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Biomedical subjects

M Fahy

Publications and source records attributed to M Fahy.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of dioxin, an environmental pollutant, on mouse blastocyst development and apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; dioxin) on mouse embryo development and apoptosis. DESIGN: Controlled animal study. SETTING: Academic research environment. ANIMAL(S): Female mice (CB6F1) at 3 to 6 weeks of age and proven breeders (C578B46). INTERVENTION(S): Mouse embryos were obtained at the morula stage and cultured to the blastocyst stage in a pharmacologic dose of TCDD (3.1 microM) or a control medium. The morphology was assessed, and staining for apoptosis was performed. Immunohistochemistry for the presence of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was performed in another set of morula-stage embryos. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The number of embryos developing from the morula to the blastocyst stage and number of apoptotic blastomeres in control vs. TCDD culture conditions. RESULT(S): No statistically significant differences were observed in the percentage of embryos reaching the blastocyst stage: 80.9% (115 of 142) in the TCDD-treated group, vs. 82.9% (121 of 146) in the control group. There was also no difference in the degree of apoptosis: 22.6 +/- 7.3% apoptotic cells (TCDD) vs. 25.3 +/- 9.7% (controls). Staining indicated the slight presence of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor in the morula-stage mouse embryos. CONCLUSION(S): TCDD at 3.1 microM did not alter the development of early mouse morula to blastocysts and did not significantly induce apoptosis in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Gastrin-releasing peptide is produced in the pregnant ovine uterus.

Our previous finding of appreciable quantities of a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-like immunoreactive (GRPLI) entity in ovine fetal and maternal plasma led us to examine the ovine pregnant uterus as a possible source of this material. At term, intense immunohistochemical staining for GRPLI occurred in the endometrial epithelial cells, and the term ovine uterus also contained abundant GRP messenger RNA (mRNA). In contrast, GRP mRNA was not detected in fetal membranes. GRP mRNA was present in the uterus on gestational day 63; a significant increase in GRP mRNA had occurred by day 100. Thereafter, levels remained elevated until term, but 3 months postpartum, GRP mRNA levels were greatly reduced. As previous studies suggested the GRPLI entity to be of greater molecular size than GRP-(1-27), we deduced the primary structure of ovine uterus GRP by sequencing a complementary DNA clone isolated from a complementary DNA library constructed from term ovine uterus polyadenylated RNA. Ovine uterine GRP is composed of 27 amino acid residues and has a conserved C-terminal region, similar to GRP structures in other species. We conclude that during pregnancy, the ovine uterus produces considerable quantities of GRP, which may play an important but hitherto unrecognized role in utero-placental development and possibly in fetal development after transfer to the fetus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Predictive testing for Huntington disease: I. Description of a pilot project in British Columbia.

The discovery of DNA markers linked to the gene causing Huntington disease (HD) has allowed the development of predictive testing programs for persons at-risk. A pilot program was established in British Columbia in November 1986. Ninety-five persons are currently enrolled. The major objective of this project is to introduce and evaluate a protocol for the delivery of test results to persons at-risk for HD. The criteria for entry and details of the psychosocial assessment before and after receiving a modified risk are presented. The guidelines that are developed from this project will have major applications for predictive testing programs for other late onset autosomal dominant disorders.

British Columbia↗
PubMed1989

Predictive testing for Huntington disease: II. Demographic characteristics, life-style patterns, attitudes, and psychosocial assessments of the first fifty-one test candidates.

Predictive testing was offered to individuals at-risk for Huntington disease living within a 100-mile radius of Vancouver, BC. Ninety-five at-risk individuals, representing approximately 12.6% of eligible candidates in this area, have enrolled in its first 16 months. This paper reports on the psychosocial characteristics of the first 51 at-risk individuals to complete the initial assessment. Two-thirds of the candidates are female with a mean age 39.3 years. They derive from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Reasons for taking the test included planning for the future, concern for their children, and reducing uncertainty. Only 29.4% of candidates would both desire prenatal testing and terminate a high-risk pregnancy. Results on the SCL 90(R), General Well-Being, and other scales indicate that the candidates' mental health is representative of the population, but as a group, they are more resourceful. The tests identified individuals who needed further assessment on the basis of previous and current psychiatric functioning and social support. No candidate was a high immediate suicidal risk. The process of personal assessment has had beneficial effects on personal growth. The self-selection of a healthy group of candidates emphasizes the need for continued assessment and support as possibly less healthy candidates register for predictive testing programs in the future.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Different options for prenatal testing for Huntington's disease using DNA probes.

The discovery of DNA markers closely linked to the gene for Huntington's disease (HD) has allowed development of predictive and prenatal testing programmes for HD. This report describes four different approaches to prenatal testing for HD which have arisen during a pilot predictive and prenatal testing program in British Columbia, Canada. In the first approach (exclusion testing), the at risk parent cannot or prefers not to learn of his/her HD status. Two other approaches involve definitive testing of a fetus when a parent is determined to be at increased risk to have inherited the HD gene or is affected with Huntington's disease. The fourth approach is a stepwise combination of the above two methods which we refer to as 'exclusion-definitive' testing. These different approaches introduce a variety of challenging counselling and ethical issues. The role of each approach to prenatal testing in the management of Huntington's disease awaits the results of this and other predictive and prenatal testing programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Improved predictive testing for Huntington disease by using three linked DNA markers.

Eighty-five persons at risk for Huntington disease (HD) have enrolled in a predictive-testing pilot program. Informativeness of the test has been determined for 41 of these candidates by using linked DNA probes. Nine (21.9%) of these persons have been excluded from the test as a result of the unavailability of DNA from crucial family relatives. Homozygosity for all of the three DNA markers (D4S10, D4S62, and D4S95) was not found in any affected parent. Only one (2%) of the 41 test candidates has had an uninformative result. Results have been given to 20 persons, of whom 12 (60%) received a decreased risk and eight (40%) received an increased risk of having inherited the mutant gene for HD. The combined use of three DNA markers significantly increases the informativeness of family structures such that some change in the estimation of genetic risk is now possible for approximately 75% of all persons who request predictive testing.

Adult↗