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Biomedical subjects

B A Harris

Publications and source records attributed to B A Harris.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

A delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction after partial exchange transfusion for sickle cell disease in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

A delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction that occurred after a prophylactic partial exchange transfusion for sickle-cell disease in pregnancy is described. The clinical presentation and laboratory findings of delayed transfusion reactions are discussed, with special emphasis on problems associated in the sickle-cell disease patient. Suggestions on how to minimize the risk of transfusion reactions in the pregnant sickle-cell disease patient are given.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Plasmids for the cloning and expression of full-length double-stranded cDNAs under control of the SV40 early or late gene promoter.

Okayama and Berg (1) have recently described a technique for the high efficiency cloning of full-length dscDNAs. We have constructed eukaryotic expression vectors compatible both with this technique (and with classical techniques) for dscDNA cloning. The vectors are such that recombinants obtained contain dscDNAs in the correct orientation downstream from a block of sequence comprising either the SV40 early or late gene promoter linked to a pair of splice sites from a rabbit beta-globin gene. A sequence encoding an SV40 polyadenylation site follows the dscDNA. We have used our vectors to make a library from chicken oviduct polyA(+) RNA using the Okayama and Berg technique. Ovalbumin recombinants occur in the library at the expected frequency and a high proportion contain full length copies of the ovalbumin mRNA. However, a similar result was not obtained for conalbumin recombinants. When recombinants are introduced into eukaryotic cells by either calcium phosphate coprecipitation or protoplast fusion, expression of chicken ovalbumin or conalbumin may be detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Under optimal conditions (use of SV40 late promoter and cos 7 cells) ovalbumin protein could be detected when the ovalbumin recombinant was present in only 2% of the protoplasts used for fusion. This suggests that colony banks obtained using our vectors could be screened in batches of 50 by protoplast fusion followed by a search for expression of a given protein using indirect immunofluorescence.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Vaginal delivery following previous cesarean birth.

Because of the rising cesarean birth rate in the United States, renewed interest in vaginal delivery after prior abdominal operation has been evident. In a prospective collaborative study 789 patients were evaluated for inclusion into this investigation. Of the 717 subjects who entered the study 162 chose to attempt vaginal birth and 101 were successful. Desire for tubal sterilization and the lack of prior vaginal delivery were significant correlates of the group selecting repeat abdominal birth and of those who were unsuccessful when vaginal delivery was attempted. There were eight dehiscences and three uterine ruptures among the 717 patients and none was related to catastrophic outcome for the mother or neonate. Perinatal losses (12) were not related to uterine rupture or method of delivery. There were no significant differences in uterine disruption between patients selecting either route of delivery. Likewise ancillary factors such as a prior febrile puerperium (endometritis), number of prior cesarean births, low-vertical uterine incisions, recurrent operative indications, the use of epidural anesthesia, or oxytocin administration were not discriminating factors in whether women chose to attempt or were successful in completing vaginal delivery after prior abdominal birth. From our data vaginal birth after cesarean section appears to be safe if conducted in a carefully selected population that is closely monitored in a prospective manner.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of isokinetic muscle performance.

The development and availability of isokinetic testing equipment, recording systems, and systems for computer analysis have improved the quality and quantity of information about specific skeletal muscle performance. The value of both isokinetic exercise and instrumentation designed to objectively record muscle performance characteristics is becoming more widely recognized, especially by professional members of the sports medicine community. The present demand for appropriate equipment is high and new instrumentation for this purpose is being developed. Current instrumentation continues to be modified and improved. The information gained from carefully designed testing protocols is useful and necessary for understanding the role of specific muscle groups in athletic performance and for determining the readiness of the athlete to resume training or competition following injury or deconditioning. With expanded profile data about the muscle performance characteristics of various categories of athletes, training or rehabilitation programs may be adapted to meet the strength, speed, and endurance requirements of a given sport, which may enhance the quality of participation and prevent the occurrence of injury or reinjury.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Effect of patellectomy on the function of the quadriceps and hamstrings.

The Cybex-II isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure quadriceps and hamstrings function after unilateral patellectomy in twelve patients. The interval between surgery and testing averaged twenty-six months (range, fourteen to forty-two months). Data on isokinetic and isometric performance were compared with those of the untreated limb and with those of subjects who had not been operated on but who had been matched by age, sex, and weight. On the side that had been operated on, the peak torque of the quadriceps was significantly decreased whereas the peak torque of the hamstrings was preserved. Deficits in time factors related to the development of tension and high-speed performance were documented, revealing abnormalities in both muscle groups. Although patellectomy was successful in achieving relief of pain in these patients, the results of the study confirmed that the function of the knee muscles was compromised postoperatively. The objective findings documented alterations in muscle function that correlated well with the functional limitations described by the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The unfavorable cervix in prolonged pregnancy.

One hundred ninety-seven women who had completed 42 weeks of gestation underwent weekly evaluation of the cervix according to the Bishop score until the spontaneous onset of labor. Confirming the clinical impression that the cervix is seldom favorable in prolonged pregnancy, the initial Bishop score was only 3.6, and in only 8.2% was the score 7 or more. The degree of dilatation at the last predelivery examination was significantly related to an infant's Apgar score at one and five minutes; effacement was significantly related to the Apgar score at one minute. The Bishop score at 42 weeks and more was not related to the patient's parity or to the infant's birth weight. Finally, dilatation and effacement of the cervix and station of the head were more predictive of the interval from examination until delivery than were other elements of the Bishop score.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1982

Anesthesia for pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Women with severe pregnancy-induced hypertension are often critically ill; their fetuses are usually compromised. An ideal anesthetic method does not exist for the parturient with severe hypertension, hypovolemia, and organ failure. Optimal anesthetic results depend upon thorough preanesthetic evaluation and best medical control of pathophysiology, regardless of the technique employed for vaginal or cesarean delivery. The anesthesia team must be consulted early, communicate freely and effectively with other perinatal team members, and have extensive knowledge of the pathophysiology involved. Time must be allowed for preparation of necessary monitoring and anesthetic facilities. In patients under good medical control, judiciously administered continuous epidural block is the better approach for labor, vaginal delivery, or cesarean section.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1981

In utero versus neonatal transportation of high-risk perinates: a comparison.

This study compares the results of in utero (fetal) and neonatal transfer of high-risk perinates to The University of Alabama Hospitals for the years 1975 through 1977. Both the percentage and total number of fetal referrals have increased. The neonatal mortality among 1061 referred cases (776 neonatal and 285 fetal) was significantly lower among those referred before delivery. Infants surviving after intrauterine transportation required continuous positive airway pressure and intermittent positive pressure ventilation less frequently than did those transported after delivery. There were significantly fewer deaths of infants transported in utero for 3 of 8 categories of mortality risk. Moreover, the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter among infants surviving after in utero transportation than among survivors of neonatal transportation.

Alabama↗