Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Young.
The prevalence of viral hepatitis reflects socio-economic conditions and may be reduced by improving hygiene and altering lifestyles. Effective prophylaxis is available for individuals who remain at high risk.
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The growth hormone (GH) response to iv injection of GH releasing hormone 1-44 (GHRH 1-44) has been examined in 10 hyperthyroid and 6 hypothyroid patients. Both groups of patients were studied at presentation and when euthyroid (mean 5 months for hyperthyroid, 8 months for hypothyroid). Hyperthyroid subjects demonstrated a peak mean (+/- SE) level of 17.7 +/- 3.8 mU/l, with an integrated GH 29.3 +/- 6.4 mU/l.h. When euthyroid the peak mean level was 17.0 +/- 5.0 mU/l and the integrated GH 22.8 +/- 4.2 mU/l.h. Neither change was statistically significant. Hypothyroid subjects had a peak mean level of 5.0 +/- 2.7 mU/l and integrated GH of 5.9 +/- 1.7 mU/l.h and when euthyroid a peak mean level of 7.1 +/- 4.8 mU/l and integrated GH of 8.1 +/- 3.6 mU/l.h. Body weight did not change significantly in this group of hypothyroid subjects with prolonged treatment. The increase in GH response to GHRH previously reported following replacement therapy may reflect a treatment-induced decrease in body weight, or may be a short term effect.
To investigate the relationship between dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) systems in the control of oral movement, we studied the effects of specific D1 and D2 drugs on vacuous chewing movements induced by the muscarinic ACh agonist, pilocarpine. In previous experiments we found that when given alone, the D1 agonist SKF 38393 increased vacuous chewing and the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 decreased it, while both the D2 agonist LY 171555 (quinpirole) and the D2 antagonist sulpiride decreased vacuous chewing. In the present experiment, the effects of the D1 drugs had similar effects in rats concurrently given pilocarpine. In contrast, the effects of both of the D2 drugs were altered by pilocarpine. Surprisingly, the actions of D2 agonist and antagonist were affected in opposite ways. The effect of sulpiride in reducing oral movement activity was eliminated by pilocarpine, while the effect of LY 171555 in reducing oral movement was enhanced by pilocarpine.
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In some patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), delayed-type allergy to aeroallergens, such as house dust mite, can be demonstrated by patch testing. Positive patch tests can be expected only in patients with AD and, in them, only to aeroallergens to which type 1 reactions have also been demonstrated. In an as yet unknown number of such cases, aeroallergens appear to play a role in AD. Studies to date have varied too widely in experimental method and design to allow more definite conclusions to be drawn. It is essential that future studies are standardised with regard to patch test system and designed to include adequate controls and assessment of relevance.
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A 32 year old male is described with an onset of upper limb postural tremor in adolescence followed by muscle cramps. Progressive proximal amyotrophy and weakness in the limbs developed late in the third decade. Examination disclosed, in addition, bilateral facial weakness and mild dysarthria. Enzyme studies revealed hexosaminidase A and B deficiency, indicating a diagnosis of Sandhoff disease. Intra-axonal membranocytoplasmic bodies were present in a rectal biopsy. The presentation, which resembled that of X-linked bulbospinal neuronopathy, widens the clinical spectrum for disorders related to G(M2) gangliosidosis.
In patients with atopic dermatitis and in a control group prick and intracutaneous tests were performed with Pityrosporon extracts. Moreover, specific IgE against Pityrosporon was determined in these patients. Significant differences existed between the results obtained with these methods in both groups of patients. Therefore, both skin tests with Pityrosporon extract and IgE determinations may contribute to a diagnosis of AD; moreover, it is likely that Pityrosporon may be of significance in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Multiple sulphatase deficiency was diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy by demonstrating markedly reduced activities of arylsulphatases and heparin sulphamidase by direct assays on chorionic villi (CV). The diagnosis was confirmed by assays on cell cultures of villi and fetal skin fibroblasts. Two further pregnancies of this mother were monitored similarly and predicted to be unaffected; one produced a normal healthy infant, the other miscarried shortly after CV sampling.
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We have compared the therapeutic effectiveness of a new UVB fluorescent sunlamp, the Philips TL-01 lamp, which emits a narrow peak around 311-312 nm, with the currently used Philips TL-12 lamp, in 10 patients with psoriasis. We also compared the tumour inducing capacity of the two lamps in hairless mice. The therapeutic effect of the TL-01 lamp was superior to that of the TL-12 lamp in nine of the 10 patients. In the mice, the median tumour induction time was significantly longer in animals exposed to the TL-01 lamp. Phototherapy with the new type of lamp requires a higher dose than phototherapy with the usual broadband UVB sources. In practice this means that more lamps are needed in the light cabinet. However, the new lamps appear to provide more effective and safer phototherapy for psoriasis.
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Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using DQ alpha, DQ beta and DR beta cDNA probes was performed in Graves' disease patients and control subjects. The following restriction fragment patterns were increased in frequency in patients compared with control subjects: 10 + 7.0 + 4.0kb DR beta/TaqI fragments (66% vs 32%; P less than 0.01; corrected P less than 0.06), 7.0 + 4.0kb DQ beta/BamHI fragments (55% vs 15%; P less than 0.001; corrected P less than 0.006), and a DQ alpha/TaqI 4.6kb fragment (75% vs 36%; P less than 0.005; corrected P less than 0.02). These associations could be accounted for by the known association of the B8-DR3 haplotype with the disorder. No non-DR3-related restriction fragment pattern was associated with the disease using any of the probes with restriction enzymes TaqI and BamHI. The 10 + 7.0 + 4.0kb DR beta/TaqI restriction pattern was identified in 23 of 35 Graves' disease patients. All 23 subjects were heterozygous for this pattern. This was inconsistent with simple recessive inheritance of the DR3-associated component of disease susceptibility (P = 0.01). The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to models for the inheritance of the HLA-linked component of Graves' disease susceptibility.