Biomedical subjects

K Dunlop

Publications and source records attributed to K Dunlop.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Caterpillar dermatitis.

A 3-year-old girl presented with recurrent urticarial eruptions presumed due to infestation of her garden with Euproctis edwardsi, Euproctis edwardsi, the mistletoe browntail moth is a variety of hairy caterpillar widely distributed in south-eastern Australia. They are often called 'woolly bears' by children. These caterpillars possess barbed hairs that fragment readily and are difficult to extract from the skin in one piece. Itching urticarial wheals and papular eruptions can follow contact with the caterpillars or their detached hairs. The hairlets may be identified by microscopy from skin scrapings and can be removed by tape stripping or with the aid of fine forceps. The skin lesions are treated symptomatically with calamine lotion, sodium bicarbonate solution and antihistamines. Infestation with Euproctis edwardsi can be minimized by removal of mistletoe from eucalyptus trees and by spraying affected areas with white oil or carbaryl 0.1%.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Growth and adrenal suppression in asthmatic children treated with high-dose fluticasone propionate.

BACKGROUND: Fluticasone propionate was introduced in 1993 in the UK as a potentially safer inhaled corticosteroid than those already in use. The efficacy and safety of fluticasone has been established at recommended doses of 200 micrograms/day, but not at higher doses that are often used. METHODS: Growth retardation was observed in six severely asthmatic children after introduction of high-dose fluticasone propionate treatment (dry powder). Assessment of cortisol response was by insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in three cases, by short tetracosactrin test in two, and by low-dose tetracosactrin and 24-hour urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio in one. FINDINGS: Six children with growth retardation noted after treatment with high-dose fluticasone propionate were found to have adrenal suppression. In one case the growth rate and cortisol response returned to normal 9 months after the fluticasone dose was reduced to 500 micrograms/day. INTERPRETATION: When high doses of fluticasone propionate are used, growth may be retarded and adrenal suppression may occur.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1993

Selection of monoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Three monoclonal antibodies raised against tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were selected for their ability to inhibit solid-phase bound t-PA. Each monoclonal antibody blocked the release of p-nitroaniline from H-D-Ile-Pro-Arg-pNA (S-2288). The first antibody 1D2 was a gamma 2b, kappa with KD = 8 x 10(-9) M, the second antibody 2B9 was a gamma 1, kappa with KD = 2 x 10(-9) M, and the third antibody 5A9 was a gamma 1,kappa with KD = 4 x 10(-10) M. In solution-phase format each antibody blocked the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin as judged by a plasmin assay and also inhibited t-PA-mediated lysis of plasma fibrin clot in plasma. The binding of each 125I-radiolabeled antibody to t-PA was inhibited by any one of the three antibodies, suggesting that they recognized a common epitope on t-PA which was absent on unfolded t-PA. We concluded these antibodies bind near t-PA active site since PPACK treatment lowered binding of two antibodies. We believe solid-phase chromogenic substrate assay may be a useful way to screen for antibodies directed against the active site of proteases.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

PubMed1979

Mechanism of monensin-induced hyperpolarization of neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid NG108-15.

Addition of the ionophore monensin to mouse neuroblastoma-rat glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells leads to a 20 to 30-mV increase in the electrical potential across the plasma membrane as shown by direct intracellular recording techniques and by distribution studies with the lipophilic cation [3H]-tetraphenylphosphonium+ (TPP+) [Lichtshtein, D., Kaback, H.R. & Blume, A.J. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76, 650-654]. The effect is not observed with cells suspended in high K+ medium, is dependent upon the presence of Na+ externally, and the concentration of monensin that induces half-maximal stimulation of TPP+ accumulation is approximately 1 microM. The ionophore also causes rapid influx of Na+, a transient increase in intracellular pH, and a decrease in extracellular pH, all of which are consistent with the known ability of monensin to catalyze the transmembrane exchange of H+ for Na+. Although ouabain has no immediate effect on the membrane potential, the cardiac glycoside completely blocks the increase in TPP+ accumulation observed in the presence of monensin. Thus, the hyperpolarizing effect of monensin is mediated apparently by an increase in intracellular Na+ that acts to stimulate the electrogenic activity of the Na+,K+-ATPase. Because monensin stimulates TPP+ accumulation in a number of other cultured cell lines in addition to NG108-15, the techniques described may be of general use for studying the Na+,K+ pump and its regulation in situ.

Animals↗