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Biomedical subjects

K C Blake

Publications and source records attributed to K C Blake.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Reticuloendothelial function and plasma fibronectin in a murine model of intra-abdominal sepsis.

The lung is the target organ most frequently involved in the early phase of multiple organ failure. Microembolisation of the pulmonary vasculature by bacterial and non-bacterial particles and debris with failure of the clearance mechanism of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and depletion of plasma fibronectin have been implicated in the pathogenesis. The present study examined the concurrent changes in plasma fibronectin, RES phagocytic function, organ localisation of bacterial and non-bacterial particles and the levels of circulating endotoxin and fibrin degradation products in a clinically relevant murine model of severe intra-abdominal infection. Progressive sepsis was associated with deteriorating RES phagocytic function to 45% of control values within 48 h of sepsis induction. There was decreased hepatosplenic uptake and increased pulmonary localisation of bacterial and lipid emulsion particles. Plasma fibronectin increased in septic animals within 48 h suggesting increased fibronectin production. These changes would support the hypothesis that altered RES function may facilitate pulmonary microembolisation in the pathogenesis of septic multiple organ failure.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1983

Effect of calcium and phosphorus on the gastrointestinal absorption of 203Pb in man.

Calcium and phosphorus were mainly responsible for reducing the gastrointestinal absorption of lead in human subjects. The effect of calcium was greater than phosphorus, and their combined effect was more than additive. Increasing weights of calcium and phosphorus progressively reduced lead absorption. The relationship between absorption and increasing weights could be described by two negative exponentials. These effects could be explained if lead competed with calcium and phosphorus for common transport mechanisms in the gut. Milk was also found to reduce lead absorption. Adding milk to the diet of people with low dietary calcium intake could reduce the possibility of increased absorption of ingested lead.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Influence of the amount of platelet-bound IgG on platelet survival and site of sequestration in autoimmune thrombocytopenia.

Seventeen patients with idiopathic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura were studied in order to establish whether the amount of platelet-bound antibody influenced the rate and site at which these platelets were destroyed. Platelet-bound antibody was measured by a quantitative antiglobulin consumption technique, and platelet survival and sites of sequestration were determined by the use of 51Cr-labeled platelets and surface radioactivity measurements. A correlation significant at the 5% level was observed between the amount of platelet-bound antibody and the rate of platelet destruction. A highly significant correlation (p less than 0.001) existed between antiplatelet antibody and spleen: liver surface radioactivity ratios, demonstrating that greater amounts of antibody bound to platelets result increasingly in their destruction within the liver.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Kinetics of insulin secretion in chronic pancreatitis and mild maturity onset diabetes. (Evidence for "gut hormone" action beyond glucoreceptor and cyclic adenosine monophosphate mediated insulin release).

We studied insulin responses to glucose with and without cholecystokinin-pancreozymin and aminophyllin infusions in normal, chronic pancreatitic and genetic (maturity-onset) diabetic subjects. Glucose was given alone as separate 5 and 10 g boluses followed by infusion at 250 mg/min. and 500 mg/min., respectively. Chronic pancreatitis patients and genetic diabetic patients had decreased Imax values, indicating a decreased insulin reserve. Sensitivity to glucose was normal in pancreatitic subjects, but the diabetic subjects had a raised G50 value, compatible with glucoreceptor dysfunction. Infusions of aminophyllin enhanced insulin responses (Imax) to glucose injection in normal subjects and to a lesser degree in pancreatitic subjects, but decreased sensitivity to glucose (increase in G50) in both groups. Although the Imax value in pancreatitic subjects was significantly lower than in the control subjects during the glucose plus aminophyllin infusion, the blood glucose concentration in the pancreatitic subjects was nonetheless decreased. This suggests that pancreatitic subjects have increased endogenous insulin sensitivity. Aminophyllin had no effect in diabetic subjects. Crude cholecystokinin-pancreozymin changed the shape of the glucose/insulin dose response curve in normal, pancreatitic and diabetic subjects. These findings further suggest that the defect in insulin secretion in pancreatitic subjects is partly situated at the cyclic adenosine monophosphate stage of insulin release. Crude cholecystokin-pancreozymin seems to affect insulin release at a point beyond the cyclic adenosine monophosphate stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Renography using the gamma camera and the intertechnique cinescintigraphy system. A review of the current applications.

The application and use of radio-isotopes in nephrology have been neglected by clinicians. The indications and techniques used in the renogram and renal scan in the light of our experience over 2 1/2 years are presented. Although these methods are finding ever-increasing applications, the main uses at this stage are the investigation of possible renovascular hypertension, acute obstructive renal failure and postrenal transplant complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The inexhaustible beta cell.

Repeated intensive pancreatic beta-cell stimulation was carried out in 42 subjects, comprising 22 normal controls, 10 mild to "severe" maturity-onset diabetics, and 10 chronic pancreatitis patients. Each subject received 75 gm. oral glucose twice and 1 mg. glucagon plus 0.5 gm. tolbutamide intravenously three times at short intervals. Each of the three combined stimuli caused almost equivalent marked spikes of insulin release in all experimental groups. The total calculated output of insulin was equivalent to the total daily insulin output in normal subjects. Pancreatitics and those with severe diabetes (fasting blood sugar greater than 120 mg./100 ml.) had qualitatively similar but a quantitatively smaller response. Those with mild diabetes were similar to the normal subjects but had an exaggerated response to the second oral glucose dose, suggesting overactivity of the enteroinsular axis. Despite the inordinate insulin levels, hypoglycemia did not occur.

Adult↗