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Biomedical subjects

S J Morgan

Publications and source records attributed to S J Morgan.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Histology and morphometry of Strongylus vulgaris-mediated equine mesenteric arteritis.

Histological and morphometric evaluation of equine cranial mesenteric arteries was performed on 239 and 89 arteries, respectively. Histological examination revealed that thrombosis and the severity of inflammation varied on a seasonal basis and were directly associated with larval presence. Intimal and adventitial fibrosis were generally of greater severity than medial fibrosis. Fibrosis of the vasa vasorum was less frequent than fibrosis of the artery itself. Morphometry revealed a significant increase in intimal, adventitial and, to a lesser extent, medial area in affected as compared with normal arteries. This change was due to the accumulation of collagen and was considered to result in decreased arterial elasticity. The luminal area varied widely among affected arteries.

Animals↗

Mast cell hyperplasia in atopic keratoconjunctivitis. An immunohistochemical study.

Immunohistochemical staining of conjunctival biopsies from four normal subjects and five patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) was performed, using a monoclonal antibody to human mast cell tryptase. A massive hyperplasia of mast cells in the patients with AKC was demonstrated. The mean mast cell density in the normal patients was 55.6/mm2 and in the patients with AKC, 172/mm2. The appearance of large numbers of mast cells in the conjunctival epithelium of AKC patients was also demonstrated. The possible pathophysiological significance of these findings is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Purification and characterization of bovine brain type I phosphatidylinositol kinase.

Investigation into the phosphatidylinositol kinase activities in bovine brain has revealed the presence of a type I PtdIns kinase activity. This classification is based upon potent inhibition by neutral detergent and the production of a phosphatidylinositol phosphate that can be distinguished from phosphatidyl-inositol-4-phosphate [PtdIns(4)P] by thin-layer chromatography. The enzyme has been substantially purified and the activity is associated with an 85-kDa polypeptide on SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Analysis of the product confirms the identification of the enzyme as a type I PtdIns kinase. The purified kinase has been characterized with respect to substrate dependence (Mg2+, ATP, PtdIns), substrate presentation (pure lipid versus mixed micelle) and specificity [PtdIns versus PtdIns(4)P and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate].

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗

The ultrastructure of Strongylus vulgaris-mediated equine chronic mesenteric arteritis.

Cells found in the intima and media of the cranial mesenteric artery of a mature mare with chronic arteritis were identified as smooth muscle cells and occurred in association with collagen and elastin fibres. As no fibroblasts were demonstrable within these regions, the smooth muscle cells were the likely source of the extracellular matrix. In contrast, the abnormal adventitis from the same artery contained abundant fibroblasts which are considered to be the source of the adventitial collagen.

Animals↗

A case of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. II: The sterol content of a cataractous lens.

The cholestanol content of a cataractous lens nucleus from a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) was quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and found to be 0.27 micrograms per mg freeze-dried lens tissue. The cholestanol-cholesterol ratio of 1.7% in the lens nucleus was similar to that in the serum of the CTX patient. The cholestanol content and cholestanol-cholesterol ratio in the CTX lens were approximately four-fold and six-fold greater respectively than the mean levels found in three senile cataractous lens nuclei analysed simultaneously for comparative purposes.

Adult↗

Preliminary investigations on the effects of a Strongylus vulgaris larval extract, mononuclear factors and platelet factors on equine smooth muscle cells in vitro.

Factors involved in the proliferation of equine vascular smooth muscle cells were studied in vitro. The most prominent proliferative responses in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells were induced by Strongylus vulgaris larval antigen extract (LAE) and platelet-derived factors. Less significant proliferative responses were obtained with conditioned media from S. vulgaris LAE stimulated and from unstimulated equine mononuclear leukocytes. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to S. vulgaris LAE developed numerous perinuclear vacuoles and were more spindle-shaped than control or smooth muscle cells exposed to other factors. Equine mononuclear leukocytes exposed to LAE developed prominent morphological changes, including enlargement, clumping and increased numbers of mitotic figures.

Animals↗

Osteoma of paranasal sinuses of a horse.

A 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was examined for torticollis, facial protuberances over the frontal and maxillary sinuses, and persistent nasal discharge unresponsive to antibiotics. Radiograph revealed an osseous mass in the right paranasal sinuses. Histologic examination of the biopsied mass led to a diagnosis of osteoma. The mass was removed surgically in sections from the right frontal and maxillary sinuses through separate bone flaps, and sinuses were irrigated with saline solution for 8 days after surgery. Two weeks after surgery, radiography revealed small osseous opacities in the right paranasal sinuses. These opacities remained unchanged in radiographs obtained up to 23 months after surgery.

Animals↗

Epidermal growth factor-mediated effects on equine vascular smooth muscle cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding kinetics and EGF-mediated stimulation of DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation were studied in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from the equine thoracic aorta. Binding studies, using murine 125I-labeled EGF, indicate the presence of a single class of high-affinity binding sites (apparent KD = 2.8 X 10(-11) M), with an estimated maximal binding capacity of 5,800 sites/cell. EGF stimulated [3H]thymidine uptake in confluent quiescent monolayers in a dose-dependent fashion, half-maximal stimulation occurring at 7.5 X 10(-11) M. Likewise, EGF-mediated cellular proliferation was dose dependent (50% effective dose = 5 X 10(-11) M) under reduced serum concentrations. Equine VSMC contain specific receptors for EGF, and EGF can stimulate DNA synthesis and proliferation in these cultured cells, which suggests that EGF may participate in the proliferative changes observed in equine distal digital peripheral vascular disease.

Animals↗

Chemical burns of the eye: causes and management.

For the 14 months 1 January 1985 to 28 February 1986 all cases of chemical eye injury presenting to the Croydon Eye Unit were analysed. Of the 180 cases 19 were caused by assaults and 14 were admitted for treatment. The wide range of injurious substances is emphasised, and the circumstances of injury are listed. A discussion of the management of chemical eye injury is included.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Antibody response to experimental Trypanosoma rangeli infection and its implications for immunodiagnosis of South American trypanosomiasis.

Differential immunodiagnosis of T. rangeli and T. cruzi infections in man poses a particular problem, not only because these parasites share antigenic determinants, as detected by immunofluorescence, but also because they have a similar geographical distribution, the same host range and often identical insect vectors. We show here that whereas mouse anti-T. rangeli sera have significant cross reactivity with T. cruzi by immunofluorescence, they are entirely specific when tested by ELISA, using apparently similar antigen preparations. Immunoprecipitation analysis detected relatively little cross-reactivity between heterologous antisera and parasite combinations. Intriguingly, immunization with T. rangeli epimastigotes was much more powerful than similar immunization with trypomastigotes, and the majority of the antibody was directed against a single polypeptide of apparent Mr 73kDa.

Animals↗

Healing of surgically created defects in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon: collagen-type transformation and tissue morphologic reorganization.

Full-thickness defects were surgically created in the superficial digital flexor tendons of the front limbs of 20 horses. Tissues formed within the defect were evaluated histologically, and the collagen composition of the tissue was determined by immunofluorescence. Transformation occurred from loose fibrillar areas of types I and III collagen and pericellular types IV and V collagen to dense bundles of type I collagen fibers. Loose fibrillar areas of types I and III collagen were present after 24 weeks. Histologically, in horses killed after 2 weeks, the tissue within the defect was a randomly oriented mass of fibrovascular tissue. In horses killed after 24 weeks the tissue within the defect resembled normal tendon tissue.

Animals↗

Healing of surgically created defects in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon: effects of pulsing electromagnetic field therapy on collagen-type transformation and tissue morphologic reorganization.

The effect of pulsing electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on the healing of surgically created defects in equine superficial digital flexor tendons was evaluated. Defects were created in both front superficial digital flexor tendons of 20 horses. The defect in 1 limb was exposed to a PEMF for 2 hours daily. The other limb served as a control. Histologic and immunofluorescent evaluations were done in horse killed at postsurgical weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24. Therapy with the PEMF significantly (P less than 0.05) delayed the maturation of the tissue formed within the defect at postsurgical weeks 8 and 12, as determined by histologic examination. The collagen-type transformation was also delayed by the PEMF therapy, but to a degree that was not significant.

Animals↗

Trypanosoma cruzi: continuous cultivation with murine cell lines.

Y strain parasites (Wellcome stock) were cloned as epimastigotes by limiting dilution and one clone, Wel Tryp A2 was used to infect cell cultures and irradiated mice. The fibrosarcoma line, M4, was susceptible to infection with Wel Tryp A2 trypomastigotes but, after the first round of intracellular infection, proliferation and differentiation, failed to support parasite growth in long-term continuous culture. In contrast, a muscle-derived cell line, S2, produced regular waves of extracellular trypomastigotes and amastigotes during 80 days of continuous culture reported here. These infected S2 cultures have remained in continuous culture for up to 18 months over a 5-year period and have yielded in excess of 10(8) parasites/20 ml culture at 4-6 day intervals. Extracellular amastigotes produced in these cultures have a close morphological, immunological and biochemical analogy to intracellular parasites derived from rodents, and have maintained an absolute dependence on host cells for their growth and proliferation. These amastigotes produced low-grade chronic infections in normal CBA/T6 mice but produced acute, fatal infections with high parasitaemia in mice of the same inbred strain given 900 rad. whole-body irradiation prior to infection. Although present findings relate to a single parasite clone, the parent stock from which the clone was derived showed similar growth characteristics when co-cultured with S2 cells.

Animals↗

Phytohaemagglutinin stimulation of human lymphocytes: effect of fatty acids on uridine uptake and phosphoglyceride fatty acid profile.

1. When added to cultures of human peripheral lymphocytes, saturated (palmitate, stearate, heptadecanoate) and unsaturated (oleate, linoleate, arachidonate) fatty acids bound to albumin at an acid-albumin ratio of 2:1, inhibited the phytohaemaegglutinin-stimulated uptake of [14C]-uridine. Uridine uptake in unstimulated cells was not affected by any of these fatty acids. 2. When saturated and unsaturated acids were present simultaneously in the incubation mixture the inhibit but relieved the inhibitory effects of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. 4. Stimulated and unstimulated cells incorporated exogenous fatty acids into membrane phosphoglycerides. Details of the fatty acid profiles are given. 5. Evidence is presented that the inhibition results, at least in part, from modification of phosphoglyceride fatty acid profile.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗