Human plasma factor XIII: subunit interactions and activation of zymogen.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Chromatography, Gel↗
Biomedical subjects
J Wilson
Publications and source records attributed to J Wilson.
Airway wall remodelling in asthma: a novel target for the development of anti-asthma drugs.
The regulation of vascular smooth muscle proliferation has been examined extensively in recent years since the recognition that hyperplasia and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle are significant pathological features of hypertension and atherosclerosis. In this article, Alastair Stewart and colleagues discuss recent developments in the investigation of the pathology of asthma that indicate some parallels with the structural changes that occur in blood vessels in hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
The effect of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 on proliferation of an intestinal goblet cell line and its synthesis and secretion of mucin glycoproteins.
The effect of 16,16'-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2) on the human colonic adenocarcinoma derived mucus-secreting goblet cell line HT29-18N2 was investigated. The proliferation rate of HT29-18N2 was increased by exposure to 10 or 100 microM dmPGE2. Exposure to 10 or 100 microM dmPGE2 caused a significant decrease in the rate of radiolabeled glucosamine incorporation into newly synthesized glycoproteins during an 8 or 24 h exposure. At concentrations as low as 1 microM, dmPGE2 accelerated the secretion of mucin glycoproteins as assessed by the release of newly synthesized radiolabeled glycoproteins, a mucin-specific enzyme-linked immunoassay and a whole-mount immunofluorescence assay. A 1 h exposure to dmPGE2 did not, however, result in a morphometrically detectable decrease in intracellular mucous granule stores or elicit any other readily detectable morphological change. The experimental results suggest elevated levels of PGs may contribute to the previously recognized decreases in intracellular mucin stores and shifts in the types of mucins species present at sites of mucosal inflammation in ulcerative colitis patients.
16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2↗
Eye movements in a familial vestibulocerebellar disorder.
Eye movement abnormalities consisting of poor or absent smooth pursuit and vestibulo-ocular reflex suppression, gaze-paretic and rebound nystagmus, slow build-up of optokinetic nystagmus, mildly hyperactive vestibulo-ocular reflex, and a high incidence of strabismus were inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion in 10 members of a non-consanguineous English caucasian family. The onset was in early childhood, but was not congenital. In 7 cases there was no tremor, dizziness, consistent ataxia, or other cerebellar signs that are often associated with these ocular motor deficits, and apart from strabismus, patients were asymptomatic. Magnetic resonance imaging of the propositus was normal. After childhood there appears to be no progression, with the oldest affected member being 40 years. Two members had been prone to falling in childhood, and one admitted to dizziness when tired. This condition, which is probably benign, has not been previously described and may represent a very mild variant of episodic ataxia or a new vestibulocerebellar syndrome.
Adolescent↗
Eye movements in children with opsoclonus-polymyoclonus.
The anatomical localisation of the abnormality underlying opsoclonus-polymyoclonus-the "Dancing Eye Syndrome"-is uncertain and both the brainstem and cerebellum have been implicated. We used electrooculographic recordings to assess the eye movements in five children with this syndrome. Overshoot dysmetria was the consistent feature for the saccades of all five cases. One patient was also assessed after the main symptoms of ataxia and opsoclonus (saccadic oscillations, without an intersaccadic interval) had resolved and the saccades were found to remain hypermetric. Smooth pursuit and optokinetic nystagmus were normal, although the opsoclonus occurred throughout the recording session and were superimposed upon the normal eye movement waveforms. The vestibulo-ocular reflex was normal in four patients, but in one case, the time-constant was significantly prolonged: this has only been reported in experimental lesions of the nodulus in monkeys. The presence of saccadic overshoot dysmetria is highly suggestive of a cerebellar origin for the abnormal eye movements in these children. However, the preservation of normal smooth pursuit and the absence of gaze-paretic, rebound and downbeat nystagmus, implies the sparing of the flocculus and paraflocculus. We propose that the origin of these oculomotor deficits could be the cerebellar fastigial nuclei.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
Generative naming in Parkinson disease patients.
The generative naming ability (verbal fluency) of 88 idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) patients was evaluated and compared to that of 21 Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and 43 normal age- and education-matched normal control subjects. The PD patients were classified according to whether they scored within the normal range on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a score of 27 or higher, or in the abnormal range, a score of 26 or lower. Semantic and letter generative naming tasks were administered to assess verbal fluency. Results of the study provide evidence that letter category naming is inherently more difficult than semantic category naming; that age significantly affects generative naming; that PD patients with normal MMSE scores were significantly inferior to normal control subjects in generative naming even after the effects of age and mental status are controlled; that PD patients with non-normal MMSE scores performed like AD patients after controlling for the effects of age and mental status; and, that ideational perseveration is the most common type of error response for all subject groups.
Aged↗
Therapeutic trial of lipid X in a canine model of septic shock.
Three groups of dogs were given lipid X (0, 1, or 10 mg/kg) every 8 h for for seven doses, starting simultaneously with the intraperitoneal placement of Escherichia coli-containing fibrin clots. All animals developed bacteremia, hypotension, and a pattern of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction characteristic of septic shock (P = .01). Survival rates and survival times were not significantly different between treatment groups (P > .2). In a similar experiment, higher doses of lipid X resulted in a significantly decreased survival time compared with concurrent controls (P = .04). Animals receiving lipid X did not differ from controls in serial determinations of temperature, hemodynamic measurements, or laboratory parameters (except serum total protein). Although lipid X has antiendotoxin effects, no benefit could be demonstrated in this antibiotic-treated, gram-negative bacillary-infected model of septic shock. These data do not support a therapeutic role for lipid X in the treatment of gram-negative sepsis.
Animals↗
Prophylactic vena cava filter insertion in severely injured trauma patients: indications and preliminary results.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a significant problem in trauma patients. A 5-year review at this institution revealed 25 PEs (seven fatal) in 2525 admitted trauma patients (1% incidence). Three groups of high-risk patients were identified: (1) those with severe head injury and coma; (2) those with spinal cord injuries with neurologic deficit; and (3) those with pelvic and long bone fractures. The relative risk of PE in these high-risk patients was 21 to 54 times that of the general trauma population. Beginning in July 1991, as prophylaxis against PE, vena cava filters (VCF) were inserted in patients whose injuries placed them in a high-risk group. Thirty-four patients had VCFs inserted percutaneously in the radiology suite without complications. On follow-up examination, 17.6% developed documented lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. There were no PEs. Overall, the incidence of PE in the general trauma population was significantly decreased from 1% to 0.25% (p < 0.05; chi 2). We conclude that insertion of VCFs in high-risk trauma patients is safe and efficacious in decreasing the incidence of PE.
Adult↗
Physiological and psychological responses to a university fitness session.
The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological and psychological responses to a university fitness session entitled 'popmobility'. A popmobility session consists of 20 min of aerobic activities, 5 min of local muscular endurance exercises and 5 min of flexibility exercises. Ten regular participants of these sessions, women of mean(s.d.) age 21.2(1.5) years, took part in the study. A maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) treadmill test was performed by each subject to obtain VO2max and maximum heart rate values. In a laboratory, heart rate and VO2 were measured throughout a popmobility session for each subject. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured every 5 min throughout the session. The mean intensity of the aerobic part of the session ranged from 67.7-82.6% of the subject's VO2max (mean of 76.4% VO2max). The mean heart rate reserve for the aerobic section was 75.6%. While the relative oxygen consumption remained fairly static during the aerobic section, the RPE score rose. The mean(s.d.) total energy expenditure was 236.6(28.4) kcal (range 203-288). The popmobility session is of adequate intensity to improve the aerobic fitness of its participants. Heart rate, as used as a measure of intensity during a popmobility session, would appear to be a fairly accurate indicator of intensity. However, the use of RPE for exercise prescription in popmobility sessions is inappropriate. Popmobility could also be useful in a weight-reduction programme.
Adult↗
Cerebellar ataxia and ectodermal dysplasia in brothers.
Two brothers are documented with an ectodermal dysplasia primarily involving the teeth and hair. Both have developed cerebellar ataxia in the early teens.
Child, Preschool↗
A new form of familial ataxia, deafness, and mental retardation.
Conditions causing familial ataxia, deafness, and developmental delay are considered in the context of describing brothers with a new disorder characterised by these clinical features.
Cerebellar Ataxia↗
Assessing introduction of spinal anaesthesia for obstetric procedures.
To assess the impact of introducing spinal anaesthesia for obstetric operative procedures on use of general anaesthesia and quality of regional anaesthesia in a unit with an established epidural service a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data on method of anaesthesia, efficacy, and complications was carried out. Data were collected from 1988 to 1991 on 1670 obstetric patients requiring an operative procedure. The introduction of spinal anaesthesia in 1989 significantly reduced the proportion of operative procedures performed under general anaesthesia, from 60% (234/390) in 1988 to 30% (124/414) in 1991. The decrease was most pronounced for manual removal of the placenta (88%, 48/55 v 9%, 3/34) and emergency caesarean section (67%, 129/193) v 38%, 87/229). Epidural anaesthesia decreased in use most significantly for elective caesarean section (65%, 77/118 v 3% 3/113; x2=139, p<0.0001). The incidence of severe pain and need for conversion to general anaesthesia was significantly less with spinal anaesthesia (0%, 0/207 v 3%, 5/156; p<0.05). Hypotension was not a problem, and the incidence of headache after spinal anaesthetic decreased over the period studied. Introducing spinal anaesthesia therefore reduced the need for general anaesthesia and improved the quality of regional anaesthesia.
Anesthesia, Epidural↗
Exophytic cervical warts--an indication for colposcopy?
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Colposcopy↗
Heparin and pregnancy in women with a history of repeated miscarriages.
Many patients who experience recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) have high titered antibodies to trophoblast antigens and/or negatively charged phospholipids. Pregnancy success has been documented in some of these patients subsequent to heparin treatment. The effect of heparin on in vitro assays used to detect antibodies to phospholipids and trophoblast antigens has been investigated. We have found that complement-mediated detection of antibodies to trophoblast and lymphocyte antigens is inhibited by absorption of sera with solid-phase heparin. The data show that such inhibition involves an inhibitor and a heparin-sensitive regulator of the inhibitor. Heparin inhibits binding of antiphospholipid antibodies to phospholipids in solid-phase ELISA. The mechanism for this inhibition appears to involve an interaction between heparin and antibody to phospholipid. These findings reveal novel heparin-mediated reactions that bridge immunological and hematological interactions. The extent of heparin modulation of these antibody reactivities should be clarified in future clinical trials involving heparin treatment for RSA.
Abortion, Habitual↗
Pulp capping with Bioglass and autologous demineralized dentin in miniature swine.
The purpose of this study was to compare the responses of mechanically exposed dental pulps which had been capped with three dissimilar materials: a bioactive ceramic (Bioglass), autologous demineralized dentin matrix (DDM), and a calcium hydroxide product (Life), with Teflon discs as controls. Mechanical dental pulp exposures were made after preparation of deep buccal Class V cavities in 48 teeth in four miniature swine. The exposures were capped and the cavity preparations restored with zinc oxide-eugenol (IRM) cement. The animals were killed after 90 days, the coronal 2/3 of the teeth removed, and sections prepared for either histological or microradiographic examination. The pulpal inflammatory reactions and the degree of reparative dentin formation were assessed from demineralized serial sections. A qualitative assessment of the degree of mineralization of the reparative dentin was made from microradiographs of undecalcified sections. The observations suggest that reparative dentin formation occurs under a variety of pulp-capping materials, but the structure of the reparative dentin varies with the material and the condition of the underlying pulp.
Analysis of Variance↗
Total oesophageal obstruction in association with combined enteral feed and sucralfate therapy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aged↗
Psychiatric disorder and disability in New Zealand long-stay psychiatric patients.
A study was undertaken of the prevalence of physical disease, psychiatric disorder and deviant behaviour in a sample of 137 long stay psychiatric patients at Porirua Hospital near Wellington, New Zealand. Patients were in the main male, single, middle-aged to elderly and of European descent. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis. Psychiatric symptoms were moderately severe, the most common being unusual mannerisms and posturing, anxiety, blunted affect, tension, unusual thought content and somatic concerns. Known physical disorders were present in 66 patients. Levels of neuroleptic medication were high and tardive dyskinesia was observed in almost 60% of patients. Frequency of deviant behaviour was low in absolute terms but nonetheless problematic. The frequency of deviant behaviour was similar to those reported for British patients.
Activities of Daily Living↗
Nonmetastatic gestational trophoblastic disease. Weekly methotrexate compared with 8-day methotrexate-folinic acid.
The efficacy of single agent chemotherapy with methotrexate in low risk gestational trophoblastic disease is well established, but efforts to reduce toxicity and patient time and cost continue. Twenty-five patients with nonmetastatic postmolar gestational trophoblastic disease were seen by the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of South Florida between February 1986 and December 1991. Patients were treated with either weekly intramuscular methotrexate 40 mg/M2 (Group 1, n = 13) or alternating doses of intramuscular methotrexate 1 mg/kg and folinic acid 0.1 mg/kg over eight consecutive days with an eight- day interval (Group 2, n = 12). Patient age, body weight and pre-treatment beta-hCG values were similar in the two groups. One patient defaulted from treatment and was lost to follow-up. All other patients were cured. Complete remission was achieved with primary chemotherapy in nine (69%) patients in Group 1 and nine (75%) in Group 2. All patients with pre-treatment beta-hCG of 650 mIU/ml or less responded to primary therapy whereas 50% of those with higher levels required second-line therapy. When secondary and tertiary treatment were included, the duration of treatment was similar in both groups. Remission was achieved at significantly lower levels of methotrexate in group 1 patients (p < 0.001). No major toxicities occurred. Side effects were gastrointestinal and myelosuppressive and occurred in 2.5% and 15.6% of treatment cycles in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.01). Weekly methotrexate is an equally effective and less toxic regimen than eight-day methotrexate-folinic acid in nonmetastatic postmolar gestational trophoblastic disease.
Adult↗