for DNA repair or apoptosis. Over the past five years, many studies have established links between DNA damage, activation of transcription factors that are coupled to DNA repair mechanisms, increased gene transcription and altered cell cycle regulation to allow for repair or cell death via apoptosis or necrosis. Together these factors determine whether a cell will survive with or without carcinogenic consequences. The immediate responses of human cells to ionizing radiation, in terms of sensing and responding to damage, are therefore, critical determinants of cell survival and carcinogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Infectious disease markers in autologous and directed donations.

Autologous collections are strongly advocated by the New South Wales Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) and have increased more than sevenfold since 1988. Directed donations, although not promoted, have also increased during this time. The prevalence of infectious disease markers (HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B and syphilis) in donations collected by the BTS from different donor groups including overall volunteer homologous, first-time volunteer homologous, autologous and directed were evaluated over a 42-month period. Donations from first-time volunteer homologous donors had the highest prevalence of hepatitis B and C. Autologous donations had a significantly higher prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis compared with overall volunteer homologous donations. The percentage of directed donations testing positive for either hepatitis B or C was higher than overall volunteer homologous donations, but not statistically significant. This study demonstrates that donations from first-time donors are the least safe, that the crossover of autologous blood into the volunteer homologous pool decreases the safety of that pool and suggests that directed donations may not be as safe as volunteer homologous donations and cannot be generally advocated at this time.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1994

Inventory management in Sydney Public Hospital Blood Banks.

Monitoring the outdating of donated units is one way of assessing the efficiency of blood usage. Inventory management in public hospital blood banks in Sydney was reviewed with the aim of determining factors which lead to the outdating of donor blood. Factors which correlated significantly with increased outdating in hospitals included absence of an effective hospital transfusion committee; high ratio of average inventory: units transfused; fewer than three routine deliveries from the BTS per day; increased time taken for delivery of urgent products; CT values greater than 2:1, premature performance of the crossmatch and prolonged crossmatching holding time. Hospitals were informed of the initial audit results and were alerted to the factors contributing to excessive outdating. They received monthly feedback of individual outdating results compared with overall outdating. After 6 months there was a significant reduction in overall outdating from 5.0 to 0.9% (P < 0.05), which has been maintained for a further 12 months. Changes in inventory management associated with an improvement in overall outdating included: changes in crossmatching practice which increase the effective shelf-life of blood, knowledge of when blood was due to outdate and effective stock rotation.

Blood Banks↗
PubMed1994

In vitro characteristics of 'undercollected' units of whole blood in CP2D-A.

Blood donation volumes less than 350 ml are classified as 'undercollected' at the NSW Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) and are discarded. This study evaluated the in vitro characteristics during storage of both undercollected units and units of acceptable volume. Thirty-two units of whole blood were each collected into 63 ml of CP2D-A, with blood volumes ranging from 180 to 456 ml. The units were stored between 4 and 6 degrees C for 35 days and in vitro measurements were performed weekly. Biochemical parameters measured included ATP, extracellular pH, total haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean cell volume, plasma sodium and potassium, plasma haemoglobin, 2,3-DPG and lactate levels. All parameters were within the BTS acceptable quality control limits for whole blood. Thus, it appears feasible to transfuse undercollected units with volumes between 180 and 350 ml. However, routine transfusion of undercollected homologous units is undesirable. In contrast, it may be preferable to transfuse an autologous unit, even if it was undercollected. The performance of in vivo survival studies would provide confirmatory data on this proposition.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗
PubMed1989

Enhanced growth of an estrogen receptor-negative endometrial adenocarcinoma by estradiol in athymic mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of estradiol and tamoxifen (TAM) on the growth of human endometrial carcinomas in athymic mice. Tissues from primary tumors were implanted into estradiol-treated mice. In passage 2, animals were treated with (a) placebo, (b) estradiol, (c) estradiol plus TAM, and (d) TAM alone. The size of the tumors was measured weekly. Estrogen receptors (ER) were determined with the dextran-coated charcoal method and/or ER enzyme-linked immunoassay. Progesterone receptors were measured with the dextran-coated charcoal technique. Of 16 primary tumors, 2 grew in the athymic mice and were studied further. Tumor EL was positive for ER (145 fmol/mg protein) and progesterone receptors (993 fmol/mg protein). Tumor EL in passage 2 was not significantly stimulated by estradiol, but was stimulated by a combination of estradiol and TAM. Treatments (estradiol, estradiol plus TAM, or TAM) all increased tumor growth in passage 3. Tumor BR and a metastasis BR-MET were ER and progesterone receptor negative, applying dextran-coated charcoal, ER enzyme-linked immunoassay, and immunocytochemistry. The BR and BR-MET cells contain the complete ER gene but do not express any measurable amounts of ER mRNA as quantitated by Northern blot analysis, using a complete ER complementary DNA probe. In all animal passages the growth rate was significantly higher in estradiol-treated mice compared with the control. TAM alone had some growth stimulatory effect, but much smaller than observed in the estradiol group. TAM inhibited estradiol-stimulated growth. These results suggest that estradiol and possibly TAM are capable of stimulating tumor growth in the athymic mice independently from ER, potentially through a host-mediated mechanism.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

[Complications after transvesical prostatectomy in relation to the hemostatic suture in the neck of the urinary bladder].

In an investigation of 200 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate early and late complication after transvesical prostatectomy were followed up. Their incidence in patients with Kucera's haemostatic suture was compared with the incidence of complications in operated patients where haemostasis was ensured by pericentesis of the bleeding vessels and their coagulation.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Effect of propranolol on platelet function.

Excessive reactivity of blood platelets may contribute to atherosclerotic vascular disease. Hence drugs which alter platelet function may be protective. Prompted by findings that propranolol therapy normalized hyperactive platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease, we studied propranolol in vitro to assess its action on platelets. At concentrations similar to those achieved in vivo (0.1-1 muM), propranolol raised the thresholds for aggregation of some normal paltelets by adenosine diphosphate (ADP). At higher concentrations (10-50 muM), propranolol abolished the second wave of platelet aggregation induced by ADP and epinephrine, and inhibited aggregation induced by collagen, thrombin, and the ionophore A23187. Propanolol blocked the release of 14C-serotonin from platelets, inhibited platelet adhesion to collagen, and interfered with clot retraction. Propranolol blocked ionophore-induced uptake of 45Ca by platelets. Inhibition appeared unrelated to beta-adrenergic blockage, as d(+) propranolol (which lacks beta-blocking activity) was equipotent with 1(-) propranolol. Moreover, practolol, a beta-blockading drug which is nonlipophilic, did not inhibit platelet function. These studies suggested that propranolol, like local anesthetics, decreased platelet responsiveness by a direct action on the platelet membrane, possibly by interfering with calcium availability. Modulation of platelet function by propranolol may occur at concentrations achieved at usual clinical doses of the drug.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗