High prevalence of systemic disease and mortality in Asian subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus.

All patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (American Rheumatism Association criteria with positive antinuclear antibody titre) and who attended any of the three general hospitals in Leicester over a 10 year period were ascertained using several complementary sources. Eighty seven subjects (26 Asian, 61 white) were identified. The estimated prevalence of SLE in Leicester is 0.

An audit of patients attending a general medical follow-up clinic.

Of the 418 consecutive patients attending a general medical clinic for follow-up, 113 (27%) had appointments in another medical clinic for the same or a related problem; 98 of them (87%) were attending a clinic in a different hospital. The reasons for multiple clinic attendance were routine follow-up after hospital admission in 55 (49%), referrals from general practitioners to more than one clinic in 33 (30%), and cross-referrals from the 'parent' medical firm in 19 (17%). In six patients no clear reason for multiple attendances could be identified.

Gastric hemorrhage and Kaposi's sarcoma treated with radiotherapy.

A 66-year-old man, with advanced alcoholic liver disease with Kaposi's sarcoma involving the stomach and the skin of the lower extremities, developed upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. He was treated with radiation therapy to the stomach and the skin with rapid resolution of the gastric lesions, as demonstrated by serial endoscopy.

Enzyme immunoassay of testosterone using nitrocellulose discs as the solid phase.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the measurement of serum testosterone has been developed using nitrocellulose paper discs as the solid support. The paper discs (6 mm diameter) coated with testosterone-specific antibody were incubated with testosterone and testosterone-peroxidase conjugate in glass tubes. The amount of testosterone present in samples could be estimated from the bound peroxidase activity.

The identification and quantitation of alkylated nucleobases by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV photodiode array detection.

The application of UV diode array detection in high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) identification and quantitation of several classes of synthetic and commercially available alkylated nucleobases is investigated. Quantitative spectral overlays of these compounds to methyl standard references from a spectral library and absorbance ratios at two maximal wavelengths (lambda max) are found to be useful in categorizing the solutes. They can be grouped into classes of compounds originating from a specific nucleobase and classes of analogs having different alkyl substituents (e.

Primary meningococcal arthritis associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome.

A previously fit and well 20 year old man with primary meningococcal arthritis of the left knee is described. Despite intensive search there was no evidence of extra-articular meningococcal infection. He subsequently developed adult respiratory distress syndrome as a rare and previously undescribed complication.

A clinical audit of thallium-technetium subtraction parathyroid scans.

Eighty six consecutive thallium-technetium subtraction parathyroid scans performed over a three year period for hypercalcaemia have been evaluated. Twelve had chronic renal failure, 11 had hypercalcaemia due to non-hyperparathyroid causes and in 10 the imaging study was technically inadequate. The remaining 53 technically adequate studies performed for hypercalcaemia clinically thought to be possibly due to hyperparathyroidism have been analysed.

Peripheral neuropathy, polymyalgia and arthralgia: a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with myeloma.

We describe a patient with peripheral neuropathy, polymyalgia, arthralgia and cervical vertebral osteosclerosis who was subsequently diagnosed to have fatal multiple myeloma with IgG gammopathy and lambda urinary chains. The initial presentation and clinical features are discussed.

Accidental self administration of xylazine in a veterinary nurse.

A 19 year old male veterinary nurse accidentally injected himself with 200 mg of xylazine (a muscle relaxant and sedative used in veterinary practice). He subsequently became comatose, hypotensive, bradycardic and acidotic. He required intensive supportive therapy, and made a full recovery over the next few hours.

Interleukin 8 (monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor) dynamically regulates its own receptor expression on human neutrophils.

The regulation of monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MDNCF)/interleukin 8 (IL 8) receptor expression by the MDNCF/IL 8 ligand was examined using freshly isolated human peripheral blood neutrophils. MDNCF/IL 8 down-regulated greater than 90% of its own receptor expression within 10 min at 37 degrees C. This down-regulation was associated with internalization of the ligand.

Campylobacter pylori colonization factor shows specificity for lactosylceramide sulfate and GM3 ganglioside.

The specificity of Campylobacter pylori cell surface lectin, a presumptive colonization factor, was investigated using various sulfated and sialic acid containing glycolipids. C. pylori cells, cultured from human antral mucosal biopsies, were incubated with intact and modified glycolipid preparations and examined for agglutination inhibition of human erythrocytes.

Glucose tolerance during pregnancy in Asian women.

The present study was aimed at examining differences in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) between two ethnic populations (immigrant Asians and indigenous White Caucasians) residing in Leicester, U.K. The study was divided into two parts: to determine the prevalence of GDM and to determine the level at which glycaemia may impose a risk to the mother and the foetus.

Diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction in Asians and Europeans.

Ischaemic heart disease is commoner among immigrants from the Indian subcontinent than among Europeans in the United Kingdom. The excess cannot be accounted for by differences in smoking, blood pressure, or lipid concentrations. There is, however, an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the Asian population.

The effects of high dose inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate on glucose and lipid profiles in normal and diet controlled diabetic subjects.

We determined the effect of high doses of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (2000 micrograms day-1 for two weeks) on the glucose tolerance test, insulin levels, fasting cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in fourteen normal and ten elderly diet controlled diabetic patients, in a single blind, placebo controlled trial. No significant disturbance of glucose or lipid metabolism was found in either group. This study suggests that at this high dose, BDP does not exhibit significant disturbance of glucose and lipid metabolism after two weeks use.

Possible physiological role of myocardial fatty acid binding protein in phospholipid biosynthesis.

Accumulation of free fatty acids and their esters resulting from the degradation of membrane phospholipids is one of the major causes for the myocardial dysfunction during ischemia and reperfusion. In this communication, we have studied the possible physiological role played by fatty acid binding protein (FABP) in stimulating key enzymes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis. Purified rat heart FABP bound a maximum of either 2 mol of [1- 14C]palmitoyl coenzyme A (CoA), oleoyl CoA, or oleic acid per mol of FABP as observed by Scatchard analysis.

Identification and characterization of specific receptors for monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MDNCF) on human neutrophils.

Specific receptors for a recently purified and cloned monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MDNCF) have been identified on the surface of normal human peripheral blood neutrophils using 125I-labeled recombinant human MDNCF (125I-MDNCF). Competitive binding of 125I-MDNCF to human neutrophils reached a maximal level at 1-3 h at 4 degrees C. The Scatchard analysis showed that there are approximately 20,000 receptors per cell with a single type of high affinity binding (Kd, 8 x 10(-10) M).

Effect of peritoneo-venous shunt on portal pressure.

The cause of variceal bleed after a peritoneo-venous shunt is not known. Portal haemodynamic consequences of a peritoneo-venous shunt are poorly understood. The most critical period after a peritoneo-venous shunt is the early postoperative period when rapid mobilisation of peritoneal fluid occurs.

Free radical scavenging by myocardial fatty acid binding protein.

Recent investigations have indicated the presence of a fatty acid binding protein (FABP) in mammalian heart. This protein binds free fatty acids and their esters with high affinity, however, its physiological role remains unknown. Since FABP constitutes a significant amount of cystolic protein, it is likely that it would be a target for free radical attack.

Separation of fatty acid binding protein by high-performance mixed-mode chromatography.

Fatty acid binding protein (FABP) (14 kDa), can regulate the levels of tissue free fatty acids by binding them with high affinity. Since free fatty acids are known to accumulate in the ischemic myocardium, it is likely that FABP has a significant role in regulating their concentration in ischemic heart. FABP has recently been purified from other proteins, but the method requires several hours and special techniques.