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Biomedical subjects

R N MacSween

Publications and source records attributed to R N MacSween.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Immune-complex inhibition of lymphocyte Fc gamma-receptors in primary biliary cirrhosis: a possible immunomodulatory mechanism.

20 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) had circulating IgG-containing immune complexes. These complexes bind to lymphocyte Fc gamma-receptors in vitro; there was also evidence for in-vivo binding. Such in-vivo binding to T and K lymphocytes may exert an immunomodulatory effect on these cells, and may also explain some of the serological and cellular abnormalities in PBC.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Liver disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis frequently have hepatosplenomegaly and biochemical features of hepatic disease. A prospective study with liver biopsy has been carried out in a series of 31 rheumatoid arthritis patients with clinical and/or biochemical evidence of hepatic dysfunction. Four of the 31 (13%) were found to have definable chronic liver disease, normal hepatic histology or non-specific reactive changes being found in the remainder. In the large majority of patients the hepatic abnormality in rheumatoid arthritis remains functional and unexplained.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1979

Hypercholesterolaemic arthropathy in primary biliary cirrhosis.

A new cause of severe transient fitting polyarthritis is described in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis. Hypercholesterolaemia is thought to provoke acute inflammatory periarthritis and peritendinitis. The clinical features are sudden onset of peripheral joint pain and effusion, with redness of the overlying skin, often precipitated by unusual exercise. Cholestyramine may help to prevent this form of arthritis.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1979

In-vitro reactions of lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

Various lymphocyte functions and the percentage of different subpopulations have been measured in groups of patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, sicca complex, and in normal controls. Several abnormal results were found--in the responses to mitogens, in the antibody-dependent cytotoxic test, and in the percentages of EA rosettes (antibody sensitised chick red cells test) and surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells. In the light of these findings cytotoxicity and lymphocyte subpopulations were measured in further groups of rheumatoid arthritis patients in whom the disease was at different stages. The results showed that the changes in cytotoxic potential occurred in patients with active arthritis. Correlation tests showed significant positive associations between the percentage of SE rosette-forming cells (sheep red cells test) and the mitogenic responses to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A, and between the percentage of EA rosette-forming cells and the levels of antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. The results are discussed in the light of our understanding of cellular subpopulations in the immune system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Hepatitis Bs antibody in alcoholic cirrhosis.

Sera from patients with chronic liver disease were tested for antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen by radioimmunoassay. The antibody was found in 25% of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and in 52% when alcoholic cirrhosis was associated with portal hypertension, these results being significantly higher than in a matched control population. Other forms of chronic liver disease did not differ from the control population. Hepatitis B virus infection might be a factor in determining which alcoholic patients go on to develop chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1977

Angiosarcoma of the liver in Great Britain, 1963-73.

Deaths attributed to primary angiosarcoma of the liver (ASL) in Great Britain between 1963-73 were reviewed by submitting available histological material to a panel of histopathologists and by obtaining full occupational and residential histories for the cases agreed as ASL by the panel. On average four recorded cases of ASL occurred a year, but in only one-third of the cases submitted did the panel agree with the original diagnosis. Only one of the agreed cases could be confidently associated with exposure to vinyl chloride.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Hereditary coproporphyria presenting with photosensitivity induced by the contraceptive pill.

A 26-year-old woman developed photosensitivity and jaundice after starting on an oral contraceptive agent. She was found to have hereditary coproporphyria. Histological examination of two liver biopsies taken during and after the acute attack did not reveal any changes thought to be due to hereditary coproporphyria. Screening of the patient's family revealed a further six latent cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Morphological changes in indefinitely surviving enhanced ectopic rat cardiac allografts.

The histological changes of ectopic cardiac allografts in rats have been studied. These consisted of (a) a diffuse chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate of the myocardial interstitium accompanied by variable degrees of fibrosis (b) variable degrees of intimal hyperplasia of the coronary arteries with segmental disruption of the internal elastic lamina.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia in Kenyans with chronic liver disease.

Fifty Kenyan patients with chronic liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma were tested for hepatitis B surface antigenaemia by radioimmunoassay. The hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 77% of the patients with chronic persistent or chronic aggressive hepatitis, or cirrhosis confirmed by liver biopsy, compared with 15% in a control group. All six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had detectable hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody. 50% of the controls had hepatitis B surface antibody in their plasma detectable by haemagglutination. Auto-immune associated liver disease appeared infrequent. The possibility that the hepatitis B virus is an important cause of cirrhosis in Kenya is discussed.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1976

The immune response in cirrhotic rats. The induction of tolerance to orally administered protein antigens.

Hepatic cirrhosis reduced the susceptibility of rats to the induction of tolerance by the oral administration of a protein antigen. Rats with portacaval shunt were rendered tolerant as readily as normal rats. The orally induced state of partial tolerance was shown to be dependent on thymus-dependent lymphocytes: B lymphocytes reacted normally to challenge when injected with T lymphocytes from normal rats. Several factors may contribute to the reduced responsiveness of the cirrhotic rats to the tolerance regime. First, the cirrhotic liver was shown to have a reduced capacity to separate immunogen from tolerogen. Second, because of the reduced phagocytic capacity of the liver, increased quantities of lipopolysaccharide, derived from intestinal microorganisms, enter the blood stream. These substances and products of hepatocyte necrosis have adjuvant activity and may therefore contribute to the changed state of responsiveness of rats with cirrhosis.

Administration, Oral↗