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An in vitro system has been developed to study N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity using human liver slices in dynamic organ culture. Acetylation of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and sulfamethazine (SMZ) in the presence of human liver slices was monitored by measuring the disappearance of the parent amine from the incubation medium using the colorimetric procedure of Bratton & Marshall. Presence of the acetyl conjugate was confirmed using HPLC. PABA acetylation rates varied from 0.72-2.52 nmoles/hr/mg protein (n = 8). This small variation (4 fold) is consistent with the classification of PABA as a monomorphic substrate. The variation in the rate of SMZ acetylation was greater than 20 fold (0.144-3.68 nmoles/hr/mg protein; n = 9). This larger variation is characteristic of SMZ as a polymorphic substrate. The results obtained indicate that human liver slices in dynamic organ culture can be used for the determination of hepatic NAT activity and acetylator status of individual human livers.

No description available.

Thesis(MAppSc)--University of South Australia, 1999

Thesis (M.S.)--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-44).

Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 255-265).

The characteristics of the left ventricle of the human heart considered as a pump have been extensively analysed. Using a new approach relying heavily on the Tensor Calculus, a theoretical model describing the mechanical and dynamical operation of the left ventricle has been developed. This has considerably greater versatility than previously proposed models. In particular the physiological shape, both under normal as well as many abnormal situations, is realistically simulated. Further, the mechanical behaviour of the ventricular wall is synthesised from anatomical data concerning the cardiac muscle fibre structure of the wall. Its mechanical and dynamical properties are then, as in the physiological situation, dependent on those of the muscle fibre. These fibre properties have also been fully investigated and a simple new model for cardiac muscle dynamics, incorporating active state, proposed. This description of the ventricular behaviour in terms of muscle properties represents the first logically structured link between cardiac muscle fibre characteristics and ventricular performance.

Liu, Tak Chi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-125). / Abstracts and appendixes in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.viii / List of tables --- p.ix / List of figures --- p.xiii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xvi / List of Unit Abbreviations --- p.xvii / Table of Contents --- p.xviii / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Background and introduction --- p.P.1 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Subjects and methods --- p.P.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Study design and sampling frame --- p.P.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Sample size calculation --- p.P.8 / Chapter 2.3 --- Study population --- p.P.11 / Chapter 2.4 --- Subject assessment in participating kindergartens --- p.P.13 / Chapter 2.5 --- Quality control for spirometric measurements --- p.P.18 / Chapter 2.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.P.20 / Chapter 2.7 --- Outcome measures --- p.P.23 / Chapter 2.8 --- Participation and role in this study --- p.P.24 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results --- p.P.26 / Chapter 3.1 --- Comparison between the study populations in the training and research phases --- p.P.26 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- "Response rate, participation rate and success rate" --- p.P.27 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Other factors --- p.P.31 / Chapter 3.2 --- Comparison between participants and non-participants in the research phase --- p.P.33 / Chapter 3.3 --- Comparison of factors between the subjects who succeed and failed to provide acceptable spirometric maneuvers which meet ATS/ERS standards in the research phase --- p.P.36 / Chapter 3.4 --- Comparison of lung function parameters between subjects who met and failed to meet the health criteria in the research phase --- p.P.39 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Gestational birth age (< 37 weeks vs > 37 weeks) --- p.P.40 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Birth weight (< 2.5kg vs > 2.5kg) --- p.P.41 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Children with vs without current wheeze --- p.P.43 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Children with vs without history of asthma ever --- p.P.44 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Children with vs without recent respiratory tract infections (RTIs) --- p.P.45 / Chapter 3.5 --- The test-retest reliability --- p.P.47 / Chapter 3.6 --- "Relationship between lung function parameters and demographic, early-life, anthropometric and environmental factors in subjects who satisfied both health and ATS/ERS criteria in our research phase" --- p.P.50 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Demographic factors --- p.P.51 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Early-life factors --- p.P.53 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Anthropometric factors --- p.P.56 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Environmental factors --- p.P.57 / Chapter 3.7 --- Reference standards for incentive spirometry: Reference equations and normograms --- p.P.59 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussions --- p.P.76 / Chapter 4.1 --- Pioneering incentive spirometry in Hong Kong preschoolers: Training and research phases --- p.P.77 / Chapter 4.2 --- Participants and non-participants in the research phase --- p.P.79 / Chapter 4.3 --- Subjects who succeed and failed to give acceptable maneuvers which meet ATS/ERS standards in the research phase --- p.P.81 / Chapter 4.4 --- "The relationship between demographic, anthropometric and environmental factors and spirometric parameters in local young children" --- p.P.84 / Chapter 4.41 --- Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and maternal smoking --- p.P.85 / Chapter 4.42 --- Place of birth --- p.P.87 / Chapter 4.43 --- Obesity and underweight --- p.P.89 / Chapter 4.44 --- Breastfeeding practice --- p.P.91 / Chapter 4.45 --- "Birth factors: mode of delivery, birth weight and gestation birth age" --- p.P.92 / Chapter 4.46 --- "Indoor environment: pets, moulds and others" --- p.P.94 / Chapter 4.5 --- Evaluation of the test-retest reliability --- p.P.95 / Chapter 4.6 --- The relationship between the health criteria and spirometric parameters in local young children --- p.P.96 / Chapter 4.7 --- The spirometric reference standards in Chinese preschool children in Hong Kong: Comparisons with published findings in different ethnic groups --- p.P.98 / Chapter 4.8 --- Drawbacks and limitations of this study --- p.P.105 / Chapter 4.9 --- Future research directions --- p.P.110 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusions --- p.P.111 / References --- p.P.112 / Appendices --- p.P.126 / Chapter Appendix I: --- Invitation letter --- p.P.127 / Chapter Appendix II: --- Reply form --- p.P.129 / Chapter Appendix III: --- Consent --- p.P.130 / Chapter Appendix IV: --- ISAAC questionnaire --- p.P.134 / Chapter Appendix V: --- Subject report --- p.P.163

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Aim: To determine the prognostic value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for major vascular surgery in South African patients. Methods: CPET has been used in Durban since October 2004 to predict cardiac risk for high-risk patients undergoing major vascular surgery. A submaximal 'anaerobic threshold' (AT) test was conducted on all high-risk patients. Patients were classified into two groups: 'low AT' where the oxygen consumption at the AT was <1 lml.kg^.min"1 for cycling or < 9ml.kg"1.mkf1 for arm cranking and 'high AT' when the patient surpassed these targets. Analysis of all in-hospital deaths following surgery was conducted by two independent assessors blinded to the CPET test result. Deaths classified as primarily 'cardiac in origin' have been used in this retrospective cohort analysis. Results: The AT measured during CPET was not a statistically significant pre-operative prognostic marker of cardiac mortality. However, the survivors of the patients with a 'low AT' may be identified by their response to increasing metabolic demand between 5 and 7 ml.kg^.min"1. Survivors were more dependent on increasing heart rate, while non-survivors were more dependent on oxygen extraction. When this information is added to the AT, CPET was the only test statistically associated with cardiac mortality, in comparison to Lee's Revised Cardiac Risk Index and the resting left ventricular ejection fraction which were not statistically associated with cardiac death. A hundred percent of patients with a positive test died of cardiac causes, while 11% of the patients with a negative test had cardiac deaths. The risk ratio associated with cardiac death following a positive test was 8.00 [95% CI 3.8-16.9]. The sensitivity was 0.25 [95% CI 0.04-0.64], the specificity was 1.00 [95% CI 0.90-1.00], the positive predictive value was 1.00 [95% CI 0.20-0.95] and the negative predictive value was 0.88 [95% CI 0.74-0.95]. Conclusions: CPET provides valuable prognostic information in our surgical population. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2007.