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Biomedical subjects

J Westman

Publications and source records attributed to J Westman.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Helping parents cope with the diagnosis of congenital heart defect: an experimental study.

An experimental study was designed to help parents cope with the implications of the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Intervention strategies involving clarification of medical information, discussion of psychological issues, and a combination of the two, were more effective than no intervention in helping parents to gain an accurate understanding of the diagnosis and other medical information. Regardless of the intervention strategy used, satisfaction was generally high, and parent anxiety did not appear to fluctuate during the course of the visit. The team approach was recommended for use in pediatric specialty clinics where time is often short, and more personal interaction may be needed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1976

Survival of isolated human islets of Langerhans maintained in tissue culture.

Transplantation of human pancreatic islets to diabetic patients may require that donor islets be kept viable in vitro for extended time periods before transfer to the recipient. We have maintained isolated pancreatic islets obtained from the human cadaveric pancreas in tissue culture for 1-3 wk, after which we studied the structure and function of the islets. Electron micrographs of the cultured islets showed a satisfactory preservation of both beta-cells and alpha 2-cells. After culture for 1 wk, the islet oxygen uptake proceeded at a constant rate at a low glucose concentration (3.3 mM) and was significantly enhanced by raising the glucose concentration to 16.7 mM. Likewise, after culture for 1 wk, the islets responded with an increased insulin release when exposed to 16.7 mM glucose with or without added theophylline (10 mM). Islets cultured for 1-3 wk were able to incorporate [3H]leucine into proinsulin, as judged by gel filtration of acid-alcohol extracts. Glucagon release from the cultured islets was reduced significantly by 16.7 mM glucose alone, but stimulated by glucose (16.7 mM) plus theophylline (10 MM). It is concluded that viable pancreatic islets can be isolated from the pancreas of adult human donors and maintained in tissue culture for at least 1 wk without loss of the specific functions of the alpha 2- and beta-cells. It remains to be established whether such islets will survive and remain functionally competent after transplantation to human recipients.

Culture Techniques↗
PubMed1975

Glucose dependent alterations of mitochondrial ultrastructure and enzyme content in mouse pancreatic islets maintained in tissue culture: a morphometrical and biochemical study.

Isolated islets of Langerhans from mice were maintained in tissue culture for one week at either a high (28 mM) or a low (3.3 mM) extracellular glucose concentration. Electron microscopic morphometry by means of stereological methods revealed a much greater volume of mitochondria in islet cells cultured at low glucose than in those cultured at high glucose. The former islets also showed a higher activity of the mitochondrial marker enzyme, L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehyrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.35). These results indicate a true mitochondrial hypertrophy at the low glucose concentration. Although it is known from previous studies that the islet cell metabolism is diminished after low-glucose culture, the present observations of an increased mitochondrial volume probably do not reflect a degenerative process, but rather adaptive changes towards oxidation of energy yielding substrates other than glucose.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗