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Biomedical subjects

W E Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to W E Johnson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Sex chromosome aneuploidy and Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

The inheritance of Bardet-Biedl syndrome is thought to be autosomal recessive. Of the approximately 500 case reports in the literature, three patients were found to have sex chromosome aneuploidy. The authors describe two siblings with Bardet-Biedl syndrome, one of whom has a unique sex chromosome aneuploidy with mosaicism, including deletion of the short arm of the X chromosome (45,X/46,X,del(X)(p21)). The possible significance of sex chromosome aneuploidy and the Bardet-Biedl syndrome is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The isolation of spiroplasmas from mosquitoes in Macon County, Alabama.

During the summer months of 1985, 1,298 adult mosquitoes comprising 21 species and 7 genera were collected in Macon County, Alabama. Mosquitoes were collected from four sections of the county with CO2-baited light traps. Spiroplasma cultures were isolated from two pools of 24 and 25 Aedes fulvus pallens, one pool of 22 Anopheles punctipennis and one pool of 7 Culex nigripalpus. Electron microscopic studies of the isolates revealed helical, wall-less cells.

Alabama↗
PubMed1986

Delay of nomifensine-induced seizures by fusaric acid, alpha-methyltyrosine and haloperidol.

An In Vivo model is presented to determine the effects of alpha methyl-para-tyrosine methyl ester (MPT), fusaric acid (FA), and haloperidol on nomifensine-induced seizures. All three drugs were active with haloperidol having the greatest effect on delay of onset to convulsion. The results suggest that both dopamine and norepinephrine are involved in nomifensive-induced convulsions and that administering agents known to lower both dopamine and/or norepinepherine in the rat brain delays onset but that haloperidol, which specifically blocks post-synaptic dopamine receptors, had the greatest activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

alpha-Fetoprotein: relationship between maternal serum and amniotic fluid levels.

Levels of alpha-fetoprotein were determined in 297 paired samples of maternal serum and amniotic fluid from patients with normal pregnancies at 16 to 17 completed weeks of gestation. Gestational ages were determined by menstrual history and ultrasonography, and the assays for alpha-fetoprotein were performed by a single reference laboratory. The results of the study failed to demonstrate any statistical relationship between the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein in these two fluid compartments (r = 0.006). This finding was confirmed when the results at 16 and 17 weeks were analyzed individually. These findings indicate that amniotic fluid levels of alpha-fetoprotein cannot be predicted by those levels determined in maternal serum, and that simple diffusion is an inadequate explanation for the transfer of alpha-fetoprotein from amniotic fluid to maternal serum. The lack of correlation also emphasizes that the sensitivity and specificity of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening for neural tube defects must continue to be based upon the detection rates in large population studies and the determination of "normal" values by reference laboratories.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effects of certain CNS depressants and verapamil on cGMP in the cerebellum of rats.

The influence, individually and in combination, of certain general CNS depressants, Ca+2, A23187, and verapamil on rat cerebellar cGMP was studied. When Ca+2 was given to rats treated with ethanol, ether, or pentobarbital a minor increase in cGMP resulted. However, A23187 alone, or with Ca+2 did not produce a rise in cGMP levels in the presence of those drugs. A similar effect was seen with verapamil. Increasing doses of pentobarbital with verapamil enhanced the inhibition of cGMP.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

An association between low maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

An index case of "undetectable" maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein at 16 weeks in the first pregnancy of a 28-year-old woman was associated with birth of an infant with trisomy 18. This fortuitous finding stimulated a retrospective study of prenatally diagnosed chromosomal abnormalities. From among a series of 3,862 genetic amniocenteses, 32 cases of fetal autosomal trisomy were diagnosed for which corresponding maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein data could be retrieved. From a second laboratory, nine additional cases were added. The maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels expressed as multiples of the median were significantly lower in distribution for these 41 women than those from a group of normal matched control subjects (p less than 0.001). Since maternal age is shown to be a less than adequate predictor of autosomal trisomic birth, we proposed that a low level of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein obtained through routine screening may prove to be valuable in improving the prenatal detection of these serious anomalies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Drug therapy in the prevention of recurrences in unipolar and bipolar affective disorders. Report of the NIMH Collaborative Study Group comparing lithium carbonate, imipramine, and a lithium carbonate-imipramine combination.

In a double-blind, long-term follow-up study, 117 bipolar patients received lithium carbonate, imipramine hydrochloride, or both and 150 unipolar patients received lithium carbonate, imipramine, both lithium carbonate and imipramine, or placebo. With bipolar patients, lithium carbonate and the combination treatment were superior to imipramine in preventing manic recurrences and were as effective as imipramine in preventing manic recurrences and were as effective as imipramine in preventing depressive episodes. The combination treatment provided no advantage over lithium carbonate alone. With unipolar patients, imipramine and the combination treatment were more effective than lithium carbonate and placebo in preventing depressive recurrences. The combination treatment provided no advantage over imipramine alone. The lithium carbonate-treated group had fewer manic episodes than the other groups. Treatment outcome, which was evaluated primarily in terms of the occurrence of major depression or manic episodes, was significantly related to characteristics of the index episode, ie, the episode that brought the patient into the study.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1984

Role of coronary artery bypass surgery after intracoronary streptokinase infusion for myocardial infarction.

Intracoronary streptokinase infusion has been shown to improve left ventricular function and reduce hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Adjuvant coronary artery bypass surgery is of value in many of these patients who have recurrent angina, circulatory instability, severe coronary artery occlusive disease, or a high risk of reinfarction. There is little, if any, evidence that immediate coronary artery bypass surgery affects the results adversely--either because of recent myocardial infarction or recent streptokinase infusion, and early operation appears to be a safe and worthwhile modality of treatment in this group of patients with myocardial infarction.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗
PubMed1984

Parental HLA compatibility, fetal wastage and neural tube defects: evidence for a T/t-like locus in humans.

To test the hypothesis that a locus in or near the human major histocompatibility complex (HLA) contributes to both involuntary fetal loss and neural tube defects (NTD), we evaluated sharing of antigens of the HLA-A, HLA-B, or HLA-DR loci of couples who had three or more first-trimester spontaneous abortions or who had a child with an NTD (myelomeningocele or anencephaly). HLA-A antigen sharing was increased in couples with three or more spontaneous abortions and in couples who had an anencephalic fetus, when compared with couples who had three or more pregnancies and no fetal loss. Increased sharing of antigens at the HLA-A and B loci was not seen in the entire group of couples with children with myelomeningocele, but was found in the subgroup of 36 couples whose child had a lumbar myelomeningocele. An increase in HLA-DR sharing was not seen in any group or subgroup when compared with the control couples. Among the aborting couples, increased sharing was not restricted to the couples who had no term pregnancies, but was also found in the couples whose fetal losses occurred after one or more normal term pregnancies. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a locus on the HLA-A side of the HLA-DR locus contributes to some fetal loss and susceptibility to NTD. This model is proposed as an alternative to the hypothesis that the maternal immune response to paternal major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens is the basis for increased HLA sharing in couples with fetal wastage.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1983

A comparison of two relaxation procedures for reducing cognitive and somatic anxiety.

The effectiveness of two different relaxation procedures was compared in treating snake anxious people who expressed anxiety primarily in a somatic or a cognitive manner. Forty moderately snake phobic subjects were categorized as either "somatically-anxious" or "cognitively-anxious" on the basis of a questionnaire. Half of the subjects in each group were given modified progressive relaxation training, and the other half received training in Agni-Yoga for four sessions. After completion of training, approach distance, subjective fear and pulse rates were measured during a snake approach test. In addition, a snake fear scale was given to each subject prior to and after approaching the snake. The results provided tentative evidence that the two relaxation procedures produced differential effects according to whether subjects expressed anxiety somatically or cognitively.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Studies of a family with incontinentia pigmenti variably expressed in both sexes.

A family is described in which incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is variably expressed in both sexes, compatible with either autosomal dominant or X linked dominant inheritance. This is the first reported instance of an affected male with a positive family history. Immunological studies of the proband showed no significant alteration of immune function. Cytogenetic investigations of the proband and her affected brother and mother revealed no unusual propensity for chromosome breaks or gaps and no enhancement of sister chromatid exchanges.

Female↗
PubMed1982

Potential vectors of Dirofilaria immitis in Macon County, Alabama.

A study was conducted in Macon County, Alabama (east-central) during the mosquito breeding seasons of 1978 and 1979 to determine the potential vector(s) of Dirofilaria immitis. Live mosquitoes were collected with CO2-baited, miniature light traps, and small hand aspirators. These mosquitoes were subsequently dissected to determine whether immature stages of the heartworm were present. Specific communities were selected based on their having at least 4 known cases of D immitis infection present in the local dog population. All positive collections were made between the months of May and September. Of 326 Anopheles punctipennis females dissected, 34 were positive, and of 84 Aedes vexans 6 were positive for infective (L3) larvae. Of 520 Culex quinquefasciatus females tested, 14 contained 2nd-stage larvae only. Immature stages of D immitis were collected during most of the mosquito breeding season. Data collected during the survey indicate that An punctipennis and to a lesser extent, Ae vexans are probably the principal vectors of D immitis in Macon County, Ala.

Alabama↗
PubMed1981

Abnormality of chromosome 16 and its phenotypic expression.

An abnormality of chromosome 16 in which there is extra genetic material present on the short arm (46,XY, 16p+) has been identified. This chromosomal aberration was associated with multiple congenital anomalies, including mid-facial hypoplasia, arthrogryposis, and mental retardation. On the basis of the cytogenetic appearance and the phenotype of the patient, this may represent a partial 16 trisomy. Unlike most abnormalities of chromosome 16, this syndrome was compatible with life.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗