Biomedical subjects
J Riley
Publications and source records attributed to J Riley.
Growth inhibition of pathogenic yeast isolates by alpha-difluoromethylornithine: an inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase.
A large body of evidence exists suggesting that polyamines can play essential roles in cellular growth and differentiation. We examined the ability of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, the major rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis. Substantial growth-inhibition was observed for all three species at DFMO concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 mM. C. tropicalis was significantly more susceptible to DFMO than C. albicans or C. parapsilosis. Depletion of cellular polyamine pools was seen in all 3 species following exposure to DFMO and polyamine depletion enhanced the susceptibility of the organisms to DFMO. The action of DFMO was specifically antagonized by exogenous polyamines. These data suggest that polyamines are important in the growth of Candida spp. and that inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis may be useful as antifungal agents.
Circuit for the electromanipulation of plant protoplasts.
An electric circuit for plant protoplast manipulation is described. The circuit used readily available materials and was designed for use in teaching. This integrated circuit can be placed in a single small box with controls for the aligning voltage, the aligning frequency, the pulse voltage, and the pulse timing. The circuit can be supplied by any suitable source of dc power and can be easily altered for individual requirements. The circuit, as presented here, can be assembled for less than $250.
An algorithm for the management of ureteral calculi.
We evaluated 158 patients with ureteral calculi (28 impacted in the ureteropelvic junction, 42 in the upper, 29 middle and 36 lower third of the ureter, and 23 in the intramural tunnel) treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy, ureteroscopic methods, chemolysis or surgery. Of the patients 92.5 per cent were treated successfully by endourological methods. Twelve patients (7.5 per cent) required an operation. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was successful in 61 per cent of the patients without placement of a ureteral stent and in 100 per cent in whom stent placement or stone dislodgement was successful. Ureteroscopic removal was successful in 52 of 56 patients with lower third and intravesical tunnel ureteral calculi. An algorithm for ureteral calculi management is developed, which emphasizes stent bypass and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper third or ureteropelvic junction calculi, ureteroscopic removal or stent bypass with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for middle third calculi, and ureteroscopic techniques for lower third and intramural tunnel calculi. Percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy, chemolysis and surgery are recommended as complementary methods.
Cardiac transplant patient at one year. Cyclosporine vs conventional immunosuppression.
From March 1, 1979 thru September 30, 1984 we performed 56 cardiac transplants (Tx). The first 32 patients received conventional immunosuppression therapy consisting of azathioprine/prednisone (I/P), while the subsequent 24 patients received cyclosporine/prednisone (C/P). Twenty-one of 32 I/P patients ages 39 +/- 3 years (SEM), and 16 of 24 eligible C/P patients ages 36 +/- 3 years, survived one year with follow-up through September 30, 1985. The one year post-transplant course of these 37 patients was evaluated by chart review. While donor ages are similar, ischemic time was shorter in the conventionally treated patients. The initial hospital stay for I/P vs C/P was 67 +/- 6 vs 33 +/- 3 days (p less than .05), at a total cost of $49,900 +/- $5,800 vs $53,800 +/- $10,000. During the first year following transplantation, the I/P patients required an additional 34 +/- 7 days of hospitalization, while C/P patients required 16 +/- 10 days. Over the first year, the number of infections and rejections differed at 2.8 +/- 0.6 per I/P patient vs 1.2 +/- 0.3 per C/P patient, and 2.5 +/- 0.4 per patient vs 1.5 +/- 0.3 per patient respectively (p less than .05). Renal function test results were better in the I/P group. Results of cardiac catheterization performed at one year were similar except for cardiac index and stroke volume index, both being higher in the C/P group. Coronary anatomy was considered normal in all. These data indicate that while overall survival is similar, a shortened post-transplant hospital course with fewer necessary hospitalizations, rejection episodes and infection episodes characterizes the first year in survivors receiving C/P immunosuppression. While both groups had multiple hemo-dynamic abnormalities as compared to normal subjects, cardiac index and stroke volume index were improved in the C/P group. Therapy with C/P represents an advance in immunosuppression for cardiac transplantation as compared to I/P; however, decreased renal function and diastolic hypertension were problems in the C/P group.
Recent advances in our understanding of pentastomid reproductive biology.
Pentastomids are arthropod parasites which attain maturity in the respiratory tracts of vertebrates. All pentastomids exhibit an obvious sexual dimorphism in that fully mature females are invariably much bigger than males. Unusually though, copulation, which happens only once in the lifetime of females, occurs when both sexes are approximately the same size and the uterus of the female is undeveloped. This is because sperm is stored in spermathecae which, being positioned at the junction of the oviduct and uterus, become more remote from the vagina as the uterus elongates during development. The provision of spermathecae for sperm storage allows oocytes, shed continuously from the ovary, to be fertilized from time to time. What renders this process quite remarkable, and possibly unique, is the extreme length of the patent period. In one species this can extend up to an estimated 10 years and is associated with an egg production of about 10(6) eggs/female/year. Spermathecal structure provides some clues as to how prolonged sperm storage and the continuous fertilization of oocytes is accomplished. The upper region of the access duct is a narrow, chitinized tube which tapers to as little as 3 microns diameter at the point of entry into the spermatheca. The chitinous (?) lining of the spermatheca is relatively impermeable and apparently functions to totally isolate sperm from external influences: stored sperm are arranged in bundles and whorls and remain totally quiescent and inactive during the storage period. The entire spermatheca is invested by muscle fibres, the contraction of which will express small numbers of sperms through the narrow access duct. These are then reactivated by secretions from the female reproductive tract: the extreme narrowness of the spermathecal duct provides the fine adjustment of the system. The narrowness of the duct also creates problems during the process of insemination, since sperm discharged directly into the female reproductive tract would be unlikely to find the spermatheca through such a structure. Accordingly, the male cirrus is much modified to directly penetrate the spermathecal duct during copulation. Sperms, stored in the male seminal vesicle, are apparently activated prior to sperm transfer, and swim along the cirrus to be guided directly into the spermathecal lumen. Some unusual variations on the normal pentastomid life-cycle are discussed.
Haematology of conventionally-maintained Lac:P outbred Wistar rats during the 1st year of life.
Healthy Lac:P Wistar rats reached a plateau for red-cell parameters at about 18 weeks of age. For the next 9 months the values remained substantially constant. White-cell parameters varied in a more complex manner, and were largely unrelated to body-weight.
A three-day treatment regimen for vulvovaginal candidiasis.
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Blood glucose monitoring devices for diabetic children at home.
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Aspiration of bone marrow from laboratory rats.
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Variation in haematological parameters among inbred strains of rat.
Haematological determinations were carried out on 7 inbred strains of rats using a standardized procedure. Significant genetic variation was found for many of the parameters although none of the strains had values which could be termed pathological. Measurements also varied significantly from day to day. Factorial analysis of variance is shown to be a powerful method for the investigation of variation in haematological parameters.
Standardized method for bleeding rats.
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Clinical toxicology of clotrimazole when administered vaginally.
Clotrimazole, a tritylimidazole and a new antimicrobial agent, produced itching and irritation of the vulva and vaginal area in less than 1% of the population (N = 131) studied. No abdominal cramps, headache or lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were observed when 200 mg of clotrimazole was inserted deep in the vagina for several days.
Motoric and linguistic variables among children who stutter: a factor analysis.
Seventy-six children who stuttered, aged 5-12, were administered tests of motor coordination, psycholinguistic abilities, and stuttering severity. A factor analysis of 19 selected variables yielded four statistically useful factors that implicate linguistic integration, oral motor ability, and auditory processing abilities as underlying components among the sample population. These components are assumed to affect a child's threshold for fluency and to permit stuttering development. Stuttering frequency or severity was not related to any of the four factors. The implications for diagnosing and treating children who stutter are discussed.
The elephant man: 'Treat me as an equal' (John Merrick, Sir Frederick Treves).
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The possible role of the frontal and sub-parietal gland systems of the pentastomid Reighardia sternae (Diesing, 1864) in the evasion of the host immune response.
The frontal and sub-parietal glands of the pentastomid Reighardia sternae elaborate lamellate secretion which is poured on to the cuticle. The entire surface of the cuticle, including the mouth, hook pits and reproductive apertures, is coated with secretion. Electron microscope studies indicate that the glands are continuously active, which implies a turnover of surface membranes. The postulated function of these membranes is to protect certain vital areas of the host--parasite interface, notably the pores of ion-transporting cells, from the host immune response. The available evidence suggests that pentastomids do evoke a strong immune response but since most are long-lived they must circumvent it. We believe the surface membrane system to be instrumental in this. Studies on another pentastomid, Porocephalus crotali in rats have shown that an immune response stimulated by a primary infection will kill subsequent infections and that the surface membranes are strongly immunogenic. Obvious parallels between this situation and that of schistosome infections in mammals are discussed. An alternative explantation of concomitant immunity is proposed.
Observations on the osmoregulatory system of pentastomids: the tegumental chloride cells.
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