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Biomedical subjects

A Grace

Publications and source records attributed to A Grace.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Use of urinary lead concentration in interpretation of the EDTA mobilization test.

In young children with plumbism who receive an EDTA mobilization test (EMT), the need exists for a means of interpreting inadequate or incomplete urine collections. We evaluated the ability of urinary lead concentration (UPbC), whole blood lead (PbB) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) to predict a positive EMT ratio (greater than or equal to 0.05% of EDTA dose excreted as urine lead). The results of 58 satisfactory EMT's in a group of young (aged 1-3.5 yr) lead-poisoned children were reviewed. A strong and significant correlation was found between UPbC and mobilization ratio (r = .63, p less than 0.0001). Weaker but significant correlation was also found between PbB versus mobilization ratio (r = .45, p = 0.0007) and EP versus ratio (r = .48, p = 0.0003). These data were placed into receiver-operator curves (ROC) to determine their optimal use as discriminants between children with positive versus negative mobilization tests. Ideal ROC characteristics (optimal sensitivity and specificity) were found in the use of a UPbC greater than or equal to 1.0 mcg/ml; at this cutoff a sensitivity of .80, specificity of .89 and positive predictive value of .90 were found. ROC's for PbB and EP demonstrated poor discriminating abilities. Our results suggest that in the absence of a satisfactory urine collection, urinary lead concentration serves as an acceptable indirect indicator of mobilization ratio. A urinary lead concentration of greater than or equal to 1.0 micrograms/ml most accurately identifies children who will have a positive mobilization ratio.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1988

Recurrent tonsillitis and growth in children.

Anecdotal observations suggest an association between tonsil disease and growth retardation. This study compared height, weight and skinfold thickness measurements between a group of children (44) suffering from recurrent tonsillitis for a mean duration of 4 years, and a control group (34). No important differences were observed between the groups. Recurrent tonsil infection does not appear to retard the growth of children.

Body Height↗
PubMed1987

The hormonal and morphological events of stimulated cycles in an in vitro fertilisation programme.

A better understanding of the physiological processes involved in the stimulated cycle for successful harvesting of mature eggs in an in vitro fertilisation programme is a prerequisite for obtaining good pregnancy results. The hormonal levels of oestradiol, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone correlated with ultrasonographic studies of follicular growth, were followed during an in vitro fertilisation cycle giving an overall pregnancy rate of 32% per transfer procedure. The combined use of clomiphene citrate (Clomid; Mer-National) and human post-menopausal gonadotrophin (Pergonal; Script Intal) produces an average of 5.96 follicles per patient. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was given prior to the oestrogen peak and no spontaneous LH peak occurred before the day of the HCG injection. Timing of this injection needs to be synchronised with definite hormonal and ultrasonography values.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Phase II of a successful university-based in vitro fertilisation programme. Changes incorporated.

the ultimate goal of any clinical programme treating infertility by means of in vitro fertilisation and embryo replacement is to maximise the number of patients who become pregnant in a treatment cycle. A 12% pregnancy rate was previously reported from this unit. Following the instigation of changes and further modifications, an overall success rate of 27% per patient was obtained in phase II. The reasons for this improved success are hard to pinpoint, but experience and changes in methodology probably play a role. These changes are described and the results discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Primate in vitro fertilization research: preliminary results on the folliculogenic effects of three different ovulatory induction agents on the chacma baboon, Papio ursinus.

1. A study was conducted on the chacma baboon, Papio ursinus with three ovulation induction agents in an effort to define a preferential stimulatory protocol with regards to the number and quality of oocytes obtained. 2. Three folliculogenic agents applied in four stimulatory protocol regimens comprised clomiphene citrate in a high (100 mg/day) and low (50 mg/day) dosage, a combination of clomiphene citrate and pregnant mare serum, and human menopausal gonadotropin. 3. A total of 159 oocytes were aspirated by laparotomy from 10 baboon females in 20 induced cycles with an average of 8.0 +/- 5.4 oocytes per aspiration. 4. The highest mean number of oocytes (11.3 +/- 6.7) were obtained with the clomiphene/pregnant mare serum gonadotropin combination. 5. The best fertilization rate was obtained with clomiphene 50 mg. 6. The highest incidence of oocytic cleavage and embryo transfer were achieved with human menopausal gonadotropin (14.8%).

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Surfactant in middle ear effusions.

Evidence from animal studies suggests that substances that lower surface tension are present in the middle ear cleft, where they may facilitate opening of the eustachian tube. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not surface-tension-lowering substances are present in middle ear effusions. Aspirates from children and adults with secretory otitis media--both serous otitis media and mucoid otitis media--were analyzed by means of two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Phospholipids, the major components of pulmonary surfactant, were present in appreciable quantities in all aspirates. Differences in total phosphate content and phospholipid composition were found when effusions from adults and children were compared.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Child abuse within the ear, nose and throat.

Non-accidental injuries to the ear, nose and throat are inevitably difficult to detect because of their covert nature. A survey of 50 hospitals and all NSPCC child abuse units in England was carried out to determine the type of injuries that were inflicted to these regions in verified cases of abuse. The importance of detecting these injuries is emphasized to permit intervention and prevent escalation of injury.

Child Abuse↗
PubMed1987

The effect of swimming in chlorinated water on middle ear pressure.

This study evaluated whether an important fall in middle ear pressure (MEP) was recordable several hours after swimming. MEPs were measured in 52 normal school children on an average of four occasions immediately before swimming and "control" exercise sessions, and were repeated four hours after the activity. Twenty-nine children swam in a high chlorine concentration, with a mean free chlorine level of 2.3 parts per million, and 23 children swam in a low chlorine environment, with a mean concentration of 0.4 parts per million. For the former there was an average decrease of 0.5 daPa after swimming and an increase of 34.7 daPa after exercise; for the latter there were increases of 13.3 and 15.6 daPa after swimming and exercise respectively. It is concluded that swimming does not adversely affect middle ear function. Exercise induces an increase in MEP, and exposure to high chlorine levels appears to cause a small reduction in middle ear pressure.

Child↗
PubMed1986

Diagnostic changes in plasma creatine kinase isoforms early after the onset of acute myocardial infarction.

Conventional plasma isoenzyme and enzyme values usually are normal during the first few hours of acute myocardial infarction. Thus definitive diagnosis may be delayed. We have shown recently that infarction in dogs can be detected within 1 hr after coronary occlusion by analysis of relative activities of MM creatine kinase (CK) isoforms in plasma. Isoforms of MM CK evolve through posttranslational modifications in plasma of the form released from tissue (MMA) to MMB and MMC. In this study we quantified changes in isoform profiles in the first available plasma samples from patients with evolving myocardial infarction, from patients with angina, and from normal subjects. In the 26 control subjects, the ratio of MMA to MMC was 1.09 +/- 0.4 (SE) (range 0.31 to 3.1; upper limit of normal [defined as the mean plus 2 SD] 2.5). In the seven control patients with coronary artery disease, the ratio of MMA to MMC was 1.3 +/- 0.3 with a range of 0.5 to 2.5. In contrast, among the 28 patients with acute myocardial infarction, the ratio of MMA to MMC in the first available plasma sample averaged 14.6 +/- 4.5 (p less than .01 compared with both control groups). First available samples were obtained 3.9 +/- 0.4 hr after the onset of pain. In 24 of 28 patients (86%) the ratio of MMA to MMC was greater than 2.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Complete nucleotide sequence of dog heart creatine kinase mRNA: conservation of amino acid sequence within and among species.

Creatine kinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2) plays an important role in energy metabolism in brain and muscle. Expression of CK isoenzymes is regulated during development and is tissue specific. To define the structures of canine CK isoenzymes and to elucidate the mechanism of regulation in their expression, CK cDNA clones from dog myocardium were isolated. Myocardial CK mRNA is predicted to encode a protein of 381 amino acids. The nontranslated regions of the mRNA comprise at least 38 bases at the 5' end and exactly 345 bases before the poly(A) tail. Partial protein sequences of dog muscle (M) CK and brain (B) CK subunits were determined and compared with the derived amino acid sequence of the myocardial enzyme and of M CK subunits of other species. The M CK subunits from different species share a very high degree (83-96%) of sequence identity. Dog M and B subunits share extensive sequence identity (74%), a degree of similarity not previously suspected. Southern blot analysis suggests that a CK gene family exists. These observations imply that evolutionary changes in the M CK subunit structure are constrained by the need for preservation of functional properties other than the kinase activity. This conservation is consistent with the possibility that the M subunit plays a structural role in cardiac and skeletal muscle.

Animals↗