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Biomedical subjects

J Watt

Publications and source records attributed to J Watt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The pre-ulcerative phase of carrageenan-induced colonic ulceration in the guinea-pig.

The pre-ulcerative phase of carrageenan-induced colonic ulceration was investigated in guinea-pigs supplied 3% degraded carrageenan as an aqueous solution as drinking fluid for 2 or 3 days during which no ulceration of the bowel was observed with the naked eye or dissecting microscope. Mucosal microscopic changes, from caecum to rectum, were multifocal and included cellular infiltrates, dilatation of glands, crypt abscesses, micro-ulcers and sulphated polysaccharide in the lamina propria. Sulphated polysaccharide was also demonstrated histologically for the first time within the surface epithelium and showed ultrastructural features similar to carrageenan. The results indicate that colonic epithelium in the guinea-pig is capable of macromolecular absorption. Carrageenan, a highly active polyanionic electrolyte, within the surface epithelial cells is most likely a primary factor in the breakdown of mucosal integrity. Macromolecular absorption causing enteropathy of the large bowel is a new pathophysiological concept which may have implications in man, particularly in the pathology of large bowel disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Small-for-gestational age infants: perinatal, physical and social factors in the first year of life.

Perinatal factors and physical development in the first year were studied in a group of 30 small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants and matched controls. Mothers of small-for-gestational age infants were significantly lighter (p less than 0.01), had shorter labours (p less than 0.01), had higher reported caffeine intake (p less than 0.01) and were more likely to have smoked in pregnancy than mothers of control infants (p less than 0.05). Small-for-gestational age infants had lower ponderal indices (p less than 0.001), were more likely to exhibit head sparing at birth (p less than 0.02) and to be short-for-dates (p less than 0.001), and to have had hypoglycaemia in the first 24 hours (p less than 0.02). Their growth trajectories exhibited growth catchup in the first 3 months but at 12 months they remained lighter, shorter and had smaller head circumferences than the control infants (p less than 0.001) with mean weight and length percentiles of 23% each in small-for-gestational age infants and 50% and 57% in appropriately grown infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Speech acceptability and olfaction in laryngectomees.

A number of hypotheses concerning the causal relationships and interrelationships between esophageal speech acceptability, olfactory abilities, and airflow volume in laryngectomees were tested. To assess the hypotheses, data were collected from 25 laryngectomees and comprised the following: (1) A measure of speech acceptability using a standard passage of prose; (2) odor identification test results in which 14 common odorants were used; (3) odor threshold test results in which an 11-step aqueous dilution series of l-butanol was used and: (4) a measure of nasal airflow volume in liters per minute. The null hypotheses linking speech acceptability, olfaction, and airflow volume were all tested and none of the path coefficients was significant. The results are discussed in relation to observations made by Gilchrist [Acta Otolaryngol. (Stockh.) 75:511-518 (1973)], who noted that those esophageal speakers who attained good speech maintained a greater sensitivity to smell. The findings in the present study do not support Gilchrist's observations.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

The consequences of intrauterine growth retardation: what do we know?

This paper restricts itself to a discussion of the development of term infants born small, and presumed to have suffered fetal malnutrition. They form a subgroup of low birth weight infants, and have been sparsely studied to date. Investigations have usually failed to differentiate between the kinds of fetal undergrowth exhibited at birth, and it is clear that further understanding of the processes and consequences of early behaviour based on clear categorization of the growth retardation is needed. This together with more systematic investigation of the characteristics of the families of these infants is required before effective efforts can be made to ameliorate the potential effects of fetal malnutrition. The evidence so far suggests that the development of small for gestational age infants is susceptible to environmental intervention despite its physical origins; however we are far from understanding the aetiology and the precise consequences of this complex phenomenon.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Rapid production of ulcerative disease of the colon in newly-weaned guinea-pigs by degraded carrageenan.

In a dose-response study, degraded carrageenan (Eucheuma spinosum) was supplied in the drinking fluid at 1.2 and 3% concentrations over two weeks to young adult guinea-pigs. Ulceration of the large bowel was produced in 100% of animals, the severity and extent of damage probably being dose-related. In a time-course study, 3% degraded carrageenan solution supplied to newly-weaned guinea-pigs produced in 100% of animals ulceration in the caecum by four days and in the ascending colon by seven days. The onset of ulceration occurred as early as the second day. This model is convenient and economic for the screening of drugs of potential therapeutic value in human ulcerative colitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Postprandial motor response of the small intestine to enteral feeds in preterm infants.

The postprandial motor response to enteral feeds of the small intestine of preterm infants is dependent on the bolus volume of feed that the infants receive and the number of days over which enteral feeds have been given. The postconceptional age of the infant is not an important determinant. The early introduction of enteral nutrition to preterm infants is therefore likely to enhance the motor response of the small intestine to feeds.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1987

Variant forms of ataxia telangiectasia.

Two ataxia telangiectasia patients with unusual clinical and cellular features are described. Cultured fibroblasts and PHA stimulated lymphocytes from these two patients showed a smaller increase of radiosensitivity than cells from other A-T patients, as measured by colony forming ability or induced chromosome damage respectively, after exposure to ionising radiation. The response of DNA synthesis to irradiation of these cells was, however, the same as for other A-T patients. Cells from a third patient with some clinical features of A-T but with a very protracted course also showed low levels of radiation induced chromosome damage, but colony forming ability and the response of DNA synthesis after irradiation were no different from cells of normal subjects. There was, however, an increased level of translocations and unstable chromosomal rearrangements in this patient's lymphocytes.

Adolescent↗