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Biomedical subjects

B Gilligan

Publications and source records attributed to B Gilligan.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Progression from MERRF to MELAS phenotype in a patient with combined respiratory complex I and IV deficiencies.

Identical twins developed myoclonic epilepsy in their teens. One twin remained mildly affected but the other went on to develop sensorineural deafness and ataxia with lactic acidosis and ragged red fibres leading to a diagnosis of mitochondrial encephalopathy. Multiple stroke-like episodes with hemiparesis followed, indicating progression from a MERRF to a MELAS phenotype. Biochemical studies revealed a severe deficiency of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone reductase and a moderate deficiency of cytochrome aa3. Western immunoblotting experiments using polyclonal antibodies raised against human placental cytochrome oxidase identified a similar profile of bands to those seen in controls, supporting the view that cytochrome aa3 deficiency in this case may be a secondary consequence of a failure of assembly related to a severe proximal respiratory chain defect.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed1987

Nuclear transplantation in bovine embryos.

This study was conducted to develop a method for transplanting nuclei in bovine embryos and to test the development of several stages of donor nuclei transplanted to enucleated pronuclear recipient embryos. Pronuclear embryos were centrifuged to reveal nuclei. Nuclei were removed without penetrating the plasma membrane as membrane-bound karyoplasts, and were inserted into enucleated zygotes by electrically induced cell fusion. The highest rate of fusion (79%) occurred in Zimmerman Cell Fusion medium at 100 V for 20 to 40 microseconds with the fusion membranes oriented parallel to the electrodes. The effect of nuclear transplantation on development was tested in pronuclear embryos in which nuclei were removed and reinserted and the embryos were then transferred to sheep oviducts for 5 d. Of the intact nuclear transplant embryos recovered, 5/29 (17%) developed to morulae or blastocysts compared with 11/30 (37%) of the non-manipulated embryos. Two nuclear transplant embryos were transferred to a recipient cow, and both developed to normal offspring. When nuclei from two-, four-, or eight-cell embryos were transplanted to pronuclear recipient embryos, no development was observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Nuclear transplantation in mouse embryos: assessment of recipient cell stage.

Enucleated zygotes were compared with enucleated two-cell embryos as recipients for donor nuclei from eight-cell embryos. Only one or two cleavage divisions were observed when eight-cell nuclei were transplanted to enucleated zygotes. Development of enucleated two-cell embryos containing a transplanted eight-cell nucleus was appreciably better with 51% (45/89) of the embryos forming blastocysts in vitro and 42% (25/60) initiating implantation. Of these, eleven implantation sites on Day 10 of gestation were examined histologically and two contained normally developing embryos. No development was observed beyond Day 12 of gestation. These observations indicate that a major transition occurs between the zygote and two-cell stage that results in the two-cell recipient being more compatible with the eight-cell nucleus than with the zygote.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Thoracic intervertebral disc protrusion with spinal cord compression.

Four patients presenting with spinal cord compression and spinal nerve root irritation are described. The clinical and radiological features are described and the contribution of CT scanning to accurate diagnosis of this condition is highlighted. Review of the literature indicates that the natural history of this disorder is one of steadily progressive neurological dysfunction. Surgical decompression of the lesion, although hazardous, is the only therapeutic option. Brief comment is made on the neurosurgical approaches currently in vogue.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Comparison of enteric-coated levodopa with levodopa-carbidopa combination. A double-blind crossover trial.

Twenty-seven patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease completed a double-blind crossover trial which compared enteric-coated levodopa (Prodopa) with levodopa-carbidopa combination (Sinemet). It was easy to stabilize the patients' condition with either drug, and the dose-sparing effect both of the enteric-coated preparation, and of the levodopa-carbidopa combination was again noted. At the dosages used, the levodopa-carbidopa combination was objectively shown to be more effective in 71% of the patients investigated, although there was no clear personal preference for either preparation when patients compared the two parts of the trial. Both drugs play a valuable role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a common disorder affecting approximately one in every two hundred people, from all walks of life, and presenting in addition to the seizure disorder itself, varying social, psychological and economic problems. A simple classification of epilepsy is described, and the concept of 'seizure threshold' introduced. Having diagnosed epilepsy, the need for investigation to separate the symptomatic epilepsies from idiopathic epilepsy is stressed. Accurate diagnosis of seizure type ensures that optimal therapy can be offered. The various drugs used to control epilepsy are discussed, and comments on the general management of the patient are offered.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Bromocriptine in lieu of levodopa for Parkinson's disease.

Thirteen patients with Parkinson's disease, whose disability was increasing and on long-term levodopa therapy (both with and without carbidopa), had the levodopa fully replaced by bromocriptine. At three months, eight of the 13 patients (62%) were less disabled on bromocriptine and none became worse. The present indications for the use of bromocriptine are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a common disorder affecting approximately one in every two hundred people, from all walks of life, and presenting in addition to the seizure disorder itself, varying social, psychological and economic problems. A simple classification of epilepsy is described, and the concept of 'seizure threshold' introduced. Having diagnosed epilepsy, the need for investigation to separate the symptomatic epilepsies from idiopathic epilepsy is stressed. Accurate diagnosis of seizure type ensures that optimal therapy can be offered. The various drugs used to control epilepsy are discussed, and comments on the general management of the patient are offered.

Automobile Driving↗
PubMed1975

Enteric-coated L-dopa (prodopa). A new approach to L-dopa therapy in Parkinson's disease.

Seventeen patients treated for a mean period of 9-4 months with an enteric-coated form of L-dopa (Prodopa), obtained the usual spectrum of benefit as from conventional L-dopa. There was a significant dose-sparing effect with the use of the enteric-coated prepartion of the order of 40% to 50%, whilst reducing gastrointestinal side effects to a minimum, at the same time as achieving optimal clinicl benefit. Enteric-coated L-dopa appears to be a useful and welcome addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for Parkinson's disease.

Female↗