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Biomedical subjects

M Meerkin

Publications and source records attributed to M Meerkin.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1986

High aluminium content of infant milk formulas.

The aluminium content of several commercially available infant milk formulas was measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Results were compared with those for fresh breast milk, cow's milk, and local tap water. Differences in aluminium concentration of greater than 150-fold were found, with the lowest concentrations in breast milk.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1985

The creatine kinase reference interval. An assessment of intra- and inter-individual variation.

Serum creatine kinase (CK) values in reference populations generally vary by greater than one order of magnitude. This large range of variation overlaps the range of values found in female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limits the clinical usefulness of serum CK testing. In order to examine whether the source of this variation is intrinsic variability of individual CK values, or whether the variation is due to day-to-day variation in each individual's CK activities, we tested 15 female medical students at weekly and 22 female medical students on at least 3 occasions. Each venesection followed a 3-day exercise free interval, according to a standard protocol, designed to minimise the effects of exercise. Each individual tended to have consistent CK activities. The range of variation in the same individuals on different occasions was small (the mean coefficient of variation, CV was 19%). There was a much greater range of serum CK activities between individuals (CV 47%). Even when sporting activities were excluded slightly higher values were found after minor exercise was recorded in the three days prior to venesection. The conclusion that individuals have consistent serum CK activities was supported by the results from a larger population tested under standardised resting conditions on three different occasions which yielded similar frequency distributions on each occasion.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Variable distributions of serum creatine kinase reference values. Relationship to exercise activity.

Although the effect of exercise on serum creatine kinase (CK: EC 2.7.3.2) activity is well known, no standard protocol for blood collection conditions has been developed. Variable frequency distributions of CK activities have been reported for reference range samples from different laboratories and have been attributed to laboratory differences. In this study the frequency distributions of creatine kinase activities (CK: EC 2.7.3.2) in serum samples obtained from the same groups of volunteers varied from a normal Gaussian distribution, to skewed distributions, on different occasions. In one collection extremely high CK values followed the performance of an eccentric exercise step test 5-8 days previously. In 2 students serum CK activities had not returned to resting values 12 and 15 days later. Peak serum CK values occurred within 24 h of other types of exercise. Serum CK frequency distributions in blood samples obtained from a group of nurses was skewed, whereas the distribution in mothers of school children was Gaussian. When repeat samples were obtained from the nurses after instruction to avoid exercise, the distribution became Gaussian. In view of the increasing levels of physical activity in the community, a standard protocol for serum CK analysis is required, in which exercise activity over the previous three weeks should be documented. Test subjects should be counselled to avoid unusual eccentric exercise and sampling should include 3 tests at least 1 week apart.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Rubella warning.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Iron deficiency and anemia among Indian women in Fiji.

In June 1979, 245 Hindu and 240 Moslem women of childbearing age (14-45 yr) living in a semi-rural area north of Lautoka were tested for anemia and for iron-deficiency. Ninety-six (39%) of the 245 Hindu women and 77 (32%) of the 240 Moslem women were anemic according to World Health Organization criteria. Most of the cases of anemia were due to iron-deficiency. The prevalence of anemia did not change significantly with advancing age or increasing parity. Hookworm ova were found on examination of a single specimen of feces in 27 (14%) of 195 Hindu and 50 (24%) of 209 Moslem women. The presence of hookworm did not correlate with anemia. The red cell folate level was less than 160 micrograms/l in 117 (24%) of 478 women and the serum vitamin B12 level was less than 100 ng/l in 47 (10%) of 476 women. Subnormal levels of these vitamins did not correlate with anemia. The serum ferritin was determined to assess tissue iron stores. Two-hundred-and-twenty-four (46%) of 484 Indian women tested had serum ferritin values of less than 10 microgram/l; 400 (83%) had ferritin values of less than 26 microgram/l. The high prevalence of iron deficiency appears to be due predominantly to dietary factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Serum ferritin in patients with hereditary spherocytosis.

Serum ferritin was measured in 61 patients with autosomal dominant hereditary spherocytosis (HS), 44 splenectomized and 17 with intact spleens. In the majority (78%) the serum ferritin concentration was not elevated. Thirteen (22%) had midly elevated levels, including five splenectomized females (range 181--236 microgram/l), and eight males, two with intact spleens (range 236--436 microgram/l). The serum ferritin was not raised in 15 of the 17 non-splenectomized individuals. This group included one female who had been venesected for iron overload and further investigations have shown that both the genes for HS and haemochromatosis are present in her family. These results demonstrate that iron stores are usually normal in HS, and that prevention of iron overload alone is not an indication for splenectomy. The rare report of a patient with HS and severe iron overload may perhaps be explained by the fact that the gene frequency for haemochromatosis is common in the population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Evaluation of the Centrifichem system.

The general performance of a new rotary fast analyser, the Centrifichem system, has been evaluated as part of a field test programme. The instrument is easy to use and proves to be reliable, accurate and precise. The major advantages over other standard forms of instrumentation are its flexibility and economy in terms of labour and reagent costs.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of aerobic exercise on serum creatine kinase activities.

Aerobic exercise is now a common form of recreational exercise among young women. In a previous study, more than a third of a group of young mothers volunteering blood samples to establish a creatine kinase (CK) reference range for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) carrier detection regularly participated in aerobic exercise programs. Aerobic exercise programs include eccentric exercises. As eccentric exercise is known to produce a delayed CK peak, this study was carried out to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on serum CK activities. The postexercise serum CK activity peak was monitored in 15 young women (age range 20-23 years) following aerobic exercise classes (45 minutes on 3 consecutive days). Peak values at 24-48 hours following the last class ranged from 90 to 3473 U/liter, or 1.55 to 34.71 times resting values. It is concluded that aerobic exercise programs should be excluded in order to obtain accurate resting serum CK values for muscle disease diagnosis.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chronic cadmium poisoning.

Chronic cadmium poisoning occurs after prolonged exposure to the dust or fumes of cadmium-containing compounds. This paper describes the case of a pigment worker exposed to cadmium carbonate dust who exhibited many of the characteristic features of chronic cadmium poisoning.

Cadmium Poisoning↗