ABSTRACT
The present report compares the performance of several colorimetric substrates presently employed in clinical laboratories for the determination of serum acid and alkaline phosphatase with that of the fluorogenic phosphatase reagent 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate. Acid and alkaline phosphatase assays were performed on reference hospital populations in Nigeria and the United States. The results of both acid and alkaline phosphatase determinations indicate that the coefficient of variation is smaller for the fluorometric assay than for the colorimetric methods that employ either phenyl phosphate or p-nitrophenyl phosphate as the substrate. Furthermore, serum acid phosphatase determinations using 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate identified increased serum enzyme levels in 6/6 cases of prostatic carcinoma and 9/9 cases of Gaucher's disease. The occurrence of elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels in 24/24 cases involving liver and bone disease was also confirmed by the fluorometric alkaline phosphatase assay. In addition, sera from eight patients with the connective tissue disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, were found to contain normal levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase by the fluorometric assays. From these results it appears that the sensitive and rapid fluorometric assay procedures can be readily employed in the clinical pathology laboratory for the determination of serum acid and alkaline phosphatase levels.
Subject(s)
Acid Phosphatase/blood , Alkaline Phosphatase/blood , Fluorometry/methods , Hymecromone , Organophosphates , Umbelliferones , Colorimetry/methods , Female , Humans , Hymecromone/analogs & derivatives , Male , Nigeria , Nitrophenols , Organophosphorus Compounds , United StatesABSTRACT
Forty-one asthmatic patients in remission were randomly allocated to two treatment groups in a double-blind trial. One group took 1 g, of ascorbic acid as one effervescent tablet once daily and the second group took a matching placebo. The asthmatics were selected from those attending the Asthma Clinic. One criterion for selection was the increase in exacerbation during the rainy season. These exacerbations were precipitated by respiratory infection. After 14 weeks, an assessment of the severity and rate of attacks showed that those on ascorbic acid suffered less severe and less frequent attacks of asthma during the study period. Plasma ascorbic acid astimations showed a significant rise in the level in those taking ascorbic acid over those on placebo. (P < 0.01). Cessation of ascorbic acid in the group taking it increased attack rates. It is concluded that high dose ascorbic acid is probably a good prophylaxis in some bronchial asthmatics.
Subject(s)
Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Asthma/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Asthma/prevention & control , Drug Evaluation , Female , Humans , Male , NigeriaABSTRACT
ABO blood group frequencies of 1000 vitiligo patients were studied and compared with those of blood donors and local population. The relative risk of O was significantly reduced in patients in comparison with blood donors but not with local population. This can possibly be explained by the well-known preference of O group donors in the blood bank. On a review of other studies it was felt that there may not be any real association of ABO blood groups with vitiligo.
