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Biomedical subjects

B Curry

Publications and source records attributed to B Curry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Primary degenerative dementia without Alzheimer pathology.

To define the pathology in cases of non-Alzheimer primary degenerative dementia (non-AD PDD), we have studied autopsies from four medical centres accessioned in consecutive years since 1976. Neurochemical studies of the basal forebrain-cortical (BF-C) cholinergic system have been conducted in cases from which frozen tissue was available. Twenty-two cases (mean age 70 years, range 47-86) in which the history was consistent with PDD, but which did not meet anatomic criteria for AD, were selected. Approximately 70 cases of PDD, which were accessioned in the same years and met the anatomic criteria for AD, were excluded. The pathologic findings permitted a classification into six groups: Lewy body disease (LBD), 4 cases; Pick's disease, 6 cases: cortical degeneration with motor neuron disease (CDmnd), 2 cases; hippocampal and temporal lobe sclerosis, 3 cases; few or nonspecific abnormalities, 5 cases; other disorders, 2 cases. Our findings suggest that LBD and Pick's disease account for a large proportion of cases of non-AD PDD in the presenile age group, but that a large number of other disorders occasionally present as PDD. Careful examination of the motor systems, as well as cerebral structures relate to cognitive function, is important in the neuropathologic evaluation. Lesions of the BF-C cholinergic system have been most consistent and severe in LBD, and have not been identified in CDmnd.

Aged↗

Multiple daily fractionated radiation therapy and misonidazole in the management of malignant astrocytoma. A preliminary report.

Various attempts have been made to improve the effectiveness of radiation in the treatment of cerebral malignant astrocytomas. A trend favoring multiple daily fractionated (MDF) radiation therapy over conventional single daily fractionated (CF) radiation therapy was identified in our previous study. In order to assess the effect of MDF with and without misonidazole, a province-wide prospective randomized trial was initiated in January 1981. By March 1984, 124 patients with histologically verified grade III and IV astrocytomas were randomized to CF (5800 cGy/6 weeks/30 fractions), MDF (6141 cGy/4.5 weeks/69 fractions at 89 cGy every 3-4 hours, three times a day) and MDF in combination with misonidazole (1.25 g/m2 three times weekly for the first 3 weeks). Thirty-eight patients were randomized to CF, 43 patients to MDF, and 43 patients to MDF and misonidazole. At the preliminary assessment in July 1984, the median survival time was 27 weeks for the CF group, 39 weeks for the MDF group and 49 weeks for MDF and misonidazole group. The 1-year actuarial survival rate from surgery was 20% for CF group, 41% for MDF group, and 45% for MDF and misonidazole group. There is a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.001) between the CF and MDF group. However, the addition of misonidazole does not significantly alter survival.

Adolescent↗

Fatal nemaline myopathy in infancy.

The clinical and neuropathological findings in two infants with congenital nemaline myopathy are described. One patient presented at birth with severe hypotonia, respiratory failure and contractures and died shortly after the neonatal period. The other presented at age two months with hypotonia and, following a period of clinical stability, died at age seven months from respiratory failure. Pathological findings in the fatal neonatal case revealed numerous rod bodies in lingual, pharyngeal, diaphragm and limb muscles, correlating with clinical findings. Significant, but less rod body involvement was found in the diaphragm and limb muscles of the second patient. Although a neural basis has been suggested for this disorder, no abnormalities were found in the central nervous system or in the peripheral nerves of these two severely affected patients.

Female↗

Infantile Huntington's disease.

A unique case of Huntington's disease is reported because of the extremely early onset and death, and the atypical mode of presentation including severe behavioural problems and a negative family history. Although rare, Huntington's disease must be considered along with the established degenerative disorders of white and gray matter peculiar to the pediatric population when one examines an infant or child with progressive motor deterioration, rigidity, mental retardation and behavioural abnormalities. Computed tomography is a reliable and non-invasive method of establishing the diagnosis during life.

Age Factors↗

Neuroaxonal dystrophy in young adults: a clinicopathological study of two unrelated cases.

The clinical and pathological features of two unrelated sporadic cases of neuroaxonal dystrophy occurring in young adults are described. Initial clinical manifestations in both patients were those of primary psychiatric disorders. They subsequently developed extrapyramidal symptoms, dementia, cerebellar ataxia, and corticospinal dysfunction, but neither demonstrated myoclonic seizures. In one patient the diagnosis was made before death by brain biopsy. On pathological examination both patients showed a generalized distribution of spheroids within the central nervous system and, in one, in the peripheral nerves. In both patients, Lewy bodies were demonstrated in the pigmented brainstem nuclei. In addition, one patient showed ultrastructurally verified Lewy bodies in the cerebral cortex. Although these two cases could be considered examples of juvenile neuroaxonal dystrophy, we prefer to regard them as transitional forms in a disease spectrum with classic infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy and Hallervorden-Spatz disease at the two extremes.

Adult↗

Salivary gland heterotopia: a unique cerebellopontine angle tumor.

An unusual maldevelopmental lesion, a salivary gland heterotopia of the right cerebellopontine angle, was studied. There was an associated primary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Possible modes of development and the relationship to salivary heterotopia of the middle ear are discussed.

Adult↗

Interpretation of the resonance Raman spectrum of bathorhodopsin based on visual pigment analogues.

Resonance Raman spectra of visual pigment analogues have been used to evaluate various models for the structure of the retinal chromophore in bathorhodopsin. Deuteration or removal of the 18-methyl on the beta-ionyl ring or of the 19-methyl on the polyene chain demonstrates that the three intense low wavenumber bands of bathorhodopsin at 853, 875, and 920 cm-1 are not due to exomethylene or ring modes. Rather, assignment of these lines to out-of-plane vinyl hydrogen motions on the chain best accounts for the experimental data. Our calculations show that the intensity of these vibrations can be explained by twists of 10-30 degrees about chain single bonds. The 1100-1400-cm-1 Raman fingerprint indicates that the configuration of the double bonds is trans. This suggests that the structure of the bathorhodopsin chromophore is twisted all-trans.

Animals↗

Dysplastic vertebral artery with paradoxical infarction.

A rare abnormality of the vertebral artery is described in a 63-year-old male. The right vertebral artery consisted of several minute endothelial lined channels which failed to perfuse at autopsy. The anterior spinal artery showed areas of muscular media dysplasia. These anomalies were associated with large posterior communicating arteries. The terminal event was precipitated by thrombotic occlusion of the left vertebral artery. The embryological aspect of these anomalies are discussed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Effect of lipid A-associated protein and lipid A on the expression of lipopolysaccharide activity. I. Immunological activity.

A detailed investigation has been made of the contribution of the various chemical moieties of bacterial endotoxins, namely lipid A-associated protein (LAP), lipid A and O-antigen polysaccharide to a number of the immunological activities of these active bacterial products. Advantage was taken of the availability of antigenically identical endotoxin preparations from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 which differed greatly in their content of LAP and/or lipid A. The capacity to initiate in vitro proliferative responses in murine splenocytes was in a large part related to the presence of LAP with a less potent, although still critical, dependence upon lipid A. On the other hand, the in vivo polyclonal antibody response was dependent only upon lipid A. In this respect, the presence of LAP had no apparent effect on the stimulation of nonspecific low affinity antibody. All preparations, regardless of LAP and lipid A content, stimulated similar in vivo enhancement of antibody responses to a protein antigen (adjuvanticity) and specific immune responses to the endotoxin polysaccharide antigen. The results emphasize the lack of correlation between in vitro B lymphocyte proliferative responses and in vivo immunostimulatory responses of bacterial endotoxin preparations. These data also suggest a minimal contribution of LAP to in vivo responses and an extremely limited contribution of lipid A to the adjuvant activity and the primary immune response to O-antigen polysaccharide.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Cytomegalovirus infection of the female genital tract. Histologic findings in three cases and review of the literature.

Three cases of cytomegalovirus infection of the female genital tract, diagnosed on curettage, revealed a characteristic, although nonspecific histologic picture. This consisted of dense lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltrates with lymphoid follicles and signs of rapid cell turnover in the cervix when the latter was affected. The characteristic inclusions were very scant or even absent. The symptoms were not of diagnostic value.

Adolescent↗

Solitary liver nodules.

There has been confusion in the literature over the nomenclature of solitary liver nodules. Several such lesions have recently been reported in patients taking oral contraceptives. Similarities exist between these cases that suggest they may be examples of focal nodular hyperplasia. Here three further cases are presented. The criteria for making the diagnosis and its importance are discussed.

Adult↗

Prolonged suppression of rat testis function by a depot formulation of Zoladex, a GnRH agonist.

A sustained-release formulation of a potent gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, Zoladex (D-Ser(But),6 Aza Gly10-GnRH; ICI 118,630; goserelin), was administered subcutaneously (3.6 mg/depot) to male rats once every 28 days for 2-24 wk to determine the extent to which pituitary-testis function could be suppressed and whether suppression was maintained throughout the period of treatment. Administration of Zoladex resulted in sustained decreases in weight of the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate gland. The decreases were apparent within 2 wk of initiating treatment. Patchy degeneration of the seminiferous tubules and atrophy of the Leydig cells were observed, but did not progress beyond the degree observed after 1 month of treatment. Serum and testis testosterone were markedly depressed after 2 wk of treatment, as was testis [125I]hCG binding. Serum gonadotropins were also reduced by treatment. Serum androgen binding protein (ABP) was elevated, testis ABP content remained unchanged, and epididymal ABP content was reduced. The changes are consistent with the hypothesis that this compound affects both the anterior pituitary gland and the testis. These findings indicate that depot delivery systems are a convenient way to administer GnRH analogs for sustained treatment schedules.

Androgen-Binding Protein↗