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Biomedical subjects

M Crook

Publications and source records attributed to M Crook.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Elevated serum sialic acid in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Serum sialic acid has recently gained interest as a possible cardiovascular risk factor as well as a potential tumour marker. The effect of pregnancy on serum sialic acid is unclear particularly in the post-partum period. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort. SETTING: Teaching hospital antenatal clinic. POPULATION: 29 pregnant women, 27 age matched non-pregnant women. METHODS: Specific enzymatic assay for sialic acid. The first serum sample was taken between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation; in 22 women this was followed by a second serum sample at 12 weeks postpartum. Serum sialic acid concentration was also measured in the 27 controls. RESULTS: Mean (SD) serum sialic acid concentration was higher during pregnancy than post-partum: 91.1 (11.1) v 77.5 (11.1) mg/dl (p < 0.001); or in the control group: 66.0 (9.7) mg/dl (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum sialic acid is elevated during pregnancy and postpartum.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Importance of plasma phosphate determination.

Phosphate is an important component of all tissues and disorders of phosphate homeostasis are common in hospital populations. Hypophosphatemia, which is much more frequent than hyperphosphatemia, is commonly caused by infusion of carbohydrate or respiratory alkalosis. If hypophosphatemia is prolonged, severe consequences such as hemolysis, myopathy, and respiratory dysfunction may occur. In order to prevent these complications it is important to measure plasma phosphate concentration in a number of clinical situations. If severe hypophosphatemia is detected, phosphate supplements should be given to correct it.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Hypophosphataemia in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

We studied the prevalence of hypophosphataemia (< 0.80 mmol/l) in seventeen patients who had undergone bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Thirteen (77%) of the seventeen patients had hypophosphataemia at some stage during the conditioning phase or after their BMT. Seven (41%) of the seventeen patients had hypophosphataemia in the peri-BMT period that is during the conditioning phase or within one week thereafter. Two of the patients showed severe hypophosphataemia (< 0.30 mmol/l). We suggest that plasma phosphate should be monitored in patients with a bone marrow transplant.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Lipoprotein composition and serum Lp(a) lipoprotein in hypobetalipoproteinaemia.

A family with hypobetalipoproteinaemia was studied to examine the Lp(a) lipoprotein, lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride composition of the serum lipids. Lp(a) lipoprotein was measured by immunoassay. Serum lipoproteins were separated by ultracentrifugation. Cholesterol and triglycerides were measured using standard enzymatic assays. Serum apolipoprotein B was low and Lp(a) undetectable in the index patient and in her father and son. Separation of the lipoproteins by ultracentrifugation showed a low cholesterol content of serum low density lipoprotein in the affected family members and also a low triglyceride content of high density lipoprotein particles in two affected members. It is concluded that serum lipoprotein cholesterol is altered in hypobetalipoproteinaemia, and family members of index cases have undetectable serum Lp(a) lipoprotein concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Beta 2 glycoprotein-I antigen is increased in primary hyperlipidaemia.

In order to determine whether elevated levels of beta 2 glycoprotein-I (beta 2GPI) are associated with increased plasma lipids, we measured plasma beta 2GPI antigen levels in 47 patients with primary hyperlipidaemia (20 severe hypercholesterolaemia, nine severe hypertriglyceridaemia, and 18 mixed hyperlipidaemia) and 34 normal healthy subjects. Mean beta 2GPI levels were significantly increased in each patient group (302.3, 272.9 and 299.1 mg/l, respectively) compared to controls (199.6 mg/l) (P < 0.01). Significant correlations were demonstrated between beta 2GPI levels and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the control group (r = 0.387, r = 0.559; P < 0.05), but were not observed in all patient groups. These results indicate that beta 2GPI is increased in hyperlipidaemia and that its distribution between plasma lipid fractions is perturbed. Plasma lipid levels should therefore be considered when interpreting results of beta 2GPI antigen assays.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The relationship of serum total sialic acid with serum acute phase proteins and lipoprotein (a) in patients with severe hypertriglyceridaemia.

Total serum sialic acid (TSA), recently shown to be a cardiovascular risk factor, was measured in 15 patients with severe hypertriglyceridaemia (fasting triglyceride > 2.3 mmol l-1) and 15 age and sex matched normal control subjects. To test the hypothesis that serum TSA is related in some way to serum acute phase proteins we also measured five acute phase proteins, namely alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP), alpha-2-macroglobulin (AMG), C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (HAP) in both groups. Of note was the significantly elevated serum TSA in the severely hypertriglyceridaemic group as compared to normal subjects. Serum TSA being 71.9 +/- 11.7 mg dl-1 and 59.6 +/- 10.2 mg dl-1 respectively (P < 0.01 Mann-Whitney test). Serum CRP was significantly elevated in the type IV patients as compared to controls (6.4 +/- 4.5 mg l-1 vs. 3.3 +/- 1.9 mg l-1 P < 0.05 Mann Whitney test) as was serum AMG (2.1 +/- 0.89 g l-1 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.53 g l-1 P < 0.05 Mann Whitney test). There was no correlation between serum TSA and lipoprotein (a) in either the normal or severely hypertriglyceridaemic subjects. We suggest that serum TSA could in part be related to hypertriglyceridaemia and serum acute phase proteins but that its property as a cardiovascular risk factor is not related to serum lipoprotein (a) concentrations.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Raised concentration of plasma creatine kinase BB isoenzyme in myelodysplasia.

A 72 year old woman presented with a suspected myocardial infarction. An echocardiograph showed no acute changes but her plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity was increased at 343 U/l (< 175 normal range). The apparent creatine kinase-MB activity by a CK-M subunit immunoinhibition assay was 350 U/l. In view of the discrepancy between the total creatine kinase and CK-MB activity plasma creatine kinase electrophoresis studies were performed which showed not only a band of creatine kinase-MM but also a band of creatine kinase-BB, 53% of the total creatine kinase activity. No band of CK-MB was seen. It later transpired that the woman had myelodysplasia. It is suggested that premalignant and malignant haematological conditions should be considered in patients with an unexplained increase in plasma CK-BB.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Plasma sialic acid and acute-phase proteins in patients with myocardial infarction.

Plasma total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid-associated sialic acid (LASA) were measured in 19 patients with a myocardial infarction (MI) on days 1, 2, and 5 and in 19 normal subjects. On each day plasma TSA was elevated in the MI patients as compared with that of normal subjects, although no significant difference was seen in the plasma LASA between the two groups. The following plasma acute-phase proteins were also assayed in the MI patients and the normal subjects: C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (ACT), alpha-2 macroglobulin (AMG), and fibrinogen (FIB). Significantly elevated plasma concentrations were found in the MI patients as compared with normal subjects. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between some of these plasma acute-phase proteins (ACT, AMG, and FIB) and plasma TSA in the MI patients and also in normal subjects (ACT, AMG, CRP, and FIB). However, no significant difference was noted in any of the plasma acute-phase proteins, or plasma TSA, or plasma LASA between survivors and patients who died of their MI.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Serum lipids, acute phase proteins and serum cholinesterase in normal subjects.

Although serum cholinesterase (CHE) is elevated in some hyperlipidaemic subjects, the relationship between serum CHE and lipids in normolipidaemic subjects is scanty. Furthermore, serum CHE is reduced in conditions in which there is an acute phase response. Serum CHE activity was measured in 46 normal individuals (22 males and 24 females). There was no significant difference between the activity of serum CHE in males or females being 6.2 +/- 1.8 U1(-1) vs. 6.4 +/- 1.5 U1(-1) respectively (mean +/- SD). There was, however, a significant correlation between serum CHE and subject age (Spearman rho 0.35, p < 0.05). There was also a significant correlation between serum CHE and serum nonfasting triglyceride concentration (rho 0.34, p < 0.05) and also apolipoprotein B (rho 0.38, p < 0.05) but not serum cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol. Five serum acute phase proteins were measured namely serum alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (ACT), alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP), alpha-2-macroglobulin (AMG), C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HAP). Only serum AGP showed a significant negative correlation with serum CHE (rho - 0.43, p < 0.02).

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Erythrocyte, plasma total, ultrafiltrable and platelet magnesium in type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus.

We studied plasma magnesium, plasma ultrafiltrable magnesium, erythrocyte and platelet magnesium in 28 non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) patients and 28 age and sex matched non-diabetic control subjects. The plasma magnesium concentration was significantly lower in the diabetic subjects as compared with the control subjects (0.67 +/- 0.09 mmol/l versus 0.72 +/- 0.07 mmol/l, P < 0.05) as was plasma ultrafiltrable magnesium (0.43 +/- 0.06 mmol/l versus 0.47 +/- 0.05 mmol/l, P < 0.01. Similarly, erythrocyte magnesium was lower in the diabetic subjects than the non diabetic controls, (0.17 +/- 0.03 nmol/10(6) cells versus 0.19 +/- 0.02 nmol/10(6) cells, P < 0.01. Platelet magnesium was higher in the diabetic subjects (48.3 +/- 19.1 umol/g platelet protein versus 36.6 +/- 22.2 umol/g platelet protein, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the % plasma ultrafiltrable magnesium with respect to total plasma levels between the diabetic and normal subjects (64.7 +/- 4.7% versus 65.8 +/- 3.2% respectively). There was no significant correlation between any of these parameters and systolic or diastolic blood pressure of HbA1C in the diabetics. Nor were there any significant differences in these magnesium parameters in patients with or without diabetic complications.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Alpha 2-adrenoreceptor status of human platelet subpopulations separated by continuous flow electrophoresis.

Human platelets were separated into subpopulations using continuous flow electrophoresis, which uses electrophoretic mobility as the separative parameter. The platelets with the greatest electrophoretic mobility showed higher amounts of total sialic acid than the less electrophoretically mobile subpopulation (74.3 +/- 18.2 nmol/10(9) platelets vs. 49.2 +/- 20.1 nmol/10(9) platelets, p < 0.05 paired Student's t-test). Furthermore, neuraminidase-labile sialic acid was also elevated in the more electrophoretically mobile platelet subpopulation (29.1 +/- 6.0 nmol/10(9) platelets vs. 21.8 +/- 10.4 nmol/10(9) platelets, p < 0.05 paired Student's t-test). We also found that the sialic acid enriched platelet subpopulation had more alpha 2-adrenoreceptors than the less electrophoretically mobile platelets (457 +/- 104 vs. 302 +/- 164 receptors per cell, p < 0.05 paired Student's t-test).

Blood Platelets↗