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Biomedical subjects

E Jacob

Publications and source records attributed to E Jacob.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Growth, biochemical and haematological status of very low birth weight premature infants.

Very low birth weight (less than 1500 g) premature (less than 33/52) infants were studied while fed on Alprem for the first 10 weeks of life. After initial weight loss due to inadequate intake, weight gain was satisfactory and steady. The need for sodium and potassium exceeded the amount supplied in the milk only in the initial period. However, the serum calcium and phosphate levels were slightly decreased especially in the later period of the study, accompanied by marked elevation in alkaline phosphatase values. Alprem appears to be able to sustain adequate growth in small prematures though early sodium and potassium, and late calcium and phosphate supplements seem necessary.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1984

Quality assurance in the Third World--the Singapore experience.

This paper reviews the current status of quality assurance in clinical biochemistry laboratories in Third World countries, particularly the developments in Singapore which in some respects are very similar to those of other developing countries. Some of the common problems are highlighted and recommendations for improvement proposed.

Asia↗
PubMed1983

DNA sequence divergence in the Drosophila virilis group.

DNA sequence divergence was analyzed in some sibling species of the Drosophila virilis group. Clones comprising about 0.1% of the genome DNA were selected at random from a D. virilis library for a comparative study on DNA from D. lummei, D. novamexicana, D. borealis, and D. lacicola. Blot hybridization experiments indicated that about 70% of DNA from D. lummei and D. novamexicana and less than 50% of DNA from D. borealis and D. lacicola share sequences that are homologous to DNA in D. virilis. This finding is in excellent agreement with the genealogical tree based on cytological studies (Throckmorton 1982). - Four plasmids with inserts which are present in one or a few copies per genome were hybridized in situ to polytene chromosomes. These experiments demonstrate that (1) homologous "unique" DNA sequences are localized exclusively in homologous bands and (2) homologous bands that appear to be identical in different species may contain different DNA sequences.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Limitations of protein-coated charcoal in the separation of free from bound vitamin B12 in serum.

The effect of haemoglobin and albumin-coated charcoal on the concentration of vitamin B12 binding proteins in serum has been investigated. As commonly employed, coated charcoal removes a significant amount of transcobalamin II (TCII) from serum, but does not affect transcobalamin I and III (TCI and III). Increasing the protein coat up to about 10 mg of protein per 25 mg of charcoal reduces the adsorption of TCII, but increasing the protein concentration beyond this has little added effect. The amount of adsorption is proportional to the amount of coated charcoal employed, but even small amounts adsorb some TCII. These results indicate that protein-coated charcoal is not the ideal way of separating free from bound vitamin B12 in serum; it cannot reliably be used for the measurement of the concentration of apo-TCII but can be employed for the measurement of apo-TCI and III.

Albumins↗
PubMed1983

Role of glucose homeostatic mechanisms in viral infections.

Though normoglycaemia is thought to indicate adequacy of cellular glucose content, ketoacidosis occurs in viral infections even in the presence of normo- and hyperglycaemia. These wide variations in glucose concentrations may reflect the patients' adaptive abilities in situations where glucose transport is impaired by viruses. Hypoglycaemia would suggest poor adaptation and hyperglycaemia good adaptation. Increased free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and enzyme activity are probable adaptive mechanisms. If so, they should decrease with hyperglycaemia-producing infusions. Profiles of glucose, FFA, enzymes, and fever over 19 days in 24 children with viral infections are reported. On admission 87.5% were normo- or hyperglycaemic with increased FFA, AST, LDH, and fever (P less than 0.005) when compared with values 19 days later. With infusions that produced hyperglycaemia, there was clinical recovery with a decrease in FFA and enzyme activity. The hyperglycaemia observed in 56.5% therefore points to glucose homeostatic mechanisms being geared to maintain the intracellular milieu. Hence normoglycaemia does not always indicate cellular glucose adequacy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

The significance of type B hyperlactataemia in infective encephalopathy.

A disordered sensorium, a cardinal sign of lactic acidosis, is commonly attributed to the acidosis resulting from increased production and decreased utilization of lactate. We report hyperlactataemia in 22 children with encephalopathy following viral, rickettsial and bacterial infections. On admission there was normoglycaemia together with anion gap acidosis (p less than 0.02), hyperlactataemia (p less than 0.003), fatty acidaemia (p less than 0.004) and increased serum creatinine (p less than 0.0004) when compared to the results in convalescence. Management with two types of hyperglycaemia-producing infusions, one of them containing lactate, resulted in hyperglycaemia (p less than 0.002) from the 2nd to 4th days of admission. This was associated with a decrease in lactate, creatinine and acidosis and with clinical recovery. Infusions of either glucose or lactate would normally result in hyperlactataemia, more so if there was difficulty with lactate utilization. The fall in lactate supports the hypothesis that the hyperlactataemia is probably due to an adaptive increase in lactate production as an alternative cerebral fuel which is consequent on poor glucose utilization by brain, the cause of the encephalopathy. Additionally it leads to increased Cori cycle activity. Hence the clinical and metabolic recovery with such management.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1982

Integration and expression of a truncated simian virus 40 early gene fragment in mammalian cells.

The recombinant plasmid p102 based on pBR322 carrying approximately equal to 50% of the replicator proximal early region of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA, including the viral origin of replication, has been constructed. It lacks a major part of the large tumor (T) antigen 3'-coding region, the T-antigen termination codon, and the polyadenylylation site. The plasmid was transferred together with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene as a selectable marker to mouse LTK- cells. TK+ cell clones were isolated and their high molecular weight DNAs were shown by DNA blotting and hybridization experiments to contain the SV40 DNA fragment from the recombinant. In some of these clones, heterogeneous expression of the SV40 DNA fragment could be detected by immunofluorescence while, in control experiments in which a plasmid containing the complete SV40 early DNA region was used, this extensive heterogeneity of T-antigen expression was not observed. RNA . DNA hybridization experiments showed that the SV40-specific RNA of those clones is polyadenylylated. The molecular weight of the T-antigen-related protein coded by p102 corresponded well to the expected coding capacity of the SV40 DNA fragment. Small tumor antigen was not expressed.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The bronze baby syndrome.

Phototherapy with either daylight or blue lamps resulted in the development of the bronze baby syndrome in 13 infants. 'Thermotherapy' with an incandescent bulb emitting light mainly in wavelengths not effective for phototherapy caused this syndrome in the 14th infant with respiratory failure. Hepatic dysfunction was present in all infants. The infants were well in spite of the bronzing, after their initial condition had improved. Bronzing disappeared within two months in all but one infant; in eight infants with regular blood examination, the hepatic function became normal by ten months of age, but spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of the pigment(s) even at one year. Normal development was observed.

Bilirubin↗
PubMed1982

Common antigens of Treponema denticola: chemical, physical, and serological characterization.

A sodium deoxycholate-ethanol extractable antigen (DES-Ag) was obtained from four serotypes of Treponema denticola and characterized by chemical, physical, and serological procedures. The cross-reactivity of these antigens was demonstrated by indirect microhemagglutination, immunodiffusion, and immunoelectrophoresis with hyperimmune rabbit antiserum against each of the T. denticola serotypes. Antiserum against two nonoral treponemes, T. phagedenis biotype Reieter and T. pallidum Nichols strain, did not cross-react with the DES-Ag of T. denticola. Chemical analysis of the DES-Ag indicated that proteins (84%) and hexoses (12%) accounted for 96% of the total dry weight of the antigen. Trace amounts of N-acetylglucosamine (0.6%) were also detected. Fatty acids, including palmitic, oleic, and stearic, were identified by gas-liquid chromatography. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the DES-Ag of each serotype revealed the presence of two bands. The molecular weights of the bands were estimated to be 58,000 and 31,000 by comparing the electrophoretic mobility of the DES-Ag to that of five protein standards of known molecular weights. Although only a single precipitin line was observed by immunodiffusion when each antigen was reacted against its homologous antiserum, two precipitin lines were evident by immunoelectrophoresis. Antiserum against the DES-Ag of T. denticola was shown to agglutinate whole cells of the homologous serotype. Adsorption of this anti-DES-Ag serum with whole cells of T. denticola resulted in the elimination of precipitating antibodies to the DES-Ag by immunodiffusion. It is concluded that the DES-Ag is a component of the outer sheath of T. denticola.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Production of a T-antigen-related protein in mammalian cells after stable transformation with a cloned SV40 gene fragment.

A recombinant plasmid based on pBR322 has been constructed which carries the replicator proximal early region of SV40 DNA, including the viral origin of replication (ORI). It lacks a major part of the tumour antigen 3'-coding region, the large T-antigen termination codon and the polyadenylation site. The recombinant plasmid was transferred together with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, as a selectable marker into mouse LTK- cells. Integration and expression of the cloned SV40 gene fragment in TK+ transformants could be demonstrated by DNA restriction and blot hybridization and by immunofluorescence techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Clinical biochemistry in Singapore--past and present.

This paper traces the historical development of the practice of clinical biochemistry in Singapore and presents the current status of the special branch of laboratory medicine in the country. The rapid expansion in the field which has taken place over the last three decades, has no parallel in any other medical specialty. This has presented unique problems. The approaches taken to solve these problems are described and the following areas are highlighted: scope of biochemical investigations, research and development, methodology and instrumentation, laboratory workload, automation and computerisation, costing of laboratory service, reference values, quality control, training, education, international relations and professional activities.

Chemistry, Clinical↗
PubMed1981

[Ultrasonic modelling of bone cement - (reoperation of total hip endoprosthesis) (author's transl)].

In medicine ultrasound is very common in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, in surgery especially as so-called ultrasonic lithotripsy. Up to now experiences in bone surgery are not very successful. Bone cement (PMMA) is a thermoplastic material. Therefore results of ultrasonic lithotripsy cannot be simply transmitted. Investigations show that, because of their thermoplastic quality, the ultrasonic method may be helpful in modelling bone cement, for example in changing endoprosthesis. The preconditions for the use of high frequent oscillating probes are examined experimentally. The necessary visual distinction of bone cement and natural bone may be intensified by fluorochrome labelling of cement.

Bone Cements↗