Showing papers by "Hospital for Sick Children published in 1982"

Genes for immunoglobulin heavy chains and for alpha 1-antitrypsin are localized to specific regions of chromosome 14q.

Abstract: Studies of somatic cell hybrids have assigned the gene cluster for human immunoglobulin heavy chains μ, γ and α to chromosome 14 (ref. 1). The locus for Gm (GM), a genetic marker on the γ heavy chain, has been shown to be linked to PI, the locus for α1-antitrypsin/α1-protease inhibitor (α1AT), a major protease inhibitor in human serum2,3. This assignment has now been confirmed by studies of somatic cell hybrids which have assigned α1AT also to chromosome 14 (refs 4,23). From studies of two families having abnormalities involving the long arm of chromosome 14, we have localized GM to the terminal portion of 14q at band q32.3 and PI to a more proximal position, between q24.3 and q32.1. The immunoglobulin genes are within a chromosome region noted for its high frequency of breaks associated with chromosome rearrangement, which occur both spontaneously in cultured lymphocytes and in certain malignancies.

Molecular cloning of partial cDNA copies of two distinct mouse IFN-β mRNAs

Abstract: Two cDNA libraries were constructed, using respectively the 12S and the 16S sucrose gradient fractions of polysomal poly (A)+ RNA from mouse C243 cells induced with Newcastle disease virus. Screening of a part of both libraries by mRNA selection hybridization assays revealed the presence of two plasmids hybridizing to an mRNA, whose translation product was characterized as mouse IFN-beta. Blot analysis of RNA indicated that mRNA hybridizing to the DNA from both plasmids could be detected in induced but not in uninduced C243 cells. The two cDNA inserts did not cross hybridize and had distinct restriction maps. Sequencing revealed that both inserts represented the end of the coding region and the entire 3' non coding region of two district mRNAs. Although different, the putative 39 AA and 65 AA carboxy termini of both Mu IFN-beta s display some homology to human IFN-beta 1. Thus there are at least two different murine IFN-beta genes.

Napoleon Bonaparte—no evidence of chronic arsenic poisoning

Abstract: Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the island of St Helena in 1821 at the age of 51. An autopsy by his physician, Autommarchi, in the presence of Sir Thomas Reade, some staff officers and eight medical men revealed a cancerous growth of his stomach1. But mainly on the basis of high levels of arsenic detected in several samples of his hair2 it has been suggested, most recently by Hapgood and Weider3, that Napoleon was poisoned by arsenic. We have analysed a different sample of Napoleon's hair and find an almost normal arsenic content but elevated antimony.

Methylphenidate increases selectivity of visual scanning in children referred for hyperactivity

Abstract: Visual scanning patterns were investigated in 32 children referred for symptoms of hyperactivity in a doubleblind crossover comparison of methylphenidate and placebo treatments. Total errors, response latency, and visual fixations were recorded as the child scanned computer-generated visual matching-to-sample problems. Results indicated that the number of fixations on the standard stimulus in the matching task was significantly larger in the methylphenidate state. Drug treatment also resulted in a significant increase in the number of systematic comparisons between the standard and the variants in the task. However, the increased selectivity of attention to the standard stimulus was not accompanied by a reduction of total errors. It was suggested that the stimulant drug may increase attentional selectivity even when such a shift fails to produce improvement in task performance.

Electronics and the Diabetic

Abstract: Diabetes is a major worldwide health problem with an economic impact of billions of dollars annualiy. Electronics, principally pally in the role of control for insulin infusion systems, offer the promise of improving the treatment of diabetes. This review analyzes the role of insulin delivery systems in terms of infusion site, glucose monitoring, implantation, and other aspects. In addition, other electronic aids for diabetics are reviewed along with their potential role in diabetic therapy.

Peristaltic pump tube assembly

Abstract: A tube assembly (24) for a peristaltic pumping system is described. The assembly (24) includes resilient inner and outer tubes (42) and (44) of which the inner tube (42) has a lumen (46) along which liquid can be pumped by occluding the tube (42) and causing the point of occlusion to progress along a length of the tube defining a pumping zone (48). The outer tube (44) fits closely around the inner tube (42) and extends over said zone (48). The tubes (42) and (44) are free of attachment to one another over at least a substantial part of said zone (48) so that the contacting surfaces of the respective tubes (42) and (44) define an interface along which relative movement between the tubes (42) and (44) can occur during pumping. The tubes (42) and (44) are secured together at at least one point (50) or (52) along their lengths. It has been found that abrasion of the innermost surfaces of the inner tube (42) is minimized and that reduced contamination of the liquid being pumped and increased pump tube life can be expected as compared with conventional peristaltic pump tubes.

Strabismus in Cerebral Palsy

Abstract: The term cerebral palsy denotes a bilateral affection of the brain with a lack of any uniform aetiology or pathology: sometimes there is an arrested development or an infective process in intra-uterine life so that the condition is determined pre-natally; sometimes there is some factor which is related to the birth particularly when there is a significant degree of prematurity or following a period of profound neonatal anoxia; in other cases there may be a post-natal influence such as an infective agent causing an encephalitis or meningitis, or even a degenerative condition. However, it is now considered that this interpretation of cerebral palsy is too diffuse and the term should be reserved for conditions in which the motor deficits stem from an injury to the brain during the birth process or immediately thereafter. Cerebral palsy represents a heterogeneous group of conditions which manifests a wide variety of paralytic and spastic features, associated with abnormal movements which tend to be choreiform or athetoid in nature, and there is almost invariably some degree of mental defect.

Method and apparatus for determining the energy requirements of premature newborns

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the energy requirements of premature newborns The method includes identifying a series of groups of newborns in which the age and weight of each newborn within each group are within defined ranges A characteristic mathematical relationship is generated for each group and relates the mean heart rate to the mean energy expenditure over the group The mean heart rate of a subject newborn, the energy expenditure which is to be determined is measured and applied to the mathematical relationship appropriate to the group into which the subject falls, so as to determine the mean energy expenditure appropriate to that mean heart rate, said expenditure indicating the energy requirement of the subject

Lipophilin-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in guinea pigs.

Abstract: Clinical signs of EAE were infrequently observed (1/20) in adult Hartley guinea pigs challenged with isolated human myelin lipophilin in complete Freund's adjuvant. However, CNS vasculitis and parenchymal infiltration by inflammatory cells were found in 10 of 20 inoculated animals. Localized, nonconfluent, small demyelinated lesions were detected in the brain and spinal cord of 5/20 Hartley guinea pigs during an observation period of 120 days. The frequency of both inflammatory and demyelinated lesions in Hartley animals appeared to be dose-dependent, but extensive demyelinated lesions were not induced. Persistent residual inoculation mixture at the site of injection was found in animals showing CNS inflammatory and/or demyelinated lesions. In contrast to the Hartley strain, young strain 13 guinea pigs were clinically and pathologically unresponsive to challenge with lipophilin and mycobacteria in water-in-oil emulsion.

Treatment of Cell-Mediated Immunodeficiency with Calf Thymic Hormone (T.P.I.)

Abstract: Summary: Eight children, four with combined immunodeficiencies and four with isolated T cell defects were treated with TPI, a crude calf thymic extract. Assessment of response was made on clinical grounds and by monitoring of immune function (T and B cell numbers, immunoglobulin levels, PHA response and delayed cutaneous reaction to Candida antigen). One child with severe combined immunodeficiency showed marked clinical improvement together with reconstitution of T cell numbers and, surprisingly, B cell numbers and immunoglobulin production. Two further children, one with a form of combined immunodeficiency and the other with a T cell defect and extensive cutaneous herpes simplex infection, showed benefit from therapy though in the latter we could not demonstrate that this was important in clearing the virus infection. None of the other children showed any consistent improvement either clinically or on testing. We found no evidence of toxicity, allergy or other adverse effects of therapy. Speculation: Children with deficiencies of cell mediated immunity including some of those with combined immunodeficiencies can benefit from thymic hormone therapy. It may be that therapeutic trial is the only way of determining which children will respond.

Differences in Mucus Glycoproteins of Small Intestine from Subjects With and Without Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract: Studies on the composition of mucus from subjects with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) have previously shown increased fucose and decreased sialic acid (Dische et al, 1959; Clamp and Gough, 1979). To expand these studies we isolated human intestinal goblet cell mucus as previously described (I. Jabbal et al, 1976) with further purification by nuclease enzyme digestion and Sepharose 2B column chromatography. Mucins from 4 subjects with CF aged 9‒23 years and 6 non CF controls aged 1 day to 90 years were compared with respect to amino acid, carbohydrate content and CsCl density gradient ultra-centrifugation.

Genetic Variants of Cultured Animal Cells

Abstract: It has been clear for a number of years that the functional analysis of biological systems is highly dependent upon the availability of a large number of mutants of broad phenotypic classes. It was with this understanding that our laboratory undertook about ten years ago to develop methods for selection of mutants in somatic cells. Over this decade the field has developed extremely rapidly both in terms of methodological expertise and in the wide spectrum of mutants which can now be used for studies on gene function and regulation.

The ECG in aortic stenosis. Value of TAVF and QV6.

Abstract: Fifty patients with a mean age of 9.2 years (range, 1.2 to 17.5 years) had cardiac catheterization performed under standardized conditions plus a scalar ECG the previous day. Twenty different direct measurements and 25 derived measurements from the ECG were correlated with the resting peak systolic gradient across the aortic valve. Some of the best correlations were with the measured TAVF, TV6, QV6, and the sum of SV1+RV6 withr values between .33 and .59. Another group of different patients with isolated aortic stenosis were studied with measurements of the important ECG segments. The r value of this “test” series was similar to that of the original group, so the groups were pooled. The best three-term regression equation involved TAVF, QV6, and the sum (SV1+RV6), withr=.636. A scoring system was also devised to predict severity. If the TAVF is 0.1 mV or less or the TV6 is 0.3 mV or less or if there is no Q in V6, the gradient may be high. In our series, the ECG estimation of resting peak systolic gradient across the aortic valve in aortic stenosis was enhanced by the inclusion of TAVF and QV6 in the regression equation, as well as SV1+RV6.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of CTMM

Abstract: The introduction of Metrizamide and its approval for routine use in myelography has had considerable influence on the present radiographic evaluation of the contents of the spinal canal. During the few years since Di Chiro and Schellinger (1976) first described their experiences with CTMM, the resolution provided by new generations of CT scanners has steadily improved, and the CTMM has now become an established tool in radiologic work-up of spinal lesions.