Apolipoprotein L-I is positively associated with hyperglycemia and plasma triglycerides in CAD patients with low HDL.

Apolipoprotein L-I (apoL-I) is present on a subset of HDL particles and is positively correlated with plasma triglycerides (TGs). We measured plasma apoL-I levels in coronary artery disease (CAD) subjects with low HDL who were enrolled in an angiographic CAD prevention trial. At baseline, apoL-I levels (n = 136; range, 2.

Genetic analysis of a polymorphism in the human apoA-V gene: effect on plasma lipids.

Recent discovery and characterization of APOAV suggests a role in metabolism of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins. Previously, variation at the APOAV locus was shown to modestly influence plasma TGs in normolipidemic samples. The aims of this study were to assess the effects of a polymorphism in APOAV (T-1131C) in terms of its frequency among three dyslipidemic populations and a control population, differences of allele frequency across available ethnic groups, and associations with specific lipoprotein TG and cholesterol compartments.

Elevated baseline triglyceride levels modulate effects of HMGCoA reductase inhibitors on plasma lipoproteins.

Background: The response in levels of very-low-density (VLDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoproteins varies substantially among hyperlipidemic patients during treatment with HMGCoA reductase inhibitors. Apolipoprotein E genotype and gender are known to contribute to the regulation of steady state levels of plasma lipoproteins. This study explores the effect of these and other potential determinants of the response of VLDL and LDL to treatment with reductase inhibitors.

Clinical differences among women with and without self-reported perimenstrual asthma.

Background: Studies suggesting that 30% to 40% of asthmatic women report significant perimenstrual (late luteal phase) exacerbations of asthma are primarily retrospective, rely on subjective findings and do not demonstrate a consistent association between asthma and the menstrual cycle.

Objective: In this exploratory analysis, women with and without self-reported perimenstrual exacerbations of asthma (PMA) were examined prospectively to determine the association between asthma and the menstrual cycle and to characterize associated clinical factors.

Methods: Thirty-two adult asthmatic women with regular menstrual periods recorded daily asthma symptoms, medication use, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) over six consecutive menstrual cycles, and underwent spirometry and methacholine bronchoprovocation during the luteal and follicular phases of 2 cycles.

Prebeta-1 HDL in plasma of normolipidemic individuals: influences of plasma lipoproteins, age, and gender.

Prebeta-1 HDL is a molecular species of plasma HDL of approximately 67 kDa mass that contains apolipoprotein A-I, phospholipids, and unesterified cholesterol. It participates in a cyclic process involved in the retrieval of cholesterol from peripheral tissues. In this cycle, unesterified cholesterol from cells is incorporated into prebeta-1 HDL, providing a substrate for esterification of cholesterol by lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase.

A preventive child health program: the effect of telephone and home visits by public health nurses.

A randomized trial was conducted to determine if a public health nursing intervention consisting of telephone contacts or home visits affected the receipt of preventive health services by children eligible for the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program. Each nursing intervention was applied using a protocol, and outcome data for 1654 case subjects were obtained from state-paid provider claims. However, the trial revealed no statistically significant differences between the study groups, nor was ethnicity a significant factor.

Increased depth of trophoblast invasion after chronic constriction of the lower aorta in rhesus monkeys.

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate whether a reduction in uteroplacental perfusion pressure would produce changes in trophoblast-uterine interactions at the cellular level.

Study Design: Strictures were placed around the abdominal aortas of rhesus monkeys at 116 +/- 7 days of pregnancy to reduce uteroplacental perfusion pressure. Placental bed biopsy specimens were obtained at cesarean section, and cytotrophoblasts were identified by means of an anticytokeratin antibody.

Serial measurements of GFR in infants using the continuous iothalamate infusion technique. Southwest Pediatric Nephrology Study Group (SPNSG).

We undertook a preliminary study to determine if a clinical trial was feasible that would compare the effect of a low protein vs a control formula on GFR and growth in infants with congenital renal insufficiency (CIo < 55 ml/min/1.73 m2). In this report from the Infant Diet Protein Study, we describe validation of a method using the plasma clearance of iothalamate (CIo) as an estimate of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and results of the preliminary study relating to renal function.

Cytogenetic evidence for enhanced selective miscarriage of trisomy 21 pregnancies with advancing maternal age.

The effect of advancing maternal age on the risk of death of fetuses with certain chromosome abnormalities has been tested by comparing their frequency at the time of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) with that at amniocentesis. The frequency of chromosome abnormalities among women whose sole risk factor for a chromosome abnormality was advanced maternal age (> or = 35 years old) was determined in a pooled group of 15,147 CVS cases, of whom > 1/3 were from the initial 7,500 CVS cases at the University of California, San Francisco, and compared with a pooled group of 74,851 amniocentesis cases collected from the literature. The frequency of trisomy 21 not only increased with advancing maternal age as expected, but the slope of the increase was about 25% greater in the CVS group than in the amniocentesis group (P = 0.

Effects of isoflurane and nitrous oxide in subanesthetic concentrations on memory and responsiveness in volunteers.

Awareness, defined as conscious memory during anesthesia, has been a problem in anesthesia practice. To determine the effect of isoflurane and nitrous oxide (N2O) on memory, 17 healthy adult volunteers were randomly assigned to receive isoflurane or N2O and received the alternate agent 1-2 weeks later. Each volunteer was studied at four end-tidal concentrations of each agent, consecutively 0.

Neonatal morbidity according to gestational age and birth weight from five tertiary care centers in the United States, 1983 through 1986.

Objectives: This study details the incidence, by gestational age and birth weight, of specific neonatal morbidities in singleton neonates without major congenital anomalies.

Study Design: Data were prospectively collected on all deliveries at five tertiary centers in the United States during the years 1983 through 1986. Pregnancies were meticulously dated and the gestational ages of the neonates at delivery were confirmed by Dubowitz score.

An annotated bibliography of methods for analysing correlated categorical data.

This paper provides an annotated bibliography of over 100 articles concerning methods for analysing correlated categorical response data. Most of the papers listed here concern categorical regression models and estimation, with particular emphasis on binary responses. The papers are classified by several characteristics which group them according to common themes.

Evaluation of screened blood donations for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection by culture and DNA amplification of pooled cells.

Background: Reports of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) from transfusions of screened blood and reports of silent, antibody-negative HIV-1 infections in persons at high risk continue to foster concern about the safety of the blood supply. Previous estimates of the risk of HIV-1 range from 1 in 38,000 to 1 in 300,000 per unit of blood but are based on either epidemiologic models or the demonstration of seroconversion in recipients.

Methods: We isolated peripheral-blood mononuclear cells from blood that was fully screened and found to be seronegative, combined them into pools of cells from 50 donors, and tested them for HIV-1 by viral culture and the polymerase chain reaction, using protocols specifically adapted for this analysis.

Initial clinical trial of EXOSURF, a protein-free synthetic surfactant, for the prophylaxis and early treatment of hyaline membrane disease.

EXOSURF is a protein-free surfactant composed of 85% dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, 9% hexadecanol, and 6% tyloxapol by weight. A single dose of 5 mL of EXOSURF per kilogram body weight, which gave 67 mg of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine per kilogram body weight, or 5 mL/kg air was given intratracheally in each of two controlled trials: at birth to neonates 700 through 1350 g (the prophylactic trial, n = 74) or at 4 to 24 hours after birth to neonates greater than 650 g who had hyaline membrane disease severe enough to require mechanical ventilation (the rescue trial, n = 104). In both studies, time-averaged inspired oxygen concentrations and mean airway pressures during the 72 hours after entry decreased significantly (P less than .

Outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants exposed to beta-sympathomimetics in utero.

In this study we examined neonatal and early childhood outcomes after intrauterine exposure to beta-sympathomimetic agents on infants with birth weights less than or equal to 1500 gm. The hospital courses and anthropomorphic, developmental, and neurologic development of 201 infants exposed to one or more beta-sympathomimetic agents (isoxsuprine, 33; ritodrine, 70; terbutaline, 43; combination, 55) were analyzed and compared with those of 130 control infants of similar birth weight. One hundred and seventy-seven infants had follow-up to 1 year of age, 101 to age 3, and 58 to age 4.

Expressing glomerular filtration rate in children.

We have reviewed the studies that provide the current standards of reference for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in normal children from 14 days to 12 years of postnatal age. These standards currently are presented as ml/min per 1.73 m2, i.

Growth factor activity in the blood of women in whom preeclampsia develops is elevated from early pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder of uncertain cause and pathophysiology that appears to be associated with endothelial cell injury. Our current studies demonstrate that a pregnancy growth factor activity is elevated compared with postpartum values in the blood of women with preeclampsia months before the onset of clinical manifestations of toxemia. A cohort of primigravid women was followed throughout pregnancy and multiple serial plasma samples from six women with preeclampsia and six matched normal women were assayed for mitogenic activity.

Noninvasive assessment of cardiomyopathy in normotensive diabetic patients between 20 and 50 years old.

Purpose: To further the understanding of diabetic heart disease, we tested the hypothesis that an asymptomatic group of normotensive diabetic patients between 20 and 50 years old had a restrictive cardiomyopathy independent of clinically significant coronary artery disease.

Patients And Methods: Quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography and stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were performed to detect and characterize the cardiac abnormalities in this study group comprising 88 patients with rigorously classified diabetes and 65 volunteer control subjects.

Results: Diabetic patients were shown to have a mildly reduced left ventricular end-diastolic volume index: 50.

No pulmonary edema or congestion after central venous injection of conventional and newer contrast media in dogs.

Our aim was to determine whether large central venous doses of ionic diatrizoate, nonionic iopromide, or nonionic iotrolane produce pulmonary edema or pulmonary congestion in dogs. Eighteen dogs (six per group) anesthetized with piritramide and N2O received three sequential doses (1.5 mL/kg body weight) of one contrast medium in less than 20 seconds.

Impact and cost of public health nurse telephone follow-up of school dental referrals.

The effect and cost of nursing follow-up services on school dental screening outcomes were investigated. Experimental and control groups were randomly assigned. A positive difference in dental visit rate occurred for all nurses, with the overall dentist visit-no visit, experimental-control odds ratio being 1.

Antibody-antigen specificity in the immune response to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

This study was done to define antigens important in the immune response to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Sera were obtained from men and women with uncomplicated gonorrhea (UGC), women with disseminated gonococcal infection, and women with gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); sera were also obtained from uninfected controls. Vaginal fluids were taken from 15 patients with UCG or PID.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy versus portacaval shunt in patients with severe cirrhosis and variceal hemorrhage.

Fifty-two patients with severe cirrhosis (Child Class C) and variceal hemorrhage requiring six or more units of blood were randomly assigned to either sclerotherapy or portacaval shunt. Of 38 pretreatment characteristics, only the frequency of active alcoholism differed significantly between the groups. During the initial hospitalization, the patients in the shunt group required significantly more blood (21.