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Biomedical subjects

M Briggs

Publications and source records attributed to M Briggs.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Cytomegalovirus and human herpesvirus-6 in sudden infant death syndrome: an in situ hybridization study.

Thirty lung, spleen, and thymus sections and four lymph node sections from 40 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases were probed with biotinylated DNA probes specific for human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Control material gave a strong, distinct signal with little or no background staining and no cross-reactivity. No staining was found with the SIDS material. We find no evidence to implicate an overwhelming infection by either virus in SIDS.

Cytomegalovirus Infections↗
PubMed1989

Glioblastoma multiforme of the cerebellum in an elderly man. A case report.

Glioblastoma multiforme of the cerebellum is rare and comprises a small fraction of all glioblastomas. Eight-five cases have been reported in the literature to date. A 75 year old man is reported with a left cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme. The pathogenesis, course, treatment and prognosis are reviewed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Post-concussional symptoms following minor head injury.

The effect of admission to hospital after a minor head injury on the incidence and duration of post-concussional symptoms was investigated. A total of 114 adults with a minor head injury were randomly allocated to admission for 24 h or to discharge from the accident department. Follow-up was by postal questionnaire. This revealed that 90 per cent of patients suffered symptoms lasting an average of 2 weeks. The patients who were discharged had symptoms that lasted a shorter time. Admission to hospital does not reduce the incidence and severity of symptoms following minor head injuries in adults.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cranio-orbital trauma: a team approach to management.

We present 48 patients having multidisciplinary management following severe trauma to the fronto-orbito-nasal area. Surgical methods, including a preliminary débridement and later comprehensive repair are described in detail and results and problems are discussed. We wish to emphasise the better functional and cosmetic results that are gained by undertaking a comprehensive repair in the early post-injury phase, avoiding late intracranial infection, secondary surgery and prolonged hospitalisation. The techniques require cooperation between a reconstructive surgeon and a neurosurgeon.

Debridement↗
PubMed1988

Extraction of an infected tusk in an adult African elephant.

An 18-year-old African elephant was determined to have a nonrepairable crack in its left tusk. Treatment included extraction of the tusk, using rotational and extractional forces, and administration of antibiotics, followed by 1 year of flushing the opened tusk cavity with warm tap water. Two years after surgery, the elephant was healthy, and the tusk cavity was 80% filled with normal tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Benefit of a 37 degree C extracorporeal circuit in plasma exchange therapy for selected cases with cold agglutinin disease.

Plasmapheresis is commonly advocated in cold agglutinin disease with life-threatening hemolysis. Some clinicians, however, are reluctant to use this therapy because of perceived technical problems and risks attendant with the temperature of the extracorporeal circulation. In this study we report our experience of two patients with severe life-threatening hemolysis and in whom plasma exchange was not feasible due to red blood cell autoagglutination in the extracorporeal circuit. A method is described involving the use of blood warmers and the Fenwal CS-3000 blood cell separator with its 37 degrees C centrifuge compartment. The use of plasma exchange in this manner is a safe and beneficial form of adjunctive therapy and should be considered for patients with cold agglutinin disease at risk for extracorporeal agglutination or hemolysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Hepatitis B virus reactivation or reinfection associated with HIV-1 infection.

Following acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, most individuals develop antibodies to HBV surface (anti-HBs) and core antigen (anti-HBc). Prevalence studies have shown that 10-18% develop anti-HBc in the absence of detectable anti-HBs. We report four such cases, all with persistence of serum anti-HBc, who had evidence of a second period of active HBV replication as demonstrated by the reappearance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). In one patient, an HBsAg subtype difference indicated that the second period of HBsAg-positivity was due to a reinfection. In the other cases, reactivation may also explain the findings. All cases were anti-HIV-1 seropositive at the time of reappearance of HBsAg. There is experimental evidence that anti-HBc has a protective effect against HBV infection; however, this may require intact cell-mediated immunity to be effective. HIV-1 infection may render such patients susceptible to reinfection. Alternatively, some patients with anti-HBc, but without detectable anti-HBs may have latent HBV infection. Immunosuppression associated with HIV-1 infection may allow reactivation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Impaired responsiveness of homosexual men with HIV antibodies to plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine.

Thirty five homosexual men (17 positive for antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 18 consistently negative) were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus infection. Eight of the 17 seropositive patients failed to develop detectable hepatitis B surface antibody within three months of the third injection compared with only one of the 18 seronegative patients (p less than 0.01). HIV infection is prevalent in the developed world in groups at risk for hepatitis B infection and in certain Third World countries where widespread vaccination programmes exist. This study shows the impact that coincident HIV infection may have on an otherwise efficacious vaccine. The efficacy of this and other vaccines in patients infected with HIV needs to be studied urgently.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1987

A method for recording isometric tension development by isolated cardiac myocytes: transducer attachment with fibrin glue.

The purpose of this study was to develop a method for attachment of single isolated cardiac myocytes to a transducer for recording isometric tension development. Cardiac myocytes were isolated from the hearts of the toad, Bufo marinus or ferrets by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. The method that we used provided a 60-80% yield of Ca++-tolerant cells. A suspension of cells was placed into a superfusion chamber coated with bovine thrombin. Two glass microtools - each attached to a micromanipulator - were brought into proximity with the ends of a single myocyte; one of the microtools was attached to the element of a low-level force transducer. Human fibrinogen was loaded into a fine-tipped glass micropipette mounted on a micromanipulator. Small amounts of fibrinogen were pressure-ejected from the pipette at each junction between the microtool and the end of the myocyte. The fibrin that formed produced a stable attachment of the ends of the myocyte to the microtools. The myocyte could subsequently be stretched and a length-tension curve recorded. We have used this method to record concentration-dependent tension development in response to the Ca++-ionophore, A23187, and potassium depolarization. Our results indicate that fibrin glue may facilitate the study of the mechanical properties of isolated myocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Analysis of the head injuries admitted to the Oxford Regional Neurosurgical Unit 1980-1982.

We have reviewed the patients with head injuries referred to the Oxford Regional Neurosurgical Unit over a 2-year period (1980-1982). In 73 per cent of the cases the referring surgeon suspected an intracranial collection or was experiencing difficulty in managing the patient. Eighty-one per cent of these patients required nursing in the Intensive Care Unit; 32 per cent underwent operative intervention. The total numbers admitted were low and this may suggest that many patients with severe head injuries are being treated in the district general hospitals when ideally they should be transferred to a neurosurgical unit. Adherence to suggested guidelines for transference would necessitate increased neurosurgical facilities.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Spontaneous loss of HBeAg and the prevalence of HTLV-III/LAV infection in a cohort of homosexual hepatitis B virus carriers and the implications for antiviral therapy.

The future design of controlled trials of antiviral therapy which might include homosexual hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers requires base-line data on the spontaneous rate of loss of HBeAg and the prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus III (HTLV-III/LAV) infection. Fifty-one untreated HBsAg and HBeAg-positive homosexual HBV carriers were followed for a median HBeAg-positive time of 23.5 months (range 6-85.5). Ten lost HBeAg, giving an annual rate of spontaneous loss of HBeAg of 10%. This rate is considerably higher than the apparent rate in a previous report and has considerable implications for the interpretation of previous, and the design of future, controlled trials in this population. A rapid rise in the prevalence of anti-HTLV-III/LAV amongst HBV carriers was demonstrated from 1981 such that by 1984 over 60% of HBV carriers were anti-HTLV-III-positive. HBV-DNA polymerase levels were not significantly different in asymptomatic anti-HTLV-III/LAV-positive compared to anti-HTLV-III/LAV-negative HBV carriers. Nevertheless, since chronic HTLV-III/LAV infection in its later stages may potentiate HBV replication, it is a factor that will need to be considered together with many others in any trial stratification procedure.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Synthesis and class III antiarrhythmic activity of (phenylbut-2-enyl)ammonium salts. Effect of conformation on activity.

The syntheses of seven 4-(substituted phenyl)but-2-en(or yn)yl quaternary ammonium salts and four related tertiary amines are described. The Meerwein arylation reaction was the preferred synthetic method for the required intermediate 1-aryl-4-halo-2-butenes (15a-c, 18). In the case of 18, the trans stereochemistry of the Meerwein adduct of 2,3-dimethylbutadiene was established unambiguously by 2D NMR and X-ray studies. The title compounds represent conformationally restricted analogues of the class III antiarrhythmic agent clofilium (1) and exhibit comparable potency and efficacy in the in vitro evaluation using isolated canine Purkinje fibers. These results suggest that the alkylene chain in 1 is extended in the active conformation. Computer-aided conformational analysis (MM2) supports this conclusion. Selective catalytic hydrogen conditions were developed for the conversion of the unsaturated analogue 2 to clofilium (1) with minimal hydrogenolysis of the allylic quaternary ammonium moiety, thus completing a novel and efficient synthesis of this substance.

Action Potentials↗