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Biomedical subjects

J S Goodwin

Publications and source records attributed to J S Goodwin.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The relationship between dietary intake of choline, choline serum levels, and cognitive function in healthy elderly persons.

This study was designed to obtain information on normal dietary intake and serum levels of choline in a healthy elderly population and to observe the relationship between blood levels of choline and cognitive function. Two hundred fifty-eight healthy volunteers with a mean age of 72 years were recruited, and blood samples and dietary histories were obtained. All subjects were ambulatory, living at home, free of serious medical illnesses, and taking no prescription medications. Cognitive abilities were assessed by the Halstead Category Test, a nonverbal test measuring abstract thinking, and the Wechsler Memory Scale, using the multiple scoring method, which measures both long- and short-term memory. The mean value for serum choline was 13.16 micron with a standard deviation of 3.31. Serum choline levels were found to increase with age, but no difference was found between serum choline levels for men and women. There was no association between dietary intake and serum choline levels, nor could a relationship be found between serum choline levels and cognitive function.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Folate and vitamin B12 status in a healthy elderly population.

Folic acid and vitamin B12 nutritional status was examined in a group of 270 healthy elderly individuals using both dietary and biochemical measures. Of these 40 per cent had dietary intakes of folic acid that were less than half the recommended dietary allowance of 400 micrograms/day, and 13 per cent had intakes of less than half the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin B12 (3 micrograms/day). However, only 8 per cent had low plasma folates (less than 3.0 ng/ml) and only 3 per cent had RBC folates less than 140 ng/ml. Plasma true cobalamin levels less than 220 pg/ml were found in 3 per cent. None of these individuals showed any clinical signs of folate and/or vitamin B12 deficiency, and mean corpuscular volumes were not significantly greater than those for the entire population (90.8 +/- 4.1 fl). The correlations of intakes of folic acid and vitamin B12 with plasma or erythrocyte levels were moderate (about 0.5). It was also clear that those taking supplements had significantly greater blood levels than those not taking supplements, although the benefit of higher plasma or erythrocyte levels of these nutrients is not clear. The data indicate that folate and vitamin B12 status in free-living healthy elderly is not a major medical problem.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Control of polyclonal immunoglobulin production from human lymphocytes by leukotrienes; leukotriene B4 induces an OKT8(+), radiosensitive suppressor cell from resting, human OKT8(-) T cells.

We report that leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a 5-lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid, is a potent suppressor of polyclonal Ig production in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, while LTC4 and LTD4 have little activity in this system. Preincubation of T cells with LTB4 in nanomolar to picomolar concentrations rendered these cells suppressive of Ig production in subsequent PWM-stimulated cultures of fresh, autologous B + T cells. This LTB4-induced suppressor cell was radiosensitive, and its generation could be blocked by cyclohexamide but not by mitomycin C. The LTB4-induced suppressor cell was OKT8(+), while the precursor for the cell could be OKT8(-). The incubation of OKT8(-) T cells with LTB4 for 18 h resulted in the appearance of the OKT8(+) on 10-20% of the cells, and this could be blocked by cyclohexamide but not by mitomycin C. Thus, LTB4 in very low concentrations induces a radiosensitive OKT8(+) suppressor cell from OKT8(-) cells. In this regard, LTB4 is three to six orders of magnitude more potent than any endogenous hormonal inducer of suppressor cells previously described. Glucocorticosteroids, which block suppressor cell induction in many systems, may act by inhibiting endogenous production of LTB4.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Effects on indexes of cellular immune status and serum rheumatoid factor levels.

We have previously reported that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIAs) stimulate cellular immune responses and inhibit production of IgM rheumatoid factor in cultures of lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We had 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis stop taking NSAIAs for two weeks and then take piroxicam, a new NSAIA, for an additional ten weeks to assess the in vivo effects of NSAIAs on cellular immunity and rheumatoid factor levels. In each case, serum rheumatoid factor levels rose and phytohemagglutinin response fell when placebo was substituted for NSAIAs. Piroxicam administration was associated with a fall in rheumatoid factor levels to approximately 62% of the baseline level and with an increase in phytohemagglutinin response. The action of NSAIAs in rheumatoid arthritis may be mediated to a degree by partial correction of the disordered immunoregulation in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Association between nutritional status and cognitive functioning in a healthy elderly population.

We evaluated the association between nutritional status and cognitive functioning in 260 noninstitutionalized men and women older than 60 years who had no known physical illnesses and were receiving no medications. Nutritional status was evaluated by three-day food records and also by biochemical determination of blood levels of specific nutrients. Cognitive status was evaluated by the Halstead-Reitan Categories Test (a nonverbal test of abstract thinking ability) and by the Wechsler Memory Test. Subjects with low blood levels of vitamins C or B12 scored worse on both tests. Subjects with low levels of riboflavin or folic acid scored worse on the categories test. These differences remained significant after controlling for age, gender, level of income, and amount of education. "Subclinical" malnutrition may play a small role in the depression of cognitive function detectable in some elderly individuals, or depressed cognitive function may result in reduced nutrient intake.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Ia specific antilymphocyte antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

Antilymphocyte antibodies (ALA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased reactivity with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) activated lymphoblasts which are known to have increased expression of Ia antigen. The present experiments suggest that part of this reactivity represents an Ia specificity of ALA. Fifteen of 18 RA sera tested were able to inhibit the binding of monoclonal anti-Ia antibodies as measured by a rosette method. RA sera did not inhibit the binding of other monoclonal antibodies: anti-OKT3, anti-OKT4, and anti-OKT8. The ability of RA sera to inhibit the binding of anti-Ia antibody was eliminated after absorption of the RA sera with an Ia positive human cell line (B35M) but not by an Ia negative line (MOLT4). Blocking of anti-Ia binding was greater in the IgG fraction of the RA sera but also occurred in the IgM fraction. Experiments including ultracentrifugation, pepsin digestion of RA sera, and preincubation of lymphoblasts with aggregated IgG demonstrated that Fc binding by RA sera was not a factor. Both monoclonal anti-Ia and anti-Ia heteroantiserum also had increased reactivity with lymphoblast target cells. Pepsin digested Fab fragments of the anti-Ia heteroantiserum were able to block the activity of cytotoxic RA serum. However, ALA cytotoxic to lymphoblasts did not correlate with anti-Ia by rosette method. Ia-specific ALA by rosette method was associated with donor variability but did not appear to be HLA-DR restricted. Ia-specific ALA did correlate with disease activity. These data suggest that anti-Ia activity is present in RA sera and may play an immunoregulatory role in this disease.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1983

Regulation of the immune response by prostaglandins.

Of all the arachidonic acid metabolites, only prostaglandin E (PGE) has been shown to have a clear role in the regulation of cellular and humoral immune responses. In cellular immune responses such as T cell proliferation, lymphokine production, and cytotoxicity, PGE usually acts as a feedback inhibitor of the response. This is also true of macrophage and natural killer cytotoxicity. In some instances PGE is responsible for cellular activation rather than inhibition. This is clearest in the control of humoral immunity, where PGE production is a necessary component in the generation of some type of T suppressor cells. Disturbances in immune function found in several human conditions and diseases have been linked to changes in PGE mediated immunoregulation. Either increased production of PGE or increased sensitivity to PGE results in depressed cellular immunity. Conversely drugs which inhibit PGE production act as stimulants of cellular immune function in vitro and in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Old people in hospitals.

This article is a personal tale of one geriatrician's struggle to integrate good medical care of hospitalized old people with the intellectual rigor of an academic medical center.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on immune function.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) have been thought to act by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins. Until recently, prostaglandins have been considered to be mainly proinflammatory compounds, responsible for pain, increased blood flow, and edema. It has more lately been realized that prostaglandins, particularly PGE2, have important immunoregulatory properties. Thus NSAID, by inhibiting PGE2 production, modulate immune responses in vitro and in vivo. One or more of these immunomodulating effects of NSAID may play a role in their efficacy as arthritis medications. The purpose of this paper is to review the immunologic role of PGE2 and the immunologic effects of NSAID.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Hearing acuity in a healthy elderly population: effects on emotional, cognitive, and social status.

Hearing acuity and the relationships between untreated hearing deficits and emotional state, cognitive functioning, and social integration were examined in 239 physically healthy, independent-living elderly men and women with a mean age of 72 years. Air-conduction, pure-tone thresholds in both ears were determined at high- and mid-frequencies, and participants were also given the Speech Perception in Noise test. Multivariate techniques were used to test for associations between hearing acuity and scores from the Kellner-Sheffield Symptom Questionnaire, the Jacobs Cognitive Screening Exam, the Halstead Category Test, the Wechsler Memory Scale, and the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction. No deleterious effects of untreated hearing deficits on emotional status or social integration were found. The findings suggest that those with a hearing loss perform less well on verbal but not on nonverbal tests of cognition.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Iron status and anemia in the elderly: new findings and a review of previous studies.

Iron status was determined in 280 free-living and healthy elderly men (n = 131) and women (n = 149) by assessing dietary and supplemental iron intake as well as ten biochemical measures of iron nutriture (erythrocyte count, hemoglobin level, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, plasma iron level, total iron-binding capacity, per cent transferrin saturation, and ferritin level). Subject ages ranged from 60 to 93 years with a median age of 72 years for both women and men. For comparison purposes, iron status measures in an unselected group of younger men (n = 107) and women (n = 164) between the ages of 20 and 39 years were also obtained. None of the elderly women and only two (1.2 per cent) of the younger women had low hemoglobin levels (less than 12.0 g/dl). Three (2.3 per cent) of the elderly men and none of the younger men had low hemoglobin levels (less than 14 g/dl). Other iron status measures revealed that anemia or iron deficiency was no more prevalent in the healthy elderly population than in the younger adult population when identical criteria were used to assess iron nutriture. The genesis of anemia often seen in the elderly is not completely understood. Reported evidence suggests the presence of anemia in the elderly is a result of overall reduction of hematopoietic reserves. Because of the potentially serious consequences of this assumption about anemia to the treatment of the elderly, the authors critically review some of the studies that have been designed in the past to determine the prevalence and etiology of anemia in the aged. They suggest that health status, race, socioeconomic status, diet, and region are more important than age as explanations for the high prevalence of anemia seen in many previous studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Vitamins, lipids and lipoproteins in a healthy elderly population.

Vitamin status may be related to serum lipid-lipoprotein levels. We tested this hypothesis in a group of 270 healthy elderly men and women over 60 years of age. Vitamin status was determined from dietary intakes and biochemical analysis of plasma. Fasting lipid profile included triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Correlations have been adjusted by partial correlation for age, physical activity, body mass index, and alcohol consumption. Neither vitamin E intake nor ascorbic acid intake nor ascorbic acid plasma levels correlated with any lipids measured. HDL-C levels did not correlate with any vitamin parameters. In men, vitamin A blood levels correlated with LDL-C, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels. In women, total cholesterol levels correlated inversely with thiamine and riboflavin blood status and with dietary intake of vitamins B6, D, and niacin. LDL-C plasma values were also inversely correlated with both intake and plasma vitamin D levels and intakes of riboflavin and vitamin B12 in women.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Relationship between megadose vitamin supplementation and immunological function in a healthy elderly population.

We studied the immunological effects of 'megadose' vitamin or mineral supplementation by comparing the immunological functions of healthy elderly subjects taking large amounts of specific nutrients to similar subjects not on supplements. There was a non-significant trend for those subjects taking megadoses of vitamin C to have increased cell-mediated immune responses as measured in vivo by skin test reactivity but not by in vitro mitogen responses. In addition, subjects taking megadoses of vitamin E or any of several B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, folate and niacin) had lower absolute circulating lymphocyte counts than did the rest of the population. The relative lack of effect of megadose vitamins on immunological function in this population compared to reports of short term trials of mega nutrients raises the possibility that some of the previously reported immuno-enhancing properties of megadose vitamins may be due to a non-specific adjuvant effect that disappears with time.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Anti-Ia antibody in the sera of normal subjects after in vivo antigenic stimulation.

We showed that sera from normal subjects after antigenic challenge with intradermal PPD or Candida antigens or with subcutaneous tetanus vaccine contain a factor that blocks the binding of mouse monoclonal anti-Ia antibody to Ia-positive T cells or to B35 M cells, an Ia-positive human B cell line. The blocking activity appears 48 to 72 h after antigenic challenge and is gone by day 7. The appearance of the anti-Ia blocking activity coincided with a drop in the percentage of Ia-positive T cells and non-T cells in the peripheral blood of these subjects and also with a decrease in the density of surface Ia on the non-T cell population. The blocking was not genetically restricted; that is, serum from a given subject blocked anti-Ia binding to Ia-positive T cells of subjects with different DR haplotypes. The blocking activity was contained in the IgM fraction of the sera. The blocking activity of the sera was eliminated after absorption of the sera with Ia-positive but not with Ia-negative human cell lines. It would appear, therefore, that the blocking of monoclonal anti-Ia binding is caused by an IgM anti-Ia antibody that appears in normals after in vivo antigenic challenge.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗