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Biomedical subjects

S Battersby

Publications and source records attributed to S Battersby.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Toxicity and uptake of heavy metals by human spermatozoa.

The effects of metallic copper on human spermatozoa are described. Incubation with the metal caused a fall on the percentage of motile sperm, which was directly related to the surface area of copper employed and to the copper content of whole semen. These changes were accompanied by a decrease in semen zinc levels and an uptake of copper by individual sperm cells, as determined by X-ray microanalysis. Low concentrations of ionic copper caused a less marked fall in sperm motility, although the metal was generally more toxic than zinc or cadmium ions. All three metals were accumulated by spermatozoa on incubation, with cadmium causing a decrease in sperm nuclear zinc concentrations.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1982

Proliferation of human prostatic epithelial cells in culture: aspects of identification.

A reproducible explant culture technique has been developed to study in monolayer, the growth of human prostatic epithelium from specimens of tissue removed from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The procedure was used to study hormone responsiveness of prostatic tissue. The cells appear to originate from the progenitors of glandular epithelium and possess epithelial characteristics, as assessed by histologic, electron microscopic and immunocytochemical procedures. Close cell-to-cell contacts, desmosomes and microvilli were visualized in electron micrographs. In addition, we observed immunocytochemical localization of epithelial antigens in the cells which constituted the monolayer by using antisera raised against purified prostatic epithelium. Prostatic acid phosphatase was not detected histochemically in the monolayers and may reflect the non-secretory state of the cells. Growth parameters under various hormonal conditions were assessed by counting metaphase arrested cells, total cell number and measurement of the area covered by the monolayers. Proliferation was significantly increased by the addition of physiological concentrations of either testosterone or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone.

Cell Count↗
PubMed1977

The ultrastructure of Rhesus monkey prostate.

An ultrastructural study of immature and mature rhesus monkey prostate is described and a comparison is made with human tissue. The immature gland consists of largely undifferentiated epithelium showing little or no secretory activity. The mature gland exhibits the general characteristics of prostates of the other species studied. Columnar epithelial cells and undifferentiated basal cells are observed. The two lobes of the gland show several differences, the caudal lobe being rich in secretory granules, with the cranial lobe consisting of taller vacuolated cells. The description provides a basis for comparison with ultrastructural changes produced during in vivo and in vitro experimentation and with characteristics of normal and diseased human prostate.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Correlation between elemental composition and motility of human spermatozoa.

X-ray microanalysis of human sperm cells in donor semen having a range of motilities from 0% to 85% showed that elemental composition is not strongly correlated with spermatozoal motility. Only copper in the midpiece was positively correlated with motility when high- and low-fertility groups were compared. Aging of cells in semen caused large changes in subcellular elemental concentrations as motility decreased, notably with uptake of zinc, but these changes were not reflected in the range of motilities in the clinical samples. Electrolyte balance as measured by sodium to potassium ratios also appeared not to be correlated with motility. Subcellular elemental distribution is not a major factor in determining sperm motility in normal human semen.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1976

X-ray microanalysis of ultrathin frozen and freeze-dried sections of human sperm cells.

X-ray microanalysis of air dried and ultrathin frozen and frozen dried sections of human sperm cells has indicated a large deviation of elemental composition between cells in a single sample and between samples. Analysis of air dried cells indicates a similar subcellular elemental distribution to that found in sectioned material. Sodium to potassium ratios are found to be similar in both preparations. Air drying is considered a valid method for the preparation of sperm cells for analysis.

Electron Probe Microanalysis↗
PubMed1976

X-ray microanalysis of zinc and calcium in ultrathin sections of human sperm cells using the pyroantimonate technique.

X-ray microanalysis of pyroantimonate-fixed sperm cells indicates the retention of calcium and zinc subcellularly in similar proportions to air dried cells. The ultrastructure is well preserved and is corelated with the analysis. Sodium, potassium and chlorine are all removed during the fixation. CAlcium and zinc are found present intracellularly both in association with and independent of antimonate precipitation. There thus appears to be a varying degree of binding of those elements subcellularly, precipitation occurring where binding is reduced.

Calcium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association of short alleles of a VNTR of the serotonin transporter gene with anxiety symptoms in patients presenting after deliberate self harm.

The polymorphism of a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) region of the serotonin transporter gene consists of three alleles containing, respectively, 9 (STin2.9), 10 (STin2.10) and 12 (STin2.12) copies of a repetitive element. The frequencies of the three alleles in 384 individuals presenting after deliberate self harm were the same as a group of 346 controls. However, ratings of anxiety (and state anger) were higher in those patients with genotypes including the shorter repetitive elements. The findings support the hypothesis that, in this group of patients with low rates of severe psychiatric disorder, allelic variation in the serotonin transporter gene may contribute to the expression of anxiety symptoms.

Aggression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Design guidelines for interactive multimedia learning environments to promote social inclusion.

PURPOSE: There is a continuing need for guidelines to aid in the design of Interactive Multimedia Learning Environments (IMLE) to promote effective learning. The project introduced in this paper looks at an important subset of this problem, the design of interactive learning environments to promote social inclusion. METHOD: A consortium of six partners contributed toward defining learning material to develop a range of work based skills, including horticulture, IT and catering. These were then developed into IMLE prototypes. Formative evaluation of these prototypes then revealed a range of usability problems, which were grouped into generic types and frequency of occurrence. RESULTS: The most important and frequently occurring problems were used to distil a set of design guidelines for the development of effective IMLE. The results from this usability content analysis were also used to refine the initial prototypes to improve their usability and effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: These guidelines, termed the Greenhat Design Guidelines, can be adopted for use by all multimedia developers aiming to promote the social inclusion of vulnerable or socially disadvantaged groups of people. The refined IMLE can be accessed via the Greenhat Server to improve the employment-related skills of socially excluded people.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗