PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L A Morgan

Publications and source records attributed to L A Morgan.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Recent widows' kin support and orientations to self-sufficiency.

This paper examines two issues: the role of the adult child network in task support to widows, and whether widows' attitudes toward independence result in lower levels of task support. Data on recently widowed women suggest that many are quite self-sufficient; however, in those areas where support is needed, they largely rely on children. Widows' past experiences and attitudes toward independence influence the amount of overall help they receive, whereas income, number of children, and perceived willingness of children to help affect the proportion of help that comes from children.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Inability of cytomegalovirus infection of cultured endothelial cells to induce HLA class II antigen expression.

Cytomegalovirus infection in the renal allograft recipient has been associated with the initiation of acute rejection. The mechanism of this induction is unknown. It may be related to renal tubular epithelial and endothelial expression of HLA class II antigens or a CMV immediate-early antigen that exhibits immunologic crossreactivity with HLA DR. In this study the ability of CMV to both infect and subsequently induce class II antigen expression on cultured human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVEs), in the absence of cytokines, particularly gamma interferon, was tested. Individual HUVE cell lines were first proven to express HLA class II antigens in the presence of 10, 100, and 200 units of recombinant IFN-gamma as early as 24 hr postincubation by an immunohistochemical technique and by flow cytometry. These cell lines were successfully infected with CMV strains AD169 and CMV3 as determined by the presence of early and late viral antigens and CMV DNA. The degree of infection was dose and incubation-time dependent. Infection of HUVEs with these CMV strains and a nonattenuated clinical isolate failed to induce HLA DR, DP, or DQw1 expression in the absence of IFN-gamma. These findings support the hypothesis that endothelial cells in vivo may serve as reservoirs of CMV infection. They do not support the hypothesis that CMV produces an immediate-early antigen that has immunologic cross-reactivity with HLA DR. Furthermore, there is no support for the hypothesis that CMV independently induces HLA class II antigens in the absence of IFN-gamma.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1990

Interpretation of gram-stained sputa containing Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis.

Sputum specimens culture positive for Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis were Gram stained with three decolorizer solutions (slow, 95% ethyl alcohol; intermediate, 1:1 ratio of 95% ethyl alcohol and acetone; and fast, acetone alone) for 5, 10, 20, and 30 s. Optimal results were obtained with acetone alone after 10 s or with a 1:1 mixture of acetone and ethanol after 20 s. Inadequate decolorization of M. catarrhalis in sputa is likely if the decolorization solution and exposure time are not optimal and may contribute to underreporting of this organism.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1989

Financial experience and well-being among mature widowed women.

Widowhood for women may be complicated by a lack of financial experience or knowledge, further diminishing well-being. Analyzed were data from 300 widowed women aged 60 and older regarding financial experience prior to widowhood, planning undertaken before death of spouse, and their effects on well-being in early widowhood. Shown by the findings was that preparation was associated with somewhat better well-being among widows, but financial experience prior to widowhood had no effect.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Interferon alfa, infectious virus, and virus antigen secretion in respiratory syncytial virus infections of graded severity.

Interferon alfa was measured by an immunoradiometric assay in the nasopharyngeal secretions of a group of infants admitted to hospital with respiratory syncytial virus infection. Virus replication in the upper respiratory tract was assessed by infectivity assay and by an enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay for the viral fusion protein on the same nasopharyngeal secretions. All infants were examined daily while in hospital and allocated a score based upon a subjective assessment of the severity of their illness. There was no significant correlation between interferon, virus, or fusion (F) protein secretion and severity of illness or age of infant. It is concluded that poor interferon alfa secretion does not underly the susceptibility of infants to severe infections with this virus.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1989

Economic well-being following marital termination: a comparison of widowed and divorced women.

Several studies of divorced and widowed women show increased odds of becoming poor following the termination of marriage. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data suggest that the end of marriage is correlated with higher poverty rates. Less is know, however, about factors that influence economic well-being over time, and whether these factors are similar for widows and divorced women. This analysis uses data from the National Longitudinal Surveys cohort of mature women (1967-1982) to examine the probability of becoming poor after widowhood or divorce among mid-life women, and factors that seem to influence economic well-being. Findings show that 40% of widows and over 1/4 of divorced women fall into poverty for at least some time during the 1st 5 years after leaving marriage. The type of marital transition experienced by the woman is not a significant factor in economic well-being, but both age and prior economic standing have positive estimated effects.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Strain variation of respiratory syncytial virus.

Western blotting and immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies were employed to analyse epitopic and polypeptide molecular weight variation among isolates of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus collected in Newcastle between 1965 and 1986. One group of isolates resembled the A2 and Long prototype subgroup A strains of RS virus in possessing a P protein of Mr 34,000. Isolates in this subgroup showed two patterns of reactivity with subgroup A-specific monoclonal antibodies to the G glycoprotein and 22K protein. Isolates with both reactivity patterns were isolated throughout the period studied. Isolates in the second group resembled the 8/60 subgroup B prototype strain in their lack of reactivity to subgroup A-specific monoclonal antibodies but were heterogeneous in P protein molecular weight. The earliest isolate only, made in 1965, possessed a P protein of Mr 31,000 resembling the prototype strain. All subsequent subgroup B isolates possessed a higher Mr, 33,000, P protein. Overall, subgroup A viruses were isolated most frequently although subgroup B strains may have predominated in some epidemics.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

A neutralizing monoclonal antibody to respiratory syncytial virus which binds to both F1 and F2 components of the fusion protein.

A virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (1E3) specifically immunoprecipitated the 70000 mol. wt. (70K) fusion (F) protein from respiratory syncytial (RS) virus-infected HeLa cells. Western blotting analysis of polypeptides from such cells separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions revealed that 1E3 was peculiar in that it bound to both F1 (50K) and F2 (20K) components of the F protein. Antibody subsequently eluted from either the F1 or the F2 regions of immunoblots re-bound to both F1 and F2 regions of the SDS-PAGE blot. These results show that monoclonal antibody 1E3 reacts with an epitope which is found on both F1 and F2 subunits of RS virus fusion protein.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1983

Intergenerational economic assistance to children: the case of widows and widowers.

This research focuses on intrafamilial financial assistance and a) whether loss of spouse influences this form of aid from aging parents to adult children, and b) whether this difference is influenced by the gender of the surviving parent. Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Retirement History Study, and the sample consisted of surviving spouses from originally intact couples. Prewidowhood patterns of financial help were compared with those following death of spouse, utilizing both descriptive statistics and multivariate logit analysis. Continuously married panel members were employed as controls. The findings suggest that widowhood is not a predictor of financial assistance patterns. Although the widowed, especially women, are less likely to provide financial help to adult children, this difference is explained largely by other factors.

Economics↗
PubMed1976

A re-examination of widowhood and morale.

Previous research has suggested widowed status to be associated with lower morale or life satisfaction. The effects of marital status on morale relative to five covariates (health, income, age, family interaction, and employment status) were examined with 232 widowed and 363 married women aged 45-74, drawn in a multistage stratified area probability sample of Los Angeles County. Analysis of covariance was utilized with a six-item, factor analyzed measure of morale. Parallel analyses were performed for each of three ethnic groups (blacks, Mexican-American, and white) to examine specific ethnic patterns. In the total sample, poor health was associated with significantly lower morale among widowed than among married women. The analysis with age showed the widowed group catching up and surpassing their married peers on morale at higher ages. Controlling for income and employment status eliminated differences between the marital status groups on morale scores. Higher family interaction was positively associated with morale in both groups, but married women were consistently higher on morale regardless of level of interaction. Most ethnic differences were not significant, but family interaction appeared to be crucial among Mexican-American widows. The findings suggest that lower morale scores found among the widowed may be partly attributable to other factors commonly associated with this status and not due to the role of widowhood per se.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preliminary validation of a short-term morphological assay to evaluate adverse effects on amphibian metamorphosis and thyroid function using Xenopus laevis.

Short-term static-renewal studies were performed on Xenopus laevis embryos with 16 selected test materials from day 50 (stage 60) to day 64 (stage 66) (14-day test) to evaluate effects on tail resorption and thyroid function. Of the 16 test materials, nine were found to inhibit significantly the rate of tail resorption, four were found to stimulate metamorphosis and three had no appreciable effect on the rate of metamorphosis. In an effort to determine if the morphological effects observed were related to alteration in thyroid activity, measurement of triiodothyronine (T3) in the test organisms and coadministration studies using thyroxine (agonist) or propylthiouracil (antagonist) were performed based on the morphological response noted during tail resorption. Of the nine compounds found to inhibit the rate of tail resorption, six were found to reduce the levels of T3. In each case, the inhibitory response could be at least partially alleviated by the co-administration of thyroxine. Larvae exposed to the four stimulatory agents had somewhat elevated levels of T3 and were responsive to propylthiouracil antagonism. These results suggest that 12 of the 14 compounds tested in this study that altered the rate of tail resorption did so via the thyroid axis. Overall, the X. laevis model appeared to be a suitable system for evaluating the impact of environmental agents and chemical products on thyroid function.

Animals↗