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J Devlin

Publications and source records attributed to J Devlin.

86 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

A cytogenetic study of familial medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Familial medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) is a malignant neoplasm of the calcitonin-producing C-cells of the thyroid gland, inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with a high degree of penetrance. We have studied 26 individuals from 5 New England families with MCT with the goal of finding a cytogenetic test useful in the detection of the presence of the gene. G-banded metaphase spreads, segregational errors of chromosomes, breakage in untreated cells, breakage in bleomycin-challenged cells, and high-resolution banding of prophase/prometaphase spreads were examined; one or more of each of these procedures were studied in at least one affected individual in each of 5 families. All specimens were coded, and slides were scored blindly. All tests were negative with respect to significant differences from controls. We did not observe the minute deletion from the short arm of chromosome 20 that was reported by other investigators to occur in individuals with multiple endocrine neoplasia types 2A and 2B which include MCT. Contrasting results from our study and several other cytogenetic studies of MCT may reflect genetic heterogeneity among the families studied and/or differing environmental factors in various geographic locations that are possibly associated with initiation and onset of the disease.

Bleomycin↗
PubMed1984

Lymphotoxins - a multicomponent system of growth inhibitory and cell-lytic glycoproteins.

Activated lymphocytes from experimental animals and man can release materials, termed lymphotoxins , which cause growth inhibition and cell lysis in vitro. These molecules, from human lymphocytes, are glycoproteins which can be divided into five molecular weight classes. These forms are heterogeneous, for each MW class can be further subdivided into multiple charge subclasses. It is now clear certain MW classes are interrelated and form a system of cell toxins. The larger classes (greater than 140,000 d) are associated with nonclassical antigen-binding receptors (R), which can be of T cell origin. The smaller forms (less than 90,000 d) do not express R function and are derived from the larger forms, possibly by enzymatic action. Two MW classes, one receptor-associated and one non-receptor associated, have been purified to homogeneity and their peptide composition is being studied. Functional studies reveal the larger MW forms derived from alloimmune cell populations; can induce selective and nonselective destruction of cells in vitro. Antibodies which inhibit the in vitro cell lytic ability of various human LT forms can block different classes of human lymphocyte cell killing reactions in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Plasma prolactin and gonadotrophins in anorexia nervosa and amenorrhoea due to weight loss.

The role of prolactin in anorexia nervosa is controversial and both hyperprolactinaemia and normoprolactinaemia were reported in patients with anorexia nervosa. We have measured immunoreactive prolactin by radioimmunoassay in plasma samples from 14 consecutive patients with anorexia nervosa and found normoprolactinaemia in 13 patients and a borderline elevation of plasma prolactin in one patient. The mean plasma prolactin level in anorexia nervosa patients did not differ from an age-matched control group of patients with amenorrhoea due to simple weight loss. While we were unable to confirm reports on the common occurrence of hyperprolactinaemia in anorexia nervosa, the absence of hyperprolactinaemia suggests a different mechanism of amenorrhoea in patients with anorexia nervosa and due to simple dieting from that in idiopathic secondary amenorrhoea in which the frequency of hyperprolactinaemia is about 30%. The mean plasma follicle-stimulating hormone was abnormally low both in patients with anorexia nervosa and simple weight loss, while the mean plasma luteinizing hormone was depressed only in patients with anorexia nervosa. This difference is compatible with a more profound hypothalamic disorder in anorexia nervosa, which is not solely dependent on the weight loss, than in amenorrhoea due to simple dieting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1973

The Devans tutor.

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Audiovisual Aids↗