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Biomedical subjects

W McLean

Publications and source records attributed to W McLean.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (DLIS) in liver disease: comparison of clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with and without DLIS.

Falsely elevated serum digoxin values have recently been reported in patients with liver disease. Since not all patients have circulatory digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (DLIS) in their serum, we compared the clinical and laboratory findings in patients with and without DLIS. Thirty-two patients with liver disease were studied. The only parameter that was significantly different in the two groups was serum bilirubin. In the group of patients with DLIS, significant correlations were obtained between DLIS and bilirubin and DLIS and creatinine. We postulate that increased levels of DLIS in serum are due to an abnormality of DLIS excretion.

Adult

DNA-mediated transfer of human melanoma cell surface glycoprotein gp130: identification of transfectants by erythrocyte rosetting.

DNA sequences encoding a human melanoma membrane-bound sialoglycoprotein of 130,000 molecular weight (gp130) were introduced into a clonal derivative of mouse B-16 melanoma cells with the selectable neomycin resistance gene (aminoglycoside phosphotransferase). Mouse transfectants were identified by a rapid and precise screening method with mouse monoclonal antibodies and erythrocyte rosetting. The frequency of gp130 transfectants was approximately 1 in 2,000 to 5,000 colonies with neo+ cells. Analysis of secondary mouse transfectants has revealed that the transfected gp130 has a molecular weight, isoelectric point, intracellular processing, peptide map, and spatial orientation of surface-exposed epitopes indistinguishable from those seen with gp130 from human melanoma cells. In contrast to primary transfectants, secondary transfectants expressing gp130 lack demonstrable human repetitive sequences.

Animals

An epilepsy workshop for professionals.

This experimental study evaluated the impact of an epilepsy workshop format designed for community professionals who may be involved in the treatment plan and follow-up of patients. The goals of the workshop were to increase the professional's knowledge and comfort in the presence of epilepsy and to effect better delivery of services to patients. To achieve this, a didactic approach to learning was modified to include patient contact and participant involvement in the learning process. A pre- and posttest experimental design was utilized. Those who attended the workshop improved significantly more than the two control groups in their knowledge of and comfort with epilepsy. Following the workshop, there was a marked increase in the referral of school children for possible neurological problems by teachers who had attended. There was a subsequent improvement in the delivery of health care services to such children in this county.

Adolescent

Secretion and role of androgen-binding proteins in the testis and epididymis.

The Sertoli cell appears to be a target cell for both FSH and androgen. FSH stimulates the Sertoli cell to produce an androgen-binding protein (ABP) which may serve to increase the accumulation of androgen in the seminiferous tubular epithelium and make it available for binding by intracellular androgen receptors. This might be one way by which FSH enhances the action of androgen on spermatogenesis. Androgen acts on the Sertoli cell to increase its response to FSH resulting in increased production of ABP and of other substances which exert trophic effects on spermatogenesis.

Androgens

New systems for a two-speed electroencephalograph with an auditory device for diminishing the length of seizures.

The author describes a system for testing patients with petit mal seizures. The system has the following advantages: 1) EEG paper speed is automatically increased from 2.5 mm/s to 25 mm/s when brainwave activity increases, with the increased speed maintainable for up to 4.0 sec after the last seizure burst. Control studies with constant speed and two-speed systems operating simultaneously demonstrate that no significant distortion occurs at the moment of change in speed. The convenience of handling a greatly reduced volume of paper is obvious. 2) An auditory stimulus, either a pure tone burst of 1000 HZ or loud music, is also triggered by an increase in amplitude of brainwave activity. Testing of 15 patients shows a significant decrease (p less than 0.01) in duration of seizure activity when the stimulus is activated.

Acoustic Stimulation