Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-111).

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-57).

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1997. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: An analysis of IgG subclasses and allotypes in children with pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in the Western Cape. DESIGN: Consecutive children under 15 years of age with microbiological proven PTB over an 8 month period- November 1993 to July 1994. SETTING: Teaching Hospitals in Cape Town. PATIENTS: Thirty-five cases were selected from 99 consecutive cases that were Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive, 15 of which were of Mixed and 20 were of Black Ancestry. CONTROL GROUP: Sera were selected from 224 Black Ancestry (59 children and 165 adults) and 211 Mixed Ancestry (67 children and 144 adults) that had no evidence for active tuberculosis or a history of previous TB diagnosis. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: IgG subclasses, total IgG,and five allotypes: Glm(a), Glm(f), G2m(n), G3m(bl), G3m(gl) were determined by ELISA techniques. In the Mixed ancestry group the Glm(f) (p= 0.01), G2m(n) (p= 0.04) and G3m(gl) (p=0.001) allotypes were less frequently found in children with proven PTB. In the Black Ancestry subjects the G3m(g 1) allotype was significantly less common than in the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Because allotypes are inherited in a Mendelian fashion, the observed association of childhood PTB and certain allotypes strengthens the hypothesis that a genetic susceptibility exists to acquiring TB.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-122).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-171). / Microfiche. / xvi, 171 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Pulmonary diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) is a relatively new pulmonary function test to assess gas transfer in the lung. To date, there are no prediction equations made for healthy adult African-American (black) subjects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to create prediction equations for DLNO in this ethnic/racial group. A total of 59 healthy subjects (27 males and 32 females) were recruited to perform pulmonary function testing at Georgia State University. They were diverse in age (18-67 yr), height (140-189 cm), and body mass index (17.2-32.3 kg/m2). All subjects completed single-breath maneuvers at rest inhaling 43 ± 4 ppm NO with a standard diffusion mixture. The breath-hold duration was 5.6 ± 0.6 s. Multiple linear regression predicted DLNO based on the subject’s age, height, and sex. The prediction equation for DLNO (mL/min/mmHg) = 0.92·(height in cm) +38.8·(sex) – 0.012·(age2) – 25, where 1 = male, 0 = female for sex. About 77% of the variance in DLNO was accounted for by sex (67%), age2 (7%), and height (4%). The standard error of the estimate in predicting DLNO was 16.3 mL/min/mmHg. Those with higher resting heart rates had a lower DLNO (r =-0.28, p = 0.03) but it was not included in the regression model as it did not enhance the fit. Black males had a 7-10% lower DLNO and black females had a 12-15% lower DLNO compared to matched white subjects. Black males of the same age and height had a 10% smaller alveolar volume, while black females had a 15% lower alveolar volume compared to matched white subjects. In conclusion, DLNO values and alveolar volumes are reduced in blacks compared to matched whites. The regression model presented best predicts DLNO in African-Americans below 40 years of age.

In the pulmonary circulation, alveolar hypoxia contributes to blood flow regulation. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) involves both pulmonary arteries and veins, but little is known of the contractile mechanisms specific to the veins. The aim of these studies was to examine the hypoxic response in small porcine intrapulmonary veins in relation to the arterial response, and investigate the effects of hypoxia on ion conductances in single myocytes from intrapulmonary veins. In wire myography experiments, intrapulmonary veins contracted more than sizematched arteries in response to hypoxia and agonists KCl and PGF2α. Venous contractions were inhibited by removal of extracellular Ca2+ or in the presence of Clchannel blocker NFA, effects not seen in the arteries. To examine the mechanisms of venous contraction at cellular level, single pulmonary vein smooth muscle cells (PVSMC) were freshly isolated and characterised morphologically and electrophysiologically for the first time. In patch-clamp studies, hypoxia reversibly inhibited a whole-cell outward current in the presence of BKCa channel antagonist Penitrem A. By subtracting currents recorded in normoxia and hypoxia, a novel hypoxia-sensitive K+ current (IK(H)) was revealed in PVSMC. IK(H) was a rapidly activating, partially inactivating current and was sensitive to KV channel blocker 4-AP. The biophysical properties of IK(H) revealed the voltage window of current availability with a peak near the resting membrane potential of PVSMC. In conclusion, these findings highlight differences between the contractile properties of veins and arteries and reveal a significant contribution of Ca2+ influx and an NFA-sensitive conductance during venous contraction to agonists and hypoxia. Furthermore, the results suggest that a novel hypoxia-sensitive KV current contributes to membrane potential under resting conditions in PVSMC and its inhibition by hypoxia may contribute to the initiation of HPV in porcine intrapulmonary veins.