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Biomedical subjects

A Filipowicz

Publications and source records attributed to A Filipowicz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Laboratory investigations of the effects of predator sex and size on prey selection by the Asian crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus.

Laboratory studies have shown that the nonindigenous Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, readily consumes three species of commercial bivalves: blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, soft-shell clams, Mya arenaria, and oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Although crabs can eat bivalves of a wide size range, they preferred the smaller prey (</=10 mm SL). Prey critical size limits exist for M. edulis and C. virginica, but not M. arenaria, possibly because of differences in shell characteristics among the three species. Crabs preferred M. arenaria over both M. edulis and C. virginica, and M. edulis was strongly preferred over C. virginica in pairwise comparison tests. Experiments to determine feeding rates on mussels showed that H. sanguineus can consume large numbers of mussels daily (12.7+/-11.6 mussels day(-1); sexes pooled; N=59). Mussel consumption rates increased with size of the predator and male crabs consumed more mussels than did similarly sized female crabs. The high densities of Hemigrapsus that occur in the wild, their effectiveness as predators of juvenile bivalves and their large appetites suggest an important role for these predators in restructuring the prey communities in habitats into which they have been introduced.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Peripheral blood pressure cells transplants across a major histocompatibility barrier in rabbits: positive effects of a higher number of precursor cells?

Peripheral blood precursor cells (PBPCs) are used with increasing frequency for hematopoietic transplants and have more or less replaced autologous bone marrow transplants. First clinical and experimental reports document the feasibility of PBPCs as a source for allogeneic transplants. Few data exist on the optimal procedure and the ideal number of cells for the transplant. We have previously shown in rabbits that PBPCs can be used for transplants even across a major histocompatibility barrier. We used this model to test whether the number of transplanted precursor cells would influence graft outcome. Adult outbred Red Burgundy rabbits were used as donors, New Zealand White rabbits of the opposite sex as recipients. One individual donor was taken for one individual recipient. Conditioning consisted of single-dose total body irradiation of 10 Gy followed by a short course of cyclosporine to enhance engraftment. Donor animals were treated with recombinant human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, 10 micrograms/kg subcutaneously daily from day -2 until day +9. PBPCs were obtained from the artery of the donor animal by repetitive centrifugation of 2 x 40 ml heparinized blood on each day of donation, i.e. days 0, +2, +3, +6, +8, and +10 and infused without further manipulation. Eight animals underwent transplantation. Seven took the grafts, six died of graft-versus-host disease and pneumonia between days 12 and 55 (median survival of all animals: 34 days). One animal was still alive after 120 days. Transplanted nucleated cells varied from 7.3 to 15.4 x 10(8)/ kg (median 9.2 x 10(8)/kg) and CFU-GM from 12.3 to 176.8 x 10(4)/kg (median 42 x 10(4)/kg). Survival tended to increase with more CFU-GM) r = 0.716, p = 0.0704). These data confirm that allogeneic PBPCs can engraft across a major histocompatibility barrier and suggest that a higher number of CFU-GM might be advantageous.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Allogeneic peripheral blood precursor cell transplants in rabbits.

This report summarizes a series of experiments undertaken to evaluate the role of mobilized peripheral blood precursor cells (PBPC) for transplantation across a major histocompatibility barrier. Adult outbred red Burgundy rabbits were used as donors, New Zealand white rabbits of the opposite sex as recipients. Conditioning consisted of single dose total body irradiation (TBI) of 10 Gy supported by a short course of cyclosporine to enhance engraftment. Human recombinant G-CSF at a dose of 10 micrograms/kg was used for mobilization of precursor cells. Three methods of PBPC transplants were tested initially in 5 animals each. PBPC were collected and infused at once on day 0; collected initially, cryopreserved for one month, infused on day 0 and followed by 3 additional fresh donations or collected and infused on 6 occasions between days 0 and + 11. 13 animals engrafted, 2 became complete, longterm chimeras. Survival was best in the group given repetitive infusions (39 days median, 12 days to > 180 days, range). 10 additional animals were transplanted as in the last group and the number of transplanted nucleated cells (10.5 x 10(8)/kg median, 7.3 - 15.7 x 10(8)/kg range) and colony forming units CFU-GM (42 x 10(4)/kg median, 12.3 - 176.8 x 10(4)/kg range), were compared with outcome. Median survival of the 10 animals was 29 days (12 - 55 days range; 1 autologous reconstitution). Survival did not correlate with total nucleated cells per kg (r = 0.10; p = 0.79), but there was a trend to prolong survival with higher numbers of CFU-GM per kg (r = 0.47; p = 0.19). These data show that allogeneic PBPCT can engraft across a major histocompatibility barrier, that the high number of CFU-GM per kg might be advantageous, but also that additional methods are warranted to reduce acute GvHD.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Transplantation of G-CSF mobilized allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells in rabbits.

Mobilized peripheral blood precursor cells (PBPC) are used with increasing frequency to restore autologous hematopoiesis following high-dose radio-chemotherapy. The success of this method has aroused interest in the use of mobilized PBPC for allogeneic transplants. This approach would eliminate the need for marrow aspiration and general anesthesia. In this project we tested the feasibility of allogeneic histoincompatible PBPC transplants in rabbits. Adult outbred Red Burgundy rabbits were used as donors, histoincompatible New Zealand White rabbits of the opposite sex as recipients. One individual donor was used for one individual recipient. Conditioning consisted of 10 Gy total body irradiation (TBI). Donor animals were pre-treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) given s.c. at 10 micrograms/kg daily. Three schedules of PBPC collection and reinfusion were tested in 3 groups of animals, each consisting of 5 donor recipient pairs: (A) PBPC were collected either on days -2, -1 and 0, and infused at once after TBI on day 0; (B) collected and infused on days 0, +2, +4, +7, +9, and +11; (C) collected on 3 consecutive days, cryopreserved for 1 month and infused on day 0 followed by 3 fresh donations on days +4, +8 and +11. The median amount of blood processed from donor animals was 470 ml (312-602) containing about 10 x 10(8) (5-71 x 10(8)) nucleated cells. Recipient animals received a median of 2.7 x 10(8) cells/kg equivalent to 9.6 x 10(4) colony-forming units granulocyte-macrophages (CFU-GM)/kg (data derived from Group C of the animals).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Clinical symptoms and signs useful in the early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis.

Seventy patients between the ages of 18 to 30 with early spondylitis (eAS), with bilateral grade II-III sacroiliitis without syndesmophytes were examined. The control group comprised 32 patients of the same age range with lumbar disc disease (LDD) confirmed by radiculography, without changes in the sacroiliac joints. In both groups the same clinical parameters were evaluated, calculating for each the specificity, sensitivity and Youden index. Statistical analysis was done using Student's t-test and/or the chi-square test. A complex of simple clinical features was isolated suggesting presence of eAS in young subjects with persistent low back pain but without a clear-cut radiological appearance of the sacroiliac joints. The complex included: a history of morning back stiffness, swelling of knee joints, thoracic pain, clinical evidence of limited chest expansion below 5 cm, swelling of joints of lower extremities, positive Mennell's sign, and in laboratory investigations presence of raised ESR and HLA B27-antigen.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Contribution to the clinical polymorphism in Huntington's disease].

A family is described in which closely consanguineous parents had Huntington chorea and in their son a severe hypertonic-hypokinetic syndrome with pellagra-like cutaneous changes was present. In two generations of the family in 6 subjects involuntary movements and gait disorders were reported.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the results of treatment of SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) with isoprinosine].

The period of survival in the group of 36 boys and 18 girls with SSPE, as well as the condition of 13 living persons were examined. 30 children were treated with isoprinosine. A 3 years-long period of survival was significantly more frequent in the group of 18 children with long-term therapy by isoprinosine in comparison to 24 children without isoprinosine administration. The best results were observed in children with subacute course of the illness and many epileptic seizures. The 13 living persons are strongly damaged. One girl is decerebrated and 5 patients are completely helpless. The indications to isoprinosine therapy in SSPE are discussed.

Adolescent↗