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Biomedical subjects

R Douglas

Publications and source records attributed to R Douglas.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Electroencephalographic and behavioural effects of sodium valproate in patients with photosensitive epilepsy. A single dose trial.

A single oral dose of Sodium valproate (VPA) given as Epilim (10 mg/kg) inhibited photoconvulsive responses, especially to 15--30 Hz frequency flicker, in seven out of ten patients with photosensitive epilepsy. In addition, in all patients (with an exception of one) the amplitude of the secondary slow negative wave of the visual evoked potentials was reduced 4--5 h after drug administration. However, in five of these patients the normalization of electrocortical reactions to a single flash and flickering light was accompanied by somnolence and fatigue, moderate slowing of EEG background, development of 3 Hz spike-wave activity and (in three patients) augmented response to hyperventilation. In two patients the EEG photoconvulsive discharge was exaggerated by VPA. There VPA effects suggest that photosensitivity and the underlying epileptic condition have overlapping albeit different pathophysiology. The data offer no support for the conclusion that reduced photosensitivity produced by VPA is associated with the therapeutic potency of the drug.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The immunoglobulin mu chains of membrane-bound and secreted IgM molecules differ in their C-terminal segments.

The B lymphocytes synthesizes two forms of IgM molecules during its development from a stem cell to a mature antibody-secreting plasma cell. The monomeric receptor IgM molecule is affixed to the plasma membrane and triggers the later stages of B cell differentiation, whereas the pentameric secreted IgM molecule is an effector of humoral immunity. The structural differences between membrane-bound and secreted IgM molecules are reflected in the differences between their heavy or mu chains. We have previously determined the complete amino acid sequence of a murine secreted mu (microsecond) chain. In this study, we have compared the structures of the secreted and membrane-bound mu (micron) heavy chains by peptide mapping, micro-sequence and carboxypeptidase analyses. These studies demonstrate that the micron and microsecond chains are very similar throughout their VH, C mu 1, C mu 2, C mu 3 and C mu 4 domains. The micron and microsecond chains differ in the amino acid sequence of their C-terminal segments. These studies in conjunction with those carried out on the micron and microsecond mRNAs and the C mu gene suggest that the micron and microsecond chains from a given B cell are identical except for their 41 and 20 residue C-terminal segments, respectively. The amino acid sequence of the 41 residue C membrane terminal segment predicted from the corresponding micron mRNA is in agreement with all the protein studies reported in this paper.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Transfer factor and hepatitis B: a double blind study.

A prospective, double blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out on twenty-nine patients with hepatitis B. Thirteen received transfer factor and sixteen placebo. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any clinical or laboratory measurements made, although a rapid early reduction of serum aspartate transaminase levels by transfer factor is possible. Similarly, no significant changes were delineated by the in vitro measurements of lymphocyte function. Transfer factor did not alter the natural course of hepatitis B.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Transfer factor therapy: clinical experience and the role of the E rosette assay.

Transfer factor has been administered to 17 patients, most with infectious diseases of various kinds. In 12 patients the therapy was followed by a definite clinical improvement although in most cases conventional chemotherapy was given concomitantly. In all cases where clinical improvement followed the sheep red cell or E rosette assay showed low values initially, with an improvement following therapy. This test of T lymphocyte function may be useful both in predicting patients likely to respond to transfer factor, and in monitoring response to treatment. As no specific assay of transfer factor activity is available, an in vivo rise in E rosette formation following transfer factor administration serves as a crude indicator that the injected material has some biological activity.

Abscess↗
PubMed1976

The distribution of HLA in a Polynesian population-Western Samoans.

HLA and gene frequencies are presented for a Polynesian population-the Western Samoans. Within the HLA-A locus A2, A9 and A11 have the highest frequencies and account for 55% of the alleles in this locus. The alleles BW22 and BW40 had the highest frequencies in the HLA-B locus and accounted for 51% of the alleles. The blank gene frequencies for the HLA-A and B loci are .382 and .373 respectively. Significant linkage disequilibrium was found with the haplotypes A1,B7; A3,B7;A2, BW40; A9, BW40 A9, BW22. The most frequent haplotype was A2,BW40. Comparatively low values within this population and between this and other Polynesian populations are discussed in terms of selection, migration and drift.

Alleles↗
PubMed1975

HL-A antigens in Europeans and Maoris with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Using a standard microtoxicity technique of tissue typing, the distribution of tissue antigens in 75 Maoris and 514 European disease-free blood donors was determined. Fifty Maori and 50 Europeans with rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease were compared with each control group. Normal Maoris had HL-A3 less frequently than Europeans (P less than .0005). HL-A28 was reduced (P less than .005) and HL-A17 increased in European patients (P less than .0005). In Maori patients there were minor differences in the frequency of HL-A3 and 8, which were increased, and HL-A10, which was diminished.

Europe↗