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Biomedical subjects

G Wood

Publications and source records attributed to G Wood.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Analysis of proenkephalin A, proopiomelanocortin and protachykinin neuropeptides in human lumbar cerebrospinal fluid by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, radioimmunoassay and enzymolysis.

A comprehensive high-performance liquid chromatographic, radioimmunoassay, and enzymatic degradation scheme has been developed to analyze several intact neuropeptides and the corresponding peptides created by in vivo enzymolysis of precursors to study neuropeptides in human lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and to test the hypothesis that defects in the metabolism (synthesis, degradation) of neuropeptide precursors, neuropeptides, and metabolites play a role in low back pain. CSF samples were obtained from three different patient groups: controls (C), whose low back pain was relieved without lidocaine; pharmacological responders (PR), whose pain was relieved by lidocaine and who were candidates for surgery; and pharmacological non-responders (PNR), whose pain was not relieved by lidocaine and a mid-thoracic anesthetic, and who were not candidates for surgery. The metabolic activity involved during synthesis and degradation of the peptides was assessed by measuring intact, native neuropeptide immunoreactivity in pre-incubated and post-incubated CSF samples, where samples were incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 h. Pre-incubation radioimmunoassay measurements reflected the content of intact peptides present in lumbar CSF at the time of sampling, and post-incubation measurements assayed the amount of peptide that had remained embedded within its precursors [cryptic methionine enkephalin (ME)] and that had been released by the action of CSF peptidases. Significant differences were found in post-incubation samples for the amount of proenkephalin A [ME, leucine enkephalin (LE)] and tachykinin [substance P (SP)] peptides. For example, significant differences were observed for ME-like immunoreactivity (C versus cryptic), SP-like immunoreactivity (PNR versus PR), and LE-like immunoreactivity (PR versus C). No significant differences were observed among the peptides within the pre-incubation samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Survival from pentamidine induced pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus.

Serious and occasionally fatal reactions to pentamidine have been reported and with the increased use of the drug in immunocompromised patients they are likely to become more frequent. We report the development of acute pancreatitis and permanent diabetes mellitus in an AIDS patient treated with intravenous pentamidine for Pneumocystis pneumonia. The literature on pentamidine induced pancreatic damage is reviewed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Spinal sensory radiculopathy due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

The most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis is the rat lung worm Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a parasite which is endemic in the South East Asian and Pacific regions. While the typical clinical presentation is that of meningitis associated with an eosinophilic pleocytosis, a 45 year old man presented with a radiculomyelopathy, associated with an eosinophilic pleocytosis and cerebrospinal fluid antibodies to A. cantonensis but without signs or symptoms of meningitis. A worm was demonstrated on both computed tomographic myelography and magnetic resonance imaging scan of the spinal cord.

Angiostrongylus↗
PubMed1991

Life threatening infections.

The importance of the rare infections discussed in this article lies in their potential for causing illness and death and the need for prompt and often specific management. Some are associated with characteristic features; others, however, are non specific in presentation. Only a high index of suspicion will ensure correct diagnosis and treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Opioid and tachykinin peptides, and their precursors and precursor-processing enzymes, in human cerebrospinal fluid.

Opioid and tachykinin neuropeptides, which were derived from two biological sources (intact, and released from their corresponding precursors by the action of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neuropeptidases), were characterized in human CSF by using a combination of post-high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) detection techniques. Peptides were separated using gradient and isocratic reversed-phase HPLC. Radioimmunoassay measured immunoreactivity corresponding to several different individual neuropeptides including methionine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin, substance P and beta-endorphin. Commercial enzymes (trypsin, carboxypeptidase B) were used to release methionine- and leucine-enkephalin from precursors. Human CSF also served as a source of endogenous neuropeptidases. Mass spectrometry produced fragment ions that corroborated the amino acid sequence of methionine enkephalin and of substance P derived from both sources (intact, from precursors). These results demonstrated the presence of endogenous intact neuropeptides, several different neuropeptide-containing precursors and appropriate precursor-processing enzymes in human CSF for precursors of methionine enkephalin, leucine enkephalin, beta-endorphin1-31 and substance P.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Ventilatory failure due to an improperly placed nasogastric tube.

A case is described of a 35-yr-old patient who was transferred to the operating room for the repair of a right ventricular laceration. Prior to transfer a nasogastric tube was placed unknowingly beyond the tracheal tube cuff into the trachea. During the surgery, the patient's head was turned to insert a central venous line at which time the ventilator low pressure alarm sounded and effective ventilation ceased. The problem was corrected by turning off the nasogastric tube suction. It is postulated that the nasogastric tube became unkinked when the head was turned and this led to the evacuation of gas from the lungs and breathing circuit through the nasogastric tube suction. Identification of the problem was complicated by the lack of a temporal relationship between the insertion and connection to suction of the nasogastric tube, and the episode of ventilatory failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Current status of cryptococcosis in Canada.

The concurrent use of microscopic, cultural, histopathologic and immunologic procedures enabled us to diagnose 91 cases of cryptococcosis, belonging to cutaneous, pulmonary, meningeal and disseminated types, from the time this mycosis was first reported in Canada in 1953 to the present. These cases occurred predominantly in Quebec (43%) followed by Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. It is not known whether any Cryptococcus neoformans infections have occurred elsewhere in Canada. The clinical and laboratory findings indicate that infections occurred in debilitated as well as nondebilitated individuals. Nearly 25% of the infections were seen in individuals having the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. In some of the AIDS cases, the latex agglutination (LA) test demonstrated exceptionally high titres of circulating cryptococcal antigen (1:256 to 1:32,768). Cr. neoformans infections occurred more commonly in males than in females, and there were 11 fatal cases of cryptococcosis. The incidence of Cr. neoformans in Canada is probably higher than our data suggest because cryptococcosis is not notifiable in Canada and underreporting is likely.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

A group of non-Y encoded Drosophila hydei primary spermatocyte nuclear glycoproteins exhibits epitopes depending on formation of Y chromosomal giant lampbrush loops.

In wild-type Drosophila hydei (genotype X/Y) four different primary spermatocyte nuclear glycoproteins, classified as non-Y encoded because of their occurrence in X/O genotypes, were demonstrated to possess a few epitopes that depended on formation of the Y chromosomal giant lampbrush loops threads (th; Mr 55,000 proteins) or pseudonucleolus (ps; Mr 38,000, 58,000 and 98,000 proteins). The epitopes reacted with lectins and/or antibodies in vitro lectin-/immunoreplica of primary spermatocyte total nuclear protein), and were lacking in mutants not possessing the respective loops. Those dependent on ps reacted with human sera. Epitopes restricted to proteins from th-forming spermatocytes reacted with lectin Con A (specific for D-Man and/or D-Glc) and antibodies directed against mouse immunoglobulins (AIA). In situ experiments (immunofluorescence microscopy of primary spermatocyte nuclei) revealed antibody cross-reactions with the respective loops. The reagents stained the distal (fused) sections and proximal (compact) parts of ps (human sera) or the proximal (compact) parts of th (AIA). Reaction with the latter loops was significantly repressed after absorption of AIA with the L-Fuc carbohydrate unit, classifying the AIA as fucosyl specific, and the epitopes along th as L-Fuc carbohydrate units.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation and regulation of pesticides in drinking water: A Canadian approach.

Pesticides are registered in Canada under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, administered by the Department of Agriculture. Pre-market registration requirements include submission of extensive toxicology data in order to allow evaluation of potential human hazards which may be associated with exposure to pesticides. Drinking water guidelines in Canada, although under provincial jurisdiction, are generally recommended by the federal government with collaboration of provincial authorities. In 1987, 42 pesticides were selected for development of guidelines for drinking water. When complete, the 42 pesticides will represent approximately 80% of all agricultural pesticides utilized in Canada, based on active ingredient weight sold. As do many other regulatory agencies, the Department of National Health and Welfare uses two different approaches to derive health-based guidelines or maximum acceptable concentrations of pesticides in drinking water. The threshold approach assumes that there is a dose below which no adverse effect will occur. This threshold level is closely related to the experimentally determined no observed adverse effect level and, when divided by an appropriate uncertainty or safety factor, forms the basis for the establishment of the maximum acceptable concentration. The second approach is the non-threshold or risk assessment approach and this assumes that these is some probability of harm at any level of exposure. This latter approach is generally utilized for chemicals believed to be capable of causing cancer and has not been used for any of the existing 29 pesticide drinking water guidelines developed in Canada.

Canada↗
PubMed1989

Substance P-like immunoreactivity in human cerebrospinal fluid.

In a study to elucidate molecular mechanisms in pain, substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI) was measured in lumbar CSF from 75 patients with lower back pain. Two samples--one before and one after lidocaine treatment--were obtained from each patient, and total SP-LI was measured in unfractionated (no HPLC) samples. SP-LI data were separated into three categories: placebo responders, pharmacological responders, and pharmacological non-responders. A significant difference was observed between the total SP-LI measurement of first and second samples of pharmacological non-responders. Distribution of SP-LI immunoreactive molecular species in two CSF patient samples (no ODS) was analyzed with a combination of reversed phase (RP) HPLC and RIA. Immunoreactivity in collected HPLC fractions was measured at calibrated retention times of synthetic SP-sulfoxide (SP-O), SP, and SP. Qualitative and quantitative differences in those HPLC-RIA metabolic profiles were observed within and between those two patients' samples. These data indicate that the type and amount of SP metabolism and SP precursor-processing differs in CSF between these two representative patients and within the short amount of time elapsed between acquiring these two samples.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1989

Oral vaccination of rats with live avirulent Salmonella derivatives expressing adhesive fimbrial antigens of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

The avirulent Salmonella typhimurium F885 was transformed with a plasmid carrying the cloned S fimbriae genes of a uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The resulting transformant (F885-1) produced efficiently E. coli S fimbriae and was used for live oral vaccination of rats. For comparison rats were immunized subcutaneously with isolated S fimbriae. Both routes of vaccination resulted in a significant IgG antibody response to S fimbriae. In addition live oral vaccination induced a serum IgA response against S fimbriae. After transurethral infection of rats with a S fimbriae producing E. coli a 10-fold reduction of bacterial counts in the kidney was observed in rats orally vaccinated with F885-1 as compared to unvaccinated controls. This study suggests that the avirulent Salmonella F885 may be used as a fimbrial antigen carrier for oral vaccination against renal infections.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1989

The role of marital intimacy in psychiatric help-seeking.

Epidemiological studies have shown that most people with diagnosable psychiatric illnesses do not seek professional help. Symptoms of non-psychotic emotional illness, interpersonal relationship quality and personality traits have demonstrable associations. The influence of these factors on help-seeking was examined by comparing 57 psychiatric outpatients with a community sample of 90 symptomatic individuals on self-report measures of marital intimacy, life events, and personality, while controlling for symptomatology. Compared to non-patients, outpatients reported less intimacy in their marriages across a variety of relationship dimensions on the Waring Intimacy Questionnaire, and scored higher on the Psychoticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Marital Intimacy level proved to be the best single predictor of patient and non-patient status, suggesting that help-seeking behaviour may be partly motivated by unsatisfactory marriages. The detection of low marital intimacy in these help-seekers might be an indication for prescribing marital therapy.

Adult↗