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R Metcalfe

Publications and source records attributed to R Metcalfe.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Cortisol induction of pulmonary maturation in the rabbit foetus. Its effects on enzymes related to phospholipid biosynthesis and on marker enzymes for subcellular organelles.

1. Cortisol treatment of rabbit foetuses in utero at 24 days gestation produced a significant decrease in the lung-weight to body-weight ratio compared with littermate controls by day 26. Histological examination revealed that the alveoli of the treated lungs were more open, the walls were thinner and the osmiophilic bodies were more numerous. 2. Cortisol treatment as described above produced significant increases (P<0.05) in the rates of incorporation of [(14)C]choline into phosphatidylcholine and of [(14)C]ethanolamine into phosphatidylethanolamine in vitro compared with littermate controls. This indicates that glucocorticoids produce an overall increase in phospholipid metabolism rather than a specific increase in phosphatidylcholine production. 3. The addition of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols from egg phosphatidylcholine produced a 10-fold increase in the activity of choline phosphotransferase and a 3-fold increase in the activity of ethanolamine phosphotransferase in rabbit lung homogenates. The addition of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol did not affect these activities. These results demonstrate that in the presence of exogenous 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol, the activities of these enzymes are dependent on the presence of endogenous 1,2-diacylglycerols. 4. Cortisol administration had no significant effect on the activity of choline phosphotransferase or ethanolamine phosphotransferase with endogenous or exogenously added diacylglycerols. The activities of other endoplasmic-reticulum enzymes (sn-glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase, sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase) were not significantly altered by the hormone administration. Oestrone sulphate sulphohydrolase activity was significantly decreased (P<0.05) by cortisol injection, but this effect varied with the foetuses from different does. 5. Cortisol administration had no effect on the activities of mitochondrial (monoamine oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase), plasma-membrane (5'-nucleotidase) or lysosomal (acid phosphatase, N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase) enzymes. The activity of membrane-associated phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, an enzyme associated with the osmiophilic granules of the type-II alveolar cells, was increased in the lungs of treated foetuses, but the difference was not significant (0.10>P>0.05).

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PubMedDate not supplied

Executive summary.

The Canadian health system is at a crossroads. Significant health services restructuring is occurring across the country. This restructuring process provides a unique opportunity for Public Health and others to reorient the system away from illness to a focus on health--the health of individuals and communities. The purpose of this paper is to motivate and equip Public Health workers to take leadership in the restructuring, to outline key responses and strategies for Public Health associations, to raise public awareness about restructuring, and to challenge decision makers to integrate the Public Health perspective into the restructured health system. This Issue Paper describes the unique contributions Public Health has to offer health services restructuring, outlines the Public Health response to specific restructuring issues, and identifies some successful strategies for influencing change. Two key messages are explored in the paper: 1. Restructuring will be successful if it is based on an investment in health. The health of the public can be maintained and improved through changes to the institutional sector and support for health promotion, disease prevention and health protection services. 2. Public Health must be a full partner in the restructuring of health services. The Public Health perspective includes a broad understanding of the issues that are relevant to the health of individuals and communities. The skills and knowledge base offered through Public Health provide balance and equity in decision making, by ensuring full and representative involvement of community workers and the public. The uniqueness of Public Health is manifested in three distinct ways: its approach within an organized system of practice; its historical contribution; and its purposeful combination of perspectives, skills and knowledge. In partnership with communities, other health professionals and other health-determining sectors, Public Health works to protect, maintain and improve the health of Canadians. While other sectors undertake some of the functions outlined below, what makes Public Health unique is that these contributions are offered collectively through an organized system of practitioners to create a synergistic effect. Eight contributions of Public Health are identified in this paper. Specifically Public Health: Focuses on individuals and communities in a societal and global context. Builds capacity in individuals and communities to improve health. Facilitates community mobilization through community participation. Embraces promotion, prevention, protection. Influences the orientation of the health system toward health outcomes. Provides disease surveillance and control. Builds partnerships among sectors at the local level. Advocates for the health of the public. In addition to describing these contributions, the Issue Paper addresses the major trends in health services restructuring by providing an overview of the issues and outlining the Public Health response. While there is no one single model of restructuring occurring in the provinces and territories, many common themes exist. This paper highlights four categories of restructuring issues: I. Making a Difference in Health II. Skills and Knowledge Base III. Allocation of Financial Resources IV. Governance and Management.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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