Biomedical subjects
M Phillips
Publications and source records attributed to M Phillips.
Hepatoblastoma and polyposis coli (familial adenomatous polyposis)
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Immunoelectron microscopic studies of immune complex deposits and basement membrane components in IgA nephropathy.
The relationship between the immune complex deposits of mesangial IgA nephropathy and the basement membrane components, type IV collagen and fibronectin, has been investigated by an indirect immunogold technique in four cases of mesangial IgA disease. Using paraformaldehyde-fixed, Lowicryl K4M resin-embedded kidney, IgA, IgM and C3 were localized in the mesangial electron-dense deposits with 10 and 20 nm gold-labelled secondary antibodies. In the same glomeruli, type IV collagen and fibronectin were rarely present within the electron-dense deposits, although both were distributed throughout the remainder of the mesangial matrix with the exception of the subepithelial regions. These two components were also present within the glomerular basement membrane and localized mainly on the endothelial aspect. A similar distribution of the basement membrane components was seen in a control kidney processed in the same way. This technique gives reproducible results and has demonstrated for the first time the relationship between the mesangial immune complex deposits of mesangial IgA nephropathy and the basement membrane components of the matrix in which they are found.
Elevated concentrations of acetone and unidentified compounds in the breath of alcohol abusers.
A highly sensitive gas chromatographic assay was used to measure volatile organic compounds in the breath. Samples of breath from three groups of subjects were studied: normal volunteers (n = 15), acutely intoxicated alcohol abusers (n = 11), and abstinent alcohol abusers (n = 13). Acetone levels were significantly higher in the acutely intoxicated subjects than in the normals (p less than 0.05) or the abstinent alcohol abusers (p less than 0.05). Chromatographic peaks arising from 13 unidentified compounds in the breath were observed; two of these unidentified compounds were observed only in the intoxicated and abstinent alcohol abusers. Statistically significance was achieved in only one unidentified peak; elevated levels of this compound were seen in both acutely intoxicated alcohol abusers (p less than 0.01) and in the abstinent alcohol abusers (p less than 0.01) when they were compared to normal subjects.
Immunogenic endotoxin associated protein from a rough strain of Salmonella.
A multimolecular complex of polypeptides found associated with the lipopolysaccharide endotoxin in Salmonella, referred to as endotoxin-associated protein (EP), has been extracted from a rough strain of Salmonella typhimurium which does not synthesize 0 antigens. Since standard methods of extraction applicable to smooth strains of Salmonella were not successful for this rough strain, two modified procedures were developed. The resulting products were similar to smooth EP in terms of their biochemical, physical and mitogenic properties. When the immunogenicity of the rough EP was characterized by a protection assay in mice challenged with virulent Salmonella, it was found that the rough EP preparations were protective; however, they were not as active as the EP from a smooth strain of S. typhimurium.
St. Anthony's fire: a medieval disease in modern times: case history.
Ergot intoxication is a syndrome recognized in the Middle Ages that was due to the effects of intense vasoconstriction upon the extremities. The authors present a patient with self-induced ergotamine poisoning who presented with vasospasm of the right lower extremity and had historical evidence suggestive of vasoconstriction involving other vascular systems. Excess ergot effect should be considered in the differential diagnosis of vascular insufficiency.
Colloidal bismuth subcitrate (DE-NOL) and tinidazole healed duodenal ulceration with a low relapse rate due to elimination of Campylobacter pylori.
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Protection of mice against Brucella abortus infection by inoculation with monoclonal antibodies recognizing Brucella O-antigen.
Monoclonal antibodies recognizing the O-polysaccharide portion of Brucella abortus strain 2308 provided BALB/c mice with passive protection against challenge exposure with the homologous strain. Numbers of colony-forming organisms in the spleen were reduced by IgM and IgG monoclonal antibodies. Active immunization of mice, using B abortus 2308S lipopolysaccharide, resulted in production of IgM antibody at 14 days. Clearance of organisms in the actively immunized mice after challenge exposure at 14 days was nearly identical to that in passively immunized mice. Mice either passively or actively immunized were effectively protected from 0 to 28 days. Bacterial colonization of the spleen was observed to increase in both groups of mice at 56 days and indicated that humoral responses were effective in eliminating the organism in the early stages of infection, but other immune mechanisms were necessary for protection of mice in the later stage of infection with virulent strains of B abortus.
Chemical and protective properties of Brucella lipopolysaccharide obtained by butanol extraction.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fractions were obtained from smooth cultures of Brucella abortus strains 2308 and S-19 by butanol extraction procedures. The LPS from the initial butanol extraction contained 10 to 15% protein and was reduced to less than 1% protein by treatment with proteinase K. The LPS fractions were identified and characterized on the basis of the chemical analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, cesium chloride gradients, electron microscopy, and gel immunodiffusion. Results indicated that the butanol procedure is a reliable method in the extraction of LPS from Brucella abortus cells. Proteinase K-treated LPS containing less than 1% protein from strain 2308 was used to vaccinate BALB/cByJ mice. Immune and protective criteria for vaccinated and nonvaccinated mice were increased immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) titers in sera of prechallenge-exposed mice, reduced colony-forming units/spleen, and splenomegaly in post-challenge-exposed mice. Results indicated that proteinase K-treated LPS was immunogenic as well as protective for mice.
Duration of strain 2308 infection and immunogenicity of Brucella abortus lipopolysaccharide in five strains of mice.
A study was conducted to compare immunogenicity of a Brucella abortus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the duration of infection in 5 strains of mice. Mice of strains CBA/NJ, BALB/c, CD-1, C3H/HeN, and C3H/HeJ were allotted into 2 large groups (vaccinated with proteinase K-treated LPS or nonvaccinated) and 6 subgroups based on the intervals between challenge exposure to B abortus strain 2308 and the week the response data were obtained. Criteria used in comparing responses between the various strains of mice as well as between vaccinated and nonvaccinated mice were splenomegaly, colony-forming units (CFU) from spleens, and antibody titers. Responses were evaluated at 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 12 weeks after challenge exposure. Results indicated that all strains of mice became infected and maintained infection throughout the 12-week period, the percentages of mice infected were significantly (P less than 0.05) less in vaccinated mice for the first 5 weeks after challenge exposure, and there were no direct correlations between increased immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG titers) and reduction in CFU. Vaccinated mice of strains BALB/c, CD-1, C3H/HeN, and C3H/HeJ had increased titers when challenge exposed and also had significantly (P less than 0.05) smaller spleens and lower CFU. Vaccinated CBA/NJ mice did not have marked antibody titers. The overall results indicated that vaccination with LPS offers some initial protection against B abortus strain 2308 infection, but this protection disappears gradually and in various degrees in the 5 strains of mice studied.
Immunologic, histopathologic, and bacteriologic responses of five strains of mice to Brucella abortus strain 2308.
A study was conducted to establish baseline data on Brucella abortus infection induced in 5 strains of mice (CBA/NJ, BALB/c, CD-1, C3H/HeN, and C3H/HeJ). The strains were compared on the basis of immunologic, histopathologic, and bacteriologic responses. There were 4 treatment groups for each strain of mice: (1) vaccinated with homologous lipopolysaccharide and challenge exposed to B abortus strain 2308; (2) not vaccinated but challenge exposed; (3) vaccinated and not challenge exposed; and (4) not vaccinated and not challenge exposed. Results indicated that mice can be used for comparative studies on the pathogenesis and immunogenesis of B abortus infections; strains of mice may vary in their responses to Brucella infection, regardless of their vaccination status. Bacteriologic and immunologic responses in mouse strains BALB/c, CD-1, C3H/HeN, and C3H/HeJ, but not those of CBA/NJ, were extrapolative among strains.
Identification of a virulence factor for Brucella abortus infection in BALB/c mice.
Immunogenic or pathogenic factors of recombinant proteins (rBCSP20, rBCSP-31, and rBCSP45 of Brucella abortus strain 19) for mice were compared with factors of a proteinase K-treated lipopolysaccharide extracted from B abortus strain 2308. Mice were vaccinated with 4 products, using different inoculation schedules and were challenge exposed with a virulent culture of B abortus strain 2308. Blood samples were collected 2 weeks after vaccination and at necropsy and sera were obtained. Spleens were cultured for B abortus at necropsy (3 to 4 weeks after challenge exposure). Mice given proteinase K-treated lipopolysaccharide alone or in conjunction with rBCSP20 or rBCSP45 proteins were protected, but mice given rBCSP31 on the same day as challenge exposure were not. Vaccination with recombinant proteins alone neither provide protection nor significantly (P greater than 0.05) increase the pathogenic effect of the challenge-exposure culture. Seemingly, rBCSP31 might be a virulence factor of B abortus.
Evaluation of the specificity of Pasteurella multocida somatic antigen-typing antisera prepared in chickens, using ribosome-lipopolysaccharide complexes as inocula.
Purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from 16 serotypes of Pasteurella multocida were complexed with Aspergillus fumigatus ribosomes. The complexes were used as inocula to prepare antisera, in chickens, for somatic antigen typing by the gel diffusion precipitin test (GDPT). Antisera made against 15 of 16 LPS reacted with their respective specific heat-stable antigens in the GDPT and homologous LPS in the passive hemagglutination test. Antisera could not be made against serotype 15 LPS. Correlation was not observed between intensity of the precipitin reaction in the GDPT and titer to homologous LPS in the passive hemagglutination test. Most antisera cross-reacted with other heat-stable antigens of other serotypes in the GDPT. Many of these cross-reactions were eliminated by dilution. Cross-reactions that occurred in the GDPT with antisera made against LPS of serotypes 2, 5, 7, and 8 could not be eliminated by dilution.
Absence of a single repeat from the coding region of the human involucrin gene leading to RFLP.
The human involucrin gene has been mapped to the region q21-q22 of chromosome 1. Three of six Utah families examined were polymorphic for a PstI fragment of the involucrin gene. In one individual, the variant PstI fragment was found by DNA sequencing to be missing one of the 39 repeats that make up two-thirds of the coding region.
Costs of treating diarrhoea in a children's hospital in Mexico City.
The treatment received by children aged under 5 years with diarrhoea was studied in the Hospital Infantil de México (Federico Goméz), Mexico City. The costs of treatment were calculated and estimates were made of how these had changed since the establishment of an oral rehydration unit in the hospital in 1985. The results indicate that drug treatment of outpatients was generally appropriate and inexpensive. In contrast, the cost of drugs for inpatients was considerably higher. The seriousness of the cases justified much of this additional expense for inpatients, but there is evidence that the costs could be reduced further without jeopardizing the quality of the care. Diagnostic tests were relatively expensive, frequently failed to identify diarrhoeal etiology, and their results correlated poorly with the treatment prescribed. The oral rehydration unit resulted in significant savings by causing a 25% fall in the number of inpatients with diarrhoea.
Erythema multiforme following cardizem therapy: report of a case.
A 63-year-old male developed severe, painful ulcerations shortly after beginning therapy for angina with diltiazem (Cardizem). Erythema multiforme is a common adverse reaction to medications. The case report, as well as the role of the dentist in diagnosis and management of these clinical presentations, is discussed.
Polymerization of actin modified with fluorescein isothiocyanate.
Solution properties of skeletal muscle actin, modified at lysine-61 with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) [Burtnick, L.D. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 791, 57-62], were re-examined in this work by light scattering, analytical ultracentrifugation, fluorescence, electron microscopy and myosin ATPase activity measurements. Fluorescence measurements using trace amounts of actin labeled with N-(1-pyrenyl)iodoacetamide showed that the FITC modification inhibited but did not block completely the polymerization of actin by KCl and MgCl2. Sedimentation velocity runs of FITC-actin, incubated with 100 mM KCl and 2 mM MgCl2, revealed the presence in these solutions of polymeric, oligomeric and monomeric species. The critical concentration for FITC-actin polymerization under these conditions was 12 microM. As judged by electron microscopy, FITC-actin polymers were similar to but generally shorter than standard F-actin filaments. Light scattering measurements indicated that FITC modification inhibited also the polymerization of actin by myosin subfragment 1 (S1) but the resulting complexes were indistinguishable from standard, decorated actin filaments. MgATPase measurements showed that FITC-actin, polymerized by preincubation with S1, activated the MgATPase activity of S1 while the monomeric labeled protein did not. Thus, in analogy to native actin, the activating function of FITC-actin depended on the formation of actin filaments. Results presented in this study suggest that the region around lysine-61 of actin plays an important role in actin-actin contact and is less crucial to actomyosin interaction.
Transdermal glyceryl trinitrate and lumbar sympathectomy.
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