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Biomedical subjects

A F Turner

Publications and source records attributed to A F Turner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Bacteriophages that infect the cellulolytic ruminal bacterium Ruminococcus albus AR67.

AIM: To isolate bacterial viruses that infect the ruminal cellulolytic bacterium Ruminococcus albus. METHODS: Four phages infecting R. albus AR67 were isolated under anaerobic conditions using the soft-agar overlay technique. The phages were characterized on morphology, solvent stability, nucleic acid type and digestion characteristics. Two phages, phiRa02 and phiRa04 comprised icosahedral virions with linear double-stranded DNA and appeared to belong to the family Podoviridae [corrected] The other two phages are most likely filamentous phages with circular single-stranded DNA of the family Inoviridae. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Viruses of the family Inoviridae [corrected] have not previously been isolated from rumen bacteria. The phages isolated in this study are the first phages shown to infect the cellulolytic bacteria of the rumen. This suggests that the cellulolytic populations of the rumen are subject to lytic events that may impact on the ability of these bacteria to degrade plant fibre and on the nutrition of the animal.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed2000

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) enhances functional recovery following severe spinal cord injury to the rat.

We have recently demonstrated that following a moderate contusion spinal cord injury (SCI) to rats, subsequent administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) significantly enhances functional recovery and tissue sparing. To further characterize the effects of bFGF, we evaluated its efficacy after a more severe contusion injury at T(10) using the NYU impactor. Immediately after SCI, osmotic minipumps were implanted into the lateral ventricle and lumbar thecal sac to deliver bFGF at 3 or 6 microg per day versus control vehicle for 1 week. Animals were behaviorally tested for 6 weeks before histological assessment of tissue sparing through the injured segment and glial reactivity distal to the lesion. Compared to moderate SCI, all rats had more prolonged and sustained functional deficits 6 weeks after severe contusion. Subjects treated with bFGF had pronounced recovery of hindlimb movements from 2 to 6 weeks compared to controls, manifested in significantly higher behavioral scores. Only marginal tissue sparing was seen rostral to the injury in bFGF-treated spinal cords versus controls. Optical density measurements of astrocyte and microglial cell immunoreactivity in bFGF-treated spinal cords showed that after 6 weeks they approximated controls, although astrocyte immunoreactivity remained higher in controls rostrally. In summary, intrathecal infusion of bFGF following severe SCI significantly restores gross hindlimb motor function that is not correlated with significant tissue sparing. In light of previous evidence that pharmacological intervention with bFGF after moderate SCI enhances tissue preservation, the current findings indicate that yet undefined mechanisms contribute to the enhanced functional recovery following bFGF treatment.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

Cryosurgery as a treatment for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma: results, complications, and alcohol ablation.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the use of cryosurgery and to determine whether there is a role for combined therapy with alcohol ablation in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Twelve patients with biopsy proven hepatocellular carcinoma underwent ultrasound-guided cryosurgical ablation of their liver tumor. Postoperative alcohol ablation was performed on those patients who were found to have residual tumor or recurrence after the cryosurgical procedure. RESULTS: Of the 12 patients (9 males, 3 females) the size of the primary tumor ranged from 3-13 cm with average size of 7 cm in greatest dimension. Most patients had advanced disease according to the TNM staging system: 9 patients had Stage IVA disease, 2 Stage III, and 1 Stage II. Three patients had residual tumors after the cryosurgical procedure. The residual tumor was treated with alcohol ablation. The 1-year survival rate for the entire group was 50% (5 of 10) and the 2-year survival rate was 30% (3 of 10). At last follow-up, 1 patient with an 8-cm tumor was disease free for 3 years and another patient with a 13-cm tumor was disease free for 2.5 years. Both of these patients had Stage IVA disease. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found cryosurgery to be promising in the treatment of this extremely aggressive form of cancer, with the ability to prolong patient survival. Follow-up treatment with alcohol ablation is an important adjunct in treating residual tumor and controlling recurrences.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Computed axial tomography on highly myopic eyes following scleral reinforcement surgery.

We performed computed tomography (CT) studies on six patients (with follow up ranging from 8 months to 18 years) following scleral reinforcement surgery, comparing the density of the observed implanted scleral material with both normal human sclera and myopic sclera. Results demonstrated the presence of a material on the posterior pole with a density greater than or equal to the experimentally determined density of ungrafted donor sclera. We conclude that CT is a useful method of evaluating both the position and long-term stability of implanted donor sclera.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Preliminary report: imaging of Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma in AIDS with indium-111-labelled liposomes.

Kaposi sarcoma and malignant lymphoma were successfully imaged with high purity liposomes containing indium-111 in two patients with AIDS. Gamma camera images of the patient with Kaposi sarcoma showed four discrete lesions along the left foot and calf with no foci along the right foot, and no uptake into clinically enlarged but non-neoplastic lymph nodes. The spread of the Kaposi sarcoma was proximal along the leg. The neoplastic cervical lymph nodes in the second patient who had large-cell diffuse intermediate grade lymphoma were also imaged successfully. Since Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma frequently involve occult sites, liposome imaging may prove useful in the diagnosis and management of these diseases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Brahman bull fertility in a north Australian rangeland herd.

Low and variable bull fertility was identified as a constraint on reproductive rates in beef cattle grazed in an extensive, multiple sire mating regimen on Mount Bundey station in the Darwin pastoral district of northwestern Australia. Erratic conception patterns were attributed to a high proportion of bulls with low breeding soundness evaluation scores (BSE), a high proportion of aged bulls (40%>8 yr), and to running bulls of mixed age groups. Liveweight, scrotal circumference (SC) and age were positively correlated. An experiment was subsequently designed to investigate the ability of a number of bull measurements to predict fertility in an extensively-managed, multiple-sire mating system. Blood typing was used to match calves to sires. It proved to be an accurate and useful technique which successfully identified the parentage of 94% of calves examined. Single measurements of serum testosterone after administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were not correlated with fertility. However six of the seven most fertile bulls exhibited high peak serum testosterone levels in summer, and lower levels in the winter. In contrast, the less fertile bulls did not exhibit seasonal variation in GnRH-induced serum testosterone levels. Social dominance ratio was weakly related to fertility (r=0.51: P<0.05). BSE (r=0.51: P<0.05) and SC (r=0.49: P<0.05) prior to, but not subsequent to, mating were correlated with bull fertility. Under the conditions of this experiment, a bull to cow ratio of 1:20 was excessive for bulls with a satisfactory BSE score.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Successful imaging of human cancer with indium-111-labeled phospholipid vesicles.

Twenty-four patients with proven primary and/or metastatic cancer received single intravenous injections of phospholipid vesicles containing 0.5 mCi of Indium-111. Gamma camera scintigraphy 1 to 72 hours later visualized tumors in 22 patients (92%), including carcinomas of breast, lung, colon, prostate, kidney, cervix, thyroid, and soft tissue sarcoma, lymphoma, and melanoma. Tumor sites that were identified included soft tissues, bone, lung, liver, lymph node, and spinal cord. There were only two false-positive images in metastatic sites and four false-negative images in metastatic sites. Overall sensitivity for tumors in 97 individual sites was 85%, whereas specificity was 96%. Unsuspected areas of malignancy were seen in the lumbar subdural space, pleura, liver, thyroid, and lung. Besides tumor accumulations, homogeneous uptake was observed in normal liver and spleen. Radiation doses to these two organs were 2.2 and 2.9 cGy/0.5 mCi In-111, respectively. Whole body radiation dose was 0.3 cGy/0.5 mCi. The use of Indium-111-labeled vesicles permits a wide variety of human tumors in primary and metastatic sites to be imaged without toxicity and with radiation doses comparable to other radionuclide scanning techniques.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

In-111-labeled liposomes: dosimetry and tumor depiction.

Neutral phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) were loaded with 0.5 mCi (18.5 MBq) indium-111 and administered to 24 patients with various types of cancer. The median diameter of the liposomes was 77 nm, and lipid dose was 0.78-6.25 mg/kg. Scans obtained 24 and 48 hours after injection of In-111 liposomes showed gradual blood clearance with homogeneous uptake in the normal liver and spleen. Dosimetric estimates for these organs were 2.3 +/- 1.1 and 2.3 +/- 1.4 rad (.02 +/- .01 Gy), respectively, with a whole-body estimate of 0.28 rad (.003 Gy). Radiation dose did not correlate with lipid dose. Total renal excretion of In-111 was less than 2% of the injected dose in all but two patients. Transient eosinophilia occurred in two patients. Tumor was seen in the scans of 22 of 24 patients (unbinded readings). In-111-labeled liposomes may enable the demonstration of suspected or unsuspected sites of tumor.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

Iatrogenic pulmonary overpressure accident.

An unconscious victim of an overdose was intubated with an endotracheal tube to prevent aspiration. The respiratory therapist deflated the cuff of the endotracheal tube to allow for a retrograde oral air leak and then tightly attached the oxygen tube directly to the endotracheal tube. Seconds later there was a loud pop as the oxygen tube blew off the end of the endotracheal tube. The patient sustained both a hemodynamic and a neurologic decompensation as the result of marked pulmonary overinflation, with bilateral pneumothoraces and probable cerebral and coronary artery air emboli. We present the case in the hope that it will help avoid any such future occurrences.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Thrombosis of Björk-Shiley aortic valve prostheses.

Though thromboembolic complications are reportedly minimal in patients with Björk-Shiley aortic valve prostheses, massive thrombosis remains a major and often fatal problem. The authors observed massive thrombosis in 3 patients, only one of whom survived. In all three instances, the disk of the prosthesis was relatively radiolucent. With valves manufactured after late 1975, which contain a tantalum foil hoop, cineradiography is the most rapid and accurate method of showing the disk. A simple method of calculating the valve opening angle from the cineradiograph is described. It is suggested that serial cineradiographs might be useful in detecting lesser degrees of thrombosis and partial immobilization of the disk.

Aortic Valve↗