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Biomedical subjects

R Kay

Publications and source records attributed to R Kay.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Soluble CD23 levels are elevated in the serum of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.

The low affinity IgE receptor Fc epsilon RII (CD23) is important in several aspects of T and B cell function. In this study serum levels of soluble CD23 (sCD23) were measured in three groups: 26 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 21 females with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and 25 normal healthy females. The concentration of sCD23 was determined using an enhanced chemiluminescent sandwich ELISA developed in this laboratory. Increased levels of sCD23 were observed in pSS and in SLE patients compared with controls (median 23.0 versus 8.6, P less than 0.0002 and 18.1 versus 8.6, P less than 0.002 respectively). While the median level of sCD23 was found to be higher in pSS than in SLE the difference was not statistically significant. Patients with SLE and pSS on glucocorticoid treatment had significantly lower levels of sCD23 than patients not on this treatment (median 28.9 versus 14.4, P less than 0.05). Amongst the control patients sCD23 was inexplicably lower in the female members relative to the males (median 8.5 versus 12.3, P less than 0.05). Although serum IgG and IgA levels were significantly elevated in pSS and SLE patients relative to controls there was no direct correlation between sCD23 and the serum levels of these immunoglobulins. We conclude that B cell hyperactivity which occurs in both pSS and SLE is associated with raised levels of sCD23.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of fetal hydronephrosis in utero.

Ultrasonography offers a noninvasive method to visualize antenatal or neonatal anatomy which will lead to early detection and treatment of abnormalities. In these 2 cases, ultrasound allowed prompt diagnosis of hydronephrosis despite normal physical examination and laboratory values at birth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Prognostic significance of modal DNA value and other factors in malignant tumours, based on 1465 cases.

The modal DNA values of 1465 tumours, together with other factors of possible prognostic importance, were related to the survival of the patients, using regression models (Kay, 1977). For most tumour sites except the testis, the distributions of modal DNA values were bimodal, with peaks at the diploid level and in the triploid-tetraploid range. For all tumour sites except the cervix uteri, patients in the low (near-diploid) range showed better survival; the reverse was true for squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix uteri. Other variables showed the following effects: for all sites except the testis, younger patients showed a better survival; for the cervix and corpus uteri, breast and ovary, increasing clinical stage was associated with poorer survival. Where evaluated, histological grade appeared to be associated with survival rate, the less well differentiated tumours having a worse prognosis, except for the breast, where the reverse correlation was noted. For carcinoma of the bladder, females and a poorer survival rate than males.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Effects of glucose and amino acids on insulin, glucagon and zymogen granule size of foetal rat pancreas grown in organ culture.

Foetal rat pancreatic rudiments explanted on day 14 of gestation were grown for 6 days in organ culture in medium containing glucose (5.5(1G) or 16.5(3G)mmol/l) and amino acids at the 'physiological' (1AA) or seven times the 'physiological' (7AA) concentration. Cultures were also performed in medium to which zinc sulphate had been added at 10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/l concentration. At the end of the period of culture the diameters of insulin, glucagon and zymogen granule profiles in the rudiments were compared with those in normal 20-day foetal pancreas by quantitative morphology. The beta cell volume, the number of granules per beta cell, the insulin granular volume fraction and the area of insulin granule core and halo were also measured under selected experimental conditions. Zymogen granule profiles were largest in vivo, intermediate in diameter when grown in 1G x 7AA medium and smallest in 1G x 1AA medium. The mean diameter of glucagon granule profiles remained constant for growth in vivo, in 1G x 7AA medium. Insulin granule profiles were largest in 1G x 1AA medium or in 1G x 7AA medium, smallest in 3G x 1AA mdeium and of intermediate diameter in vivo. Amino-acid enrichment increased the diameter of insulin granules and glucose enrichment decreased it. The addition of zinc to the culture medium had no effect on insulin granule diameter. In 1G x 7AA cultures the beta cells were of similar size to those in vivo, but there were 29% fewer insulin granules per cell. The increased size of the insulin granules in 1G x 7AA cultures resulted in the insulin granule volume fraction in 1G x 7AA being 17.6 compared with 10.8% in vivo. Insulin granule cores were made larger by amino-acid enrichment of the culture medium but they were unaffected by glucose. The haloes were larger in 7AA medium and smaller in 3G medium. Glucose and amino-acid enrichment had a significant interaction on halo area, the mean area in 3G x 7AA medium being less than would have been expected from the summation of the effects of the two conditions.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

Induced varicoceles in rhesus monkeys.

Varicoceles were surgically induced unilaterally in seveh rhesus monkeys. Effects of the varicoceles were documented by quantitative and qualitative changes in the semen analysis and testicular biopsies. Testicular temperatures appeared to be higher bilaterally in animals with varicoceles. Testosterone and estradiol levels in the testicular vein were somewhat higher on the experimental side. We found no evidence for adrenal retrograde flow.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Immunofluorescence titres of sperm centrifuged at different speeds.

Two washing procedures were used on spermatozoa to test the effect of centrifugation on immunofluorescent staining. The rapidly centrifuged spermatozoa often exhibited a loss of acrosomal but an increase in tail antigenicity. A standard technique of sperm preparation for immunofluorescence is recommended in order to have reliable and comparable results.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1977

Principles of management of the persistent cloaca in the female newborn.

The persistent cloaca in the female newborn is one of the most complex and challenging developmental malformations that the pediatric urologist will encounter. A review of 5 patients seen at this center and 34 completely documented cases was undertaken to characterize the defects and devise a logical diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Diagnostic steps include the search for associated anomalies, which were present in the upper urinary tract (33 per cent), gastrointestinal tract (13 per cent), cardiovascular system (13 per cent), central nervous system (10 per cent) and respiratory tract (5 per cent). Delineation of the cloaca and its anatomic relationships is determined by abdominal x-rays, injection of contrast material into the cloacal channel, excretory urography and endoscopy with selective catheterization. Surgical treatment begins with a diverting right transverse colostomy in the newborn period followed by rectal pull-through when the patient weighs 25 pounds. Vaginal pull-through should be performed at the same time as the rectal pull-through if the vagina enters the cloaca high. If the cloacovaginal communication is low a vaginoplasty by a posterior flap procedure can be done when the child is 10 to 12 years old. Even is anatomy is reconstructed in an ideal manner urinary and fecal continence cannot be assured since congenital neurologic dysfunction is not uncommon.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1977

Propantheline as a diagnostic tool--a serious complication.

Propantheline bromide is a synthetic quaternary ammonium compound widely used in urologic patients to block the action of acetylcholine at the postganglionic nerve endings of the bladder's parasympathetic innervation. It is used clinically in a wide range of doses in ambulatory outpatients as well as hospitalized patients. To document its effects on the bladder, test doses are given with a cystometrogram documenting the dynamic changes. Herein we report a case of serious cardiac toxicity from a diagnostic test dose.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Antigenicity of frozen and fresh spermatozoa.

Since cryopreservation of spermatozoa causes surface changes, we tested whether specific antigens associated with the plasmalemma might be dislodged or destroyed during freezing. When we compared the use of frozen sperm with the use of fresh sperm in indirect immunofluorescence tests for antisperm antibodies, we found changes in antigenicity. There was a decrease in antigenicity of the acrosomal region, and antigenicity of the sperm tail was increased with the addition of 10% glycerol, with or without cryopreservation. These results suggest that women who are infertile and, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence, have antibodies to sperm may be aided by artificial insemination with the husband's cryopreserved sperm.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1975

A family study of coeliac disease.

Studies by Thompson, 1 Carter et al, 2 MacDonald et al. and McCrae 4 have all shown a high familial frequency of coeliac disease (CD). The diagnostic criteria differed in each study; in Thompson's patients the diagnosis was based on clinical or historical data alone; in Carter's study response to a gluten-free diet was required, while in MacDonald's and McCrae's studies the diagnostic criteria included the demonstration of the lesion of CD by small bowel biopsy. In MacDonald's study some asymptomatic cases were discovered and a few of these had normal fat balance results. No hereditary pattern emerged from these studies though MacDonald postulated a dominant gene with variable penetrance while McCrae suggested that susceptibility to CD is inhereited multifactorially and that enviromental factors other than dietary gluten are of aetiological importance. Hoffman et al. 5, on the other hand, have described discordance for CD in identical twins.

Adolescent↗