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Biomedical subjects

Y B Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to Y B Gordon.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Circulating levels of pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein in early pregnancy.

Circulating levels of pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1 or PSbetaG), luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) were measured serially in 9 subjects immediately after conception. Ovulation occurred spontaneously in 3 subjects, or followed administration of clomiphene citrate (2 subjects) or bromocriptine (4 subjects). The timing of ovulation was determined by the appearance of the LH surge. Levels of HCG were detected 10 to 16 days, and SP1, 18 to 23 days after ovulation. These findings suggest that the measurement of plasma levels of SP1 may provide valuable additional biochemical evidence of pregnancy.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

alpha-Fetoprotein levels in pregnancies complicated by gastrointestinal abnormalities of the fetus.

alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) levels have been measured in maternal serum and amniotic fluid in a variety of gastrointestinal abnormalities of the fetus. Maternal serum AFP levels were consistently elevated in abdominal wall defects of the fetus after 15 weeks gestation and the amniotic fluid levels were raised in 3 of the 4 patients measured. In atresia of the gastrointestinal tract and diaphragmatic hernia, serum AFP levels were usually normal unless there was an associated neural tube defect or multiple pregnancy, although the majority were not measured between 15 and 26 weeks gestation. If elevated amniotic fluid levels of AFP are used in the decision to terminate pregnancy on the assumption of a probable neural tube defect of the fetus, a proportion of terminations will be performed because of abdominal wall defects of the fetus.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Screening for fetal neural tube defects by maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein determination.

A total of 5539 consecutive pregnant patients at three maternity units in the City and Hackney District of London were screened for fetal neural tube defect by measurement of maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. Only 25-7% of women booked at 16 to 22 weeks, the optimum time for this screening test; 54-1% booked before 16 weeks and 20-2% after 22 weeks. Of the women tested before 23 weeks, 300 had elevated levels of AFP in plasma and 14 of them had fetuses with abnormalities known to cause a rise in AFP levels (12 fetuses had a neural tube defect and 2 had alimentary tract abnormalities). Of women examined before 23 weeks, half of those with twin pregnancies had elevated levels of plasma AFP as did 16-7% of those who ultimately had a spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Circulating levels of pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein and human placental lactogen in the third trimester of pregnancy: their relationship to parity, birth weight, and placental weight.

Circulating levels of pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1) and human placental lactogen (HPL) were measured in 153 normal subjects during the third trimester of pregnancy. The levels of SP1 and HPL showed a skewed distribution and rose progressively to reach a plateau by the 36th week. The normal range was calculated by ranking the data and division into centiles as well as by logarithmic transformation of the values. A low but significant correlation was observed between SP1 and HPL levels, SP1 and birth weight. There was also a correlation between HPL levels and placental weight.

Birth Weight↗

Amniotic fluid levels of fibrin(ogen) degradation fragment E and alpha-fetoprotein in normal pregnancy and with fetal neural tube defect.

Amniotic fluid levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and fibrin(ogen) degradation fragment E (FgE) were measured in 214 normal subjects and 27 pregnancies associated with an abnormal fetus (open neural tube defect or exomphalos). AFP levels showed no overlap between the normal and abnormal groups, thus confirming the reliability of the AFP assay in the detection of these abnormalities. FgE levels however showed considerable overlap and could not be used as a diagnostic parameter. Agarose gel chromatography of the amniotic fluid revealed the presence of large molecular weight FgE related antigen in open neural tube defect suggesting that leakage of proteins from exposed capillaries is responsible for the elevation of amniotic fluid protein levels.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Circulating levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation fragment E measured by radioimmunoassay in pre-eclampsia.

Levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products have been measured by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay in pregnancies associated with pre-eclampsia or essential hypertension. The incidence of elevated levels was low (2-4%) in mild and moderate cases, and rather higher (30%) in severe cases. In no patients were the levels consistently elevated prior to the onset of clinical signs.

Female↗

Conditions for collection of serum samples for the measurement of fibrin(ogen) degradation products by radioimmunoassay of fragment E.

A number of conditions have been assessed for the collection of serum samples for the measurement of fibrin(ogen) degradation products using a radioimmunoassay for degradation fragment E, which permits precise quantitation of differences. Blood should be collected using minimal venous occlusion into glass tubes containing 10 mg/ml of epsilon amino caproic acid and allowed to clot at 4 to 20 degrees C for at least 4 hours before centrifugation. The serum may be stored at 4 or -20 degrees C. Samples from patients receiving anticoagulant therapy should be treated with 10 IU of thrombin per ml.

Aminocaproates↗

Levels of alpha-fetoprotein in maternal blood as a screening test for fetal neural-tube defect.

A range has been established for maternal plasma-alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) levels in normal pregnancies (930 women). A.F.P. levels between 10 and 40 weeks gestation were examined in 51 pregnancies associated with fetal neural-tube defect. In 96% of cases (20 anencephalus, 6 spina bifida) examined between 16 and 26 weeks of gestation A.F.P. levels were above the 95th centile of the normal range. It is suggested that measurement of A.F.P. in maternal blood should become a screening test in all pregnancies, and a scheme for the futher investigation of patients with abnormal results is described.

Anencephaly↗

The influence of beta-adrenergic blockade upon baseline blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activity and upon the responses to venous occlusion.

Twenty volunteers were assessed for baseline coagulation (Thrombelastography, Factor VIII and platelet count) and fibrinolytic (Euglobulin Lysis Time and Fibrin(ogen) Degradation Products) activity two hours after ingestion of 60 mgm propranolol or an identical placebo administered on a double blind basis. The responses of these parameters to a fifteen minute period of venous occlusion was also assessed. Beta adrenergic blockade reduced baseline FDP titres but did not affect other parameters, nor the local response to venous occlusion. During occlusion no significant change in coagulation activity could be detected in the non-occluded arm, but a small but statistically significant shortening of ELT was observed. Since this effect was prevented by propranolol it is probably mediated through adrenergic mechanisms. Adrenergic stimuli appear to influence episodes of coagulation and fibrinolysis during everyday activity, but do not contribute to baseline levels of coagulation or fibrinolytic function.

Adult↗

Serum fibrin(ogen) degradation products in diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after hip surgery.

Levels of fibrin(ogen) degradation products (F.D.P.) have been measured by radioimmunoassay for degradation product E (FgE) and by tanned-red-cell haemagglutination-inhibition immunoassay (T.R.C.H.I.I.) in the serum of thirty-three patients undergoing total hip replacement. Levels of F.D.P. did not correlate with thermographic evidence of deep-venous thrombosis. However, in 34 patients with pulmonary embolism, levels of F.D.P. measured by the T.R.C.H.I.I. were transiently raised at the time of embolus, and FgE concentrations were increased for up to 5 days preceding the embolus. Since the measurments of FgE is simple, convenient, and cheap, this estimation might constitute a valuable screening test for major thromboembolic episodes in the postoperative period.

Aged↗

A comparison between radioimmunoassay and other immunological techniques for the measurement of fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products in serum.

Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP) have been measured in serum by radioimmunoassay for fragment E (FgE), one of the terminal fragments in plasmic digestion of fibrinogen, and the results compared with those determined by both a tanned red cell haemagglutination inhibiton immunoassay (TRCHII) and a latex particle agglutination inhibition immunoassay. The detection limit of the FgE assay was 0.8 ng/ml, that of TRCHII was 625 ng/ml and the latex particle agglunitaion inhibition immunoassay was 10 mug/ml. All the samples measured had detectable levels of FDP with the FgE assay, whereas only 88% were measurable with the TRCHII and 2% by the latex particle agglutination inhibition immunoassay. A comparison of those samples giving a positive result with both the TRCHII and FgE assay showed overall agreement between the results of the two types of assay, but there was considerable scatter of FgE levels at each point of the TRCHII. The major advantages of the radioimmunoassay system are greater sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Coagulation changes during the steady state in homozygous sickle-cell disease in Jamaica.

Coagulation studies were carried out in 117 Jamaicans with homozygous sickle-cell disease in the steady state, and 40 local controls. The patients had significantly higher factor-VIII levels, higher platelet counts, lower factor-V and plasminogen levels, shorter thrombin times and higher serum fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) than the control group. The low factor-V and plasminogen levels, and high FDP levels, might be explained by activation of the coagulation system and continuous clot lysis even in the absence of painful crisis. The high factor-VIII levels and short thrombin times found in these patients could not be explained.

Adult↗

The development of radioimmunoassays for fibrinogen degradation products: fragments D and E.

Fibrinogen degradation products, fragment D (FgD) and fragment E (FgE) have been measured in human serum by specific radioimmunoassays. In addition, the appearance of a neoantigenic determinant on FgD, revealed when fibrinogen is degraded by plasmin has been utilized to develop a specific radioimmunoassay for FgD in plasma (FgDneo). The reagents and conditions used in each assay are described in detail. The mean specific activity was 144 muCi/mug for 125I-labelled FgE and 82 muCi/mug for 125I-labelled FgD. Separation of antibody bound and free antigen was achieved using second antibody. The detection limits of the FgE, FgD and FgDneo assays were 0.8, 1.0 and 6.2 ng/ml respectively. The specificity of each assay with respect to fibrinogen and its degradation fragments has been assessed. Fibrinogen and fragment X cross-reacted markedly in both the FgE and FgD assays, whereas the cross-reaction of fibrinogen was abolished in the FgDneo assay, while the cross-reaction of fragment X was 10%, indicating gradual emergence of the neoantigenic site during digestion of fibriogen. The sensitivity, precision, and specificity of the radioimmunoassay systems described have major advantages over the existing procedures for the measurement of fibrinogen degradation products.

Antibody Specificity↗

Circulating levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation fragment E in normal pregnancy, and in association with intrauterine growth retardation and perinatal asphyxia.

Levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products have been measured by aspecific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for degradation fragment E (FgE) in pregnant patients. Maternal FgE levels rose from the 16th week reaching a plateau at the 36th week in normal pregnancy. There was no correlation between maternal FgE levels and maternal age, parity or the occurrence of perinatal asphyxia. A minority of patients (5 per cent) with evidence of intrauterine growth retardation showed prolonged elevation of FgE levels.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗