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Biomedical subjects

R Harris

Publications and source records attributed to R Harris.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

States' use of transfer of custody as a requirement for providing services to emotionally disturbed children.

Survey data were collected from 45 states on the extent to which transfer of custody was required for families to obtain intensive services for children with serious emotional disturbances. In 28 of the states (62 percent), at least one agency serving children reported using transfer of custody as a requisite for obtaining services. Corrections and social service agencies were most likely to require transfer of custody, followed by youth services and mental health agencies. Most agencies that required transfer of custody lacked statutes or regulations governing two of the three types of transfers used. States that required transfer of custody tended to be less populated and to have a lower per capita income than states that did not. The major factor contributing to use of transfer of custody, the authors conclude, is the absence of an adequate system of services designed specifically for children with serious emotional disturbances.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1991

Oral bioavailability of chromium from a specific site.

Analysis of soil from a specific site in New Jersey indicated a low level of sodium and chromium present as a calcium compound. Chromium was then administered orally to young, mature male rats at a level of 240 micrograms/kg for 14 days as chromium-contaminated soil, as CaCrO4, and as an equimolar mixture of the soil and calcium salts for 14 days. The rats were sacrificed 24 hr after the last dosing, and tissues were taken immediately for chromium analysis. Blood, muscle, and liver contained the highest levels of chromium in these animals, although kidney contained the highest concentration per gram of tissue. The total amount of chromium in the tissues was less than 2% of the administered chromium. In a study of the excretion of chromium, the animals were dosed orally for 8 days (with CaCrO4 or contaminated soil, each at the level of 240 mumole Cr/kg), and the chromium in feces and urine was determined on days 1, 2, 7, and 8. After cessation of dosing for 27 days, the same rats were dosed for 2 days at the same level, and chromium in urine and feces was determined for the 2 days. The animals administered the chromium in soil had higher levels of chromium in both urine and feces on all days compared to the group fed the CaCrO4. The total recovery of chromium in any of the 2-day periods was less than 50% of the chromium administered during that period.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

An Apparatus for Visualizing and Videotaping Obesity Operations.

A video camera has difficulty in gaining access for obesity operations. A 7-ft aluminum arm (boom) has been mounted on a sturdy tripod. A camera at one end of the boom enables easy direct videotaping, without interfering with the operating table

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

The measurement of complement fixation by autoantibodies directed against thyroid membrane antigens.

This paper describes the use of sensitized sheep red blood cells for the detection and titration of complement fixation by autoantibodies directed against human thyroid membranes in the serum of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. Patients with elevated circulating levels of TPO antibodies and diagnosed as having autoimmune hypothyroidism (including Hashimoto's disease) or autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease) were studied. Complement fixation titres were highest in those patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism compared with the autoimmune hyperthyroid group. Serum samples obtained from a group of patients with thyroid neoplasia and from normal healthy volunteers were negative in this test. The TPO antibody activity when "corrected" for its CF potency suggests that the autoantibodies found in autoimmune hypothyroidism are potentially more destructive than those found in the non-destructive autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1991

Elisa for the measurement of complement C3 activation by autoantibodies directed against thyroid membrane antigens.

This paper describes the use of an ELISA technique to assess the involvement of the complement system in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). Microtitre plates coated with thyroid membrane antigen were exposed to serum samples obtained from AITD patients, all of whom showed elevated levels of circulating anti-thyroid autoantibodies, and dilute guinea pig serum, as a source of complement, was then added to the microtitre wells. The degree of activation of the classical complement pathway was assessed by measuring the bound complement component C3 using a peroxidase conjugated anti-guinea pig C3 antiserum. C3 fixation and activation was greater in the presence of serum from patients with Hashimoto's disease when compared with that seen in patients with autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease). Serum samples obtained from normal healthy volunteers and from patients with thyroid neoplasia were negative in this assay. The method allows the calculation of a putative "biologically active autoantibody" level and analysis of these data confirm our earlier observation that the species of autoantibody found in autoimmune hypothyroidism are potentially more destructive than those found in other forms of AITD.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The determinants of early nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a prospective study based on the urinary excretion of albumin.

A four-year prospective study of the factors predicting albuminuria was carried out in 172 normotensive, insulin-dependent diabetic patients without overt nephropathy. Urinary albumin excretion was estimated as the urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (UA/UC) in an early morning sample. Multivariate analysis showed that UA/UC on the return visit was positively associated with the UA/UC (p less than 0.001) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1; p less than 0.001) at initial examination; weaker associations were found with a history of hospital admission (p less than 0.05) and smoking (p less than 0.05), and with treatment of blood pressure (p less than 0.05). Neither initial blood pressure, heart rate, nor creatinine clearance were significant predictors of the UA/UC. Two patients died from coronary heart disease, both of whom had raised albumin excretion at initial examination. Eleven (6.8 per cent) of the 160 patients who were studied repeatedly developed macroalbuminuria (UA/UC greater than 45.5 mg/mmol): they had a significantly higher initial UA/UC (p less than 0.005), HbA1 (p less than 0.05) and a greater frequency of retinopathy (p less than 0.05) than patients matched for age, sex and duration of diabetes who did not develop macroalbuminuria. Simultaneous measurements of the UA/UC and HbA1 should be used when screening for microalbuminuria in diabetes mellitus: patients with a high UA/UC (e.g. greater than 3.5 mg/mmol) and HbA1 (e.g. greater than 13 per cent) should be closely monitored even when blood pressure is normal.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1991

Aerosol ventilation scintigraphy in the evaluation of bronchopleural fistula: a case report and literature review.

Radioaerosol scanning is simple to perform and is widely used in conjunction with perfusion imaging to detect pulmonary emboli. It may also be a valuable tool for the early diagnosis of postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula. The authors present an illustrative case in which radioactive aerosol imaging was used to confirm a bronchopleural fistula secondary to pneumonectomy for squamous cell carcinoma.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of growth, neovascularization, and enzymatic function of fetal intestinal grafts in the omentum and renal capsule.

Fetal tissues are less immunogenic and may be a useful donor source for organ transplantation. This report compares the fate of fetal small bowel segments transplanted in the omentum and renal capsule of recipient syngeneic rats. Two-centimeter segments of fetal jejunum and ileum were obtained from 26 donor 19-day gestational age rat fetuses and transplanted into the subrenal capsule (n = 35) and omentum (n = 40) in syngeneic Fisher rats (weight, 150 g) as free grafts. No immunosuppression was used. At 2 weeks posttransplantation, the recipient rats underwent laparotomy and the grafts were evaluated for viability, growth, enzymatic function, and revascularization. Viable grafts were identified in 27 of 35 renal capsule grafts and 34 of 40 omental grafts. The order of magnitude of fetal growth in the omentum for jejunum was 16 +/- 10 versus ileum 23 +/- 9 (NS). However, in the renal capsule, ileal growth (15 +/- 6) was significantly greater than jejunum (8 +/- 5; P less than .01). Growth for both jejunal and ileal segments was greater in the omentum (P less than .02). The lumen of all omental grafts remained patent; however, 26 of 27 renal grafts had cystic dilatations and areas of obstruction. Microfil casts of the specimens showed vascular connections (neovascularization) between the graft and omentum, a normal serosal vascular pattern, and many submucosal capillary-like vessels. Maltase activity was measured in fetal grafts and compared with control pups bred on the same date as the donor animals. The grafts had a higher maltase level 33.4 +/- 34.6 mumol/min/g than controls 8.3 +/- 2.0 (P less than .005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Mapping of von Hippel-Lindau disease to chromosome 3p confirmed by genetic linkage analysis.

Genetic linkage studies were performed in 12 British families with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) using RFLPs at three loci (DNF15S2, THRB, RAF1) on the short arm of chromosome 3. Linkage was detected between the VHL disease locus and RAF1 with a maximum lod score of 3.88 at a recombination fraction of 0.05 (confidence interval 0.003-0.18). Multipoint linkage analysis suggested that the most likely location for the VHL disease locus is telomeric to THRB. These results confirm earlier reports localizing the VHL gene to the short arm of chromosome 3, and provide no evidence for genetic heterogeneity.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1990

Genesis by meiotic unequal crossover of a de novo deletion that contributes to steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

The HLA-linked human steroid 21-hydroxylase gene CYP21B and its closely homologous pseudogene CYP21A are each normally located centromeric to a fourth component of complement (C4) gene, C4B and C4A, respectively, in an organization suggesting tandem duplication of a ca. 30-kilobase DNA unit containing a CYP21 gene and a C4 gene. Such an organization has been considered to facilitate gene deletion and addition events by unequal crossover between the tandem repeats. We have identified a steroid 21-hydroxylase [steroid, hydrogen-donor:oxygen oxidoreductase (21-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.99.10] deficiency patient who has a maternally inherited disease haplotype that carries a de novo deletion of a ca. 30-kilobase repeat unit including the CYP21B gene and associated C4B gene. This disease haplotype appears to have been generated as a result of meiotic unequal crossover between maternal homologous chromosomes. One of the maternal haplotypes is the frequently occurring HLA-DR3, B8, A1 haplotype that normally carries a deletion of a ca. 30-kilobase unit including the CYP21A gene and C4A gene. Haplotypes of this type may possibly act as premutations, increasing the susceptibility of developing a 21-hydroxylase deficiency mutation by facilitating unequal chromosome pairing.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMed1990

Clinical features and natural history of von Hippel-Lindau disease.

The clinical features, age at onset and survival of 152 patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease were studied. Mean age at onset was 26.3 years and 97 per cent of patients had presented by aged 60 years. Retinal angioma was the first manifestation in 65 patients (43 per cent), followed by cerebellar haemangioblastoma (n = 60, 39 per cent) and renal cell carcinoma (n = 15, 10 per cent). Overall, 89 patients (59 per cent) developed a cerebellar haemangioblastoma, 89 (59 per cent) a retinal angioma, 43 (28 per cent) renal cell carcinoma, 20 (13 per cent) spinal haemangioblastoma and 11 (7 per cent) a phaeochromocytoma. Renal, pancreatic and epididymal cysts were frequent findings but their exact incidence was not accurately assessed. Mean age at diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (44.0 +/- 10.9 years) was significantly older than that for cerebellar haemangioblastoma (29.0 +/- 10.0 years) and retinal angioma (25.4 +/- 12.7 years). The probability of a patient with von Hippel-Lindan disease developing a cerebellar haemangioblastoma, retinal angioma or renal cell carcinoma by age 60 years was 0.84, 0.7 and 0.69, respectively. A comprehensive screening protocol for affected patients and at-risk relatives is presented, based on detailed analysis of age at onset data for each of the major complications. Median actuarial survival was 49 years, with renal cell carcinoma the leading cause of death.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗