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Biomedical subjects

H Wilcox

Publications and source records attributed to H Wilcox.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Blocking pulmonary ICAM-1 expression ameliorates lung injury in established diet-induced pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether blocking the cell surface expression of intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) in established severe acute pancreatitis (AP) would ameliorate pulmonary injury. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Lung injury in AP is in part mediated by infiltrating leukocytes, which are directed to lung tissue by ICAM-l. The authors' laboratory has previously demonstrated that AP results in overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, upregulation of pulmonary ICAM-1 expression, and a concomitant infiltration of neutrophils, which results in lung injury. METHODS: Young female mice were fed a choline-deficient/ethionine-supplemented diet to induce AP and were treated with a blocking dose of monoclonal antibody specific to the ICAM-1 receptor. Antibody treatment was administered at 72, 96, and 120 hours after beginning the diet, and all animals were killed at 144 hours. The degree of pancreatitis was evaluated by serum biochemical and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels as well as histology. The dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody method was used to quantitate ICAM-1 cell surface expression in pulmonary tissue. Lung injury was assessed histologically and by determining lung microvascular permeability by measuring accumulated 125I-radiolabeled albumin. Pulmonary neutrophil sequestration was determined by the myeloperoxidase assay. RESULTS: All mice developed severe AP, and pancreatic injury was equally severe in both treated and untreated groups. Pulmonary ICAM-1 expression was significantly upregulated in animals with AP compared with controls. Treatment with a blocking dose of anti-ICAM-1 antibody after the induction of AP resulted in inhibited ICAM-1 cell surface expression to near control levels. Compared to untreated animals with AP, mice treated with anti-ICAM-1 mice had significantly reduced histologic lung injury and neutrophil sequestration, and a decreased microvascular permeability by more than twofold. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate for the first time that treatment targeting the cell surface expression of ICAM-1 after the induction of AP ameliorates pulmonary injury, even in the face of severe pancreatic disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Polydrug-using adolescent mothers and their infants receiving early intervention.

This study investigated the effects of an intervention for polydrug-using adolescent mothers. The program included educational, vocational, and parenting classes; social and drug rehab; and day care for their infants while they attended school half-day. The drug-exposed infants were similar to the nonexposed infants on traditional birth measures, although they had inferior Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale scores, including habituation, orientation, abnormal reflexes, general irritability, and regulatory capacity. The drug-exposed infants also spent less time in quiet sleep and more time crying and showing stress behaviors. Both the mothers and the infants in the drug groups demonstrated inferior interactions, and their dopamine and serotonin levels were significantly higher. As early as 3 months (following 3 months of intervention), the drug rehab mothers and their infants looked more like the nondrug group in their interactions; by 6 months, they looked similar on virtually every measure. At 12 months, the infants of drug rehab mothers (versus the drug control group) had superior Early Social Communication Scale scores and Bayley Mental scale scores, as well as significantly greater head circumference and fewer pediatric complications. The drug rehab mothers also improved on several lifestyle variables. They demonstrated a lower incidence of continued drug use and repeat pregnancy, and a greater number continued school, received a high school or general equivalency diploma, or were placed in a job. Thus, a relatively cost-effective high school based intervention had positive effects on both adolescent mothers who had used drugs and their infants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Correlations between the BDI and CES-D in a sample of adolescent mothers.

Adolescent mothers were administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). They also were asked if they preferred the BDI or CES-D. The findings indicated that BDI and CES-D scores were significantly correlated, and that more adolescent mothers preferred the CES-D. Both the BDI and CES-D were correlated with the DISC; however, the BDI was more highly correlated with the Major Depression subscale, and the CES-D with the Dysthymia subscale.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Physical performance of elite New Zealand Olympic class sailors.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the physical performance of elite New Zealand and other nations olympic class sailors and to undertake an initial examination of the relation between physical and sailing performance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A comparative study. SETTING: Healthy elite national level olympic class sailors were examined. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one elite New Zealand Olympic sailing squad team members and 108 Olympic team sailors from ten other nations. INTERVENTIONS: The data for the two groups of subjects was compared using unpaired "t"-tests. A qualitative analysis was used to examine the relation between physical and sailing performance. MEASURES: Measurements included age, body mass, muscular strength endurance (as assessed by the maximum number of push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups that could be performed) and serobic power (as assessed by the time taken to cover 2500 m and the distance completed in 12 minutes in a maximal effort rowing ergometer test). Sailing performance was assessed by national coach ranking of each New Zealand sailor. RESULTS: On average the New Zealanders were younger and lighter than the sailors from the other nations. They tended to have greater shoulder/arm strength endurance as reflected in their performance for push-ups and pull-ups, but a lesser ability in their sit-up performance. They also tended to be aerobically fitter. There were clear and logical differences between body mass and both class of vessel and the position of the sailor i.c. crew or helmsman. Lighter sailors sailed lighter craft whilst heavier sailors sailed the heavier craft. Crew members were generally heavier than helmsmen. Age appeared to be related to sailing performance. CONCLUSIONS: Elite New Zealand Olympic class sailors tend to be younger, lighter, stronger and aerobically fitter than elite sailors from other nations. Age appeared to be related to on-water sailing performance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Knowledge and reported use of sport science by elite New Zealand Olympic class sailors.

OBJECTIVE: This study enquired about the knowledge and reported use of sport science in elite Olympic class sailors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The sailors responded to a simple questionnaire. SETTING: The questionnaire was administered as part of an introductory seminar on sport science during a training camp. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 28 (22 male, 6 female) elite New Zealand Olympic class sailors. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASURES: The questionnaire asked whether or not they used a training race diary, enquired about their current and past injuries and their knowledge and use of sport science in the areas of nutrition, psychology and physical training. RESULTS: Only ten (36%) of the sailors kept a training/race diary. Whilst only four (14%) had a current injury, sixteen (57%) reported an injury in the previous three years. The injuries were in the lower back (45%), knee (22%), shoulder (18%), and arm (15%). Although nineteen (68%) of the sailors had experienced dehydration during racing, the average volume of fluid reported to be taken on a four hour sail was only 0.9 litre, of which only an average of 0.7 litres (77%) was reported to be drunk. All the sailors reported being sometimes (46%) to very often (3%) anxious before races and sometimes (43%) to always (7%) being frustrated with their own mistakes. Only one sailor reported never having negative thoughts whilst fifteen (53%) reported having them sometimes, and seven (25%) often or very often. Twenty-four (86%) of the sailors reported that they sometimes had a loss of concentration near the end of the race. Whilst eighteen (64%) reported practising relaxation and seventeen (61%) reported practising visualisation as a mental skill, only five (18%) practised progressive mental relaxation, two (7%) practised meditation and none practised yoga. Seventeen (61%) undertook strength/circuit training, ten (36%) flexibility and twenty-one (75%) off water aerobic training. Twenty-four (86%) reported undertaking on-water aerobic training. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that there is considerable scope for improvement in the knowledge and use of sports science amongst elite New Zealand Olympic class sailors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of Kodak Amerlite FT4 and TSH-30 with T4 and TSH as first-line thyroid function tests.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of test automation and a change in strategy for thyroid function tests (TFT) on personnel needs and turn-around time. The first-line TFT were changed from T4 and TSH to FT4 and TSH-30. DESIGN AND METHODS: Samples received for TFT from 357 randomly selected patients were analyzed by RIA for T4, and by IRMA for TSH as first-line tests. FT3 and TBG were requested as back-up tests when indicated. Patients were classified on the basis of these results and the clinical information received. All the samples were reanalyzed for FT4 and TSH on the Amerlite Processing Center, which is a batch, semiautomated immunoassay system. The thyroid status of the patients was compared using the two protocols and available clinical data. RESULTS: There was good correlation between TSH-IRMA and TSH-30 in the 160 patients classified as euthyroid (r = 0.956; p < 0.001) and no euthyroid patient was reclassified with the new strategy. In 21 patients with borderline raised TSH-IRMA, FT4 was found to be low in only 2. All 11 patients classified as hypothyroid had TSH results greater than 10 mU/L and all except 2 patients had FT4 less than 11 nmol/L. The status of 21 hyperthyroid as well as 40 patients on carbimazole could be determined biochemically on the basis of agreement between both the FT4 and TSH-30 results. FT3 was only required if the FT4 and TSH-30 results were not in agreement. In 42 patients on T4 therapy, adequacy of replacement was assessed better using FT4 and TSH-30. No patient required backup testing with TBG to determine thyroid status using the new testing protocol. The change in TFT protocol reduced the 95% turn-around time from 3 days to 1 day. CONCLUSION: The introduction of FT4 and TSH-30 as first-line TFT improved the turn-around time for TFT, resulted in 25% reduction in personnel requirements, 60% reduction in FT3 assays, and discontinuation of TBG assay.

Antithyroid Agents↗
PubMed1996

Comparative lipoprotein metabolism of myristate, palmitate, and stearate in normolipidemic men.

This project was designed to test the hypothesis that long-chain saturated fatty acids (myristate, palmitate, and stearate) are metabolized differently in human subjects, and that these differences may therefore account for the changes in plasma lipoprotein composition when these fatty acids are altered in the diet. Ethyl esters of each of the stable-isotope-labeled fatty acids (2H3- or 2H4-myristate, 13C16-palmitate, and 13C18-stearate) were fed to five nonhyperlipidemic men. The concentration of each labeled fatty acid was monitored for up to 72 hours as the fatty acids were assimilated into the lipid components (phospholipid [PL], triglyceride [TG], and cholesteryl ester [CE]) of the plasma lipoproteins (TG-rich lipoproteins [TRL], intermediate-density [IDL], low-density [LDL], and high-density lipoprotein [HDL]). Over 95% of the myristate was incorporated into TG, whereas 33% and 9% of the stearate and 18% and 7% of the palmitate were incorporated into PL and CE, respectively. The mean residence times (MRTs) for myristate in TG (8.6 to 9.9 hours) and PL (6.7 to 10.9 hours) in the individual lipoprotein subfractions were significantly shorter than for either palmitate (TG, 12.7 to 15.3 hours; PL, 19.6 to 21.3 hours) or stearate (TG, 10.7 to 15.5 hours; PL, 17.8 to 19.9 hours). The MRTs for stearate were shorter than for palmitate in PL. These data indicate that TG fatty acid in general, and myristate TG in particular, is the most rapidly cleared of the saturated fatty acids. There was a rapid transfer of labeled TG and PL between the lipoproteins. We were unable to detect any significant amount of stearate desaturation or elongation. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that myristate, palmitate, and stearate are metabolized in unique ways, and that it may therefore be inappropriate to continue to regard all "saturated fatty acids" as metabolically similar in clinical studies. Rather, it is important that we elucidate more clearly the specific metabolic pathway of each fatty acid to understand the mechanisms by which it alters plasma lipoprotein concentrations and composition and influences atherogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Histidinemia in mice: a metabolic defect treated using a novel approach to hepatocellular transplantation.

Histidinemia in mice and in humans is an autosomal recessive disorder of histidine metabolism that leads to high-histidine levels in both plasma and urine and is caused by a lack of hepatic histidine-alpha-deaminase (histidase). We have used a novel approach to hepatocellular transplantation to effect a complete phenotypic cure of histidinemia in a mouse model. Mice lacking histidase were treated with isolated liver cells (approximately 18 x 10(6) hepatocytes and 9 x 10(6) nonparenchymal cells) from histidase-competent donors transplanted into the peritoneum (active transplant group). Recipient mice showed a dramatic decrease, by more than 75%, in urinary histidine levels from day one throughout the course of the experiment, resulting in levels within the normal range for wild-type mice. In comparison, there was no change in urinary histidine levels in the control group of histidase-deficient mice treated with isolated liver cells from mice lacking histidase (statistical comparison between the two groups, P < .003, two-way ANOVA). Histologically, ectopic liver tissue was seen in the peritoneum in association with abdominal wall, pancreas, and peritoneal connective tissue; immunohistochemical evidence showed expression of histidase in the ectopic liver tissue in the active transplant group. This report is the first to show complete correction of a defective biochemical phenotype achieved by hepatocellular transplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect of heat treatment on results for biochemical analysis of plasma and serum.

Incubation of serum and plasma samples at 56 degrees C for 30 min inactivates the HTLV-III virus. We assessed the effect of this procedure on results of routine biochemical tests by dividing samples of serum and plasma into two, heat-treating one while the other remained at room temperature. Samples were then analyzed in an SMA 16/60, an Astra-8, an Analox glucose analyzer, a Cobas Bio centrifugal analyzer, and manually for salicylate and acetaminophen (paracetamol). Most of the differences produced by heat treatment were not clinically significant, although heated samples proved unsuitable for use in assay of some commonly measured enzymes. Serum evidently is preferable to plasma for this procedure, and heat-treated serum samples can validly be used for most routine analyses. Thus this procedure makes safer the analysis of samples from patients with suspected or proven acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗