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Biomedical subjects

G M Berlyne

Publications and source records attributed to G M Berlyne.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Tuberculosis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Tuberculosis was diagnosed in eight patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and occurred with an incidence 10 times that of the general population. Dialysis-associated tuberculosis is characterized by intermittent fever, anorexia, weight loss and hepatomegaly. Ascites was present in 50 per cent of the patients. A recently converted positive tuberculin skin test was observed in five of eight patients. Tuberculosis was extrapulmonary in seven of eight cases and consequently the diagnosis was frequently delayed. Over-all mortality was 37.5 per cent and correlated with the duration of symptoms prior to initiation of therapy. A trial of antituberculous therapy is warranted in patients undergoing dialysis in whom fever of unknown origin, anorexia, weight loss and/or hepatomegaly develop particularly in areas endemic for tuberculosis.

Adult

25 Hydroxycholecalciferol levels in Beduin women in labor and in cord blood of their infants.

25 Hydroxycholecalciferol levels were measured in eight Beduin mothers in labor and in the cord blood of their infants, and compared with values in 42 Sephardi Israeli women in labor and the cord blood of their offspring. Beduin baby cord blood had a mean 25 hydroxycholecalciferol concentration of 3.78 ng/ml +/- 3.22 (SD) being about half of their mothers' level in labor. Values in Sephardi women and cord blood were 3 times higher. PTH levels were lower and calcium concentrations were higher in cord blood (P less than 0.001) in both groups when compared to their mothers' blood. The relevance of these findings to the high incidence of infantile rickets and hyypocalcemia in Beduin children is discussed.

Calcium

Effect of hemodialysis on plasma beta thromboglobulin levels.

BTG levels are significantly elevated in patients on chronic hemodialysis. The increased levels are not due to turbulent flow within the vascular access, but may be due to platelet aggregation within the hemodialyzer during the first hour of dialysis. This effect is observed with the Travenol CF series hollow fiber (cuprophane) but not the Cordis-dow artificial kidney (regenerated cellulose).

Beta-Globulins

25-Hydroxycholecalciferol levels in camel, sheep and goat.

1. The plasma levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol were measured in female dromedary camels, female sheep and Sinai desert goats. 2. The camels had levels of 443 +/- 96 ng/ml in summer, and 267 +/- 113 ng/ml in winter. 3. The sheep had levels of 40.7 +/- 9.09 ng/ml in summer and 37.1 +/- 8.82 ng/ml in winter, i.e. roughly the same as man in that region. 4. The goats had lower levels: 23.9 +/- 5.67 ng/ml in summer.

Animals

Inadequate clearance of small molecular weight solutes during hemofiltration using Cuprophan membranes.

In a study of four patients treated with one hour of hemofiltration using Cuprophan membranes, followed by three hours of dialysis, it was found that patients will have reduced clearances of small molecular weight solutes. This may be prevented by increasing blood flow rates to compensate for the time spent in hemofiltration. Cuprophan membranes do not clear middle molecular weight solutes as well as other membranes, but fluid removal is comparable to that reported by other investigators using more porous membranes.

Adult

Reduced protein loss during hemofiltration using Cuprophan membranes.

In a study of four patients treated with one hour of hemofiltration using Cuprophan membranes, followed by three hours of hemodialysis, it was found that protein loss during hemofiltration was minimal. Losses ranged from 0.013 mg/mg at a transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 300 mmHg to 0.012 mg/ml at a TMP of 600 mmHg. Protein loss was not dependent on TMP and varied from dialyzer to dialyzer. Protein levels in serum remained unchanged during the period of hemofiltration in these patients and no evidence of protein wastage was evident.

Blood Proteins

Response of the renin-aldosterone system in the camel to acute dehydration.

Plasma renin activity (PRA), renin substrate concentration (PRS), aldosterone concentration (PA), and cortisol levels were determined in five camels during dehydration (8-10 days complete denial of water) and at timed intervals after rapid rehydration in cool spring and hot summer weather. Plasma sodium concentration increased from 138 +/- 3.7 to 147 +/- 2.5 (mean +/- SE) meq/l during spring dehydration, and from 146 +/- 1.3 to 157 +/- 1.14 meq/l during dehydration in the summer. Plasma sodium concentration returned to control levels over the course of several hours following rapid rehydration. Only minor changes in plasma potassium concentration occurred. The hormonal changes were accentuated in the summer dehydration. PRA increased slightly on dehydration, and returned to control levels over the course of several hours following rehydration. PA increased slightly on dehydration but was markedly elevated 24 h after rehydration. PRS showed a slight increase following rehydration in the spring experiment, but no significant change in the summer experiment. Changes in cortisol were insignificant. The results are consistent with a role for angiotensin and aldosterone in enhancing sodium and water reabsorption from kidney and large intestine on dehydration in this species.

Aldosterone

Plasma calcitonin in chronic renal failure: relation to other factors of importance in bivalent ion metabolism.

1. Plasma concentrations of human calcitonin were measured in groups of patients with chronic renal failure, treated either conservatively or by haemodialysis, and compared with a normal group of persons. 2. Plasma calcitonin was statistically significantly elevated in both groups with renal failure. 3. When the data from the three groups were pooled, plasma calcitonin was found to be inversely correlated with total calcium and directly correlated with plasma creatinine.

Calcitonin

Serum calcitonin and blood mineral interrelationships in normal children aged six to twelve years.

Simultaneous measurements of serum immunoreactive thyrocalcitonin (iTCT), immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase were made in 37 normal children whose ages ranged from 6-12 years. Between the ages of 6 and 12 there is a statistically significant rise in serum iTCT levels (r = 0.4638; P less than 0.01), and a fall in serum iPTH levels (r = 0.4976; P less than 0.01). There is a highly significant inverse correlation between serum iTCT and iPTH levels (r = 0.5248; P less than 0.005). Serum iTCT levels were inversely correlated with phosphate levels (r = 0.4989; P less than 0.01), the latter being age dependent and falling significantly between the ages of 6 and 12 (r = 0.4802; P less than 0.001). There was no significant relationship between serum calcium levels and iTCT, iPTH, or age. Serum magnesium levels were not correlated with calcium, iTCT, or iPTH levels.

Adult

Acid-base changes in milk and blood of rats in acidosis and alkalosis.

Lactating white rats (Rattus norvegicus) were subjected to metabolic and respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis. Before and during the various treatments, the acid-base status of heart blood and milk was determined. Acute metabolic acidosis lowered the pH of plasma and milk; Pco(2) and bicarbonate concentrations in plasma were lowered, and in milk Pco(2) was raised and the bicarbonate concentration remained unchanged. Respiratory acidosis and acetazolamide caused a drop in blood pH and in blood and milk bicarbonate concentrations; milk pH remained unchanged, but Pco(2) was raised in both plasma and milk. Acute metabolic alkalosis raised the blood pH and milk Pco(2); plasma Pco(2) and bicarbonate concentrations in blood and milk remained unchanged. The data show that greater changes occur in acid-base parameters of blood than milk when animals are exposed to acidifying and alkalinizing stimuli.

Acid-Base Equilibrium

Dialysis in renal failure casued by amyloidosis of familial Mediterranean fever. A report of ten cases.

Ten unselected patients with renal failure casued by amyloidosis associated with FMF were treated by regular hemodialysis therapy from 1969 to 1974. They were compared to age-matched control patients treated by hemodialysis in the same unit during the same period, who were suffering from renal failure caused by other disease. Mortality in FMF and control patients was 30% with no significant difference in mean survival, shunt life, serum albumin or hemoglobin levels between the two groups. There was no significant difference in blood pressure measured predialysis or postdialysis in patients with FMF or in controls. The synthetic ACTH stimulation test showed adequate or elevated adrenocortical function. It is concluded that life can be prolonged up to 3 1/2 years by hemodialysis in renal failure caused by amyloidosis complicating FMF, and that renal failure casued by FMF is not a contraindication to regular hemodialysis therapy.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone