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Biomedical subjects

J E Jackson

Publications and source records attributed to J E Jackson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Superior mesenteric vein stenosis complicating Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Superior mesenteric vein stenosis as a consequence of mesenteric fibrosis, causing the development of small bowel varices, is an unrecognised association of Crohn's disease. CASE REPORTS: Two cases of gastrointestinal bleeding occurring in patients with Crohn's disease, and a third case, presenting with pain and diarrhoea, are described. In all three patients, visceral angiography showed superior mesenteric vein stenosis with dilatation of draining collateral veins in the small bowel. Overt gastrointestinal bleeding or iron deficiency anaemia resulting from mucosal ulceration is common in Crohn's disease, but acute or chronic bleeding from small bowel varices as a result of superior mesenteric vein stenosis due to fibrosis has not previously been reported.

Adult↗

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are uncommon lesions, but are the cause of considerable morbidity and occasional mortality. They most commonly occur in association with hereditary haemorrhagic telangectasia and screening of families with this condition is therefore important. Embolization of PAVMs by coils is a well tolerated effective procedure with a low complication rate in skilled hands. Treatment results in both symptomatic and physiological improvement, and evidence for a reduction in stroke and cerebral abscess is accumulating. Radiological techniques now represent the primary treatment of choice, with surgical resection rarely required.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

Safety and efficacy of intravenous sodium stibogluconate in the treatment of leishmaniasis: recent U.S. military experience.

The efficacy and toxicity of sodium stibogluconate (SSG) at a dosage of 20 mg/(kg.d) for either 20 days (for cutaneous disease) or 28 days (for visceral, mucosal, or viscerotropic disease) in the treatment of leishmaniasis is reported. Ninety-six U.S. Department of Defense health care beneficiaries with parasitologically confirmed leishmaniasis were prospectively followed for 1 year. One patient was infected with human immunodeficiency virus; otherwise, comorbidity was absent. Clinical cure occurred in 91% of 83 cases of cutaneous disease and 93% of 13 cases of visceral/viscerotropic disease. Adverse effects were common and necessitated interruption of treatment in 28% of cases, but they were generally reversible. These included arthralgias and myalgias (58%), pancreatitis (97%), transaminitis (67%), headache (22%), hematologic suppression (44%), and rash (9%). No subsequent mucosal leishmaniasis was identified, and there were no deaths attributable to SSG or leishmaniasis.

Adolescent↗

Meckel's diverticulum: angiographic findings in 16 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of angiography in revealing the vitellointestinal artery or other arteriographic abnormalities in patients in whom surgery subsequently proved Meckel's diverticulum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the 36 patients who had undergone a Meckel's diverticulectomy between 1980 and 1997 at Hammersmith Hospital or a referring hospital, we selected 18 who had undergone preoperative angiography at our institution. Case notes and angiograms of these 18 patients were reviewed for the presence of a persistent vitellointestinal artery or other angiographic evidence of a Meckel's diverticulum. RESULTS: Angiograms of 16 of 18 patients were available for review. A striking male preponderance existed (male:female = 13:3). Mean age was 28 years (range, 12-65 years). In 11 (69%) of the 16 patients, a persistent vitellointestinal artery was seen that had been noted at the time of the study and reported before surgery for nine patients. Other angiographic abnormalities at the site of the Meckel's diverticulum were present in four patients and included a vascular blush, early venous return, and arterial irregularity. CONCLUSION: Angiography will show a persistent vitellointestinal artery in most individuals with a Meckel's diverticulum who present with chronic gastrointestinal bleeding. However, the recognition of a persistent vitellointestinal artery may be difficult because of overlying vessels, and superselective catheterization of distal ileal arteries may be necessary.

Adolescent↗

Endovascular occlusion with a new mechanical detachable coil.

OBJECTIVE: Metallic coils have been used for vascular embolization for many years but controlled-release coils have only recently become commercially available. Most of these devices are microcoils that were manufactured primarily for the packing of intracerebral aneurysms; therefore, they lack radial force and are not ideal agents for the occlusion of high-flow lesions such as pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs). The objective of this study was to review our experience with a new detachable coil based on the conventional Gianturco-Wallace coil. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The new detachable coil was initially used for the treatment of varicocele in 20 patients. Subsequently, the coil was used in 48 patients during 90 procedures for the treatment of PAVMs. RESULTS: A total of 548 coils were used. Complete occlusion of the testicular vein was achieved in all patients with varicocele. Successful occlusion of the PAVM being treated was achieved in all patients, and no instances of recanalization were documented in any of the patients who returned for follow-up angiography. Forty-one coils had to be removed completely from the catheter before detachment because of inappropriate size or position. Eight coils failed to detach easily, and six of these had to be removed. Most of these device failures were associated with kinking of the screw thread mechanism between the coil and the delivery wire. CONCLUSION: The Jackson detachable coil allows safer, more accurate, and more distal embolization of PAVMs than is possible with nondetachable coils. Complications associated with its use have been few.

Adult↗

Neuron-like cells on the apical surface of the developing rat olfactory epithelium.

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we encountered a new phenomenon in developing olfactory structures. A few cells with single slender processes that sprout from their cell bodies were found lying on the surface of the developing olfactory epithelium in 15 and 16 day old rat embryos. These slender processes resemble leading processes as they often have filopodia or filopodium-like structures at their distal ends. This finding suggests a presence of a small population of olfactory epithelial cells that resemble, but need not be, neurons. Their location may reflect cell shedding, but the fact that they extend processes over the epithelial surface may also mean that the cells were caught while they were migrating.

Animals↗

A banded topography in the developing rat's olfactory epithelial surface.

In situ hybridization studies from various laboratories have shown that the rat's olfactory epithelium has four distinct regions in which most putative odor receptors are located. To determine whether morphological features accompany this biochemical patterning, olfactory epithelial surfaces of rat nasal endoturbinates and septa were examined with scanning electron microscopy, placing particular emphasis on endoturbinate IIb. There was some morphological patterning at embryonic day 15 (E15), but distinct regions were not yet discernible. Regionalization became distinct at E16 and E18. Posterior regions (Regions 1 and 2) had much higher receptor cell knob densities than more anterior regions closer to the respiratory epithelium (Regions 3 and 4). Supporting cell microvilli were longer in Region 1 than in Region 2. Apices of cells surrounding the receptor cells were flatter in Regions 1 and 2 than in Regions 3 and, especially, Region 4. In Regions 1-3, these surrounding cells were made up mainly of supporting cells; in Region 4 they included respiratory cells. Regions 3 and 4 also had glandular openings and scattered microvillous cells that resemble hair cells of the ear. Older fetuses and adults showed similar evidence of patterning, but detailed examination was precluded by the increased length and entanglement of receptor cell cilia and supporting cell microvilli. In conclusion, a distinct topographic pattern, involving both receptor and surrounding cells, emerges during development of the rat olfactory epithelial surface. Location of the bands roughly matches the zones seen by in situ hybridization.

Animals↗

Persistence of immunity of Nematodirus battus infection in lambs.

Fifty-four Greyface Suffolk lambs aged 3 months were allocated to six groups of seven and one group of 12. Three groups were infected continuously with Nematodirus battus larvae (L3) over a 7-week period and three groups remained worm-free. One week after the last larval dose all six groups were treated with anthelmintic and challenged with a single dose of 30,000 N. battus L3 either 1, 6 or 12 weeks post-treatment (PT) and killed 10 days later. A seventh continuously infected and treated group (n = 12) was segregated into four sub-groups of three lambs which were used as tissue cell count controls and provided data on local cellular responses prior to challenge. Lambs in the first sub-group were killed immediately after anthelmintic treatment and those in the other sub-groups were killed on the same day that the lambs in the other main groups were challenged. Overall post-challenge worm burdens did not differ significantly between previously infected and challenge control groups although they were significantly reduced in both treatment groups by Week 12 PT. The principal manifestation of acquired immunity that was maintained throughout 12 weeks without further infection was retardation in larval development. There was also evidence of preferential rejection of male worms from immune lambs. Local mast cell, but not eosinophil, responses were significantly enhanced by previous infection and persisted up to Week 12 PT. The numbers of bone marrow eosinophils were significantly increased as a result of previous infection and this response persisted up to Week 12 PT. During primary infection anti-L4 and anti-adult worm IgG responses were significantly increased in the previously infected lambs by Day 42 post-infection. Eosinophil responses during this period did not differ between groups. The inflammatory cell responses, coupled with the parasitological observations, suggest that immunity to previous infection is maintained for up to 12 weeks PT without further antigenic stimulation. This 'immunological memory' may have waned partially after 6 weeks PT although the superimposition of age resistance may have masked the effect.

Animals↗

Vascular intervention in the thorax: bronchial artery embolization for haemoptysis.

Massive haemoptysis is defined as the expectoration of more than 600 mls of blood in 48 h. Many patients are not surgical candidates because of the presence of severe bilateral pulmonary disease and these individuals are best managed by bronchial artery embolization. Occlusion of both the bronchial arteries and hypertrophied non-bronchial systemic arteries is essential if bleeding is to be controlled. A pulmonary arterial source of haemorrhage is uncommon but should always be considered in a patient who has further haemoptyses shortly after a technically successful embolization of bronchial and non-bronchial systemic arteries. The immediate control of haemorrhage is achieved in the majority of patients although subsequent rebleeding on longterm follow-up is not uncommon.

Bronchial Arteries↗

Cells resembling hair cells in developing rat olfactory and nasal respiratory epithelia.

A hitherto ignored microvillous cell type, distinct from microvillous supporting cells and other microvillous cell types, was encountered in olfactory and respiratory epithelia of nasal turbinates of rat fetuses, near the transition between these two epithelia. The apex of the cell resembles the apices of vestibular hair cells. The cell has a cone-shaped bundle of microvilli, resembling the complex bundle of hair-cell stereocilia, accompanied by a cilium. Therefore we called this cell type the nasal hair cell. Cilium and microvilli seemed adhered. Cell numbers were very low, up to about 5 per turbinate. The cell's appearance is precocious compared to that of olfactory receptor and supporting cells. Also, while the apices of olfactory receptor and supporting cells and of ciliated respiratory cells underwent major morphological maturation during the developmental period from embryonic day 16 to day 21, the apical structures of the nasal hair cell only changed marginally from embryonic day 16, when they were first seen, through to at least embryonic day 21. The cell's location and precociously mature appearance suggests that it plays a special role in the development of nasal epithelia.

Animals↗

Behavioural effects in mice of subchronic buspirone, ondansetron and tianeptine. I. Social interactions.

In a continuation of recent work on effects of a benzodiazepine (chlordiazepoxide) and selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors (maprotiline and fluvoxamine), the current study compares effects of the 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, buspirone (0.75-3.0 mg/kg), the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron (0.1-100 micrograms/kg) and the novel antidepressant, tianeptine (2.5-10.0 mg/kg). Compounds were given daily to mice for 21 days prior to testing and the subsequent behaviour of the animals during social interactions was assessed by ethopharmacological procedures. Buspirone, at 0.75 mg/kg, increased immobility and reduced occurrence of the aggressive act, "attack." At 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg, it enhanced olfactory exploration of the sawdust substrate, but had no effect on social investigation. Ondansetron increased the duration of environmental exploration at 0.1 microgram/kg, while at 100 micrograms/kg it increased the duration of digging in the substrate. Ondansetron had no effect on the categories of behaviour and failed to induce an anxiolytic-like enhancement of social investigation. Tianeptine produced an anxiogenic-like effect at 10 mg/kg, while at 5 mg/kg it enhanced flight and immobility. The relevance of these findings is discussed in relation of the reported behavioural actions of these compounds and to current pharmacotherapy of anxiety and depression. The apparent anxiogenic effect of tianeptine is a novel finding which requires further study.

Animals↗

Behavioural effects in mice of subchronic buspirone, ondansetron and tianeptine. II. The elevated plus-maze.

In follow-up to recent work on benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide) and selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors (maprotiline and fluvoxamine), the present study compares the effects of the 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, buspirone (0.75-3.0 mg/kg), the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron (0.1-100 micrograms/kg), and the novel antidepressant, tianeptine (2.5-10.0 mg/kg), on the behaviour of mice in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety. Compounds were administered daily for 21 days prior to testing, and an ethological scoring technique was used to generate comprehensive behavioural profiles. Results show that subchronic treatment with ondansetron failed to influence the behaviour of mice in the plus-maze, while the limited changes induced by buspirone could not be attributed to anxiety-related processes. In contrast, tianeptine produced unambiguous anxiogenic-like effects at the top dose tested (10.0 mg/kg), a profile that was not secondary to changes in general levels of locomotor activity or exploration. Data are discussed in relation to current pharmacotherapy of anxiety and depressive disorders, and the nature of anxiety induced by animal models.

Animals↗

Olestra affects serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids but not vitamin D or vitamin K status in free-living subjects.

Normal, healthy, free-living adults ingested either 18 g/d olestra, with or without 1.1 mg tocopheryl acetate/g olestra, or 18 g/d triglyceride placebo, for 16 wk in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, retinol and cholesterol were measured biweekly. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and plasma concentration of functional prothrombin (Simplastin-Ecarin assay) were measured at wk 0, 8 and 16. Relative to the placebo group, serum alpha-tocopherol concentration was reduced 6% for the group given 18 g/d olestra. Addition of tocopheryl acetate to olestra partially offset the effect of olestra. For the group given 18 g/d olestra plus 1.1 mg tocopheryl acetate/g olestra, serum alpha-tocopherol concentration was 4% less than the placebo value. Olestra reduced serum concentration of beta-carotene by 27%; the other carotenoids were similarly affected. Serum cholesterol concentration was reduced approximately 4.5% in the olestra groups, relative to placebo, but the differences were not significant. Serum triglycerides, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time or the plasma concentration of under-gamma-carboxylated prothrombin were unaffected by olestra. Clinical observations and laboratory measures indicated no health-related effects of olestra; mild-to-moderate transient gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, cramping, loose stools and diarrhea were reported by all groups.

Adult↗

Biological activity of saponins from two Dracaena species.

Many species of the west African "soap tree" Dracaena are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases. In continuation of our search for anti-infective agents from plants implicated in traditional medicine, we evaluated the biological activities of saponins from extracts of Dracaena mannii and Dracaena arborea by using a battery of test systems such as radiorespirometry, Cytosensor bioautography, and agar dilution methods and molluscicidal tests. Bioassay-directed fractionation of the methanol extracts of seed pulp using a combination of chromatographic techniques, gel filtration, droplet countercurrent chromatography (DCCC), and low-pressure liquid chromatography (Lobar), led to the isolation and characterization of spiroconazole A, a pennogenin triglycoside [3 beta-O-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2), alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-17 alpha-hydroxyl-spirost-5-ene] (Fig. 1). As the active constituent, spiroconazole A exhibited pronounced antileishmanial, antimalarial, and molluscicidal activities. This paper also reports on the fungistatic, fungicidal and bacteriostatic activity of spiroconazole A against 17 species of fungi and 4 of bacteria.

Animals↗