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Biomedical subjects

R Pepper

Publications and source records attributed to R Pepper.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Involvement of Ser103 of the Rh polypeptides in G epitope formation.

BACKGROUND: Almost all red cells that carry D and/or C antigens also express the G antigen (Rh12). A study was conducted on the molecular background of the G epitope. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Two unrelated donors with the rare ccDEe, G- phenotype and one donor with the ccEe, G+ phenotype were studied. Genomic DNA and cDNA of these donors were studied with polymerase chain reaction, Southern blot, and sequence analysis, with special focus on exon 2, because it is only in this exon that there are supposed to be similarities between RHD and the RHC allele, but not between RHD and the RHc allele. RESULTS: In both ccDEe, G- donors, a nucleotide substitution was found in exon 2 of RHD; T307 was replaced by C307, which predicted a Ser->Pro substitution at amino acid position 103 of the D polypeptide. The ccEe, G+ donor carried the complete exon 2 of RHD. Moreover, despite the absence of all known D epitopes, this donor also carried RHD characteristics in exons 1 to 3 and exon 9 and further downstream. CONCLUSION: Ser103, encoded by exon 2 of the RH genes, is involved in G epitope formation.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1995

Significance of anti-LU8 in pregnancy.

Anti-LU8, an antibody defining a high-frequency antigen in the Lutheran system, was identified in the serum of a gravida 4 para 0 pregnant women who had never been transfused. The antibody consisted of both an IgM and an IgG1 component and was nonreactive in the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. The red cells of the mother and 3 siblings of the patient typed as LU:8,14 and were incompatible with the patient's serum. The baby was born at term with a negative direct antiglobulin test and typed as LU:8,14. There was no clinical evidence of haemolytic disease of the newborn.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The use of panoramic radiographs to measure alveolar bone areas.

The purpose of the study was to determine the accuracy of measurements made of the mandible from panoramic radiographs. A comparison was made between measurements made directly from dry mandibles, and measurements made from panoramic radiographs of the same mandibles. The use of linear proportions reduced the errors of successive radiographic observations but failed to reveal left- and right-side differences. A method was developed to demarcate two areas of the radiograph, one of which was defined by the crest of the residual alveolar ridge and the other independent of the alveolar ridge. Both areas were measured and their proportions calculated for each mandible observed. This proportional value was referred to as the Area Index. The method was applied to panoramic radiographs of individuals with complete dentitions. The inter-observation error of the Area Index was found to be 4.9%. It was concluded that, in selected cases, panoramic radiographs can be used to provide information about resorption of the residual mandibular alveolar bone.

Alveolar Process↗
PubMed1987

Radio-immunoassay of the functional activity of anti-D (Rh) preparations using a human monoclonal 125I-labelled anti-D.

The prophylactic effect of anti-D in the prevention of maternal immunization to the D antigen of the Rh system depends in the first instance on its ability to bind to fetal Rh-positive red cells. The functional activity of the injected anti-D in this respect is dependent on both the plasma concentration and functional affinity constant of the antibody, and both factors should be taken into account in assessing IgG anti-D preparations for clinical use. A radio-immunoassay utilizing 125-I-labelled human monoclonal anti-D has been developed which measures the amount of antibody bound to red cells after the addition of an aliquot of the test anti-D preparation. The assay is thus a functional test in that it measures the ability of the anti-D to react with the antigen. The functional activity of the test anti-D is compared to that of the international standard, and the concentration is then expressed in terms of microgram-equivalents, that is, its equivalence in functional terms to the stated amount of international standard. The radio-immunoassay was compared to the currently used agglutination assay, and the results were found to give good agreement in 18 out of the 21 samples assayed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1978

Nutritional myodegeneration in dairy cows.

A syndrome is described in which parturient dairy cows showed clinical signs consistent with milk fever but failed to respond to conventional therapy. The affected cows were reluctant to walk, moved stiffy and in severe cases became recumbent. The condition was apparently precipitated by low vitaimin E and selenium intake, stress of pregnancy and in one outbreak erratic feeding. Skeletal and cardiac myodegeneration were observed grossly and histologically but an almost full term fetus from an affected cow showed no muscle lesions. A high incidence of retained placentae was also recorded.

Animal Feed↗