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Biomedical subjects

L Holt

Publications and source records attributed to L Holt.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Glomerular size and volume distributions for cranial, medial, and caudal divisions of domestic fowl kidneys.

Separate renal arteries and renal portal veins supply the three divisions of domestic fowl kidneys, leading to uncertainty concerning the structural and functional homology of the different divisions. To assess the degree of anatomical similarity, separate glomerular size and volume distribution profiles were constructed for cranial, medial, and caudal divisions from the left and right kidneys of male and female domestic fowl. There were no significant differences between left and right divisions (intradivision comparisons) or between cranial, medial, and caudal divisions (interdivision comparisons) when the total number of glomeruli or total glomerular volumes were compared on a per gram kidney weight basis. Glomerular size distribution profiles were unimodal in shape, with the peaks for all divisions falling in the 0.15-0.22 mm circumference range in males and in the 0.19-0.26 mm circumference range in females. There were no significant differences in glomerular size distribution profiles for intradivision (left vs. right) comparisons. Interdivisional comparisons revealed that medial divisions had significantly lower values than caudal divisions in one of 11 glomerular circumference categories. For all remaining comparisons, there were no significant differences in glomerular size distribution profiles, nor were there any significant interdivisional differences when glomerular volume distribution profiles were compared. These data indicate that the three divisions of domestic fowl kidneys are structurally homologous on a per gram kidney weight basis, suggesting the separate divisions also are functionally homologous.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Peripheral nerve dysfunction in scleroderma.

Peripheral neuropathy in patients with scleroderma is thought to be rare. We have undertaken a quantitative assessment of peripheral nerve function in 29 patients with either limited cutaneous scleroderma or progressive systemic sclerosis. Tactile thresholds were raised in the fingers in 28 per cent of patients and in the foot in 50 per cent. Two-point discrimination was abnormal in 10 patients, thermal thresholds were abnormal in five and vibration thresholds were abnormal in one. Nerve conduction studies showed abnormalities in six patients, five of whom had clinical signs of a mild peripheral neuropathy: the mean duration of disease in these six patients was 10 years longer than that in the remainder of the patients. There was electrophysiological evidence of a subclinical carpal tunnel syndrome in two patients. The sympathetic skin response was recorded in 16 patients who had not been subjected to sympathectomy for Raynaud's phenomenon, and was abnormal in four. These results indicate that peripheral nerve dysfunction in scleroderma, though mild, is not as uncommon as previously thought. The abnormal cutaneous sensory thresholds may be partly due to altered viscoelastic properties of the skin, but abnormal responses in the lower limbs to tests of tactile sensitivity, the clinical findings and the disturbances of nerve conduction argue in favour of an additional neuropathic process in some patients. Low grade distal nerve trunk ischaemia may be responsible.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Effects of rapid increase of phenylalanine intake in older PKU children.

Twelve children formerly on strick low-phenylalanine diets were allowed to change to a moderate-protein diet over a five-week period. They were observed at home by parents, in school by teachers, and in the clinic by team members, and were evaluated periodically for phenylalanine intake, serum phenylalanine levels, activity, irritability, growth, and intelligence. Growth patterns were normal for age. Dietary phenylalanine increased sharply for all children at the end of three months, then dropped at about six months, after which it rose above the three month level. Serum phenylalanine levels followed dietary intakes, and in nine cases are staying at about 20 mg. per 100 ml. or less. The three subject above 20 mg. have serum phenylalanine of 21, 23, and 25 mg. per 100 ml. One of these has had behavioral problems and excessive weight gains in the past two years.

Adolescent↗