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Biomedical subjects

R J Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to R J Thompson.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Purification, radioimmunoassay, and distribution of human brain 14-3-2 protein (nervous-system specific enolase) in human tissues.

Human 14-3-2 protein, a nervous-system specific enolase (EC 4.2.1.11) isoenzyme, has been purified from human brain and a sensitive radioimmunoassay has been developed for its detection. A systematic survey of human organs has shown that immunoreactive nervous-system specific enolase is present in all human organs but at levels less than 3% of those found in human brain, with especially low levels in liver, kidney and skeletal muscle, and with the highest levels in adrenal and large intestine. In all organs immunoreactive nervous-system specific enolase occurs in two forms representing the heterodimer and homodimer forms of the enzyme, and in all tissues except brain the heterodimer predominates. The presence of nervous-system specific enolase in other organs is unlikely to be explicable by innervation alone since significant quantities are found in red blood cell haemolysates. Tissues which contain amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation cells, for which the protein has been claimed to be a specific molecular marker, do not contain significantly higher levels of immunoreactive nervous-system specific enolase than other tissues. Both the heterodimer and homodimer forms of the enolase appear to be expressed at low levels in all tissues.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1980

Radioimmunoassay of brain-type creatine kinase-BB isoenzyme in human tissues and in serum of patients with neurological disorders.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for human brain type creatine kinase-BB isoenzyme has been used to measure the protein in serum as a potential index of central nervous system damage in patients with neurological disorders. The MB form of the enzyme (but not the MM form) partially cross-reacts in the radioimmunoassay but shows non-parallel dilution characteristics which distinguish it from the BB form of the enzyme. A survey of human tissues shows immunoreactive creatine kinase-BB in all human organs, with intestine and prostate approaching 35% of the brain concentration in contrast to the particularly low levels found in skeletal muscle, liver, spleen, and erythrocytes. No serum factors interfering in the assay were detected, and the normal serum level of creatine kinase-BB was found to be approximately 1-3 ng/ml. Serum containing high levels of immunoreactivity showed dilution characteristics paralleling the standard curve in the radioimmunoassay. Measurements of the protein in 47 patients with a variety of neurological disorders showed significantly raised mean levels in patients with dementia and with head injuries, isolated raised levels were also found in other disorders.

Brain↗
PubMed1980

Immunoreactive aldolase C in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurological disorders.

Nervous-system specific aldolase C has been detected in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by radioimmunoassay. Measurement of 138 samples of CSF showed a mean level of 92 +/- 28 ng/ml. There was no correlation between the level of CSF aldolase C and the CSF total protein, albumin, IgG, or IgA levels. Aldolase C immunoreactivity present in concentrated CSF diluted out in parallel with the standard curve in the assay and showed an elution profile on ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography similar to that of aldolase present in whole human brain extracts. Addition of known quantities of purified aldolase C4 to CSF gave quantitative recovery on subsequent radioimmunoassay. Measurement of aldolase C in the CSF of 66 patients with neurological disorders showed several patients with levels considerably in excess of 120 ng/ml, but there was no statistically significant difference in the mean levels between groups of patients with different diseases.

Brain↗
PubMed1980

Human brain aldolase C4 isoenzyme: purification, radioimmunoassay, and distribution in human tissues.

The nervous system specific isoenzyme of frustose-1, 6-diphosphate aldolase (E.C.4.1.2.13), aldolase C4, has been purified from human brain, and a sensitive radioimmunoassay has been developed for its detection. This assay is also capable of detecting other hybrid isoenzymes containing the C subunit but not the A4 isoenzyme. A systematic survey of human organs has shown that immunoreactive aldolase C is present in all human organs but at levels less than 2% of those found in human brain; especially low levels occur in kidney, skeletal muscle, lung, and thyroid tissue. The presence of aldolase C in other organs apart from nervous tissue is unlikely to be explicable by innervation alone since significant quantities are found in erythrocytes. The high degrees of localisation of aldolase C4 in nervous tissue makes it a suitable marker for cell damage within the central nervous system.

Brain↗
PubMed1980

Tourette's syndrome: an expanded view.

Tourette's syndrome is a disorder of central nervous system functioning in which the most easily recognized symptoms of involuntary movements and vocalizations have been found to be responsive, in many cases, to pharmacotherapy with haloperidol. We have recently evaluated five patients with Tourette's syndrome and have been impressed with the learning difficulties, speech and language problems, and behavioral problems which accompanied the involuntary neuromotor manifestations. These lesser known manifestations were not improved with haloperidol, and in fact, the sleepiness associated with the use of haloperidol was thought to adversely affect school performance in two of our patients. Thus, a holistic approach to the evaluation and treatment of children with Tourette's syndrome is recommended. Early attention to possible speech and language difficulties, appropriate academic help, and counseling regarding behavior management are seen as management issues at least as important as medication management.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Utility of the Faschingbauer abbreviated MMPI as a function of patient group and sex.

Assessed the utility of the 166-item FAM with medical and psychiatric patients. FAM items were extracted from MMPI data of 60 female and 45 male patients classified into pain and psychiatric patients based on suspected disorder and referral questions. Although all correlations between FAM and MMPI mean T-scores on all scales were highly significant, 54% of the means were significantly different. The number and the nature of the difference between FAM and MMPI group means and individual profile classifications varied as a function of patient subgroup and sex. Such subgroup delineation of FAM accuracy is discussed as necessary for decisions about appropriate clinical and research utilization.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Neonatal behavior of infants of adolescent mothers.

The Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale was administered to 30 infants of adolescent mothers (under 18 years of age at delivery) and 30 infants of older mothers, at between two and five days of age. The infants of the adolescent mothers were found to be significantly less capable of responding to social stimuli, less alert, and less able to control motor behavior and to perform integrated motor activities. The results are further discussed in terms of the 'stimulus value' of the infant and areas of focus for efforts at early intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Purification and characterization of agrocin 84.

A procedure for the rapid purification of milligram quantities of agrocin 84, a bacteriocin-like compound produced by Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K-84, has been developed. This procedure, which employs charcoal adsorption, ion-exchange, sieving chromatography, and continuous-flow electrophoresis, can yield agrocin 84 which is 65% pure on a dry weight basis. The purest preparations were strongly ultraviolet absorbing, with a maximum at 264 nm (epsilon 7.0/264 = 22,675 cm2 - M-1) and a minimum at 227 nm (ratio of 264 to 227 nm, 6.00). As has been reported, agrocin 84 contains an unusual phosphoramidate or 6-N-acyl linkage to adenine. Adenine, glucose, and phosphate are present in a 1:1:2 molar ratio. The molecular weight was estimated to be 1,350.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1979

Carrier detection in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Evidence from a study of obligatory carriers and mothers of isolated cases.

The mean levels of serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) were studied in three groups of women: normal controls (57), obligate carriers for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (30), and mothers of isolated cases of this disease (35). The distribution of the levels in these groups was significantly different and was in keeping with the hypothesis that one-third of isolated cases result from new mutations. The control and carrier ranges overlapped considerably, with the level of CPK of 33% of obligate carriers coming within the 97 1/2 centile of the normal range. Odds against an individual being a carrier were derived for specific mean values of CPK. They should be considered with genetic information using Bayes's theorem. The mean CPK levels in obligate carriers showed significant familial clustering. This may have implications in carrier detection.

Clinical Enzyme Tests↗
PubMed1977

Cervico-mediastinal thymic cyst with vocal cord paralysis.

An unusual case of congenital cervico-mediastinal thymic cyst with vocal cord paralysis is presented together with a brief history and classification of these cysts. A discussion of thymic cyst symptomatology and the surgical approach to these lesions is included. Simple thymic cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervico-mediastinal masses, particularly in children and young adults.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Single-subject design and interaction analysis in the behavioral treatment of a child with a feeding problem.

A research paradigm, including an AB1AB2 single-subject design was developed and used in conjunction with an adult-child interaction analysis methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of a behavioral treatment approach to a feeding problem in a 2 1/2-year-old male. The results indicate that after nine treatment sessions, the child's diet was appropriate and the undesirable mother-child interaction pattern was changed. In addition, the interaction analysis methodology was used to evaluate the therapist's behavior modification techniques so that these could be taught to the mother. This study continued the previous endeavors to delineate feeding problems in children and subsequently to treat these problems with a behavioral approach. This kind of systematic research, with functional analysis of presenting problems and specification of the therapist's treatment behavior, is offered as a clinically appropriate paradigm for psychotherapy and behavior modification research.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1977

Variation in chromatin structure in two cell types from the same tissue: a short DNA repeat length in cerebral cortex neurons.

We have used micrococcal nuclease as a probe of the repeating structure of chromatin in four nuclear populations from three tissues of the rabbit. Neuronal nuclei isolated from the cerebral cortex contain about 160 base pairs of DNA in the chromatin repeat unit, as compared with about 200 base pairs for nonastrocytic glial cell nuclei from the same tissue, neuronal nuclei from the cerebellum and liver nuclei. All four types of nuclei show the same features of nucleosomal organization as other eucaryotic nuclei so far studied: nucleosomes liberated by digestion with micrococcal nuclease give a "core particle" containing 140 base pairs as a metastable intermediate on further digestion and a series of single-strand DNA fragments which are mutiples of 10 bases after digestion with DNAase I. Nuclei from cerebral cortex neurons, which have a short repeat, are distinct from the others in being larger, in having a higher proportion of euchromatin (dispersed chromatin) as judged by microscopy and in being more active in RNA synthesis in vitro.

Animals↗