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Biomedical subjects

L J Newman

Publications and source records attributed to L J Newman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Isolation of fatty acids covalently bound to the gastric mucus glycoprotein of normal and cystic fibrosis patients.

Covalently bound fatty acids were found in strictly purified and delipidated gastric mucus glycoprotein of normal and cystic fibrosis individuals. The susceptibility of this linkage to methanolic KOH and hydroxylamine treatment indicated the ester bond between fatty acids and glycoprotein. On the average, 2.9 nmol fatty acid/mg glycoprotein were found in normal samples, and 12.2 nmol/mg glycoprotein in samples derived from cystic fibrosis. In normal gastric mucus glycoprotein the covalently linked fatty acids consisted of hexadecanoate (47.0%), octadecanoate (22.0%), tetracosanoate (5.9%), octadecenoate (14.5%) and tetracosenoate (6.0%). In cystic fibrosis mucus glycoprotein the covalently bound fatty acids were comprised mainly of hexadecanoate (36.5%), octadecanoate (48.7%) and octadecenoate (8.6%). These data indicate that cystic fibrosis gastric mucus glycoprotein is highly acylated and perhaps this is the major defect of glycoproteins in this disease.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

Lipids of gastric secretion in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Lipids were investigated in gastric secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis and of normal individuals. Organic extracts from dialyzed and lyophilized samples were fractionated on silicic acid columns into neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids. The lipids contained in each fraction were separated into individual components by thin-layer chromatography and quantitated. The gastric secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis contained 80-140% more lipids than those of normal individuals, exhibited an elevated level of neutral lipids and contained alkylglycerols and alkylacylglycerols. The level of glycolipids was higher in normal gastric secretions. The phospholipids of cystic fibrosis secretions exhibited about 50% lower content of lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylserine. The glycosphingolipids of both types of samples contained mono-, di- and trihexosylceramides. The major glyceroglucolipid of normal gastric secretions was tetraglucosyl glyceroglucolipid, whereas hexa- and octaglucosyl glyceroglucolipids were predominant in cystic fibrosis samples. The sulfated glyceroglucolipids in cystic fibrosis samples were lower than those of normal secretions and represented only 4-37% of total glyceroglucolipid, whereas in normal secretion sulfated glyceroglucolipids averaged 50-62%.

Cholesterol↗

The folate in human milk.

In previous studies of the folate content of human milk, samples were prepared for assay by a method that resulted in a turbid solution that was then assayed by a turbidimetric microbiological method. We have used an improved microbiological assay in which the milks were treated with rennin to precipitate casein and heated in a buffered ascorbate to coagulate lactalbumin and lactoglobulin. Milks were obtained serially from nursing mothers for periods ranging from 1 day to 6 months postpartum. The results showed that the folate in human milk has few glutamate residues since treatment with a purified folate conjugase preparation release no additional folate activity for Lactobacillus casei. Colostrum is relatively low in folate, but milk folate increases as lactation proceeds. During each stage of lactation there was great variation in milk folate content among the women. In the case of a folate-deficient woman, supplementation with folic acid resulted in a prompt increase in milk folate level.

Adult↗

Isoetharine-isoproterenol: a comparison of effects in childhood status asthmaticus.

Eighteen children in status asthmaticus, six to 14 years of age, were systematically studied to compare the efficacy of aerosolized isoetharine and isoproterenol. The studies were conducted in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Five inhalations of 1% isoetharine and 0.5% isoproterenol were administered via a wall-mounted air/O2 nebulizing unit. Pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, FVC, PEFR, FEV1 and FEF25-75 were measured at the patient's bedside. Isoetharine produced significantly less cardiac side effect and tended to produce a greater improvement in pulmonary function than did isoproterenol. In addition, no change from baseline was noted in any of the parameters at 120 minutes following treatment with either medication.

Adolescent↗

A self-help program for childhood asthma in a residential treatment center.

A structured program designed to enhance self-treatment was successfully implemented in a residential center for asthmatic children. The ultimate objective of the program was to improve compliance with therapeutic regimens, which was felt to be a factor that had necessitated placement of many of the patients. The program was designed to educate the patient and the patient's family regarding the nature of asthma, its treatment and the importance of self-help. Efforts were also made to enhance the emotional maturity of the child. Patients remembered to take their medication over 90% of the time within 1 month of implementation of the program. a similar program was instituted for outpatient use.

Asthma↗

Communicating hydrocephalus following total parenteral nutrition.

Communicating hydrocephalus secondary to cerebral venous outflow obstruction has been reported in a few patients several months following removal of a TPN catheter. We report the case of an infant who developed this sequal 4 mo after the catheter was removed. We illustrate the techniques used to delineate the type of hydrocephalus. A lumbo-peritoneal shunt was performed to alleviate the condition.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗

Radiography of hydrocephalus after total parenteral nutrition.

An infant with chronic diarrhea developed hydrocephalus following treatment with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) via jugular vein catheterization. Total parenteral nutrition is used when nutritional needs cannot be met adequately by oral alimentation. Serial computerized tomograms showed progression of communicating hydrocephalus. Superior sagittal sinograms demonstrated bilateral internal jugular vein occlusion with extensive venous collateralization. Lumboperitoneal shunt effectively decreased raised CSF pressure. A judicious approach to alternative venous routes for hyperalimentation is suggested. Radiographic delineation of communicating hydrocephalus by computerized tomography and superior sagittal sinography is presented.

Brain↗

Riboflavin deficiency in women taking oral contraceptive agents.

The effect of oral contraceptive agents (OCA) on riboflavin nutritional status of women of child-bearing age in a low socioeconomic population was studied. For a control group, 100 women in the same age and socioeconomic group using alternate forms of contraception were selected. Riboflavin deficiency was determined by measuring erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity, a reliable index of the deficiency. None of the women was on vitamin supplements or had clinical conditions effecting dietary intake or utilization. Eleven of 100 women in the control group had biochemical evidence of deficiency. This compared to 24 of 56 OCA users who were deficient. The frequency of deficiency increased among those on OCA for longer periods of time. Thirteen of 17 OCA users for 3 years or more, compared to 11 of 39 users under 3 years were deficient. There were no discernable dietary differences between the groups. These studies demonstrate that riboflavin deficiency is a problem of women in the lower socioeconomic level in the child-bearing age. The use of OCA aggravates the prevalence of deficiency.

Adolescent↗

Intestinal duplication in a patient with neurofibromatosis: aid of ultrasound and CT scan in diagnosis.

A 5-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis is described, whose symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting were due to an intestinal duplication. Intestinal duplication has not been previously reported as a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in neurofibromatosis. The utilization of ultrasound and computerized tomography scan as useful modalities for the diagnosis of duplication of the bowel is described.

Child, Preschool↗

Low blood selenium levels in patients with cystic fibrosis compared to controls and healthy adults.

Frank clinical selenium deficiency has been described in cystic fibrosis (CF), and a relative deficiency has been proposed as contributing to the pathogenesis of the disease. Because of these possibilities, we investigated the relationship between overall nutritional status in CF with measures of selenium nutriture. Fifteen stable outpatients with CF (group I) were compared to 13 age-matched controls (group II) and 27 healthy adults (group III). Whole blood, plasma, and red blood cell selenium levels were reduced by 31%, 29%, and 33%, respectively, in CF patients vs controls (all p less than 0.001). In addition, both groups I and II showed significantly lower blood selenium levels than healthy adults (p less than 0.005). Nutritional assessment revealed CF patients to be undernourished, with significant decreases in serum albumin (p less than 0.025), weight-for-height deficit (p less than 0.01), and weight-for-age (p less than 0.025) vs controls. However, only the triceps skinfold (TSF) measurement correlated significantly with selenium status (r = 0.56: p less than 0.05 for whole blood selenium vs TSF). We conclude, based on the magnitude of decrement in blood selenium, that it is unlikely that selenium plays a significant primary pathogenic role in cystic fibrosis. However, these patients are at high risk for developing clinical selenium deficiencies. The measurement of blood selenium levels using appropriate age-matched normal standards should be mandatory in all CF patients with malnutrition, or in those requiring parenteral nutritional support.

Adolescent↗