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Biomedical subjects

L Rich

Publications and source records attributed to L Rich.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Detection of mRNA for the cytokines, interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-8, in corneas from patients with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy.

PURPOSE: Cytokines have been implicated in corneal inflammatory diseases. The authors sought to determine if corneal diseases with different patterns of inflammation are accompanied by characteristic patterns of cytokine expression. METHODS: The authors used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to detect mRNA for 12 specific cytokines from patients with Fuch's dystrophy (n = 7), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (n = 12), or normal corneas (n = 4). RESULTS: Using Wilcoxon rank sum analysis, mRNA for interleukin (IL)-1 alpha or IL-8 was significantly more abundant in corneas from patients with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy relative to either comparison group. mRNA for the T-cell marker, CD4, and for T-cell derived cytokines, IL-2, IL-4, and interferon gamma, could not be detected in any corneal sample. Message for IL-1 receptor antagonist and transforming growth factor-beta 1 or -beta 2 was readily detectable in most corneas regardless of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the pattern of cytokine mRNA expression reflects differences in the pathogenesis of these corneal diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

N-glycolylneuraminic acid and N-acetylneuraminic acid define feline blood group A and B antigens.

Blood group incompatibility causes transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis in cats. We investigated the molecular nature of the blood group antigens from cats that had blood type A, B, and AB erythrocytes. Naturally occurring anti-type B antibodies, Triticum vulgaris lectin, monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 32-27, and MoAb R-24 were used in agglutination tests, Western blots, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) enzyme immunostaining. Type A erythrocytes had NeuGc-NeuGc-Galactose-Glucose-Ceramide ([NeuGc]2GD3) where NeuGc represents N-glycolylneuraminic acid, and NeuAc-NeuGc-GD3, where NeuAc represents N-acetylneuraminic acid, and may have [NeuGc]2 disialylparagloboside and NeuAc-NeuGc-disialylparagloboside. Type B erythrocytes only had [NeuAc]2GD3. Type AB erythrocytes had [NeuGc]2GD3, NeuAc-NeuGc-GD3, and [NeuAc]2GD3. Blood group antigens were also found on a 50-Kd membrane protein. We conclude that type B erythrocytes are characterized by [NeuAc]2GD3 as the only form of this ganglioside and the presence of NeuAc on a 50-Kd membrane protein. NeuGc is the major determinant of the A antigen; specifically, [NeuGc]2GD3 is the major glycolipid form. The A antigen is also present on a 50-Kd membrane protein.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1990

Obesity in black adolescent girls: a controlled clinical trial of treatment by diet, behavior modification, and parental support.

Recent findings indicate that nearly 50% of black American women are obese and that adolescence is a critical period for the development of their obesity. This study investigated the efficacy of a behavioral weight control program in 36 black female adolescents with a mean age of 14.0 years, weight of 95.0 kg, and height of 163.2 cm. All subjects participated in the same 16-week program but had different levels of parent participation: (1) child alone with no parent participation; (2) mother and child treated in the same session; and (3) mother and child treated in separate but concurrent session. At the end of the 16-week program, children in the three conditions lost 1.6, 3.7, and 3.1 kg, respectively. Differences among conditions were not statistically significant; however, a secondary analysis revealed that the greater the number of sessions attended by mothers, the greater their daughters' weight losses. Weight reduction was associated with significant improvements in body composition, serum total cholesterol concentrations, and psychological status. Results are discussed in terms of the need to improve the maintenance of weight loss in adolescents and to explore possible differences between black and white females in their preferred body types.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Diurnal variation in vision after radial keratotomy.

We tested eight patients who had undergone radial keratotomy with regard to refraction, keratometry, corneal thickness, and intraocular pressure one to two weeks after surgery. Patients were examined immediately after eye-lid opening at 7:30 A.M. and again at 4:00 P.M. The contralateral eye was used as a control. The treated eye was 1.48 +/- 0.24 diopters (mean +/- S.E.M.) more hyperopic at the morning examination compared to the afternoon visit, whereas the control eye had an insignificant shift (0.16 +/- 0.06 diopters). The treated eye was significantly flatter (1.37 +/- 0.19 diopters) in the morning than in the afternoon when compared to the control eyes, which were only 0.11 +/- 0.09 diopter flatter. The intraocular pressure changed insignificantly in both the treated and control eyes (-0.5 +/- 0.53 mm Hg and -0.5 +/- 0.84 mm Hg, respectively). The mean morning corneal thickness was significantly greater (5.7%) than the afternoon thickness when compared to the controls (1.7% morning increase in thickness). These data suggest that diurnal variation in corneal thickness after radial keratotomy plays a role in diurnal variation of vision in the early postoperative period.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Stereo-discrimination between diplopic images in clinically normal observers.

When retinal disparity exceeds the limits for fusion, the resulting images are perceived as diplopic. In a stereo test that allowed comparison of crossed and uncrossed disparity sensitivities, 74% of the subjects perceived convergent disparities more readily than divergent disparities. This asymmetric sensitivity to disparity did not appear to be related to measurements of phoria, vergence amplitudes, or clinical measurements of stereo acuity.

Depth Perception↗
PubMed1984

Inhibition of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum secretion by the human kidney with probenecid.

The renal handling of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CP) was investigated by measuring the renal clearance of creatinine, inulin, and free platinum in ten cancer patients. Free platinum clearances exceeded the glomerular filtration rate in all time periods. For example, at 1 to 2 hr, the mean clearance of free platinum was 224 +/- 32 (S.E.) ml/min compared to a mean creatinine clearance of 94 +/- 15 ml/min or a mean inulin clearance of 94 +/- 17 ml/min (p less than 0.01), indicating secretion of CP or a metabolite. Seven additional cancer patients were treated with probenecid prior to CP. Fractional platinum clearances, calculated as a ratio of free platinum clearance to creatinine clearance, were reduced significantly in the probenecid-treated group (158 +/- 17%) compared to controls (270 +/- 57%) (p less than 0.03). Fractional platinum clearances, calculated as a ratio of free platinum clearance to inulin clearance, were also significantly reduced in the treated group (154 +/- 14%) compared to controls (271 +/- 47%) (p = 0.04). These results suggest that cisplatin is secreted by the human kidney, and this can be inhibited by probenecid. Such maneuvers may be helpful in improving the therapeutic index of this important chemotherapeutic agent.

Cisplatin↗
PubMed1981

Effects of growth factors on corneal wound healing.

Rabbits received nonpenetrating central corneal knife wounds. Immediately after wounding, a single 2.5 or 5.0 micron dose of mesodermal growth factor (MGF) was applied topically to the wound. Controls were treated with saline. Electron microscopic studies compared the healing responses of the control and treated animals over a 7-day period. MGF was a potent nitrogen for keratocytes in rabbit corneas. The single dose enhanced fibroblast proliferation and metabolic activity. Control wounds were not healed after 7 days, whereas those of treated animals showed complete healing.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Lacrimal system dacryoliths.

Seventy consecutive patients undergoing dacryocystorhinostomy for chronic dacryocystitis or dacryostenosis were analyzed. Lacrimal sac stones were found in 11 patients for an incidence of 16%. All stones were studied histopathologically and six of these stones demonstrated morphological characteristics compatible with fungus. Two stones were cultured and one of these grew aerobes with the other growing fungi only. A series of nine patients with canalicular dacryoliths was analyzed. All patients were studied clinically and bacteriologically. No fungus was found on any of these cases. Aerobic cultures were positive in two patients. All patients with canalicular stones grew anaerobes with arachnia propionica and fusobacterium species predominating. The treatment for both problems is recognition and removal of the stones.

Adult↗