Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J R Pearson.
The staining of eosinophils by fluorescein conjugates can be obliterated by utilising the peroxidase activity of the eosinophil. The brown reaction product of 3,4,3',4'-tetraaminobiphenyl hydrochloride (DAB) with hydrogen peroxide was more effective than Lendrum's stain. A satisfactory alternative to the possibly carcinogenic DAB was 2,7-fluorenediamine.
Twenty-one children aged between 2 and 54 months, 14 with eczema and 7 with allergies in first-degree relatives, were referred for diagnostic jejunal mucosal biopsy for a variety of symptoms. A partial villous atrophy was found in 19 of the 21 biopsies obtained; the other 2 were normal. We report a highly significant (P less than 0.0001) lower IgA cell count in biopsies with partial villous atrophy compared with the results of our previous study of IgA and IgM plasma cells in the mucosal biopsies in children without eczema or a history of atopy matched for age and histological appearances. The IgM cell count was also lower.
Ten human jejunal biopsy specimens were examined by both immunofluorescence (IF) and immunoperoxidase (IP) methods to compare both plasma cell counts and the distribution of extracellular immunoglobulins. Each specimen was cut into at least two portions, one fixed in 5% formaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline before being snap-frozen and sectioned on a cryostat for IF, the other being fixed in half-strength Zenker and embedded in paraffin wax by standard methods for IP. Plasma cell counts were comparable in the eight biopsy specimens for which they could be estimated, geometric mean values being IgA 22.9 (IF), 19.3 (IP) and IgM 9.5 (IF), 10.6 (IP). Two specimens showing subtotal villous atrophy had too much extracellular IgA for plasma cell counts to be feasible. For these the IF methods had the advantage that the extracellular immunoglobulin was more readily distinguishable from background staining.
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The methods for barbiturate, opiate, methadone, and amphetamine have been modified for use with the American Monitor KDA. The modification, which incorporates automatic correction for endogenous lysozyme activity, was evaluated by comparing results obtained with the KDA for human urine samples containing known amounts of drug(s) with results obtained with the procedure recommended by Syva for the Gilford 3500. There was 98% agreement bewteen the two systems. Six calibrators and 40 samples can be assayed for all four drugs in about 2.5 h. The procedure has proven to be reliable for screening urine samples obtained from clients at a methadone treatment center.
The effect on colonic function of adding wheat fiber for 3 weeks to the metabolically-controlled diets of six healthy volunteers has been studied. Increasing dietary fiber intake from 17 to 45 g/day increased fecal weight from 79 +/- 6.6 g/day to 228 +/- 29.9 g/day and shortened mean transit time, measured by a continuous marker method, from 57.8 +/- 8.3 hr to 40.3 +/- 8.9 hr. The increase in fecal weight was largely due to water. Fiber caused a dilution of fecal marker and an increase in fecal fat, nitrogen, and calcium output. Fecal sodium, potassium, and chloride showed only small changes but volatile fatty acid output increased significantly without concentrations changing. Fecal bile acid output increased from 199 +/- 46 mg/day to 279 +/- 46 mg/day. These changes are discussed in light of current views of the role of dietary fiber in protecting against colon cancer.
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Negative pressures in the small space between the distal stump and the below-knee prosthetic socket were measured during swing phase for a series of nine subjects. A molded rubber sleeve connecting the prosthesis and the thigh was found to enhance this effect so that suction suspension occurred during the entire swing phase. Deterioration of the suction occurred when the sleeve was intentionally pierced, and when other suspensions such as a suprapatellar cuff or thigh band were tested. The findings indicate that the total-contact socket, gel liner and elastic sleeve combine to create suction in the below-knee socket which improves overall comfort and function for the patient in using the prosthesis.
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Three-day faecal collections were obtained from 87 patients with a variety of gastroenterological diagnoses and 12 control subjects while consuming normal diets. Faecal weight, total fatty acids, and the proportion of hydroxystearic (OHSA) acid were measured. All patients had some easily detectable hydroxystearic acid. It was found that in general the percentage of OHSA in the faecal fatty acids increased with increasing fat output. Thus most patients excreting less than 20 g of fat per day had less than 5% OHSA while those with greater steatorrhoea had levels of 6 to 23%. Exceptions were patients with mild steatorrhoea with ileal disease, ileal resections, or small intestinal bacterial colonization, who had more than 5% OHSA whilst patients with colonic resection had much lower levels of OHSA than otherwise found. It is impossible to determine whether OHSA had a specific cathartic action from this study since the data implicated total fatty acids to the same extent.
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