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Biomedical subjects

B J Nelson

Publications and source records attributed to B J Nelson.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Immunologic response in an elderly population with a mean age of 85.

Previous studies of changes in immune responses in the elderly have been limited in both number and age of elderly subjects and have produced conflicting results. Using 260 subjects, mean age 84.6, the present study conclusively demonstrates that T cell response is decreased in the elderly. Decreases in response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A were demonstrated in groups aged 70 to 79, 80 to 84, and 85 to 89, although a group 90 to 106 years old showed a decreased response only to phytohemagglutinin. None of the groups had a decreased response to pokeweed mitogen. No response to all three mitogens was observed in 13 percent of the group aged 70 to 89, but in none of the group aged 90 to 106 or in the young groups. No differences in natural killer cell cytotoxicity were observed among the elderly groups. In contrast to previous studies, these results suggest that: the decreased immune response of the elderly is not directly related to age, over age 70; and there may be a selection process in which subjects who live to the age of 90 are those in whom the least decrease in immune response is demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Comprehensive viral immunology of multiple sclerosis. I. Clinical, epidemiological, and CSF studies.

Epidemiological, clinical, and CSF data were collected on 87 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 50 with probable MS. As part of a study of immunologic reactivity to viral antigens, a control group separated into 26 patients with probable inflammatory neural disease and 140 with noninflammatory neural disease was similarly studied. Among the groups with MS, females predominated and both Oriental and Spanish surnamed patients were under-represented. The spinal cord, optic nerves, and brainstem were the most common sites of initial disease and more than 20% of the patients had only cord symptoms after several years of disease activity. Of several CSF assays used, determination of oligoclonal IgG bands by agarose electrophoresis was most useful diagnostically.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Cerebrospinal fluid findings in asymptomatic patients with reactive serum fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption tests.

It is common to examine the cerebrospinal fluid in untreated or inadequately treated asymptomatic patients with a reactive serum fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test before initiating antibiotic therapy for syphilis. This prospective study evaluated the usefulness of such examination. Four hundred thirty-two patients over 40 years old, reporting for annual physical examination, had a serum FTA-ABS test. Thirty-seven (8.6%) patients and 2 of 4 spouses were reactive repeatedly. Of the 39 patients with reactive tests, 7 had a history of penicillin therapy for syphilis, 5 had received heavy metal therapy, and 27 had no history of syphilis. These 39 patients had a neurological examination, serum VDRL, Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI), and repeat FTA-ABS tests by two other laboratories. The TPI test was reactive in 30 (77%). Four had nonspecific neurological signs. Routine CSF examination (cells, total protein, VDRL, glucose, IgG%) on 30 patients with a history of inadequate treatment had a low diagnostic yield. Two patients had an unexplained total protein elevation (57 and 61 mg/dl) and 1 had a mildly increased IgG% (15%). All cell counts, VDRL tests, and glucose levels were normal. Agarose electrophoresis demonstrated one or more CSF immunoglobulin bands in 10 (36%) of 28 patients, possibly representing an immunological marker of past or latent central nervous system infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Multiple sclerosis: diagnostic usefulness of cerebrospinal fluid.

Early, atypical, or progressive cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) may be hard to diagnose. Until recently, assays of the most common abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid were not available in clinical diagnostic laboratories, but now they can be done with relative ease and adequate standardization. With the newer techniques the CSF is abnormal in more than 90% of clinically definite cases of MS, and determination of such changes can be a major aid in diagnosis. The most common CSF abnormalities are discussed: elevation of immunoglobulin G(IgG), expressed as percentage of total protein; elevation of the IgG/albumin index; and presence of oligoclonal IgG bands. Not only does assessment of these CSF proteins provide an improved aid to diagnosis, but their study may furnish important clues to the cause and pathogenesis of MS as well.

Albumins↗
PubMed1977

Agarose electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis. A simplified method for demonstrating cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal immunoglobulin bands.

The gamma globulins in cerebrospinal fluid from almost all patients with multiple sclerosis migrate in agarose electrophoresis as abnormal discrete populations, so-called oligoclonal bands. Such bands have also appeared in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with other types of inflammatory pathology such as neurosyphilis, acute idiopathic polyneuropathy, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The demonstration of cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands may aid in the evaluation of patients with early or atypical multiple sclerosis. This report describes a simple method for demonstrating cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands using readily available commercial reagents and apparatus. Oligoclonal bands were seen in cerebrospinal fluid from all patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis, even though some had normal cerebrospinal fluid gamma globulin levels, and in most patients with presumptive multiple sclerosis or other inflammatory conditions of the nervous system. They were not seen in cerebrospinal fluid of control patients with a variety of other neurologic diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of renin and converting enzyme inhibition in sodium-deficient dogs.

While renin is a highly specific protease, converting enzyme has at least two principal substrates, angiotensin I and bradykinin. Changes in the rate of formation of angiotensin II or degradation of bradykinin can influence the hypotensive action of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. The present study was designed to determine if there were differences in the maximal blood pressure reduction in Na-deficient dogs after angiotensin converting enzyme or renin inhibitor treatment. Five conscious dogs received 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg of i.v. enalaprilat, a potent angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, which reduced blood pressure to 75 +/- 4, 71 +/- 5, and 71 +/- 5 mm Hg. Plasma immunoreactive angiotensin II levels were reduced in a dose-related fashion to 35% of control level at the highest dose. Infusion of a maximally effective dose of a statine-containing renin inhibitor (SCRIP) with the high dose of enalaprilat produced no further fall in blood pressure (68 +/- 7 mm Hg), but immunoreactive angiotensin II levels fell to essentially zero in four of five dogs. The order of drug administration was reversed in another experiment in a group of nine dogs in which SCRIP reduced plasma immunoreactive angiotensin II to 25% of control at 0.04 mg/kg/minute (n = 5), with reduction to near zero levels at higher doses. Maximal blood pressure reduction was achieved at 0.32 to 0.64 mg/kg/minute (76 +/- 4 mm Hg); 1 mg/kg of enalaprilat lowered blood pressure an additional 11 +/- 2 mm Hg (p less than 0.01) while not further decreasing immunoreactive angiotensin II levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arthroscopic management of glenohumeral instability.

There has been substantial development of techniques for performing arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder over the past 20 years. A multitude of arthroscopic techniques have been developed in an attempt to manage the unstable glenohumeral joint while decreasing surgical morbidity. The results obtained with arthroscopic stabilization have been widely variable. This review will examine the current status of arthroscopic management of glenohumeral instability. The techniques and results of arthroscopic stabilization for primary anterior glenohumeral instability, recurrent anterior instability, and multidirectional instability will be discussed. A brief discussion on thermal capsulorrhaphy is included.

Arthroscopy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Male dentists at midlife: an exploration of the one life/one career imperative.

A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of male dentists (ages 35-50) in a single midwestern state. All dentists surveyed held similar views on the role that their careers played in shaping their identity, and 84 percent agreed with an hypothesis which suggests that most Americans believe they have the opportunity to pursue but one career during their lifetimes and that professionals, in particular, are likely to feel "trapped" in their careers as they age. A "crisis index" sought to isolate men undergoing the so-called midlife crisis, and both high and low crisis groups were identified. High-crisis dentists were markedly more concerned about health problems than were low-crisis dentists. High-crisis dentists were less satisfied with their careers, were far more likely to feel "trapped" in their positions, and experienced a greater entanglement of their domestic and professional lives.

Adult↗