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Biomedical subjects

J Braaten

Publications and source records attributed to J Braaten.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Basal activity profiles of NPH and [Nepsilon-palmitoyl Lys (B29)] human insulins in subjects with IDDM.

[Nepsilon-palmitoyl Lys (B29)] human insulin is a fatty acid-acylated derivative of insulin with extended action compared to unmodified insulin when infused intravenously (i.v.) secondary to its binding to circulating albumin. The duration and activity profile of the acylated (A) and NPH (B) insulins were assessed following subcutaneous (s.c.) doses of (A) 6 nmol/kg and (B) 1.2 nmol/kg (equivalent to 0.2 U/kg) in 9 subjects with IDDM. After overnight i.v. infusion of regular human insulin, morning glucose was (A) 6.9 +/- 0.1 and (B) 6.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l. After the s.c. injection, i.v. human insulin or glucose was infused to maintain near-basal glycaemia and tracer glucose to assess hepatic glucose production (HGP). An activity profile was deduced for each study by expressing the glucose infusion rate at each time point, as a fraction (%) of the basal (measured) HGP, and the i.v. insulin infusion rate as a fraction (%) of the basal requirement. The two fractions are combined by adding the fractional glucose infusion rate and subtracting the fractional insulin infusion rate. Infusion rates of i.v. insulin in the morning were (A) 0.96 +/- 0.096 and (B) 1.22 +/- 0.09 pmol x kg(-1) x min(-1). After insulin injection, i.v. insulin requirements decreased and were below 10% of basal between 100 and 150 min. A constant activity profile of 0% represents a perfect substitution of the basal i.v. insulin infusion by the s.c. dose. The actual profile is defined by deviations from this (above) and was -17 +/- 11, 7 +/- 10, -9 +/- 6 and -18 +/- 18% for [Nepsilon-palmitoyl Lys (B29)] human insulin and 17 +/- 12, 5 +/- 6, -9 +/- 15, 22 +/- 18% for NPH insulin at 3, 6, 9 and 12 h after s.c. injection. HGP was similar for the two insulins, demonstrating similar metabolic actions and profiles both peripherally and at the liver.

Adult

Ultrasound increases flow through fibrin gels.

Ultrasound accelerates fibrinolysis in vitro and in animal models of thrombosis. Since transport of fibrinolytic enzymes into clots by permeation may be an important determinant of the rate of fibrinolysis, we examined the effect of ultrasound on permeation through fibrin gels in vitro. Gels of purified fibrin were prepared in plastic tubes, and the rate of pressure-mediated fluid permeation was measured. Exposure to 1 MHz ultrasound at 2 W/cm2 and a duty cycle of 5 msec on, 5 msec off resulted in a significant (p = .005) increase in flow through the gel of 29.0 +/- 4.2% (SEM). The ultrasound-induced flow increase was intensity-dependent, increasing from 17.0 +/- 1.2% at 1 W/cm2 to 30.1 +/- 1.9% at 2.3 W/cm2. Increased flow was not due to heating, detachment of fibrin from the tube wall or fragmentation of the gel resulting in channeling. However, degassing the fluid by autoclaving significantly reduced the ultrasound-induced increase in flow. We conclude that exposure of fibrin gels to ultrasound increases pressure-mediated permeation. This effect may be related to cavitation-induced changes in fibrin gel structure, and could contribute to the accelerated fibrinolysis observed in an ultrasound field.

Acrylic Resins

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade inhibits platelet-mediated force development and reduces gel elastic modulus.

The effects of GPIIb/IIIa blockade on clot retraction were studied utilizing an instrument which directly measures force produced by platelets. GPIIb/IIIa disruption by calcium chelation, and GPIIb/IIIa blockade by peptides and anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies were investigated. One mM EDTA suppressed ADP-induced platelet aggregation by 72% and reduced force developed at 1200 s by 33%. At 234 microM, the tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) suppressed platelet aggregation by 74%, reduced force at 1200 s by 45% and reduced gel elastic modulus by 19%. At 10 microM, the peptide D-Arg-Gly-L-Asp-L-Try (D-RGDW) completely suppressed platelet aggregation, reduced force development by 38% and reduced gel elastic modulus by 29%. At 0.133 microM, monoclonal anti-GPIIIa antibody (AP-3) reduced force development by 74% and reduced gel modulus by 60%. Murine antiGPIIb/IIIa antibodies 10E5 and 7E3 markedly suppressed force development. At 0.133 microM, 10E5 reduced force by 89% and reduced gel modulus by 67%. At 0.053 microM, 7E3 completely stopped force development and reduced gel modulus by 46%. Platelet aggregation was blocked by 0.027 microM 7E3. Selective GPIIb blockade by antibodies did not affect force development. None of the agents studied altered fibrin structure as monitored by effects of fibrin mass/length ratios. Suppression of platelet aggregation occurred at inhibitor concentrations substantially lower than those required to suppress force development. Complete suppression of platelet aggregation did not assure inhibition of clot retraction probably due to profound platelet activation by thrombin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence

A double-blind placebo-controlled glucose challenge in bulimia nervosa: psychological effects.

Nineteen bulimic women and 22 age-matched controls were randomly assigned to receive 25 g of glucose or a placebo injection under double-blind conditions. Blood samples of glucose, insulin, and glucagon, and psychometric assessments of mood and food cravings were obtained 10 min before, and 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 min after injection. Blood levels of the large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) tryptophan, tyrosine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, and leucine were determined at 10 min before and 60 min after the injection. Bulimic subjects were found to report more symptoms of distressed mood throughout the entire monitoring period than controls. Five minutes following glucose ingestion the self-reports of depression, fatigue, anxiety, and bewilderment rose to a level among the bulimic subjects that was above that at baseline, and was higher than that of bulimia nervosa (BN) subjects receiving placebo. No comparable change in mood was observed among controls. Blood glucose levels were correlated with mood in the bulimic group, but not in controls. In addition, the glucose injection induced a heightened urge to binge in the bulimic group (compared to placebo at 10 and 60 min), whereas reducing food cravings (for sweets) in the controls (at 5 min). When collapsed across time and injection condition, the blood glucose level of bulimics was lower than that of controls. There were no differences in insulin response between the groups. The bulimic group was found to have lower baseline levels of blood tryptophan, whereas no differences in the tryptophan/LNAA ratio were observed either at baseline or following glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Emergency health impact of a severe storm.

A severe, premature snow storm resulted in widespread loss of power, communications, and transportation in a populous region of the Northeast. Staff in hospital emergency departments centered in the path of the storm reported a large number of injuries and many unexpected health effects related to the storm. A retrospective survey of the five major hospital emergency departments serving the most heavily affected urban and suburban areas was undertaken to determine the emergency health impact of the storm and resulting operational problems. Expected findings included a decrease in emergency department visits the day of the storm, followed by a sharp increase the day after. Clean-up activities accounted for a large number of the injuries, most of which were preventable. Unexpected findings include a large number of carbon monoxide poisonings and disposition and staffing problems created by caring for many patients who lost access to customary home health care services. Emergency department staff are encouraged to engage in public education efforts that may reduce serious illness or injury related to severe weather and its aftermath. Moreover, traditional disaster plans may need to be supplemented in anticipation of the disposition and staffing problems created by a growing population of elderly patients who will be cut off from vital home health care services by severe weather.

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