Hyperinfection with strongyloides after treatment for adult T cell leukaemia-lymphoma in an African immigrant.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
S Allen
Publications and source records attributed to S Allen.
The spectrophotometric determination of nanomole quantities of chloride in plant tissue.
The determination of Cl- in plant tissues was investigated by FeSCN2+ spectrophotometry following SCN- displacement from Hg(SCN)2 by Cl-. The calibration curve was nonlinear, but consistent and reproducible. As little as 10 nmol Cl- could be measured. There was no obvious interference in color development by water-soluble components in plant tissues. Values obtained by this method were in close agreement with those obtained potentiometrically and by coulometric titration.
Chlorides↗
Blood glucose test strips.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Blood Glucose↗
Effect of tetrahydrouridine on the clinical pharmacology of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine when both drugs are coinfused over three hours.
When 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C), 25 mg/m2, is infused over 3 h together with tetrahydrouridine (THU) at 10 to 350 mg/m2 to heavily pretreated patients with solid tumors, Michaelis-Menten type kinetic values are observed with leveling off of delta area under the curve, delta ara-C levels at 3 h, and delta total body clearance after 150 mg/m2 of THU. When the ara-C dose was increased to 50, 75, and 100 mg/m2 coinfusion of 250 or 350 mg/m2 of THU significantly increased plasma ara-C at peak and area under the curve. In contrast, total body clearance and volume of distribution decreased significantly. At 100 mg/m2 of ara-C coinfused with high doses of THU, i.e., at 350 mg/m2, the pharmacokinetics of plasma ara-C was changed from a biphasic decay of plasma ara-C at peaks (control) to a curve similar or identical to a monophasic curve, indicating that THU not only inhibits deamination but also changes the distribution of ara-C. This combination provides plasma ara-C levels (greater than or equal to 10 microM) comparable to high dose ara-C at 1 g/m2. Such plasma ara-C levels are considered to be sufficient for saturation of the kinases catalyzing the production of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate. This reduced ara-C dose necessary to achieve saturation of kinases also reduces plasma 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil levels substantially. Toxicity of this combination was predominantly confined to bone marrow and gastrointestinal toxicity.
Adult↗
Comparison of six serological assays for human immunodeficiency virus antibody detection in developing countries.
Three commercially available assays for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies-Vironostika enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Wellcozyme competitive EIA, and JLC Allaman indirect immunofluorescence assay--were tested on 300 serum samples from African subjects with and without HIV-related conditions. Two experimental assays both rapid and simple to perform (Biotech dip stick and Cambridge Bioscience latex agglutination) were also evaluated on the same serum samples. The results were compared with those of a commercial Western blot (WB) (immunoblot) assay from Biotech, used as the reference technique. All assays were tested in the laboratory of the AIDS Project in Kigali, Rwanda. Calculated specificity ranged from 90.8% (dip stick) to 98.6% (Vironostika EIA, Wellcozyme competitive EIA, and Cambridge Bioscience latex agglutination). Sensitivity ranged from 95.2% (Cambridge Bioscience latex agglutination) to 98.0% (Vironstika EIA) and JLC indirect immunofluorescence assay). However, the sensitivity of the latex agglutination test improved to 98.6% after the prozone effect was controlled for by serial twofold dilution of latex agglutination-negative, WB-positive samples. In situations with a high prevalence of HIV infection, any one of these tests can be regarded as an alternative to the more expensive, time-consuming, and difficult WB assay.
Antibodies, Viral↗
Human immunodeficiency virus transmission among heterosexual couples in Central Africa.
From February to June 1986, 150 heterosexual couples with at least one HIV-seropositive member were recruited in the 'Centre Hospitalier de Kigali', Kigali, Rwanda. Of the 138 HIV-seropositive couples in whom both members were tested, 124 (90%) were sexual unions between two antibody-positive partners, illustrating the high efficiency of the heterosexual transmission of HIV. A comparison of these 124 couples with 150 HIV-seronegative couples showed that, in the husbands, seropositivity is significantly associated with sexual contacts with prostitutes and history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) within the past 2 years. Seropositive wives were less likely to be in their first marriage and reported more episodes of STD than seronegative ones. Seropositive couples were similar to seronegatives in their history of blood transfusion, male circumcision and overall use of contraception but not in their use of oral contraceptive pills, which was more frequent; they were more often in polygamous unions. Discriminant analysis showed that STD, sexual contacts with prostitutes and the number of previous unions are the most powerful independent variables associated with the seropositivity of the couples. Most of the risk factors for the couples were the risk factors for the husband, suggesting that in most cases the husband acquired the HIV infection and passed it to his wife.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Tyramine pressor effect in man: studies with moclobemide, a novel, reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor.
The pressor effect of tyramine (TYR) administered i.v. and orally was measured in healthy volunteers during treatment with different therapeutic doses of moclobemide, a new, reversible, preferential type A monoamine oxidase inhibitor. With moclobemide 3 X 100 mg/day the systolic blood pressure (SBP) increase produced by TYR administered i.v. was potentiated 2.4-fold and that in response to TYR p.o. in the fasting state was increased 4.1-fold, as determined from equieffective TYR doses before and during moclobemide treatment. Peak concentrations of free TYR in plasma after oral doses of TYR were increased 2.6-fold, and a 2.5-fold smaller plasma TYR concentration produced the same SBP rise as before moclobemide treatment. No SBP increase was observed at plasma TYR concentrations below 20 ng/ml or after p.o. TYR does smaller than 80 mg. The potentiation of the pressor effect of i.v. TYR by single moclobemide doses up to 300 mg had disappeared 24 hrs after moclobemide administration. Peak TYR plasma concentration and concomitant SBP increments were considerably smaller when TYR was administered with a meal than when administered as a bolus with tap water, 2.1 times higher oral TYR doses being required to achieve similar peak TYR plasma concentration as in the fasting condition. The pressor effect of TYR was further, but only slightly, increased during treatment with moclobemide 3 x 200 mg/day, however SBP rises were again significantly smaller when TYR was given together with a meal. In contrast, tranylcypromine produced a 20 to 40-fold potentiation of the pressor effect of oral TYR and this potentiation was only slightly smaller when TYR was given with a meal. In conclusion the potentiation by moclobemide of the pressor response to oral TYR corresponds roughly to a fourfold left shift of the TYR dose-pressor response curve and is about 10 times less marked than after tranylcypromine. In real life situations, the ingestion of TYR in amounts less than 100 mg is highly unlikely to produce a clinically relevant blood pressure elevation.
Adult↗
In vitro anti-Leishmanial activity of compounds in current clinical use for unrelated diseases.
Drugs in current clinical use were tested for anti-Leishmania activity using an in vitro infected macrophage assay. Out of almost 400 compounds tested, over 100 were active. The most active compounds showed ED50 values below 1 microM concentration. It is concluded that the active compounds should receive testing in the in vivo system. In addition they will act as lead compounds for further synthetic programmes.
Animals↗
Treatment of acute serum sickness by plasma ultrafiltration.
The clinical value of a scaled-down prototype of an extracorporeal plasma ultrafiltration system for the treatment of acute serum sickness in rabbits was examined. The system uses two filters: the primary separates red cells from plasma, and the secondary filter excludes high molecular weight proteins from plasma. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the secondary filters rejected substantially more IgM (80-90%) than IgG (10-30%) or albumin (10%) and totally rejected immune complexes (IC) prepared in vitro. Two groups of rabbits were submitted to either sham filtration with the primary filter only (n = 5), receiving back the remixed components of their blood, or to the complete ultrafiltration protocol (n = 7), with removal of high molecular weight proteins and IC. Several parameters were studied longitudinally, such as circulating IC, which appeared to rise more slowly in animals whose blood was ultrafiltered, and total proteinuria, which appeared to remain at lower levels in the same animals. Histologic examination of the kidneys, collected after killing, showed evidence of glomerular IC deposition in three of five sham-treated animals (a similar frequency to that observed in a separate group of five rabbits with acute serum sickness), while one of six treated animals had evidence of glomerular deposition of IC. These observations are tentative because of the small number of animals in each group, but are encouraging. Further studies with larger groups of animals are needed to determine whether the observed effects are reproducible and to better characterize the factors directly related to the removal of circulating IC.
Acute Disease↗
The detection of psychiatric morbidity and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Eighty-six patients with a confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis were surveyed to assess the extent of psychiatric morbidity as indicated by two screening questionnaires, the General Health Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. In addition to an investigation of the concordance of the screening questionnaires, a description of demographic characteristics and measures of disability were taken. Disability due to arthritis was indicated by measures of years of chronicity, pain, duration of morning stiffness, functional level, active treatment involvement, and presence of coexisting medical problems. The relationship of physical symptoms to level of psychiatric distress was investigated. Psychiatric cases were identified using recommended cut off scores on results of the screening questionnaires. GHQ cut off scores of 6/7 identified as "cases" 31.8% of the sample. HADS subscale cut off scores of 8/9 identified 21.4% of subjects with "anxiety" and 19.0% with "depression" scores in the morbid range. Nineteen percent of patients were found to have scores on both tests concurrently in the pathological range.
Adult↗
Nuclear peptides from calf liver: large scale isolation and fractionation; control of gene expression in cell-free systems, and inhibition of growth of cells in culture.
DNA and nuclear RNA fractions contain small peptides (mol. wt. 600-1500) attached noncovalently. A large scale isolation procedure was developed for the extraction of such peptides directly from the lysed nuclei. Further purification and fractionation was performed with the chromatography on Sephadex, silica gel and H.P.L.C. C18 reverse phase columns. H.P.L.C. fractionation yielded eleven peaks. The peptides are rich in serine, glycine, alanine and acidic amino acids. They do not contain sulfur-containing amino acids. Only occasionally tyrosine, phenyalanine, histidine, arginine, and very moderate amount of lysine are found. These peptides are active in inhibiting gene expression in cell-free systems and incorporation of labeled thymidine in L 1210 murine leukemic cell culture. Thorough and exhaustive analysis demonstrated that the isolated peptides are not degradative products of histone or nonhistone chromosomal proteins.
Amino Acids↗
Thrombolytic therapy in catheter-related subclavian venous thrombosis.
A 57-year-old woman presented with swelling of her left arm. She had had an indwelling Hickman infusion catheter for five months. Venography demonstrated subclavian vein thrombosis which was successfully treated using a low-dose streptokinase infusion into the involved catheter over a 20-hour period. No complications related to embolic disease were observed during the treatment period or during six months of follow-up.
Catheters, Indwelling↗
Verapamil: a new antimanic drug with potential interactions with lithium.
Verapamil is a calcium channel blocking agent with possible antimanic properties. In two elderly manic patients taking the medication in combination with lithium carbonate, profound bradycardia developed and was followed by a fatal myocardial infarction in one case. Clinical implications and possible mechanisms of cardiovascular interactions between verapamil and lithium are discussed. Caution is advised in the use of lithium and verapamil together.
Aged↗
Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) poisoning and congestive heart failure in cattle.
Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea), when fed to calves at high elevations, increased the prevalence and severity of congestive heart failure. Forced exercise did not increase the prevalence of congestive heart failure, but it did increase severity. Calves consuming locoweed at high elevations developed signs and gross lesions of congestive heart failure and microscopic lesions of congestive heart failure and locoweed poisoning. Calves fed locoweed at low elevations developed only signs and lesions of locoweed poisoning.
Altitude↗
The major neutral proteinase of Entamoeba histolytica.
FPLC anion-exchange and chromatofocusing chromatography were used to purify the major neutral proteinase from secretions of axenically cultured Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. HM-1 strain trophozoites, which were more proteolytically active than the less virulent HK-9 strain, were used for purification of the enzyme. It is a thiol proteinase with a subunit Mr of approximately 56,000, a neutral pH optimum, and a pI of 6. The importance of this enzyme in extraintestinal amoebiasis is suggested by its ability to degrade a model of connective tissue extracellular matrix as well as purified fibronectin, laminin, and type I collagen. The enzyme caused a loss of adhesion of mammalian cells in culture, probably because of its ability to degrade anchoring proteins. Experiments with a peptide substrate and inhibitors indicated that the proteinase preferentially binds peptides with arginine at P-1. It is also a plasminogen activator, and could thus potentiate host proteinase systems.
Animals↗
Calcium antagonists in mania: a double-blind study of verapamil.
Five of seven acutely manic patients improved significantly when taking verapamil but not placebo in a double-blind crossover study. This finding adds support to two other formal studies of verapamil, several case reports of verapamil in manic patients, and one small study of nifedipine suggesting that some calcium antagonists may have antimanic properties. Indirect evidence links this antimanic action to correction of a disturbance of intracellular calcium dynamics in affective disorders. However, the effectiveness of calcium antagonist drugs could also be related to some property other than interference with the action of calcium within brain neurons.
Adult↗
An association between chronic neutrophilic leukaemia and multiple myeloma with a study of cobalamin-binding proteins.
Two patients are described who had evidence of both multiple myeloma and chronic neutrophilic leukaemia at or near the time of presentation. Descriptions of five similar patients were found in the literature supporting an association between the two disorders. This association is further evidence of a link between myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorders. Cobalamin-binding studies of the plasma and neutrophils from one of these patients showed a gross elevation of plasma unsaturated TC I and abnormal neutrophils which contained TC I but not TC III.
Aged↗
Clinical comparison of a new automated infrared blood culture system with the BACTEC 460 system.
A new blood culture instrument, the BACTEC (Johnston Laboratories, Inc., Towson, Md.) NR-660, which utilizes infrared detection of carbon dioxide from microbial metabolism, was compared with the radiometric BACTEC 460 system. There were 1,554 isolates from 18,785 paired aerobic blood cultures. Of these isolates, 1,303 were isolated from the radiometric 6B medium, and 1,259 were isolated from the NR6A medium (P = 0.06). Analysis of the data indicated no significant differences in recovery when any individual species was considered. When organisms were considered as groups, there were no significant detection differences for gram-negative bacilli, yeasts, or anaerobes. For gram-positive cocci in aerobic medium, the BACTEC 460 detected 84.3% of the total isolates, and the BACTEC NR-660 detected 79.7% (P = 0.04). There were 891 isolates from 13,983 paired anaerobic blood cultures. Of these isolates, 725 were recovered from the radiometric 7D BACTEC medium, and 723 were recovered from the NR7A BACTEC medium (P greater than 0.9). In the anaerobic media there was no significant difference in detection of any organism group, including the gram-positive cocci. When the results of the aerobic and anaerobic media were combined, there was equivalence between the two systems for the detection of gram-positive cocci (P greater than 0.2) and other organism groups. When the ability to detect septic episodes was compared, there was no significant difference for any organism group (P = 0.12). For aerobic media, the mean times for detection were 30.5 and 29.5 h for the BACTEC 460 and NR-660, respectively. For anaerobic media, the mean times for detection were 39.8 and 41.6 h for the BACTEC 460 NR-660, respectively. Compared with the BACTEC 460, the BACTEC NR-660 system had a greater ease of operation, faster test cycle, computerized data base, and equally rapid detection of positive cultures.
Bacteria↗