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Biomedical subjects

W O'Brien

Publications and source records attributed to W O'Brien.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Defective monocyte cytotoxicity in rheumatoid arthritis: a correlation with disease activity and reversal by levamisole.

The cytotoxic activities of human blood mononuclear cells against certain established cell lines were evaluated prospectively in 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after treatment with low (150 mg per week) and moderate doses (300 mg per week) of levamisole. Spontaneous or "natural" killer activity (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of plastic adherent cells ("monocytes") and lymphocytes were studied. We report a selective cytotoxic defect in monocyte NK and a correlation of this defect with severely active disease. The patients with the most severe defect responded to low-dose levamisole, but others with normal values did nor respond as well to treatment. This cytotoxic defect may be an important pathogenetic factor in rheumatoid arthritis and this new assay may be helpful in selecting candidates who are most likely to respond to levamisole.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Influence of maternal dietary protein and fat levels on fetal growth in mice.

The influence of maternal dietary fat and protein levels during gestation on fetal growth was determined in LAF1/J mice. Dams were fed diets containing various levels of casein (ranging from 6 to 20%) and fat (either 5 or 15%). On the 18th day of gestation, all animals were sacrificed. Products of conception were examined, and maternal liver and fetal body compositional analysis was performed. It was found that low protein diets did not depress caloric intake, indicating that observed effects are due to differences in respective nutrient intakes rather than altered caloric intakes. Both the dietary protein and fat levels significantly influenced the fetal cellular growth (cell number rather than cell size) of LAF1/J mice. In addition, dietary fat influenced protein adequacy for satisfactory fetal cellular growth of these mice, probably by altering protein utilization. Optimal fetal cellular growth was obtained with the diet containing 20% casein and 15% fat as indicated by increased fetal protein, DNA, and RNA contents. Normal maternal liver lipid content in animals fed the 20% protein and 15% fat diet also indicates that this diet is optimal for gestational performance of LAF1/J mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The long-term prognosis in untreated cerebral aneurysms: II. Late morbidity and mortality.

Three hundred sixty-four patients who suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage from an aneurysm at either the anterior (ACA) or posterior (PCA) communicating artery location and who were not surgically treated have been followed for up to 21 years in order to study the late morbidity and mortality. For patients surviving six months: (1) little improvement in morbidity was noted during the many years of subsequent follow-up; (2) in general, ACA patients fared better than PCA patients; (3) the neurological state on original admission was strongly correlated with the degree of morbidity; (4) other factors measured at time of original hemorrhage which adversely affected morbidity included the level of blood pressure or the presence of clot or spasm; (5) if deaths from late hemorrhage are excluded, cardiovascular causes account for the majority of subsequent deaths; and (6) the risk of dying from all causes is increased when compared to a population matched by age and sex.

Follow-Up Studies↗