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Biomedical subjects

M Banks

Publications and source records attributed to M Banks.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 in the liver of rats fed a choline deficient diet: possible involvement in liver tumor promotion.

The effect of feeding a choline deficient (CD) diet, an efficient liver tumor promoting regimen, on the prostaglandin metabolism in the liver of male Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. The possible biological significance of the alteration was examined using hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators and modifiers of prostaglandin metabolism such as indomethacin and menhaden oil in the short term assay of the induction of enzyme altered foci in the liver. A CD diet, when fed for 10-30 days, induced 2-2.5 times increases in the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the liver, while the hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators, 4-chloro-6(2,3-xylidino) pyrimidinylthio(N-hydroxyethyl)-acetamide (BR931) and di(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), markedly reduced the levels of this metabolite. The addition of BR931 or indomethacin to a CD diet suppressed the diet-induced elevations of PGE2 and a substitution of fats in a CD diet with menhaden oil had the same effect. Furthermore, both indomethacin and menhaden oil added to a CD diet suppressed the induction of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase positive hepatocyte foci in the liver of rats initiated with a single dose of diethylnitrosamine after 8 weeks of the dietary promotion. The results suggest that altered prostaglandin metabolism may be involved in the liver tumor promoting effect of a CD diet.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Aujeszky's disease ELISA: cross-reactions with other herpesvirus antisera.

The production of antibodies in pigs to 11 herpesviruses was investigated in relation to their ability to cross-react with Aujeszky's disease virus (suid herpesvirus 1--SHV1). Of the herpesviruses tested only two, sheep herpesvirus (caprine herpesvirus 1) and dog herpesvirus (canid herpesvirus 1), failed to produce homologous virus antibodies. Only the antibodies to bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) produced a cross-reaction by SHV1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No SHV1 neutralizing antibodies were detected in any of the herpesvirus antisera. A cross-reaction with SHV1 by a serum from a pig naturally infected with BHV1 or with any of the other herpesviruses tested was considered unlikely.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity in mouse uterine epithelial cells.

The regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase was studied in mouse uterine epithelium. The enzyme was rapidly inactivated during incubation with ATP/Mg2+ in vitro, and could be re-activated by incubation with partially purified rat liver phosphoprotein phosphatase. Enzyme activity was rapidly inhibited by mevalonate injection in vivo to approx. 30% of control. The percentage of total enzyme active in vivo was measured by inclusion of NaF in the isolation buffers. The percentage of enzyme active in vivo 18 h after stimulation by oestrogens remained at approx. 25% after inhibition of activity by mevalonate injection, cholesterol feeding or progesterone pretreatment. However, 9 h after oestrogen stimulation, cholesterol feeding inhibited enzyme activity to 57% of control, 94% of which was in the active form. We conclude that, although all components for a reversible phosphorylative regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity are present in uterine epithelial cells, a role in the rapid changes in epithelial enzyme activity has not been demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Detection of antibodies to Aujeszky's disease virus in whole blood by Elisadisc.

A rapid method for the detection of antibodies in whole blood by ELISA was developed. A punched filter paper disc configuration, the Elisadisc, was loaded with blood, dried, and applied directly to the Aujeszky's disease ELISA, with minimal pretreatment. Rapidity, throughput and sensitivity were equal to that of the serum ELISA. No loss of activity could be detected in the discs after storage at +4 degrees C for almost 1 yr.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Social support, social pressures and psychological distress during unemployment.

A sample of 1150 unemployed 17 year-olds, containing blacks and whites, males and females, was obtained from 11 urban regions in England. Social support was measured in respect of five different forms of help from others. Measures were also obtained of psychological distress, perceived pressure from others to obtain a job, employment commitment, contact with other young people, and contact with other unemployed young people. Two forms of social support (having someone to turn to for help with money, and having someone to suggest interesting things to do) were significantly associated with measures of distress, as were perceived pressure to obtain a job and employment commitment, but not contact with other unemployed young people. The association between distress and having someone to turn to for help with money was greater for those perceiving pressure from others to obtain a job than those not perceiving pressure. Also, the association between distress and having someone to turn to when feeling low was greater for those with a high employment commitment than for those with a low one. Other associations between support and distress were found to be affected by sex and ethnic differences in the sample. The results are discussed in the light of a stress-buffering model of social support; and the need to disaggregate social support into its component parts is emphasized.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1985

The experience of unemployment among black and white urban teenagers.

The psychological health and labour market commitment of 1150 unemployed 17-year-olds in 11 urban areas of England were examined. Distress levels were significantly higher than among comparable employed samples, and symptoms had usually commenced after the onset of unemployment. Unemployed black respondents (of Afro-Caribbean descent) were found to exhibit significantly lower levels of distress and depression than whites. However, no differences were recorded between black and white respondents in respect of anxiety, financial strain and concern over being unemployed. Commitment to the labour market was significantly greater among white males than black males, perhaps because the latter have responded realistically to their disadvantaged labour market position. However, ethnic differences in commitment were generally absent in the case of females. Length of time out of work was unrelated to affective well-being and employment commitment in both ethnic groups, but job search attitudes were significantly less positive among respondents who had been unemployed for longer periods.

Adolescent↗