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Biomedical subjects

A Freeman

Publications and source records attributed to A Freeman.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Is selective therapy of recurrent nephrolithiasis possible?

We evaluated, in 128 patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis, the efficacy of special treatment programs for some of the common causes of nephrolithiasis, chosen on the basis of their ability to correct underlying physicochemical and physiologic derangements. Therapy included sodium cellulose phosphate for 18 patients with absorptive hypercalciuria, thiazide diuretics for 27 patients with absorptive hypercalciuria and for 10 with renal hypercalciuria, orthophosphate for eight patients with hypophosphatemic absorptive hypercalciuria, allopurinol for 21 patients with hyperuricosuric calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, thiazide and allopurinol for 26 patients with absorptive hypercalciuria with hyperuricosuria, and high fluid intake and/or low calcium diet for 22 patients with normocalciuric nephrolithiasis. Patients in all seven groups had a significant reduction in stone formation during 1.70 to 3.37 years of treatment, as compared with the pretreatment period of three years. Remission was found in 70 to 91 percent of patients and reduced stone formation rate was encountered in 88 to 100 percent. Each treatment program produced a significant decline in stone formation rate from 1.90 to 2.28 stones per year to 0.09 to 0.55 stones per year. The actual number of stones formed during treatment was significantly lower than the number predicted from the pretreatment frequency of stone formation (less than 26 percent). The results provide evidence supporting a selective approach to therapy of nephrolithiasis.

Allopurinol↗

Laminin and fibronectin in cell adhesion: enhanced adhesion of cells from regenerating liver to laminin.

Laminin, a basement membrane glycoprotein isolated from cultures of mouse endodermal cells and rat yolk sac carcinoma cells, promoted the attachment of liver cells obtained from regenerating mouse liver. Cells from normal mouse liver attached readily to dishes coated with fibronectin but attached poorly to surfaces coated with laminin. Both proteins efficiently promoted the attachment of cells from livers undergoing regeneration. After regeneration, the attachment to laminin returned to the low levels found in animals not subjected to partial hepatectomy but attachment to fibronectin remained high. Immunofluorescent staining of sections of normal liver with antilaminin revealed the presence of laminin in or adjacent to the walls of the bile ducts and blood vessels. After induction of regeneration by partial hepatectomy, increased amounts of laminin appeared in the sinusoidal areas. After carbon tetrachloride poisoning, staining for laminin was especially pronounced in the necrotic and postnecrotic areas around the central veins. This additional expression of laminin was transient. It reached a maximum around 5--6 days after the injury and then gradually disappeared. These findings show that laminin is an adhesive protein. The increase of laminin in regenerating liver and the adhesiveness of cells from such livers to laminin suggest a role for laminin in the maintenance of a proper tissue organization during liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Incidence of parasitic infestation in black children at Livingstone Hospital.

This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of protozoa and helminthic ova in faecal samples of Black children attending Livingstone Hospital. Specimens were collected from 100 children who presented with, inter alia, a history of worms in the stool or vomitus. Controls consisted of a further 100 patients selected at random who did not have a history of passing worms and whose symptoms were not directly attributable to parasite infestation, e.g. wheezing chest, bloody stools. Results indicate that 66% of the random group were infested compared with 76% of the suspect group. Trichuris trichiuria and Ascaris lumbricoides were the commonest parasites found.

Black or African American↗

Intestinal ascariasis: new plain film features.

Radiographs from 30 children with intestinal obstruction caused by a bolus of Ascaris worms were analyzed. Worms could be seen outlined against intestinal gas; the interface between worm bolus and adjacent gas shadows was irregular. Gas trapped within the worm bolus had irregular outlines. There were also fine linear radiolucent shadows and small bubbles. Fluid levels were sometimes distorted by a projecting worm bolus, resulting in a hump effect. Some of the radiolucencies were within the worms. These features were used in an analysis of radiographs from 68 children who did not have bolus obstruction. Of 44 children with proven ascariasis, 28 (64%) had suggestive radiologic features. In four of 24 children without Ascaris ova in the stools, confusion with fecal shadows resulted in a false-positive diagnosis on the radiographs. Recognition of the worm infestation in asymptomatic patients is important because intestinal malabsorption may contribute to nutritional deficiency.

Animals↗

Isonitrile derivatives of polysaccharides as supports for the covalent fixation of proteins and other ligands.

A method for the introduction of side chains containing isonitrile (isocyanide, functional group) on the backbone of polysaccharides and other hydroxylic polymers was developed. The method was based on (a) ionization of some of the hydroxyl groups on the polymer by treatment with a strong base (tert-butoxide) in a polar aprotic solvent (dimethylsulfoxide), and (b) introduction of side chains containing isonitrile groups by nucleophilic attack of the polymeric alkoxide ions on a low molecular weight isonitrile containing a good leaving group in the omega-position, (1-tosyl-3-isocyanopropane). By this method, the side chains containing the-NC functional groups are attached to the polymeric backbone via stable ether bonds. The isonitrile derivatives of cellulose, linear and cross-linked dextran and cross-linked agarose utilized for the covalent fixation of high and low molecular weight ligands by four-component reactions carried out in aqueous medium, at neutral pH.

Cellulose↗

Hypercalcemia complicating childhood malignancies: a report of seven cases with some pathophysiological considerations.

A group of seven children with different malignant processes presenting with hypercalcemia was studied. Bone destruction, diffuse metabolic abnormalities, abnormal acid-base homeostasis and recurrent hypercalcemia characterized these patients. A different mechanism leading to the production of hypercalcemia and/or bone destruction by cancer cells is considered. The results of this report suggest that parathyroid hormone production (P.T.H.) by the parathyroid glands is normal and that ectopic secretion of PTH or PTH-like material is negligible in these cases.

Acid-Base Imbalance↗

Multilayer immobilized-enzyme filter reactors: urease bound to nylon fabric filters.

Urease was bound to commercially available nonwoven nylon fabric filters. Multilayer immobilized-enzyme filter reactors were constructed by packing varying numbers of urease-nylon filters in a column. Owing to the relatively open structure and high mechanical strength of the filter fabric, compaction and pressure drop effects were minimal. The reactors could be operated in a wide range of substrate concentrations and flow rates under conditions where mass-transfer limitations could be neglected. The kinetic behavior of the immobilized-enzyme filter reactors could be described by a linear form of the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation using a model based on the sequential action of the enzyme filters.

Acrylamides↗

Remission induction in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: comparison of a seven-day and ten-day infusion of cytosine arabinoside in combination with adriamycin.

Forty-six previously untreated patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were treated with a remission induction regimen consisting of three daily doses of Adriamycin (30 mg/m2/day) and a ten-day continuous infusion of cytosine arabinoside (ara C) (100 mg/m2/day). The overall remission rate was 72%, with 88% of the patients less than 50 and 62% of patients greater than 50 years old achieving complete remission status. Thirty-one of the 33 complete remissions occurred after a single course of chemotherapy. Retrospective comparison of this regimen with its predecessor (identical, except that a seven-day infusion of ara C was administered) demonstrated that the increase in duration of ara C administration resulted in greater antileukemic effectiveness without an increase in hematologic toxicity to the patient.

Adolescent↗

Cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster virus infection in subjects with lymphoma or leukemia.

Normal subjects and patients with lymphoma or leukemia were tested for the levels of lymphocytes, E-rosette--forming T-cells, serum and vesicle fluid interferon, and specific in vitro proliferative response to varicella-zoster antigen after clinical varicella or herpes zoster illness. The effect of polyinosinic acid/polycytidilic acid on the immune response was also evaluated. The development of VZ specific cell-mediated response in normal subjects was characterized by intense proliferative activity eight to ten days after the onset of illness, with significant decline 70 to 80 days later. The responses in subjects with lymphoma or leukemia were much lower. Few subjects with chickenpox or zoster with lymphoma or leukemia died during the infection. Death was associated with significant depletion of E-rosette--forming T-cells, and grossly deficient specific cellular response to VZ antigen. Treatment with Poly IC frequently induced elevations in serum as well as vesicle fluid interferon levels, and increased the proliferative activity of lymphocytes against VZ antigen.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: use of anthracycline-cytosine arabinoside induction therapy and comparison of two maintenance regimens.

Patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were given remission induction therapy consisting of cytosine arabinoside and an anthracycline. Those patients who experienced complete remission received two courses of consolidation therapy and were randomized to receive maintenance therapy consisting of either daily chemotherapy with reinforcements every 3 mo or reinforcement therapy only every 6 wk. The overall complete remission rate was 66%, with 80% complete remission for previously untreated patients less than 60 yr of age who did not have a prior history of malignancy. Remission durations were the same for patients treated with both maintenance regimens. The major determinant for successful remission induction therapy was patient age, with older patients frequently succumbing to intercurrent infection. Documented leukemic cell resistance to the therapy employed was only rarely encountered. Once remission was achieved, age was no longer a determinant of patient survival, since duration of remission was independent of age. Remission durations were directly related to leukemic cell retention of cytosine arabinoside triphosphate. Hence therapy for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia can be divided into two separate areas: remission induction and remission maintenance.

Adolescent↗

High terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity in pediatric patients with acute lymphocytic and acute myelocytic leukemias.

Specificity of TdT5 as a marker for ALL was evaluated by determining its activity in cells from normal control subjects and from 35 pediatric patients with ALL, AML, Hodgkin's disease and disseminated Burkitt's lymphoma. We evaluated the DNA polymerase activity, cell surface phenotypes (E rosettes, EAC rosettes, Smlg and la-like, HTLA and cALL antigens), and hematological and cytochemical characteristics in both the normal and patient groups. DNA polymerase alpha + beta and DNA polymerase gamma activity were indiscriminately high in all immature cells as found in ALL, AML, Burkitt's lymphoma and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated normal lymphocytes, when compared to mature leukocytes found in normal individuals or in patients whose cancer was in remission. High TdT activity was found in 24 of 26 T and non-T/non-B ALL patients in active phase as well as in two of three AML patients one of whom had Auer rods. Thus, TdT, although valuable for monitoring ALL patients, may have limitations in separating AML from ALL.

Adolescent↗

The JAVMA today.

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Periodicals as Topic↗

Vincristine, prednisone and L-asparaginase in the induction of remission in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia following relapse.

Two hundred and twenty-seven children with recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with various combinations of vincristine, prednisone, cyclophosphamide and L-asparaginase in an approach to the induction of remission. The combination of L-asparaginase 1,000 mu/kg iv q.d. x 10, vincristine 2.0 mg/m2iv q.w. x 4 and prednisone 40 mg/m2 p.o.q.d. x 28 days was found to be highly effective. The incidence of remission was 73%. No significant improvement was achieved when cyclophosphamide was added to this regimen. Various combinations of cytosine arabinoside, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, BCNU or CCNU failed to maintain remission duration for more than two or three months. Neither BCNU nor CCNU prevented the development of CNS leukemia.

Adolescent↗