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Biomedical subjects

A James

Publications and source records attributed to A James.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Management style.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1991

Homeless women in London: the hostel perspective.

This is a service-related study of the prevalence of mental illness in 43 women referred to a visiting psychiatrist at a hostel for single homeless women in south-east London. Over 80% of those referred were mentally ill, and 21% of the total were diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia. Despite the dedication and versatility of the care staff, the hostel was ill-equipped to meet the needs of the chronic mentally ill. The adequacy of community care provision is further brought into doubt.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Sex differences in the hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood.

Among a clinic sample of 6525 subjects, 61 males and 18 females with an ICD-9 diagnosis of the hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood were identified. Hyperactive girls had a lower IQ and significantly higher rates of language disorders and neurological disorders, suggesting a possible neurological basis for hyperactivity in females. In contrast, there was a population of male hyperactives with less evidence of brain dysfunction and a normal IQ, evidence compatible with the model of greater male constitutional variability. There was little evidence for the polygenetic multiple threshold model of sex inheritance.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of chest radiograph reading methods for assessing progress of pneumoconiosis over 10 years in Wittenoom crocidolite workers.

Thirty three pairs of chest radiographs taken up to 10 years apart were obtained for 33 subjects suffering from asbestosis who had applied for compensation to the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board of Western Australia. Multiple films from the period before the first radiograph in each pair, from the intervening period between the two, and from the period subsequent to the second radiograph were also available and all films were read by two independent readers according to the 1980 ILO classification of pneumoconiosis. Films were read twice as side by side pairs ten years apart, twice as two separate randomly ordered films ten years apart, and once as part of the full series of all available chest radiographs on each subject to assess which method provided the best consistency (between reader variation) and repeatability (within reader variation). Judging by consistency, the full series method performed as well as either of the other methods when assessing radiographic changes and significantly better when assessing the level of profusion of small opacities. There was little to choose between the other two methods either judging by consistency or repeatability, which could not be estimated for the full series method. Use of all available films for a subject is recommended for assessing single films, as in a prevalence study, as well as for documenting change in a longitudinal study.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1989

Staging of carcinoma of the breast using a hand-held gamma detecting probe and monoclonal antibody B72.3.

Radioimmunoguided Surgery (RIGS) uses a hand-held gamma detecting probe to identify radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (Mab). Fourteen patients with carcinoma of the breast proved at biopsy received Mab B72.3 (5 millicuries of 125I per 1 milligram, Iodo-Gen method) intravenously six to 26 days before exploration. Probe counts were measured intraoperatively in mammary tissue and axillary lymph nodes. In the mammary tissue, the RIGS system identified tumor that was histologically confirmed in seven of eight patients and confirmed the absence in four of six patients. Probe counts were suspicious for tumor that was not proved histologically in two of 14 patients. Unsuspected tumor was identified in three of 14 patients. In axillary tissue, probe counts identified one of two tumors that were confirmed histologically and verified the absence of tumor in eight of 12 patients. Probe counts in axillary tissue were suspicious for tumor that could not be documented histologically in four of 14 patients. RIGS appears to be able to identify residual, subclinical and multicentric carcinoma of the breast and accurately delineate the pattern of antigenic drainage of tumor into adjacent lymph nodes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1988

Bronchoalveolar lavage sampling of airway and alveolar cells.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell counts are used to assess 'alveolitis' in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) but inflammatory cells from airways can contribute to the differential cell count. To determine what BAL volume samples airway cells in patients with ILD we measured the proportion of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) in four successive 25 ml aliquots in a single lung subsegment in 23 patients with ILD (cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) four, rheumatoid lung (RL) three, asbestosis (ASB) 11, sarcoidosis (SARC) five). Cells recovered from the first two 25 ml lavages exhibited higher proportions of BECs (15 +/- 4% and 9 +/- 2% respectively) than those from the remaining two aliquots (3 +/- 1%, 3 +/- 1%, each P less than 0.01), suggesting that the first 50 ml BAL preferentially samples airway cells compared to the second 50 ml BAL. To evaluate airway and alveolar inflammatory cell proportions in ILD we performed two separate 50 ml BALs (samples I and II) in a single subsegment in 38 patients with ILD (CFA seven, RL five, ASB 19, SARC seven) and measured the proportions of recovered cells in each sample separately and combined. Seven control individuals were also studied. Sample I contained 1-67% (mean 26 +/- 3%) of the total recovered cells. Neutrophil (PMN) proportions were higher in sample I compared to sample II in CFA (20 +/- 6 vs 8 +/- 2%), RL (30 +/- 9 vs 8 +/- 2%) and ASB (12 +/- 2 vs 7 +/- 1%), P less than 0.05 for each, but were similar in samples I and II in patients with SARC (3 +/- 1 vs 2 +/- 1%) and controls (2 +/- 1 vs 2 +/- 1%). In combined samples (I + II), absolute PMN proportions were up to 8% higher than in sample II alone whereas absolute lymphocyte proportions were up to 8% less than in sample II alone. These data suggest that separate processing of the fluid recovered from the first 50 ml BAL in ILD patients provides information on the location of inflammatory cells and improves the accuracy of BAL cell counts.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Ethics of drug studies in infants: how many samples are required for accurate estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters in neonates?

Our study aimed to determine the least number of samples that are required to obtain accurate pharmacokinetic parameters in neonates. Patients treated with either netilmicin or ceftazidime had between five and eight samples drawn for drug concentration measurement after the first or the last dose of the drug. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using all the available points as a reference and then recalculated with 2, 3, or 4 points. Systemic clearance and volume of distribution were significantly different from the reference value when 2 points were used for netilmicin after the first dose and ceftazidime after the last dose. Had parameters obtained from 2 points been used, mean dosage would have been underestimated by 15% for ceftazidime and 11% for netilmicin, and some patients would have received only 65% of the dose calculated from all available points. When 3 points were used, dosage would have been underestimated by a mean of only 1% for ceftazidime and 5% for netilmicin when compared with the dosage estimated from the reference parameters. We conclude that 3 concentration time points may be all that are required for estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters sufficiently accurate for practical purposes in neonates.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1987

Vancomycin pharmacokinetics and dose recommendations for preterm infants.

The pharmacokinetics of intravenous vancomycin was studied in 20 preterm infants (gestational age, 26.5 weeks +/- 2.6 weeks [standard deviation]; birthweight, 880 +/- 340 g). At the time of the studies their postconceptional age was 36.4 +/- 4.5 weeks. The drug was infused over 30 min in a dose between 9.2 and 18 mg/kg. A highly significant correlation existed between postconceptional age or body weight and vancomycin t1/2 and clearance. Serum creatinine concentrations correlated with vancomycin t1/2 and clearance. Serum creatinine tended to decrease with increasing postconceptional age. Based on the excellent correlation between age (or weight) and vancomycin pharmacokinetics, dose and dose-interval recommendations are presented.

Drug Administration Schedule↗
PubMed1987

Coital behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge of students who experience early coitus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate coital behavior, contraceptive practices, and attitudinal and knowledge differences between "early coital initiators" (subjects having initial coitus at 16 years or younger) and "late coital initiators" (subjects having initial coitus from 17 to 20 years of age). Data were compiled from the results of a questionnaire administered to 929 students enrolled in personal health courses at 14 colleges and universities. The sample used for analysis included only the never-married coitally experienced males and females aged 20 and older (N = 396). The results suggested that late coital initiators: were more effective contraceptors during initial coitus; had more committed relationships with their initial sex partners; engaged in more discussion about and planning for contraceptive use; and used more authoritative and reliable sources for contraceptive information than their younger counterparts. Both groups scored very low on basic knowledge questions concerning fertility, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases. These results mandate greater public concern and involvement to delay early coital experiences and prevent unprotected sexual intercourse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Polar solvents in the chemoprevention of dimethylbenzanthracene-induced rat mammary cancer.

Differentiating agents have been used experimentally and clinically as an adjuvant in the treatment of cancer, but their role in chemoprevention is limited. We used 5% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), 1% and 4% methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), 0.3% N-methylformamide (NMF), and retinol acetate (RA) in the chemoprevention of rat mammary breast cancer. One hundred fifty 42-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into six groups (control, RA, DMSO, 1% MSM, NMF, and 4% MSM) and received chemopreventive agents along with standard rat chow ad libitum. Eight days later, 15 mg of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene was given by oral gastric intubation. The animals were examined weekly for tumor incidence and size (biplanar analysis). Animals were followed up for 240 to 300 days. Tumor incidence was not statistically affected. Time to appearance (latency period) of both tumors and cancers were prolonged by NMF, DMSO, and 4% MSM. Doubling times of all cancers produced were prolonged by DMSO and RA. No group exhibited toxic reactions or significant weight loss. Polar solvents and differentiating agents, specifically NMF, DMSO, and 4% MSM, were effective in the chemoprevention of dimethylbenzanthracene-induced mammary cancers.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed1986

Energy-dependent volume regulation in primary cultured cerebral astrocytes.

Cell volume regulation and energy metabolism were studied in primary cultured cerebral astrocytes during exposure to media of altered osmolarity. Cells suspended in medium containing 1/2 the normal concentration of NaCl (hypoosmotic) swell immediately to a volume 40-50% larger than cells suspended in isoosmotic medium. The cell volume in hypoosmotic medium then decreases over 30 min to a volume approximately 25% larger than cells in isoosmotic medium. In hyperosmotic medium (containing twice the normal concentration of NaCl), astrocytes shrink by 29%. Little volume change occurs following this initial shrinkage. Cells resuspended in isoosmotic medium after a 30 min incubation in hypoosmotic medium shrink immediately to a volume 10% less than the volume of cells incubated continuously in isoosmotic medium. Thus, the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in hypoosmotic medium involves a net reduction of intracellular osmoles. The RVD is partially blocked by inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport but is unaffected by an inhibitor of glycolysis or by an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of RVD by these metabolic agents is correlated with decreased cellular ATP levels. Ouabain, added immediately after hypoosmotic induced swelling, completely inhibits RVD, but does not alter cell volume if added after RVD has taken place. Ouabain also inhibits cell respiration 27% more in hypoosmotic medium than in isoosmotic medium indicating that the (Na,K)-ATPase-coupled ion pump is more active in the hypoosmotic medium. These data suggest that the cell volume response of astrocytes in hypoosmotic medium involves the net movement of osmoles by a mechanism dependent on cellular energy and tightly coupled to the (Na,K)-ATPase ion pump. This process may be important in the energy-dependent osmoregulation in the brain, a critical role attributed to the astrocyte in vivo.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1986

Alveolitis of pulmonary asbestosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage studies in crocidolite- and chrysotile-exposed individuals.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) findings in 27 individuals with crocidolite- or chrysotile-induced asbestosis were compared to BAL findings in 29 unexposed control subjects. Alveolitis, defined as an increase in the proportions and/or absolute numbers of inflammatory cells present in BAL fluid compared to values in control subjects, was present in 26 (96 percent) subjects with asbestosis. Most exhibited a neutrophil-eosinophil alveolitis, with neutrophil proportions increased to 7.4 +/- 0.7 percent and eosinophil proportions increased to 2.2 +/- 0.4 percent, compared to 2 +/- 0.5 percent and 0.4 +/- 0.01 percent, respectively, in control subjects (p less than 0.01 for both neutrophils and eosinophils). An increase in the total number of neutrophils and eosinophils per ml of lavage fluid was also seen (neutrophils 23 +/- 5 and eosinophils 13 +/- 4 per ml; p less than 0.05 compared to control subjects). Severity of the alveolitis, defined by the neutrophil or eosinophil proportions, was independent of a history of exposure to cigarette smoke. The pattern and severity of alveolitis in crocidolite- and chrysotile-induced asbestosis were similar. There was a significant correlation between duration of exposure to asbestos and neutrophil proportions (p less than 0.01). No significant difference in the severity of the alveolitis was observed between individuals with radiologic and physiologic evidence of asbestosis compared to those with asbestos exposure and crackles alone, suggesting that, in asbestosis as in other chronic interstitial lung diseases, radiologic and physiologic parameters do not reflect the severity of the alveolitis. This study demonstrates that a neutrophil-eosinophil alveolitis is present in individuals with crocidolite- and chrysotile-induced asbestosis, that this alveolitis is independent of cigarette smoking, and that the severity of the BAL changes is not reflected in radiologic and physiologic changes.

Asbestos↗