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Biomedical subjects

B E Jones

Publications and source records attributed to B E Jones.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

A comparative study of cultured vascular and lymphatic endothelium.

There is comparatively little knowledge of the structure and function of cultured lymphatic endothelium. A study was carried out to compare the intrinsic growth characteristics of cultured lymphatic endothelial cells with cultured endothelial derived from blood vessels. It was found that cultured lymphatic endothelium has growth requirements and growth characteristics similar to vascular endothelium. It also possesses FVIIIRA and Weibel-Palade bodies for specific identification. The results of this study have provided important base line data for subsequent studies of the pathobiology of lymphatic endothelium.

Animals↗

NMDA receptor agonists derived from ibotenic acid. Preparation, neuroexcitation and neurotoxicity.

The two heterocyclic aspartic acid and glutamic acid analogues derived from ibotenic acid, (RS)-2-amino-2-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)acetic acid (AMAA) and (RS)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionic acid (AMPA) have previously been shown to be selective agonists at N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and AMPA receptors, respectively. Two analogous series of AMAA and AMPA derivatives have now been synthesized and characterized in receptor binding studies and neuropharmacological experiments. AMAA was shown to be a very potent NMDA agonist in cortical tissue preparations, slightly more active than NMDA, whereas N-methyl-AMAA was less potent and N,N-dimethyl-AMAA almost inactive. (RS)-3-Hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-carboxylic acid (4-HPCA), a bicyclic analogue of AMAA, exhibited weak NMDA agonist effects similar to those of quinolinic acid. The relative potency as AMPA receptor agonists of AMPA, N-methyl-AMPA, N,N-dimethyl-AMPA and (RS)-3-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid (5-HPCA), a bicyclic analogue of AMPA, was distinctly different from that of the AMAA series of compounds as NMDA agonists. The pharmacological and toxicological profiles of AMAA and 4-HPCA, compared with those of quinolinic acid, are consistent with heterogeneity of NMDA receptors.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical study of choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive processes and cells innervating the pontomedullary reticular formation in the rat.

The present study was undertaken to examine the cholinergic innervation of the brainstem reticular formation in an effort to understand the potential role of cholinergic neurons in processes of sensory-motor modulation and state control. The cholinergic cells and processes within the pontomedullary reticular formation were studied in the rat by application of peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemistry with silver intensification for choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT). ChAT-immunoreactive cells were located in the pontomesencephalic tegmentum within the laterodorsal and pedunculopontine tegmental (LDT and PPT) nuclei, where they numbered approximately 3,000 on each side and were scattered in the midline, medial, and lateral medullary reticular formation, where they numbered approximately 10,000 in total on each side. The cholinergic neurons within the reticular formation were commonly medium in size and gave rise to multiple dendrites that extended for considerable distances within the periventricular gray or the reticular formation, as is typical of other isodendritic reticular neurons. A prominent innervation of the entire pontomedullary reticular formation was evident by varicose ChAT-immunoreactive fibers that often surrounded large noncholinergic reticular neurons in a typical perisomatic pattern of termination, suggesting a potent influence of the cholinergic innervation on pontomedullary reticular neurons. The contribution of the pontomesencephalic cholinergic neurons to the innervation of the medial medullary and lateral pontine reticular formation was studied by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP) in combination with ChAT immunohistochemistry. A proportion of the cholinergic neurons within the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (pars alpha) and the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus were retrogradely labelled on the ipsilateral (10-15%) and contralateral (5-10%) sides from the medial medullary reticular formation, indicating a significant contribution to the cholinergic innervation of this region, which, however, also appeared to derive in part from intrinsic medullary cholinergic neurons. The major fiber system by which the medial medullary reticular formation was reached by the pontomesencephalic cholinergic neurons appeared to correspond to the lateral tegmentoreticular tract. Fibers passed from these cholinergic cells ventrally through the lateral pontine tegmentum, in the region of the subcoeruleus, where they also appeared to innervate by fibres en passage the noncholinergic neurons of the region. A significant proportion of the pontomesencephalic cholinergic neurons were retrogradely labelled from the lateral pontine tegmentum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Pitfalls in pediatric urinary sonography.

Our review of pediatric urinary tract ultrasonograms over a period of two and one-half years resulted in a catalog of pitfalls. Cases included normal scans mistaken for abnormal and vice versa. These erroneous diagnoses stemmed from the inappropriate selection of the primary imaging test, improper timing of the ultrasonogram, errors of commission or omission in performance of the scans, and improper interpretation of the findings. For ease of reference, the pitfalls are grouped under bladder, ureters, and kidney with emphasis on the first two which are common sources of error.

Child↗

Myxoma of the skin of a finger.

A case of a true myxoma of the fingertip is presented. The lesion was removed by simple shave excision. Reports of myxoma of the skin are reviewed, and the differential diagnosis of this rare tumor is discussed.

Age Factors↗

Effects of the Chernobyl accident on animal husbandry and production, from a Swedish perspective.

About 20% of the Swedish land area was considerably contaminated by radionuclides released by the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in April 1986. However, less than 10% of the arable land was contaminated. The heavy contamination was closely correlated with the amount of rain received during the first days of May 1986. Immediate restrictions on grazing limited the early uptake of contaminants in animal products. Changes in management of animals, especially sheep, goats, and reindeer in the contaminated areas have effectively reduced the transfer of radionuclides to human beings. One important factor was the possibility of obtaining uncontaminated feeds from unaffected parts of the country. The direct costs during the first 2 years after the accident were approximately +10 million for analyses and +90 million for compensation to farmers for condemned products (milk, mutton, and reindeer meat) and reimbursement for purchase of uncontaminated feeds from other parts of the country.

Accidents↗

Perinatal unilateral hydrocephalus. Atresia of the foramen of Monro.

Unilateral hydrocephalus is rare, and is usually associated with a neoplasm or inflammatory response at the foramen of Monro. It is even more uncommon with congenital atresia of one foramen of Monro. We report the fifth such case documented in the perinatal period, and the second case of unilateral hydrocephalus diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound.

Cerebral Ventricles↗

Radiocesium uptake in reindeer on natural pasture.

In an experiment initiated after the Chernobyl accident, a herd of reindeer was followed before and after a temporary move from a highly contaminated area (greater than 20 kBq 137 Cs/m2) to a less contaminated area (less than 3 kBq 137Cs/m2) of natural pasture. The animals grazed in a highly contaminated area until they were moved to the low contaminated area where they grazed from late November to late April. The level of 137Cs in meat was about 12 kBq/kg at the time when the animals were moved (Nov.) to the low contaminated area and it decreased to about 3 kBq/kg with an effective half-time of about 1 month, after the animals were moved. In the low contaminated area the fractional transfer, fm, of 137Cs was determined to be 0.65 d/kg during winter pasture, mainly on lichens, and 0.30 d/kg during summer pasture, in the fields. The actual intake of radiocesium was determined by measurement of ruminal samples from slaughtered animals. The maximal radiation dose to reindeer in Sweden after the Chernobyl accident was estimated to less than 200 mSv/a with a dose rate of less than 1mSv/d during the winter period of maximum tissue concentration of radiocesium.

Accidents↗

Afferents to the basal forebrain cholinergic cell area from pontomesencephalic--catecholamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine--neurons.

The afferent input to the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons from the pontomesencephalic tegmentum was examined by retrograde transport of wheatgerm agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase in combination with immunohistochemistry. Multiple tyrosine hydroxylase-, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-, serotonin- and choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive fibres were observed in the vicinity of the choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive cell bodies within the globus pallidus, substantia innominata and magnocellular preoptic nucleus. Micro-injections of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated wheatgerm agglutinin into this area of cholinergic perikarya led to retrograde labelling of a large population of neurons within the pontomesencephalic tegmentum, which included cells in the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, retrorubral field, raphe nuclei, reticular formation, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, parabrachial nuclei and locus coeruleus nucleus. Of the total population of retrogradely labelled neurons, a significant (approximately 25%) proportion were tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive and found in the ventral tegmental area (A10), the substantia nigra (A9), the retrorubral field (A8), the raphe nuclei (dorsalis, linearis and interfascicularis) and the locus coeruleus nucleus (A6), Another important contingent (approximately 10%) was represented by serotonin neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus (B7), the central superior nucleus (B8) and ventral tegmentum (B9). A small proportion (less than 1%) was represented by cholinergic neurons of the pedunculopontine (Ch5) and laterodorsal (Ch6) tegmental nuclei. These results demonstrate that pontomesencephalic monoamine neurons project in large numbers up to the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and may represent a major component of the ventral tegmental pathway that forms the extra-thalamic relay from the brainstem through the basal forebrain to the cerebral cortex.

Animals↗

Technetium metabolism in goats and swine.

The intestinal absorption of 99mTc given as pertechnetate (TcO4-) was studied in female goats and swine. In goats given TcO4- orally, only a small fraction of the given radioactivity was found in milk (x = 0.1% of dose) and urine (x = 1.2% of dose). These figures were not substantially changed by pre-treatment with I. Ninety percent was found in feces. In goats injected intraabomasally, secretion of 95mTc into milk increased fivefold and urinary excretion was doubled. In swine administered 95mTc intragastrically, urinary excretion was about 30% of the dose. Swine did not retain the radionuclide in the thyroid gland as long as the goats (T 1/2 20 h in swine versus 30 h in goats). Other organs containing substantial concentrations of Tc 200 h post-administration were livers and kidneys, but in swine the liver contained three times as much 95mTc as the thyroid or kidneys. The conclusion of these experiments would, however, be that the concentrations were insufficient to present a hazard to man from consumption of milk or meat.

Administration, Oral↗

Is renal lithium clearance altered in essential hypertension?

In order to assess whether enhanced fractional sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule might contribute to the development of essential hypertension, we examined the relationship between arterial blood pressure and lithium clearance (CLi; used as an estimate of end-proximal fluid delivery) or fractional lithium excretion [FELi; measured using the clearances of creatinine and 51Cr ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as estimates of glomerular filtration rate] in normal young males (n = 32) and in patients with essential hypertension (n = 44). In neither group was there evidence of a negative correlation between blood pressure and CLi or FELi. Mean values for CLi and FELi in a subgroup of hypertensive patients (n = 20) were almost identical to those in 20 normotensives matched for age, sex and race. These results provide no support for suggestions that a defect in proximal tubular sodium handling is an important factor in the development and/or maintenance of essential hypertension.

Adult↗

The sleep-wake-cycle: basic mechanisms.

The physiologic characteristics of the sleep-wake states have been well defined and some of the chemical and neuron systems that participate in the cyclic generation and maintenance of these states have been identified. The actual dynamic process by which these systems interact to generate the basic sleep-wake cycle, however, remains a mystery.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Neurotoxic lesions of the dorsolateral pontomesencephalic tegmentum-cholinergic cell area in the cat. II. Effects upon sleep-waking states.

Kainic acid was injected bilaterally (4.8 micrograms in 1.2 microliters each side) into the dorsolateral pontomesencephalic tegmentum of cats in order to destroy the cholinergic neurons located in that region and thus to study the effects of their destruction upon sleep-waking states. The kainic acid produced a large area of nerve cell loss and/or gliosis centered in the dorsolateral tegmentum-cholinergic cell area, that includes the pedunculopontine tegmental (PPT) and laterodorsal tegmental (LDT) nuclei rostrally (A1-P2), and the parabrachial (PB) and locus coeruleus (LC) nuclei caudally (P3-P5). The mean loss of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive neurons within this area was 60% with a range from 25% to 85% across 11 cats. The mean loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive neurons, differentially distributed through the same region, was 35% with a range of 0-50%. Whereas the kainic acid lesions appeared to have only slight effects upon wakefulness and slow-wave sleep, they had marked effects upon paradoxical sleep (PS), which varied in degree across animals. In cats with the most extensive destruction of cholinergic neurons, PS was eliminated in the first few weeks following the lesion and then reappeared as isolated episodes characterized by sparse, low amplitude PGO spikes in association with few eye movements and an activated cortex, though in absence of neck muscle atonia. Although these PS-like episodes varied in amount, they were significantly less than baseline PS in percent and in duration for the group of 11 animals over one month recording. The PGO spike rate was significantly reduced; the EMG amplitude was significantly increased, marking a loss of neck muscle atonia. The percent of PS-like epochs, the rate of PGO spiking and the EMG amplitude on postlesion day 28 were found to be significantly correlated with the volume of the lesion within the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum-cholinergic cell area. The percent PS-like episodes and PGO spike rate were significantly correlated with the number of remaining ChAT-immunoreactive neurons, but not with the number of remaining TH-immunoreactive neurons within this region. These results suggest that cholinergic pontomesencephalic neurons may be critically involved in the generation of paradoxical sleep and its phasic events.

Acetylcholine↗

Neurotoxic lesions of the dorsolateral pontomesencephalic tegmentum-cholinergic cell area in the cat. I. Effects upon the cholinergic innervation of the brain.

Kainic acid was injected bilaterally (4.8 micrograms in 1.2 microliter each side) into the dorsolateral pontomesencephalic tegmentum of cats in order to destroy cholinergic cells which are located within the pedunculopontine tegmental (PPT), laterodorsal tegmental (LDT), parabrachial (PB), and locus ceruleus (LC) nuclei in this species. The neurotoxic lesions resulted in the destruction of the majority (approximately 60%) of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive neurons and a minority (approximately 35%) of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive neurons, as well as in the destruction of other chemically unidentified neurons, in the region. The effects of these lesions upon the cholinergic innervation of the brain were investigated by comparison of brains with and without lesions which were processed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) silver, copper thiocholine histochemistry and ChAT radio-immunohistochemistry. In the forebrain, a major and significant decrease in AChE staining, measured by microdensitometry, and associated with a decrease in ChAT immunoreactivity was found in certain thalamic nuclei, including the dorsal lateral geniculate, lateral posterior, pulvinar, intralaminar, mediodorsal and reticular nuclei. All of these nuclei receive a rich cholinergic innervation evident in both AChE histochemistry and ChAT immunohistochemistry. No significant difference in AChE staining or ChAT immunoreactivity was detected in other thalamic nuclei or in the subthalamus, hypothalamus or basal forebrain. In the brainstem, a significant decrease of AChE staining and ChAT immunoreactivity was found in the superior colliculus and the medullary reticular formation, where ChAT-immunoreactive fibers were moderately dense in the normal animal. These results indicate that the pontomesencephalic cholinergic neurons may influence the forebrain by major projections to the thalamus, involving both relay and non-specific thalamocortical projection systems, and thus act as an integral component of the ascending reticular system. They may influence the brainstem by projections onto deep tectal neurons and other reticular neurons, notably those in the medullary reticular formation, and thus also affect bulbar and bulbospinal systems.

Acetylcholinesterase↗