Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Wood

Publications and source records attributed to S Wood.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Maternal directive behavior revisited.

A comparative analysis of the directives produced by mothers while interacting with young children with Down syndrome and normally developing children was conducted. The results not only replicated previous findings of increased rates of directives by mothers of children with down syndrome but also identified several qualitative differences in the types of directives produced. Mothers of mentally retarded children produced a high number of requests for their children to perform actions, requested actions that were relatively difficult, and asked their children to attend to information that was not directly related to children's current focus of attention. Results suggest that group differences in maternal directive behavior cannot be explained on the basis of children's behavior but appear to reflect differences in maternal interactive intentions.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

X-ray analysis of HIV-1 proteinase at 2.7 A resolution confirms structural homology among retroviral enzymes.

Knowledge of the tertiary structure of the proteinase from human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 is important to the design of inhibitors that might possess antiviral activity and thus be useful in the treatment of AIDS. The conserved Asp-Thr/Ser-Gly sequence in retroviral proteinases suggests that they exist as dimers similar to the ancestor proposed for the pepsins. Although this has been confirmed by X-ray analyses of Rous sarcoma virus and HIV-1 proteinases, these structures have overall folds that are similar to each other only where they are also similar to the pepsins. We now report a further X-ray analysis of a recombinant HIV-1 proteinase at 2.7 A resolution. The polypeptide chain adopts a fold in which the N- and C-terminal strands are organized together in a four-stranded beta-sheet. A helix precedes the single C-terminal strand, as in the Rous sarcoma virus proteinase and also in a synthetic HIV-1 proteinase, in which the cysteines have been replaced by alpha-aminobuytric acid. The structure reported here provides an explanation for the amino acid invariance amongst retroviral proteinases, but differs from that reported earlier in some residues that are candidates for substrate interactions at P3, and in the mode of intramolecular cleavage during processing of the polyprotein.

Crystallography↗
PubMed1989

Anticipating hayfever.

An anticipatory approach to hayfever, using available data on the timing of peak pollen levels, could help GPs deal with the seasonal increase in workload caused by this allergic disease. A stepwise approach to treatment is also suggested.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1989

The immunosuppressive effects of the in vivo administration of endotoxin as influenced by macrophages.

It is well documented that endotoxin can have immunosuppressive effects on lymphocytes and induce the production and secretion of monokines which act on the lymphocytes. To delineate the interaction between macrophages and lymphocytes more clearly, 0.15 mg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (E. coli 0111:B4) was injected into Hartley guinea pigs intraperitoneally twice a day for 7 days (saline for control group). Seven days after the last injection, spleens were taken and lymphocyte proliferation was determined in the presence and absence of macrophages. When macrophages were present, there was a significant suppression of lymphocyte proliferation when PHA and PWM were used as mitogens. There was no suppression of proliferation when the macrophages were removed. Splenic macrophages were also cultured in the presence and absence of LPS and their supernatants analyzed for PGE2 and TXB2. There was no significant difference between the endotoxin and control groups for PGE2 or TXB2 production in the presence and absence of LPS. However, the endotoxin group had significant decreases in serum levels of C3 postinjection of endotoxin which could indicate C3 degradation by LPS. Taken together these results give further evidence that macrophage products in addition to PGE2 can inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. C3 degradation products could possibly stimulate macrophages to produce inhibitors of lymphocyte proliferation or induce suppressor cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

A grandpaternally derived de novo deletion within Xp21 initially presenting in carrier females diagnosed as Kugelberg-Welander syndrome.

We report on two sisters with a history of muscle weakness and an electromyogram (EMG) diagnosis of Kugelberg-Welander syndrome (KWS) or juvenile spinal muscular atrophy. A half-brother to these women was diagnosed to have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Using molecular probes, we identified a deletion within Xp21 in this isolated case of DMD. Sequences detected by pXJ1.1 are deleted, while fragments detected by pERT87 are intact. Both of these probes are derived from the DMD locus. We have shown that the affected sisters share with their half-brother DNA markers that are linked to the DMD gene and inherited from their maternal grandfather. Dosage analysis of Southern blots show monosomy for pXJ1.1, which has allowed us to determine carrier status within this family and to show that the half-sisters are manifesting DMD carriers.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1988

Interstitial 7q deletion [46,XX,del(7)(pter----q21.1::q22----qter)] and the location of genes for beta-glucuronidase and cystic fibrosis.

We report on a patient with a de novo chromosome abnormality del(7)(q21.1q22). The cells of this patient were used to determine the assignment of the gene for the enzyme beta-glucuronidase and the DNA probes around the cystic fibrosis gene--pJ3.11 and metH. Both the beta-glucuronidase gene and the DNA probes pJ3.11 and metH were found in 2 copies in our patient, indicating that neither locus lies in the deleted segment.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1988

Germinal mosaicism in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

We have identified a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) pedigree where the disease is associated with a molecular deletion within the DMD locus. We have examined the meiotic segregation products of the common female ancestor using marker restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) detected by probes that lie within this deletion. These studies show that this female has transmitted three distinct types of X chromosome to her offspring. This observation may be explained by postulating that the mutation arose as a postzygotic deletion within this common ancestor, who was consequently germinally mosaic.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1988

Randomized trial of artificial surfactant (ALEC) given at birth to babies from 23 to 34 weeks gestation.

Artificial surfactant (ALEC) composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and unsaturated phosphatidylglycerol in a ratio of 7:3 (w/w) and a dose of 50-100 mg was suspended in 1 ml of cold saline and used at birth as a prophylaxis against the respiratory distress syndrome and its complications in a two centre randomized prospective trial involving 341 babies from 23 to 34 weeks gestation regardless of their antenatal problems. The surfactant had little effect in babies above 29 weeks gestation and was most beneficial in babies under 30 weeks gestation (67 controls and 69 surfactant treated babies). In this subgroup the artificial surfactant significantly reduced the inspired oxygen and peak ventilator pressure requirements during the first 96 h, the incidence of intraventricular haemorrhages from 40% to 19% (P less than 0.01), the overall mortality from 36% to 17% (P less than 0.02), the mortality due to RDS from 31% to 9% (P less than 0.01), the need for more than 28 days oxygen from 37% to 21% (P = 0.05) and the use of pancuronium in ventilated babies from 52% to 27% (P less than 0.01). There were no apparent side effects. This protein free, artificial surfactant should be a useful addition to the therapy of babies under 30 weeks gestation to reduce the severity of their RDS and the incidence of serious complications.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗
PubMed1988

Human chromosome 8.

The role of human chromosome 8 in genetic disease together with the current status of the genetic linkage map for this chromosome is reviewed. Both hereditary genetic disease attributed to mutant alleles at gene loci on chromosome 8 and neoplastic disease owing to somatic mutation, particularly chromosomal translocations, are discussed.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8↗
PubMed1988

An analgesiometry system for use in rabbits with some preliminary data on the effects of buprenorphine and lofentanil.

A low cost infrared skin heating system has been designed to measure the efficacy of analgesics in rabbits. Following construction of a prototype, it was used to assess the effect of buprenorphine given subcutaneously and per rectum. Buprenorphine administered subcutaneously has a rapid onset of action, but its duration (8-10 h) appears slightly shorter than has been suggested previously; rectal administration appears to prolong its effect. Preliminary data show that lofentanil has a longer duration of action than buprenorphine and it may prove, therefore, to be a valuable long-acting analgesic in the rabbit.

Analgesia↗