School absenteeism after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children.

Background And Aims: To examine the functional impact of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as a day procedure, particularly in relation to subsequent school attendance.

Methods: Symptoms and morbidities were prospectively recorded from school-aged children during observation in hospital and for 3 days at home after endoscopy by using a structured questionnaire. Reasons for school absence were identified.

Dual hormonal replacement therapy with insulin and recombinant human insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: effects on the growth hormone/IGF/IGF-binding protein system.

Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) exhibit abnormalities in the GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, including GH hypersecretion, low serum IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels, and elevated IGFBP-1 levels. We recently demonstrated that in IDDM, dual hormonal replacement therapy with insulin plus recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) improves glycemic control better than insulin alone. To determine whether the addition of rhIGF-I therapy to insulin therapy also corrects GH/IGF/ IGFBP abnormalities, we examined the effects of chronic combined rhIGF-I/insulin therapy on key components of the somatotropin axis.

Dual hormonal replacement with insulin and recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I in IDDM. Effects on glycemic control, IGF-I levels, and safety profile.

Objective: To examine if dual replacement with insulin and rhIGF-I, recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (rhIGF-I) may be safe and result in improved metabolic control and reduced insulin usage.

Research Design And Methods: Forty-three patients with IDDM were randomized to receive a daily injection of rhIGF-I (80 mcg/kg s.c.

186Re-labeled antibodies to p185HER2 as HER2-targeted radioimmunopharmaceutical agents: comparison of physical and biological characteristics with 125I and 131I-labeled counterparts.

Overexpression of the HER2/neu protooncogene has been shown to correlate with poor clinical prognosis. A murine monoclonal antibody (4D5) directed against the extracellular domain (ECD) of p185HER2 has been shown to inhibit in vitro and in vivo growth of carcinomas overexpressing HER2 and has been humanized (rhuMAb HER2). The objective of the study was the identification of an agent which might be useful for in vitro studies, tumor imaging and/or radioimmunotherapy by linking beta-emitting radionuclides to these HER2-targeted antibodies.

The effect of variance function estimation on nonlinear calibration inference in immunoassay data.

Often with data from immunoassays, the concentration-response relationship is nonlinear and intra-assay response variance is heterogeneous. Estimation of the standard curve is usually based on a nonlinear heteroscedastic regression model for concentration-response, where variance is modeled as a function of mean response and additional variance parameters. This paper discusses calibration inference for immunoassay data which exhibit this nonlinear heteroscedastic mean-variance relationship.

Bispecific HER2 x CD3 antibodies enhance T-cell cytotoxicity in vitro and localize to HER2-overexpressing xenografts in nude mice.

Recently, we reported the development of fully humanized bispecific F(ab')2 antibodies with dual binding specificities to human T-lymphocytes and to tumor cells overexpressing HER2. These antibodies were shown to effectively mediate targeted HER2-overexpressing tumor cell killing by freshly isolated human T-cells. In this report we extend our studies to describe the interaction of the bispecific antibody with activated T-lymphocytes (ATL) maintained in culture for an extended period of time.

Effect of environment on insulin-like growth factor I refolding selectivity.

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), a 70-amino-acid peptide containing three disulphide bonds, produces two monomeric and several multimeric species during refolding. To optimize production of correctly folded IGF-I, conditions which influence protein refolding, stability and solubility were systematically examined. Combinations of solution components and conditions were analysed to identify synergistic interactions which enhance or reduce refolding efficiency.

Assays for recombinant proteins: a problem in non-linear calibration.

Quantification of protein levels in biological matrices such as serum or plasma frequently relies on the techniques of immunoassay or bioassay. The relevant statistical problem is that of non-linear calibration, where one estimates analyte concentration in an unknown sample from a calibration curve fit to known standard concentrations. This paper discusses a general framework for calibration curve fit to known standard concentrations.

Response to influenza infection in mice with a targeted disruption in the interferon gamma gene.

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is a pleiotropic cytokine secreted by T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells and has been noted to be a first line of host defense in the control of viral infections. To examine further the role of this cytokine in the control of viral infections, mice with a targeted mutation in the IFN-gamma gene were infected with influenza virus, and the in vivo antibody and cell-mediated immune response to viral infection were examined. In addition, cell lines and clones were derived from the immunized animals and the in vitro cytokine production and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response were analyzed.

Some general estimation methods for nonlinear mixed-effects models.

A nonlinear mixed-effects model suitable for characterizing repeated measurement data is described. The model allows dependence of random coefficients on covariate information and accommodates general specifications of a common intraindividual covariance structure, such as models for variance within individuals that depend on individual mean response and autocorrelation. Two classes of procedures for estimation in this model are described, which incorporate estimation of unknown parameters in the assumed intraindividual covariance structure.

Fitting heteroscedastic regression models to individual pharmacokinetic data using standard statistical software.

In the analysis of individual pharmacokinetic data by nonlinear regression it is important to allow for possible heterogeneity of variance in the response. Two common methods of doing this are weighted least squares with appropriate weights or data transformation using a suitable transform. With either approach it is appealing to let the data determine the appropriate choice of weighting scheme or transformation.

A survey of the work of medical advisers appointed to panels under the adoption; boarding out and fostering regulations (Scotland 1984 and 1985).

Following the implementation of new Adoption Regulations (Scotland) 1984 and Boarding Out and Fostering (Scotland) 1985, a preliminary survey of Scottish Medical Advisers was carried out in December 1987 to examine current background and practice in this area of work. A very high response rate was achieved and the findings and some implications are considered. The growth, actual and expected in this area of health board/social work collaboration, has cost implications for management.

Candida tropicalis infection in normal, diabetic, and neutropenic mice.

Opportunistic infections caused by Candida tropicalis have been noted with increasing frequency in compromised patients. The pathogenicity of three isolates of C. tropicalis was studied in normal CD-1 mice, streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, and cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenic mice.

Effects of bifonazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine on the chemiluminescence response of immune cells.

The luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay was used to examine the effects of antifungal agents tested at concentrations above and below therapeutically achievable levels on the CL response of mouse spleen cells. Reduction in the CL response of phagocytic cells may be indicative of an inhibition of the cellular immune response. Concomitantly, an increase in the CL response of phagocytic cells may indicate an enhancement of the immune capacity of these cells.

Influence of six antifungal agents on the chemiluminescence response of mouse spleen cells.

The luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay is a measure of the early events of phagocytosis, leukocyte activation, and immune cell interactions. Reduction in the CL response of immune cells may be indicative of an inhibition of the immune response. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of antifungal agents tested at concentrations above and below therapeutically achievable levels on the CL response of mouse spleen cells.

Design and analysis considerations in evaluating the chemiluminescence response of mouse spleen cells.

Chemiluminescence is the result of the respiratory burst generated by phagocytic cells after stimulation by antigen. The measurement of chemiluminescence represents a sensitive means for detecting antigenic stimulation and immune cell function. Although the kinetics of chemiluminescence reactions have been described, appropriate statistical methods for the evaluation of data from chemiluminescence assays have not been reported.

Prostatic effects induced in dogs by chronic or acute oral administration of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors.

A series of 4-azasteroidal 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors was tested in dogs to determine the effect of chronic (35-44 day) oral administration on prostate size and histology and acute oral administration on prostatic concentrations of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The extent to which the results of the two tests were correlated was also studied in order to see whether the acute test could be used to predict activity in the chronic test. Six delta 1 analogs of the potent 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, 4-MA (17 beta-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl-4-aza-4-methyl-5 alpha-androstan-3-one) were uniformly active at low dosage levels (less than or equal to 3 mg/kg) in both types of assay whereas several C1-C2 saturated analogs exhibited little activity in the chronic test.