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Biomedical subjects

R J Morris

Publications and source records attributed to R J Morris.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Rat lymphocyte differentiation antigens detected by rabbit antiserum to thymocytes and leukaemic cells.

The lymphocyte differentiation antigens detected by rabbit antisera to rat thymocytes and leukaemic cells have been investigated. Thy-1 was the only such antigen detected by the anti-thymocyte serum, which was predominately directed to two xenoantigenic determinants rather than the Thy-1.1 determinant on this molecule. Two additional antigens were recognized by the anti-leukaemia serum. One of these was found on thymocytes and peripheral lymphocytes, but only on 1 per cent of bone marrow cells. The other was found not only on lymphocytes, but also on the nucleated myeloid and erythroid cells of bone marrow.

Animals↗

Marine sterols. III--The sterol compositions of oceanic jellyfish. The use of gas chromatographic mass spectrometric techniques to identify unresolved components.

The sterol compositions of three oceanic jellyfish have been determined using gas chromatographic mass spectrometric techniques involving the use of two separate gas chromatographic column systems. The components in overlapping peaks have been identified by comparison of the mass spectra of peaks in the two column systems using subtractive techniques. A mid-water animal, Periphylla periphylla, was found to contain a very complex and unusual sterol profile including rare 5alpha-stanols, whereas two other oceanic jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca and Atolla wyvillei contained similar mixtures of delta5 sterols to those previously isolated from coastal species.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Lorazepam and diazepam in anxious outpatients. A controlled study.

The response of 134 anxious neurotic outpatients to lorazepam, diazepam, and placebo was assessed in a 4-week double-blind trial. Both active drugs produced significantly more symptom reduction than placebo. Lorazepam, however, proved effective primarily in those patients who did not complain of sedation, and produced greatest improvement in initially sicker patients. Sedation was significantly more disturbing to lorazepam-treated patients than to diazepam-treated patients. Present findings suggested that 3 mg/day of lorazepam may be too high a dosage for mildly anxious patients, while 15 mg/day of diazepam seems an appropriate dosage for mildly anxious patients but may be too low a dosage for highly anxious patients.

Adult↗

Sterols of the cockle Cerastoderma edule. Evaluation of thermostable liquid phases for the gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the trimethylsilyl ethers of marine sterols.

Some recent liquid phases for gas-liquid chromatography with improved thermostability have been evaluated for their use in the gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of the complex mixtures of sterol trimethylsilyl ethers obtained, often in small amounts, from marine organisms. A combination of Dexsil 300 GC, SE-30 "ultraphase" and Silar 5CP is recommended for use in this technique because of the excellent separating efficiency and the very low substrate bleed. GC-MS analysis of the sterol trimethylsilyl ethers obtained from the cockle Cerastoderma edule has established the identity and relative proportions of the eleven sterols present.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Triazolam in insomniac family practice patients.

Triazolam, 0.5 mg, a benzodiazepine with hypnotic properties, was compared to secobarbital, 100 mg, and placebo in a 1-wk study conducted with 100 insomniac family practice patients. Considerable sensitivity to differential treatment effects was demonstrated for these family practice patients as well as for a research methodology that combines a crossover design, permitting preference ratings, with a between-patient design. In almost all sleep parameters, assessed with a variety of subjective techniques, triazolam and secobarbital were shown to be significantly more effective than placebo. Triazolam was consistently and often significantly indicated to be a more effective hypnotic, particularly for reducing nocturnal awakening, than secobarbital. Analysis of self-report emotional distress data revealed that present insomniac patients were slightly more emotionally symptomatic than other nonpsychiatric populations. Triazolam was followed by the greatest and secobarbital the least relief of emotional symptoms and triazolam emerged as an especially effective hypnotic for initially more depressed insomniac patients. Present findings suggest that type and degree of emotional symptomatology may affect the response of insomniac patients to hypnotics.

Benzodiazepines↗

Antigens on mouse and rat lymphocytes recognized by rabbit antiserum against rat brain: the quantitative analysis of a xenogeneic antiserum.

Quantitative assays for measuring the binding of xenogeneic antiserum to dispersed cell suspensions are described. Cells were incubated with unlabeled xenogeneic antiserum and the antibody bound measured indirectly by a second binding step with 125I-labeled anti-immunoglobulin antibody. This indirect radioactive binding assay was calibrated by measuring, with a radioimmunoassay, the true amount of antibody bound in the first step. With these methods one can measure the strength of antisera, quantitate the number of antigenic sites, and partially differentiate determinants being recognized on cell surfaces. The binding of rabbit anti-rat brain antiserum to rat and mouse lymphocytes was analyzed in detail. After absorption of the antiserum with rat liver, the antibody remaining recognized lymphocyte antigens that were distributed among various rat and mouse tissues in quantities identical to Thy-1.1 antigen. Thus, at saturation, 670 000 Ig molecules from liver-absorbed rabbit antiserum were bound per rat thymocyte, and the antiserum bound to 90%, 21%, 4% and 2% of rat thymocytes, spleen, lymph node and thoracic duct lymphocytes, respectively. With mouse tissues, 90% 24% and 50% of thymocytes, spleen and lymph node cells, respectively, were labeled. In rat brain the concentration of xenoantigen increased with age, while in thymocytes the full adult amount was present at birth. Three antigenic determinants could be defined with the liver absorbed rabbit antiserum: the Thy-1.1 antigen, a rat specific antigen and an antigen cross-reacting between rat and mouse tissues. All 3 may be on the Thy-1 molecule. The anti-brain antiserum contained about 0.05 mg/ml of antibody specific to these xenoantigens.

Age Factors↗

Analysis in deoxycholate of three antigenic specificities associated with the rat Thy-1 molecule.

Three antigens similar in tissue distribution can be identified on rat thymocytes; the Thy-1.1 antigen, a rat specific xenoantigen, and a rat-mouse cross-reacting xenoantigen. To determine if these three antigens were on the same molecule their behavior in detergent-solubilized extracts from thymocytes was studied. Membrane fragments containing Thy-1.1 activity were prepared by a rapid method involving the use of Tween-40 detergent, and were solubilized in deoxycholate. The 150 000 x g supernatant from this extract contained approximately 50% of the original Thy-1.1 and xenoantigen activity. The supernatant was chromatographed on Sephadex G-200, and subjected to zone sedimentation on sucrose gradients in H2O and 2H2O to determine the hydrodynamic properties of the antigens. The three antigens migrated in identical fashion in all cases, and behaved as a molecule of 28 000 daltons molecular weight. When the antigenically active fraction, recovered after chromatography on Sephadex G-200, was passed through an immunoabsorbent consisting of rabbit antibody to one of the xenoantigens, all three antigens were equally depleted compared with passage through a control column. The results of these experiments suggested that Thy-1.1 antigen and the two xenoantigens were closely associated and most probably all on the Thy-1 molecule.

Animals↗

Regulation of sheep erythrocyte volume in anisotonic media.

Sheep erythrocytes of high and low potassium types were incubated in non-haemolytic hypotonic and hypertonic media for 4-5 h at 30 degrees. After initial swelling or shrinking, they readjusted their volume toward their initial isotonic volume. The volume regulation was associated with specific changes in cation fluxes. In the swollen cells, efflux of both sodium and potassium was increased and influx of both cations was slightly decreased; the converse was true for the shrunken cells. All four fluxes were changed in a direction that led to return to normal volume. The difference in the response of the two types of sheep erythrocytes to changes of extracellular fluid osmolality resided in the different activity of their cation transport systems. It is concluded that sheep erythrocytes possess some means of regulating their volume in vitro which is linked to cation permeability. The exact nature of the physical mechanisms by which they accomplish this remains to be elucidated.

Animals↗