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P Carroll

Publications and source records attributed to P Carroll.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

More on motor neurons.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1992

Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents degeneration of motor neurons in mouse mutant progressive motor neuronopathy.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) supports the survival of embryonic motor neurons in vitro and in vivo, and prevents lesion-mediated degeneration of rat motor neurons during early post-natal stages. Here we report that CNTF greatly reduces all the functional and morphological changes in pmn/pmn mice, an autosomal recessive mutant leading to progressive caudo-cranial motor neuron degeneration. The first manifestations of progressive motor neuronopathy in homozygous pmn/pmn mice become apparent in the hind limbs at the end of the third post-natal week, and all the mice die up to 6 or 7 weeks after birth from respiratory paralysis. Treatment with CNTF prolongs survival and greatly improves motor function of these mice. Moreover, morphological manifestations, such as loss of motor axons in the phrenic nerve and degeneration of facial motor neurons, were greatly reduced by CNTF, although the treatment did not start until the first symptoms of the disease had already become apparent and substantial degenerative changes were already present. The protective and restorative effects of CNTF in this mouse mutant give new perspectives for the treatment of human degenerative motor neuron diseases with CNTF.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Composition of human islet cell preparations for transplantation.

To study the cellular composition of human islet cell isolates for transplantation, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded cell pellets were stained by the immunoperoxidase method with a panel of antibodies characterising endocrine, epithelial, soft tissue and haematolymphoid components. Immediately after separation, the isolates contained 30-80% islet cells, differing mainly in the content of islet and acinar cells, whereas the soft tissue, ductal/ductular and haematolymphoid elements comprised a relatively constant 10-20%. After 1 week in culture the islet cell content of less highly purified isolates (30-40% islets) dropped dramatically to 5%. The highly purified isolates (70-80% islets) showed only a minimal change in cellular composition; however, approximately two-thirds of islet cells were degranulated and did not stain for insulin. Haematolymphoid components were still present in all cultured isolates. We conclude that primarily mechanical purification methods and short-term culture are not sufficient to eliminate highly immunogenic cells. In addition, short-term culture is deleterious to the isolate if a significant number of acinar cells is still present after enrichment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

An attempt to standardize APTT reagents used to monitor heparin therapy.

Citrated samples from 100 patients on i.v. heparin and 20 normal patients were tested with three batches each of three activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) reagents: Thrombosil I (Ortho); Automated APTT (Organon Teknika) and Actin FSL (Baxter). The ratio of APTT over the geometric mean normal APTT for each heparinized sample was calculated. One batch of reagent arbitrarily chosen as a reference gave the ratios APTRREF (y). The remaining reagents to be standardized against the reference system gave the ratios APTRTEST (x). The best correlation between systems was given by log vs log x. Standard curves were prepared from the APTT ratios of the 20 normal patients and 65 of the heparinized samples. On plotting log APTRTEST vs log APTRREF the y intercept was close to zero so x was expressed in terms of y using; log x = HSI. log y, where HSI (Heparin Sensitivity Index) = slope. The APTRTEST results of the remaining 35 heparinized samples were transformed using; APTRTRANS = (APTRTEST)HSI.APTRTRANS was then compared to APTRREF to determine whether the transformation brought the results closer to the reference. We conclude that although some improvement was found by using the transform, it was not possible to mathematically relate APTT results due to a high degree of variation between results using different reagents. A standard APTT reagent for the monitoring of heparin therapy is recommended. A separate APTT reagent may be required for the screening of factor deficiencies and lupus anticoagulants.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Detection of intrahepatic human islets following combined liver-islet allotransplantation.

This article describes the localization of intact insulin-containing intrahepatic islets after combined liver-islet allotransplantation. The patient was a 36-year-old woman who underwent upper abdominal exenteration for neuroendocrine carcinoma; 289,000 islets were transplanted via portal vein infusion immediately after complete revascularization of the liver. Immunosuppression was with low-dose FK-506. OKT3 and steroids were used to treat one rejection episode 2 weeks after transplantation, but the patient subsequently developed multiple infections and died 109 days after transplantation. At autopsy, the transplanted liver did not show any sign of rejection and well-preserved islets were present in portal triads sampled from the anterior inferior edge of the right lobe. Immunohistochemical labeling confirmed the presence of insulin-containing cells. This finding indicated that human islets can survive after intrahepatic allotransplantation, despite positive cross-match with no HLA antigen match, suggesting that upper abdominal exenteration and liver transplantation may constitute a protective factor for the survival of allogeneic human islets.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Palliative percutaneous and endoscopic urinary diversion for malignant ureteral obstruction.

We performed a retrospective analysis of 22 patients with malignant ureteral obstruction who underwent palliative urinary diversion by retrograde ureteral stenting or nephrostomy tube placement. The average duration of survival after diversion was 526 days and was unrelated to tumor type, patient's age or sex, renal function, or indications for diversion. As a group, patients without previous hormonal or chemotherapy survived longer. Morbidity related to the urinary diversion was low. The majority of patients (77%) were discharged from the hospital, and this group spent 86 percent of their survival time at home. We conclude that modern palliative urinary diversion can be performed with low morbidity and can result in long-term survival and improved quality of life. Predictions or assumptions concerning survival of individual patients should be made with caution.

Adult↗