St Bartholomew's Hospital

About: St Bartholomew's Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 11054 authors who have published 13229 publications receiving 501102 citations. The organization is also known as: St. Bartholomew's Hospital & The Royal Hospital of St Bartholomew.

A Radioimmunoassay for Rat Plasma ACTH

Abstract: A radioimmunoassay of plasma ACTH, useful for several mammalian species, has been adapted for the rat. The antibody permitting this versatility was produced in the rabbit by immunization with the species-common, steroidogenic 1–24 amino acid sequence of ACTH. Binding studies, using polypeptide fragments of ACTH, showed that the antibody bound most effectively with the 1–24 fragment and nearly as effectively with the 1–39 native human and porcine molecules. The antibody failed to react significantly with αMSH, βP-MSH or with synthetic 1–16 amide or αp 17–39 fragments of ACTH. A close similarity was found between bioactivity and immunoreactivity in 3 tested specimens of rat plasma. Physiological validation of the method was obtained from the following studies. The immunoreactive plasma ACTH concentration at 9 AM in “resting” male rats was 23±4 pg/ml (mean±SE), when the plasma corticosterone concentration was 4 ± 0.4 μg/100 ml. At 4:30 PM, plasma ACTH was 63 ± 9 pg/ml and plasma corticosterone was 13 ± 2 μg/...

Biological properties of carrageenan

Abstract: During the past decade carrageenan has become much used experimentally mainly for its ability to induce an acute inflammation. Despite the lack of knowledge on the pathogenesis of this reaction, the fate of hundreds of new compounds as anti-inflammatory drugs still depends on their ability to suppress carrageenan foot oedema in the rat. Nevertheless the range of the biological properties displayed by carrageenan extends much further. Thus the peculiar features of granuloma induced by carrageenan, its actions on blood coagulation and the kinin system, the contrasting observations reported on its effects on peptic ulcer, its recently discovered immunological properties as well as its interference in immune phenomena, all indicate an increasing interest in carrageenan. Since the comprehensive review of Anderson (1967), many stimulating results in subsequent years have prompted this review with the aim of clarifying its biological properties and examining its future use as a tool to investigate physiological and pathological processes.

Characterization of Mutations in Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1

Abstract: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumors of the parathyroids, pancreatic islets, and anterior pituitary. The MEN1 gene, on chromosome 11q13, has recently been cloned, and mutations have been identified. We have characterized such MEN1 mutations, assessed the reliability of SSCP analysis for the detection of these mutations, and estimated the age-related penetrance for MEN1. Sixty-three unrelated MEN1 kindreds (195 affected and 396 unaffected members) were investigated for mutations in the 2,790-bp coding region and splice sites, by SSCP and DNA sequence analysis. We identified 47 mutations (12 nonsense mutations, 21 deletions, 7 insertions, 1 donor splice-site mutation, and 6 missense mutations), that were scattered throughout the coding region, together with six polymorphisms that had heterozygosity frequencies of 2%-44%. More than 10% of the mutations arose de novo, and four mutation hot spots accounted for >25% of the mutations. SSCP was found to be a sensitive and specific mutational screening method that detected >85% of the mutations. Two hundred and one MEN1 mutant-gene carriers (155 affected and 46 unaffected) were identified, and these helped to define the age-related penetrance of MEN1 as 7%, 52%, 87%, 98%, 99%, and 100% at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 years of age, respectively. These results provide the basis for a molecular-genetic screening approach that will supplement the clinical evaluation and genetic counseling of members of MEN1 families.