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Biomedical subjects

J Ray

Publications and source records attributed to J Ray.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Use of common plant lectins for isolation and characterization of constitutive and developmentally regulated cell surface associated glycoproteins of Dictyostelium discoideum.

Glycoproteins as a class of molecules have been implicated as serving crucial roles in cell recognition events. Using 3 common plant lectins, we have isolated and identified a number of cell surface associated glycoproteins. The appearance of at least 5 of these proteins is under developmental regulation.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed1977

Electrogoniometric analysis of equine metacarpophalangeal joint lameness.

Electrogoniometry was used qualitively and quantitatively to assess the movements of the normal and pathologic metacarpophalangeal joints of selected horses. A total of 4 Thoroughbreds, 1 normal and 3 with clinical and radiographic changes in the metacarpophalangeal joints of 1 limb, were evaluated at the walk and trot. Goniograms of the affected joints were compared with those of the normal horse and the normal contralateral metacarpophangeal joint. Qualitative asymmetry was recognized on the goniograms, and the ranges of motion were quantified and related to the clinical and radiologic observations.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Managing antituberculosis drug therapy by therapeutic drug monitoring of rifampicin and isoniazid.

BACKGROUND: Current therapeutic regimens with rifampicin and isoniazid have proven successful in treating tuberculosis, however, toxicity, therapeutic failure, relapse and multiple drug resistance are serious concerns. Optimizing drug dose using therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may be a better approach than administering therapy as a standard dose. AIMS: To establish and evaluate a TDM service to optimize rifampicin and isoniazid therapy. METHODS: A TDM service for rifampicin and isoniazid was established in November 1998. Drug concentration data were collected, with relevant information to interpret the results. The reason for the request, information on concomitant drug administration and a questionnaire to assess clinical response to the drug results were also obtained. RESULTS: Ninety patient episodes were accepted for study. The rifampicin plasma concentrations showed significant scatter, with 46% of the rifampicin concentrations below the normal range and 2% above the normal range. Similarly, 48% of isoniazid concentrations were below the lower target of the normal range and 29% were above the upper normal limit. There was a greater proportion of isoniazid concentrations above the normal range in female patients. CONCLUSION: Significant pharmacokinetic variability was observed for rifampicin and isoniazid in the patient population studied. Further, a substantial number of plasma concentrations fell outside the suggested normal range for both drugs. Isoniazid plasma concentrations were significantly higher in female patients compared with male patients. Despite these abnormal results, the dose of rifampicin and isoniazid was altered in only 17% of patients, however, many patients received follow-up education because of the drug result. The service was considered valuable by 83% of respondents to the questionnaire. While TDM of rifampicin and isoniazid is a valuable tool to optimize the dose of these drugs in some patients, there is an urgent need for concentration-effect studies and possibly education on the principles and practice of TDM for these drugs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical basis of the beta-glucuronidase gene defect causing canine mucopolysaccharidosis VII.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII), or Sly syndrome, is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from the deficiency in the activity of the enzyme beta-glucuronidase (GUSB). To characterize the biochemical and molecular defect in GUSB-deficient MPS VII dogs, we have measured lysosomal enzyme activities, analyzed distribution of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and estimated the size and abundance of the GUSB gene product at the mRNA and protein level in normal, homozygous affected, and heterozygous carrier retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) samples. Compared to normal, only 2-5% and 40-60% of GUSB activity was detected in the affected and the carrier samples, respectively. The decrease in GUSB activity resulted in storage of GAGs predominantly heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. A slight increase in storage of GAGs was also observed in the carrier sample. Northern blot analysis of affected and carrier RPE samples detected a 2.4 kb GUSB transcript similar in size and abundance to that of normal controls. In western blot analysis using anti-human GUSB antibody, three bands of size 78, 56, and 38 kDa were detected in normal samples, which were present at lower intensity in the carrier RPE samples and absent in the MPS VII-affected RPE samples. These results suggest that the mutant GUSB gene causes a posttranscriptional defect and produces an unstable protein.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized trial of nelfinavir, ritonavir, or delavirdine in combination with saquinavir-SGC and stavudine in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 24-week impact of saquinavir-enhancing antiretroviral therapy on viral replication in patients previously treated with nucleoside analogues with or without prior saquinavir hard-gel capsules (HGC). METHOD: Patients were randomized in three groups to receive the following: Group 1-nelfinavir (750 mg tid), saquinavir soft-gel capsule (SGC) (800 mg tid), and stavudine (40 mg bid); Group II-ritonavir (400 mg bid), saquinavir-SGC (400 mg bid), and stavudine (40 mg bid); or Group III-delavirdine (400 mg tid), saquinavir-SGC (800 mg tid), and stavudine (40 mg bid). Viral loads, CD4 count, and safety were assessed over a 24-week period with an additional 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: 73 patients received randomized therapy; 14 of whom were SQV naïve, with a median baseline viral load of 3.6 log(10) and a CD4 count of 370 cells/mm(3). By 6 months, the median decreases in plasma viral loads were 0.26, 0.71, and 0.29 log(10) copies/mL for groups I, II, and III, respectively. The median increases in CD4 counts, for groups I, II, and III, were 52, 40, and 69 cells/mm(3) at 6 months, respectively. Changes in viral load and CD4 counts at 6 months and 1 year were not significantly different between the treatment groups. More patients discontinued therapy in the ritonavir arm (35%) for drug intolerance or toxicity compared to either the nelfinavir or delavirdine arms (15% and 5%, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, baseline viral load, younger age, and baseline saquinavir resistance were significantly associated with detectable viral load at 24 weeks. CONCLUSION: The use of antiretroviral agents that pharmacokinetically boost saquinavir levels has a modest benefit in saquinavir-experienced patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Visual evoked potentials (VEP) evaluating treatment for post-trauma vision syndrome (PTVS) in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

Post-trauma vision syndrome (PTVS), which is characterized by binocular function problems, may be caused by dysfunction of the ambient visual process which is part of the sensory-motor feedback loop rather than specific oculomotor disturbance. Clinically, PTVS frequently presents with symptoms of diplopia, blur, seeing movement in the spatial environment, vertigo, and hallucination-like experiences. Visual evoked potentials (P100) were used to evaluate an experimental group (n = 10) of subjects who suffered a traumatic brain injury, and a control group (n = 10). A new treatment using prisms and bi-nasal occluders which affected amplitude responses of the VEP was evaluated. The results demonstrate the amplitude of the VEP is a function of cortical binocular integration, and that this is influenced by dysfunction of the ambient visual process. The results also demonstrate that base-in prism and bi-nasal occluders are an effective means to treat ambient vision disturbances resulting from head trauma which causes PTVS.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrence of sarcoidosis in a cardiac allograft: control with augmented corticosteroids.

Sarcoidosis of the heart is an unusual but previously reported indication for heart transplantation. It is clear that sarcoidosis is a systemic disease, but in spite of this, recurrence in the cardiac allograft has not been previously noted. The case presented here is that of a 34-year-old male in whom cardiac sarcoidosis recurred in the allograft 6 months after heart transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Treating patients who have failed with desensitization therapy for naso-sinus allergies by surgical section of vidian nerve (author's transl)].

From about thiry cases of surgical section of the Vidian nerve in allergic patients, the ten most long-standing patients were collected. These were severely allergic patients, often with superinfected polyps, diagnosed clinically, tested (especially with cutaneous tests) and desensitized. Specific desensitization was persevered with for a long time before finally failure was recognized in these cases. These patients were then operated by the Lima technique with section of the Vidian nerve by the trans-maxillary route. The results are analyzed after a delay of between two and three and a half years and each case is analyzed symptom by symptom. The results ae excellent in four cases, good in two cases, satisfactory in two cases, and poor or nil in two cases.

Adult↗