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Biomedical subjects

W Hughes

Publications and source records attributed to W Hughes.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1974

An unusual intranuclear structure (? viral nucleocapsid) in the brain in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

A brain biopsy was examined from a 7 year old boy with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Intranuclear deposits of measles antigens were demonstrated in parenchymal cells by immunofluorescence. Electron microscopy showed viral nucleocapsids in nucleoliform inclusions and unusual rod-like intranuclear structures which resemble structures previously described only in tissue cultures infected with measles virus.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1972

The genesis of lower esophageal sphincter pressure: its identification through the use of gastrin antiserum.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of gastrin in the genesis of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure by the use of a high titer gastrin antiserum. Intravenous infusions of increasing amounts of rabbit gastrin antiserum, but not control antiserum, produced graded reductions in the resting LES pressure in anesthetized opossums. A maximal inhibition in LES pressure of 80.0+/-3.1% (mean +/-SE) was achieved when gastrin antiserum was administered in an amount estimated to bind almost all endogenous circulating gastrin in the opossum. Gastrin antiserum also inhibited the LES response to endogenous gastrin release (gastric deacidification) and to exogenous intravenous administration of gastrin I. The inhibition of the LES response to exogenous gastrin I by gastrin antiserum could be eliminated by giving excess gastrin I. Studies performed in vitro showed that gastrin antiserum inhibited the contractile response of LES circular muscle to gastrin I, but not to acetylcholine. These studies indicate that gastrin antiserum: (a) specifically antagonized the response of LES circular muscle to gastrin, in vitro; (b) diminished the LES response to the endogenous release and to the exogenous administration of gastrin; and (c) markedly reduced the resting level of LES pressure. We conclude that endogenous gastrin is the major determinant of resting LES pressure.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1971

Role of gastrin supersensitivity in the pathogenesis of lower esophageal sphincter hypertension in achalasia.

Intraluminal manometric studies were carried out in 19 patients with untreated achalasia and in 20 normals. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was 50.5 +/-4.6 mm Hg in patients with achalasia as compared with 19.4 +/-1.3 mm Hg in the normal group. In both groups, the LES pressure was lowered when exogenous 0.1 N HCl was placed into the stomach. Although the nadir of pressure attained with acid suppression was the same, the per cent inhibition was significantly greater in patients with achalasia. Serum gastrin levels were the same in the two groups studied. The patients with achalasia, pre- and postpneumatic dilatation, showed a supersensitivity to exogenous intravenous gastrin I, as compared with normals. These data suggest that high, acid-suppressible levels of LES pressure, in patients with achalasia, are due to supersensitivity to endogenous gastrin.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Astrocytic hypertrophy: an important pathological feature of chronic experimental autoimmune encephalitis in aged rats.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in young (2-3 month old), middle-aged (12-13 month old) and geriatric (24-26 month old) Lewis (JC) rats by active immunisation with myelin basic protein (MBP) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). It was found that aged Lewis (JC) rats developed a more chronic form of EAE than younger rats of the same strain, a phenomenon observed in both male and female rats despite males developing more severe disease than females at all ages. Middle-aged recipients also developed more severe disease than young recipients when EAE was induced by the adoptive transfer of lymphocytes from actively immunised young donors, suggesting that disease chronicity in middle-aged animals is a property of the central nervous system (CNS) milieu. Histological studies demonstrated that disease chronicity did not correlate with the number of inflammatory lesions in the CNS, young animals containing substantial numbers of CNS lesions following recovery and lesions being largely absent from middle-aged animals which still exhibited signs of disease. No significant differences were found in the degree of fibrin deposition or demyelination between young and middle-aged or symptomatic and asymptomatic animals. However, astrocytic hypertrophy was found to correlate with manifestation of disease in both young and middle-aged animals and in particular with disease chronicity in middle-aged animals. In parallel studies, no significant differences were found in the levels of the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, prostaglandin E (PGE)2, reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) and corticosterone in young and middle-aged animals. However, markedly elevated corticosterone levels were found in both young and middle-aged animals with the development of clinical signs which returned to baseline levels with the resolution of clinical signs. Elevated levels of RNI were evident in animals immediately prior to and during the early stages of symptomatic EAE. Although these results suggest that nitric oxide may play a role in the pathogenesis of disease, whereas corticosterone may play a role in the immunoregulation of the disease, these factors cannot explain differences in disease chronicity evident in middle-aged animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical features of hereditary progressive arthro-ophthalmopathy (Stickler syndrome): a survey.

PURPOSE: To define variations in the clinical manifestations of Stickler syndrome. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 612 persons. RESULTS: Of the 316 usable replies, 95% of persons had eye problems (retinal detachment occurred in 60% of patients, myopia in 90%, and blindness in 4%); 84% had problems with facial structures such as a flat face, small mandible, or cleft palate; 70%, hearing loss; and 90%, joint problems, primarily early joint pain from degenerative joint disease. Treatment included cryotherapy and laser therapy for retinal detachment, repair of cleft palate, use of hearing and mobility aids, and joint replacements. CONCLUSIONS: There are wide variations of symptoms and signs among affected persons, even within the same family. There are delays in diagnosis, lack of understanding among family members, denial about the risk of serious eye problems, and joint disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Making history.

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Adaptation, Psychological↗