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Biomedical subjects

E Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to E Murphy.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Natural history of "high-risk" bundle-branch block: final report of a prospective study.

We conducted a prospective study in which 554 patients with chronic bifascicular and trifascicular conduction abnormalities were followed for an average of 42.4 +/- 8.5 months. Heart block occurred in 19 patients, and 17 were successfully treated. The actuarial five-year mortality from an event that could conceivably have been a bradyarrhythmia was 6 per cent (35 per cent from all causes). Of the 160 deaths 67 (42 per cent) were sudden; most of these were not ascribable to bradyarrhythmia but to tachyarrhythmia and myocardial infarction. Mortality was higher in patients with coronary-artery disease (P less than 0.01) and congestive heart failure (P less than 0.05). Patients in whom syncope developed before or after entry into the study had a 17 per cent incidence of heart block (2 per cent in those without syncope)(P less than 0.05); however, no single variable was predictive of which patients were at high risk of death from a bradyarrhythmia. The predictors of death were increasing age, congestive heart failure, and coronary-artery disease; the predictors of sudden death were coronary-artery disease and increasing age. The risks of heart block and of death from a bradyarrhythmia are low; in most patients, heart block can be recognized and successfully treated with a pacemaker.

Aged↗

Biological activity of cloned rat endogenous C-type virus DNA transferred by microinjection.

The biological activity of a molecularly cloned DNA of a rat endogenous C-type leukaemia helper virus, RHHV, was assessed by intranuclear microinjection into normal rat kidney cells (NRK153). Release of rat C-type leukaemia helper viruses by the microinjected cells was examined by superinfection of Kirsten-transformed non-producer cells (K-NRK). Immediate release of helper leukaemia viruses at a very low level was observed only in the NRK153 m3 . 5/cir cells microinjected with the supercoiled form of RHHV DNA in toto, suggesting that the circular form of the virus DNA might have expedited the replication and expression of virus particles. Genome rescue experiments were also performed by co-cultivating the microinjected NRK153 m cells carrying various linear RHHV DNAs, in toto or of subgenomic sizes, with K-NRK cells. The results indicated that both the total and the 5.8 to 6.2 kb DNA fragment proximal to the 5' terminus of the cloned RHHV 8.8 kb DNA were able to rescue successfully a transforming replication-competent pseudotype virus. Subgenomic DNA fragments derived from the centre or the 3' end of the RHHV DNA were ineffective in the genome rescue experiments.

Animals↗

Cytosolic free calcium levels in rabbit proximal kidney tubules.

Cytosolic free Ca levels were measured in isolated rabbit proximal kidney tubules using a previously described null-point method (19). Control values for cytosolic free Ca levels averaged 0.45 +/- 0.09 microM (n = 13). Addition of 1 microM A23187, an agent expected to increase ionized Ca levels, resulted in an eightfold increase in the null point. Total mitochondrial Ca content was determined by measuring the fluorocyanocarbonylphenylhydrazine-releasable Ca. 80% of the total cell Ca was found to be mitochondrial. These results suggest that the mitochondria play an important role in the regulation of cytosolic free Ca levels in mammalian proximal kidney tubules.

Animals↗

Social origins of depression in old age.

In a comparison between elderly depressed subjects and normal elderly people in the general population, an association was found between severe life events, major social difficulties, poor physical health and the onset of depression. Working class subjects within the general population had a higher incidence of depression and this appeared to be explained by their poorer health and greater social difficulties. Those elderly people who lacked a confiding relationship were more vulnerable to depression. Evidence is presented that the lack of a confidant was a reflection of life-long personality traits.

Aged↗

Human platelets labeled with In-111 8-hydroxyquinoline: kinetics, distribution, and estimates of radiation dose.

Platelets from nine normal male subjects were labeled with In-111 8-hydroxyquinoline (In-111 oxine) in the presence of plasma in either "closed" blood transfer packs or in "open" test tubes. The mean labeling efficiencies in these two systems were 27 and 53%, respectively. Mean survival time of In-111-labeled autologous platelets was 8.76 days, with a standard deviation of 1.05 according to the maximum-likelihood estimate of the gamma-function model. The initial recovery of In-111 platelets in the circulation was 57% with a standard deviation of 11%. The distribution of In-111 platelets in liver and spleen was quantitated by anterior, posterior, and transmission gamma-camera imaging. During the first 30 min, 38% of the injected dose accumulated in the spleen, 13% in the liver. No significant increase in In-111 radioactivity was observed in either of the two organs over a 3-9-day period. The bone marrow was an additional site of In-111 accumulation. The spleen was the critical organ with respect to radiation dose. The splenic dose was estimated to be 34 rad/mCi In-111 platelets, that of the liver 2.1 rad/mCi. With the injection of 100-150 microCi of In-111-labeled platelets in normal subjects, giving a splenic radiation of 5 rad, a complete 10-day survival study can be performed and uptake of In-111 in different organs can be measured quantitatively for at least 3-4 days.

Adult↗

A high frequency idiotypic marker of anti-DNA autoantibodies in MRL-Ipr/Ipr mice.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies were used to analyze relatedness of anti-DNA autoantibodies of MRL mice. The antiidiotypic antibodies, produced by immunization of rabbits with MRL-Ipr-derived hybridoma anti-DNA antibodies, were defined by their ability to inhibit specifically the binding of hybridoma anti-DNA antibody to DNA. One monoclonal anti-DNA antibody, H130, cross-reacted with two thirds of other hybridoma anti-DNA antibodies. The H130/anti-H130 system detected high amounts (up to 5 mg/ml) of immunoreactivity in sera of MRL-Ipr mice, whereas levels in MRL-+ sera were relatively low. The H130 family increased 10-fold in MRL-Ipr mice over the course of 5 mo, but its levels did not correlate chronologically with those of anti-DNA antibodies, cardiolipin-binding antibodies, or total serum immunoglobulins. H130 cross-reactivity was found, by quantitative immunoadsorption, in 40 to 60% of serum anti-DNA antibodies; however, a large excess of H130-related serum antibodies did not bind to DNA. The H130 family and anti-DNA antibodies therefore seem to constitute overlapping populations.

Aging↗

Valve prosthesis--patient mismatch. A long-term sequela.

A patient underwent mitral valve replacement in 1966 for severe mitral valve disease. The initial clinical result was excellent but symptoms recurred nine years later, and since 1969 he has had progressive cardiac enlargement. At present he is in functional class II and has massive cardiomegaly with gross enlargement of the left atrium, right ventricle, and right atrium. Cardiac catherisation showed "normal" prosthetic valve function, but on moderate exercise he developed severe left atrial and pulmonary arterial hypertension. His clinical course illustrates a long-term sequela of "valve prosthesis--patient mismatch".

Adult↗

Mechanism for improved cardiac performance with arteriolar dilators in aortic insufficiency.

To determine how arteriolar dilation improves cardiac performance in aortic insufficiency, we evaluated the acute effects of hydralazine in 10 patients with chronic severe aortic insufficiency. Control measurements of intracardiac and intravascular pressures, cardiac output and left ventricular volumes were obtained at cardiac catheterization. Hydralazine, 0.3 mg/kg i.v. (maximal dose 20 mg), was administered and all measurements were repeated 30 minutes later. A reduction in systemic vascular resistance from 1264 to 710 dyn-sec-cm-5 was associated with significant increases in forward cardiac index (2.9 to 5.1 l/min/m2) and stroke volume index (37 to 55 ml/m2). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was reduced from 19 to 12 mm Hg. There was a significant reduction in mean arterial pressure (88 to 83 mm Hg) and a significant increase in heart rate (81 to 94 beats/min). Regurgitant stroke volume was reduced by more than 10 ml/m2 in seven patients and for the group was significantly reduced, from 65 to 53 ml/m2. Regurgitant fraction was reduced in all patients; the overall reduction from 0.64 to 0.48 was highly significant. Ejection fraction increased more than 0.10 in four patients, by 0.08 in an additional patient and for the group increased significantly from 0.50 to 0.57. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume decreased by more than 25 ml/m2 in four patients, by 19 ml/m2 in an additional patient and was decreased significantly, from 208 to 190 ml/m2, for the group. Arteriolar dilators improve cardiac performance in aortic insufficiency by reducing the amount of aortic regurgitation and, in some patients, by substantially improving systolic pump fraction. These data suggest a role for arteriolar dilators in the management of selected patients with aortic insufficiency.

Adult↗

Comparison of media for substance abuse education in rural communities.

A study was done in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, to compare the effectiveness of the various mass media, television, radio, and newspaper, for the dissemination of educational material about substance abuse. Effectiveness of the media in reaching certain subpopulations defined by race, sex, income, age, and population density was also examined. It was found that the radio medium was generally less effective than the others. Furthermore, it was found that Blacks and Whites differed in the extent to which they were reached by radio and television.

Health Education↗