Biomedical subjects

M Fraser

Publications and source records attributed to M Fraser.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Gonadotropin surge-attenuating factor bioactivity in serum from superovulated women is not blocked by inhibin antibody.

Primary pituitary cultures from adult female rats were used to investigate gonadotropin surge attenuating factor (GnSAF) bioactivity. Serum from superovulated women was charcoal-treated and incubated with either an inhibin antibody (MC4), normal sheep serum (NSS), or serum-free defined medium (SFDM) before addition to cell culture. The reduction in GnRH-induced LH secretion (GnSAF bioactivity) produced by the serum (30.1 +/- 6.5%, p < 0.001, of control) was not altered by prior incubation with either MC4 or NSS (24.9 +/- 3.6 and 23.2 +/- 2.7%, p < 0.001, of control, respectively). This indicates that GnSAF bioactivity present in serum from superovulated women is not entirely attributable to inhibin. Recombinant human inhibin reduced basal FSH secretion to 24.6 +/- 4.7% (p < 0.001) of the control value. However, this was totally abolished by prior incubation with MC4, but not NSS. We have also shown that ovarian steroids are not responsible for GnSAF bioactivity in vitro. In conclusion, in contrast to findings in superovulated rats, inhibin antibody did not block GnSAF bioactivity in serum from superovulated women.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Multiple sclerosis in the north Cambridgeshire districts of East Anglia.

The Cambridgeshire multiple sclerosis register was established in 1989 and initially reported a prevalence of 130/10(5) population for south and east Cambridgeshire (south Cambs). This survey has now been extended to the northern county districts where there were 449 patients with multiple sclerosis in population of 378,959 on 1 July 1993 (118/10(5); 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 108-130). Four hundred and four had either definite or probable disease (107/10(5); 95% CI: 98-118). This matches the highest figures in the series of seven epidemiological surveys carried out in southern England over the past decade. Comparison with these and other studies indicates that no latitudinal gradient of disease is found in southern England despite spanning four degrees of latitude.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Inhibition of ACTH secretion blocks hypoxia-induced increase of adrenal cortical blood flow in fetal sheep.

To examine the role of endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in adrenal blood flow responses to hypoxia, we studied unanesthetized ovine fetuses during an intravenous infusion of cortisol or vehicle. Fetal hypoxia was induced after 5 h of cortisol or vehicle infusion. Control fetuses were not made hypoxic. Blood flows were determined before and at three time points during the infusions. At 2 and 6 h of hypoxia, in vehicle-infused fetuses, fetal plasma concentrations of immunoreactive ACTH (irACTH) had risen from 9 +/- 3 (SE) pg/ml to 68 +/- 25 and 127 +/- 37 pg/ml, respectively. No significant change in fetal plasma irACTH occurred in the other groups. Adrenal cortical blood flow rose three- to fourfold during hypoxia in vehicle-infused fetuses but did not change from prehypoxia levels in cortisol-infused fetuses (P < 0.005). Medullary flow rose with hypoxemia, and this was not affected by concurrent cortisol infusion. Adrenal blood flows did not change in the control groups. Thus prior infusion of cortisol suppressed the rise in fetal plasma ACTH during hypoxia and selectively blocked the increase in adrenal cortical blood flow.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMed1995

Neural control of urethral outlet activity in vivo: role of nitric oxide.

The present study investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the reflex changes in urethral outlet activity during micturition. Isovolumetric bladder contractions, urethral pressure and external urethral sphincter electromyogram (EUS EMG) activity were recorded independently in urethane-anesthetized rats. During reflex bladder contractions, the urethra exhibited reflex responses characterized by an initial decrease in urethral pressure in conjunction with a rise in bladder pressure. This was followed by a period of high frequency oscillations (HFOs) associated with maximal urethral relaxation and burst type EUS EMG activity. Administration of N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) 10 mg./kg. intravenously, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, reversibly decreased the magnitude (62%, p < 0.05) and duration (40%, p < 0.05) of reflex urethral relaxation (N = 7). In 4 additional experiments, L-NOARG (10 to 15 mg./kg. intravenously) completely eliminated reflex urethral relaxation during micturition, and this effect was reversed in all animals by the administration of L-arginine (100 to 150 mg./kg. intravenously). Administration of N-nitro-D-arginine (D-NOARG) (10 to 30 mg./kg. intravenously) had no effect on reflex urethral relaxation. Neuromuscular blockade (vecuronium bromide 5 mg./kg. intravenously) reversibly decreased resting urethral pressure and eliminated the HFOs. The urethral smooth muscle relaxation that remained after neuromuscular blockade was eliminated following administration of L-NOARG (10 mg./kg. intravenously) in 2 of 3 animals. These results suggest that reflex urethral responses during micturition involve changes in both smooth and striated muscle activity, and that the predominant neurotransmitter mechanisms that mediate reflex urethral smooth muscle relaxation involve NO.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Iatrogenic and accidental colon injuries--what to do?

PURPOSE: This study was designed to formulate management guidelines for a variety of rare iatrogenic and accidental injuries to the colon and rectum. METHODS: This review collates the available evidence in the literature. RESULTS: Both investigative and therapeutic maneuvers involving the colon, particularly endoscopy and radiographic contrast studies, are the most common cause of significant injury although the incidence is low. Even less common are injuries produced, at open surgery and minimally invasive surgery, by foreign bodies, enemas, or compressed air. The mechanisms and management of these injuries are discussed in detail. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence exists to support that a nonoperative approach is safe for the majority of injuries, particularly when the colon is "clean" at the time of injury. Adequate resuscitation, observation, and repeated reassessment are mainstays of a conservative policy. Operation is essential for progression of abdominal signs. Patients with established peritonitis at the time of presentation or with an unprepared bowel are best served by prompt operation.

Barium Sulfate↗

PubMed1994

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-II gene expression in the ovine fetal adrenal gland by adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol.

Maturation and activation of the fetal adrenal gland is crucial to fetal organ maturation and the onset of parturition in sheep. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have been demonstrated to promote fetal adrenal mitogenesis and steroidogenesis in some species. Our previous studies showed that IGF-II mRNA is expressed in the steroidogenic cells of the fetal sheep adrenal, suggesting that IGF-II may be an important regulator of fetal adrenal function. However, the regulation of IGF-II gene expression is poorly understood. In the present study we measured the changes in IGF-II mRNA level in fetal sheep adrenals during late gestation in response to ACTH and cortisol. Either saline (0.5 ml/h) or cortisol (1 mg/24 h) was infused for 100 h to fetal sheep beginning on day 95 or 96 of pregnancy, or saline (0.5 ml/h), ACTH (0.5 micrograms/h) or cortisol (1 mg/h) was infused for 84 h to fetal sheep beginning on days 120-125 of pregnancy (term = 145 days). Adrenal RNA was subjected to Northern blot analysis with an ovine IGF-II cDNA probe. The relative abundance of total IGF-II mRNA decreased significantly in the ACTH- and cortisol-treated fetuses. IGF-II mRNA was localized by in situ hybridization using a 35S-labeled antisense ovine IGF-II cRNA probe, and IGF-II peptide was localized by immunohistochemistry. There were no differences in the cellular distribution patterns of IGF-II mRNA and IGF-II peptide after treatments, but the intensity of the hybridization signal for IGF-II mRNA and of immunostaining for IGF-II peptide decreased in adrenals from fetuses treated with ACTH or cortisol. These results suggest that ACTH and cortisol decrease IGF-II gene expression in the ovine fetal adrenal. We speculate that the cortisol surge observed in the late gestation ovine fetus may be responsible for down-regulation of IGF-II gene expression in the fetal adrenal at or just before birth.

Adrenal Glands↗

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↗

PubMed1994

Higher gonadotrophin surge-attenuating factor bioactivity is found in small follicles from superovulated women.

Ovine and rat pituitary bioassays for gonadotrophin surge-attenuating factor (GnSAF) were utilized to determine whether the level of GnSAF bioactivity in pooled human follicular fluid (hFF) from superovulated women varied according to follicle diameter (< or = 11 mm, 12-15 mm and 16-21 mm follicles examined using the ovine bioassay, or < or = 10 mm, 11-13 mm, 14-17 mm, 18-20 mm, 21-24 mm and > or = 25 mm follicles examined using the rat bioassay). When tested using dispersed ovine pituitary cells, GnSAF bioactivity, expressed in terms of the reduction in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced LH secretion, was inversely related to follicle diameter (P < 0.01). In response to 5 microliters hFF/well from follicles of < or = 11, 12-15 and 16-21 mm diameter, GnRH-induced LH secretion was reduced to 40.5 +/- 6.9%, 65.2 +/- 6.6% and 83.7 +/- 7.9% of control respectively. A similar inverse relationship was observed when a second batch of hFF samples from different sized follicles was tested using rat pituitary cell monolayers. Expressing GnSAF bioactivity in terms of the dose required to suppress GnRH-induced LH secretion by rat pituitary cells to 50% of the maximal suppression observed (ED50), the three smallest follicle size pools contained the most GnSAF (ED50 values of 0.13, 2.79 and 5.36 microliters hFF/well from follicles of < or = 10, 11-13 and 14-17 mm respectively). The ED50 values for follicles of 18-20, 21-24 and > or = 25 mm were 8.81, 27.1 and 60.0 microliters hFF/well respectively. Thus hFF from follicles < or = 11 mm was over 450 times more potent than hFF from follicles > or = 25 mm in suppressing GnRH-induced LH release. The ED50 values for inhibin bioactivity (measured as the suppression of basal FSH secretion from rat pituitary monolayers) were much less variable than those for GnSAF bioactivity (between 0.85 and 0.13 microliters hFF/well). Inhibin immunoreactivity, measured by a two-site immunoradiometric assay, followed the same pattern as inhibin bioactivity with lowest concentrations in the smallest follicles (41.96 ng/ml) and highest concentrations in the three largest follicle size groups (56.48-64.48 ng/ml). The specific effects of inhibin on GnRH-induced LH and basal FSH release in these pituitary bioassays were determined by incubating culture dishes with pure recombinant human inhibin at doses of 0.025-25 ng/well. In both the sheep and rat pituitary monolayers, basal FSH was suppressed (ED50 = 0.02 and 0.16 ng/well respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Circulating gonadotrophin surge-attenuating factor from superovulated women suppresses in vitro gonadotrophin-releasing hormone self-priming.

A perifusion system based on ovine pituitary tissue explants was used to investigate the effects of follicular fluid (hFF) and serum from superovulated women on pituitary responsiveness to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The specific aims of the study were to determine both if gonadotrophin surge-attenuating factor (GnSAF) bioactivity is present in the peripheral circulation as well as in the follicles of superovulated women and if GnSAF suppresses GnRH self-priming in vitro. Two pulses of GnRH, 1 h apart, produced marked peaks in LH secreted from control chambers, with GnRH self-priming evident in the significant difference between the first (134.4 +/- 1.7 - 232.1 +/- 24.0% of basal secretion) and second (183.9 +/- 15.8 - 313.9 +/- 14.0% of basal secretion) LH peaks. Both follicular fluid and serum pooled from two different groups of women produced marked suppression of the first (unprimed) and second (primed) LH peaks. The hFF reduced the first LH peak to 69.6 +/- 7.8 and 60.2 +/- 9.7% and the second LH peak to 57.4 +/- 6.7 and 42.6 +/- 6.5% of control LH secretion. Overall, the serum reduced the first and second LH peaks to 76.8 +/- 4.2 and 62.9 +/- 3.6% of control respectively. These results demonstrated that GnSAF bioactivity suppresses GnRH self-priming, and is present in both the peripheral circulation and hFF. The same material administered to dispersed ovine pituitary monolayers produced similar marked suppression of GnRH-induced LH secretion, with approximately 50-fold less GnSAF bioactivity in serum compared with hFF. Combined doses of oestradiol and progesterone, or hFF from large follicles containing little GnSAF, produced stimulation of GnRH-induced LH secretion and GnRH self-priming (second peaks 78.1 +/- 38.9 and 27.4 +/- 15.7% respectively higher than first peaks). Thus, in conclusion, GnSAF in hFF and serum markedly attenuated both unprimed and primed pituitary response to GnRH, virtually abolishing the GnRH self-priming effect.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Novel T cell antigen 4-1BB associates with the protein tyrosine kinase p56lck1.

4-1BB is a 30-kDa inducible T cell Ag, and is expressed predominantly as a 55-kDa dimer on both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. The cytoplasmic tail of 4-1BB contains the sequence Cys-Arg-Cys-Pro, which is similar to the sequence Cys-X-Cys-Pro, which mediates the binding of the CD4 and CD8 molecules to the protein tyrosine kinase p56lck. An anti-4-1BB mAb, 53A2, was used to determine whether 4-1BB may associate with p56lck. The 53A2 mAb specifically recognized 4-1BB on a CD8+ T cell line, CTLL-2, and coimmunoprecipitated a 56-kDa protein along with 4-1BB. Peptide mapping indicated that the 56-kDa phosphoprotein was identical to p56lck. The coimmunoprecipitation of p56lck with 4-1BB also occurred in nonlymphoid cells such as insect (Sf-21) and HeLa cells when the two recombinant proteins were coexpressed. Analysis of mutant p56lck recombinant proteins showed that two cysteine residues critical for p56lck-CD4 (or -CD8) complex formation are also required for the p56lck-4-1BB interaction. These studies establish that 4-1BB physically associates with p56lck.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Fundholding in northern region: the first year.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of 10 fundholding practices in the Northern region during 1991-2 and to elicit subjective assessments of the impact of their change in status on practice management and patient care. DESIGN: Semistructured interviews were conducted with clinicians and practice managers; other staff in the practices were asked to fill in questionnaires. Questions were asked about the preparatory year, the impact of fundholding on clinical practice and practice management, perceptions of the costs and benefits of fundholding, and views about the future of the scheme. SETTING: 10 of the 28 first wave fundholding practices in the Northern region, March-July 1992. RESULTS: Two interviews were conducted in nine practices and one interview in the tenth practice. Replies to the questionnaire were received from 35 general practitioners (73%) and 89 (58%) nonmedical staff. Practices sought independence in applying for fundholding status and found the preparatory year challenging and time consuming. General practitioners thought that the greatest change had occurred in relationships with consultants and the least change in relationships with patients. Most respondents thought that fundholding had changed the way they worked. The perceived benefits of fundholding were mentioned more often than the perceived costs. CONCLUSIONS: The results offer some encouragement to the proponents of fundholding, but more longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the misgivings of critics of the scheme. Fundholders are uncertain about their ability to make savings year after year, particularly in an increasingly cost contained environment.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1993

Effects of gonadotrophin surge-attenuating factor on the two pools of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-induced luteinizing hormone secretion in vitro.

In order to study the in-vitro mechanism of action of gonadotrophin surge-attenuating factor (GnSAF), ovine pituitary monolayers were incubated for 48 h either with steroid-free follicular fluid from women in whom ovulation had been induced or oestradiol or progesterone. Monolayers were also incubated with 10-30 and > 30 kDa follicular fluid fractions. The effect of these preparations on gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion was then determined by incubation with GnRH for between 15 and 240 min. Incubation with steroid-free follicular fluid resulted in the significant attenuation of both the acutely releasable LH pool (LH 54.3 +/- 3.0% of control secretion at 15 min of GnRH incubation) and the reserve LH pool (LH 36.8 +/- 1.6% of control secretion at 240 min GnRH incubation). The 10-30 kDa follicular fluid fraction had similar effects while the > 30 kDa follicular fluid fraction significantly stimulated GnRH-induced LH secretion, with concentrations up to 134.0 +/- 8.6% of controls. Oestradiol or progesterone at doses of 1000 nmol/l/well did not significantly reduce any aspect of GnRH-induced LH secretion (never < 95.1 +/- 15.1% of controls). These results demonstrate that GnSAF markedly attenuates both the acutely releasable and reserve pools of GnRH-induced LH secretion. Inhibin, oestradiol and progesterone are not responsible for the marked attenuation of either the initial or reserve pools of GnRH-induced LH secretion.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Effects of guided imagery in patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Together, chronic bronchitis and emphysema (CBE) ranks as one of the top five leading health problems in the United States. Few nursing interventions have been tested that improve symptom management, functional status, and quality of life. This study tested the effects of guided imagery and maximal inspiratory muscle training (MITT) in a group of 10 males and 9 females, 56-75 years old, with moderate CBE. The research tested whether the independent variables, guided imagery and MITT, have significant independent and/or interaction effects on the dependent variables functional status, fatigue, dyspnea, depression, mastery, quality of life, perceived health status, and inspiratory muscle strength. Results showed that the psychologic intervention of guided imagery significantly improved subjects' perceived quality of life. The physiologic intervention of MITT could not be tolerated by subjects, which precluded testing the effects on the dependent variables. Application of study findings to clinical practice and the need for further research are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1993

Preferential increase in prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase compared with lipoxygenase activity in sheep placenta and amnion at term pregnancy and after intrafetal glucocorticoid administration.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have been implicated as stimulants to myometrial contractility at parturition in many species. To determine whether the increased production of PGs at parturition reflects a general increase in the metabolism of arachidonic acid or a specific increase in PG endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS) compared with lipoxygenase activities, and to determine intrauterine sites of these activities, we examined the metabolism of [3H]arachidonic acid by homogenates of placenta, amnion and chorion from sheep at days 78-80, 100-105, 135-140 of pregnancy and at term (day 145). Tissues were also obtained from fetuses at day 125; four of these were infused for 84 h with cortisol and four were used as saline-treated controls. The endogenous arachidonic acid content at the start of incubation was measured by capillary gas chromatography. Radioactive metabolites were separated and quantified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. At each gestational age arachidonic acid was converted to PGs, leukotrienes (LTs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Conversion to PGs was greater in amnion than in chorion or placenta between days 78 and 140. The formation of PGs rose in placenta at term to a mean value twice that of amnion and ten times that of chorion. In amnion, the ratio of PG:LT rose significantly at term relative to 100-140 days of gestation. In placenta, the ratio of PG:LT produced from arachidonic acid and the ratio of total PGHS:lipoxygenase products rose significantly at term. In the day-125 fetuses treated with cortisol there was a significant increase in PG production relative to that in control fetuses infused with saline in placenta, amnion and chorion; the placenta and amnion being the major sites of PG production. Production of LTs and HETEs also rose significantly in the chorion and the placenta relative to controls. In both the placenta and the amnion there was a significant increase in the ratio of total PGHS to lipoxygenase products formed. We conclude that at term labour and in labour induced by intrafetal cortisol infusion, the placenta is the major site of arachidonic acid metabolism, and that there is a preferential increase in the formation of PGs over lipoxygenase products. These results are consistent with the suggestion that there is an increase in the expression or activity of PGHS in the placenta of sheep in late pregnancy.

Amnion↗

PubMed1992

Expression and immunochemical analysis of rat and human fibroblast growth factor receptor (flg) isoforms.

Potentially 96 splice variants among four genes that code for the human heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor receptor family complicate study of structure, metabolism, and function of single isoforms in mammalian cells. As an alternative, we expressed structural subdomains and isoforms of the flg receptor gene in bacteria and baculoviral-infected insect cells. We developed and characterized a panel of 16 isoform and domain-specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. The panel of antibodies was used to distinguish mature glycosylated ligand-binding and kinase-active and -inactive recombinant isoforms in baculoviral insect cells and transfected mammalian cells and natural isoforms in rat prostate and human liver cells. The results revealed a cell type-specific expression of the flg gene and isoforms that result from combinations of splice variations. Reactive epitopes of monoclonal antibodies against both the three (alpha) and two (beta) immunoglobulin-like disulfide loop extracellular domain isoforms were mapped by cross-reactivity with synthetic polypeptide sequences and deletion mutants expressed in bacteria. The native alpha and beta receptor isoforms differed in display of shared epitopes and suggested that the NH2-terminal Loop I and COOH-terminal Loops II and III of the alpha isoform are interactive. Although the common Loops II and III appear qualitatively sufficient for ligand binding, the results suggest that tertiary relationships among loops in the three and two loop isoforms are distinct and, therefore, the two isoforms may have distinct activities. Spatial models for arrangement of immunoglobulin-like loops in the extracellular domain of the two isoforms are presented.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Gastrin releasing peptide immunoreactivity is present in ovine amniotic fluid and fetal and maternal circulations. MRC Group in Fetal and Neonatal Health and Development.

Using antisera directed towards the C-terminal region of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), significant quantities of GRP-like immunoreactivity (GRPLI) were detected in ovine amniotic fluid and in the fetal and maternal circulations. The highest GRPLI levels were found in amniotic fluid (2135 +/- 829 fmol/ml, n = 12; mean +/- SEM), followed by those in ovine fetal (604 +/- 267 fmol/ml, n = 13) and maternal plasma (229 +/- 89 fmol/ml, n = 13). On gel filtration chromatography, the predominant GRPLI form in each fluid eluted in an identical position consistent with the entity being of apparently larger molecular size than porcine GRP1-27. Certain fetal plasma samples contained a second GRPLI peak eluting at the void volume. Hence, during ovine pregnancy a GRPLI entity circulates in fetal and maternal plasma; the entity is of apparently larger molecular size than GRP1-27 but contains a structure immunologically indistinguishable from the bioactive c-terminal region of GRP1-27. Given the recognized bioactivities of GRP, this entity may be an important hormone during ovine fetal life.

Amniotic Fluid↗

PubMed1991

Identification of cell surface receptors for murine macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha.

We have produced recombinant proteins for a cytokine, L2G25BP (macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha) (MIP-1 alpha). By using the recombinant protein (rMIP-1 alpha), receptors for MIP-1 alpha were identified on Con A-stimulated and unstimulated CTLL-R8, a T cell line, and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7, a macrophage cell line. The 125I-rMIP-1 alpha binds to the receptor in a specific and saturable manner. Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of high affinity receptor, with a Kd of approximately 1.5 x 10(-9) M and approximately 1200 binding sites/Con A-stimulated CTLL-R8 cell and a Kd of 0.9 x 10(-9) M and approximately 380 binding sites/RAW 264.7 cell. 125I-rMIP-1 alpha binding was inhibited by unlabeled rMIP-1 alpha in a dose-dependent manner, but not by IL-1 alpha or IL-2. rMIP-1 alpha inhibited the proliferation of unstimulated CTLL-R8 cells. Rabbit anti-rMIP-1 alpha antibodies blocked the growth-inhibitory effect of the rMIP-1 alpha on CTLL-R8 cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Where are they now? The career paths of graduates from post-registration degrees in nursing in England.

Degree courses for experienced nurses through part-time study are relatively new in Britain. The first course started in 1979, but their number has dramatically increased during the past decade, particularly in England. Due to this increase it is important that analysis of career paths of the graduates should occur. As no suitable questionnaire was found from the literature one was devised. Posting this to all graduates from three courses gave a response from 113 graduates (77.4%). Results showed graduates to be continuing in nursing. They showed life-long motivation to study and felt personal growth from the degree. Movement of graduates predominantly from clinical areas into nurse education was found.

Adult↗