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Biomedical subjects

R L Stacey

Publications and source records attributed to R L Stacey.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

The reversal of surgically induced reticuloendothelial depression.

The function of the reticuloendothelial (RE) system may be depressed by surgical operation. As this system is an important defence mechanism against tumour growth and metastasis, it would be an advantage if this depression could be prevented by the administration of a suitable agent. The agents studied in this case were levamisole, Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum) and glucan. As a measure of RE function a carbon clearance test was performed in rats, 1 hr after partial colectomy, animals having received pre-operative treatment with one of these substances. The results show that operation produced a significant fall in clearance (P less than 0.001). Both C. parvum and glucan were very effective in preventing any fall of clearance following operation (P less than 0.01). Both of these produced marked RE stimulation and values in animals given these agents remained above control values even after surgery. Levamisole had some effect in preventing the RE depression (P less than 0.02), but was not as effective as either C. parvum or glucan.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The effect of protease inhibitors on leucocyte migration inhibition to tuberculin extract (P.P.D.).

The protease inhibitors, Epsilon Amino Caproic Acid (E.A.C.A.) and Aprotinin were found to significantly increase the inhibition produced by P.P.D. in the Leucocyte Migration Test (L.M.T.). Dose-response curves showed that the most effective concentrations were for E.A.C.A. 0.01 M and Aprotinin 100 I.U./ml. In a series of 29 subjects with a range of Heaf reactivity this finding was consistent providing that there was a significant inhibition to P.P.D. alone. At these concentrations, cell viability was unaffected and the effect of the drugs could be reversed by washing. The exact mode of action of these inhibitors in the L.M.T. requires further elucidation.

Aminocaproates↗
PubMed1977

Is dextran 70 a lymphocyte mitogen?

Dextran 70 ('Lomodex') roduced significant increases in thymidine incorporation in a modified whole-blood method of investigating lymphocyte blastogenesis. This blastogenesis occurred at molar concentrations of 7 X 10(-6) and 7 10(-5). At 7 X 10(-7) mol/l dextran alone did not significantly increase thymidine incorporation; however, when this concentration of dextran was added simultaneously with phytohaemagglutinin there was a significant increase in incorporation. Conversely when dextran was added before P.H.A., thymidine incorporation was decreased. These variable effects indicate that dextran 70 may be a B-cell mitogen. Dextran 70 is widely used and these effects on lymphocyte blastogenesis may be clinically relevant.

B-Lymphocytes↗