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T Francis

Publications and source records attributed to T Francis.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Common thyroid disorders in the elderly.

Thyroid disease in the elderly is common but often has an insidious onset with symptoms that mimic those of normal aging. Understanding the significance of thyroid function test results requires an appreciation of the normal physiologic variations of aging and the complicating effects of diseases and medications; only then can one accurately discriminate between various disease processes, order additional appropriate tests, and deliver rational management. The increasing prevalence of thyroid disorders with age, coupled with the current and future dramatic growth of the elderly population, demands that primary care providers be vigilant to the likelihood of thyroid disease and informed as to its most proper, expedient, and cost-effective diagnosis and management.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Lymphocytes express thyrotropin receptor-specific mRNA as detected by the PCR technique.

Human lymphocytes are known to play a critical role in autoimmune diseases both by producing antibodies and by participating in lymphokine-cellular interactions. TSH, a classic pituitary hormone, may be secreted by human lymphocytes, and controversy has existed whether a specific, authentic TSH receptor also was present on the surface of these cells. The objective of our study was to identify TSH receptor transcripts after designing specific oligonucleotides that would recognize a unique putative TSH binding area of the thyroidal TSH receptor. The existence of TSH receptor transcripts was probed by employing these primers in a PCR reaction with cDNA derived from normal peripheral human lymphocytes and human thyroid tissue, as well as with cDNA from a medullary cancer cell line and rat liver. Human lymphocytes and thyroid tissue, but not medullary cancer cells or rat liver, demonstrated specific TSH receptor amplification product both by ethidium bromide staining and by Southern blot hybridization with labeled TSH receptor cDNA. The lymphocyte cDNA was partially sequenced and found to be identical to the thyroid-derived cDNA. These findings indicate that normal, nonactivated, human lymphocytes produce transcript for a TSH receptor that appears identical to that in thyroid tissue. Future studies should focus on the regulation of this transcript, as well as on the role TSH and TSH receptor may play in modulating local lymphokine activation of T and B cells, both in normal conditions and in autoimmune thyroid disease.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

An in vitro study of immunomodulatory effects of some saponins.

The in vitro immunomodulatory activities of a number of saponins (crude Quillaja saponin, Quillayanin, Quil-A and glycyrrhizic acid) are described. Addition of these saponin preparations to mouse spleen cell cultures resulted in significant cell proliferation. B-cells were induced to proliferate in the presence of the crude saponin, and T-cells in the presence of Quil-A. On the other hand, Quillayanin and glycyrrhizic acid stimulated both T- and B-lymphocytes equally. The selective proliferation of subtypes of lymphocytes correlated with restimulation responses by polyclonal mitogens. Pretreatment by lymphocytes with crude saponins induced significant T-cell responses to PHA and Con A, and to T-independent B-cell stimulation by LPS. Pulse exposure of spleen cells to Quil-A resulted in enhanced cell proliferation when restimulated with PHA, Con A and PWM. In comparison, similar exposure of lymphocytes to Quillayanin or glycyrrhizic acid produced markedly increased responses to PHA, Con A, PWM and LPS. Incubation of lymphocytes in the presence of Quillaja saponins and Quillayanin caused effector cell generation as determined in a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction. In the case of lymphocytes cultured in the presence of crude saponins or glycyrrhizic acid, the supernatants contained active soluble factors. This was demonstrated by the observation that the addition of supernatants to spleen cell cultures induced spontaneous cell proliferation, and also amplified their responses to a suboptimal dose of PHA. The experimental data suggest that different components in the Quillaja saponin preparations may have selective effects on various subtypes of cell populations. Glycyrrhizic acid has the most profound immunomodulatory activity in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

ELISA today.

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Antibodies↗
PubMed1985

Vitamin A and E content of human milk at early stages of lactation.

The influence of gestational age and lactational stage on carotene, retinol ester, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol content of early human milk was studied. These nutrients were analyzed simultaneously using normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Serial samples of colostrum and early milk representative of complete early morning expressions were obtained during the first 6 weeks post-partum from mothers giving birth prematurely (PT) and at term (FT). Colostrum carotene content declined significantly during the first week of lactation. There was no apparent gestational age effect on milk carotene levels. The longitudinal pattern of change observed for milk retinol ester and alpha-tocopherol content was however, significantly different between PT and FT milk. Retinol ester levels were similar on days 1-2 postpartum reaching a maximal level on days 3-4 postpartum in FT milk. For PT milk the maximum retinol ester concentration occurred on days 6-7 postpartum. Retinol ester content decreased throughout lactation. The rate of decline was more marked for FT milk. The concentration of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum was higher in FT milk. On all subsequent days examined the level of alpha-tocopherol was greater in PT milk. For both FT and PT milk the alpha-tocopherol concentration was higher during the first week of lactation when compared with following weeks. gamma-Tocopherol levels were not influenced by gestational age or lactational stage. Levels of milk vitamin A and E did not appear to correlate with maternal intake. Colostrum levels of vitamin A and E may imply active sequestration by the mammary gland in compensation for limited placental transport. Early milk content of vitamin A and E appears to parallel mammary gland lipid synthesis.

Carotenoids↗