Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Simpson

Publications and source records attributed to M Simpson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Flow-cytogenetics. II. High-resolution ploidy measurements in human fibroblast cultures.

high-resolution flow-cytometric measurements of ethidium bromide/mithramycin-stained human fibroblast cultures reveal discrepancies between fluorescence pulse-height distributions and genome size as a function of cell strain, culture conditions, culture age, and proliferative stage. These discrepancies were quantitatively assessed by (1) evaluation of the variation of the widths of the 2c fluorescence pulse-height histogram peaks, (2) comparisons between sample to standard fluorescence ratios of 45,XO and 49,XXXXY cell strains, and (3) comparison of fluorescence intensities among cell populations of identical genome size but differing degrees of chromatin condensation (mitotic vs. nonmitotic cells of diploid and tetraploid cell strains). As in our previous studies with lymphocytes, our results suggest caution in equating fluorescence intensity with "DNA content" in flow measurements of nonhomogeneous cell populations. Conditions of cell culture and sample preparation must be standardized in order to compare "DNA content" differences by flow techniques. Remaining sources of variation presently limit detection to differences in DNA content of greater than 2%.

Cell Line↗

Treatment of spinal osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Ninety-five postmenopausal women with unequivocably wedged or compressed vertebrae in whom the recognised causes of secondary osteoporosis had been excluded were studied, 41 having no treatment and the rest one or more of six different treatments. The treatment regimens comprised calcium supplements, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin D, ethinyloestradiol or--where oestrogens were contraindicated--norethisterone, 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1 alpha-OHD3), or hormones with 1 alpha-OHD3. The seven groups were reasonably comparable in most respects except that the hormone-treated patients were younger and had a higher initial cortical area ratio than the others, and the calcium- and hormone-treated groups had the best initial radio-calcium absorption. The untreated osteoporotic patients lost cortical bone more rapidly than do normal postmenopausal women. Three treatments (calcium, hormones, and 1 alpha OHD3 plus hormones) appear to be useful in modifying the disease, and two treatments (vitamin D and 1 alpha-OHD3) useless or even harmful. Vitamin D and 1 alpha-OHD3 are more safely used in conjunction with oestrogens, which protect bone against resorption, than on their own.

Aged↗

Effects of chromosome constitution on growth and longevity of human skin fibroblast cultures.

Employing standardized cell-culture methods, 10 euploid and 22 constitutionally aneuploid human skin fibroblast strains were assessed in triplicate for total growth potential, growth rates, population-doubling times, and cloning. In addition, longitudinal growth rate studies were carried out with otherwise isogenic 45,X and 47,XXX clonal cultures derived from a mosaic parental strain. Growth rates and longevities were cell-strain specific and highly reproducible among sister cultures of a given strain. There was no systematic correlation between chromosome constitution and any of the measured growth parameters. Trisomic as well as monosomic strains showed the same degree of variability with respect to these parameters as did euploid cultures. In particular, 4 trisomy 21 strains were not unusually short-lived, nor were clones with the 47,XXX constitution compared to those with 45,X karyotypes. We therefore conclude that the cumulative number of in vitro doublings preceding senescence of fibroblast-like cells cultured from skin does not differ significantly among cultures derived from humans who have a normal karyotype, trisomy 13, 18, or 21, the 45,X constitution, or various combinations of extra X and Y chromosomes.

Aneuploidy↗

Oral and rectal absorption of chloral hydrate and its betaine complex.

Chloral hydrate and its betaine complex was administered orally and rectally to nine healthy male subjects. The urinary excretion, which was a reflection of absorption, of a metabolite, trichloroacetic acid, was determined. No statistically significant difference was found between the oral absorption of chloral hydrate and its betaine complex and between the rectal absorption of chloral hydrate and its betaine complex. A statistical difference was found between the oral and rectal absorption of chloral hydrate and between the oral and rectal absorption of chloral betaine.

Administration, Oral↗

The relation between bone loss and calcium balance in women.

1. We have examined the relation between the rate of cortical bone loss and other measured variables in 108 women, untreated and on various therapies, observed for nearly 300 patient years. The majority of the subjects were postmenopausal women with various degrees of simple osteoporosis, but a few cases of hyperparathyroidism and other calcium disorders were included. 2. Calcium balance, bone resorption rats, urinary hydroxyproline and plasma alkaline phosphatase were shown to be related to the rate of bone loss; patients with the more negative balance or the higher values of the other variables had significantly higher rates of loss. The rate of bone loss was independent of the rate of bone formation.

Aged↗

Studies on the mechanism of action of rabbit anti-mouse thymocyte serum. I. Induction of suppressor cells.

Treatment of B6AF1 (C57BL/6 x A/Jax) mice with either rabbit anti-mouse thymocyte serum (ATS) or with both ATS and sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) resulted in the generation of splenic suppressor cells within 5 days. Suppressor activity was determined by injecting secondary syngeneic recipients with both donor cells and SRBCs. Five days later the SRBCs hemolytic effect of their spleen cells was determined. Suppressor cells were found in either whole spleen or enriched T cell suspensions from mice treated with ATS and SRBCs and in only enriched T cell suspensions from mice treated with ATS alone. These results support the possibility that ATS induces a population of suppressor cells and that these cells may be responsible in part for the immune suppression noted after treatment with ATS.

Animals↗

Using discriminant function analysis with clinical, demographic and historical variables to diagnose schizophrenia.

An effort was made to formalize the critical clinical, demographic and historical features of schizophrenia through the development of a reliable assessment questionnaire. The criterion diagnosis was established via traditional hospital procedures and was substantiated by psychometric measures. Raters with comparable diagnostic experience were familiarized with each of the clinical, demographic and historical features before evaluating the presence or absence in a sample of both psychiatric in-patients and out-patients. A structured, standardized interview was used to reduce inconsistency and oversight due to variability in interviewing techniques and coverage of psychopathology. Using the coefficients of the discriminative functions of five major symptoms (loose associations, autism, loss of ego boundaries, emotional blunting, delusions) and two demographic and historical features (family history of mental illness, poor social relations) correctly classified 98 per cent of the total sample of 253 patients. A subsequent investigation demonstrated the utility and generalizability of the proposed system. The assets and liabilities of using such an approach are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Predictive validity of the Rorschach Prognostic Rating Scale with schizophrenic patients.

The prognostic validity of the Rorschach Rating Scale was assessed with schizophrenic patients. Through the use of a standardized structured interview and a diagnostic system for schizophrenia based on the use of discriminant function analysis with nonpathognomonic symptom combinations, a reliable and valid system was used to establish the criterion diagnosis. Outcome criteria used included a variety of measures of schizophrenic thought disorder. The results help to establish the practical utility of the PRS empirically with schizophrenic patients by demonstrating efficient prediction when other relevant demographic and nontest variables have been controlled. Furthermore, the concept of ego strength from which the PRS was developed does not appear to be too global a characteristic when the area for change is specifically delineated.

Adolescent↗

Calcium requirement and calcium therapy.

The mean calcium requirement of normal adults has been estimated from 212 calcium balances on 84 normal subjects and found to be 578 mg. The calcium allowance required to ensure that 95% of normal adults are in calcium balance is about 900 mg. Calcium requirement is relatively higher than that of phosphorus or magnesium because plasma calcium--and therefore urine calcium--is maintained at the expense of the skeleton in the presence of calcium deficiency, whereas plasma phosphate and magnesium--and therefore urine phosphate and magnesium--fall on phosphorus and magnesium deficient diets. Calcium requirement appears to rise at the menopause, and postmenopausal bone loss can be reduced by calcium supplements. In postmenopausal osteoporosis, the severe negative calcium balance can be corrected by giving calcium or calcium and vitamin D, but vitamin D alone is not beneficial. Similarly, bone loss, height loss and further vertebral compression can be reduced by calcium or calcium and vitamin D but not by vitamin D alone.

Bone Diseases↗

Mass and infrared spectra of diaryl and aryl alkyl sulfate diesters.

The synthesis and the infrared and mass spectra of diaryl and aryl alkyl sulfate diesters are described. The mass spectra of these two classes of compounds consistently showed an intense molecular ion and two or three additional intense, diagnostic ions. Their infrared spectra also gave information useful for characterizing and differentiating these two classes of compounds.

Benzene Derivatives↗

The conversion of aryl sulfate ester salts to alkyl aryl derivatives suitable for analysis by electron impact mass spectrometry.

A series of monosubstituted (CH3, CH3O, Cl Br or NO2 at the O, m and p position) phenyl sulfate ester salts were derivatized to form n-propyl aryl sulfate diesters. The derivatization was accomplished by reacting aryl sulfate ester salts, AgClO4 and n-propyl iodide in SO2 at--40 degree C. The mass spectra of all the n-propyl aryl sulfate esters showed an intense molecular ion and intense diagnostic peaks at M--42 ([aryl--OSO3H]+) and M--122 ([ARYL--OH]+). The utility of this procedure for derivatizing selected sulfate ester conjugated xenobiotics and steroids was demonstrated.

Arylsulfonates↗

The cost of anaesthetic drugs and equipment.

A review of the literature and an up-to-date estimate shows that despite inflation, the cost of anaesthesia has stayed fairly constant over the last 17 years. A questionnaire completed by a small number of junior anaesthetists showed only a fair, and at times widly inaccurate, knowledge of the cost of anaesthetic drug and equipment. An up-to-date price list of commonly used drugs and equipment is included, along with the cost of some common anaesthetic techniques.

Anesthesia↗

Proliferative and interferon responses by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after bone marrow transplantation in humans.

The capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from bone marrow transplant recipients to proliferate and produce interferon in response to mitogens and specific antigens was tested. Proliferation in response to phytohemagglutinin or pokeweed mitogen occurred in cells from more than 90% of the recipients, and interferon was present in 60 to 70% of the supernatants from these cultures, even when tested as soon as 8 weeks after transplantation. Proliferation in response to bacterial antigens was infrequent, and interferon release was not detected. In the early post-transplantation period (less than 13 weeks), cells from only two of four cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody-positive patients proliferated normally in response to CMV antigen and interferon release was detected only once. In the late post-transplantation period (more than 13 weeks), in only two of five instances did cells proliferating in response to CMV antigen release interferon. The response to CMV antigen of mononuclear cells from many transplant recipients differs from that of cells from normal controls.

Antigens, Viral↗

MMPI criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia.

An attempt was made to find a combination of MMPI scale relationships which were highly discriminating of schizophrenia. Through the use of a standardized structured interview and a diagnostic system for schizophrenia based on the use of discriminant function analysis with nonpathognomonic symptom combinations, a reliable and valid system was used to establish the criterion diagnosis. Approximately 72% of patients reliably diagnosed as schizophrenics were detected on the MMPI via a set of standard criteria (T score on Sc greater than or equal to 80 less than or equal to 100; total raw score on Sc consisted of no more than 35% K items; T score on F greater than or equal to 75 less than or equal to 95; T score on Pt less than or equal to Sc). Only 5.5% of nonschizophrenics obtained all these standard criteria on the MMPI. The assets and liabilities of these MMPI criteria to diagnose schizophrenia are discussed.

Acute Disease↗