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Biomedical subjects

D Phillips

Publications and source records attributed to D Phillips.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

An unusual cause of hip pain in a child.

In this perplexing case, a child with signs of apparent hip pain was treated for a sewing needle embedded in the sole of the foot. The diagnosis of foreign body easily could have been missed, because the external signs were minimal and the clinical findings indicated hip disease. However, the child's extreme distress seemed inconsistent with the initial normal findings. Only reexamination and looking beyond the obvious led to the diagnosis.

Child, Preschool

Chlamydia screening.

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Chlamydia Infections

Chromosomal localization of the genes for the vitronectin and fibronectin receptors alpha subunits and for platelet glycoproteins IIb and IIIa.

The integrins, a family of related membrane receptors involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, are heterodimeric complexes of alpha and beta subunits. To begin to understand the evolution of these complexes, we studied the genomic organization of several alpha and beta integrin subunits. Using both somatic cell hybrids and an in situ hybridization technique, we have determined the chromosomal location of the genes for the alpha subunits of the vitronectin receptor (VNR alpha), the fibronectin receptor (FNR alpha), and for the alpha subunit of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex, GPIIb. In addition, we have determined the chromosomal location of the gene for the beta subunit of the GPIIb/IIIa heterodimer, GPIIIa. Our studies indicate that the alpha subunits do not localize to a single locus, but that each is found on a different chromosome. The gene for VNR alpha is located on chromosome 2, the gene for FNR alpha is on chromosome 12q11----13, and the gene for GPIIb is on chromosome 17q21----23. In contrast to the chromosomal dispersion of the alpha subunits, the genes for GPIIb and GPIIIa are physically close, with the gene for GPIIIa also located on chromosome 17q21----23. These studies indicate that the genes for the alpha subunits of the integrin family have been dispersed during evolution while GPIIb and GPIIIa are in close physical proximity. This physical proximity of GPIIb and GPIIIa may be involved in the concurrent expression of these proteins by megakaryocytes, and may result in linkage disequilibrium between these two genes, which would limit the use of restriction length polymorphisms in linkage studies of GPIIb/IIIa abnormalities in small kindreds.

Animals

Failure of gonadotropin therapy secondary to chorionic gonadotropin-induced antibodies.

Seventeen years after first receiving treatment with hCG (at age 8 yr), a man with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism no longer responded to gonadotropin therapy. He had received hCG for 6 months when he was 8 yr old, from age 18-21 yr and from age 21-25 yr, when the resistance developed. Anti-hCG antibodies were found in his serum. Three sequential treatment regimens were tried to obviate the effect of these antibodies. 1) hCG treatment (2000 IU, three times per week) concomitant with weekly plasmapheresis (since the patient's response to an hCG challenge test was improved after a reduction of antibody titer by plasmapheresis) resulted in only a temporary increase in testosterone production. 2) Treatment with human (h) LH (400 IU/week) and hFSH (25 IU/week) was used because of the low cross-reaction of the antibodies with hLH and a response to a hLH-challenge test. This treatment maintained serum testosterone levels within the normal range for long periods, but had to be discontinued when the supply of hLH was exhausted. 3) Pulsatile LHRH administration (25 ng/kg, sc, every 2 h) for 2 months did not induce the release of pituitary gonadotropins. These results indicated that 1) conventional hCG treatment was impaired by antibody-induced changes in the kinetics of hCG after its im administration; 2) hLH was an effective substitute for hCG, and the combined hLH-hFSH administration initiated a moderate amount of spermatogenesis; and 3) the patient differs from most individuals with hypogonadotropin hypogonadism in that he did not have normal responses to repetitive LHRH administration.

Antibodies

Sensitivity of the skin of different mouse strains to the promoting effect of 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate.

The sensitivity of the skin of Swiss DBA/2 and C57B1/6 mice was compared in two-stage carcinogenicity experiments. Groups of 30 mice were treated once with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) (50 micrograms/mouse) which was applied to the shaved dorsal skin as initiator and, starting one week later, 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was applied thrice-weekly at doses of either 0.04, 0.16 or 0.64 micrograms/mouse to the areas of initiated skin. Other groups of mice were similarly treated with TPA (0.64 micrograms) alone. The times at which papillomas and carcinomas first appeared were recorded. Overall the results show, in terms of the numbers of animals with tumours, the total numbers of tumours produced and the numbers of malignant tumours formed all in dose-response relationship, that the Swiss mice were the most sensitive and the B57B1/6 mice the least sensitive to the tumour-promoting effects of TPA with the DBA/2 mice occupying and intermediate position. This relationship also held in the control groups that were treated with TPA alone.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene

Metabolic and thermoregulatory consequences of social behaviors between Microtus townsendii.

1. Townsend voles responded to each other by raising their core temperatures. 2. Increments of temperature increases that accompanied hostile reactions between voles, were proportional to the intensity of the behavioral displays. 3. Amicable behaviors (huddling) were also associated with higher body temperatures that were proportional to group size. 4. Huddling voles conserved metabolic energy expenditure by reducing their metabolic rates and thermal conductances. 5. Such conservation required 1 or more days of amicable behavior to develop, and to be reversed. 6. The degree of metabolic rate reduction that accompanied amicable huddling behavior and the associated reduction of thermal conductance was independent of group size.

Animals

Cellular and protein changes in bronchial lavage fluid after late asthmatic reaction in patients with red cedar asthma.

To investigate the sequence of cellular and protein changes after a late asthmatic reaction (LAR), bronchial lavage was carried out in 44 patients with red cedar asthma at different time intervals after bronchial challenge with plicatic acid. The results were compared to five patients with red cedar asthma who became asymptomatic after removal from exposure to red cedar for more than 2 months and 31 healthy subjects without asthma. The LAR was found to be associated with an increase in eosinophils in the lavage fluid, an increase in sloughing of bronchial epithelial cells, and an increase in degenerated cells consisting mainly of degenerated epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. There was an increase in vascular permeability as reflected by an increase in albumin in the lavage fluid. Although there was a slight but significant increase in neutrophils 48 hours after bronchial challenge, neutrophil infiltration was not a prominent feature earlier. The potential role of loss of epithelial cells to account for an increase in nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness after an LAR was discussed.

Adult

Long-term immunization against the beta-subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH beta) has no adverse effects on pituitary function in rhesus monkeys.

One postulated safety hazard of contraceptive methods based on immunization against gonadotropic hormones is the possibility that circulating antibodies which crossreact with pituitary hormones may impair pituitary function through the deposition of immunoglobulin and/or complement suggesting immune complexes. In order to evaluate this possibility in rhesus monkeys actively immunized against the beta-subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH beta), we used three approaches to study the effects of long-term immunization on pituitary function: a) evaluation of pituitary responsiveness to challenge with a GnRH-agonist; b) examination of pituitary histology and immunostaining with gonadotropin antisera; and c) examination of pituitary cells for deposition of immune complexes. Our results indicate that circulating anti-oLH beta antibodies did not result in significant impairment of pituitary function in rhesus monkeys.

Animals

Immunohistochemistry of the blood group A,B,H isoantigens and Oxford Ca antigen as prognostic markers for stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Currently, there is lack of a histologic classification of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix that correlates significantly with patient survival. This study investigated the survival predictive value of two immunohistochemical markers, the blood group A,B,H isoantigens and the Oxford Ca antigen, on conventional histologic sections of tumor tissues from 85 surgically treated patients with Stage IB squamous cell cervical cancer. The results indicated that the two antigens are two distinct markers, neither of which correlates with tumor grade. The expression of the A,B,H isoantigens is significantly related to patient survival after adjustment for the depth of stromal invasion of the tumor, whereas the Oxford Ca antigen has no survival predictive value.

ABO Blood-Group System

Malignant transformation of NIH-3T3 and CV-1 cells by a helical mycoplasma, Spiroplasma mirum, strain SMCA.

A helical mycoplasma, Spiroplasma mirum strain SMCA, produced malignant transformation in mouse NIH 3T3 cells and monkey kidney CV-1 cells. The transformed cells exhibited morphological changes consistent with the transformed phenotype, grew in soft agar and produced tumors in athymic and BALB/c mice. Transmission electron microscopy revealed structures morphologically similar to mycoplasmas present in the cytoplasm of transformed but not untransformed 3T3 cells. The time of inoculation of S. mirum SMCA to 3T3 cells and the passage level of 3T3 cells affected transformation.

Animals

Treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

A 79-yr-old man with previously documented atherosclerotic vascular disease presented with acute abdominal pain, signs of peritoneal irritation, and guaiac-positive stool. A mesenteric arteriogram showed high-grade stenosis of the superior mesenteric artery with a pressure gradient of 70 mmHg and complete occlusion of the inferior mesenteric artery. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the superior mesenteric artery was performed with immediate reduction of the pressure gradient, increase in vessel caliber, and relief of abdominal pain. The patient went on to complete recovery and remains pain-free 6 mo after discharge from the hospital. To our knowledge, this is the first report of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty used to treat acute mesenteric ischemia.

Acute Disease

Phalangeal osteochondroma: an unusual cause of swan-neck deformity.

A 4-year-old child with a proximal phalangeal osteochondroma of the index finger presented with a rigid swan-neck deformity. The dorsal apparatus overlying the tumor was stretched, causing increased tension on the central slip and thus hypertension of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Excision of the tumor resulted in complete restoration of digital motion.

Bone Neoplasms

Cell uptake, distribution and response to aluminium chloro sulphonated phthalocyanine, a potential anti-tumour photosensitizer.

The uptake, retention and effects of aluminium chloro sulphonated phthalocyanine (AlSPc) were measured in two cell lines, UV-2237 a murine fibrosarcoma and the non-tumorigenic NIH/3T3 fibroblast line. The behaviour of cells treated with AlSPc was compared with that of those treated with haematoporphyrin derivative (HpD), a photosensitizer often used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. AlSPc absorbs light strongly in the red region, is taken up by cells in a dose dependent fashion and is retained in vitro over a period of days (5 days after exposure greater than 40% remains cell-associated versus less than 25% of HpD). Additionally AlSPc was less cytotoxic to cells, maintained in darkness or exposed to room light, compared to HpD (100% viability versus 0% viability 3 days after 60 min exposure to room light). However red light (approximately 600-700 nm) caused greater toxicity in AlSPc-treated cells (100%) than in similarly exposed HpD-treated cells (less than 60%). No significant differences were detected between the responses of the fibrosarcoma and the fibroblast cell lines. These characteristics of AlSPc suggest that it may prove to be a useful photosensitizer for PDT of cancer and this possibility is discussed.

Animals

Controlled trial of thyrotropin releasing hormone in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A double-blind controlled trial of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) 150 mg IM daily in 30 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is reported. The drug/placebo was administered for 2 months, followed by a 2-month "wash-out". Evaluation of strength, functional ability, and respiratory functions was performed. A temporary increase in the strength of some muscles was detected following the administration of TRH, but no change in functional performance was noted. Neither the patients nor the investigators believed the effects were of any marked clinical significance. The course of the illness was not altered.

Adult