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Biomedical subjects

A Jones

Publications and source records attributed to A Jones.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Food poisoning--fact or fiction? An observation of the current interpretation of the term 'food-poisoning'.

The Communicable Disease Report number 84/52 has given a clear indication that Campylobacter infections are now the most significant reported causes of gastrointestinal infection. The figures given indicate approximately 22,000 Campylobacter infections in 1984 as opposed to approximately 14,000 Salmonella infections, with, more importantly, the trend increasing with regard to Campylobacter, and decreasing with regard to Salmonella infections. Campylobacter enteritis would now appear to be a major problem both in terms of human suffering and in its economic effects. It is reported, for example, that at least 80,000 working days may be lost in the United Kingdom per year. The fundamental problem raised by Campylobacter enteritis is whether we need to have a standardized definition of food poisoning accepted in law to allow central government and local authorities to manage in particular the problems related to Campylobacter enteritis. From information available, it appears that local authorities have differing interpretations as to the classification and subsequent management of Campylobacter enteritis. In order to control the identified trend in the increase of Campylobacter infections, the need for a clear and explicit definition is rapidly becoming essential.

Campylobacter Infections↗
PubMed1985

Pituitary and gonadal function in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadal (hpg) mice bearing hypothalamic implants.

GnRH receptor values are 30-50% of normal in pituitaries of hpg male mice, and testicular LH receptors only 8% of normal (160.4 +/- 17.6 and 2013 +/- 208.1 fmol/testis respectively). In male hpg mice bearing fetal preoptic area (POA) hypothalamic implants for 10 days there was no change in pituitary GnRH receptors, pituitary gonadotrophin content, or seminal vesicle weight. However, testicular weights and LH receptors were doubled in 4/10 mice and 2 had increased serum FSH levels. Between 26 and 40 days after implantation pituitary GnRH receptors and pituitary LH increased to normal male levels, although at 40 days serum and pituitary FSH concentrations had reached only 50% of normal values. Testicular and seminal vesicle weights increased more than 10-fold by 40 days after implantation and LH receptors to 70% of normal. In hpg female mice bearing hypothalamic implants for 30-256 days pituitary gonadotrophin concentrations were normal, even though GnRH receptors reached only 60% of normal values (6.18 +/- 0.4 and 9.8 +/- 0.4 fmol/pituitary respectively). Serum FSH was substantially increased from values of less than 30 ng/ml in hpg mice to within the normal female range in hypothalamic implant recipients. Ovarian and uterine weights increased after hypothalamic grafting from only 4-5% to over 74% of normal values. LH receptors increased from 6.5 +/- 1.3 fmol/ovary for hpg mice to 566.9 +/- 39.2 fmol/ovary for implant recipients. Vaginal opening occurred about 23 days after implantation and these animals displayed prolonged periods of oestrus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Elderly patients discharged from an accident and emergency department--their dependency and support.

One hundred elderly patients who had attended an accident and emergency department and had been discharged were visited at home shortly afterwards. Compared to their previous level of function, 52 showed a minor or major increase in dependency, usually related to trauma. Scrutiny of accident and emergency records showed only scanty documentation of dependency, function and support arrangements. Available statutory services for dependent elderly in the community were under-utilized by these patients. In 39 of the 52 cases with increased dependency relatives had provided additional support.

Aftercare↗
PubMed1984

An assay for the measurement of the protein content of cells immobilized in carrageenan.

A reliable and reproducible method for the estimation of the protein content of fungal cells immobilized in a carrageenan gel is described. The procedure depends upon the acid lability of the polysaccharide gel at 90 degrees C and on the acetone solubility of accumulated phenolics. Freeze-dried gel beads (2-3 mm) containing entrapped cells of Penicillium urticae were ground to a fine powder and samples of powder (approximately 20 mg) were sequentially extracted with hot 1 N HCl - 0.9% NaCl and acetone. The precipitated residue contained the cell protein, which was then solubilized with 1 N NaOH at 90 degrees C and quantitated by the Folin-Lowry method. Interferences from both carrageenan and phenols were thus eliminated. The presence of carrageenan (20-25 mg) did not affect the recovery of varying amounts (0-2500 micrograms) of bovine serum albumin. The recovery of radiolabeled protein from immobilized cells was parallel to that of Folin-Lowry positive material over a range of 0-60 beads (0-60 mg powder). Cycloheximide (0-100 micrograms/mL) was shown to progressively inhibit the incorporation of L-[U-14C]leucine so that the radioactivity present in the initial HCl-NaCl extract (i.e., [14C]leucine) increased as that in the final NaOH extract (i.e., 14C-labeled protein) decreased. Using this new assay for cell protein, free and immobilized cell cultures were found to exhibit virtually identical kinetics of glucose utilization, growth, and patulin production. In addition to providing a means of comparing the specific productivity of free versus immobilized cell preparations, this assay accurately measures the incorporation of [14C]leucine into cellular protein and could be used as a measure of cell viability.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1984

Histologic differentiation of human fetal pancreatic explants transplanted into nude mice.

The transplantation of human fetal pancreas has been suggested as a means of treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes in man. We have obtained human fetal pancreata during the second trimester of pregnancy and transplanted 1-mm3 explants subcutaneously (s.c.) into both diabetic and nondiabetic nude mice, some of the tissue being cultured in vitro before implantation. These implants coalesced and grew. They were removed at intervals up to 37 wk later and showed selective differentiation of endocrine tissue that normally occurs in the fetus and neonate, with formation of bipolar, mantle, and mature islets. There was growth of this endocrine tissue with significantly more islets than in the freshly stained fetal pancreas assuming an average dimension larger than 150 micron, which is the reported mean diameter of a neonatal islet. Duct and fibrous tissue remained viable, but there was no definitive acinar tissue seen. The pancreata uncultured before implantation reached a larger size than that attained by those implants cultured before being transplanted, the difference probably being the amount of ductular and mesenchymal tissue still present. Of those glands cultured before transplantation, the longer the period of culture, the smaller the size the implants reached. Culture beyond 3 wk in vitro made it difficult to macroscopically locate the implant. These data show that, in human fetal pancreas removed from its usual environment, both selective differentiation of the endocrine component and growth of the islets can occur.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Adolescent patients in an Inner London general practice: their attitudes to illness and health care.

A postal questionnaire was sent to 121 patients aged 16-20 years identified from the age-sex register of an Inner London practice; 87 replied. Information was sought about adolescents' perceptions and experience of illness and health care, and their attitudes to preventive medicine. Few of the girls reported that they were in good health; 59 per cent of girls and 23 per cent of boys had visited their general practitioner in the previous three months. Thirty per cent of girls and 15 per cent of boys felt that there was something wrong with their health and in particular that they were overweight. Smoking and drinking were common. Adequate contraception was being practised by most girls.Detailed interviews with 18 of the respondents identified a number of family problems and difficult relations with staff in hospitals. Most of them considered that good health was not merely a matter of luck.Adolescents are usually described as being a most healthy group, but this study of an inner city practice suggests that adolescents themselves do not share this view.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Botulin ophthalmoplegia. Clinical and oculographic observations.

Two patients with botulin ophthalmoplegia had rapid quivering eye motions during attempts to refixate laterally placed objects; these abnormal eye movements occurred in conjunction with a disjunctive limitation of range of eye movements. Oculographic examination showed that the quivering motions were composed of multiple hypometric saccades, many of which had subnormal and stuttering velocities. By blocking acetylcholine release into myoneural junctions, botulin toxin seems to limit the duration of saccadic burst innervation reaching ocular muscle.

Botulism↗
PubMed1983

Saccadic intrusions in Alzheimer-type dementia.

Horizontal eye-movement responses of four patients with Alzheimer-type dementia were recorded using the infrared oculographic technique. Abnormally frequent saccadic intrusions occurred during the fixation and slow, smooth pursuit tasks in all four patients. Saccadic intrusions have previously been reported in the literature to occur in normals, in strabismus, in patients with certain neurological disorders, and in schizophrenic patients. This is the first report of a group of Alzheimer-type dements with an eye movement abnormality which cannot be regarded as an ocularmotor reflection of diffuse cerebral dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Estimation of swimmers' physical condition by a swimming recovery test.

In this article, the authors propose an original analysis of the cardiac frequency after training. The study of rapid diminution (alactic oxygen debt) and of plateau (lactic debt in oxygen) make possible adjustment of the training. The variations observed in young swimmers during their sporting season and note a tangible improvement of the two components for recovery.

Child↗
PubMed1983

Effect of digoxin on DNA synthesis and cell viability in human breast tumour tissue in organ culture.

10 biopsy specimens of primary breast tumours from 10 patients were classified histopathologically into 8 ductal carcinomas and 2 lobular carcinomas. Portions of tumour of approximately 1 mm3 were cultured in Medium 199 buffered with 20 mM Hepes for 48 h with or without addition of digoxin at concentrations from 1-2 ng/ml to 10-20 micrograms/ml of culture medium. Measurement of DNA synthesis by [3H]-thymidine incorporation, DNA analysis and histological examination showed that 5 biopsy specimens demonstrated epithelial cell survival in culture. These cultures were significantly (p less than 0.001) affected by digoxin at concentrations above 10-20 ng/ml, with suppression of [3H]-thymidine incorporation and reduced epithelial cell viability. Parallel studies on 5 biopsy specimens of DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinomas showed no effects of digoxin up to 10 micrograms/ml of culture medium. These studies indicate the possibility of this class of drug being of use in growth suppression of breast tumours.

Animals↗