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Biomedical subjects

J Richmond

Publications and source records attributed to J Richmond.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The distribution of immunoreactive interferon-gamma-containing cells in normal human tissues.

An immunohistochemical technique has been used to study the distribution of lymphocytes expressing interferon-gamma in normal adult tissues. The greatest concentrations of these cells were seen in mucosal sites exposed to a resident microflora. It is proposed that such organisms, by eliciting immune responses, provide the stimulus for the production of 'physiological' interferon-gamma. This in turn may act to preserve the 'tone' or readiness of the immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

cAMP-stimulated phosphorylation of an axonemal polypeptide that copurifies with the 22S dynein arm regulates microtubule translocation velocity and swimming speed in Paramecium.

In Paramecium tetraurelia, cyclic nucleotides are important physiological second messengers that could regulate dynein mechanochemistry by phosphorylation. A 29-kDa polypeptide that is phosphorylated in a cAMP- and Ca(2+)-sensitive manner in permeabilized cells and isolated axonemes is the only significant phosphorylated moiety that consistently copurifies with 22S dynein from paramecium cilia. It is not a component of 14S dynein. This polypeptide can be thiophosphorylated in a cAMP-sensitive manner, and this form of 22S dynein is stable when stored at -70 degrees C. cAMP-mediated thiophosphorylation of the 29-kDa polypeptide significantly increases the velocity with which 22S dynein causes microtubules to glide in vitro. The increase is abolished, together with the thiophosphorylation of the 29-kDa polypeptide, by preincubation with high Ca2+. Pretreatment with high Ca2+ does not alter the thiophosphorylation pattern of, or the velocity of microtubule translocation by, 14S dynein. The same preincubation conditions that permit or abolish the increase in velocity of microtubule translocation by 22S dynein permit or fail to permit swimming speed of permeabilized cells to increase on reactivation even after cAMP is removed. The effect of cAMP on swimming speed can therefore be accounted for by changes in the mechanically coupled 22S dynein activity via phosphorylation or thiophosphorylation of the 29-kDa polypeptide, which could act as a regulatory dynein light chain.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The safety and the efficacy of maintenance therapy of recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with renal insufficiency.

Ten anemic predialysis renal patients participated in a study to examine the long-term effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) treatment. The drug was initially given intravenously three times a week for 1 to 5 months, then by subcutaneous injections three times each week for 4 to 8 months, and finally by subcutaneous injection once weekly for 3 to 18 months. The duration of follow-up ranged from 11 to 29 months. Anemia was ameliorated in all participants. Mean hematocrit increased from a basal value of 26.8% to 35.1% during the intravenous phase and to 36.7% and 34.6% during the two subcutaneous periods. Mean weekly doses of erythropoietin (EPO) were 276 units/kg during intravenous therapy and 134 and 108 units/kg in the two subcutaneous periods. The differences in the doses were significant only between the intravenous and the two subcutaneous periods. Mean erythrocyte mass increased from a baseline value of 13.6 mL/kg to 20.4 mL/kg 8 months after initiation of treatment. Mean erythrocyte survival half-time was increased from 23 days before to 26 days, 8 months after r-HuEPO treatment, P less than 0.002. Mean blood pressure (mm Hg) was 105 before and 95 after treatment. Mean serum creatinine was 513 mumol/L (5.8 mg/dL) at the beginning of the study. At the time of this writing (11 to 29 months after treatment), seven patients have required dialysis treatment. There were three episodes of transient refractoriness to r-HuEPO documented during periods of infection and surgical procedures. All subjects tolerated the medication well, and no serious side effects attributable to the medication were noted. Furthermore, circulating antibodies against r-HuEPO were consistently negative.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Transrectal ultrasound versus cystography in the evaluation of anatomical stress urinary incontinence.

Thirty-two female patients with clinical and urodynamic findings of genuine stress urinary incontinence were evaluated before and 6 months after surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Twenty-nine control patients had identical evaluations before and 6 months after surgery which did not involve the urethrovesical junction. Twenty-four patients with primary bladder instability had similar evaluations and served as a second control group. Anatomical landmarks indicating support to the urethrovesical junction were evaluated by the position of the urethra at the most dependent point in the bladder on straining and the urethral descent on straining to beneath the posterior ramus of the symphysis pubis on bead chain cystography. The urethrovesical junction drop on straining was evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography. Cystographic and ultrasonographic tests for the position of the urethrovesical junction at the most dependent position in the bladder during straining were very sensitive in women with stress urinary incontinence (94 and 87% respectively) but much less specific (45 and 48% respectively). When evaluating anatomical support to the urethrovesical junction and its descent on straining, these tests were both highly sensitive (97 and 94% respectively) and specific (76 and 96% respectively) in women with genuine stress urinary incontinence. Simple clinical tests for support of the urethrovesical junction, such as the Q tip test, are non-specific in patients with stress urinary incontinence. Transrectal ultrasonography is a simple and quick out-patient procedure. The availability of ultrasound equipment in most clinics and the high sensitivity and specificity of the test make it an attractive and cost-effective alternative to X-ray cystography in the pre-operative evaluation of anatomical support to the urethrovesical junction.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Role of cystourethrography in the preoperative evaluation of stress urinary incontinence in women.

Thirty-two women with stress urinary incontinence and 27 control continent patients with pelvic relaxation underwent a detailed clinical and urodynamic evaluation of the lower urinary tract. All patients underwent a standard chain urethrocystographic evaluation to detect anatomic pathology of the lower urinary tract. Urethrocystographic study included an evaluation of the posterior and anterior urethral angle, funneling of the proximal urethra on straining, the position of the urethrovesical junction and flattening of the bladder base. No differences were seen in the incidence of radiographic findings in women with pelvic relaxation with or without stress urinary incontinence. All five cystographic criteria were similar in the continent and stress incontinence patients. Static urethrocystography cannot differentiate women with and without stress urinary incontinence from among those with pelvic relaxation and thus should not be relied upon in the evaluation of women with urinary incontinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Ferritin, a sensitizing substance in the leucocyte migration inhibition test in patients with malignant lymphoma.

The nature of the factor in Hodgkin's disease involved spleen to which many patients with malignant lymphoma react in the leucocyte migration inhibition test has been investigated. Our results suggest that ferritin from Hodgkin's disease involved spleens is antigenically different to that prepared from normal spleen. Isoelectric focusing shows the presence of more acidic 'isoferritins' in ferritin prepared from Hodgkin's disease involved spleen than in that prepared from normal spleen. Further observations using the leucocyte migration inhibition test suggest that sensitization to the abnormal ferritin, acting as an onco-fetal tumour associated substance, may be responsible for the reaction of patients with malignant lymphoma in this test.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1977

A small cluster of Hodgkin's disease.

Nine cases of Hodgkin's disease and one of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia occurred in 1972-5 in an area of less than 1 km. Clinical, social, and drug histories provided no relevant information, and definite patient-to-patient contacts before the onset of disease were not established. There was a higher incidence of malignant neoplasms in first-degree relatives of the patients than in those of a small control group living in the same area. There was no apparent reason for this cluster of cases, but geographical, climatic, and entomological studies are being carried out.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Follow-up studies on the immune status of patients with Hodgkin's disease after splenectomy and treatment, in relapse and remission.

Sixty-two patients with Hodgkin's disease have been followed for one year from the start of treatment. Immunological assessments were repeated after intensive treatment, in patients relapsing and in those in remission at one year. In patients achieving remission, overall cellular immunity, after deteriorating with therapy, particularly cytotoxic chemotherapy, returned to pre-treatment levels in remission when there was little evidence of cellular immune disturbance. Serum IgG and IgM levels fell with intensive chemotherapy in splenectomized patients. IgA and IgM levels were lower (irrespective of splenectomy or therapy status) in remission than at presentation or after treatment. Relapse or non-response was usually associated with deteriorating cellular immunity. Herpes zoster/varicella and candida infections (seen in 6 patients) were preceded by, or associated with, deterioration of cellular immunity.

Adult↗