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Biomedical subjects

L Hunter

Publications and source records attributed to L Hunter.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Depot neuroleptic medication and serum levels by radioreceptor assay: prolactin concentration, electrocardiogram abnormalities and six-month outcome.

Twenty-six chronic schizophrenic patients on well-established depot neuroleptic regimes with stable doses (16 on fluphenazine decanoate, 10 on flupenthixol decanoate) had serum neuroleptic levels measured by radioreceptor assay (RRA) and were followed for six months. The serum prolactin (PRL) concentration and resting electrocardiogram (ECG) were also taken at the beginning of the study period. Correlations had previously been noted between RRA measured neuroleptic levels and outcome in both acute and chronic patients on oral medication. However, in this study of depot medication no significant correlations were found between serum neuroleptic concentration, serum prolactin concentration and the clinical state or outcome. The prevalence (33%) and type of ECG abnormality observed was similar to that previously reported.

Adult↗

The effects of a 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse on plaque, toothstaining and candida in aphthous ulcer patients. A double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study.

Despite the known effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash in preventing plaque formation, relatively few studies have assessed adjunctive benefit to normal unsupervised oral hygiene measures. Furthermore, there have been few accurate measurements of toothstaining in the presence of normal oral hygiene and little data of effects on oral candidal carriage. This study was a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study of a 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash used 3 times daily on plaque, staining and candidal carriage in a group of recurrent aphthous ulcer suffers who maintained normal oral hygiene measures. At the end of 2 6-week treatment periods, baseline plaque scores were reduced by active and placebo mouthwashes. Chlorhexidine significantly reduced plaque compared to the placebo. Staining has markedly and significantly increased during chlorhexidine rinsing. Candidal carriage was present in 22.2% of this group and there was no significant effect of chlorhexidine on the mean number of candidal colonies. The distribution of plaque and staining by tooth was plotted and observationally studied. Baseline and placebo treatment plaque distributions indicated the considerable relevance of toothbrushing behaviour for plaque distribution. The effects of toothbrushing on plaque distribution were minimised during the use of chlorhexidine. Staining associated with chlorhexidine showed a distribution again suggesting the influence of toothbrushing. In conclusion, chlorhexidine has significant adjunctive effects on plaque inhibition in the presence of normal unsupervised oral hygiene, but toothbrushing did not prevent toothstaining.

Adolescent↗

Neuroleptic serum levels measured by radioreceptor assay in patients receiving intramuscular depot neuroleptics. Some preliminary findings.

Twenty-six chronic schizophrenic patients on well established depot neuroleptic regimes with stable doses (16 on fluphenazine decanoate, ten on flupenthixol decanoate) had serum neuroleptic levels measured by a radioreceptor assay (RRA) method. The assay was sufficiently sensitive to measure serum levels in all cases, with acceptable levels of inter-assay variation. Blood level measurements were repeated on two occasions, at the same time interval from the last injection, in 18 patients (11 on fluphenazine decanoate, seven on flupenthixol decanoate) and remained reasonably stable in most cases, although others showed a wider variation. Despite a wide range of doses (X 32 fluphenazine decanoate, X 21 flupenthixol decanoate) the serum levels fell in a remarkably narrow range (X 4, X 6). There was a significant correlation between dose and blood level for flupenthixol decanoate, but not for fluphenazine decanoate.

Adult↗

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma: a systemic disease with paraproteinemia.

A woman of 39 presenting with a conjunctival swelling with a necrobiotic xanthogranulomatous histology suffered from a series of destructive cutaneous lesions of similar histology for 20 yr. She had a paraproteinemia and developed myelomatosis. At postmortem xanthogranulomatous lesions were found in skin, larynx, heart and kidneys. The patient also had nodular transformation of the liver with portal hypertension.

Adult↗

The proteins of living psoriatic epidermis.

Psoriatic epidermis has a rapid rate of turnover and produces a stratum corneum with an abnormal tonofilament composition. One polypeptide chain, (Mr 70,000) is absent or greatly decreased in relative amount and two other chains, (Mr 63,000 and 55,000), which are normally modified in the living cells, persists into the stratum corneum. Increasing the turnover of normal epidermis has been shown to cause the persistence of 63 and 55 kilodalton chains in the stratum corneum but does not affect the relative amount of 70 kilodalton chain. It has, therefore, been suggested that, in psoriasis, the deficiency of the 70 kilodalton chain may occur prior to or simultaneously with the induction of increased tissue turnover. In the present study, the polypeptide chain composition of living psoriatic epidermis has been examined. It is shown that the relative amounts of 70 kilodalton chain in psoriatic stratum corneum and involved living epidermis from the same site are not significantly different. The abnormality is, therefore, already present in the living cells and it appears that, in psoriasis, the synthesis of the 70 kilodalton chain is defective. The uninvolved epidermis of psoriatics is intermediate between normal and involved psoriatic epidermis both in the ability to synthesise the 70 kilodalton chain and to modify the 63 and 55 kilodalton chains. Comparisons of amino acid compositions of proteins containing different proportions of 70 kilodalton chain suggest that it has a considerably higher content of glycine and serine than the other tonofilament chains. These studies suggest that the 70 kilodalton chain may be functionally different from the other tonofilament chains. The defect in its synthesis in psoriasis is a relatively early event and may be involved with the induction of increased tissue turnover or induced by the same abnormal conditions as the increased tissue turnover.

Amino Acids↗

Characteristics of HeLa strains: permanent vs. variable features.

Characteristic rearranged human chromosome markers have been observed in a variety of HeLa cell sublines and in five suspected HeLa contaminant lines originally thought to be derived from differentiated tissues of different individual patients. The allozyme genetic signatures, representing the composite enzyme phenotype at eight polymorphic loci, of each of the studied contaminant lines were identical to each other and to those of HeLa cells. The probability that each of these lines would have an identical genetic signature (since the frequency of the HeLa genotype is 0.0017) is 4.2 X 10(-15). Differences between cell lines, however, could be detected by isoelectric focussing of the isoenzymes for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The cell lines, including CLL 74, the older Chang liver line, failed to express five liver-specific proteins. One protein was detected in a new liver cell culture. Variations in cytogenetic, biochemical, and differentiated functions during continuous cell culture are discussed.

Cell Differentiation↗

An occupational health approach to anaesthetic air pollution.

The principles of occupational health practice as applicable to operating theatre staff are stated. Operating theatre air was samples for halothane at three Sydney hospitals--one in which a scavenging system was in operation and two without such a system. A method giving time-weighted average concentrations over the period of sampling was used. Anaesthetic techniques varied for adults and children. The scavenging system was found to be highly efficient. Less than 0.1 ppm of halothane was found in the air of one theatre in which a flow rate of 4 litres per minute with 0.5% halothane and controlled ventilation were being used for routine anaesthetics in adults. In another theatre in which paediatric surgery was being performed, the anaesthetic technique utilized a flow rate of 6 litres per minute with 0.5% halothane and a T-piece, and the air was found to contain 0.8 ppm of halothane. Concentrations of up to 8 ppm were found in unscavenged theatres. Other possible occupational hazards of the environment, such as exposure to X-rays, viral infection and aerosol sprays, are mentioned. These may be significant.

Adult↗

Clinical blood values of the northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus.

Clinical blood values are reported for 14 blood components in the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) and compared with human clinical ranges. Certain values such as cholesterol, globulins and blood urea nitrogen deviate markedly from published human values. The distribution of serum proteins in fur seals, man and northern elephant seals also are given and compared.

Animals↗