SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “functionality”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,729 records · Page 96Linked to original sources

PubMed1984

Abnormalities of liver function and the predictive value of liver function tests in infection and outcome of acutely ill elderly patients.

In a prospective study of 79 acute admissions of elderly patients to a Geriatric Unit, elevated alkaline phosphatase levels were commonly associated with the presence of extrahepatic bacterial infections. The changes were attributed to alkaline phosphatase liver isoenzymes. There was no significant change in aspartate transaminase levels or in bilirubin levels in infection. Such frequent abnormalities of alkaline phosphatase disproportionate to bilirubin and aspartate transaminase are not described in younger patients with infection. These findings may reflect age-related changes in liver function. In the same series, both bilirubin and albumin were predictors of outcome.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Serum cystatin C as an endogenous marker of renal function in patients with mild to moderate impairment of kidney function.

BACKGROUND: Estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is essential for the evaluation of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently, serum cystatin C was proposed as a new endogenous marker of GFR and in our study its diagnostic accuracy was compared with that of other markers of GFR. METHODS: In this study, 164 patients with CKD stages 2-3 (GFR 30-89 ml/min/1.73 m2), who had performed 51Cr-labelled ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid clearance, were enrolled. In each patient, serum creatinine and serum cystatin C were determined. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault (C&G) and the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formulas. RESULTS: The mean 51CrEDTA clearance was 57 ml/min/1.73 m2, the mean serum creatinine 149 micromol/l and the mean serum cystatin C 1.74 mg/l. We found significant correlation between 51CrEDTA clearance and serum creatinine (R = -0.666), serum cystatin C (R = -0.792), reciprocal of serum creatinine (R = 0.628), reciprocal of serum cystatin C (R = 0.753) and calculated creatinine clearance from the formulas C&G (R = 0.515) and MDRD formulas (R = 0.716). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis (cut-off for GFR 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) showed that serum cystatin C had a significantly higher diagnostic accuracy than serum creatinine (P = 0.04) and calculated creatinine clearance from the C&G formula (P < 0.0001), though only in female patients. No difference in diagnostic accuracy was found between serum cystatin C and creatinine clearance calculated from the MDRD formula. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that serum cystatin C is a reliable marker of GFR in patients with mildly to moderately impaired kidney function and has a higher diagnostic accuracy than serum creatinine and calculated creatinine clearance from the C&G formula in female patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Maternal thyroid function: interpretation of thyroid function tests in pregnancy.

Thyroid status is frequently assessed during pregnancy, both to evaluate suspected thyroid abnormalities, and to monitor the status, of pre-existing thyroid disease. However, the production, circulation, and disposal of thyroid hormone are all altered in pregnancy. Interpretation of thyroid function studies in the pregnant patient must be performed based on an understanding of the normal physiologic changes at each stage of pregnancy. Examples of pregnancy-associated changes include, estrogen-stimulated increase in serum thyroxine binding globulin, chorionic gonadotropin stimulated T4 and T3 production from the thyroid gland, and accelerated degradation of thyroid hormone by the placenta. The serum-TSH alone is usually not adequate to assess thyroid status in pregnancy, and the various conditions that can effect this measurement are described. The pattern of thyroid studies in pregnancy is important in diagnosing thyroid disease, and it may indicate physiologic adaptations to optimize maternal thyroid status for fetal development.

Female↗

PubMed1998

Treatment of cardiac allografts with established leukocyte infiltration by modulation of alpha4 (CD49d) and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (CD11a/CD18) integrin function.

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte infiltration is a landmark feature of organ rejection. The present study was undertaken to determine whether monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against alpha4 (CD49d) and/or leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1; CD11a/CD18) would reverse ongoing rejection in a mouse C57BL/6-to-BALB/c heart transplant model. METHODS: Control animals had rejection on postoperative day (POD) 8. Treatment with mAb started on POD 4 when leukocyte infiltration was well established. The recipients were treated with (1) mAb LFA-1, (2) mAb alpha4, and (3) mAbs LFA-1 + alpha4 at a dose of 6 mg/kg/day i.v. on PODs 4, 5, and 7. Untreated and rat IgG-treated animals were used as controls. RESULTS: Control animals experienced rejection on POD 8. Treatment with mAb against LFA-1 or alpha4 alone prolonged allograft survival to 17.0+/-3.2 and 24.3+/-4.6 days, respectively (P < 0.01 vs. controls). Combination therapy with both mAb increased allograft survival to 28.2+/-3.7 days (P < 0.01 vs. controls). Sequential pathological studies showed the mAb to alpha4, but not LFA-1, markedly reduced the degree of lymphocytic infiltration in cardiac allografts. In contrast, a different pattern was observed using in vitro studies: mAb to LFA-1, not alpha4, significantly reduced proliferative responses in mixed lymphocyte culture and interleukin-2 production from recipient splenocytes on POD 8. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that integrins play an important role in rejection. Although the effect of mAb against alpha4 and LFA-1 may involve different mechanisms, treatment with mAbs to integrins may be valuable in future clinical transplantation by averting ongoing rejection and prolonging graft survival.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Functional evaluation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: pulmonary function test versus cardiopulmonary exercise test.

The pulmonary function test (PFT) alone may be inadequate for predicting work-related exercise capacity in patients who file workers' compensation claims for respiratory limitation and compensation. Two hundred sixteen ambulatory patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 second = 54.1 +/- 16.8% predicted) were administered the PFT and cardiopulmonary exercise test, and the results were analyzed by categorical statistical comparison, based on standard medical impairment classifications. Sixty-five patients (30.1%) were similarly classified by the two methods. Of the remaining patients, 132 (61.1%) were found to be less impaired according to the cardiopulmonary exercise test than according to the PFT, and 19 (8.8%) were more impaired according to the PFT. The results favor the use of the cardiopulmonary exercise test for the routine evaluation of respiratory impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly for patients with mild or moderate impairment revealed by the PFT. The large discrepancy between the two procedures emphasizes the need for a novel approach.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Pancreatic function testing: serum PABA measurement is a reliable and accurate measurement of exocrine function.

A comparison between the NBT-PABA/14C-PABA test (NBT-PABA, n-benzoyl-tyrosyl para-aminobenzoic acid) using the PABA excretion index (PEI) and serum PABA estimation at 90 minutes has been made in 42 consecutive subjects attending for investigation of possible pancreatic disease to a District General Hospital (DGH). The PEI was unobtainable or incorrect on 38% of occasions compared with 9% for the serum test. Sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency for the PEI (n = 33 valid results) were 71%, 88%, and 79% respectively and for the serum PABA (n = 41 valid results), 95%, 90%, and 93% respectively. These results confirm that measurement of serum PABA is a simpler, more reliable, and a more accurate method of assessing pancreatic function.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗

PubMed2000

Poststress measurements of left ventricular function with gated perfusion SPECT: comparison with resting measurements by using a same-day perfusion-function protocol.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the development of ischemia during stress testing and the changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measurements obtained after stress and at rest with a same-day perfusion-function imaging protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-six patients underwent a same-day rest-stress (61%) or stress-rest (39%) protocol and gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Perfusion analysis was performed with a 12-segment model. Defects were scored (0 = no defect, 1 = mild defect, 2 = moderate defect, and 3 = severe defect); differences between the summed stress and resting scores of greater than three indicated substantial ischemia. RESULTS: Resting and poststress LVEFs correlated significantly (r = 0.97, P <.001); however, patients with and patients without ischemia had significant differences in poststress versus resting LVEFs (-4.0 vs 1.0, respectively; P <.01). In patients with ischemia versus patients without ischemia, subgroup analysis stress-rest (-2.5 vs 1.0, P =.047) and rest-stress (-4.0 vs 1.0, P =.006) protocols yielded similar results. CONCLUSION: In patients with clinically important stress-induced perfusion abnormalities, the LVEF after stress was significantly lower than the LVEF at rest with same-day rest-stress and stress-rest imaging protocols. In the clinical setting, poststress LVEFs may be lower than true resting measurements, particularly in patients with moderate to severe stress-induced ischemia.

Adenosine↗

PubMed1983

Frame by frame analysis of left ventricular function. Quantitative assessment of regional and temporal function.

We made a frame by frame analysis of the left ventricular cineangiogram to quantitate normal regional left ventricular function. Two different methods were used: contraction of the left ventricle towards a fixed point at the center of its long axis, and a pattern of contraction normal to the outline of the ventricle. Each method was used with and without correction for rotation and translational movement during systole. Left ventricular contraction and relaxation were represented graphically on a three-dimensional perspective plot and also using contour mapping techniques. The normal values and standard deviation were calculated for the extent, velocity and time course of ventricular contraction and relaxation in each region of the ventricle. The study provided a graphic visual display of the regional contractile pattern of the normal ventricle.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

Blood and urinary concentrations of fosfomycin as a function of the renal function value.

The following parameters were considered in studying 43 subjects under treatment for urinary infections with different degrees of renal insufficiency: the maximum blood concentrations, the plasmatic half-life, and the urinary concentrations of fosfomycin as a function of the plasma creatinine of the subject treated. The curve of the average maximum blood concentrations show a parabola-like increase, the plasmatic half-life followed the same tendency, while the curve of the average urinary concentrations presented an exponential decrease. The urinary concentrations were, nevertheless, always higher than 100 mug/ml regardless of the degree of renal insufficiency and even in the subjects who had a very high plasma creatinine. Given its absence of renal and systemic toxicity, the daily dosage of fosfomycin could remain unchanged regardless of the degree of insufficiency.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1999

The effect of antiplatelet drugs, heparin, and preanalytical variables on platelet function detected by the platelet function analyzer (PFA-100).

The platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100 is a newly developed instrument that provides a rapid, in vitro, quantitative measurement of platelet adhesion and aggregation in whole blood flowing through a small aperture under high shear conditions. Thirty patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and ten normal individuals were included in this study. In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to discern the effect of combinations of antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, ticlopidine, abciximab) and heparin on the performance of the device as well as the effects of preanalytical variables, such as method of sample collection and ex vivo anticoagulants. Studies were also conducted examining the effect of aperture size (standard 150 microns vs. smaller 120 microns) on the ability of the device to detect the effect of antiplatelet drugs. There was no difference in mean PFA-100 closure time with citrate versus PPACK anticoagulants or with venipuncture vs. sheath sampling. Closure times did not vary with heparin administration. Closure times were slightly longer for patients taking aspirin plus ticlopidine compared to aspirin alone (p = NS). In contrast adenosine disphosphate (ADP) induced platelet aggregation was significantly less in patients that took aspirin plus ticlopidine vs. aspirin alone (p = .0005). In vitro, there was a dose-dependent increase in closure time for both aperture sizes with increasing abciximab concentration. Although both cartridges showed infinite closure times at an abciximab concentration of 2.25 micrograms/mL, there was a slight benefit to using the 120 microns aperture cartridges at abciximab concentrations of 1.75 to 2.0 micrograms/mL. In ten patients who were followed during abciximab therapy to assess the effect of aperture size, the PFA-100 was able to detect in vivo platelet inhibition by abciximab, but detection of recovery from abciximab-induced platelet dysfunction was slightly better for the PFA-100 with the 120 microns aperture compared to the standard 150 microns aperture collagen/ADP cartridge.

Abciximab↗

PubMed1999

The feasibility of high dose iodine 131 treatment as an alternative to surgery in patients with a very large goiter: effect on thyroid function and size and pulmonary function.

Some patients with very large goiters (>150 mL) are not candidates for surgery. We evaluated the feasibility of high dose 131I in such patients. Twenty-three patients (2 men and 21 women; median age, 67 yr; range, 42-86 yr) with very large goiter (8 toxic) were treated with calculated high dose 131I [median, 2281 megabecquerels (61.6 mCi); range, 988-4620 megabecquerels (26.7-124.9 mCi)]. During the 12-month observation period, goiter reduction and tracheal anatomy were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging, and the respiratory capacity was monitored by pulmonary function tests. Five patients (22%) developed hypothyroidism. Thyroid volumes were at baseline, after 1 week, and after 1 yr [mean +/- SEM, 311 +/- 28, 314 +/- 26 (P = NS), and 215 +/- 26 (P < 0.01) mL]. The relative changes 1 week after therapy ranged from -14.1% to 15.3%. After 1 yr the mean size was reduced by 33.9% (range, 13.5-61.4%). Only the initial goiter size showed a significant negative correlation to the percent reduction. The smallest cross-sectional area of the trachea decreased 9.2% within 1 week after treatment, but eventually emerged with a 17.9% larger area [mean +/- SEM, 84.3 +/- 4.8, 75.5 +/- 5.1 (P < 0.01), and 98.2 +/- 6.0 (P < 0.01) mm2]. The inspiratory parameter, FIF50%, improved after an initial insignificant decline [baseline therapy, after 1 week, after 3 months, and after 1 yr (mean +/- SEM), 2.37 +/- 0.24, 2.20 +/- 0.21 (P = NS), 2.51 +/- 0.23 (P = NS), and 2.76 +/- 0.25 (P = 0.01) L/s]. FIF50% correlated significantly with the smallest cross-sectional tracheal area (baseline, 1 week, and 1 yr: r = 0.74; P < 0.001, r = 0.63; P < 0.005, and r = 0.46; P < 0.05). Changes in tracheal anatomy did not correlate with changes in either lung dynamics or goiter size. In conclusion, very large goiters can be reduced by a third, on the average, with high dose 131I therapy without any initial clinically significant tracheal compression. Tracheal cross-sectional area as well as pulmonary inspiratory capacity improve. No serious adverse effects are seen.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Respiratory function in multiple sclerosis. Utility of clinical assessment of respiratory muscle function.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the utility of clinical assessment of respiratory muscle weakness in MS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 40 MS patients who performed pulmonary function tests using standard procedures and measures of respiratory muscle strength. Descriptive clinical indices included a history of detailed neurologic findings, including upper and lower extremity weakness, cerebellar signs, and evidence of cerebral lesions and other clinical signs including dependence in activities of daily living, shortness of breath, weak voice, dysarthria and dysphagia. We devised an index comprised of four clinical signs: the patient's report of difficulty in clearing pulmonary secretions and his report of a weakened cough, the examiner's observation of the patient's cough, and ability to count on a single exhalation. RESULTS: Mean values of TLC (95 percent +/- 14) VC (91 percent +/- 19), and RV (106 percent +/- 34) were normal. By contrast, MVV (68 percent +/- 20), PImax (74 percent +/- 27) and PEmax (51 percent +/- 22) were decreased. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that the best single predictor of expiratory muscle weakness was the index score; the combination of index score, upper extremity weakness, and maximal voluntary ventilation accounted for 60 percent of the variance in PEmax. CONCLUSION: We conclude that clinical assessment is a better predictor of respiratory muscle weakness than spirometry and that a systematic clinical assessment supplemented by respiratory muscle assessment and MVV can uncover subtle respiratory muscle weakness in patients with MS.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Functional analysis in single-lung transplant recipients: a comparative study of high-resolution CT, 3He-MRI, and pulmonary function tests.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a postprocessing tool to quantify ventilated split-lung volumes on the basis of (3)He-MRI and to apply it in patients after single-lung transplantation (SLTX). High-resolution CT (HRCT) was employed as a reference modality providing split air-filled lung volumes. Lung volumes derived from pulmonary function test results served as clinical parameters and were used as the "gold standard." MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight patients (mean age, 54 years) with emphysema and six patients (mean age, 58 years) with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. All patients were evaluated following SLTX. HRCT was performed during inspiration (slice thickness, 1 mm; increment, 10 mm). For correlation with (3)He-MRI, HRCT images were reconstructed in coronal orientation to match the same anatomic levels. Aerated lung was determined by threshold-based segmentation of CT. (3)He-MRI was performed on a 1.5-T scanner using a two-dimensional, fast low-angle shot sequence in coronal orientation covering the whole lung after inhalation of a 300-mL bolus of hyperpolarized (3)He gas followed by normal room air for the rest of the tidal volume. Lung segmentation on (3)He-MRI was done using different thresholds. RESULTS: In emphysematous patients, (3)He-MRI showed excellent correlation (r = 0.9) with vital capacity, while CT correlated (r = 0.8) with total lung capacity. (3)He-MRI correlated well with CT (r > 0.8) for grafts and native fibrotic lungs. In emphysematous lungs, MRI showed a good correlation (r = 0.7) with the nonemphysematous lung volume from CT. Increasing thresholds in (3)He-MRI reveal differences between aerated and ventilated lung areas with a different distribution in emphysema and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: (3)He-MRI is superior to CT in emphysema to demonstrate ventilated lung areas that participate in gas exchange. In fibrosis, (3)He-MRI and CT have a similar impact. The decrease pattern and the intraindividual ratio between ventilation of native and transplanted lungs will have to be investigated as a new surrogate for the ventilatory follow-up in patients undergoing SLTX.

Female↗

PubMed2004

The functional interaction of the beta 2 integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 with junctional adhesion molecule-A is mediated by the I domain.

Binding of the beta(2) integrin LFA-1 (alpha(L)beta(2)) to junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) has been shown to enhance leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration. This is mediated by the membrane-proximal Ig-like domain 2 of JAM-A; however, the location of the JAM-A binding site in LFA-1 has not been identified. We have deleted the I domain in the alpha(L) subunit of LFA-1 and expressed this alpha(L) mutant in alpha(l)-deficient Jurkat J-beta(2).7 cells to demonstrate that the I domain of LFA-1 is crucial for their adhesion to immobilized JAM-A. This was substantiated by blocking the stimulated adhesion of wild-type Jurkat T cells or monocytic Mono Mac 6 cells to JAM-A using the I domain-directed mAb TS1/22 or the small molecule antagonist BIRT 377, which stabilizes the low-affinity conformation of the I domain. The immobilized LFA-1 I domain locked in the open high-affinity conformation was sufficient to support binding of transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing JAM-A. Solid-phase binding assays confirmed a direct interaction of recombinant JAM-A with the immobilized locked-open I domain. These data provide the first evidence that the I domain of LFA-1 contains a functional binding site for JAM-A.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[Evaluation of renal function and prediction of renal functional recovery in children with unilateral hydronephrosis using renal pelvic urine].

In 29 children with unilateral hydronephrosis who underwent surgery at the age from 2 months to 15 years (27 patients with ureteropelvic junction stenosis and 2 with obstructive megaureter), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG), alpha 1-microglobulin (alpha 1-MG), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and albumin were determined in renal pelvic urine from the hydronephrotic kidney to evaluate renal dysfunction accompanying urinary tract obstruction. Moreover, it was also examined whether it is possible to predict functional recovery of the hydronephrotic kidney on the basis of relation between these indices and pre- and postoperative changes in renal dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) uptake rate. The values of beta 2-MG, alpha 1-MG, NAG and albumin in urine from the renal pelvis were high in 48%, 50%, 75% and 83% of the patients, respectively. Among the patients of one year and up, those with low preoperative DMSA uptake rate tended to have high values of beta 2-MG, alpha 1-MG and NAG. On the contrary, albumin level was high in 78% of patients who had good preoperative DMSA uptake rate. With respect to the relation between pre- and postoperative changes in DMSA uptake rate and each index, beta 2-MG and alpha 1-MG were high in 73% and 62% of patients who exhibited a marked increase in postoperative DMSA uptake rate. In patients without a remarkable change in DMSA uptake rate before and after surgery, on the other hand, the values of these were high only in 25% and 36%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Functional appliances and functional regulators.

Patients with dental malocclusions and facial-skeletal problems often have unattractive facial and dental features that can create social and emotional problems such as lack of self-confidence and poor self-image. In addition, a number of medical problems are associated with facial-skeletal disharmonies. Here, we review three functional appliances--the Schwarz, Bionator, and Frankel III --that can be used to correct dental and facial-skeletal problems.

Cephalometry↗

PubMed1999

[Dependence of the pump function of the isolated rat heart on the functional activity of sigma receptors during reperfusion].

Pre-treatment of the sigma-receptor with the sigma-receptor agonist (+)-SKF 10.047 improved the reperfusion recovery of cardiac pump function. The sigma-receptor activation, among other effects, prevented the reperfusion contracture, increased pressure in the left ventricle, and improved survival of cardiomyocytes after ischemia/reperfusion. Pre-treatment with the sigma-receptor antagonist DuP 734 augmented the reperfusion systolic dysfunction of the myocardium and prevented postischemic contractures and cardiac cell lesions. Activation of the cardiac sigma-receptor seems to prompt an augmentation of tolerance to the reperfusion damage.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Lung function in childhood. 2. Thoracic gas volumes and helium functional residual capacity measurements in healthy children.

The helium dilution functional residual capacity (FRC) and the total gas volume by plethysmograph (TGV) were measured on 236 healthy London schoolchildren. There was no difference between the results obtained by the boys and girls. The results of the TGV were higher than the FRC values. From the results, normal data charts have been devised for clincial use.

Adolescent↗