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Biomedical subjects

J Pope

Publications and source records attributed to J Pope.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Primary follow-up care in a multidisciplinary setting enhances catch-up growth of very-low-birth-weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of multidisciplinary primary care follow-up, which included the services of a registered dietitian, on growth outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. DESIGN: Data were obtained retrospectively from medical records. Forty-two infants receiving follow-up care on an as needed basis from the general pediatric clinic were compared with 33 infants receiving multidisciplinary follow-up care that included routine nutrition intervention from the comprehensive care clinic. Comparisons were made in weight, length, and head circumference measurements; growth rates; and catch-up growth (defined as > or = 5th percentile on growth charts of the National Center for Health Statistics attained by 12 months growth-corrected age). SUBJECTS: VLBW infants (< or = 1,500 g at birth) were selected from both follow-up groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi 2 Analysis compared the proportions of infants in each group who achieved catch-up growth. Unpaired t tests compared group means in weight, length, and head circumference measurements and growth rates. RESULTS: The two groups differed significantly in the number of infants exhibiting catch-up growth for length and head circumference. At 8 months growth-corrected age, 7 (28%) of the general pediatric clinic infants were at the 5th percentile or greater for length compared with 21 (64%) of the comprehensive care clinic infants (P < .01); 15 (60%) of the general pediatric clinic group and 30 (91%) of the comprehensive care clinic group were at the 5th percentile or greater for head circumference (P < .05). At 12 months growth-corrected age, 12 (57%) of the general pediatric clinic infants and 26 (87%) of the comprehensive care clinic infants were at the 5th percentile or greater for length (P < .05); 11 (52%) of the general pediatric clinic infants and 27 (90%) of the comprehensive care clinic infants were at the 5th percentile or greater for head circumference (P < .05). APPLICATIONS: Multidisciplinary primary care follow-up that includes the services of a registered dietitian for nutrition intervention can enhance the catch-up growth of VLBW infants through 12 months growth-corrected age.

Comprehensive Health Care↗
PubMed1996

Ureteral replacement with reconfigured colon substitute.

PURPOSE: Upper ureteral defects are often too extensive to repair by direct anastomosis or with use of a bladder flap. Ureteral substitution may be the only remaining alternative to restoring urinary drainage from the kidney to the bladder. This effect is usually achieved by interposing a segment of small bowel between the proximal collecting system and bladder. If ileum is not available other substitution alternatives must be sought. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report a new technique in which a tube constructed from a small piece of ascending colon was used to replace a large ureteral defect. RESULTS: Excellent short-term results were achieved by replacing the strictured ureteral segment with a reconfigured colon segment as shown by symptomatic and radiographic improvement. CONCLUSIONS: A reconfigured colon segment can be used for ureteral reconstruction in the patient with limited alternatives. This tube has several advantages for ureteral reconstruction over ileal segments.

Colon↗
PubMed1995

High level expression of human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) from a synthetic gene in Escherichia coli and the physical and biological characterization of the protein.

LIF is a multi-functional cytokine that elicits effects on a broad range of cell types. In this report, we present the high level expression of human LIF (hLIF) from a chemically synthesized gene template in Escherichia coli where it comprises up to 25% of the cellular protein. The recombinant hLIF, after purification and folding, was examined using CD, FTIR spectroscopy and light scattering. CD and FTIR spectra showed that the hLIF is an alpha-helical protein and has a distinct tertiary structure. The IFTR spectrum resembles that of other four helical bundle proteins including G-CSF and IL-6. Light scattering analysis indicated that it is a monomeric protein, distinguishing it from M-CSF and interferon gamma, which also belong to the class of four helical bundle proteins but are dimeric. Recombinant hLIF was assayed for its activity on the murine leukemic cell line, M-1 as well as on human leukemic cell line, ML-1. It inhibited the growth of M-1 cells and differentiated them towards macrophages. However, it did not have any differentiation inducing effect on human leukemic cell lines alone or in combination with other cytokines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

PCNA Ki-67 dissociation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. An immunofluorescent laser confocal scanning microscopical study.

Cell proliferation rates of diagnostic marrow aspirate cells of 21 children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and 16 controls were compared using immunocytochemical labelling of PCNA and Ki-67 antigen as assessed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. The results showed an unexpected, highly significant degree of dissociation between PCNA and Ki-67 expression in ALL blasts. The PCNA labelling indices of ALL patients were significantly increased (mean 44, range 24-77) compared with normal reactive marrow cells (mean 13.8, range 4-26) (p < 0.000001, Mann Whitney U two tailed test), suggesting an abnormal commitment to proliferation. Ki-67 expression was raised to a lesser extent in ALL cells (mean 14.8, range 1.2-35) when compared to non-malignant proliferations (mean 6.6, range 1.7-25) (p < 0.02). PCNA/Ki-67 LI ratios in ALL (mean 7, range 1.1-35) were higher than in controls (mean 2.7, range 1.04-6.5, p < 0.09). As cell proliferation rates actually achieved in the bone marrow do not differ as strongly as suggested by the extreme difference in PCNA labelling, a pathological dissociation of PCNA/Ki-67 expression exists, suggesting immortalisation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of leukemia inhibitory factor.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a polyfunctional molecule with significant and diverse biological activities. LIF is a glycoprotein secreted by a number of different cell types in vitro. It is induced in fibroblasts, lymphocytes, monocytes and astrocytes by various inducers such as serum, TNF, interleukin-IP and EGF. Due to extensive and variable glycosylation the molecular weight can range from 38 to 67 kDA. The biological functions of LIF are mediated through a receptor and a signal transducer, gp130, which is also used by factors like interleukin-6 (IL-6), cilliary neurotropic factor (CNTF), and oncostatin M (OSM). Here, we report the crystallization of the non-glycosylated human-like LIF expressed in E. coli. The present crystals diffract to 2.0 A using synchrotron radiation. They belong to the monoclinic space group C2, and the cell dimensions are a = 61.5 A, b = 45.3 A, c = 77.7 A and beta = 112.3 degrees.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1993

Treatment of systemic sclerosis.

Although there have been no major breakthroughs in scleroderma therapy, new treatments have been tested in patients with systemic sclerosis, including both interferon alfa and interferon gamma. These biologic agents can reduce collagen synthesis, which is a rational target for scleroderma therapy. Debate about the use of photopheresis continues, and it was suggested in a recent editorial that photopheresis is no better than D-penicillamine in the treatment of scleroderma and is more expensive. Cyclosporine appears to have frequent renal toxicity when used to treat scleroderma. Outcome measurements have been concentrated on in scleroderma trials. Several types of scleroderma classifications were compared, and the classification of diffuse and limited scleroderma was strongly related to disease severity. Skin score was systematically compared with mapping the surface area of involved skin, and the skin score was found to be more reliable. A possible prognostic indicator in scleroderma is high-resolution pulmonary computed tomography, which is sensitive in early detection of scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease. Classification of Raynaud's phenomenon into primary and secondary forms has been proposed, and further testing of the criteria and long-term follow-up is necessary to validate this classification. Over the past year, treatment of vasospasm with prostacyclin analogues has been efficacious with iloprost but not with low-dose oral cicaprost. Tissue plasminogen activator is not beneficial in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon. A report of radical microarteriolysis for the treatment of refractory Raynaud's phenomenon seems promising, warranting further investigation.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1991

A new qualitative variant of the RhE antigen revealed by heterogeneity among anti-E sera.

We have recently detected a new qualitative variant of the RhE antigen characterised by negative reactions with a minority of anti-E sera, and an inability of the relevant cells to completely absorb most, if not all, anti-E samples that we tested. In tube tests, using a two-stage enzyme technique, cells from the proposita (V.R.) were completely agglutinated by 8 out of 12 undiluted polyclonal sera, weakly agglutinated (2+ and 3+ reactions) by 2 sera, but not agglutinated by the 2 remaining sera. Cross-absorption tests using 1 non-reacting, 1 weakly reacting and 4 strongly reacting polyclonal anti-E sera showed that V.R.'s cells only slightly reduced their anti-E titres versus r"r cells, whilst completely removing their reactivity against her own cells. Absorptions with R2R2 cells abolished activity against both cell types. The cells of V.R. failed to absorb or elute anti-Ew, and had normal expression of c. Three monoclonal human anti-E reagents were tested by fluorescence flow cytometry; one reagent failed to react with the cells of V.R., a second bound as strongly with V.R.'s cells as with R1R2 controls while the third bound much more weakly with V.R. than with any other E+ sample. The variant of RhE in the V.R. family is therefore distinct from Ew, and lacks an epitope recognised by a major constituent of most anti-E sera. This epitope is unlikely to be ET, since all of 91 samples from E-positive Australian aborigines (many of which are expected to lack ET) were agglutinated by a serum that failed to react with V.R.'s cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1990

Decision rules for the ECG diagnosis of inferior myocardial infarction.

ECG measurements from 341 patients with inferior myocardial infarction (IMI) and 327 normal subjects were used to develop and test decision rules for the ECG diagnosis of IMI. Recursive partitioning provided a simple decision rule with 75% sensitivity and 97% specificity, using Q amplitude and Q duration in a VF, Q duration in III, and T-wave axis in the frontal plane as decision variables. Dropping T-wave axis from the decision rule led to a 10% decrease in sensitivity. Multiple logistic regression provided sensitivities and specificities which were similar to those for recursive partitioning. Both methods outperformed traditional noncontour criteria for IMI.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Retinal vasculopathy associated with systemic light chain deposition disease.

A 35-year-old black male with the abrupt onset of blurred vision and decreased visual acuity was found to have severe retinal vasculopathy associated with systemic light chain deposition disease. While ocular manifestations are frequently reported in other plasma cell dyscrasias; ophthalmologic symptoms have not been previously reported in systemic light chain deposition disease alone. A possible mechanism of light chain deposition and damage to the retinal vasculature is proposed.

Adult↗