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Biomedical subjects

M J Saunders

Publications and source records attributed to M J Saunders.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Simple method for granulocyte-macrophage cell culture and staining in soft agar: comparison with a standard research technique.

A modified, small volume, two phase, disc culture system for CFU-GM (seven and 14 days of incubation) was compared with a standard single layer system. The 1 ml single layer cultures were counted unstained in situ before both sets of cultures were transferred to glass slides for staining. Bone marrows were cultured from forty eight subjects, including normal controls and patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Observer error was least with the disc cultures, whereas variation between replicate cultures was similar for both methods. A high degree of correlation was found between the two methods for both day 7 (r = 0.90) and day 14 (r = 0.91) cultures. The number of colonies and clusters was higher with the disc system, indicating better cloning efficiency. Analysis of subsets of clinical groups showed similar patterns of abnormality with both systems. The simplicity of the method makes the use of this technology possible in most laboratories, and the superior morphological resolution may increase the clinical usefulness of such studies.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1989

The need for geriatric dental education.

The poor oral health status of the elderly and the structural and attitudinal barriers that prevent dental care utilization by them, present a serious challenge for the elderly as well as for the dental profession. This challenge becomes even greater when the importance of good oral health status to the quality of life is considered. The aged person's feeling of individual well-being and favorable self-image, ability to communicate and socialize, ability to maintain adequate nutrition, and to taste and enjoy foods can be dependent upon good oral health status and hygiene. Older patients benefit physically and psychologically from more efficient dental treatment and more compassionate care given by people who understand the problems they face. In short, a better understanding of the principles of geriatric care by health professionals and staff will save both public money and private anguish. Tomorrow's elderly are expected to demand more attention and intervention to meet their changing needs. There is no reason to believe that the extension of education and training cannot begin to achieve this goal.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Respiratory disability in ex-cotton workers.

A high proportion of textile workers handling cotton and flax complain of respiratory symptoms and show a loss in lung function. These effects are reversible in the early stages but the degree to which they lead to permanent respiratory disability is unknown. Two surveys were therefore conducted in which respiratory function and symptoms were compared in ex-textile workers and in control subjects who had never been exposed to textile dusts. One survey was of ex-flax workers in Northern Ireland. The present survey was of ex-cotton workers in Lancashire. A survey of random population samples in Oldham and Bolton, in both of which cotton had formerly been the most important source of employment, was conducted. After allowing for age, height, and smoking, lung function was about 2-8% lower in the ex-textile workers than in controls who had never been exposed to any dust. Ex-textile workers were slightly shorter than the controls, suggestive of past social and nutritional deprivation which may have contributed to the decrement in lung function. There was evidence of a small but increasing decrement in lung function with an increase in a "dust exposure" score. For men, about 15 years of heavy dust exposure was associated with a loss in FEV1 equivalent to that shown by light or ex-smokers. For women, 15 years of heavy dust exposure appeared to be associated with a decrement in FEV1 about half that of light smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Calcium antagonists and calmodulin inhibitors block cytokinin-induced bud formation in Funaria.

The plant hormone cytokinin stimulates nuclear migration followed by an asymmetric cell division in target cells of the protonema of the moss Funaria hygrometrica, leading to bud formation. The role of calcium in this developmental event was investigated by examining the effects of various calcium antagonists on the cytokinin-induced division. Calcium-free medium (buffered with EGTA), the extracellular Ca2+ antagonist La3+ (lanthanum), and the Ca2+ channel inhibitors D 600 and verapamil all block bud formation. These inhibitions are partially reversed by washing the cells or by raising the extracellular [Ca2+]. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 partially reversed the effects of D 600 and verapamil. Bud formation is also inhibited by the intracellular Ca2+ antagonist TMB-8 (8-diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate HCl), and this inhibition is partially reversed by washing or raising the extracellular [Ca2+]. The cross walls of both the filaments and bud initial cells formed during TMB-8 exposure exhibit a distorted morphology. High concentrations of TMB-8 block nuclear migration. The calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine stops cytokinin-induced budding more effectively than the related compound chlorpromazine. Low concentrations of these two compounds do not affect nuclear migration; however, the target cell does not enter mitosis. These results support the hypothesis that a rise in intracellular calcium mediates cytokinin-induced bud formation in Funaria. It is concluded that the proposed cytokinin-induced rise in intracellular calcium may be effected in part by the activation of calmodulin. The essential source of Ca2+ appears to be extracellular, because blocking Ca2+ uptake with Ca2+ transport inhibitors can block both nuclear migration and subsequent division.

Calcium↗
PubMed1983

Allergy to inhaled egg material.

The use of a spray system to coat meat rolls with egg solution resulted in the development of asthmatic type symptoms in eight of thirteen workers exposed to the spray. Symptoms were severe in five workers, less severe in two, and one worker experienced vague symptoms. Even though precipitins were present in nine of the workers there were no pyrexial episodes nor influenza-like symptoms occurring some hours after inhaling the egg material to suggest extrinsic allergic alveolitis. All sera with precipitins reacted against an antigen in egg yolk, two sera only to this antigen but no precipitins to ovalbumin were detected. Lung function, X-ray and haematology provided no evidence that the inhalation of egg had lasting detrimental effects. There was no correlation between clinical response, skin testing, IgE levels and precipitins, hence, for each individual none of these parameters is predictive. However, collectively the results show sensitization and this has been confirmed by lack of symptoms when a different method of coating the pastry was adopted.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Prevalence and relation to underground exposure of radiological irregular opacities in South Wales coal workers with pneumoconiosis.

A total of 124 coal workers and ex-coal workers receiving disability benefit for coal worker's pneumoconiosis and routinely reattending the Cardiff Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel during a 10-week period were studied. Those with complicated pneumoconiosis were excluded. Their current chest radiographs and their chest radiographs at the time of certification were read in random order by three readers using the 1980 ILO Classification of Radiographs. An irregularity score was derived from the readings. The x-ray findings were examined for changes since certification and for relationships with age, smoking, and underground coal work exposure. One-fifth of the current radiographs showed mainly irregular opacities, whereas nearly all of those from the time of certification showed mainly irregular opacities, whereas nearly all of those from the time of certification showed mainly rounded opacities. Irregular opacities were related to age, smoking, and underground exposure. The exposure effect remained after excluding the older men. The findings suggest that radiological irregular opacities, and their associated pathology and lung function changes, commonly develop in coal workers with pneumoconiosis and should be considered part of the condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of intrauterine and subcutaneous sites of estrogen injection for luteal maintenance in swine.

Intrauterine and subcutaneous sites for estradiol benzoate (EB) injection were compared in 30 gilts to test their relative effectiveness for estrogen-induced maintenance of corpora lutea. Vehicle or EB was injected on d 10 through 14 of the estrous cycle and corpora lutea that were maintained through d 24 were regressed subsequently by exogenous prostaglandin F2 alpha (10 mg). Cycle length (days) was not altered in either subcutaneous (18.6 +/- .5) or intrauterine (19.8 +/- .8) control groups. Gilts receiving 10 mg EB/d sc had longer (P less than .05) cycles (28.6 +/- 2 d) than gilts treated with 100 micrograms EB at either the sc (24.2 +/- 1 d) or intrauterine sites (23.3 +/- 1.3 d). The latter two cycle lengths were longer (P less than .05) than control cycles, but not different from each other. Before d 24, progesterone concentrations (ng/ml serum) were greater (P less than .01) in EB-treated gilts (25.1 +/- 2.0) than in controls (13.0 +/- 2.7). Progesterone concentration patterns were similar between gilts treated at intrauterine or sc sites. Thus, EB-induced maintenance of corpora lutea was not enhanced by direct injection into the uterine lumen.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Randomised controlled trial of rehabilitation in chronic respiratory disability.

A randomised controlled study of the effects of exercise training in 39 patients with chronic respiratory disability was performed. Exercise training began with six weeks in a rehabilitation centre and was continued at home. The original control group attended the rehabilitation centre after the controlled part of the study. The treated group experienced subjective benefit from rehabilitation. The 12-minute walking distance increased on average from 523 m to 643 m in the treatment group and from 564 m to 607 m in the control group. The treatment effect of 77 m (SE 33 m) was significant at the 5% level. Treadmill exercise performance changed little and resting lung function was unaltered after rehabilitation. The treatment group maintained most of their improvement seven months later and the original control subjects improved after their rehabilitation. The study confirms the beneficial effects of exercise training in the chronically breathless and it suggests that the 12-minute walking distance is a useful index of changes in everyday exercise tolerance.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1980

Radiographic heart volume, stroke volume and exercise cardiac frequency: relationship to body composition and other factors in healthy adult males.

Amongst 288 healthy male workers in heavy industry the radiographic heart volume was related to the fat-free mass and the percentage body fat which between them explained 27% of the variance. Exercise was performed on a treadmill using a belt speed of 80 m.min-1 (3 mph) and an incline which was increased progressively to 14% when the oxygen uptake was on average 61% of the maximum for these subjects. The exercise cardiac output was related to the uptake of oxygen, the fat-free mass and the ambient temperature; these factors accounted for 52% of the variance. The exercise stroke volume was related to the heart volume, the fat-free mass, the thigh muscle width, the ambient temperature, the Harvard Pack Index and other measurements which between them accounted for 42% of the variance. The exercise cardiac frequency was correlated negatively with the heart volume, the fat-free mass, the age and the Harvard Pack Index. The variates between them described 41% of the variance. The findings provide reference values for heart volume, stroke and exercise cardiac frequency in similar subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Interpretation of lung function tests in the sickle-cell haemoglobinopathies.

Prediction equations have been evolved for the assessment of vital capacity, total lung capacity, and the single breath carbon monoxide transfer factor in haemoglobin SS and haemoglobin SC disease. These relationships take account of the growth disorder and anaemia in the sickle-cell states. The results suggest that, in the clinically stable state, any effects of alveolar capillary sickling and haemoconcentration and any altered reactivity of haemoglobins S and C with the test gas are of no significance for clinical respiratory physiology. Sex differences in lung function appear independent of haemoglobin type.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The cross-linking of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum protein.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins have been cross-linked in situ with two reagents, the disulphide-bridged bifunctional imido ester, dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate dihydrochloride and the mild oxidant cupric phenanthroline. Analysis of proteins so cross-linked by electrophoresis on agarose/acrylamide gels reveals that a series of new polypeptides, up to a molecular weight of 900 000, are formed. These have molecular weights which are multiples of 100 000. Further analysis of samples by electrophoresis in a second dimensions containing a reducing agent revealed the monomeric polypeptides from which the cross-linked polypeptides were formed. With dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate dihydrochloride homopolymers of the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase, calsequestrin and/or calcium binding protein were formed. With cupric phenanthroline only the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase was involved in polymer formation. It has been confirmed on another gel system that these two proteins which are involved in Ca2+ binding are not cross-linked intermolecularly with this latter reagent. We conclude that the 100 000 dalton Ca2+-stimulated ATPase polypeptides are within 2 A of each other in the membrane while calsequestrin and/or calcium binding protein are within 11 A of each other. Although there appears to be no limit to the extent of cross-linking of any of these polypeptides there is not indication of heteropolymer associations between them.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗