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Biomedical subjects

M Hoffman

Publications and source records attributed to M Hoffman.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Platelet activity of high-dose factor VIIa is independent of tissue factor.

High-dose recombinant factor VIIa has been successfully used as therapy for haemophiliacs with inhibitors. The mechanism by which high-dose factor VIIa supports haemostasis is the subject of some controversy. Postulating a mechanism in which activity is dependent on tissue factor at the site of injury explains the localization of activity but not the requirement for high doses. Postulating a mechanism in which factor VIIa acts on available lipid independently of tissue factor explains the requirement for high doses but not the lack of systemic procoagulant activity. We report that factor VIIa bound weakly to activated platelets (Kd approximately 90 nM). This factor VIIa was functionally active and could initiate thrombin generation in the presence of plasma concentrations of prothrombin, factor X, factor V, antithrombin III and tissue factor pathway inhibitor. The activity was not dependent on tissue factor. The concentration of factor VIIa required for detectable thrombin generation agreed well with the lowest concentration of factor VIIa required for efficacy in patients. High-dose factor VIIa may function on the activated platelets that form the initial haemostatic plug in haemophilic patients. These observations are in agreement with clinical trials which have shown that high-dose factor VIIa was haemostatically effective without causing systemic activation of coagulation.

Blood Platelets↗

Stability of refrigerated and frozen solutions of tropisetron in either polyvinylchloride or polyolefin infusion bags.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stability of 50 microg/ml tropisetron in 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose injections on storage in either 100 ml polyvinylchloride (Tuliflex) or polyolefin (Clear-flex) infusion bags, at +4 degrees C and -20 degrees C. METHOD: A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was used to measure residual drug at day 0 (D0), D8, D15, D30, D60 and D90 for each bag. Samples were tested for pH at D0, D60 and D90. Frozen samples were thawed in a microwave oven according to a validated procedure before analysis. RESULTS: In 0.9% sodium chloride and 5% dextrose, no degradation products were observed in any of the chromatograms. No admixtures, at any time, contained less than 98.2% of the initial concentration. Only minor changes (-0.12 unit) in pH occurred over the storage period. No colour or other visual changes were seen in any sample. CONCLUSION: Tropisetron (50 microg/ml) in either 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose is chemically stable in polyvinylchloride or polyolefin bags for at least 3 months when stored in a refrigerator or in a frozen state.

Drug Stability↗

Recessive inheritance of obesity in familial non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and lack of linkage to nine candidate genes.

Segregation analysis of body-mass index (BMI) supported recessive inheritance of obesity, in pedigrees ascertained through siblings with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). BMI was estimated as 39 kg/m2 for those subjects homozygous at the inferred locus. Two-locus segregation analysis provided weak support for a second recessive locus, with BMI estimated as 32 kg/m2 for homozygotes. NIDDM prevalence was increased among those subjects presumed to be homozygous at either locus. Using both parametric and nonparametric methods, we found no evidence of linkage of obesity to any of nine candidate genes/regions, including the Prader-Willi chromosomal region (PWS), the human homologue of the mouse agouti gene (ASP), and the genes for leptin (OB), the leptin receptor (OBR/DB), the beta3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (LIPC), glycogen synthase (GYS), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA).

Adult↗

Identification of a 14 kb deletion involving the promoter region of BRCA1 in a breast cancer family.

BRCA1 is a breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene. An inferred germline regulatory mutation was previously reported in the BRCA1-linked kindred K2035, based on the absence of transcripts from the BRCA1 allele associated with the cancer susceptibility haplotype. In this study, the promoter region of BRCA1 was examined in individuals from K2035 for evidence of a mutation which could halt transcription. Evaluation of a polymorphism located within intron 2 of BRCA1 gave results consistent with the presence of a large deletion in K2035 mutation carriers. Southern blot analysis identified unique restriction fragments which occurred as a result of a 14 kb deletion that removed both of BRCA1's transcription start sites (exons 1a and 1b) as well as exon 2. Sequencing indicated that unequal crossover between Alu repeats was the likely cause of the deletion. Similar deletions may be responsible for other reported inferred regulatory mutations, as well as unidentified mutations in families linked to BRCA1.

Adult↗

A pharmacodynamic study of morphine and its glucuronide metabolites after single morphine dosing in cancer patients with pain.

Eleven morphine naïve patients with cancer-related pain were given a single dose of either intravenous morphine (n = 5) or oral morphine (n = 6). Blood sampling was performed over a 24-hr period and serial pain assessments were made using a categorical scale. Plasma samples were analyzed for morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide (M-6-G), morphine-3-glucuronide (M-3-G), and normorphine using high-performance liquid chromatography. In neither the intravenous nor oral group was there a correlation between analgesia duration and the half-lives of morphine and M-6-G. There was no correlation between the time to peak analgesia and time to peak concentration for morphine or M-6-G. There was no significant difference in absolute concentrations of M-6-G or M-3-6 nor in the ratio of M-3-G to M-6-G at peak analgesia versus relapse.

Administration, Oral↗

CDC guidelines for infection precautions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its infection control recommendations for health care organizations and their staffs. Although the CDC guidelines are not home care specific, providers can use these precautions in most health care delivery sites, including in-home services.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗

A case control study of breast cancer risk and exposure to injectable progestogen contraceptives. Methods and patterns of use among controls.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the patterns of use of injectable progestogen contraceptives (IPCs) among coloured and black women in the Western Cape. These data are part of an ongoing study in the Western Cape, the main aim of which is to explore the relationship between IPCs and breast cancer. DESIGN: A population-based case-control study of breast cancer risk in relation to the use of IPCs among coloured and black women. SETTING: The Western Cape, including the Cape metropole and surrounding rural areas. STUDY SUBJECTS: All coloured and black women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, resident in the study area and below age 55 years, who present at either of the two tertiary care hospitals in the Western Cape are recruited. Controls are a sample of hospitalised patients representative of the populations from which the patients are drawn. Cases are frequency-matched to controls according to cross-tabulation of age, ethnic group and residential area in a ratio of approximately 1:3. MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaires are administered by trained nurse interviewers, information is elicited on a wide range of variables, including sociodemographic variables, medical history, family history of breast disease, lifetime history of all methods of contraception and use of non-contraceptive female steroids, reproductive variables, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and other potentially confounding variables. RESULTS: Between January and December 1994, 122 incident cases and 389 controls were enrolled. Ever-use of IPCs among the controls was 72% (N = 280) and use for 5 years or more was 30% (N = 117). Use of IPCs in the distant past was common, with 61% (N = 232) of all controls having initiated use 10 or more years previously. Current use was also high (19%). Other contraceptive methods were used far less commonly. CONCLUSION: Coloured and black women in South Africa have been using and continue to use IPCs for more commonly and for longer periods than women anywhere else in the world. It is therefore especially important to evaluate the risk of breast cancer and other health effects of IPCs. The rates of use identified in this study ensure that there will be adequate statistical power to evaluate long-term use, use in the distant past and current use of IPCs.

Adult↗

[Selection of resistance mutants and bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of meropenem and imipenem against Acinetobacter spp].

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the inhibitory and bactericidal activity of meropenem and imipenem against multiresistant isolates of Acinetobacter spp and to compare the frequency of mutation for both antibiotics. METHODS: Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by the agar dilution method. Bactericidal activities were evaluated by killing curves method employing 8 times the MIC. One-step resistant mutant selection was performed by spreading more than 5 x 10(8) ufc/ml on agar Mueller Hinton plates containing 2, 4 and 8 times the MIC of meropenem or imipenem. RESULTS: In the group of sensitive strains (MIC < 4 mg/l for imipenem and meropenem) we detected lower MIC for imipenem than meropenem (61.5% of the strains). Strains with reduced susceptibility to imipenem (MIC = 4 mg/l) were more sensitive to meropenem with MICs equivalents to the sensitive group. Bactericidal activity was detected in 6 hs for imipenem and in 24 hs for meropenem. Meropenem was bactericidal in 4 clinical isolates with MICs = 4 mg/l for imipenem and imipenem was bactericidal in laboratory mutants resistant to meropenem. It was no possible to select mutants resistant to imipenem but for meropenem the rate of mutation was 1.4 x 10(-9) to 1.0 x 10(-8). Mutants resistant to meropenem were susceptible to imipenem and 57% of them were stable. CONCLUSIONS: From the laboratory point of view we consider that imipenem is more active than meropenem because it presents lower MICs, better bactericidal activity, and no risk to select resistance. However meropenem could be useful in some strains resistant to imipenem (MIC = 4 mg/l). Cross-resistance was no detected so we consider that both antibiotics should be tested against Acinetobacter spp. because they are not equivalents.

Acinetobacter↗

The effect of active site-inhibited factor VIIa on tissue factor-initiated coagulation using platelets before and after aspirin administration.

Active site-inactivated factor VIIa has potential as an antithrombotic agent. The effects of D-Phe-L-Phe-L-Arg-chloromethyl ketone-treated factor VIIa (FFR-FVIIa) were evaluated in a cell-based system mimicking in vivo initiation of coagulation. FFR-FVIIa inhibited platelet activation (as measured by expression of P-selectin) and subsequent large-scale thrombin generation in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 1.4 +/- 0.8 nM (n = 8) and 0.9 +/- 0.7 nM (n = 7), respectively. Kd for factor VIIa binding to monocytes and Ki for FFR-FVIIa competing with factor VIIa were similar (11.4 +/- 0.8 pM and 10.6 +/- 1.1 pM, respectively), showing that FFR-FVIIa binds to tissue factor in the tenase complex with the same affinity as factor VIIa. Using platelets from volunteers before and after ingestion of aspirin (1.3 g), there were no significant differences in the IC50 values of FFR-FVIIa [after aspirin ingestion, the IC50 values were 1.7 +/- 0.9 nM (n = 8) for P-selectin expression, p = 0.37, and 1.4 +/- 1.3 nM (n = 7) for thrombin generation, p = 0.38]. This shows that aspirin treatment of platelets does not influence the inhibition of tissue factor-initiated coagulation by FFR-FVIIa, probably because thrombin activation of platelets is not entirely dependent upon expression of thromboxane A2.

Adult↗

Primary biliary cirrhosis associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.

A 47-year-old female was admitted for severe pain of 1 month's duration in the third and fourth toes of the right foot, culminating in gangrene. Laboratory findings revealed liver enzyme abnormalities, and anti-mitochondrial, anti-phospholipid and antinuclear and doubtful anti-DNA antibodies. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was excluded on clinical grounds after a 6-year follow-up. Therefore, a diagnosis was made of the primary antiphospholipid syndrome, complicated by microvasculopathy, and associated with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome↗

Lack of association between early exposure to cow's milk protein and beta-cell autoimmunity. Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY)

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether infant dietary exposure to cow's milk is associated with beta-cell autoimmunity (BCA), an early predictor of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). SETTING: Denver, Colo. DESIGN: Cross-sectional with retrospective analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Between January 1994 and December 1995, 253 children from 171 families of persons with IDDM were screened for BCA. All children were between the ages of 9 months and 7 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BCA was defined as elevated levels of insulin autoantibody, glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody, or insulinoma-associated islet tyrosine phosphatases autoantibody (IA-2) above the 99th percentile of 198 normal subjects. RESULTS: Eighteen cases of BCA were detected; 153 unrelated autoantibody-negative children were selected from the cohort as controls. There were no differences in the proportion of cases and controls who were exposed to cow's milk or foods containing cow's milk or to cereal, fruit and vegetable, or meat protein by 3 months or by 6 months of age. Children with BCA were breast-fed for a slightly longer duration than controls (median duration 10 vs 8 months, P=.07). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that early exposure to cow's milk or other dietary protein is not associated with BCA. This calls into question the importance of cow's milk avoidance as a preventive measure for IDDM.

Animals↗

Variability in platelet procoagulant activity in healthy volunteers.

Blood platelets provide the major surface for thrombin generation. When platelets are activated they expose phosphatidylserine (PS) on their outer membranes, providing the surface on which two procoagulant enzyme complexes, the Xase and prothrombinase complexes, assemble. We hypothesized that there is biological variability in platelet procoagulant activity. To test this hypothesis, we activated isolated platelets from seventeen volunteers, and added plasma concentrations of factors VIII, IXa, and X for the Xase complex assembly, and F.Xa and II for the prothrombinase complex. Xase and prothrombinase activity were assayed using a chromogenic substrate. We found a two- to three-fold variation in Xase and prothrombinase activity, respectively. The distribution of Xase activity in the population was symmetric, while the distribution of prothrombinase activity was positively skewed. The difference in distribution implies that simple expression of procoagulant lipid was not the only determinant of procoagulant activity. Variation in prothrombinase activity was not due to the amount of platelet-released F.V. Neither microparticle production nor F.X binding correlated with Xase or prothrombinase activity. Using fluorescein-conjugated annexin V, we also found no direct correlation between the level of PS exposure and Xase or prothrombinase activity. This indicates that platelets must make other contributions, in addition to PS, to the activity of the Xase and prothrombinase complexes. There is evidence that platelets possess specific receptors for some coagulation proteins, although these receptors have not been isolated. Biological variability in the expression of platelet receptors might explain the differences in Xase and prothrombinase activities in our study.

Adult↗

Beta-cell autoantibodies in infants and toddlers without IDDM relatives: diabetes autoimmunity study in the young (DAISY).

Little is known concerning the natural history of beta-cell autoimmunity in infants and toddlers, especially in those without a first degree IDDM relative. A population-based cohort of Colorado infants at increased IDDM risk due to their HLA genotype has been identified through a PCR-based HLA screening of cord blood and is being prospectively studied. We report the distribution of insulin (IAA), GAD65 (GAA), and ICA512 autoantibody levels in 312 children aged 9 months and in 131 children aged 15 months from this cohort, without family history of IDDM. The levels of IAA, GAA and ICA512 did not differ by the HLA genotype (DR3/4,DQB1*0302 vs. DR3/3, vs. DR2/DR4,DQB1*0302 vs. DRx/4,DQB1*0302, where x is not DR3 or DR2), by ethnicity (non-Hispanic whites vs. other ethnic groups), or by age (9 vs. 15 months). The 95th and 99th percentiles of the IAA distribution were respectively 40 and 61 nU/ml at the age of 9 months and 38 and 59 nU/ml at the age of 15 months. The 95th and 99th percentiles of the GAA distribution were respectively 0.020 and 0.046 at the age of 9 months and 0.022 and 0.098 at the age of 15 months. We propose to use IAA levels greater than 60 nU/ml and GAA index greater than 0.05 to define the presence of beta-cell autoimmunity in children younger than 2 years.

Alleles↗