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Biomedical subjects

V Herbert

Publications and source records attributed to V Herbert.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Folic acid deficiency in the United States: folate assays in a prenatal clinic.

Tissue deficiency of folic acid, as measured by a red cell folate level below 150 ng. per milliliter, was present in 16 per cent of 110 sequential pregnant women at the time of their first prenatal visit to a municipal clinic. A further 14 per cent of subjects had red cell folate levels in the range "suggestive but not conclusive for tissue folate depletion" (150 to 199 ng. per milliliter). All of the subjects were from low-income families in New York City and most were black or of Puerto Rican origin. Serum folate levels showed good general correlation with red cell folate but were of less value as a diagnostic test, since they were below the lower limit of normal in 64 per cent of subjects, including many subjects who did not yet have low tissue folate. In contrast to their value in other folate deficiency states, neutrophil lobe counts showed no correlation with serum or red cell folate levels in pregnancy and thus appeared of little diagnostic value in pregnancy. It is suggested that surveys of folate deficiency in other pregnant population groups in the United States be carried out. These results support the recommendations of the Committee on Maternal Nutrition and the Committee on Dietary Allowances of the Food and Nutrition Board, National Research Council (U.S.A.) that folic acid supplements (200 to 400 mug per day) should be taken throughout pregnancy.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1975

Measurement of unsaturated ""granulocyte-related'' (TC I and TC III) and ""liver-related'' (TC II) B12 binders by instant batch separation using a microfine precipitate of silica (QUSO G32).

A microfine precipitate of silica (Quso G32) almost instantly quantitatively adsorbs the polypeptide transcobalamin II from serum without adsorbing the glycoproteins transcobalamins I and III. This provides a simple, rapid, and reproducible method for the measurement of the granulocyte-related transcobalamins I and III and the liver-related transcobalamin II in serum, and is also applicable to their purification, and the separation and purification of other polypeptide-glycoprotein mixtures.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1974

Studies on derivation of transcobalamin 3 from granulocytes. Enhancement by lithium and elimination by fluoride of in vitro increments in vitamin B12-binding capacity.

Unsaturated vitamin B(12)-binding capacity (UBBC) of human serum is not reproducibly measurable because it increases variably in vitro in relation to time, temperature, and, in the case of plasma, anticoagulant present before removal of cells. This variable increase proved to be due to variable release in vitro of transcobalamin III (TC III) from granulocytes. UBBC increase was greatest (up to fourfold normal levels) in the presence of lithium, which is the heparin salt used in many laboratories doing UBBC studies. In vitro increase was least when blood was collected in EDTA at 0 degrees C and immediately centrifuges at 0 degrees C (T(0) sample); results equivalent to T(0) were obtained at room temperature even after several hours delay when 47 mM fluoride was present; either cold temperature or 47 mM fluoride appeared to prevent TC III release from granulocytes. The measured levels of the three transcobalamins with T(0) methods of collection, which presumably reflect most closely the in vivo circulating levels, suggest that TC I and TC III in normal plasms are of the same order of magnitude and together normally comprise less than 10% of the UBBC. Approximately 90% of the UBBC content of sonicates of peripheral blood granulocytes and of bone marrow aspirates of normal individuals appears to be TC III, with the rest being TC I. Thus, normal myelocytes, like normal granulocytes, appear to contain mainly TC III. No TC II was present in any of the sonicates. The general practice in most laboratories has been to determine serum UBBC. Because in vitro increments of up to 119% were found to occur in serum, this practice should be replaced by collection using methods that prevent such increments. Blood collected in EDTA-47 mM NaF had a stable, reproducible UBBC with no significant in vitro increment with time.EDTA-NaF UBBC was 640+/-168 (range 380-921 pg B(12) bound/ml plasma) for 12 normal adult men and 809+/-232 (range 505-1208) for normal adult women. It presumably approximates circulating UBBC and is substantially below the serum UBBC mean of 935+/-262 (range 611-1506 for the same 12 men) and 1273+/-355 (range 811-2306 for the same 10 women).

Adult↗