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Biomedical subjects

S Butler

Publications and source records attributed to S Butler.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Modern evolution of a single-copy gene: the immunoglobulin C kappa locus in wild mice.

The immunoglobulin kappa light-chain constant region gene (C kappa) has been cloned and sequenced from five wild mouse species. Analysis of these data has permitted an assessment of single-copy gene evolution during a limited time period as defined by the genus Mus. Sequence conservation was found to be as high (or higher) in the 5' and enhancer regions as in the coding region. The pattern of substitutions throughout these genes suggests that parallel evolution has occurred frequently and that substitutions at replacement sites have not decreased significantly, owing to saturation during this period of approximately 10 Myr. Phylogenetic relationships have been determined among these wild species as well as among members of the genus Rattus.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Linoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids in adipose tissue and platelets and risk of coronary heart disease.

The relation between the fatty-acid composition of adipose tissue and platelet membranes and the estimated relative risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined in a case-control study of new angina pectoris (AP) and first acute myocardial infarction (AMI). There were progressive inverse relations between adipose linoleic acid and platelet-membrane eicosapentaenoic acid and the estimated relative risk of AP. These relations were statistically independent of each other and traditional CHD risk factors. For AMI there was a progressive inverse relation between adipose linoleic acid and the estimated relative risk, but it was confounded by smoking habit. Smokers consume less linoleic acid than non-smokers. Although eicosapentaenoic acid in platelet membranes was lower in AMI patients than in controls, this difference was not significant. The estimated proportionate increase in risk of AP, independent of other CHD risk factors, was 1.2 (1.1-1.3) for a 1% decrease in linoleic acid or a 0.1% decrease in eicosapentaenoic acid.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1987

Possible association of mycoplasma and viral respiratory infections with bacterial meningitis.

The presence of viral infection was evaluated in 160 children older than three months with bacterial meningitis who were admitted to Children's Medical Center or Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX, between October 1979 and March 1982. Results were compared with a single serologic specimen in 138 children without meningitis. A recent history of upper respiratory infection was obtained from 60% of patients, including 10/13 with pneumococcal, 9/16 with meningococcal, and 77/131 with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis. Viral infection was documented by serologic response (23.8%) or viral isolation (13.2%) in 63/160 (40%) of patients with meningitis. There were 23 positive cultures (one patient with both adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus). Picornaviruses, including two rhinoviruses, were isolated from six of the 24 subjects without meningitis who had viral cultures. There were 69 serologic conversions in meningitis patients, with 12 patients converting to two organisms and four patients converting to three organisms. Viral diagnoses included: adenovirus, 32 children; respiratory syncytial virus, 14; influenza A, 8; influenza B, 4; parainfluenza (1, 2, and 3), 12; picornaviruses, 9; herpes simplex virus, 1; and cytomegalovirus, 1. Additionally, 6/15 seroconverted to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The acute geometric mean serum antibody titers of meningitis patients were lower than those of the comparison group for adenovirus (3.5 vs. 6.6, p less than or equal to 0.001) and influenza B (1.2 vs. 1.6, p less than or equal to 0.05). Twenty nine of 131 patients with H. influenzae had evidence of recent adenovirus infection. Primary infection with adenoviruses and possibly influenza B or mycoplasma precedes development of bacterial meningitis in some patients and may be a predisposing factor.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1986

Linoleic acid content in adipose tissue and coronary heart disease.

The possibility of an inverse relation between essential fatty acids in adipose tissue, in particular linoleic acid, and mortality from coronary heart disease was studied by a cross sectional survey of random population samples of apparently healthy men aged 40-49 from four European regions with differing mortality from coronary heart disease. The proportion of linoleic acid in adipose tissue was lowest in men from north Karelia, Finland, where mortality from coronary heart disease is highest, and highest in men from Italy, where mortality is lowest, with intermediate proportions in men from Scotland and south west Finland. Similar gradients were observed for the desaturation and elongation products dihomo-gamma-linolenic and arachidonic acid. The proportion of saturated fatty acids in adipose tissue was highest in Finland, intermediate in Scotland, and lowest in Italy. Italian men also had the highest proportion of oleate in their adipose tissue and the lowest proportion of myristoleate and palmitoleate. Finnish men were more obese and had a higher blood pressure. Serum cholesterol concentration was higher in north Karelia and south west Finland than in Scotland or Italy. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations reflected the regional differences in serum cholesterol, being higher in Finland and lower in Italy. The ratios of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol, however, did not differ. The regional differences in linoleic acid in adipose tissue remained highly significant when the observed differences in other known risk factors for coronary heart disease among the four areas were taken into account by multivariate analysis. The gradients in proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids probably reflect differences in dietary intake of linoleic acid.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1986

P NMR evaluation of hypoxic stress in brain of animal models.

Quantification by NMR of hypoxic stress is best afforded by the ratio of phosphocreatine (PCr) to inorganic phosphate (Pi). The thin cranium and sternum of neonates affords ideal conditions for NMR evaluation of impaired oxidative metabolism. Brains of animal models (dog and cat) are best studied with muscles retracted with the rf coil placed on the bare skull. 31P and 1H (lactate) signals are time shared with a doubly tuned coil. Servo-stabilized hypoxia gives simplified steady state analysis. Hypoxic insults of the brain are evaluated by the integral of the deviation of the PCr/Pi ratio from the normoxic values. Generally, a deviation of 1 unit of PCr/Pi for an interval of 3 hr will lead to a severe metabolic damage and recovery from hypoxia is often 30-fold delayed. Comprehensive monitoring of energy metabolism (PCr/Pi), respiratory chain redox states, intracellular pH and lactate accumulation allow the calculation of integrated pH and lactate "insults" and thus offer new insights on the effects of hypoxia on brain oxidative metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Adipose tissue and platelet fatty acids and coronary heart disease in Scottish men.

The relation between coronary heart disease (CHD) and fatty acid composition of adipose tissue and platelets was examined in a random sample of 448 middle-aged Scottish men. The linoleic acid (18:2n6) content in adipose tissue of 28 men with previously unidentified CHD was significantly lower than that in the rest of the group. Platelet linoleic and other fatty acids were not significantly different in men with new CHD. Fatty acid content of adipose tissue reflects long-term dietary intake, and a 7-day weighed dietary record in a random sub-sample of 164 men confirmed that intake of linoleic acid in 10 of the 28 new CHD cases was significantly lower than in the healthy men. In a multiple logistic analysis adipose tissue linoleic acid, age, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and weight/height index each made an independent contribution to the explanation of new CHD. When all fatty acids were included in a second regression analysis, low concentrations of dihomo-gamma-linolenic (20:3n6) acid in adipose tissue showed a more significant relation with new CHD than did linoleic acid.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1984

Antidepressants in concomitant chronic back pain and depression: doxepin and desipramine compared.

Doxepin and desipramine at final doses of 188 and 173 mg/day, respectively, were compared in 36 volunteers with major affective or dysthymic disorder and chronic back pain. Both drugs produced significant decreases in depression, with an overall response rate of 70%; no significant difference was seen between groups. Pain ratings also decreased significantly in both groups (overall response rate = 50%); pain severity showed a better response to doxepin than to desipramine. While baseline pain, depression, and anxiety were correlated, treatment changes in these measures did not correlate. CSF beta-endorphin levels did not change with treatment. The usefulness of an antidepressant with anxiolytic properties, such as doxepin, is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Acetylation of sulphanilamide in four marsupials and a monotreme.

1. The urinary metabolites of sulphanilamide (100 mg/kg, i.p.) have been studied in four marsupials (the Tasmanian devil, brushtail possum, pademelon and barred bandicoot), a monotreme (the echidna) and a eutherian (the rat). 2. All species excreted some unchanged sulphanilamide (20-30% of dose in 24 h). The major urinary metabolite in the devil, possum and pademelon was N4-acetylsulphanilamide (6-17%). This was less than that excreted by the rat (40%). These three marsupials and the rat also excreted small amounts of N1-acetyl and N1, N4-diacetylsulphanilamide. 3. The bandicoot and echidna were virtually unable to acetylate sulphanilamide, unlike the 16 other species of animals and birds in which this has been studied. The reason for this metabolic defect is unknown.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1983

Disease due to cytomegalovirus and its long-term consequences in renal transplant recipients. Correlation of allograft survival with disease due to cytomegalovirus and rubella antibody level.

We prospectively studied 52 consecutive renal allograft recipients who retained their grafts at least three months. The transplant recipients were observed for five years or longer. Disease due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) occurred in nine (17.3%). Manifestations of disease due to CMV that were significantly more common than in chronologically matched controls in comparable periods after transplantation included fever, leukopenia, hepatic function abnormalities, pneumonia, and renal dysfunction. Life-table analyses suggested a trend of decreased allograft survival with disease due to CMV, but the difference between controls was not statistically significant. A significant inverse correlation were noted between the level of hemagglutination inhibition antibody to rubella virus reached after transplantation and allograft survival. This correlation remained statistically significant even when patients with disease due to CMV were excluded from the analysis.

Actuarial Analysis↗