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Biomedical subjects

R O Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to R O Robinson.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Mucopolysaccharidoses: ultrastructure of leukocyte inclusions.

Ultrastructural study of leukocytes from 7 patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) I, II, or III demonstrated a variety of membrane-bound inclusions in 34 to 68% of lymphocytes and larger mononuclear cells. The most common inclusions were membrane-bound vacuoles containing faintly osmiophilic material, but a variety of clear vacuoles, dense granular inclusions and myelin figures were also seen. Fingerprint profiles were present in small percentages in MPS II and III, indicating that they are not as specific as previously considered. Granulocytes, lymphocytes, and larger mononuclear cells from a patient with MPS VII showed many small and large membrane-bound vacuolated inclusions, some of which contained large dense granules. The presence of alterations in a readily accessible tissue such as blood indicates that ultrastructural study of leukocytes may be a useful adjunct in guiding further biochemical studies in MPS, especially in early or obscure cases.

Adolescent↗

Late cerebral relapse of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Focal encephalitis occurred in a girl with activation of chorioretinitis which on clinical and serological grounds was taken to be caused by toxoplasma. The encephalitis and acute ocular inflammation resolved with treatment with pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine. This is presumably an example of reactivation of congenital cerebral toxoplasmosis.

Child↗

Clinical events relating to intraventricular haemorrhage in the newborn.

Continuous measurements of arterial pressures, heart rates, respiratory movements, and respiratory rates were made from birth in 44 infants at risk from intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). 17 babies died with IVH, in 10 of whom the event was timed objectively. Events in these babies were compared with survivors of similar birthweights, gestational ages, severity of birth asphyxia, and severity of hyaline membrane disease (HMD). IVH followed severe HMD and was associated with cessation of the babies' own respiratory efforts while on a ventilator and also with characteristic cardiorespiratory events. The minimum arterial pressure before IVH was lower than in comparable babies who survived. It is suggested that fluctuations of systemic blood pressure from initial low levels may be important in the pathogenesis of IVH. It is possible that changes in cerebral blood flow are of even greater significance.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Tetraethyl lead poisoning from gasoline sniffing.

In two cases of organic lead poisoning due to habitual gasoline sniffing, one patient had temporary hypomania and recovered with treatment, while the other patient (who died) had signs of severe CNS and peripheral nervous system, muscle, hepatic, and renal damage. In addition he had features of long-term inorganic lead poisoning. This and the response of both cases to chelating agents suggest that organic lead is degraded in vivo to inorganic lead.

Adolescent↗

Timing of intraventricular haemorrhage.

The detection of the onset of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) during life is a necessary preliminary to understanding the cause of this condition. In 10 infants of very low birthweight treated with serial transfusions of adult blood the proportions of transfused cells circulating after each transfusion were compared with the proportion of transfused cells found in the intraventricular clot at necropsy. This allowed the timing of IVH to be restricted retrospectively to the period between consecutive blood transfusions. In addition, the proportional changes of transfused cells produced by infusion of a known red cell mass allow changes in the babies' original red cell mass to be followed during life. A fall in this value occurred in 8 infants dying with IVH and was taken to indicate haemorrhage. Comparison of the two methods in 9 infants suggested that, while in some cases intraventricular bleeding occurs rapidly, in others it takes place over a period of time. The interval between birth and the onset of haemorrhage was directly proportional to the gestational age of the infant.

Blood Transfusion↗

Effect of blood transfusion in low birthweight infants.

143 fresh blood transfusions were given to 32 low birthweight babies, 28 of whom had hyaline membrane disease. The arterial or central venous pressure was raised by a blood transfusion if before transfusion the mean arterial pressure was less than 35 mmHg or if the diastolic central venous pressure was less than -- 0-5 mmHg. There was no effect of blood transfusion on pH. It therefore appears either that metabolic acidosis in hyaline membrane disease is not caused by poor peripheral perfusion or that blood transfusion does not increase peripheral blood flow in this condition. The safety of the procedure is assessed.

Blood↗

Control of adrenocorticotrophin secretion by catecholamines in the pregnant and foetal sheep.

The effect of adrenaline on the maternal and foetal plasma ACTH concentration of twelve pregnant sheep with chronically implanted vascular catheters has been studied. Adrenaline infused into the jugular vein of the ewe or foetus produced carotid arterial adrenaline concentrations of 1-9 ng/ml. The foetal plasma ACTH was 253 +/- 73 pg/ml and it showed a fivefold increase during adrenaline infusion; the ACTH concentration achieved was proportional to the plasma adrenaline. In the ewe plasma ACTH was 99 +/- 23 pg/ml. During adrenaline infusion to the ewe this rose by an amount dependent on the adrenaline concentration achieved and there was also a rise in foetal plasma ACTH but no consistent change in foetal plasma adrenaline. There was no reproducible change in plasma corticosteroid concentration during adrenaline infusion into the foetus but a rise in maternal plasma corticosteroid concentration during infusion into the ewes. Because the adrenaline concentrations achieved during the infusions were within the physiological range, the results indicate that circulating catecholamines may directly or indirectly influence the concentration of ACTH in the circulation. Also, physiological rises in plasma catecholamines in pregnant animals may stimulate the release of ACTH from the foetal pituitary.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Plasma catecholamines in foetal and adult sheep.

1. Foetal and maternal plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured during and after hypoxia (mean maternal Pa,02 44mmHg) in chronically catheterized sheep, 118-141 days pregnant. 2. In most foetuses the initial plasma catecholamines were smaller than 0.07 ng/ml. During hypoxia plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline always rose; there was a rise in arterial pressure and a fall in heart rate. 3. The initial catecholamine concentration in the ewes was smaller than 0.05-2.3 ng/ml. During hypoxia there was no consistent change; the maternal plasma concentrations were less than the foetal. 4. Infusion of adrenaline at 0.3 mug kg(-1) min(-1) to the ewe resulted in plasma catecholamine concentrations higher than those observed during hypoxia. There was a rise in heart rate but no consistent change in arterial pressure. 5. Infusion of adrenaline 0.4 mug kg(-1) min(-1) into the foetal jugular vein caused a rise in plasma concentration similar to that seen during hypoxia. There was a rise in heart rate but no significant change in arterial pressure. 6. The half-life of adrenaline and of noradrenaline in the maternal and foetal circulation was 0.25-1 min. There was no evidence of transfer of labelled catecholamine across the placenta.

Animals↗

Uricolytic enzymes in liver of the Dipnoan Protopterus aethiopicus.

The enzymes uricase, allantoinase, and allantoicase have been measured in liver preparations of the African lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus. The levels for these enzymes in lungfish liver suggest that the amount of urea formed in vivo in Protopterus via a uricolytic pathway may be greater than that derived via the Ornithine-urea cycle. The operation of a "purine cycle" in lungfish liver is proposed.

Chordata, Nonvertebrate↗

Late fetal pontine destruction.

A child with an absent pons is described who died 8 weeks after birth. At postmortem examination, the defect was consistent with a vascular event in the last trimester.

Basilar Artery↗