Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Harris.
Allo-anti-Chido (Ch) was detected in a patient whose red cells typed as Ch+. The C4 allotype of the patient was A4,B2 which associates strongly with the Ch phenotype Ch:1,-2,3,4,-5,6. Anti-Ch2 + Ch5 were the Ch specificities identified. Absence of only Ch2 and Ch5 determinants on the C4B protein allowed this unique immune response to blood transfusion.
An Australian Aboriginal family, extending four generations, with a high incidence of renal disease was investigated. Twenty-eight of 114 members screened had hematuria. Of those tested, five had hypertension, four maturity onset diabetes, one a raised serum creatinine concentration, five elevated serum IgA levels and two cortical scarring on intravenous pyelogram. Of the eight members who underwent renal biopsy, five had IgA nephropathy and one had light and electron microscopy evidence of glomerulonephritis, but no IgA was seen on immunofluorescence. One had mild nonspecific changes by light microscopy but no immunofluorescence or electron microscopy was available and the remaining patient had mild changes consistent with hypertension and diabetes. HLA typing, carried out for 27 family members, showed an increased incidence of HLA-B22, B27, B39, and DR1 when compared to Yuendumu Aborigines (B27 and DR1), or Australian Caucasians (B22), or both (B39). This may be due to an association with IgA nephropathy, or a family clustering of antigens. Overall, this study suggests a genetic mechanism in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy in some patients and, as there was evidence of renal disease in 25% of those tested, may indicate an underlying high incidence of renal disease in the Aboriginal community.
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Epidemiological data on the 14 cases of adrenal cortical tumour registered with the Manchester Children's Tumour Registry from 1954 and 1985 are presented. The incidence of adrenal cortical carcinomas was 0.3%, mainly in girls, most of whom presented with virilisation. The incidence of neoplastic disease among close relatives was ascertained, but, except in siblings, this was not significantly higher than would be expected. Evidence from extended pedigrees, however, indicates that at least four of the children could be members of families with the SBLA (sarcoma, breast and brain tumour, leukaemia, laryngeal and lung cancer, and adrenal cortical carcinoma) cancer family syndrome, and that other relatives may be at risk of developing such neoplasms.
Seven cases of malignant melanoma in the close relatives of children with osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma are described. The association between certain childhood malignancies (adrenal cortical carcinoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, retinoblastoma) and malignant melanoma is discussed and it is proposed that in certain families malignant melanoma may be another manifestation of the same gene defect which results in susceptibility to tumours characteristic of the SBLA cancer family syndrome.
The authors interviewed 30 patients under age 40 who had been hospitalized repeatedly to determine the relationship between social network density, or the extent to which network members know one another, and rehospitalization. They found that moderate levels of network density were associated with fewer days in the hospital. Time spent in the hospital was not related to network size, and patient diagnosis was not a good predictor of hospitalization. The authors hypothesize that a moderately dense network is optimal for psychologically vulnerable individuals because it can be maintained under stress.
An assessment of 110 young adult chronic patients on six variables related to their social interactions indicates that social behavior may be an important indicator of treatment needs. The assessment delineated four treatment profiles--subgroups of patients who share a common cluster of social behaviors and who require distinct treatment approaches. This paper describes the four treatment profiles by outlining each subgroup's salient characteristics and modal patient and the treatment approaches that are most and least appropriate for its members. The authors suggest that outpatient programs may need to accommodate the characterologic and personality variables of young chronic patients to make treatment tolerable and comfortable for them, rather than deny them admission because they do not demonstrate responsible, appropriate, and independent behavior.
Attempts were made to identify, and include in a two-year follow-up study, every patient living in the catchment area of the Mapperley group of psychiatric hospitals in Nottingham (population 390,000) who made their first-ever contact with the psychiatric services for a potentially schizophrenic illness during a two-year period (1 August 1978 to 31 July 1980). Screening was based upon symptoms rather than diagnosis, covering both in-patient and out-patient services; a consensus diagnosis using ICD-9 was made by the project team. The Nottingham Psychiatric Case Register was used in a retrospective Leakage Study which added nine cases to the 99 identified by the screening procedures. Incidence rates are given for both broad and narrow concepts of schizophrenia, and for DSM-III diagnosis. The Nottingham incidence rates are similar to those reported from other UK centers, and are near the middle of the range found in the other collaborating centres in the WHO study on Determinants of Outcome of Severe Mental Disorders. At entry to the study, 27 patients were out-patients, and 11 were never admitted to hospital at any time in the two-year follow-up period. Reasons for believing that the Nottingham administrative incidence may be close to the incidence in the community are discussed.
In prokaryotes it is well established that proteins which recognise defined DNA sequences are involved in the control of gene expression and replication. Cellular proteins in eukaryotes which may perform a similar function have been identified by their interactions with control regions of the human adenovirus genome. Immediately after infection a small region (E1a) at the left end of the adenovirus genome is expressed. Proteins coded by the E1a region transcriptionally activate the viral early genes. The products of a number of these early genes are directly involved in replication of the viral DNA. DNA sequences which are required for efficient E1a transcription and for the initiation of DNA replication have been identified by mutational analysis. Cellular proteins which recognise these sequences were detected using a sensitive gel retention assay. The basis of this assay is that during electrophoresis DNA-protein complexes migrate more slowly through a polyacrylamide gel than free DNA. In this way a cellular protein which binds to a conserved sequence in the adenovirus enhancer has been identified and partially purified. Cellular proteins which bind to adenovirus type 2 and 4 origins of replication have also been fractionated from nuclear extracts of uninfected HeLa cells. The roles of these proteins in adenovirus replication will be discussed.
Studies were conducted in Swiss (CD-1) mice to evaluate the potential of inhaled vapors of methyl isocyanate (MIC) to affect reproduction and development. Inhaled MIC at concentrations of 0, 1, or 3 ppm, 6 hr per day during days 14 through 17 of gestation caused a significant increase in the number of dead fetuses at birth and caused a significant decrease in neonatal survival during lactation. In contrast, exposure of male and female mice to 1 or 3 ppm given 6 hr per day for 4 consecutive days had no effect on reproduction during mating trials conducted 1, 8, and 17 weeks after the exposure period. Similarly, there was no evidence of a dominant lethal effect in exposed male mice.
Thirty-seven patients with osteosarcoma were evaluated by CT of both the involved bone and the lungs. The ratio of the extent (E) of the involved marrow segment to the length (L) of involved bone (E/L) was correlated with the presence and subsequent development of pulmonary metastases. The marrow was evaluated by CT for the presence of tumor by measuring mean attenuation coefficients on serial axial scans. Three patient groups were identified: group 1 consisted of seven patients with lung metastases at presentation (mean E/L = 61%), group 2 consisted of 10 patients who developed lung metastases or recurrent tumor either during or after chemotherapy (mean E/L = 39%), and group 3 consisted of 20 patients who completed therapy and remained disease-free (mean E/L = 28%). All patients received chemotherapy in addition to surgical resection except for two patients in group 1. No patient with an E/L ratio greater than 50% remained disease-free for more than 14 months after the initial diagnosis. Fifty percent or greater involvement of the marrow cavity thus carries a particularly poor prognosis, and its absence or presence can be used as a significant prognostic aid in osteosarcoma.
Monocyte membrane lipid composition, fluidity, and insulin binding were studied in 10 previously untreated obese type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects before and 2-7 days, 1 mo, and 3 mo after glyburide therapy. A significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels occurred within 1 wk after initiation of therapy in all subjects. Serum insulin levels did not change significantly. After a transient increase at 2-7 days, insulin binding and receptor number decreased to less than pretreatment levels after 3 mo of therapy despite continued improved glycemic control. Molar cholesterol-phospholipid ratios increased significantly at 2-7 days and then reverted to pretreatment levels. A significant positive correlation between insulin binding and cholesterol-phospholipid ratios was seen at all durations of treatment. Membrane microviscosity as measured by fluorescence polarization of the probe diphenylhexatriene was significantly decreased after 3 mo of therapy. The results indicate that the glycemic effect of glyburide represents enhancement of insulin action and occurs independently of membrane insulin receptors.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.