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Biomedical subjects

R Murray

Publications and source records attributed to R Murray.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Intentional ipecac poisoning in children.

Ipecac (emetine) is a safe emetic for emergency home use. Its ready availability also provides the potential for child abuse and chronic self-induced emesis. The chronic administration of Ipecac can result in unusual symptom complexes such as chronic diarrhea and vomiting, muscle weakness, colitis, cardiomyopathy, fever, edema, or electrolyte disturbances. We describe patients who were intentionally poisoned and who demonstrated these symptoms. Because of the widespread use of ipecac for therapy in acute accidental poisonings, toxicology laboratories may not look for or report the presence of this drug in their routine screens. This may delay the recognition of chronic ipecac poisoning in patients.

Child Abuse↗
PubMed1988

Saturation mutagenesis of a major histocompatibility complex protein domain: identification of a single conserved amino acid important for allorecognition.

The interactive association between T lymphocytes and their target cells is an important system of cell-cell interactions. Major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are the cell surface structures recognized by cytolytic T lymphocytes. To define the molecular structures recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, we have saturated the 270-base-pair alpha 1 exon of the H-2Dp gene with point mutations, rapidly producing a "library" of 2.5 x 10(3) independent mutants. The library contains enough recombinant clones (each clone encoding approximately one amino acid replacement mutation) to predict a mutation at each nucleotide position of the alpha 1 exon. The functional analysis of the first five transfected gene products tested has shown that mutation of a conserved tyrosine at position 27 to asparagine destroys recognition of the H-2Dp gene product by polyclonal alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Recognition of the same mutant molecule by three monoclonal antibodies and H-2-restricted lymphocytic choriomenengitis virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes is unaffected.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Serum cortisol radioimmunoassay values in the normal ferret and response to ACTH stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests.

Cortisol values were obtained from 39 ferrets, Mustela putorius furo, by using a commercial radioimmunoassay. Sera from 25 males (18 intact, 7 neutered) and 14 females (7 intact, 7 spayed) were assayed. Resting serum cortisol values ranged from 0.13 to 2.70 micrograms/dl for males (mean = 0.93 +/- 0.63 micrograms/dl), and 0.55 to 1.84 micrograms/dl for females (mean = 0.86 +/- 0.29 microgram/dl). The resting cortisol values of both males and females were comparable to those of the cat (1.0 to 3.0 micrograms/dl). A 7 year old male ferret with suspected hyperadrenocorticism and an adrenal mass had a cortisol level of 8.1 micrograms/dl. Adrenal cortical carcinoma was the histologic diagnosis. One adult female ferret had a cortisol level of 3.30 micrograms/dl. This animal also had proliferative colitis upon necropsy. An ACTH stimulation test (1 U/kg IM) and a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (0.1 mg/kg) were performed on 10 ferrets. Post-ACTH serum cortisol levels increased by an average of 89%. Post-dexamethasone serum cortisol values decreased by an average of 18% 6 hours post-injection.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

Serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine radioimmunoassay values in the normal ferret.

The European ferret, Mustela putorius furo, has become increasingly popular as an animal model in biomedical research. However, certain important normal clinical data have not been established for the ferret. In this study, serum thyroxine (T4) and 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) values were obtained from ferrets by the use of commercial radioimmunoassays. Sera from 44 animals, 31 males (27 intact and 4 castrated) and 13 females (10 intact and 3 spayed) were assayed. Serum T4 values ranged from 1.01-8.29 micrograms/dl for males (mean = 3.24 +/- 1.65 micrograms/dl), and 0.71-3.43 micrograms/dl for females (mean = 1.87 +/- 0.79 micrograms/dl). Serum T4 values of adult female ferrets, juvenile ferrets (less than 1 year old) of either sex, and castrated males were similar to the normal T4 values of the cat, 1.20-3.80 micrograms/dl. Intact adult male ferrets had higher serum T4 values which were more comparable to those of the normal dog 1.52-3.60 micrograms/dl. Serum T3 values ranged from 0.45-0.78 ng/ml for males (mean = 0.58 +/- 0.09 ng/ml), and 0.29-0.73 ng/ml for females (mean = 0.53 +/- 0.13 ng/ml). These values are comparable to those of dogs and cats which are 0.50-1.50 ng/ml.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Detection of varicella-zoster virus nucleic acid in neurons of normal human thoracic ganglia.

Tissue sections from four normal human thoracic ganglia were hybridized in situ with a varicella-zoster virus-RNA probe. Varicella-zoster virus was detected in two of four ganglia, localized exclusively in neurons. The detection of latent varicella-zoster virus genetic material in thoracic ganglia provides further evidence of varicella-zoster virus latency at multiple levels of the human neuraxis and supports the notion that the neuron is the primary site of herpesvirus latency.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1987

Familial aspects of obsessive-compulsive neurosis.

The first-degree relatives of 50 obsessive-compulsive patients and those of matched controls completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Leyton Obsessional Inventory (LOI). Relatives who were identified as possible 'cases' by their high GHQ scores, or by their own or informant relatives' reports, were interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Index relatives had a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of mental illness (36%) than had those of controls (17%), due mainly to an excess of depressive and neurotic disorders. However, only one relative from each group was diagnosed as having definite obsessive-compulsive neurosis. In addition, the LOI scores were similar for the index and control relatives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Thromboxane biosynthesis and antagonism in humans.

Despite the evanescence of TXA2 in biological fluids, recent developments promise to considerably enhance our insight into the role of this molecule in vivo. Clinical trials already suggest that it plays an important role in certain human diseases, such as unstable angina. Combined administration of TX antagonists and TX synthase inhibitors offers a theoretical advantage over aspirin which may ultimately justify their place in the therapy of vascular disease in humans.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1987

The effect of fluid and carbohydrate feedings during intermittent cycling exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ingesting water or carbohydrates solutions on physiologic function and performance during 1.6 h of intermittent cycling exercise in the heat (dry bulb temperature = 33 degrees C). Thirteen male subjects (24 to 35 yr) completed four separate rides. Each ride consisted of intermittent steady-state cycling (at 55 and 65% VO2max) interspersed with five rest periods. A timed 480 revolution cycling task completed each experimental session. During each rest period, subjects consumed 2 ml.kg-1 body weight of water placebo or solutions of 5% glucose polymer, 6% sucrose/glucose, or 7% glucose polymer/fructose. Beverages were administered in double-blind, counter-balanced order. No differences were observed among subjects in response to beverage treatments for changes in plasma concentrations of total proteins, sodium, potassium, lactate, or in osmolality, percent change in plasma volume, heart rate, oxygen uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, rating of perceived exertion, sweat rate, rectal temperature, or mean skin temperature. Compared to water placebo, the carbohydrate treatments produced higher plasma glucose values following 1 h cycling (P less than 0.01). Mean (SD) times for the 480 revolution cycling task: water placebo = 432 (43) s; glucose polymer = 401 (52) s; *sucrose/glucose = 384 (39) s; and *glucose polymer/fructose = 375 (30) s, where = P less than 0.001 compared to water placebo. Physiologic function was similarly maintained during exercise by all beverage treatments, while ingestion of sucrose/glucose and glucose polymer/fructose resulted in improved end-exercise cycling performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The nucleotide sequence and comparative analysis of the H-2Dp class I H-2 gene.

We present the complete nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the H-2Dp class I gene. This gene, which was cloned from a B10.P genomic DNA library, encodes and intact, functional H-2Dp molecule. Comparative analysis of the Dp sequence with other class I sequences reveals both similarities and differences. This analysis also shows that these genes exhibit D region-specific, locus-specific, as well as allele-specific sequences. The H-2Dp nucleotide sequence is greater than 90% homologous to the H-2Ld and H-2Db genes and only approximately 85% homologous to the H-2Dd gene. The K region and Qa region genes are less homologous. The 3' noncoding sequences appear to be region-specific. All of the previously described D region genes, Db, Ld, and Dd, possess the B2-SINE Alu-like repetitive sequence, as does Dp. Thus, this B2 repeat is a region-specific marker present in all D region genes studied so far. The additional polyadenylation site found in the H-2Dp gene starting at nucleotide 4671, which is homologous to non-D region sequences, as well as unique protein Dp coding sequences, make this gene an interesting model for studying the evolution of polymorphism and structure/function relationships in the class I gene family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

The superficial protein arrays on bacteria.

In nature, many bacteria possess a surface layer of regularly-structured protein subunits which is probably essential for survival in many ecological niches. These paracrystalline layers perform a variety of functions among the diverse groups of bacteria in which these superficial arrays have been detected.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1985

Treatment of advanced prostatic cancer, resistant to conventional therapy, with aminoglutethimide.

Fifty-eight patients with advanced, progressing prostatic cancer resistant to conventional therapy have been assessed for their response to treatment with aminoglutethimide (A/G). Eleven men (19%) had objective regression of their disease while in a further eight (14%) progression of the disease was arrested. Median survival in the objective remitters (15 months) and in the group in whom stabilization of disease occurred (9.3 months) was significantly longer than in the non-remitting patients (4.7 months). The drug was well tolerated and no serious side-effects occurred. A/G appears to be a useful treatment in patients with advanced prostatic cancer resistant to conventional therapy.

Aged↗