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Biomedical subjects

M Henderson

Publications and source records attributed to M Henderson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Integrated health care management through comprehensive information systems.

The true impact of a company's benefit strategy can be known only when relevant indicators can be adequately tracked, evaluated and brought together. An unparalleled opportunity exists to creatively apply computer technologies to address decision makers' needs for integrated health care information.

Data Collection↗

In vitro modulation of bovine blood neutrophils and mononuclear cells by oxytetracycline.

The effect of oxytetracycline (OTC) on bovine blood mononuclear cells and neutrophil functions was examined in vitro. Neutrophil functions tested include respiratory burst, peroxidase, and antibacterial activities. Neutrophils were treated with OTC (10 to 1,500 micrograms/ml) before exposure to either opsonized zymosan or bacteria. A dose-response inhibition of antibacterial activity to high concentrations of OTC (500 to 1,000 micrograms/ml) was observed. Beginning at a concentration of 15 micrograms/ml, OTC treatment of neutrophil lysates resulted in decreased peroxidase activity. A dose response was not observed. In contrast, respiratory burst, measured by nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction, increased after OTC exposure, but only at high concentrations (500 and 1,000 micrograms/ml) of OTC. Mitogen-induced proliferation of blood mononuclear cells cocultured with OTC and concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin-P, or pokeweed mitogen was inhibited at an OTC concentration of 100 micrograms/ml at 48 and 72 hours of culture. These results indicate that blood mononuclear cells are more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of OTC than are neutrophils. Furthermore, the OTC-mediated inhibition of neutrophil antimicrobial activity is inversely related to the increase in nitroblue tetrazolium reduction. This suggests that OTC is uncoupling the hexose monophosphate shunt from production of secreted oxygen radicals. These results also suggest that the peroxidase enzyme system has a large biological reserve capacity.

Animals↗

Effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on the fatty acid composition and arachidonic acid levels in rat maxillae and mandibles.

The fatty acid composition of total lipids and total phospholipids of maxillae and mandibles of rats fed an essential fatty acid-deficient (EFAD), marginally FAD (MEFAD), and a control diet was determined. Patterns typical of an EFA deficiency such as a decrease in the levels of linoleic acid and archidonic acid along with concomitant increase in the levels of palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, and 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid were observed in the EFAD groups. Concentrations of arachidonic acid were significantly lower in total lipids of mandibles and maxillae of rats in the EFAD, but not in the MEFAD rats, than those of the controls.

Animals↗

Persistent binocular diplopia following cataract surgery: aetiology and management.

We studied all patients referred to the orthoptic department with binocular diplopia following cataract surgery between January 1991 and June 1993. Persistence of diplopia for a minimum of 3 months after cataract surgery was required for inclusion in the study. Eighty-one patients (2% of all patients who underwent cataract surgery during this time) satisfied the entry criteria. The patients fell into two groups: non-traumatic and traumatic cataracts. Horizontal deviations were seen in 24 patients. Vertical deviations were seen in 8 patients and a combined horizontal and vertical deviation was seen in 49 patients. Fresnel prisms were used to manage the diplopia in 58 patients. Of these, 48 patients in the non-traumatic group regained binocular single vision with this prism while 10 in the traumatic group benefited. Mechanical and sensory causes are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Information processing by tree fellers: signal detection analysis.

Eighteen experienced tree fellers and eighteen forestry students watched video recordings of mature eucalypts being felled by a man using a chain saw, and then rated whether each tree had fallen normally or abnormally. Signal-detection analysis showed that the tree fellers were more accurate than the forestry students in predicting eventual outcome. Further, the tree fellers achieved peak accuracy in discrimination by the time the logger had completed cutting the scarf (typically several minutes before the tree hit the ground), whereas the forestry students predicted outcome most accurately only when a tree was falling (and about 1 s from hitting the ground). Study of the bases for information processing and decision making by tree fellers has implications for personnel selection and training, as well as for formulation of effective work practices.

Adult↗

Con A-induced suppressor cell function depends on the activation of the CD4+CD45RA inducer T cell subpopulation.

Human T cells incubated for 48 hr with Con A suppress B cell Ig production. We sought to define the interactions between CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in the generation of suppressor cell activity following Con A stimulation. Con A-activated CD4+ inducer T cells suppressed Ig production in autologous cocultures of T cells and B cells by 84%, while PHA-activated CD4+ T cells could not. However, Con A-activated CD4+ T cells are not themselves suppressors. When Con A-activated CD4+ T cells were added to coculture of B cells plus T cells depleted of CD8+ T cells, no suppression of Ig production was observed. Furthermore, these Con A-activated CD4+ T cells were able to provide excellent help for Ig production. Therefore, Con A-induced suppressor cell function requires a CD4+ suppressor/inducer acting on a CD8+ suppressor/effector ultimately resulting in the down regulation of B cell Ig synthesis. Human CD4+ inducer T cells can be functionally dissected into helper/inducer or suppressor/inducer T lymphocytes based on their expression of either the CDw29 or CD45RA surface molecules, respectively. Following incubation with Con A the expression of CD45RA on CD4+ T cells increased from 34 to 80% (P = 0.001) while CDw29 expression was unchanged. Incubating lymphocytes with PHA resulted in a non-specific increase in both CD45RA and CDw29 expression by CD4+ T cells. The increase in CD4+CD45RA expression was a result of active proliferation by the Con A-stimulated T cells. Suppression of Ig secretion was directly correlated with the enhanced CD45RA expression following Con A activation. We demonstrate that enhanced suppressor/inducer function is unique to Con A stimulation and was not observed following activation by PHA. Furthermore, short-term culture with Con A results in the selective expansion of the CD4+CD45RA T cell subpopulation.

Antigens, CD↗

Isolation and characterization of a novel liver-derived immunoinhibitory factor.

Cytosolic extracts prepared from perfused whole liver or purified hepatocytes of C57BL/6 mice inhibited interleukin-2--and concanavalin A--induced spleen cell proliferation in vitro. In contrast, cytosolic extracts from purified nonparenchymal liver cells had no effect. Arginase and very-low-density lipoprotein were previously identified as two immuninhibitory substances present in liver cytosolic extracts. We demonstrated, however, that inhibitory activity remained after removal of very-low-density lipoprotein and arginase from liver cytosolic extract by repeated ultracentrifugation and gel filtration chromatography, respectively, suggesting the presence of another inhibitor. Further purification by anion-exchange chromatography and chromatofocusing led to the isolation of a novel liver-derived immunohibitory factor. This liver-derived immunoinhibitory factor is sensitive to pronase digestion and heat and acid treatment; it has an estimated isoelectric point of 8.25. The Mr of liver-derived immunoinhibitory factor is 28 kD as estimated from its migration on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which is identical under both reducing and nonreducing conditions, indicating a monomeric nature of this protein. Amino acid composition analysis discloses that liver-derived immunoinhibitory factor is relatively rich in glycine and proline residues. Interleukin-2--induced spleen cell proliferation in vitro is inhibited by ths liver-derived immunoinhibitory factor, with a 50% inhibitory dose of 1.4 nmol/L. Furthermore, the biological activity of the liver-derived immunoinhibitory factor is not confined to mouse spleen cells, since the growth of B16 mouse melanoma and H35 rat hepatoma cells is also inhibited. A comparison with other liver-derived immunoinhibitors reported previously supports our claim that the liver-derived immunoinhibitory factor is a novel inhibitory protein.

Animals↗

Scottish cocaine users: wealthy snorters or delinquent smokers?

Ninety-two cocaine users were interviewed in Scotland. Most were middle-class nasal users, also used other drugs and generally gave cocaine a positive rating. One half of them had at some time used cocaine more than once a week. For some, this period lasted some months, when as much as 30 'lines' of cocaine were used per day of cocaine use. More of these heavy users reported adverse effects of cocaine than was the case for light users. Nonetheless, most heavy users had reduced their use by themselves to the point that their current cocaine use was no different from that of light users. Possible explanations for this apparently spontaneous reduction are discussed.

Adolescent↗

The impact of school-based drug education.

Outcome evaluation of the impact of drug education on a representative sample of 1197 pupils revealed no effects of drug education on drug-related behaviour or drug-related attitudes. However, drug education raised levels of drug-related knowledge. The long term implications of these findings would require further study. Comparison of process and outcome measures indicated that, with the exception of knowledge, teachers' positive views of drug education were misplaced. Critical aspects of good practice are discussed, both at the level of the individual teacher and in terms of whole-school factors.

Adolescent↗

Measuring the efficiency of an artificial lung: 1. Carbon dioxide transfer.

The performance of a hollow fibre artificial lung ('Capiox E') was analysed by measurement of the 'parallel deadspace' of the device under varying conditions in 21 patients. The efficiency with which carbon dioxide was exchanged was determined by the time available for equilibration between the blood and gas phases. When this equilibration coefficient was less than 12 seconds per litre of blood flow per litre of gas flow, there was a marked reduction in the efficiency of gas exchange. Under certain conditions, the 'counter-current' design of the device apparently permitted the clearance of carbon dioxide at a partial pressure greater than that which was found in the mixed venous blood. This anomalous behaviour may represent in vivo confirmation of the Haldane effect.

Adult↗