Biomedical subjects
M Kelly
Publications and source records attributed to M Kelly.
Effects of alcohol on E2 beta-stimulated luteinizing hormone in ovariectomized rhesus monkeys.
Anovulation is a frequent concomitant of alcohol abuse, but it has been difficult to assess the acute effects of alcohol on ovulation. Estradiol benzoate (E2 beta) can stimulate a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in ovariectomized monkeys that appears to be associated with increased luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) pulse frequency and amplitude. The acute effects of alcohol (2.5 and 3.5 g/kg) and an isocaloric sucrose control solution on LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretory activity were studied in five ovariectomized monkeys 41 to 51 hours after administration of E2 beta (42 micrograms/kg, IM). Integrated plasma samples were collected at 20-minute intervals over 10 hours. Under sucrose control conditions, LH increased to 445 and 584 ng/ml within 46 to 49.3 hours after E2 beta administration in two monkeys and high-amplitude LH pulses were evident in three monkeys. Alcohol (2.5 and 3.5 g/kg) significantly decreased the number of LH peaks and valleys (p < 0.01). Peak blood alcohol levels averaged 195 and 291 mg/dl. After 2.5 g/kg alcohol, there was no LH surge or LH pulses in four of five monkeys. A delayed LH surge occurred in one monkey 48 to 50.6 hours after E2 beta when blood alcohol levels decreased to 62 mg/dl. After 3.5 g/kg alcohol, no monkey had an LH surge and pulsatile LH release was significantly reduced in comparison to control conditions (p < 0.01). FSH levels remained stable across alcohol and control conditions. These data suggest that alcohol attenuates pituitary release of LH in response to E2 beta stimulation. These findings are consistent with menstrual cycle disruptions observed in alcohol-dependent women, social drinkers, and in a primate model of alcoholism.
Bombinin-like peptides with antimicrobial activity from skin secretions of the Asian toad, Bombina orientalis.
The structures and hemolytic and bactericidal activities of three bombinin-like peptides, or BLP-1-3, from the skin of Bombina orientalis are described. The peptides were isolated from the skin of B. orientalis and sequenced by tandem mass spectrometry and are amphipathic, cationic peptides of 25-27 amino acids in length. The sequence of the most abundant member (BLP-1) is: Gly-Ile-Gly-Ala-Ser-Ile-Leu-Ser-Ala-Gly-Lys-Ser-Ala-Leu-Lys-Gly-Leu- Ala-Lys-Gly-Leu-Ala-Glu-His-Phe-Ala-Asn-NH2. All three peptides were found to share considerable, but not complete, homology with bombinin, an antimicrobial, hemolytic peptide first isolated by Michl and Csordas (Csordas, A., and Michl, A. (1970) Monatsh. Chem. 101, 182-189) from the skin of Bombina variegata. The BLPs have been assayed for antibiotic and hemolytic activity and found to be more potent than magainin 2 (a related antimicrobial peptide from Xenopus laevis) in their ability to kill bacteria. However, no significant hemolytic activity was found for these peptides which suggests a selectivity for prokaryotic over eukaryotic membranes. The molecular basis for antibacterial activity is presumed to be due to their predicted amphipathic alpha-helical structures which is supported by circular dichroism measurements that found significant helical content (63-69% alpha-helix) in 40% trifluoroethanol. Last, a cDNA library was constructed from the skin of B. orientalis and screened with an oligonucleotide probe complementary to the COOH terminus of BLP-1. Several clones were isolated and sequenced that encode BLP-1 and BLP-3, as well as an additional peptide (BLP-4) that differs by two amino acid substitutions from BLP-3.
Unusual decay modes of D0 and D+ mesons.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Inclusive chi (2P) production in Upsilon (3S) decay.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Study of D0 decays into final states with a pi 0 or eta.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
GenBank.
The GenBank nucleotide sequence database now contains sequence data and associated annotation corresponding to 56,000,000 nucleotides in 45,000 entries. The input stream of data coming into the database has largely been shifted to direct submissions from the scientific community on electronic media. The data have been installed in a relational database management system and are made available in this form through on-line access, and through various network and off-line computer-readable media. In addition, GenBank provides the U.S. distribution center for the BIOSCI electronic bulletin board service.
Latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap for elbow extension.
The latissimus dorsi mycocutaneous flap has developed a reputation for its versatility in both skin and soft tissue coverage and for restoration of elbow function in both flexion and extension. In a case presented, a large extra-abdominal desmoid was removed along with the entire deltoid and three-quarters of the triceps. The latissimus dorsi was elevated with a large overlying skin island and rotated on its neurovascular pedicle into the defect in the posterior shoulder and upper arm to replace the resected triceps and deltoid muscle, and to provide coverage in this region.
Direct determination of homovanillic acid release from the human brain, an indicator of central dopaminergic activity.
The plasma concentration of the dopamine (DA) metabolite, homovanillic acid (HVA), is used as an indicator of central nervous system dopaminergic activity. Using percutaneously inserted catheters we were able to obtain blood samples simultaneously from the right and left internal jugular veins. Veno-arterial HVA plasma concentration differences combined with adjusted organ plasma flows were used, according to the Fick Principle, to determine the HVA overflow from the brain. The HVA overflow from the liver was also measured. HVA overflow from the brain represented 12% of the total body HVA production. A similar amount was released from the liver, illustrating the limited validity of peripheral plasma HVA measurements as an indicator of central dopaminergic activity. HVA release from the human brain displayed a degree of asymmetry, the overflow into the left internal jugular vein being 36% greater than that into the right. Cerebral venous blood flow scans indicated that cortical cerebral regions drained preferentially into the right internal jugular; by inference the higher HVA overflow on the left originated from dopamine-rich subcortical brain areas. Since HVA in plasma may arise from the metabolism of DA existing either as a neurotransmitter or a norepinephrine (NE) precursor we measured the internal jugular vein plasma concentrations of NE, and its metabolite dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), to determine whether they displayed a similar pattern of release to HVA. The overflow of both NE and DHPG into the right internal jugular vein was approximately double that on the left. Since the overflow of HVA did not parallel that of NE and DHPG it may be inferred that the origin of much of the subcortically produced HVA is from dopaminergic neurons and not from the metabolism of precursor DA in noradrenergic neurones or cerebrovascular sympathetic nerves.
Epidemiologic typing systems for coagulase-negative staphylococci.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Effects of intoxication on the catecholamine response to multisystem injury.
In patients suffering isolated head trauma, we have previously shown that levels of circulating catecholamines obtained within 48 hours of trauma correlate with the severity of brain injury and predict outcome and that intoxication blunts this response. The effects of alcohol on the increase in catecholamines in systematically injured patients, however, have not been well defined. From 1983 to 1990, 78 patients (74% male; median age 30 years) with blunt head and multisystem injury, who also had alcohol levels measured within 5 hours of injury, were studied. Norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were assayed by a radioenzymatic technique. Injury severity was assessed by the admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (4-15; median, 12), the Injury Severity Score (ISS) (13-50; median, 25) and the volume of blood products administered within the first 24 hours (0-14.4 L; median, 0.5 L). The impact of alcohol on the norepinephrine response to injury was analyzed using multiple linear regression models, including polynomial interaction terms. Norepinephrine levels significantly (p less than 0.0001) correlated with the GCS score and ISS. However, alcohol significantly lowered the norepinephrine response to decreasing GCS score (R = 0.49, p less than 0.002) and to increasing ISS (R = 0.51, p less than 0.0006). The blunting of the catecholamine response was most marked in those severely injured. The rise in norepinephrine concentrations seen with increasing volume of blood replacement was not affected by intoxication. An association between injury severity and epinephrine levels was also present, but not as consistently. Epinephrine concentrations rose with falling GCS score and with increasing ISS values, but unlike norepinephrine, there were no apparent effects of alcohol on changes in epinephrine levels. Thus, in patients suffering head and multisystem injury, catecholamine changes reflect the severity of injury using three different scalers. Furthermore, intoxication blunts only the norepinephrine component of this important biologic response.
Double blind, placebo controlled trial of metronidazole in Crohn's disease.
A double blind study compared the efficacy of metronidazole in two doses (20 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) with placebo in patients with Crohn's disease. One hundred and five patients participated but only 56 completed the 16 week study -21 were withdrawn for deterioration of symptoms, 17 for adverse experiences, and 11 for protocol violation. Significant improvement in disease activity as measured by the Crohn's disease activity index (metronidazole 20 mg/kg, 97 units; metronidazole 10 mg/kg, 67 units; placebo -1 unit, p = 0.002) and serum orosomucoid (metronidazole 20 mg/kg/day, 49; 10 mg/kg/day, 38; placebo, -9, p = 0.001)) were detected. Changes in C reactive protein concentrations did not achieve significance when all three groups were considered but were significant when all metronidazole treated patients were grouped and compared with the placebo treated patients (0.8 v -0.9, p less than 0.05). Although patients receiving metronidazole 20 mg/kg/day had a greater improvement in disease activity than those receiving 10 mg/kg/day (difference 30 units (95% confidence intervals -27-87), the small sample size may have precluded the detection of statistical significance. Preliminary analysis suggests that metronidazole was more effective in patients with disease confined to the large intestine or affecting both small and large bowel than in those with small bowel disease only. There were no differences in remission rates between metronidazole and placebo treated patients. We conclude that metronidazole warrants further assessment in the treatment of patients with active Crohn's disease.
An investigation of maternal morbidity with identification of life-threatening 'near miss' episodes.
This study was designed to investigate the pattern of obstetric morbidity and to determine the frequency of serious life-threatening episodes as a basis for clinical audit. The records of over 2,000 maternities from a National Health Service Consultant Unit during a six-month period were analysed. Morbidity was noted in almost a quarter of the cases, and life-threatening episodes, termed 'near miss' morbidity, were identified. As the maternal death rate has fallen in this country, maternal morbidity has come to represent a more useful indicator of obstetric care than mortality. The results of this study identify the need for an agreed set of definitions for 'near miss' morbidity, and suggest that not only should it be included for discussion in unit perinatal meetings, but that Regional obstetric morbidity enquiries would provide valuable denominator data on morbidity.
Clinical management of common oral lesions.
Soft tissue lesions are among the most commonly occurring pathologic conditions in the oral cavity. The causes of these lesions can vary from immunologic and viral reactions to underlying systemic disease, dermatologic lesions, or neoplasms. The diagnosis of these conditions is usually based on the history, clinical appearance, and results of diagnostic procedures such as smears, culture, or examination of biopsy specimens when indicated. This paper will discuss the diagnosis and management of some of the most commonly occurring oral lesions, such as recurrent aphthous ulcers, herpetic ulcers, and candidiasis.
Diagnosis and management of commonly occurring oral vesiculoerosive disorders.
Vesiculoerosive disorders are often difficult to diagnose and manage. The oral cavity is often overlooked as a source of diagnostic signs of dermatologic disease. In some disorders, oral manifestations precede cutaneous signs by as much as one year. The authors describe the oral presentation and management of lichen planus, allergic stomatitis, pemphigus vulgaris, and cicatricial pemphigoid, to enable the physician to recognize, diagnose, and treat commonly encountered oral manifestations of dermatologic disease.
Oral manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Oral candidiasis, herpetic lesions, oral mucosal warts, human immunodeficiency virus-associated gingivitis and periodontitis, Kaposi's sarcoma, hairy leukoplakia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are oral manifestations of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus. This paper will explain how to identify these lesions, their significance, and recommended treatments.