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Biomedical subjects

I Miller

Publications and source records attributed to I Miller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Comparison of methods for measuring albumin in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients.

Serum albumin levels have been used extensively as an indicator of morbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease. Recent evidence suggests that albumin levels vary considerably in hemodialysis patients depending on the laboratory method used, but formulas for comparing albumin values by different methods have not been developed. We prospectively evaluated the effects of measuring albumin by three different methods on paired plasma and serum from 23 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and 53 patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis. Plasma and serum gave virtually identical results independent of method used. In CAPD patients, bromcresol green and nephelometry gave nearly identical albumin measurements through the entire range of plasma levels. In contrast, bromcresol purple gave values that were 9.9 percent +/- 1.3 percent lower (P < 0.05). Hemodialysis patients showed a similar pattern with close agreement between bromcresol green and nephelometry, but bromcresol purple gave lower albumin levels by 19.1 percent +/- 1.2 percent (P < 0.05). The discrepancy in albumin in CAPD patients was significantly less than in the hemodialysis patients (P < 0.05), suggesting that there were fewer interfering substances in the blood of CAPD patients than in hemodialysis patients. Linear regression analysis was used to develop simple formulas for comparing albumin values obtained by the different methods in CAPD and hemodialysis patients. These studies show that values for albumin in blood vary significantly by method of analysis in CAPD and hemodialysis patients. By the use of these formulas, it becomes possible to compare albumin values between centers using different methods for the purpose of quality management.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Sexual risk behavior among urban women of childbearing age: implications for clinical practice.

Cox's interaction model of client health behavior was used as an organizing framework to describe the demographic characteristics, motivation, problem-solving, self-esteem, and sexual risk behaviors among urban women of childbearing age (N = 125; average age = 32 years). Eighty-five percent of the women were African American. Sexual risk behaviors were defined as more than one sex partner and not using a condom. Eight women were at the highest risk in that they reported having more than one sex partner and not using condoms. Participants reported low self-esteem, intrinsic motivation, and adequate problem-solving abilities. Motivation scores were significantly different based on number of sex partners (t = 2.26, p = .03). Women with more than one partner had lower scores compared to women with only one partner. There was a significant variation in reported self-esteem among women who used condoms (t = 2.36; p = .22). Women who did not use condoms reported lower self-esteem than women who said that they used condoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Satellited 4q identified in amniotic fluid cells.

Extra material was identified on the distal long arm of a chromosome 4 in an amniotic fluid specimen sampled at 16.6 weeks of gestational age. There was no visible loss of material from chromosome 4, and no evidence for a balanced rearrangement. The primary counseling issue in this case was advanced maternal age. Ultrasound findings were normal, and family history was unremarkable. The identical 4qs chromosome was observed in cells from a paternal peripheral blood specimen and appeared to be an unbalanced rearrangement. This extra material was NOR positive in lymphocytes from the father, but was negative in the fetal amniocytes. Father's relatives were studied to verify the familial origin of this anomaly. In situ hybridization with both exon and intron sequences of ribosomal DNA demonstrated that ribosomal DNA is present at the terminus of the 4qs chromosome in the fetus, father, and paternal grandmother. This satellited 4q might have been derived from a translocation event that resulted in very little or no loss from the 4q and no specific phenotype. This derivative chromosome 4 has been inherited through at least 3 generations of phenotypically normal individuals.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1995

Forensics on wild animals: differentiation between otter and pheasant blood using electrophoretic methods.

Electrophoretic techniques were used to prove illegal hunting of a protected species as small amounts of dried blood stains could be clearly identified as of otter origin. Species differentiation between the otter (Lutra lutra) and pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) was based mainly on small differences in electrophoretic mobilities of the respective albumins and hemoglobins in one-dimensional separations. Additional differences in minor proteins of the two species were revealed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Electrophoresis thus also proved to be a valuable tool for forensic purposes.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Two-dimensional electrophoresis for the study of blood/serum proteins of the otter, an endangered species.

Studies on serum/blood samples from European otters (Lutra lutra), a species under protection in most countries, were undertaken. Building of a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) protein identification map was started, identifying serum proteins by pattern comparison with cat or human serum protein maps and by immunoblotting using cross-reacting antibodies against the respective human serum proteins. The capture of endangered species is very restricted, thus making fresh samples almost unavailable; most investigations therefore had to be performed on samples collected from animals found dead. Patterns obtained from specimens of this source were compared to the established pattern of serum proteins and of blood or liver cells. Some of the major differences observed can be explained by contamination with cellular proteins and/or the onset of lytic processes generating breakdown products, as shown by preliminary in vitro experiments. Better knowledge of "normal" serum protein patterns and interfering products will facilitate interpretation of data collected from samples with a less defined history.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Immuno-gold localization of hepatotoxins in cyanobacterial cells.

A polyclonal antibody against the potent hepatotoxic cyclic peptide microcystins and nodularins was used in conjunction with immuno-gold labelling to localize the toxins in three strains of cyanobacteria. Ultrastructurally, there were no major differences between unicellular Microcystis aeruginosa strain PCC 7820 (toxin-producing strain) and M. aeruginosa strain UTEX 2063 (non-toxin-producing strain), except that M. aeruginosa PCC 7820 cells had a sheath. The thickness of the sheath was about 12 nm and was distinguishable from the cell wall at the ultrastructural level only when the specimen was stained en bloc with uranyl acetate. Microcystins and nodularin were found in M. aeruginosa PCC 7820 and Nodularia spumigena strain L-575 respectively, but not in nontoxic M. aeroginosa UTEX 2063. In M. aeruginosa PCC 7820 cells, microcystin was found primarily in the thylakoid area and nucleoid, with smaller amounts in the cell wall and sheath. Only nonspecific labelling was found in other cellular inclusions, such as polyhedral bodies, cyanophycin granules and membrane-limited inclusions. In strain N. spumigena L-575, nodularin was found in both vegetative cells and heterocysts with a distribution similar to that in M. aeruginosa PCC 7820.

Bacterial Toxins↗
PubMed1995

Concurrent infection with sibling Trichinella species in a natural host.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of individual Trichinella muscle larvae, collected from several sylvatic and domestic animals in Estonia, revealed concurrent infection of a racoon dog with Trichinella nativa and Trichinella britovi. This finding provides strong support for their taxonomic ranking as sibling species. These 2 species appear uniformly distributed among sylvatic animals through Estonia, while Trichinella spiralis appears restricted to the domestic habitat.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Oncology education needs survey of registered nurses in Texas.

In response to the need to determine continuing education priorities in oncology nursing, the Nurse Oncology Education Program surveyed a geographically stratified random sample of Texas registered nurses concerning their oncology practices, perceived skill levels, and personal needs for training in 61 topics areas. The 378 respondents rated their skill levels low to medium, although 62% cared directly for patients with cancer. The highest-rated priorities for professional education were: legal issues, issues and trends in cancer care, investigational/new drug development, and bone marrow transplantation. Nurses employed in community settings and those living outside metropolitan areas tended to indicate the highest numbers of strong training needs. However, comparison of the needs for cancer prevention and detection education by regions showed that for none of the geographic regions was a high training need for cancer prevention and detection identified.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1995

Results of the DSM-IV mood disorders field trial.

OBJECTIVE: The DSM-IV mood disorders field trial, a multisite collaborative study, was designed to explore the reliability of a course-based diagnostic classification system for major depression, evaluate the symptom criteria for dysthymia, and explore the need for additional diagnostic categories for milder forms of mood disorder (e.g., minor and recurrent brief depression). METHOD: Five hundred twenty-four depressed subjects were recruited from inpatient, outpatient, and community settings at five sites and evaluated with structured interviews according to DSM-III and DSM-III-R criteria, with careful attention to longitudinal course. Within- and across-site interrater reliability studies and 6-month test-retest reliability studies were also conducted on subsets of the sample. RESULTS: For evaluations of major depression and dysthymia, intrasite reliability was good to excellent and intersite reliability was fair to good; 6-month test-retest reliability was fair for dysthymia and poor to fair for major depression. Interrater reliability for six course of illness specifiers was fair to good, and almost all subjects could be assigned to a specific type of course. CONCLUSIONS: The results supported the use of a course-based classification system for major depression. They also suggested that the content validity of the DSM-III-R symptom criteria for dysthymia could be improved by emphasizing cognitive and social/motivational symptoms, although such changes are unlikely to sharpen the distinction between dysthymia and major depression. Finally, 91% of the subjects met the criteria for current or lifetime major depression or dysthymia, suggesting that additional categories for milder forms of depression are not needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Dantrolene sodium protects against experimental ischemia and reperfusion damage to skeletal muscle.

The effect of 4 hours of ischemia followed by reperfusion for 1 hour has been studied in fully anesthetized rabbits. Muscles from the limb subjected to ischemia and reperfusion showed considerable ultrastructural damage, although the distribution of damage between muscles was not uniform (anterior tibialis > soleus > quadriceps). Damage to the muscle was associated with a significant increase in the concentration of some indicators of free radical-mediated processes (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and diene conjugates), although others (glutathione and protein sulfhydryl groups) were unchanged. Reperfused muscles also showed considerable changes in their calcium and sodium contents. Treatment of animals with dantrolene sodium (4 mg/hr) throughout the periods of ischemia and reperfusion was found to preserve the ultrastructural appearance of quadriceps, soleus and anterior tibialis muscles. No effect of dantrolene sodium on indicators of free radical activity or muscle cation content was seen.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Dietary supplementation with L-arginine in patients with breast cancer (> 4 cm) receiving multimodality treatment: report of a feasibility study.

L-Arginine has been shown, in human breast cancers, to increase protein synthesis and the number of cells in the growth phase of the cell cycle. L-Arginine, therefore, may potentiate the response of breast cancers to cell cycle-specific cytotoxic agents. This phase II pilot study assessed the clinical, radiological and pathological responses in 44 patients with breast cancers > 4 cm in diameter (46 tumours: T2, n = 6; T3, n = 22; T4, n = 19), who received oral L-arginine 30 g day-1 for 3 days prior to each cycle of CHOP chemotherapy, followed after 4-6 cycles by radiotherapy. Following this treatment, 95% of patients had a clinical response: complete response in 30% and partial response in 65%. Imaging, ultrasound and mammography revealed response rates of 91% and 76% respectively. Surgery was performed in 43 patients. Histological examination revealed that in 18% of cases there was no residual evidence of tumour. Furthermore, if residual tumour was identified, the degree of destruction was graded as 'severe' in 36% and 'moderate' in 30% of cases. Further studies are now required to evaluate the potential beneficial use of nutritional pharmacology in combination with existing treatment regimens.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Systemic hypersensitivity reaction to intravesical BCG.

BCGosis is a recognised complication of intravesical BCG immunotherapy for superficial bladder carcinoma. We present here a case of granulomatous hepatitis, pneumonitis and probable pericarditis resulting from an hypersensitivity reaction to intravesical BCG.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Peculiarities in electrophoretic behavior of different serum albumins.

Behavior of serum albumins of different species was compared with regard to electrophoretic mobility under native conditions, molecular mass and isoelectric point in presence or absence of denaturing agents. In addition to serum samples from human, horse, cow, pig, cat, dog, sheep, goat, chicken, rabbit, mouse, and rat, commercially available standards or albumin preparations obtained by chromatographic procedures were analyzed. Feline and canine albumins showed marked differences in all investigated methods. Our experiments also revealed several factors influencing albumin patterns, especially during isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients or in the presence of carrier ampholytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Executive leadership, community action, and the habits of health care politics.

Health care executives must lead the way to the comeback of "voluntarism" in their field. This will require having four key political habits: (1) acting out of a sense of civic responsibility, (2) avoiding the dangers of faction and "magic bullets", (3) building alliances by a process of conferring with other relevant leaders and groups, and (4) participating in community activism, i.e., acting on, not reacting to, local problems and pressures.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1992

Immunomodulating activity of 1,2-difattyacyl-3-mercaptoglycerol adducts.

Adducts of 1,2-diacyl-(2RS)-3-mercaptoglycerol to 3-maleimidopropionic acid and to 3-maleimidopropionyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine as well as a new lipophilic MTP derivative have been analysed for their immunomodulating activity in comparison to the well known adjuvants CFA and IFA using a suboptimal concentration of BSA as antigen. A concentration-dependent immunostimulating activity was established for these lipophilic molecules when applied in water/oil (IFA) emulsions. The results clearly indicate that the new series of compounds behave as competent adjuvants, a fact which is further supported by the immunoadjuvant effect triggered by two of these diacylthioglyceryl adducts as examples, even when applied in aqueous systems. In the light of these findings it seems promising to use these thiol-functionalized molecules to build in immunoadjuvancy via the maleimide-thiol reaction principle. Attachment of such "sticky fingers" to peptides might enhance interaction of haptens and immunogens with cell membranes and thus, may represent a useful tool for inducing or increasing immunological responses to synthetic antigen presenting systems.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

[Electrophoretic studies of serum protein fractions in horses with laminitis].

The spectrum of serum proteins was evaluated in 46 horses affected with spontaneous laminitis and correlations between the severity of the disease and changes of the protein pattern were analyzed. The investigation was made in two groups; group A consisted of 21 horses of various breeds (warmblood, thoroughbred, standardbred) and group B of 25 ponys. Each group was subdivided according to the severity of the disease, using the OBEL-grade (OG) classification system. Serum proteins were separated by different one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic methods. Sera analysed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis showed a significant difference in the alpha 1-globulin fraction between OG II and OG IV affected horses. An increasing severity of the disease was correlated with a decrease of the alpha 1-globulins. The other protein fractions didn't show a uniform tendency. In group B there was a significant difference in the alpha 1-globulin fractions of OG II and OG III and in the beta 2-globulin fractions of OG I and OG II affected ponys. The acute phase proteins C3c, C4, Hp and fibronectin could be determined in a preliminary study in horse serum using the cross-reactivity of antibodies against the homologous human proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Toxic effects in rabbits after immunization against the pyrrolizidine alkaloid retrorsine].

Six rabbits were immunized against the pyrrolizidine alkaloid retrorsin, conjugated to bovine serum albumin. Seven i.v. inoculations were distributed over a period of half a year. The total antigen dose differed between animals. Towards the end of the experiment all animals (except 2 receiving the lowest antigen dose) suffered from apathy, anorexia and loss of body weight. Pathologically these symptoms correlated well with liver cirrhosis, gradually dependent on the total antigen dose. Blood-chemical parameters were disparate and contradictory.

Animals↗