The first example of a paraben-dependent antibody to an Rh protein

Parabens are added to a commercial LISS (C-LISS) to retard microbial growth. Paraben-dependent anti-Jk a has been detected by the use of C-LISS. CASE REPORT: Serum from a D+ woman reacted in antiglobulin tests with RBCs stored (2-4 hours, 22-25 C) in C-LISS (L w and Messeter formulation, Immucor). Freshly prepared C-LISS-suspended RBCs did not react; nor did RBCs stored in LISS-additive reagents, PEG, saline, or homemade LISS. RESULTS: Studies using C-LISS-stored RBCs revealed an antibody that reacted with D+ and rrV+ RBCs, but not with r r, r r, or rrV-VS- RBCs. All partial D RBC phenotypes tested reacted, as did D+LW-, r G r, r G r, r y r, r s rV+VS+, and r s rV-VS+ RBCs. The active ingredient in C-LISS was propylparaben. Other LISS ingredients were not required; saline solutions of propylparaben, ethylparaben, methyl salicylate, 2-phenoxyethanol, and butylparaben were active. Methylparaben and methyl- m -hydroxybenzoate were inactive. Reactivity to C-LISS-stored RBCs could not be inhibited by propylparaben. Reactivity with D+V- and D-V+VS+ RBCs was not separable by adsorption-elution. CONCLUSIONS: This antibody likely detects a neoantigen formed between active compounds and RBC membranes. Review of the structure of active compounds suggests that proximity between methyl and hydroxyl groups is important for binding with RBC membranes. The role of RhD is unclear; no single portion of RhD protein appears to be implicated.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73085/1/j.1537-2995.2001.41030371.x.pd

Pharmacodynamics of intravenous procainamide as used during acute electropharmacologic testing

No previous studies have determined the pharmacodynamics of intravenous procainamide when administered in a dose of 15 mg/kg and at a rate of 50 mg/min, as is common practice during etectropharmacologic testing. In this study, 30 patients received procainamide in this fashion; the right ventricular effective refractory period and the QRS duration at a ventricular pacing rate of 120/minute were then determined every minute for 20 minutes. Ten patients received no maintenance infusion of procainamide (group A), 10 received a 4 [mu]g/min maintenance infusion (group B) and 10 received an 8 mg/min maintenance infusion (group C). Ten additional patients received no procainamide and served as control subjects (group D). The plasma procainamide concentration was measured at 1, 5, 10,15 and 20 minutes after the loading dose was administered. A stable plasma procainamide concentration was not present in group A, B, or C until 15 minutes after infusion of the loading dose. The effective refractory period and QRS duration increased compared with baseline at 1 minute, decreased between 1 and 10 minutes and then remained essentially unchanged between 10 and 20 minutes in all 3 treatment groups. Concentration-effect relation was linear in each treatment group. The plasma procainamide concentrations in group C were significantly greater than in group A; however, the effects on refractoriness and QRS duration were similar in both groups. These findings indicate that with a procainamide dosing method commonly used during electropharmacologic testing, the plasma procainamide concentration decreases significantly during the first 15 minutes after the loading dose is administered; the effects of procainamide on ventricular refractoriness and conduction parallel the changes in the plasma procainamide concentration; and an 8 mg/min maintenance infusion of procainamide results in higher plasma procainamide concentrations without an associated increase in ventricular refractoriness or slowing of conduction.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27475/1/0000517.pd

Erythromycin breath test predicts oral clearance of cyclosporine in kidney transplant recipients

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109859/1/cptclpt1992174.pd

Interaction Study between Digoxin and a Preparation of Hawthorn ( Crataegus oxyacantha )

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97293/1/0091270003253417.pd

Policy advocacy in hard times: the impact of economic performance on gendering executive attention

Securing executive attention for new policy demands is notoriously difficult as governmental agendas are crowded by established or ‘core’ policy issues. This article investigates whether it is harder for new and costly policy issues to reach the government agenda when the economy is performing badly. It examines whether, and the extent to which, costly gender equality issues regarding women’s access to the labour market, equal treatment at work and care activities, are more likely to achieve executive attention when the economy is performing well. Using the Comparative Policy Agendas database, a systematic, quantitative analysis is conducted of when and why policies promoting sex equality in the division of labour reach executive agendas. The findings confirm that advocacy for costly gender equality measures is easier to make in times of economic growth. It is also found that female representation in parliament strengthens advocacy for executive attention and reduces friction on policy agenda change