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Biomedical subjects

B S Bagby

Publications and source records attributed to B S Bagby.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Effects of branched-chain amino acids on nitrogen metabolism in patients with cirrhosis.

This study was conducted to determine whether an amino acid solution enriched with branched-chain amino acids altered protein catabolic rates and plasma ammonia in patients with cirrhosis. Nine stable subjects were given two peripheral intravenous infusions: a standard amino acid solution (solution A) and a branched-chain-enriched solution containing 97% more leucine (solution B). Each solution was given for separate 9-day (group 1, n = 6) or 3-day (group 2, n = 3) periods. Amino acid solutions delivered 0.7 gm protein.kg-1.day-1. Diets provided an additional 0.3 gm protein plus maintenance calories. Protein turnover was assessed by a primed continuous infusion of [1-14C] leucine in six patients (three patients in group 1 and three patients in group 2). Nitrogen balance and urinary 3-methyl histidine excretion were determined in group 1 patients. Compared with solution A, solution B increased leucine flux and leucine oxidation but had no significant effect on protein synthesis or catabolism based on the plasma specific activity of either leucine or alpha-ketoisocaproic acid. The additional leucine infused with solution B was quantitatively oxidized. Nitrogen balance did not differ with the two solutions and there was also no difference in the urinary excretion of 3-methyl histidine, suggesting that muscle protein catabolism was unchanged. Plasma ammonia concentration decreased significantly during the infusion of solution B and was associated with a slight fall in plasma glucagon concentration. The results indicated that a branched-chain-enriched amino acid solution did not alter protein synthesis or catabolism although it did lower the plasma ammonia when compared with a standard amino acid formula in stable cirrhotic patients.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

Measurement of the amino acid metabolite of phencyclidine by selected ion monitoring.

A technique is described for the extraction and quantitation of the pentanoic acid metabolite of phencyclidine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. This compound was measured in urine samples from asymptomatic pregnant patients who used phencyclidine (PCP) and their neonates. The technique is sensitive to 25 ng ml-1 urine and standard curves were linear at 25-2000 ng ml-1. Levels in samples from asymptomatic patients were 27-1388 ng ml-1. Results suggest that the pentanoic acid metabolite could be considered as a screening marker for occasional PCP use.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1984

Phencyclidine use during pregnancy.

Phencyclidine, a frequently abused drug, has been shown to cross the placenta and may cause harmful effects in the fetus. Therefore, a prospective study was undertaken to determine the extent of phencyclidine use during pregnancy. Two thousand three hundred twenty-seven pregnant women were screened for phencyclidine use by questionnaire and enzyme-mediated immunoassay technique urine testing. Nineteen women were identified as using phencyclidine during pregnancy and 149 were past users. Women with a history of phencyclidine use were compared with a population sample of nonusers. Phencyclidine users were more likely to be white; they were also younger and of lesser parity than nonusers. The majority had a history of multiple drug abuse. Although 7.3% of the population gave a history of phencyclidine use and 0.8% were found to use the drug during pregnancy, these figures are believed to underestimate the problem.

Female↗