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Biomedical subjects

J Matthews

Publications and source records attributed to J Matthews.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Adriamycin combinations as salvage therapy in advanced MOPP-resistant Hodgkin's disease.

Thirty one patients with advanced MOPP-resistant Hodgkin's disease were treated with adriamycin, bleomycin, vinca alkaloid and prednisolone (ABVP). Sixteen patients received vinblastine, seven received vincristine and in eight VM26 was substituted for the vinca. Of 28 patients evaluable for response 17 (61%) achieved an objective response with five (18%) complete responders. Response was significantly inferior in patients receiving VM26. Patients with a prolonged interval since previous chemotherapy had a greater chance of complete response (p less than 0.02) as did those with previous complete response to MOPP therapy (p less than 0.05). Response to treatment did not affect overall survival (p = 0.8) although relapse free survival was significantly longer for those achieving complete response (p less than 0.01). The regimen produced minimal gastrointestinal toxicity, but significant myelosuppression. ABVP is a well tolerated salvage therapy in advanced MOPP-resistant Hodgkin's disease.

Adolescent↗

Aerosols in the mortuary.

Air counts in seven mortuaries during necropsies revealed that providing care is taken with washing intestines and close dissection, bacterial numbers are often less than those found in an operating theatre, and relate more to the number of people and movement in the room than the work. The acknowledged hazard of work in the mortuary seems to depend more on contact with infected material, and particularly with splashes on surfaces, than to inhalation of infectious material. Mortuaries should be ventilated, if only to contain the smell, but the recommendations of the Howie code of practice seem more than adequate. Provision of exhaust hoods for close dissection should be considered. Mortuary surfaces should be crack-free and easy to clean, and the room free of needless equipment.

Air Microbiology↗

Quinidine-digoxin interaction: cardiac efficacy of elevated serum digoxin concentration.

Cardioactivity due to elevated serum digoxin concentration (SDC) after quinidine (Q) and digoxin (D) was evaluated in six healthy subjects by means of measurement of systolic time intervals (STIs). Each subject randomly received basic treatments with 0.2 mg D and placebo (PL1). Randomized coadministrations with Q (1 gm/day), sparteine (SP) (0.8 gm/day), and placebo (PL2) were given for 7-day periods. A steady-state dose of 0.4 mg D was added. Mean SDC increased from 0.48 ng/ml during 0.2 mg D + PL2 to 1.13 ng/ml on 0.2 mg D + Q (P less than 0.05); it was unchanged by SP. On 0.4 mg D there were further shortenings of STIs compared to those on 0.2 mg D + PL2. Q markedly prolonged STIs; the SP effects were similar but less pronounced. When given with Q or SP, the effect of D was obscured by opposing inotropic properties; consequently, despite increasing SDC, measureable STIs were unchanged. The true glycoside effect was determined by comparing the effects of the pure antiarrhythmic to those of the antiarrhythmic with D. These calculations showed that the glycoside effect of the elevated SDC during Q + D dosing was much the same as the effect of 0.4 mg D.

Adult↗

PGE2 stimulates gastric chloride transport: possible key to cytoprotection.

Prostaglandins protect the stomach against a variety of noxious agents independently of effects on acid secretion, but the mechanism of this 'cytoprotection' is unknown. We recently proposed that gastric surface cells extrude or eliminate luminal acid by a process analogous to that described in squid axon, snail neurone, and barnacle muscle. Influxing luminal H+ combines with HCO3- which has entered the cell in exchange for intracellular chloride, probably at the nutrient membrane. Dehydration of the resulting H2CO3 into CO2 and H2O is catalysed by carbonic anhydrase, which is present in surface cells in large amounts. Interference with this chain of reactions at any point frequently causes ulceration. We have examined the effect of 16,16-dimethylprostaglandin E2 (PGE) on different segments of this protective mechanism and show here that the protective effects are intimately associated with stimulation of chloride transport. All experiments were done in vitro thus eliminating any effects of prostaglandin on mucosal circulation.

Animals↗

The Xenopus oocyte as a surrogate secretory system. The specificity of protein export.

Combining messenger RNA from one kind of secretory cell with the cytoplasm of another such cell can reveal the nature and specificity of protein export mechanisms. We show that messenger RNAs from secretory cells of chickens, rats, mice, frogs, guinea-pigs, locusts and barley plants, when injected into Xenopus oocytes, direct the synthesis and export of proteins. Chicken ovalbumin, Xenopus albumin, mouse thyroid-stimulating hormone, locust vitellin and guinea-pig milk proteins were identified using specific antibodies, whilst chicken lysozyme and ovomucoid, rat albumin, Xenopus vitellogenin and rat seminal vesicle basic proteins were identified provisionally from their molecular weights. Certain endogenous proteins are sequestered and secreted although most oocyte proteins are not exported. Similarly the major polyoma viral protein and the simian virus 40 and polyoma tumour antigens are retained within the oocyte. Radioactive proteins exported by oocytes programmed with chicken oviduct or Xenopus liver RNA are not re-exported in detectable amounts when injected into fresh oocytes, nor is there secretion of chicken oviduct or guinea-pig mammary gland primary translation products prepared using wheat germ extracts. Thus the export of secretory proteins from oocytes cannot be explained by leakage and may require a cotranslational event. The secretory system of the oocyte is neither cell-type nor species-specific yet is highly selective. We suggest that the oocyte can be used as a general surrogate system for the study of gene expression, from transcription through translation to the final subcellular or extracellular destination of the processed protein.

Animals↗

A microbiological survey of automated biochemical machines.

The potential microbial hazards to laboratory personnel from operating three pieces of automated laboratory equipment have been tested using challenges of bacteria in serum or water. Aerosols did not seem to be a hazard, and the recommended disinfection procedures seemed quite adequate, although 2% aqueous activated glutaraldehyde is to be preferred to hypochlorite. The use of plastic gloves for protecting hands when changing rinse cups and pH electrodes is recommended.

Autoanalysis↗