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Biomedical subjects

A Hope

Publications and source records attributed to A Hope.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The rhodopsin-encoding gene of bony fish lacks introns.

A study of the sequences of the rhodopsin-encoding genes (Rh) in eight fish species from two of the major subdivisions of the teleosts reveals that no introns are present in the coding region. This contrasts with the opsin-encoding genes of all other vertebrates where either four or five introns are invariably found. Phylogenetic analysis shows that this intronless teleost Rh is homologous to the intron-containing Rh of amphibia, birds and mammals. Possible mechanisms for intron loss are discussed, including replacement by homologous conversion of Rh with a processed cDNA.

Amphibians↗
PubMed1995

Effects of venous gas microemboli on pulmonary gas transfer function.

Dynamic lung volumes and flows, slope of phase III of the single breath oxygen test (delta-N2), closing volume (CV), and transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TICO) were measured before and 1 h after an air dive in a hyperbaric chamber to a pressure of 0.49 MPa for 40 min. Six divers had a bottom time of 20 min and a rate of decompression of 50 kPa x min-1, and six divers had a bottom time of 24 min and a rate of decompression of 100 kPa x min-1. Decompression stops were 5 min at 0.16 MPa and 10 min at 0.13 MPa for both groups. As control exposure they were breathing O2 at atmospheric pressure for 40 min. The dive and control exposure were done on different days within 1 wk, in random order. Doppler ultrasound monitoring for venous gas microemboli (VGM) was done during the first hour after the dive. VGM were detectable in all six divers with the fast decompression rate and in one subject with the slow rate (P < 0.01). In the subjects having VGM there was a significant reduction in TICO of -5.9 +/- 4.4% compared with -0.5 +/- 3.4% after the control exposure (P = 0.034). In the five subjects without detectable VGM, the changes in TICO were -2.8 +/- 3.7% and 0.2 +/- 3.8%, respectively. There were no significant changes in dynamic lung volumes and flows, CV, or delta-N2. A reduction in TICO may reflect effects of VGM after dives in which the effect of O2 exposure is negligible.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Bronchial response to breathing dry gas at 3.7 MPa ambient pressure.

In diving, pulmonary mechanical function is limited by the increased density of the gas breathed. Breathing cold and dry gas may cause an additional increase in airways resistance. We have measured forced vital capacity, forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced midexpiratory flow rate (FEF25%-75%) before and after breathing dry or humid gas at 29-32 degrees C during a standardized exercise intensity on a cycle ergometer at an ambient pressure of 3.7 MPa. The atmosphere was a helium and oxygen mixture with a density of 6.8 kg.m-3. Six professional saturation divers aged 26-37 years participated in the study. There were no significant differences in convective respiratory heat loss between the exposures. The mean evaporative heat loss was 67 W (range 59-89) breathing dry gas and 37 W (range 32-43) breathing humid gas, corresponding to water losses of 1.7 g.min-1 (range 1.5-2.2) and 0.9 g.min-1 (range 0.8-1.1), respectively. There was a significant reduction in FEV1 of 4.6 (SD 3.6)% (P < 0.05), and in FEF25%-75% of 5.8 (SD 4.7)% (P < 0.05) after breathing dry gas. There were no changes after breathing humid gas. By warming and humidifying the gas breathed in deep saturation diving bronchoconstriction may be prevented.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effects of 28-day isolation (ESA-ISEMSI'90) on blood pressure and blood volume regulating hormones.

The aim of this study was to determine what effects social isolation and confinement stress had on the volume regulating hormones. In six healthy male subjects, during a 28-d isolation and confinement study (ESA-ISEMSI'90), hematocrit, blood pressure and resting heart rate, plasma cortisol, renin, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin levels besides the electrolyte (Na+, K+) balance and plasma creatinine were measured. During the confinement, an elevated systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01) was observed together with an increase in MHPG corresponding to an elevated mental work load. The pattern displayed by volume regulating hormones (increased values for renin, aldosterone (p < 0.05) and arginine vasopressin) was not only characteristic of confinement stress but also reflected changes in the water and electrolyte metabolism. The increased creatinine levels seen throughout the study were regarded as consequences of hypohydration, and an enhanced muscular catabolism due to reduced physical activity. A similar pattern of hormone modifications was obtained in a head down tilt of the same duration, indicating that some of the described modifications are probably related to isolation and confinement stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Respiratory effects of warm and dry air at increased ambient pressure.

We have measured in 7 divers forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1), and forced midexpiratory flow rate (FEF25-75%) before and after exposure to dry or humid breathing gas of 35.3 degrees-36.8 degrees C (air) when diving to pressures of 117-600 kPa. The response was compared with the subjects' reactivity to pharmacologic bronchoprovocation with methacholine. Baseline FEV1 and FEF25-75% decreased in accordance with increasing gas density. Relative to baseline, there was a significant reduction after the dives in FEV1 of 4.0 +/- 6.1% (P less than 0.05) and in FEF25-75% of 8.6 +/- 9.7% (P less than 0.01) with exposure to dry breathing gas. By analysis of variance the reduction in the lung function variables below baseline were related to the breathing gas characteristic (dry/humid) (P less than 0.01), bronchial hyperreactivity (P less than 0.02), and ambient pressure (P less than 0.02) independently of each other. There was no significant change in FVC after the exposures. Humid breathing gas was considered more comfortable than dry breathing gas, and the upper comfort limit for breathing gas temperature was higher with humid breathing gas. Convective respiratory heat loss was negligible in these experiments, indicating that dry gas itself had a significant bronchoconstrictive effect. Bronchial hyperreactivity may cause increased risk of development of bronchial obstruction and air trapping during diving.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Symptomatic intraventricular xanthogranulomata. A report of 2 cases.

Intraventricular xanthogranulomata may occasionally be seen as incidental findings at post-mortem. It is however, exceptionally rare for them to become symptomatic, but if they do, it is usually attributable to obstruction of the CSF pathways. Two further symptomatic cases are presented and the literature is reviewed. Treatment is surgical excision, but stereotactic biopsy should be avoided due to the often impenetrable nature of the capsule.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lipomatous meningioma--an uncommon tumor with distinct radiographic findings.

A case of lipomatous (lipoblastic) meningioma is described. Atypical radiographic features of low density on computed tomography scanning and high intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging corresponded to the presence of adipose tissue within the tumor. A review of the literature indicates few similar reported cases.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1989

Dural punctures.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Dura Mater↗
PubMed1984

Tumor uptake of vincristine during close arterial vs systemic constant-rate infusion: experiments on sarcoma transplants in the rat kidney.

The uptake of vincristine (VCR) by normal tissues and by sarcomas transplanted to both kidneys in rats was studied at 10 min after constant rate infusion of 1 mg/kg body wt into one renal artery for 3, 10 and 30 min. Since the selectively infused kidney extracted only 2.5% of the total dose at the first renal passage, the present model provides a direct comparison between systemic and selective i.a. infusion of VCR in each animal. Tumor VCR uptake was 2.8 times higher and the corresponding blood VCR concentration time product about 4 times higher on the selectively infused side than on the contralateral side. Reduction of renal blood flow by clamping the selectively infused renal artery raised the local VCR blood concentration by another 10 times during 10 min infusion and further doubled the tumor uptake of VCR. Thus a 5-6 times higher VCR concentration in the tumor was achieved as compared to that obtainable by systemic administration of the same total dose. The results are compatible with a saturable mechanism of VCR uptake by renal tissue and tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Renal blood flow and vasodilatory ability prior to and following release of 24 hours bilateral ureteral obstruction in rats.

Increased renal vascular resistance (RVR) is evident after 24 hours of uni- and bilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO and BUO). However, to what extent the RVR increase is due to vascular damage versus functional vasoconstriction, or whether obstructed kidneys possess the ability to reduce RVR in response to vasodilatory stimuli, is not clear. During 24 hours of BUO renal blood flow (RBF), recorded electromagnetically, was reduced to about 70% of control and continued to fall by another 18% during 1/2-1 hour after release of BUO. Infusion of imidazole, a thromboxane A2 synthetase blocker, did not reduce RVR after release of BUO. Whereas RBF autoregulation in response to reduced perfusion pressure was impaired, maximal proportional renal vasodilation induced by acetylcholine was increased, both prior to and after release of BUO, as compared to control and UUO. These different renal vasodilatory responses indicate that the RVR increase during BUO is largely due to a functional vasoconstriction that impairs autoregulatory vasodilation. In contrast, the RVR increase during UUO is probably mainly due to structural damage which does not prevent autoregulation of the RBF level attained.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1983

Uptake of adriamycin by sarcoma transplants in the rat kidney: effects of renal arterial vs systemic constant rate infusion and of combination with ricin.

The uptake of adriamycin (Adm) by normal tissues and by sarcomas transplanted to both kidneys in rats was studied at 10 min following constant rate infusion of Adm 5 mg/kg body wt into one renal artery, during 3 and 10 min. Since the selectively infused kidney extracted only about 20% of the total dose, the present model provides a direct comparison of systemic versus selective i.a. infusions in each individual. Tumor Adm uptake was about 6 times higher on the selectively infused side. Adm uptake by tumor and normal renal tissue was proportional to the concentration X time product of Adm in arterial blood, in spite of highly different blood peak concentrations at different infusion rates. Ten-minute systemic intravenous infusion of the Adm dose, with concurrent infusion of ricin, 3 micrograms/kg, into one renal artery tended to increase Adm uptake by the tumors on both sides. This indicates a systemic rather than a local effect of ricin: ricin reduced Adm uptake by red blood cells and normal solid tissues and thus resulted in a delayed Adm clearance from the total plasma volume. In contrast, the relationship between tumor uptake and the concentration X time product of Adm in plasma was not affected by ricin, explaining the increased tumor uptake.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Renal blood flow during unilateral ureteral obstruction. Effects of reduced perfusion pressure, acetylcholine, and thromboxane A2 blockers in obstructed and unobstructed rat kidneys.

Renal blood flow (RBF) is markedly reduced in kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), possibly due to vascular constriction. Whether obstructive nephropathy is associated with impaired RBF autoregulation is unknown. We therefore investigated RBF autoregulation in obstructed and contralateral unobstructed rat kidneys during and following release of 24 h and 6 days of UUO, using stepwise reduction of renal arterial pressure and electromagnetic recording of RBF. The lower pressure limit of autoregulation was increased and the maximal vasodilatory ability in response to infusion of acetylcholine into the renal artery was reduced only in the unobstructed kidney at 24 h of UUO. Thus, we conclude that the vasodilatory reactions to both these maneuvres, previously observed to be markedly reduced during acutely elevated ureteral pressure (Hope & Clausen 1982), were reestablished: In the obstructed kidneys in less than 24 h (RBF approximately 70% of control) and in the contralateral unobstructed kidneys in less than 6 days (RBF approximately 140% of control). Infusion of the thromboxane A2 (TXA) synthetase inhibitors imidazole and 3-ethyl pyridine in controls and at 24 h and 6 days of UUO did not produce renal vasodilation. These results do not support the suggestion that TXA contributes directly to the increase in renal vascular resistance observed during or following release of UUO in the rat.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1983

The effect of hemorrhagic hypotension on total and local renal blood flow in the rat.

The effect of hemorrhagic hypotension (HH) on local and total renal blood flow was studied in rats. Cortical blood flow, measured as H2 gas clearance, was determined before and during HH with a mean arterial blood pressure of 50 mm Hg. During the initial 10-15 min of bleeding renal cortical vascular resistance was unchanged, and total renal blood flow autoregulatory ability was abolished. Cortical vascular resistance thereafter increased steadily to twice the control level after 90 min of HH. At this time, retransfusion of the shed blood improved cortical blood flow due to increased arterial blood pressure, not to reduced cortical vascular resistance. In a second group, total and local renal blood flows were obtained from 125I-iodoantipyrine uptake rate after 2 h of HH with arterial blood pressure maintained at 50 mm Hg. Total renal blood flow was reduced to 20% of control with no change in blood flow distribution between outer and inner cortical or medullary zones. Both cortical blood flow and intrazonal local renal blood flow heterogeneity had increased at the end of the HH period. However, ischemic and extremely low flow sectors comprising cortex and outer medulla were observed only in 1 of the 10 kidneys studied with the 125I-iodoantipyrine technique. In only 1 of 8 animals studied with the H2 gas method were intermittent sudden changes in cortical blood flow observed during HH. Since hematocrit tended to fall during HH, these observations support the concept that local flow intermittence is predominantly associated with high hematocrit shocks.

Animals↗