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Biomedical subjects

M Butler

Publications and source records attributed to M Butler.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

The influence of operating conditions of activated-sludge treatment on the behaviour of f2 coliphage.

The behaviour of f2 coliphage during activated-sludge treatment was influenced by the temperature, flow-through-time, concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids and the virus load. The most sensitive way to detect behavioural changes was to examine the regression coefficients for the rate of uptake or loss of virus by the mixed liquor solids. This type of analysis revealed, for instance, high values when the solids concentration was high and even greater values occurred when high inocula were used. At high temperature the rate of loss of virus titre after inoculation had stopped was greater than the rate of uptake of virus during inoculation although in all other conditions uptake occurred at a greater rate than the loss of virus. The coefficients were relatively low when the flow rate was increased, when the temperature was low or when the inoculum was small. The distribution of virus between the solids and liquid fractions of the mixed liquor varied somewhat for all conditions but was notably different when (a) the plant was incubated at 5 degrees C when there was much less virus in the solids fraction than usual, and (b) when the inoculum was low and a much higher proportion of virus was found in the solids. The efficiency with which virus was removed across the plant was the least-sensitive determinant of viral behaviour and the value was about the same for most treatment conditions. However, low or high inocula did result in some increased or decreased removal of virus, respectively.

Coliphages↗
PubMed1979

Effects of gold, dapsone, and prednisone on serum C-reactive protein and haptoglobin and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in rheumatoid arthritis.

Sequential measurements of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum haptoglobin (Hp), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were made in 209 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); 78 of them were treated with gold, 71 with dapsone, and 60 with prednisone. The results were expressed as proportional changes in the measurements at 28-day intervals after treatment began. The period of study was 140 days. During treatment with gold and dapsone there were statistically significant gradual and progressive falls of similar magnitude in serum CRP and ESR. During treatment with prednisone serum CRP and ESR fell abruptly by 28 days and thereafter altered little. At 140 days prednisone had had the largest proportional effect on both measurements. During gold treatment the fall in serum Hp was similar to that of the ESR. In contrast, prednisone had little effect on Hp levels despite large falls in serum CRP and the ESR. Either prednisone stimulates Hp synthesis or the divergence is an expression of the difference in type of effect between gold and prednisone on RA. The effect of dapsone on serum Hp was large and progressive; it partly reflects haemolysis and, since the haemolysis was not progressive, partly improvement in the RA. The results show the relative efficacy of the drugs and suggest that dapsone may be a useful alternative treatment for RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1978

Blockade by WB 4101 of alpha-adrenoceptors in the rat vas deferens and guinea-pig taenia caeci.

The effectiveness of WB 4101, a recently described alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, in blocking an excitatory and two inhibitory responses to alpha-receptor activation was studied. One of the inhibitory responses was the reduction by the selective alpha-agonist amidephrine of carbachol contractures of isolated guinea-pig taenia caeci. WB 4101 antagonised this inhibition with a Schild plot slope of 0.99 and a pA2 of 8.9. The same pA2 value was obtained for blockade of the contractile effect of amidephrine and noradrenaline on the rat vas deferens. WB 4101 was, however, several hundred times less active in antagonising the inhibitory effect of clonidine on the twitch response of the vas deferens to field stimulation. Incidental observations were that the twitch was increased by low concentrations of amidephrine, and by relatively high concentrations of WB 4101. Because of its potency and postsynaptic selectivity, WB 4101 should be useful for adrenoceptor classification.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1978

Phospholipid changes in synaptic membranes by lipolytic enzymes and subsequent restoration of opiate binding with phosphatidylserine.

A study has been made of the role of phosphatidylserine in stereospecific opiate binding to neural membranes, utilizing specific lipolytic enzymes to attack the lipid. At very low concentrations phospholipase A2 from bee venom will preferentially hydrolyze C22:6-fatty acid; and even after a few percent of the total phosphatidylserine is hydrolyzed, opiate binding is greatly inhibited. The addition of brain phosphatidylserine will restore opiate binding; however, when the inhibition approaches 50% restoration is only partial. Exposure of membranes to phosphatidylserine decarboxylase will partially inhibit opiate binding; and the binding returns to the control level after the addition of phosphatidylserine. The partial inhibition of opiate binding by low concentrations of Triton X-100, which presumably remove lipids, can be partially reversed by phosphatidylserine. The binding of 3H-naloxone, an opiate antagonist, is similar to agonists in its behavior towards phospholipases and phosphatidylserine; however, binding of naltrexone, also an antagonist, is far less responsive. It is concluded that the phosphatidylserine associated with the opiate receptor is the C18:0, 22:6-diacyl form, which is closely associated with protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The behaviour of f2 coliphage in activated sludge treatment.

A model activated sludge treatment plant was used which was functionally very similar to a full-scale plant. It was inoculated with f2 coliphage and the titres of virus in the influent, the mixed liquor and the effluent were monitored regularly. The distribution of the virus in the solids and liquid fractions of the mixed liquor was in the ratio of 18:82 and 20.4% of the influent virus was recovered in the effluent. After inoculation was stopped the titre of virus in the solids fraction of the mixed liquor remained high and unaltered for up to 70 h, whereas the value for effluent reverted to the low background titre originally present. These results are discussed in relation to those reported for poliovirus and it is concluded that f2 coliphage is not a suitable model for studies of the behaviour of human enteroviruses.

Coliphages↗
PubMed1978

Ultrastructural features of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in tracheal explants under transmission and stereoscan electron microscopy.

Ultrastructural features of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in tracheal explants were examined using the transmission and stereoscan electron microscope. The organisms were characteristically cocco-bacilliform except when in close contact with the host cells when they assumed an elongated and irregular form characteristically terminating in a bleb which was often embedded in the cell surface. In such organisms there were peripherally aligned fibrillar structures oriented towards the bleb which may have a functional relationship with a probing or moving habit of the mycoplasma.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Changes in granulopoiesis detected by in vitro colony formation in acute lymphatic leukaemia.

Patients with acute lymphatic leukaemia (ALL) could be divided into two groups at diagnosis--those whose peripheral blood and/or bone marrow exhibited in vitro colony formation and those in whom it did not, but this finding did not appear to correlate with any clinical or haematological parameter, or with prognosis. The colonly-forming potential of patients with ALL in their first full remission, early relapse or second remission did not deviate significantly from previously established normal values, but the colony-forming potential of patients in early remission was very significantly reduced. No loss of colony-forming potential of normal marrow cells was noted when they were cultured with cells from patients with ALL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Communicating cancer control to the public.

A fifty-year historical review of public communications research, an analysis of factors influencing communication effectiveness, descriptions of fifteen cancer public communication programs, and recommendations for future cancer communications programs are presented. The programs described were specific to five cancer sites, were targeted to six types of audiences and included several types of educational objectives and communication modes. Recommendations include greater use of social science literature and evaluative designs in program planning; cooperative research to provide data suitable for educational diagnosis; and standardization of evaluation results to document effectiveness of techniques and strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Age differences in vitamin B6 status of 617 men.

The effect of age on vitamin B6 metabolism was studied in 617 community-dwelling subjects, ages 18 to 90. These are, for the most part, clinically healthy, educated men whose intake of nutrients is not limited by economic factors. Plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) was used as the primary criterion of vitamin B6 status. About one-third of the subjects were taking supplementary vitamins on their own initiative. The amount of pyridoxine-HCl varied from 0.1 to 105 mg/day. The average plasma PLP of the men not taking a supplement (N = 414) was 12.3 +/-0.3 ng/ml, with 25% of the values below 7.5 ng/ml and 7% below 5 ng/ml. There was a statistically significant decrease in plasma PLP with age of 0.9 ng/ml per decade. For those taking a supplement, the average plasma PLP was 20.5 +/- 1.0 ng/ml, with only 8% of the values below 7.5 ng/ml and none below 5 ng/ml. Glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity in plasma (PGOT) and erythrocytes (EGOT) was determined on all subjects. The ratio of EGOT with in vitro stimulation by PLP to EGOT actual (alpha-EGOT) was also studied. These studies provide the most extensive normative data on vitamin B6 status available on men in the adult years of life.

Adolescent↗