Diagnosing a diagnostic study--lipase/amylase ratio.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Richardson.
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A simple and rapid procedure for screening transformant yeast colonies is described. In this method, a trace amount of plasmid DNA is isolated from a small amount of yeast cell mass; then, the presence of the exogenous DNA in each yeast colony is detected by PCR amplification.
Because schizophrenic patients have a lifetime prevalence rate for cocaine abuse between 15 and 50 percent, the use of adjunctive pharmacotherapy should be considered in cocaine-abuse treatment programs. This 12-week, open-label outpatient study compares 12 cocaine-abusing schizophrenic patients treated with desipramine (DMI) 100 to 150 mg and antipsychotic agents to 15 patients treated with only antipsychotic agents (no DMI). All 27 patients participated in a Dual Diagnosis Relapse Prevention (DDRP) program, which integrates traditional substance-abuse relapse prevention and psychiatric social skills training. The DMI group was more likely to complete the study (83% vs. 60%, odds ratio = 3.3, NS) and had fewer cocaine-positive urines during the last 6 weeks (20% vs. 50%, odds ratio = 4.0, p < .01). In the context of a specialized dual diagnosis treatment program, patients receiving DMI substantially decreased cocaine usage and had improved psychiatric symptoms.
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In this study we determined the incidence rate (89%) and characterized the morphology of ultimobranchial body (UBB) remnants found in 18 serially sectioned neonatal thyroid glands. Although UBB remnants are often referred to as solid cell nests, we found cystic features in 55%. Ciliated columnar cells were seen in 23%. One contained a large pseudo-papilla. The UBB cells had nuclei with features reminiscent of papillary carcinoma nuclei in that they were enlarged, oval, and contained finely dispersed chromatin when compared with follicular cell nuclei. Both papillary carcinomas and UBB remnants are common, occur as tiny, solid, or cystic thyroid entities in patients of all ages, may contain papillary structures, and share some common nuclear features. Therefore, it is important to include UBB remnants in the differential diagnosis of minute thyroid entities and to recognize their morphologic features.
1. Outpatients with primary open angle glaucoma uncontrolled on single topical therapy with either pilocarpine or timolol were recruited for a stratified double dummy cross over trial. Once or twice daily sustained release acetazolamide (SRA) was compared with an identical regimen of conventional tablets (CA). 2. During the run in period the patients received 500 mg SRA once or twice daily as needed to control intraocular pressure (IOP). The dose was thereafter kept constant and patients were allocated randomly to 4 weeks treatment with CA followed by 4 weeks SRA or vice versa. IOP and venous plasma concentrations of acetazolamide were measured at weekly intervals. At the end of each 4 week course, patients were admitted for a 24 h profile of IOP and drug concentration measurements. 3. Thirty-five patients were recruited, but eleven were withdrawn during the run in period largely because of adverse effects; these became less troublesome when it was decided to give the once daily dose at 22.00 h. Four were withdrawn during the cross over, two because of inadequate IOP control. Twenty completed the trial. 4. The morning plasma concentration of acetazolamide measured each week showed no tendency to accumulation during the study. The mean swing (maximum minus minimum) in plasma acetazolamide concentration during the 24 h profile was less (P less than 0.005) with the SR formulation (11.6 +/- 4.9; mg l-1) +/- s.d.) than with the conventional (15.5 +/- 4.7) but the mean concentrations over the 24 h profile were indistinguishable (P greater than 0.05; 9.7 +/- 3.8 and 8.6 +/- 2.8 respectively). 5. Satisfactory control of IOP (no more than one reading above 22 mmHg) was maintained despite the changes in formulation in all but two of the patients who entered the cross over study. No close relationship between IOP and plasma concentration of acetazolamide was found. The 24 h IOP profiles whilst receiving each of the formulations were indistinguishable; thus the smoothing of the plasma drug concentration profile achieved by the SR formulation did not reduce the amplitude of swings in IOP. Similarly, no difference was observed between the formulations with respect to adverse effects. 6. It is concluded that the SR and conventional formulations were equivalent with respect to mean plasma acetazolamide concentration, IOP control and adverse effects. The SR formulation did not show practical advantages over the conventional formulation which was equally effective even with dosage intervals of 12 or 24 h.
With the aim of improving the diagnosis and treatment of subclavian vein thrombosis, associated with subclavian cannulation for hemodialysis, we performed Doppler examination of the subclavian vein and clinical inspection of the ipsilateral arm at every dialysis in 50 consecutive patients who received subclavian hemodialysis catheters over 1 year. Edema of the arm and disappearance of the subclavian vein bruit correctly detected 3 cases of subclavian vein obstruction which were confirmed by X-ray venograms. All 3 cases failed to respond to systemic heparin, but were successfully recanalized within 36 h with continuous local streptokinase infusion at a rate of 10,000 U in 1 ml/h. In 4 other cases of edema of the arm, Doppler examination correctly predicted patency of the vein, also confirmed radiologically. In 2 cases of thrombosis, there was an underlying stenosis of the left innominate vein close to its union with the superior vena cava. These were dilated by balloon angioplasty; the stenosis recurred in both cases without recurrent thrombosis, and the angioplasty was repeated. Doppler surveillance seems to be a promising aid to the detection of subclavian vein thrombosis from hemodialysis catheters. Local streptokinase infusion is effective in treating thrombosis. Underlying venous stenosis should be looked for because this may be at least partly remediable by balloon angioplasty.
A cDNA clone for bovine alpha s1-casein variant A was isolated from a mammary gland cDNA library using a synthetic degenerate oligonucleotide probe. The largest Pst I insert containing an EcoR I site was sequenced. It contained 1090 base pairs, 47 in the 5' noncoding region, 603 in the coding region and 440 in the 3' noncoding region. The nucleotide sequence was compared with three published cDNA sequences for alpha s1-casein variant B. The most obvious difference was the absence of the 39 bases encoding the 13 amino acids that are present in the B variant but absent from the A variant. In addition, five other single base positions differed within individual codons among the four sequences at the third base for each codon, but this did not change the amino acids encoded. There were, however, a number of differences found in the 3' noncoding region. The isolated cDNA was subjected to site-directed mutagenesis to replace a Val-Ile dipeptide with Phe-Phe to increase the chymosin sensitivity of the protein. When the milk proteins from mammary gland tissue extracts were typed, the alpha s1-casein A gene product was not detected.
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The effects of graded cyclocryotherapy were studied using pneumatonometry, fluorophotometry, and light and electron microscopy. Cats were treated with either 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees of cyclocryotherapy and were followed up for six weeks. The response of the eyes to treatment was evaluated in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) response, aqueous humor flow rate, and permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier compared with the untreated fellow eye. The average IOP response was determined to be -20%, -44%, and -47% for the 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees treated eyes, respectively. The aqueous humor flow rate was estimated to be -14%, -44%, and -52% for each of the groups, respectively. Finally, the permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier, measured 60 minutes after injection of fluorescein, was estimated to be a percent increase of 22%, 332%, and 285% for each of the groups, respectively. Histologically, the maximally treated eyes (270 degrees) demonstrated greater disruption of the ciliary body compared with the control eyes. Thus, graded cyclocryotherapy causes graded destruction of the ciliary epithelium and proportionally related changes in IOP and aqueous humor dynamics.
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A cDNA library was constructed using poly(A) +RNA from bovine mammary gland. This cDNA library of 6000 clones was screened employing colony hybridization using 32P-labelled oligonucleotide probes and restriction endonuclease mapping. The cDNA from the selected plasmid, pKR76, was sequenced using the dideoxy-chain termination method. The cDNA insert of pKR76 carries the full-length sequence, which codes for mature kappa-casein protein. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA sequence fits the published amino acid sequence with three exceptions; the reported pyroglutamic acid at position 1, tyrosine at position 35, and aspartic acid at position 81 are, respectively, a glutamine, a histidine, and an asparagine in the clone containing pKR76. The MspI-, NlaIV-cleaved fragment (630 base pair) from the kappa-casein cDNA insert has been subcloned into expression vectors pUC18 and pKK233-2, which contain a lac promoter and a trc promoter, respectively. Escherichia coli cells carrying the recombinant expression plasmids were shown to produce kappa-casein protein having the expected mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and being recognized by specific antibodies raised against natural bovine kappa-casein.
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Intravenous phenytoin sodium was given as a high-dose infusion (10 X 8-18 mg/kg) for anticonvulsive prophylaxis to 2 eclamptic patients and to 24 patients with moderate to severe pre-eclampsia. There were no major maternal or neonatal side-effects. Plasma phenytoin levels were within the therapeutic range (7-20 mg/l) at 30 min and 6 h after the infusion in all patients, and remained at a therapeutic level in 21 patients after 12 h. After a second dose of phenytoin in 19 patients, drug levels were within the therapeutic range at 24 h.
A bovine beta-casein cDNA clone was isolated from a cDNA library prepared from mammary gland mRNA. Sequence analysis revealed 25 nucleotides (nt) of the 5' noncoding region, 672 nt of the complete sequence coding and a 3' region of approximately 500 nt. When the nucleotide sequence of bovine beta-casein cDNA is compared to rat beta-casein cDNA (5), a high degree of homology is observed in the first 100 nt corresponding to the signal peptide of the pre-beta-caseins.
beta-Lactamase I (Bacillus cereus) was covalently bound to cyanogen bromide-activated, crosslinked agarose. An initial 5.00 mg of soluble beta-lactamase were used in the immobilization reaction for each preparation, and average coupling yield was 80.5%. Of the enzyme immobilized on the matrix, an average 53.4% remained active. To minimize diffusional effects on immobilized enzyme activity, reaction mixtures were rotated at 250 rpm throughout the study. The shape of the pH activity curve of the immobilized enzyme was identical to that of the soluble enzyme; both exhibited optimum pH around 7.0. In general, only 2-fold differences in Michaelis constant and maximum volume were observed between native and immobilized enzyme when penicillin G was used as the substrate. However, the Michaelis constant of the immobilized enzyme increased up to 22-fold that of the native enzyme when cephaloridine was used as the substrate. The immobilized enzyme exhibited enhanced stability in the acidic pH region in contrast to the native enzyme, which had superior stability in the alkaline pH region. The heat stability of the immobilized enzyme was about twice that of native enzyme after heat treatment at 60 degrees C for 30 min. Approximately a 10% increase of storage stability on immobilization of beta-lactamase was observed when stored at room temperature (23 +/- 1 degree C) for up to 6 d in the absence of antimicrobial agents. Little loss of activity (less than 2%) was noted after repeated use of the immobilized enzyme up to seven times each in 10.0 ml of skim milk containing .5 U/ml penicillin G.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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