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Biomedical subjects

J D Spencer

Publications and source records attributed to J D Spencer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Diet modifications to improve finishing pig growth performance and pork quality attributes during periods of heat stress.

A total of 196 barrows (88 kg) were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments and housed in a facility (seven pigs per pen) where temperatures cycled between 27 and 35 degrees C. Treatments consisted of (as-fed basis) two CP levels (13.6 or 11.3%) and two levels of added fat (1 or 8%). Diets were formulated to the same true digestible lysine:ME ratio (1.68 g of lysine/Mcal of ME). Diets were fed and growth variables were measured until pigs reached 114 kg of BW. Ham and LM (loin) 24-h pH (PH24), and light reflectance (CIE L*, and a*, and b*, and hue angle) were taken after slaughter. Additionally, loins were removed and measured for i.m. fat, moisture, glycolytic potential, and subjected to a 7-d retail display evaluation that measured pH, light reflectance, and subjective color and odor score. The remaining boneless lumbar loin segment was vacuum-sealed for 14 d and subsequently measured for pH, light reflectance, and color. Pigs fed the high-CP, low-fat diet had a lower ADG than all other treatments (P = 0.06). High-fat feeding resulted in improved ADG (CP x Fat; P = 0.06) and G:F (Fat effect; P < 0.01). Higher fat and lower protein levels both increased final BF (P = 0.07). Pigs fed the low-CP diets had lower ham PH24 (P < 0.01). Loin PH24 was higher with high fat feeding (P = 0.10). Additionally, pigs fed high fat diets had lower L* values on the ham face and cut loin 24 h after slaughter (Fat effect; P <or= 0.02). These loin color differences were maintained through the 7-d retail display and 14-d storage period. There were no differences in loin i.m. fat or moisture content; however, high-fat feeding tended to decrease loin glycolytic potential (P = 0.11). These results suggest that in a hot environment, decreased CP content improved finishing pig ADG when dietary fat supplementation was low. High dietary fat inclusion during heat stress improved ADG and G:F, especially when CP level was elevated. High-fat diets fed in a hot environment increased pork color intensity by decreasing the glycolytic potential at slaughter and elevating muscle pH.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2004

The 'true' acetabular index in children with cerebral palsy.

INTRODUCTION: The acetabular index is a measurement used to determine whether or not an acetabular osteotomy may be required at the time of hip reconstruction in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of pre- and postoperative values of the acetabular index was carried out on two groups of children. One group of children had an acetabuloplasty and the other did not during hip reconstruction, the decision being made at the time of open reduction, based on lack of hip congruity. RESULTS: When the pre-operative acetabular index measurements were reviewed, the mean difference between the two groups was only 7 degrees. Range of measurements was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The acetabular index is difficult to measure in some children with cerebral palsy. The bony landmarks are difficult to standardise. This may explain the similar pre-operative values between the two groups of children in this study. We, therefore, recommend that before hip reconstruction in children with cerebral palsy, the measurement of the acetabular index should be abandoned. Decisions as to whether to undertake an acetabuloplasty or not should be made at the time of open reduction.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed2004

Pharmacological zinc levels reduce the phosphorus-releasing efficacy of phytase in young pigs and chickens.

A pig trial and a chick trial were done to determine the effect of high levels of Zn and Cu on the P-releasing efficacy of phytase. Ninety-nine individually fed pigs (7.2 kg) were given ad libitum access to one of 11 experimental diets for a period of 21 d. Fibula ash (mg) was regressed against supplemental inorganic P (iP) intake (g) to establish the standard curve, from which phytase treatments were compared to determine P-releasing efficacy. The basal diet was a corn-soybean meal diet with no supplemental P (21% CP, 0.075% estimated available P, 130 mg of Zn/kg, as-fed basis). Diets included three graded levels of supplemental iP (0, 0.075, 0.150%) from reagent-grade KH2PO4, two levels of phytase (500 and 1,000 FTU/kg) from EcoPhos, 1,500 mg of Zn/kg from either Waelz ZnO or basic Zn chloride (Zn5Cl2(OH)8), and all combinations of phytase and Zn. One phytase unit (FTU) was defined as the amount of enzyme required to release 1 micromol of iP per minute from sodium phytate at 37 degrees C and pH 5.5. Phytase supplementation improved (P < 0.01) weight gain, G:F, and fibula ash (% and mg). Bone ash (mg) was highest (P < 0.01) for pigs fed diets containing 1,000 FTU/kg of phytase. Supplemental Zn had no effect (P > 0.50) on growth performance, but decreased (P < 0.05) fibula ash (mg). Comparison of the phytase treatments to the standard curve (r2 = 0.87) revealed P-release values of 0.130 and 0.195% for 500 and 1,000 FTU of phytase/kg, respectively, in the absence of Zn, whereas in the presence of Zn (pooled), P-release values were decreased (P < 0.01) to 0.092 and 0.132%, respectively. The effects of high levels of supplemental Zn (basic Zn chloride) and Cu (CuSO4 x 5H2O) on phytase efficacy also were investigated in a 12-d chick trial. Dietary treatments were arranged according to a 2(3) factorial, with two levels each of supplemental phytase (0 and 500 FTU/kg from EcoPhos), Zn (0 and 800 mg/kg), and Cu (0 and 200 mg/kg). There was a phytase x Zn interaction (P < 0.01) for tibia ash. Thus, Zn supplementation decreased tibia ash in the presence, but not in the absence, of phytase. Supplemental Cu did not affect (P > 0.30) the response to phytase. These results suggest that pharmacological levels of Zn chelate the phytate complex, thereby decreasing its availability for hydrolysis by phytase.

6-Phytase↗
PubMed2003

Effect of menhaden fish oil supplementation and lipopolysaccharide exposure on nursery pigs. I. Effects on the immune axis when fed diets containing spray-dried plasma.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential immunological benefit of adding menhaden fish oil to the diet of weaned pigs. Twenty-four crossbred male pigs were weaned at approximately 18 days of age and placed on a complex nursery diet containing 30% lactose and 7% plasma protein with 6% corn oil as the fat source (Cont, n=12) or with 5% menhaden fish oil and 1% corn oil as the fat source (MFO, n=12) for a period of 15 days. Body weights did not differ (P>0.78) between dietary groups either at the beginning or end of the 15 days feeding period. On day 15, all pigs were non-surgically fitted with an indwelling jugular catheter. On d 16, pigs received an i.v. injection of either saline (n=6/dietary group) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 150 microg/kg body weight; n=6/dietary group) and blood samples were collected at 30 min intervals for a period of 5h. Serum was harvested and stored at -80 degrees C for analysis of cortisol (CS), corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). There was no significant effect of diet on basal concentrations (Time 0) of any of the blood parameters analyzed. A Time x Treatment x Diet interaction (P<0.03) was observed for serum CS such that those pigs which consumed the MFO diet followed by LPS treatment had a reduced CS response as compared to the LPS-treated pigs on the Cont diet. A Time x Treatment interaction (P<0.01) was observed for serum CBG such that LPS treatment reduced circulating CBG as compared to the saline-treated pigs. Time x Treatment x Diet interactions were also observed for serum concentrations of TNF-alpha (P=0.084) and IFN-gamma (P=0.022) such that both the TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma response to the LPS challenge was lower in those pigs receiving the MFO diet as compared to the LPS-treated pigs on the Cont diet. Overall, serum CS was negatively correlated with the CBG response (r=-0.40, P<0.001), however, the strongest negative correlation was observed in the LPS-treated pigs which consumed the MFO diet (r=-0.63, P<0.001). While further studies are needed to evaluate the immunological response of including MFO in the nursery pig diet, the present study demonstrates that supplementation with MFO does indeed alter the immunological response to an LPS challenge.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Early weaning to reduce tissue mobilization in lactating sows and milk supplementation to enhance pig weaning weight during extreme heat stress.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of reduced lactation length and supplemental milk replacer (MR) during high ambient temperatures. Thirty nine primiparous and 100 multiparous sows (PIC, Franklin, KY, C-22) were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments consisted of two lactation room temperatures (21 degrees C [TN] and 32 degrees C [HOT]), two lactation lengths (14 or 19 d), and two parity groups (primiparous, multiparous). Pigs were either: 1) sow-reared to 19 d or 2) sow-reared to 14 d, and then reared to 19 d with MR after sow removal. All sows were fed the same diet (1.07% lysine, 3,366 kcal of ME/kg). Sows were weighed and ultrasound for backfat thickness (BF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) within 6 h after farrowing and at the time of sow removal (d 14 or 19). Pigs were individually weighed at weaning (d 19) and after a 47-d nursery period (d 66). Heat stress increased sow weight loss (-13.35 kg, P < 0.01) and decreased sow feed intake (4.63 kg/d, P < 0.01) during lactation compared with sows in TN (+4.5 kg and 7.5 kg/d, respectively). Early weaning (d 14) during heat stress decreased maternal weight loss (-10.1 vs. -16.6 kg, P < 0.01). Primiparous sows lost more BF in both environments (-2.60 vs. -1.56 mm, P < 0.05), and both parity groups lost more BF (-3.35 vs. -2.3 mm, P < 0.10) and LMA (-1.82 vs. -0.77 cm2, P < 0.05) when lactating for 19 d in the HOT environment than those lactating for 14 d. Pigs nursing primiparous and multiparous sows in the HOT environment and provided MR had heavier individual 19-d weights (7.37 and 8.12 kg/ pig, respectively) than those nursing to 19 d (5.57 and 6.04 kg/pig, P < 0.01). Milk replacer decreased the difference normally observed in 19-d weights between primiparous and multiparous sow-reared pigs in TN. Pigs fed MR in both environments and nursing multiparous sows had improved weight gains in the nursery compared with pigs nursing sows to 19 d (428 vs. 406 g/d, respectively; P < 0.01), or reared by primiparous sows (444 vs. 390 g/d , respectively; P < 0.01). Sow weaning on d 14 in the HOT environment decreased the wean-to-estrus interval in primiparous sows (22.8 vs. 9.2 d, P < 0.10). This study shows the benefit of early weaning in combination with milk replacer to preserve the sow and to restore pig weaning weights and nursery end weights under heat stress.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

Risk of hepatitis C virus infection in multiply transfused premature neonates.

BACKGROUND: Reports from around the world indicate that multiply transfused patients are at increased risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with reported rates of between 4% and 44%. Such reports are mostly of haematological and renal patients. As recipients of blood products in the newborn period, premature infants share this risk, but there is little information regarding their risk. AIM: To assess the risk of HCV infection in children who, as premature neonates, received multiple blood products prior to the introduction of screening of donated blood for HCV. METHODS: Premature infants born between January 1985 and January 1990 who had attended our high-risk follow-up clinic were selected on the basis of the number of transfusions of blood, platelets or fresh frozen plasma they received in the newborn period. Ethical approval to offer HCV testing to parents was obtained from the Central Sydney Area Health Service Ethics Review Committee. Parents of infants who received three or more transfusions were then contacted by mail with the approved letter explaining the study, and offered HCV testing. Detection of anti-HCV antibodies was undertaken using second, and later third generation enzyme immunoassay kits. Samples which were found to be 'indeterminate' were tested using a Wellcozyme HCV western blot assay (Murex Diagnostics Ltd, Datford, UK). Hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected using an 'in-house' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Alanine transaminase (ALT) was also measured, with values above 55 U/L considered abnormal. RESULTS: Consent was obtained for 45 children (25 males, 20 females). The mean (+/- SEM) gestational age and weight of the children at birth was 26.7 +/- 0.2 weeks and 938 +/- 27 g, respectively. The children received 198 transfusions of blood products, an average of 4.4 U per child. All of the infants except for one were negative for anti-HCV antibodies. One infant was 'indeterminate' (low positive on third generation test but negative on second generation test), but proved negative subsequently on both western blot and PCR testing. HCV-RNA was not detected in any of the infants on PCR testing. All of the samples had normal ALT values, the mean being 16 U/L (range 8-52). CONCLUSION: None of the children consenting to this study had evidence of current HCV infection. Because of the sample size, we were not able to estimate the true risk of infection from this study, except that the upper limit for the risk is about 1/200 per transfused blood sample.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed2001

Langerhans cells in Dupuytren's contracture.

We have examined biopsies of Dupuytren's contracture palmar fascia, overlying subcutis and skin, and have correlated the distribution of gross macroscopic changes in the hand, mapped pre- and intraoperatively, with light microscopic immunohistochemical findings. We report increased numbers of S100 positive Langerhans cells (an epidermal cell of dendritic lineage) and CD45 positive cells, both in "nodules" and at dermo-epidermal junctions, in the biopsied tissues. This suggests that Langerhans cells migrate from the epidermis into Dupuytren's contracture tissue, possibly in response to local changes in levels of inflammatory cytokines within the tissue. Our findings, together with other reports of increased numbers of dermal dendrocytes and inflammatory cells in Dupuytren's contracture tissue, lend circumstantial support to the "extrinsic theory" of the pathogenesis of Dupuytren's contracture. However, the earliest stages of the disease process have not been defined, and therefore the events which ultimately produce fibrosis in the palmar fascial complex in susceptible individuals could begin in the skin and/or within deeper tissues, especially where there is dysregulation of the immune system.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Murray Valley encephalitis virus surveillance and control initiatives in Australia. National Arbovirus Advisory Committee of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia.

Mechanisms for monitoring Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus activity include surveillance of human cases, surveillance for activity in sentinel animals, monitoring of mosquito vectors and monitoring of weather conditions. The monitoring of human cases is only one possible trigger for public health action and the additional surveillance systems are used in concert to signal the risk of human disease, often before the appearance of human cases. Mosquito vector surveillance includes mosquito trapping for speciation and enumeration of mosquitoes to monitor population sizes and relative composition. Virus isolation from mosquitoes can also be undertaken. Monitoring of weather conditions and vector surveillance determines whether there is a potential for MVE activity to occur. Virus isolation from trapped mosquitoes is necessary to define whether MVE is actually present, but is difficult to deliver in a timely fashion in some jurisdictions. Monitoring of sentinel animals indicates whether MVE transmission to vertebrates is actually occurring. Meteorological surveillance can assist in the prediction of potential MVE virus activity by signalling conditions that have been associated with outbreaks of Murray Valley encephalitis in humans in the past. Predictive models of MVE virus activity for south-eastern Australia have been developed, but due to the infrequency of outbreaks, are yet to be demonstrated as useful for the forecasting of major outbreaks. Surveillance mechanisms vary across the jurisdictions. Surveillance of human disease occurs in all States and Territories by reporting of cases to health authorities. Sentinel flocks of chickens are maintained in 4 jurisdictions (Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria and New South Wales) with collaborations between Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Mosquito monitoring complements the surveillance of sentinel animals in these jurisdictions. In addition, other mosquito monitoring programs exist in other States (including South Australia and Queensland). Public health control measures may include advice to the general public and mosquito management programs to reduce the numbers of both mosquito larvae and adult vectors. Strategic plans for public health action in the event of MVE virus activity are currently developed or being developed in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria. A southern tri-State agreement exists between health departments of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. All partners have agreed to co-operate and provide assistance in predicting and combatting outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease in south-eastern Australia. The newly formed National Arbovirus Advisory Committee is a working party providing advice to the Communicable Diseases Network Australia on arbovirus surveillance and control. Recommendations for further enhancement of national surveillance for Murray Valley encephalitis are described.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Hepatitis C in injecting drug-using women during and after pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: A high proportion of female injecting drug users (IDU) have evidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We undertook a prospective study of patients attending a clinic for pregnant IDU to determine the impact of pregnancy on the course of HCV infection and whether pregnancy is affected by HCV infection. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-one IDU were recruited and followed up with liver function tests, HCV serology and HCV-RNA tests. RESULTS: Of 131 patients, 125 had HCV antibodies (anti-HCV positive) at delivery, and of these 62% were HCV-RNA positive. The anti-HCV-negative women were younger and had a shorter duration of drug use than the anti-HCV-positive women. There were no differences between viraemic and non-viraemic women with respect to age, ethnicity, duration of injecting drug use, methadone maintenance dose, hepatitis B exposure or reported high-risk behaviour. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were higher and the proportion with ALT > 55 IU/L higher in viraemic women. Viraemia persisted in all 55 women who were viraemic at term. Eleven had an ALT flare post-partum that was unrelated to viral load and was clinically unsuspected. Four had concurrent elevated gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and were considered to be drinking alcohol at hazardous levels. Four of 23 women who were HCV-RNA negative at term became positive during follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy does not adversely affect the course of hepatitis C. A modest rebound in ALT levels, but not HCV-RNA, occurs after delivery in some viraemic women. This supports the theory that immune mechanisms rather than direct viral cytopathology are involved in hepatocyte injury during HCV infection. Hepatitis C infection did not influence pregnancy complications and outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection post-liver transplantation is associated with rapidly changing quasispecies: a single case report.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance post-liver transplantation is uncommon. This is a case report of a patient who, after liver transplantation, developed cholestatic hepatitis characterized by severe graft dysfunction, in conjunction with high viral load. This was, however, followed by viral clearance and normalization of allograft function. The clinical features of this case and the quasispecies patterns during the illness and the clearance periods are described. In addition, management implications in terms of immunosuppressive therapy are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Phosphorus bioavailability and digestibility of normal and genetically modified low-phytate corn for pigs.

We conducted two studies to determine the bioavailability and apparent digestibility of P in a low-phytate corn hybrid (.28% total P, .10% phytate P) genetically modified to be homozygous for the 1pa1-1 allele and a nearly isogenic corn hybrid (normal) (.25% total P, .20% phytate P). Additionally, we conducted an in vitro assay involving a peptic and pancreatin digestion to estimate P availability. The first study used 50 individually penned pigs (initial body weight 9 kg) and 10 treatments in a randomized complete block design. A cornstarch-soybean meal basal diet (.6% Ca, .2% P) was used. Treatments consisted of the basal diet and the basal diet plus .05, .10, or .15% P from monosodium phosphate (MSP), low-phytate corn, or normal corn. After a 35-d feeding period, pigs were killed to collect the fourth metacarpal for measurements of ash and breaking load. Breaking load was regressed on added P intake, and the bioavailability of P was determined by the slope ratio method. The bioavailabilities of P (relative to MSP) for low-phytate and normal corn were 62 and 9%, respectively. These were similar to the determined in vitro values of 57 and 11% for low-phytate and normal corn, respectively. In the second study, 20 pigs (initial BW 20 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Two corn lines (low-phytate and normal) and two levels of supplemental P (0 and .2%) from dicalcium phosphate were used. Diets with no added P were formulated to contain .9% lysine, .6% Ca, and .34% P. Apparent nutrient digestibilities were calculated from total collection of urine and feces for 5 d. There were no differences among treatments for energy and nitrogen digestibility. Pigs fed low-phytate corn with no added P had increased digestibility and retention of P and reduced total P excretion (P < .05). We conclude that low-phytate corn contains at least five times as much available P as normal corn. The use oflow-phytate corn greatly reduced the amount of P excreted by the pig and increased the N:P ratio in the manure.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2000

Growing-finishing performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed normal and genetically modified low-phytate corn.

A genetically modified corn hybrid homozygous for the lpa1 allele, containing low phytate (LP), and its nearly isogenic equivalent hybrid (normal) were compared in two experiments with growing-finishing swine. In Exp. 1, 210 barrows (27 kg) were allotted to one of six dietary treatments with two corn hybrids (LP and normal) and three P feeding regimens. There were five replicate pens (seven pigs/pen) per treatment. Treatments consisted of diets that were supplemented with P throughout the growing-finishing period (.2% P and .15% supplemental P during growing and finishing phases, respectively) or only during the growing phase (.2% supplemental P) or that were not supplemented with P throughout the growing-finishing period. Performance at the end of the growing phase was based on a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two corn hybrids and two levels of added P (0 and .2%). This resulted in 10 replicates for the treatments supplemented with .2% P. The finishing phase (73 to 112 kg) was a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with the two types of corn and three regimens of added P during the finishing period. Breaking load (BL) and ash of the fourth metacarpal were evaluated from one pig/pen at the end of the growing phase and from all pigs after slaughter. Pigs fed the LP corn diet without added P had greater body weight gain, feed efficiency, BL, and ash content of the fourth metacarpal than pigs fed the normal corn diet without added P. Performance was similar between pigs fed the LP diet without added P and pigs fed LP and normal corn with added P. In Exp. 2, 1,092 gilts (34 kg body weight) were allotted by weight in a commercial facility to one of three treatments: 1) normal corn/soybean meal diet containing .29% and .22% available P during the growing and finishing phases, respectively; 2) LP corn/soybean meal diet with the same available P level as Treatment 1; and 3) same as Treatment 2 for 8 wk, then no inorganic P supplementation during the finishing phase. All pigs were slaughtered at approximately 122 kg. There were no significant differences in growing-finishing performance or BL among treatments. However, pigs fed diets containing LP corn possessed carcasses with less backfat and a higher percentage of lean (P < .01). These results confirm that the P in LP corn is available to the pig and suggest that pigs fed diets containing this genetically modified corn will have more desirable carcasses.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2000

The Department of Defense Medical Mortality Registry.

The Department of Defense Medical Mortality Registry is being implemented at the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, providing the first comprehensive medical mortality surveillance for the Department of Defense. The Registry attempts to obtain complete medical and circumstantial information on every military active duty death for medical surveillance and prevention research. Medical records, autopsy reports, eyewitness accounts, and investigative reports are reviewed to validate and synthesize medical, circumstantial, and risk factor information on each death. All military active duty deaths since 1980 are currently identified and classified by manner of death (accident, suicide, homicide, illness, hostile, undetermined). Military death rates have decreased during the past two decades by nearly half. About three-quarters of military deaths are attributable to injury (accident, suicide, homicide). The Registry creates new opportunities for prevention-oriented research as it collects detailed information on every military death.

Government Agencies↗
PubMed1998

Cholestatic hepatitis after liver transplantation is associated with persistently high serum hepatitis C virus RNA levels.

Viral recurrence is universal after transplantation for hepatitis C infection. This may lead to difficulties in differentiating allograft dysfunction caused by chronic rejection from hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. Cases of severe cholestatic hepatitis have also been reported in conjunction with reinfection of the graft with HCV. Patients receiving transplants for HCV-related liver disease were studied before and after transplantation by HCV RNA quantitation of serial serum samples. Four major clinical patterns of HCV recurrence could be distinguished posttransplantation: group 1, asymptomatic hepatitis with no significant symptoms; group 2, cholestatic hepatitis with centrilobular ballooning; group 3, hepatitis leading to chronic allograft rejection; and group 4, persistently normal serum aminotransferase levels. Pretransplantation viral load was shown to be an important indicator of disease severity because the group 2 patients had significantly higher pretransplantation viral loads than patients in group 1 (P = 0.01) and group 4 (P = 0.005). The group 2 patients also had persistently significantly higher posttransplantation viral loads than the patients in group 1 (P = 0.01) and group 4 (P = 0.02), whereas patients who developed chronic allograft rejection showed marked decreases in serum HCV RNA before retransplantation. Patients from group 4 had the lowest viral loads after transplantation. These results show that persisting graft cholestasis due to HCV is associated with persistently high HCV RNA levels compared with other etiologies of graft dysfunction. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether such quantitation may be diagnostically helpful in distinguishing the different patterns of HCV-related graft dysfunction observed after liver transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Oedème bleu.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Registration bone scan in the evaluation of wrist pain.

We assessed the value of bone scintigraphy combined with X-ray registration for the diagnosis and management of wrist pain in 65 patients. Studies were reported independently by two observers before and after registration. Registration improved localization of scan abnormalities in 53% (observer 1) and 61% (observer 2). In these patients, the bone scan contributed to the diagnosis independently of the X-ray in 37% and the management was altered in 31%. The value of the bone scan in the early diagnosis and management of wrist pain is increased when it is registered with X-rays.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Transmission of hepatitis C virus to infants of human immunodeficiency virus-negative intravenous drug-using mothers: rate of infection and assessment of risk factors for transmission.

The risk of perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from a cohort of 95 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative intravenous drug users (IVDU) is described, 89 of whom were positive for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). Infection, defined as the presence of HCV RNA in a serum sample collected from an infant at any time during follow-up, was detected in six of 63 (9.5%) infants born to HCV antibody-positive viraemic mothers. No mother who was HCV RNA negative at delivery transmitted HCV to her infant. Hepatitis C virus antibodies became undetectable in uninfected infants by 15 months, but persisted in all HCV-infected infants throughout follow-up. An abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was observed on at least one occasion in all HCV-infected infants and in six occasions in uninfected infants. Two of the six HCV-infected infants became HCV RNA negative during follow-up by 27 and 29 months. Both of these infants had a large ALT elevation (mean peak ALT 398U l-1) at around 12 months of age. Analysis of a range of potential risk factors revealed that maternal HCV RNA load was important in predicting transmission, but suggested that other factors play a role in perinatal transmission from mother to child. No difference was found between mothers who transmitted HCV to their infants and those who did not for HCV genotype, duration of drug use, duration of methadone use, methadone dose, history of alcohol abuse, past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, mode of delivery, maternal and gestational age, birth weight and incidence of breast-feeding. Mothers who transmitted HCV to their infants had a longer duration between membrane rupture and delivery than the mothers who did not transmit (P = 0.03). HCV RNA was not detected in breast milk and colostrum samples from 38 viraemic mothers, including two who transmitted HCV to their infant.

Alanine Transaminase↗