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Biomedical subjects

M M Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to M M Ferguson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Post-operative radiotherapy in the management of advanced intra-oral cancers.

Advanced tumours of the tongue and floor of the mouth have a poor prognosis when treated by surgery or radiotherapy alone. The results reported here suggest that combined surgery and radical post-operative radiotherapy greatly improve the outlook for such patients. When the oral cavity is irradiated, both parotids usually receive a radical dose resulting in xerostomia. In this study, shaped fields are used to spare the contralateral parotid, thus minimising the reduction in saliva production. Previously, radical surgery of oral tumours left the patient deformed. Plastic surgery techniques of reconstruction using radial free flaps give excellent cosmetic results. Radial free flaps have their own blood supply and tolerate a radical dose of radiotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Does enzyme heterozygosity influence developmental rate in rainbow trout?

The association between genetic variation at 14 enzyme loci and developmental rate was examined in six strains of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). The purpose of this study was to test the prediction that heterozygotes develop faster than homozygotes. We also tested whether the enzyme loci could be responsible for such an association or are marking chromosomal segments that influence developmental rate. There is a significant negative association (P less than 0.05) between hatching time and the number of heterozygous loci per fish in one of six strains. Heterozygotes developed faster than homozygotes at 26 out of 43 possible comparisons made at individual loci within strains. Heterozygotes developed significantly faster than homozygotes in eight comparisons, and significantly slower in six comparisons. These results suggest a weak positive association between developmental rate and heterozygosity. Nine loci were polymorphic in more than one strain. At five of these loci the hatching distributions of heterozygotes and homozygotes are significantly different among strains. The direction of the relationship between heterozygosity and developmental rate at individual loci is not consistent among strains. Therefore, our results suggest that the loci surveyed are marking chromosomal segments that influence developmental rate. Linkage disequilibrium between alleles at the isozyme loci and dominant-acting genes that accelerate or retard developmental rate is hypothesised to account for the observed relationship between heterozygosity and developmental rate.

Aging↗
PubMed1986

Progesterone inhibits proliferation of human marrow colony forming cells (CFU-GM) through increased prostaglandin production by marrow macrophages.

Progesterone inhibited proliferation of granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) in human bone marrow cultured in methylcellulose; the inhibition ranged from 8% at 3 X 10(-9) M, 22% at 3 X 10(-8) M to 38% at 3 X 10(-7) M progesterone in 14 non-malignant marrows. Depletion of marrow monocytes/macrophages with a monoclonal antibody MO2, abolished the inhibitory effect of progesterone. However, production of colony stimulating activity (CSA) did not appear to be affected, either in PHA stimulated peripheral blood or in bone marrow. Indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, greatly reduced the degree of inhibition and the addition of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) to culture in concentrations as low as 10(-12) M completely removed any additional inhibitory effect of progesterone. PGE1 is known to inhibit only those CFU-GM bearing the Ia antigen; we observed that depletion of Ia positive CFU-GM by either 24 h incubation or by monoclonal (I2) treatment, reduced or abolished progesterone mediated inhibition. This confirms that the mechanism of progesterone inhibition of CFU-GM is mediated through increased PGE production by marrow macrophages, and subsequent inhibition by PGE of Ia positive CFU-GM.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1986

Oro-facial granulomatosis. Response to elemental diet and provocation by food additives.

We report the case of an 8.5-year-old girl with oro-facial granulomatosis associated with clinical atopy, in whom relapse of her granulomatous disorder was shown to be related to exposure to specific food additives, viz. carmoisine, sunset yellow and monosodium glutamate. Treatment with a restricted diet resulted in considerable regression in the facial swelling which has been maintained for 6 months. A brief account of the histological features, both under light and electron microscopy, is given, together with a description of the use of nuclear magnetic resonance scanning in the assessment of this disease. The patient had no evidence to support a diagnosis of sarcoidosis or Crohn's disease.

Child↗
PubMed1986

Salivary gland aplasia: an ectodermal disorder?

A case of a patient presenting with the symptoms of lifelong xerostomia is discussed. Clinical investigation demonstrated aplasia of all the major salivary glands, lacrimal gland hypoplasia and enamel hypoplasia. The management and aetiology of the case is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A comparison of oral rinse and imprint sampling techniques for the detection of yeast, coliform and Staphylococcus aureus carriage in the oral cavity.

The sensitivity of the impression culture, the neat rinse culture (NRC) and the concentrated rinse culture (CRC) methods in detecting the oral carriage of yeasts, coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus was estimated in 75 individuals. The recovery of organisms from the imprint cultures of the tongue and the CRC was similar and there was highly significant positive correlation between the two techniques. The CRC was simple to perform, equally sensitive and superior in quantifying yeast, coliform and S. aureus carriage than the imprint culture technique. Hence, it is suggested that the CRC technique be preferentially employed in future investigations to obtain comparable data from different centres.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Orofacial granulomatosis--a 10 year review.

The granulomatous disorder, termed oro-facial granulomatosis, includes a localised condition affecting the mouth and face as well as the oral manifestations of Crohn's disease and sarcoidosis. The clinical presentation is variable and the apparent increase in the number of patients presenting in recent years probably reflects a greater diagnostic awareness. The aetiology remains to be established but some patients have been found to be intolerent of certain foods, the elimination of which from their diet leads to a resolution of the facial swelling.

Cheek↗
PubMed1986

Food intolerance in patients with oro-facial granulomatosis.

The study was initiated to investigate the role of food intolerance in the aetiology of oro-facial granulomatosis. Firstly, retrospective data were examined in 85 patients and in 16 of them it was evident that a food or flavouring was provoking the disorder. In a second series, eight patients completed a very-low-allergen diet: seven individuals were found to be intolerant of certain foods, ingestion of which resulted in facial swelling. It is concluded that food intolerance is an aetiological factor in some patients with oro-facial granulomatosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Oestrogen as an inhibitor of human NK cell cytolysis.

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes attributed with the ability to lyse certain tumour cells. Previous studies on NK cells have demonstrated only an in vivo suppression of NK cell activity by 17 beta-oestradiol. The suppressive action of oestrogen on other peroxidase-containing leukocytes by virtue of its redox potential has already been documented. In the present study oestrogen suppressed NK cell cytolysis in vitro (determined by the release of [51Cr]chromate from radiolabelled cells) in a dose-dependent manner (p less than 0.01). Parallel experiments demonstrated a similar reduction in NK cell luminol chemiluminescence during activation by K562 tumour cells. Therefore, it would appear that there may be an association between NK cell lysis and their peroxidase/oxygenase activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Absence of developmental incompatibility in hybrids between rainbow trout and two subspecies of cutthroat trout.

We examined the developmental rate of hybrids between rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and two subspecies of cutthroat trout: westslope cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki lewisi) and Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki bouvieri). These taxa show considerable genetic divergence at 42 structural loci encoding enzymes; the mean Nei's D between the rainbow trout and the two species of cutthroat trout is 0.22. We used four measures of developmental rate: time of hatching and yolk resorption, rate of increase in activity of four enzymes, and time of initial detection of seven isozyme loci. The two cutthroat trout subspecies reached hatching and yolk resorption earlier than rainbow trout. Cutthroat trout had higher relative enzyme activities than rainbow trout from deposition of eye pigment to hatching. There was no difference in the rate of increase in enzyme activity or time of initial expression of these loci between these species. Hybrids showed developmental rates intermediate or similar to that of the parental species using all measures. Our results indicate an absence of regulatory and developmental incompatibility between these taxa.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Inhibition of NK cell-induced cytolysis by thiocarbamide antithyroid drugs.

The thiocarbamide antithyroid drugs, methimazole and propylthiouracil, suppressed natural killer (NK) cell-induced cytolysis in vitro (determined by the release of 51Cr-chromate from labelled target cells) in a dose-dependent manner. Parallel experiments demonstrated a similar reduction in NK cell luminol chemiluminescence during activation by K562 tumour cells. It would appear, therefore, that an association may exist between NK cell-induced cytolysis and the peroxidase/oxygenase activity of these lymphocytes.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed1985

Oro-facial granulomatosis: a possible allergic basis.

Food or flavouring intolerance has been demonstrated in 14 out of 80 patients with oro-facial granulomatosis. Provoking molecules include cinnamaldehyde, carvone and piperitone, although a wide range of food or flavourings may be implicated. The nature of the reaction is not understood but does not seem to involve an IgE mediated response. At present the only reliable way of detecting specific provoking factors is by the use of an elimination diet.

Allergens↗