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Biomedical subjects

M O'Brien

Publications and source records attributed to M O'Brien.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Controlled ultrafiltration (UF) with hemodialysis (HD): analysis of coupling between convective and diffusive mass transfer in a new HD-UF system.

A convertible and versatile dialysis system consisting of a PMMA hollow fiber unit and UFR controller is shown to be useful for evaluating the effect of solute and fluid removal rates on adequacy of dialysis. Post-dilution mode where high UFR is applied to the patient with matching or comparable dilution rate is concluded to be most effective modification for enhancing the clearance for "middle molecules", without sacrificing the removal rates for the small solutes.

Creatinine

Efficacy of diet and exercise in the reduction of serum cholesterol and triglyceride in free-living adult males.

Young males with levels of serum cholesterol or triglyceride in the upper quartile of the distribution for volunteers tested, participated in a program designed to determine the effect of diet and exercise on serum lipids. Dietary modifications involved caloric restriction superimposed on either the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations for type II or IV hyperlipoproteinemia, as appropriate, or superimposed on a fat-controlled regimen in which fat of an unspecified nature was restricted to 30% of total calories. Participants with elevated levels of cholesterol responded significantly better when instructed in the diet meeting NIH criteria, 21% change in cholesterol, than when instructed in a diet controlled in fat, 11% change in cholesterol. For those with elevated levels of triglyceride, the NIH type IV diet was no more effective at the end of 6 months than the diet controlled in fat where caloric restriction was a part of both dietary regimens. The mean change in triglyceride for this group was 32%. Those with elevated levels of both cholesterol and triglyceride were less amenable to change than those with a single hyperlipidemia. For some diagnostic types, the results were suggestive of a beneficial effect of exercise in addition to diet in accelerating or maintaining reductions in serum lipids.

Adult

Modification of the regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase of Neurospora by growth at elevated temperatures.

Pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) was isolated from Neurospora crassa mycelium grown at 28 degrees C (PK-28) and at 42 degrees C (PK-42). The regulatory properties, particularly the response towards the allosteric effector fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP), was different in the two enzymes. PK-28 showed an activation by FDP but PK-42, under comparable conditions, appeared to be activated by low concentrations of FDP and inhibited by higher ones. For PK-28, complex formation with FDP results in a lowering of the isoelectric point from 6.40 to 5.50, representing the pI of the unliganded enzyme and that of the complex, respectively. In contrast to this, PK-42 exhibits a weak binding to FDP as suggested by a lack of decrease in the isoelectric point on treatment with comparable concentrations of FDP. Studies with quenching of aromatic residue fluorescence of PK-28 and PK-42, following binding of FDP, indicate that although this ligand binds to both types of enzymes the affinity for the two is vastly different. Dissociation constants of 9.3 muM and 0.1 mM were calculated for the binding of FDP to PK-28 and PK-42, respectively. It is concluded that growth at elevated temperatures induced a conformational change in the pyruvate kinase leading to partial desensitization of the allosteric site. The nature of the factor(s) responsible for this change is not understood at present.

Allosteric Regulation

Automated spectrophotometric assay of cefazolin.

An automated, stability-indicating, UV spectrophotometric assay for cefazolin is presented. The method employs a reaction with hydroxylamine and derives its stability-indicating power through comparison of reacted and unreacted aliquots of the sample. A double-probe sampling procedure is used. Good agreement with microbiological assays is obtained, and the coefficient of variation is about 1%.

Autoanalysis

Anti-Kell (K1) in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

A transiently occurring anti-Kell antibody was observed in a 2 1/2-year-old child who had idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after recovery from an upper respiratory tract infection. The antibody was probably of the IgM class. There was no history of prior blood transfusion.

Agglutination Tests

Association of bone mineral density and pediatric fractures.

Bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and the left femoral neck was measured for a group of 17 children, 3-14 years of age, who had sustained traumatic fractures. Children with any signs of metabolic bone disease were excluded from the study. Identical measurements were made on an age- and sex-matched control population using dual photon absorptiometry. Analysis of bone mineral measurements revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between the lumbar and femoral neck densities of the two groups. The results indicate that reduced bone density is unlikely to play a significant role in acute traumatic pediatric fractures.

Adolescent

Performance and clinical use of a convertible hemodialysis (HD) - ultrafiltration (UF) system.

A hemodialysis-ultrafiltration system has been developed and evaluated. It may be used either as a conventional hemodialyzer or as a nondialytic ultrafilter. When used as a dialyzer an ultrafiltration controller is required to fix ultrafiltration rate at the desired level. Rates of low molecular solute removal are compatible with those observed in commercially available artificial kidney systems, higher clearances are obtained for middle molecules, and the rate of ultrafiltration can be controlled within narrowly prescribed limits.

Blood Flow Velocity

Mean flow velocity in the right common carotid artery before and after maximal exercise.

The effect of exercise on mean flow velocity (MFV) in the right common carotid artery (RCC) was studied using pulsed Doppler ultrasound. MFV was measured at rest and at 2 minutes intervals after a 6 minute rowing ergometer test. Age-related maximum heart rate of 190 +/- 10 beats.min-1, maximum respiratory rate of 60 +/- 5 breaths.min-1, and postexercise lactate level of greater than 8 mmol.l-1 were the criteria used to define maximal exercise. The control group comprised 13 healthy, active males, mean age 19.8 years, with 19 healthy oarsmen, mean age 19.9 years, in the exercise group. At rest, MFV in the RCC was found to be 18.6 +/- 5.6 and 16.4 +/- 6.3 cm.min-1 in the control and exercise groups respectively. After exercise, MFV decreased to 21% of its resting value and remained significantly reduced (posthoc tests, Newman Keuls at alpha = 0.01) until 14-16 minutes of recovery. Mean systemic arterial pressure (MSAP) remained within normal limits. Mean age-related maximum heart rate was 182 +/- 3 beats.min-1, respiratory rate 58 +/- 3 breaths.min-1, and postexercise serum lactate 20.2 +/- 3.5 mmol.l-1 which satisfied the criteria for maximal exercise. In this group of young males, MFV in the RCC decreased markedly after maximal exercise and remained significantly reduced for a long period. This sustained reduction in MFV has not previously been described and is most likely due to vasoconstriction in distal cerebral resistance arterioles mediated by hypocapnia and autonomic activity.

Adult