Analytical approaches to the study of monoclonal antibody stability.

The stability of two purified monoclonal antibodies, MN12 and WT31, was investigated. The monoclonal antibodies were incubated for 32 days at different pH values (ranging from 3.0 to 10.

Regularity in alcohol distributions: implications for the collective nature of drinking behaviour.

The assumption of a one parameter lognormal distribution in the Ledermann theory is relaxed. Implications of only regularity in distributional form for the collective nature of drinking behaviour are considered. It is shown that there must be a so-called point of attraction over which an increase in mean consumption will result in a decrease of percentile point value.

Genetic dissection of functional domains within the avian erythroblastosis virus v-erbA oncogene.

The avian erythroblastosis virus v-erbA locus potentiates the oncogenic transformation of erythroid and fibroblast cells and is derived from a host cell gene encoding a thyroid hormone receptor. We report here the use of site-directed mutagenesis to identify and characterize functional domains within the v-erbA protein. Genetic lesions introduced into a putative hinge region or at the extreme C-terminus of the v-erbA coding domain had no significant effect on the biological activity of this polypeptide.

Renal function following open heart surgery: the influence of postoperative artificial ventilation.

In order to detect changes in renal perfusion and function in the postoperative period of open heart surgery, a prospective study of 21 patients following open heart surgery was performed. Cardiac output, renal blood flow, glomerular filtration and renal function parameters were determined during intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV), and during spontaneous ventilation (SV). During IPPV, renal perfusion was found to be substantially decreased.

The avian erythroblastosis virus erbA oncogene encodes a DNA-binding protein exhibiting distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic subcellular localizations.

The protein product of the v-erbA oncogene of avian erythroblastosis virus was analyzed by use of site-specific antisera. The v-erbA protein was found to exist in distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic forms. Both nuclear and cytoplasmic species of the v-erbA protein were capable of binding to DNA, a property predicted based on the structural relatedness the v-erbA polypeptide shares with the thyroid and steroid hormone receptors.

Optimal perfusion during extra-corporeal circulation.

A multivariate analysis of 130 consecutive patients operated during one month in our hospital was carried out to determine the influence of age and blood flow during cardiopulmonary bypass on the renal response to cardiac surgery. The postoperative level of serum creatinine could be related to three variables: preoperative serum creatinine, age and lowest blood flow during cardiopulmonary bypass. A higher blood flow is needed during cardiopulmonary bypass in older patients and in patients with a raised pre-operative serum creatinine to prevent deterioration in renal function postoperatively.

Serious acute renal failure following open heart surgery.

The influence of 51 preoperative, peroperative and postoperative variables on the development of serious acute renal failure (ARF) following open heart surgery was studied. Although a large number of significant variables was found, a logit-model with only 2 explanatory variables showed an almost perfect fit. With this model the chances of serious ARF up to 90% were estimated.