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Biomedical subjects

J D Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to J D Wilson.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Splanchnic and systemic hemodynamic responses to portal vein endotoxin after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic shock and sepsis are usually studied separately or in rodents. This study combined the two insults in a large animal model. METHODS: Anesthetized pigs were bled, held in shock for 1 hour, and then resuscitated with fluid. After 3 days, Escherichia coli endotoxin LPS was infused into the portal vein (150 micrograms/kg x 30 min) to mimic the effect of enteric substances breaching the mucosal barrier. Systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics, circulating leukocytes, and plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were measured in five groups: 40% hemorrhage plus fluid only resuscitation, 40% hemorrhage plus fluid-blood resuscitation, 50% hemorrhage plus fluid-blood resuscitation, sham, or sham plus 5 micrograms/kg LPS priming dose instead of hemorrhage. RESULTS: On day 4 before infusion of LPS, there were no differences between groups in hemodynamics or O2 utilization, but systemic O2 delivery and O2 consumption were each reduced in the hemorrhaged groups because of the hemodilution associated with resuscitation. For 3 hours after infusion of LPS, all animals received aggressive fluid and respiratory support, but arterial blood pressure decreased, and systemic O2 utilization, splanchnic O2 utilization, and arterial lactate level increased; there were no differences between groups. In the 50% group compared with sham, LPS-evoked decreases in cardiac index and stroke index were eliminated, and LPS-evoked tachycardia, pulmonary and systemic vasoconstriction, and increases in hepatic and portal vein lactate levels were blunted. Despite similar leukocyte counts before infusion of LPS and similar leukopenia after LPS infusion, plasma LPS level was higher in the 50% group compared with sham. Furthermore, LPS evoked increases in portal and hepatic vein plasma TNF in the shams, but those changes were reduced in the 50% group. CONCLUSIONS: Most responses to LPS were similar after hemorrhagic shock or a sham operation, which is inconsistent with the concept of "priming." LPS-evoked increases in plasma TNF were blunted after shock, probably because of trauma-induced immune dysfunction. A combined shock plus septic challenge in a large animal model may be valuable for investigating the pathogenic mechanism in human beings.

Analysis of Variance↗

Hypothermia, hyperhidrosis, myokymia and increased urinary excretion of catecholamines associated with a thymoma.

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare syndrome associated with a thymoma and its first successful treatment with gammaglobulin. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 49-year-old white male presented with marked hypothermia, hyperhidrosis, myokymia and increased urinary excretion of catecholamines four weeks after complete excision of a malignant thymoma. He became increasingly drowsy, obtunded and required ventilatory support. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: A catecholamine secreting tumour was excluded and he was treated with intravenous gammaglobulin for five days, with dramatic improvement in his condition. Six months later he remains in remission. CONCLUSION: The response to treatment in this patient suggests an immunological pathogenesis for this rare group of symptoms associated with a thymoma.

Catecholamines↗

HLA-DQ genotypes are associated with autoimmunity to glutamic acid decarboxylase in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.

This study has investigated the genetic basis of the heterogeneous autoimmune response to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in 179 Australian patients with IDDM. Antibodies to GAD have been correlated with HLA-DQB1 alleles and genotypes, as determined by sequence-specific oligonucleotide hybridizations after polymerase chain reaction was applied to exon 2 of the DQ beta 1 gene. HLA-DQ2 was significantly increased (p < 0.01) in IDDM patients with antibodies to GAD. Antibodies to GAD were detected in 64% of 72 DQ2.8 patients, in 55% of 29 DQ2.2 or DQ8.8 patients and in 41% of 78 patients with other HLA-DQB1 genotypes. HLA-DQ genotype association with autoimmunity to GAD was statistically significant (p = 0.02) and reflected early formation of antibodies to GAD, rather than an HLA association with persistence of antibodies to GAD, since the genotype effect was more evident (p = 0.02) in those with more recent onset (0-5 years) of IDDM. Also, the HLA-DQ genotype effect was more evident in patients with IDDM onset after the age of 14 years (p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that HLA-DQB1 genotypes had a more significant impact on antibodies to GAD than either duration or age of onset of IDDM. In patients with IDDM in childhood, only a minority had low-risk HLA-DQB1 genotypes (37%) when compared with those with onset in adulthood (62%) (p = 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Complete testicular feminization caused by an amino-terminal truncation of the androgen receptor with downstream initiation.

We have characterized the molecular defect causing androgen resistance in two 46,XY siblings with complete testicular feminization. Although binding studies in genital skin fibroblasts showed a reduced Bmax, an increased dissociation rate of ligand, and an 8S peak of dihydrotestosterone binding on sucrose density gradient centrifugation, no immunoreactive androgen receptor (AR) was detected in immunoblots using anti-NH2-terminal antibodies, suggesting an abnormal amino terminus. Sequence analysis of the AR gene revealed a point mutation CAG-->TAG (Gln-->Stop) at nucleotide 340. In vitro mutagenesis studies suggest the synthesis of the mutant AR is initiated downstream of the termination codon at reduced levels and that each molecule is functionally impaired. These results define a novel mechanism causing androgen resistance: the combination of decreased amount and functional impairment of AR caused by an abnormality within the amino terminus of the receptor. These findings suggest that domains important to the in vivo function of the receptor reside within the amino terminus and that disruption of these domains can occur with only subtle effects on receptor binding. Identification of this mutation made it possible to identify the mutant allele within the family and to ascertain antenatally that it was not present in a 46,XY fetal sibling of the proband at 9 wk gestation.

Alleles↗

Steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2 deficiency.

In the 20 yr since it was established that impairment of dihydrotestosterone formation is the cause of a rare form of human intersex, a wealth of information has accumulated about the genetics, endocrinology, and variable phenotypic manifestations, culminating in the cloning of cDNAs encoding two 5 alpha-reductase genes and documentation that mutations in the steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2 gene are the cause of 5 alpha-reductase deficiency. Perplexing and difficult problems remain unresolved, e.g. whether the variability in manifestations is due to variable expressions of steroid 5 alpha-reductase 1 or to effects of testosterone itself. It is also imperative to establish whether defects in steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2, perhaps in the heterozygous state, are responsible for a portion of cases of sporadic hypospadias, to determine whether 5 alpha-reductase plays a role in progesterone action in women, and to elucidate the relation between androgen action and gender role behavior.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗

Genetic basis of endocrine disease. 4. The spectrum of mutations in the androgen receptor gene that causes androgen resistance.

Mutations in the androgen receptor gene cause phenotypic abnormalities of male sexual development that range from a female phenotype (complete testicular feminization) to that of undervirilized or infertile men. Using the tools of molecular biology, we have analyzed androgen receptor gene mutations in 31 unrelated subjects with androgen resistance syndromes. Most of the defects are due to nucleotide changes that cause premature termination codons or single amino acid substitutions within the open reading frame encoding the androgen receptor, and the majority of these substitutions are localized in three regions of the androgen receptor: the DNA-binding domain and two segments of the androgen-binding domain. Less frequently, partial or complete gene deletions have been identified. Functional studies and immunoblot assays of the androgen receptors in patients with androgen resistance indicate that in most cases the phenotypic abnormalities are the result of impairment of receptor function or decreases in receptor abundance or both.

Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome↗