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Biomedical subjects

G Wilkins

Publications and source records attributed to G Wilkins.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Alterations of the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from diabetic children. A chemiluminescence study.

The respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was investigated in 24 children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and 24 healthy controls. This oxygen dependent, membrane associated process generates a number of toxic oxygen metabolites which are implicated in the pathogenesis of endothelial damage. The activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was studied in terms of luminol amplified chemiluminescence. It was found that the resting luminol amplified chemiluminescence activity of isolated polymorphonuclear leukocytes from diabetic children was significantly higher than that of controls (342,000 +/- 174,000 cpm vs. 165,000 +/- 82,000 cpm, p less than 0.01). The addition of respiratory burst inhibitors caused a significant reduction of basal chemiluminescence (greater than 80%). When the ratio of phorbol myristate acetate stimulated activity to basal activity was calculated and used as an activation index, it was found to be significantly reduced in diabetics relative to controls (4.29 +/- 2.46 vs. 8.34 +/- 3.21, p less than 0.01). These observations suggest that increased release of toxic oxygen metabolites from polymorphonuclear leukocytes in diabetic subjects may play a role in the development of diabetic angiopathies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Antibody reactivity with Skinner HSV vaccine.

Antibody reactivity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) was investigated in 15 subjects who received three subcutaneous immunisations with Skinner HSV vaccine. Humoral antibody responses were detected against type 1 HSV in every subject and against type 2 HSV in all but one subject; immuno-precipitating antibody responses were infrequently detected. There was no antibody reactivity against host-cell (MRC-5), foetal calf serum or rubella virus antigen. None of the vaccinated subjects developed clinical evidence of herpes genitalis.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1985

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: the early Dunedin experience.

Since May 1981 39 men and 11 women (mean age 55 years) have undergone percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty at Dunedin Hospital. Angioplasty was performed in 34 (68%) patients with stable angina, 13 (26%) with unstable angina and in three (6%) patients with acute myocardial infarction. Primary success (reduction in angiographic stenosis without associated myocardial infarction or emergency coronary bypass) was achieved in 77% of those patients with single vessel coronary disease (27 of 35 procedures) and of 62% in those patients with multiple vessel disease (16 of 26 procedures). Successful angioplasty was obtained in 81% (25/31) of those patients with anterior descending disease, 67% (4/6) of those with circumflex disease and 58% 14/24) of patients with right coronary disease. Thirty-four patients (68%) following successful angioplasty were rendered asymptomatic. Five (10%) underwent emergency coronary bypass grafting and one of these patients died. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is a useful alternative to coronary artery bypass surgery and may be performed in a majority of patients with symptomatic single vessel coronary artery disease and in selected individuals with multiple vessel coronary disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Efficacy of vaccine Ac NFU1 (S-) MRC 5 given after an initial clinical episode in the prevention of herpes genitalis.

A subunit antigenoid vaccine, Ac NFU1 (S-) MRC 5, was used in patients who had had a clinical episode of herpes genitalis. The rate of recurrence was compared with that in unvaccinated patients to determine the efficacy of vaccination in preventing recurrence and spread of the virus in the community. Seven of 22 (31%) vaccinated patients had eight recurrences after the initial clinical episode; in contrast there were 51 recurrences in 17 of 20 (85%) unvaccinated patients. Although further studies are needed, the results indicate that the vaccine may prevent recurrent episodes of herpes genitalis and thereby reduce the dissemination of this virus in the population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Early experience with "antigenoid" vaccine Ac NFU1(S-) MRC towards prevention or modification of herpes genitalis.

The preparation and early clinical experience with "antigenoid" vaccine Ac NFU1(S-) MRC is described. A neutralising antibody response against both type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex virus was stimulated in 19 of 21 and 25 of 60 patients who received the high and low dosage of vaccine, respectively: immunoprecipitating antibody against type-common virus antigen "band II", a virus antigen of major importance in neutralization of herpes simplex virus, was detected in 12 of 19 and 2 of consorts who received the high and low dosage vaccine, respectively. To date, after a mean follow-up period of one year, none of the 42 consorts have contracted herpes genitalis: following a mean follow-up period of 6 months, only 1 patient vaccinated after the initial clinical episode has reported a recurrence of herpetic disease. These results compare favourably with the rates of consort transmission and first year recurrences in unvaccinated subjects. Seventeen of 24 patients with recurrent herpetic disease reported an "improvement" in terms of modification of the frequency, severity or extent of herpetic lesions. There were no important side-effects from vaccination: most patients experienced a degree of minor local reaction at the vaccination site for 24-72 hours and 3 patients reported a mild transient "flu-like" syndrome which disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination. It is intended to subject these data to the scrutiny of a placebo-controlled trial with an objective system of clinical assessment.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Experimental essential hypertension in the rat?

1. A human urinary thermostable glycoprotein (ABG-TsU) believed to be a homologue of the plasma aldosterone-binding globulin (ABG) was isolated and purified by differential ultrafiltration, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration to electrophoretic homogeneity; it showed a charge heterogeneity in electrofocussing. 2. ABG-TsU was administered intraperitoneally to male rats in small daily doses (7 microgram/day per rat). Sustained hypertension developed in 5--8 days. 3. The treated rats showed no changes in plasma electrolytes, aldosterone or plasma renin activity; however, a significant increase in heart weight was observed. 4. This hypertension appears to be adrenal dependent since it is prevented by bilateral adrenalectomy or administration of an aldosterone antagonist, but not by adrenalectomy when aldosterone is given concomitantly with ABG-TsU.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Aldosterone-binding globulin-induced hypertension in the rat. A new experimental model.

A thermostable urinary homologue of the plasma aldosterone-binding globulin (ABG), designated ABG-TsU, was isolated and purified by differential ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration to electrophoretic homogeneity. Scatchard plot analysis using highly purified ABG-TsU demonstrated reversible high-affinity low-capacity binding at separate sites for aldosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-SO4). ABG-TsU injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) in male rats resulted in sustained hypertension after 5 to 8 days, characterized after 12 days by no changes in plasma Na+ K+, aldosterone, or plasma renin activity (PRA). No histological changes could be detected in the kidneys, brains, or hearts, nor evidence of adrenocortical hyperplasia. This hypertension appears to be aldosterone-dependent since it is prevented by bilateral adrenalectomy or administration of a spironolactone, but not by adrenalectomy when aldosterone is given concomitantly with ABG-TsU. Hemodynamic characterization of this hypertension was carried out in rats after treatment with ABG-TsU or saline i.p. for 14 days. Cardiac output (CO) was measured using the reference sample microsphere method. ABG-TsU-treated rats had significantly higher mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and CO, while no difference in total peripheral resistance (TPR) was detected. This new animal model of borderline essential hypertension (EH) induced by ABG-TsU, which has a reversible high-affinity binding for aldosterone, results in adrenal-dependent hypertension due at this early phase to an increase in CO without any change in TPR, which remains inappropriately normal.

Adrenalectomy↗