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Biomedical subjects

R E Phillips

Publications and source records attributed to R E Phillips.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Lack of interferon induction in man by two rabies tissue culture vaccines.

Both neutralising antibody and interferon play a part in protection of animals against death from rabies virus infection. Interferon induction was therefore sought in 53 volunteers within 24 hours of receiving human diploid cell strain vaccine or fetal bovine kidney cell vaccine given either intramuscularly or intradermally. Repeat observations were made in 18 subjects following a second dose of vaccine seven days later. No interferon was detected in any sample tested although no subject had any detectable rabies neutralising antibody on day 0. The sensitivity of the interferon assay, and comparison with other studies are discussed. An interferon inducer suitable for human use should be sought as an alternative to, or a replacement for, passive rabies immunization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Management of Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Measures of malaria control have proved inadequate in many parts of the tropics. The recent rise in the incidence of malaria has been associated with the spread of drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Chloroquine therapy is now ineffective in many parts of Asia and South America, and resistance to this drug is emerging in Africa. There are few alternative drugs available. Quinine remains effective against P. falciparum in Southeast Asia. Reappraisal of quinine therapy has led to important modifications in dosage recommendations and recognition of a major complication of severe malaria associated with its use--hypoglycaemia. Severe malaria has been neglected as a subject for clinical investigation, and there is little information available on which to base rational treatment. Most of the drugs used in addition to antimalarial agents for cerebral malaria have not been critically tested, except dexamethasone which has been shown to be harmful. Simple, but difficult to organize, intensive nursing of patients with cerebral malaria will improve the prognosis. However, even in the best hands, the mortality rate never falls below 20%.

Amodiaquine↗
PubMed1984

Failure of chloroquine-erythromycin and chloroquine-tetracycline combinations in treatment of chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria in eastern Thailand.

In Eastern Thailand the increasing resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to all available antimalarial drugs prompted a reassessment of chloroquine in combination with either erythromycin or tetracycline. Both combinations had produced encouraging results in vitro, in experimental animal models, or in preliminary clinical trials. In patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria presenting with moderate parasitaemia the trial of chloroquine and tetracycline was abandoned after RIII resistance with clinical deterioration was encountered in 2 out of the first 5 patients studied. Of 16 patients treated with chloroquine+erythromycin, 11 showed resistance (RI-RIII). These regimens appear ineffective and potentially dangerous in Eastern Thailand.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Late referral for maintenance dialysis.

A study of patients accepted for maintenance dialysis at the Oxford renal unit in 1981 showed that 23 out of 55 patients were referred late, very shortly before the need for dialysis. This pattern of referral was associated with a higher morbidity at the start of dialysis which may have been preventable. In the late referral group 16 patients (70%) suffered major complications and three (13%) died; by contrast, in the early referral group three patients (9%) suffered complications and one died. Early referral to a renal unit plainly benefits the patient and allows Health Service resources to be used more economically.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Cryopreservation of viable Giardia intestinalis trophozoites.

A technique is described for the cryopreservation of Giardia intestinalis trophozoites. The most satisfactory results were obtained when organisms were preserved with either 7.5 or 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (Me2SO) and cooled using a liquid nitrogen controlled freezer. Under these conditions more than 70% of organisms were motile after thawing. Lower recovery rates were obtained using glycerol as the cryopreservant or when samples were placed directly into a -70 degrees C refrigerator to cool. Cultures were successfully re-established from material cooled under controlled conditions using either 7.5% Me2SO or glycerol as the cryopreservant. However, the former had an initial generation time of 12.0 hours compared to 24.5 hours for the latter.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The sensitivity of Giardia intestinalis to drugs in vitro.

Techniques are described for the isolation, microculture and assessment of viability of Giardia intestinalis. The susceptibility of five recent Brisbane isolates and the Portland 1 stock to metronidazole, tinidazole, furazolidone and quinacrine has been determined. All stocks showed little variation in sensitivity to these drugs. The 3H-thymidine incorporation assay proved to be a much more sensitive method of assessing relative drug activity than either motility or dye exclusion methods. Tinidazole proved to be the most effective drug in vitro followed by furazolidone and metronidazole. Quinacrine was the least effective. The generation time of stocks in vitro varied from 12.5 to 44.2 h and the possible significance of this to failures in treatment is discussed.

Antiprotozoal Agents↗
PubMed1983

Location and distribution of tracheosyringeal motorneuron somata in the fowl.

Injection of horseradish peroxidase solution (HRP) into the tracheosyringeal musculature and tongue of the domestic chick labeled their motorneuron somata in the medulla. Those of tracheosyringeal motor neurons occupied the caudal portions of the nucleus nervi hypoglossi (n. XII), whereas those for motor neurons supplying the tongue occupied the rostral part. The rostrocaudal representations of tracheolateralis, sternotrachealis, and ypsilotrachealis muscles were roughly mapped by the rostrocaudal distribution of labeled somata in n. XII. Except for sparse labeling found in the caudal part of the dorsal vagal nucleus of a few animals, no labeled cells were found outside of n. XII. Most tracheosyringeal injections labeled contralateral n. XII, but section of the contralateral tracheosyringeal nerve high on the neck prior to HRP injection abolished this labeling.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone in laying and nonlaying canvasback ducks (Aythya valisineria).

Temporal changes in the levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone associated with the reproductive patterns of 53 wild captive canvasback ducks were measured. The reproductive endocrinology of both laying and nonlaying females was compared in this 3-year study. Females that remained sexually inactive had ovaries with small, undeveloped follicles. Nonlaying ducks also had lower serum levels of LH (P less than 0.01), prolactin (P less than 0.05), estradiol, and progesterone than those of laying ducks in mid-April (during prelay), mid-May (on the fourth day of egg production), and mid-June (during postlay and incubation). Prolactin levels of both layers and nonlayers increased over this time interval (P less than 0.01) but levels of nonlayers were significantly lower than those of layers for the three blood-sampling dates. The low prolactin levels demonstrate that reproductive failure was not a result of inhibition by high serum prolactin levels. Intravenous injections of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in female canvasbacks resulted in significantly elevated (P less than 0.01) serum LH on the prelay blood sampling date. Lack of reproduction in nonbreeding canvasbacks was thus associated with low circulating serum LH levels but with LHRH-sensitive pituitary pools. These data suggest that lack of reproduction was a result of the failure of the hypothalamus to release releasing factors. The serum hormones of laying canvasbacks varied temporally with stages of the nesting cycle. LH levels increased prior to egg laying and fluctuated during the laying period. LH levels decreased at the onset of incubation but increased after loss of clutch, with renesting activity. Serum prolactin levels of layers were low prior to egg laying and increased gradually through laying of the first clutch, the renesting period, and laying of the second clutch. The highest prolactin levels occurred in ducks incubating their eggs. Prolactin levels decreased in ducks that failed to incubate their eggs. Serum estradiol levels increased sharply between 2 and 5 weeks prior to egg laying and remained high until the second day of egg production. Estradiol levels decreased when the fourth egg was produced, and remained low through the laying of the first clutch, the renesting period, and laying of the second clutch. Progesterone fluctuated widely through the nesting cycle, showing several major peaks before laying and another during incubation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Serum levels of luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone in laying and nonlaying mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

Temporal changes of circulating serum hormones were measured to compare the reproductive endocrinology of laying and nonlaying mallards. In this study all sixteen control mallards left with their mates laid eggs, while only one of sixteen mallards stressed by daily movement into new pens, laid eggs. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in stressed nonlaying mallards than in laying mallards over the 7-week period. Within 1 week of the rotation treatment, LH concentrations in stressed mallards averaged (means +/- SEM) 2.72 +/- 0.19 ng/ml and were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than LH levels in the controls (3.62 +/- 0.18 ng/ml). After 7 weeks, injections of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) induced a greater change in circulating LH levels in stressed mallards (2.1 +/- 0.3 ng/ml) than in breeding control mallards (0.9 +/- 0.2 ng/ml). These data demonstrate that the lack of reproduction in stressed mallards was associated with LHRH-sensitive pituitary pools of LH, despite their low concentrations of serum LH. These data suggest that the block in reproduction is a failure of the hypothalamus to produce or release releasing hormones. The serum hormone levels of the control mallards varied temporally with stages in the nesting cycle. LH levels increased with the onset of nesting activity, and showed marked fluctuations during the laying period. LH levels fell at the onset of incubation but increased after loss of clutch. Estradiol levels were highest prior to the laying of the first egg and their peak coincided with the initial nest building behavior of the females. Progesterone levels increased sharply with the laying of the 2nd-4th eggs, decreased sharply with the laying of the 6th egg, and then increased slightly at the end of the nesting cycle. Prolactin levels were initially low but gradually increased with laying and incubation activity, declined with loss of clutch, and increased again with renesting activity. Prolactin levels in the stressed mallards also increased (P less than 0.01) over the 7-week period, but significantly less (P less than 0.05) than in layers.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Diurnal variation in hypothalamic monoamines and plasma corticosterone in the turkey after inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase or tryptophan hydroxylase.

Circadian rhythms occur in hypothalamic serotonin content in the turkey. Inhibition of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis by parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) blocks circadian variation in hypothalamic serotonin levels suggesting that the major cause of diurnal fluctuations is differing rates of synthesis of the amine. PCPA treatment also abolishes the diurnal rhythm in plasma corticosterone and elevates the basal levels of this steroid suggesting that 5-HT terminals in the hypothalamus may inhibit the release of ACTH at certain times of the day and in this fashion generate diurnal fluctuations in plasma corticosterone. Hypothalamic levels of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) also vary diurnally, and synthesis inhibition with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine abolishes the diurnal rhythm in NE but not DA or in plasma corticosterone. Temporal changes in release and/or degradation of DA are significant factors contributing to the diurnal rhythms of this amine in the hypothalamus. Diurnal fluctuations in plasma corticosterone do not depend on recent synthesis of catecholamines.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Ward scene.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

A stereotaxic atlas of the brain of the three-day-old domestic chick.

Preparation of a stereotaxic atlas of the brain of the 3-day-old domestic chick was prompted by the widespread use of chicks in behavioral and pharmacological research. The atlas is comprised of 26 frontal plates extending from the frontal pole to the level of the hypoglossal nucleus, and one sagittal plate at lateral 0.4 mm. Marking lesions were used to ascertain coordinates, the brains were embedded in albumin and sections cut at 36 mmu. The brain sections were stained with cresyl violet for nuclei and with hematoxylin for fibers. Unstained brain sections were used as a guide in drawing the plates to correct for shrinkage and distortion. The use of the atlas for research purposes for one year, plus test lesions targeted for specific brain structures, indicates the atlas is accurate to within 0.5 mm.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Impact of Nazi holocaust on children of survivors.

Case reports of children of Nazi holocaust survivors are sparse in psychiatric literature despite a relative abundance of material on the "survivor syndrome." The case presented here illustrates that the long-range effects of the holocaust include intrapsychic, familial, and cultureal pathogenic factors that may influence the psychologic development of the offspring of survivors.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Pattern generator for repetitive avian vocalization: preliminary localization and functional characterization.

Electrical stimulation of the midbrain call areas was used to drive medullary neurons. Their activity was recorded with fine (25 mum) wire electrodes that allowed the nearer ones to be resolved as units. Syringeal (hypoglossal) motor neurons were identified by antidromic activation. Various units were turned on, speeded, slowed, stopped, or caused to fire in repetitive bursts. All units that were antidromically activated by hypoglossal stimulation fired in repetitive bursts with a rhythms which closely resembled that of calling. Many other units also fired in this bursting pattern, and the large majority of them were found at the obex or caudal to it despite extensive search rostrally. The nature of likely inputs to the medullary call neurons is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Repetitive vocalizations evoked by electrical stimulation of avian brains. IV. Evoked and spontaneous activity in expiratory and inspiratory nerves and muscles of the chicken (Gallus gallus).

The activity in respiratory nerves and muscles in response to electrical stimulation of vocal substrates in the brain and to CO2 stimulation of the respiratory centers was studied in 28 adult chickens. It was found that the same nerves and muscles were active during both vocalization and respiration. Stimulation of vocal substrates resulted in short latency bursting in the expiratory nerves and muscles. As stimulation intensity increased, progressively longer duration bursts composed of numerous subbursts were produced. By relating muscle activity with sound production , such bursting was shown to underlie evoked vocalizations. Background activity in inspiratory nerves and muscles continued uninterruptedly past stimulus onset only stopping when expiratory activity began. Thereafter inspiratory bursting reciprocated with expiratory bursting and was shown to underlie the intervals between vocalizations. The pattern of activity which was evoked by stimulating vocal substrates was found to strongly interact with the pattern of activity evoked by CO2 stimulation of the respiratory system. Simultaneous records of respiratory and tracheal muscles demonstrated that the same information was sent to both groups of muscles during evoked vocalization. Activity in the respiratory muscles was recorded during spontaneous vocalization of a free-moving bird and was found to resemble that recorded from anesthetized birds. Finally the activity of single units in the obex region of the medulla was recorded during electrical stimulation of vocal substrates and during CO2 stimulation of the respiratory system. Rhythmically active units were found only in the medulla. Unit activity paralleled that found in the nerves and muscles. On the basis on the data accumulated, two models of the chicken vocal system are presented. The first is a model of the sound-producing structures of the chicken. The second is a model of the neural machinery which controls the sound-producing structures. The two models are used as a basis for an explanation of the production of voclizations by the chick of the same species.

Animals↗