Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R S Wilson.
A simple teaching pointer has been devised for use with the indirect ophthalmoscope. A bristle is attached to a thimble that is placed on the thumb of the hand not holding the indirect lens. It can be used with or without scleral depression to define specific retinal lesions.
The configuration of the halogen on the C-ring of several alpha- and beta-halomorphides was determined by NMR. The analgesic potencies of these halomorphides and their interactions with narcotic receptors in a rat brain homogenate were measured, as was the toxicity of the alpha- and beta-chloromorphides. The halomorphides were examined as possible irreversible binders to the narcotic receptor.
Questionnaires rating twins' physical similarity and similarity of dress were obtained from the parents of 121 identical and 70 same-sex fraternal twin pairs. Within-pair difference scores on several behavioral measures (two intelligence tests, two perceptual tests, one reading test, one test of speech articulation, and one personality inventory) were correlated with the twins' scores for physical similarity and similarity of dress. The correlations revealed no systematic relation between the similarity of appearance and the similarity of behaviors for either the identical twin pairs or the same-sex fraternal twin pairs. The assumption that twins' behaviors are more alike because they are more similar in appearance does not seem warranted.
A reappraisal is made of Nichols and Broman's conclusion that there is no evidence that genetic influences are important in infant mental development if severely retarded twins are excluded from the sample. The reappraisal touches on certain idiosyncrasies of their sample, the test scores reported, and their definition of severe retardation. Data are presented for a sample of White twins who have been followed longitudinally since birth. For Bayley Mental Scale scores at 9 months of age, the monozygotic within-pair correlation was 0.85 and the dizygotic within-pair correlation was 0.62. With 13 retarded twins excluded, the correlations became 0.81 and 0.64, respectively, with the monozygotic correlation still being significantly larger (p less than 0.01). The present results indicate that genetic factors play a role in infant mental development.
A 25-year-old white woman underwent iridocyclectomy for an iris tumor. Clinically, histologically, and ultrastructurally this tumor was the same as a recently reported tapioca melanoma of the iris. During the next four months, there were recurrent growths on the ciliary body that we treated with the argon laser through a three-mirror lens. No further recurrences of the tumor were noted three years later.
In a statistical sense, the objective of twin research is to partition the variance on some criterion measure among genetic and environmental factors. Although certain elaborate models have been developed, these models do not supply a convenient test statistic to show which factors make a significant contribution. Consequently several procedures drawn from analysis of variance have been adapted for use with twin data.
(-)-3-Isothujone and (+)-3-thujone were examined for antinociceptive activity using the hot-plate and Nilsen tests. In the hot plate test (-)-3-isothujone (ED50 = 6.5 mg/kg) was found to be codeine-like and equipotent with (-)-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol while the racemic material was essentially half as potent as the levoratatory isomer. (+)-3-Thujone was inactive in both antinociceptive tests as were several structural analogues of the 3-thujones. As with the THC's less antinociceptive activity was observed in the Nilsen test than in the hot-plate assay. Acute toxicities for the 3-thujones were determined and vastly improved synthetic procedures have been developed for two long-known but difficulty accessible 3-thujanols.
The racemic mixture and levo isomer of both 9-nor-9alpha-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol and its 9beta-hydroxy isomer were prepared. Both alpha-and beta-hydroxy compounds were active in the dog ataxia test and depressed spontaneous activity in mice. However, only the beta-hydroxy compound was an analgesic in mice morphine-like potency. The behavioral and analgesic properties of these compounds may be mediated through different sites or mechanisms and may, therefore, be separable.
Summary scores for behaviors rated on Bayley's Infant Behavior Record were obtained by summing sequential ratings for same-sex twins participating in a longitudinal study. The first year scores were based on visits made at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, by 55 identical and 27 fraternal pairs; the second year scores were based on visits at 18, 24, and 30 months, by 47 identical and 27 fraternal pairs. During the first year, within-pair correlations for almost all behaviors were stronger for identical than for fraternal pairs; in the second year, within-pair correlations for identical twins were similar to those of fraternal twins except for the more cognitive behaviors. Composite scores were calculated for two behavioral clusters--one composed of behaviors related to Primary Cognition, and the other composed of behaviors related to Extraversion. Within-pair correlations were higher for identical than for fraternal twins in both the first and second years, indicating stronger and more consistent genetic influences on the more cognitive behaviors.
Heights and weights were analysed for 636 twins who had been repeatedly measured from birth to 4 years. MZ twins were less concordant for birth weight than DZ twins, principally as a result of a few MZ pairs who exhibited very large differences. By one year of age, however, MZ twins had become more concordant for weight (Rmz = 0-87) while DZ twins moved further apart (Rdz = 0-55). For height, at birth, the MZ correlation was 0-58 while the DZ correlation was 0-82, but by 2 years, the MZ correlation reached 0-89 and the DZ correlation regressed to 0-58. The actual size differences within pairs followed a parallel course--for MZ twins, the differences became smaller following birth, whereas DZ differences became larger. The results are discussed in terms of (a) prenatal influences that differntially affect birth size within MZ pairs and DZ pairs, and (b) the rapid convergence of each twin on his genetic growth curve.
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Developmental histories of 46 children experiencing academic difficulties, all of whom had participated since birth in a longitudinal study of twins, were compared with a matched control group of twins. Genetic influences on the liability for academic difficulties are suggested, since identical pairs were more likely than fraternal pairs to be concordant both for academic difficulties and for preschool behavioral characteristics specific to the index group.
Chyluria is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis. A patient in whom it was a presenting symptom is described.
Fluorescein angioscopy with the indirect ophthalmoscope might be the preferred technique for evaluating and treating certain lesions, particularly those in the retinal periphery. Three techniques which are helpful in extending the advantages of angioscopy are described. (1) Partial fluorescence is achieved with careful adjustment of the cobalt blue filter which relates the fluorescence to retinal landmarks, ie, color angioscopy. (2) A permanent record of angioscopy in different phases can be made with tracing paper over the retinal drawing. (3) Correct localization of lesions to be coagulated is achieved with blue filters over the coagulator beam following fluorescein injection. The filter is removed during coagulation.
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A series of clinically suspected malignant melanomas was used to test the usefulness of 67Gallium citrate using external counting techniques. The comparison was made with angiograms, 32P uptake, and clinical examinations. 67Gallium citrate uptkae proved to be an unreliable diagnostic tool with the described techniques. However, sufficient tissue concentration was obtained tin the tumor to suggest that improved probe counting systems with better resolution of ocular from extraocular tissue may allow this to become a useful technique in differentiating tumor from nontumor ocular pathology. A good indirect and direct ophthalmoscopic examination, along with periodic observation, were the most useful techniques for diagnosis in these cases. 32P uptake was extremely reliable (100%) and quite helpful in assuring the proper diagnosis.