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Biomedical subjects

J A Kane

Publications and source records attributed to J A Kane.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Postpartum magnetic resonance imaging in a case of placenta accreta with intrauterine abscess formation.

The postpartum magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of a patient with placenta accreta and abscess formation is presented here and compared to the ultrasound and CT findings. The diagnosis was confirmed on histopathologic examination and cultures of the hysterectomy specimen. On MRI, the T1-weighted acquisitions showed an enlarged uterus of mildly heterogeneous but predominantly low signal intensity. The T2-weighted images demonstrated a heterogeneous area of predominantly bright signal within the uterine body and fundus. In this case, MRI was more informative than ultrasound and non-contrast CT scan in the postpartum diagnosis of placenta accreta with abscess formation.

Abscess↗

Hepatitis induced by traditional Chinese herbs; possible toxic components.

Traditional Chinese herbal remedies are widely available in the United Kingdom for the treatment of chronic skin disorders. Their benefits are considerable, but their use is completely unregulated. Two patients are described here who suffered an acute hepatitic illness related to taking traditional Chinese herbs. Both recovered fully. The mixtures that they took included two plant components also contained within the mixture taken by a previously reported patient who suffered fatal hepatic necrosis. These cases high-light the need for greater awareness of both the therapeutic and toxic potential of herbal remedies, as well as greater control of their use.

Adult↗

Functional mechanisms of polymer-based in vivo reference electrodes.

We describe a reference electrode catheter based upon a haemocompatible porous liquid junction of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA). The diffusion properties of pHEMA rapidly reach a steady state in a variety of physiological environments. To elucidate the functional mechanisms, the transport of ions through pHEMA membranes was studied in electrolyte solutions, plasma solutions and whole blood. Plasma was shown to enhance ion transport by approximately 10% whereas blood decreased transport rates by 40%. The stability of the reference electrode catheter remained within 1 mV over an 8 h period. The mechanisms of stability lie in those material properties of pHEMA which control diffusion, limit protein adsorption and respond to changes in pH, properties which may result in micromechanical fluctuations and subsequent renewal of the polymer/blood interface.

Biocompatible Materials↗

A comparative study of ketanserin and metoprolol in essential hypertension.

The efficacy and tolerability of ketanserin was compared with metoprolol in a double-blind parallel group study. After a 4-week placebo run-in on no treatment patients with a diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 95 mmHg or more received ketanserin 40 mg (n = 16) or metoprolol 100 mg (n = 17) twice daily. Blood pressure was measured in duplicate using a Hawksley random zero sphygmomanometer. Both blood pressure and heart rate were recorded after 5 min supine and 1 min standing. Patients visited after 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial BPs, both supine and standing, were significantly reduced from week 2 by both treatments (P less than 0.05, Student's t-test). The mean (+/- s.e.m.) changes in supine BP at 3 months compared with baseline were -15.7 (3.6) mmHg systolic and -13.9 (2.7) mmHg diastolic in the ketanserin group and -26.6 (7.9) mmHg systolic and -15.2 (2.7) mmHg diastolic in the metoprolol group. There was a tendency for the fall in systolic BP to be greater in the metoprolol group, but this did not reach statistical significance except for the standing systolic BP at 1 month. Metoprolol caused a significant fall in heart rate compared with baseline values throughout the study, and the metoprolol group was significantly different from the ketanserin group at 2 months for the supine heart rate and at all time points for standing heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Labetalol in general practice: a review.

1 The results of the treatment of 8573 hypertensive patients with labetalol in general practice, for periods between 1 month and 5 yr, are reviewed. 2 The data reviewed were obtained from the published literature together with our own published (Kane et al., 1976; Kane et al., 1979) and more recent (unpublished) work. 3 Between 60% and 80% of severe (diastolic blood pressure greater than 120 mmHg) and previously uncontrolled hypertensives responded satisfactorily to the drug, as did up to 88% of mild to moderate hypertensives. 4 The anti-hypertensive effect of labetalol was not dependent on the frequency of administration, twice and three times daily treatment regimes being equally effective. 5 The withdrawal rate attributable to side-effects was between 6% and 13%. Tiredness, dizziness, headache and upper gastro-intestinal symptoms were the four principal side-effects, but they were usually transient when labetalol treatment was continued. 6 No drug interactions or adverse haematological or biochemical changes were seen.

Blood Pressure↗

Medical evaluation before operation.

Surgical outcome can be optimized by anticipation and prevention of medical complications. General considerations that apply to all patients include evaluation for coagulation disorders, prior anesthetic complications and drug history. Evaluation for organ-specific risk factors allows identification of patients at high surgical risk, minimization of risk and anticipation of postoperative complications. Review of the recent literature and a practical guide to therapy is presented for the major medical considerations before surgical procedures: cardiac disease, hypertension, pulmonary disease, endocrine considerations and hepatic disease. Attention to these areas and communication among internists, anesthesiologists and surgeons should provide optimal treatment of surgical patients with medical disease.

Endocrine System Diseases↗

Existence of multiple immunodeterminants in the type-specific capsular substance of group B type Ia streptococci.

Rabbits immunized with group B, type Ia streptococci produce two distinct populations of protective antibodies. Evidence is presented indicating that these antibodies are directed against two major immunodeterminants which coexist in the specific type Ia antigen. Immunochemical data, using purified antibody preparations, indicate that the type substance, a sialic acid polymer consisting of galactose, glucose, glucosamine, and sialic acid, possesses two distinct immunodominant determinants, terminal sialic acid residues and a galactosyl oligosaccharide. Antibodies directed against either of these determinants were shown to possess in vivo and in vitro opsonic capabilities.

Animals↗

Structural analysis of the cellular constituents of a fresh clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus, and their role in the interaction between the organisms and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the presence of serum factors.

The in vitro interaction of a fresh clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus and polymorphonuclear leukocytes was investigated. The importance of the various cellular constituents as host immunological factors was analyzed, and the results suggested that two components, namely, an acidic polysaccharide consisting of a predominance of aminogalacturonic acid and a strain-specific mucopeptide complex, may be involved in impeding in vitro opsonization of the organism by leukocytes. Immunochemical analysis indicated that the acidic polysaccharide possessed the same immunodominant aminogalacturonic acid residues as the antiphagocytic acidic antigen of the encapsulated prototype Scott strain. Antisera derived from rabbits immunized with strain D contained two types of opsonins, those with acidic polymer specificity and those with mucopeptide complex specificity.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Multiple polysaccharide antigens of group B streptococcus, type Ia: emphasis on a sialic acid type-specific polysaccharide.

Group B streptococci, type Ia (strain 090/14/4), were subjected to sequential extraction procedures and the various extracts were fractionated by a combination of DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel-filtration. Three major antigens were isolated: the conventional group-specific and type-specific carbohydrates and an acidic polysaccharide consisting of galactose, glucose, glucosamine, and sialic acid. Immunochemical data suggest that the acidic antigen, with the exception of the immunodominant sialic acid, is structurally similar to the conventional pH 2.0 extracted type-specific antigen. Removal of the terminal sialic acid residues from the acidic antigen by mild acid hydrolysis resulted in a residual polymer which was chemically and immunologically analogous to the type-specific carbohydrate. Precipitin analysis focused attention to the cross-reactivity between thia acidic antigen and anti-types Ib, Ic, and III sera.

Animals↗

Immunochemical analysis of distinct cellular antigens isolated from a nontypable bovine strain of group B streptococci.

Four immunologically distinct antigens were isolated from a bovine strain of group B streptococci, designated 14 Mi. Chemical analysis indicated that two of the cell surface antigens consisted of glucose, galactose, and glucosamine, whereas the other cell surface antigen, an acidic protein, contained a predominance of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and alanine. A cell wall-associated triheteroglycan consisting of galactose, glucose, and glucosamine was isolated from strain 14 Mi by 10% trichloroacetic acid. Immunochemical studies suggested that this glycan is type specific and consists of an immunodominant alpha-linked galactosyl-glucose disaccharide.

Animals↗

Demonstration of the capsular antigens of bovine group B streptococci by the serum-soft agar method.

The elaboration of type-specific capsular antigens by group B streptococci can be demonstrated by the serum-soft agar technique. Group B streptococci isolated from bovine mastitis, namely, strains 9F, 14Mi, 8Mo, 44B, and 4S, were shown to form diffuse and compact types of colony morphology in serum-soft agar. Immunochemical and chemical analyses of antigens isolated from diffuse and compact colonies of strain 9F indicated that the diffuse-type growth of this strain was due to the elaboration of a galactose-rich surface antigen, whereas the compact 9F strain was devoid of this antigen. Specific 9F antiserum was effective in converting the diffuse 9F colonies of the compact type, indicating the presence of capsular material. Preliminary evidence suggests that the serum-soft agar technique could also be used to determine the antigenic diversity of the surface antigens of group B streptococci, thus providing an effective means of typing those organisms.

Agar↗

Immunochemical analysis of a Smith-like antigen isolated from two human strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

A surface antigen consisting of aminoglucuronic acid and N-acetyl-L-alanine was isolated from the culture filtrates of two human strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Double diffusion analysis in agar suggested that the antigen is immunologically similar to the alanyl-aminoglucuronic acid capsule of the Smith strain of S. aureus. Quantitative precipitin inhibition studies indicated that N-acetyl-L-alanine is the immunodominant determinant of the acidic antigen. In addition, conjugates consisting of N-acetyl-L-alanine coupled to bovine serum albumin gave a significant precipitin reaction with anti-staphylococcal serum which is rich in alanyl-aminoglucuronic acid polymer antibodies. Antibodies with N-acetyl-L-alanine specificity were isolated from N-acetyl-L-alanine-Sepharose immunoabsorbent columns. Double diffusion analysis in agar indicated that the eluted antibodies were serologically reactive and belonged to the IgG class of immunoglobulins.

Absorption↗

Immunochemistry of an acidic antigen isolated from a Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus, strain 7007, was shown to possess an anti-phagocytic surface antigen. This surface antigen was separated from the species-specific teichoic acid by a combination of DEAE-cellulose chromatography and Bio-Gel filtration. Chemical analyses indicated that the 7007 surface antigen consisted of aminomannuronic acid and fucosamine. Immunochemical analyses suggested that this polymer, although consisting of the same components as the staphylococcal T-antigen described by Wu and Park was, in fact, immunologically distinct from the T-antigen. Antibodies directed against the surface antigen were isolated from anti-7007 rabbit serum by affinity chromatography. These antibodies were shown to belong to the IgG class of immunoglobulins and were effective in enhancing in vitro phagocytosis of 7007 cells by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Acids↗

Isolation of an acidic surface antigen from a conventional strain of Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus strain 7007, a prototype isolated from a hospital burn unit, was shown to exhibit a significant degree of resistance to ingestion by mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes. An acidic surface antigen was isolated from strain 7007 by a combination of 10% trichloroacetic acid extraction, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. Chemical analysis indicated that the surface antigen consists of an unknown aminouronic acid and an amino sugar. Immunochemical analysis suggested that the 7007 antigen is a common feature of all the strains collected from the burn unit. No cross-reactivity was observed between the carbohydrate preparations of various hospital staphylococcal strains and the 7007 heteropolymer. These results suggested the possibility that the surface antigen of strain 7007 represents a strain- or type-specific antigen.

Agglutination Tests↗