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Biomedical subjects

B Bell

Publications and source records attributed to B Bell.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The influence of age on the cardiovascular toxicity of intravenous bupivacaine in young dogs.

A study in anaesthetised dogs aged 2, 6, 13, 26 and 52 weeks or older was done to determine the dose of IV bupivacaine given by infusion required to produce severe cardiovascular depression as measured by a drop in mean blood pressure to about 25 mmHg or the development of life-threatening dysrrhythmias. Plasma local anaesthetic concentration was analysed at the time of ceasing the infusion. The toxic dose was significantly less in the six-week-old group than younger or older animals. The plasma concentrations associated with toxicity in the groups 13 weeks and younger were significantly lower than in the older dogs. Treatment of the induced toxicity included hyperventilation, adrenaline infusion, bretylium and/or cardioversion. The response to treatment was better in young dogs than adult dogs.

Age Factors↗

Giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease) of hyaline vascular type. Clinical heterogeneity with immunohistologic uniformity.

Of three patients with giant lymph node hyperplasia (GLNH) of hyaline vascular type, one had multicentric involvement and systemic symptoms, and had the nephrotic syndrome develop. The two others had localized adenopathy and were asymptomatic. Immunohistochemistry carried out on frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue was uniform in all cases. For the most part this revealed a polyclonal B-cell population and a reactive T-cell population in keeping with reactive follicular hyperplasia. In contrast to the latter, however, was a total absence of Leu-7 (natural killer cell) activity. The significance of this is unclear but may represent an abnormal immunologic response in the face of overwhelming antigenic stimulation. GLNH is a clinically and pathologically heterogeneous disorder, the management of which is dependent on both the clinical presentation of the patient and the histologic appearances of the involved lymph nodes.

Adult↗

Pre-eclampsia in pregnancies from donor inseminations.

The outcome of 584 AID pregnancies was analysed in order to examine the possible role of immune mechanisms in the development of pre-eclampsia (PE). The overall incidence of PE was high (9.3%) compared with the expected incidence of 0.5-5.0%. The incidence was similar in both multigravid and primigravid women. The expected protective effect of a previous pregnancy was not seen, with a 47-fold increase in PE (observed versus expected) in AID pregnancies after a previous full-term pregnancy and a 15-fold increase after a previous pregnancy of short duration. In the context of AID pregnancies these findings tend to support the proposed 'fresh mating' concept of PE although the incidence is lower in multigravidas after a full-term (4.7%) than after a partial pregnancy (15.7%). This suggests that it may only be full-term pregnancy which protects against the development of PE. THe category and duration of infertility and the duration of marriage did not affect the incidence of PE except where the male partner was oligozoospermic. In this case the incidence of PE was higher where infertility was 3 years or longer. Further analysis of the findings failed to provide clear evidence to discriminate the role of HLA and tissue-specific non-HLA antigens in the feto-maternal relationship as determinants of the development of PE. Neither did the results support the operation of immunological enhancement induced by prior coital antigen exposure in the genesis of PE, but raised instead the possibility of the operation of a mechanism of sensitisation of the female partner to seminal components over a long period of time when the husband was oligozoospermic compared with one whose husband was azoospermic.

Female↗

Correlates of intelligence and adaptive behaviour in Down's syndrome.

Intelligence and adaptive behaviour scores of Down's syndrome children were compared with parental educational level, socio-economic indicators, and parental age at birth of the child. IQ and adaptive behaviour scores were positively correlated with parental education and socio-economic indicators. Adaptive behaviour scores of children born to older parents were significantly lower than scores of children born to younger parents.

Adolescent↗

Factor analysis and reliability studies of the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index (CCEI).

Factor analysis of the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index (CCEI) is described. Two groups took part in the study; one from a working population (n = 8292) and one from clients attending three Employment Rehabilitation Centres (n = 281). Comparison of the factors obtained from these two groups, and between these and the original CCEI subscales, are reported, together with estimates of reliability. Overall, the results point to the retention of the CCEI as a reliable instrument for measuring psychoneurotic illness.

Adolescent↗

Self-care skills: behavioral measurement with Klein-Bell ADL scale.

A scale for measuring activities of daily living (ADL) functioning is described and reviewed. Teh Klein-Bell ADL Scale has been empirically constructed to yield a score of independent functioning for research and clinical purposes. Interrater reliability is 92%, even without extensive training in the use of the scale. Validity was measured by correlating ADL scores at discharge with hours/weeks of assistance (physical, verbal cueing, and type) received 5 to 10 months postdischarge; correlation was -0.86 (p less than 0.01), indicating that persons with low ADL scores receive much assistance, and that the amount of assistance received decreases steadily as the ADL score increases. Further research applications are suggested.

Activities of Daily Living↗

The Bristol Social Adjustment Guide: comparison between the offspring of alcoholic and non-alcoholic mothers.

A German translation of the BSAG was completed by class-teachers of children whose mothers had a history of alcoholism. These children were judged as showing significantly more over-reactive behaviour in school than a control group of children whose mothers had no previous alcohol abuse. Furthermore, the alcoholic mothers also reported more over-active behaviour in their own childhood. The results are supportive of retrospective studies with adult alcoholics which indicate that childhood hyperactivity may be one precursor of subsequent alcohol abuse.

Adult↗

Alteration of circulating antibody response of mice exposed to 9-GHz pulsed microwaves.

A significant increase was observed in the circulating antibody titers of mice exposed to 9-GHz pulsed microwaves at an average power density of 10 mW/cm2, two hours per day for five days compared with sham-irradiated animals. The mice were previously immunized with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide. Following irradiation, a portion of the immunized animals were challenged with virulent Streptococcus pneumoniae, type III. Ten days after challenge, mortality was essentially the same in the two groups, but during the ten day period, there was a noticeable increase in the survival time of the irradiated animals compared with the sham-irradiated animals, suggesting that the increased circulating antibody response afforded some degree of temporary protection to the animals.

Animals↗

Human sensitization to Ganoderma antigen.

Continuous air sampling with a Hirst volumetric spore trap over 3 yr has identified basidiospores of Ganoderma applanatum, a bracket fungus, as the most numerous fungal spores in two southern Ontario locations. The particle size is small and the calculated total spore mass approximates that of the spores of Cladosporium and Alternaria. Extracts of Ganoderma applanatum bracket fungus and spores in w/v, 1:10 concentration were prepared after collection of samples of the fungus from local woods. Skin prick tests with the extracts were performed in 294 consecutive children and adults attending two chest/allergy clinics. Of these patients, 182 (61.9%) reacted to 1 or more of the common inhalant allergen extracts and 24 (8.2%) reacted to Ganoderma antigen. There was no consistent relationship between reactivity to Ganoderma antigen and any of the common inhaled allergens. IgE-dependent sensitization to Ganoderma was confirmed by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Rabbit antisera to Ganoderma antigen preparations did not appear to cross-react with preparations of the various clinically important allergens. The findings indicate that Ganoderma antigen is commonly encountered, can induce human sensitization, and has unique antigenicity among common allergens of clinical importance.

Allergens↗

Allergy to a product(s) of ethylene oxide gas: demonstration of IgE and IgG antibodies and hapten specificity.

Patient D.H., on chronic hemodialysis, developed severe allergic reactions after exposure to articles such as plastic tubing and hemodialysis supplies which had undergone cold sterilization with ethylene oxide (EO) gas. It was shown that human serum albumin (HSA) exposed to EO (EO-HSA) in the usual sterilization procedure selectively elicited positive skin tests and in vitro histamine release. It is now demonstrated that D.H. serum reacts selectively in a radioallergosorbent test (RAST) which utilizes discs coated with HSA and exposed to EO gas. In addition, D.H. serum contained IgG antibodies reactive with EO-HSA. This antibody activity was not detected in the sera of 27 normal subjects and 25 chronic hemodialysis patients. EO-HSA and ragweed RAST inhibition tests with a number of proteins in native form and after exposure to EO demonstrated the EO hapten specificity of the IgE antibody.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

General practitioners in the Western Metropolitan Health Region of Sydney.

A comprehensive survey of the number of general practitioners in the Western Metropolitan Health Region of Sydney identified 753 general practitioners with one or more practice locations in the region; this was the equivalent of 711 full-time general practitioners, and represented a general practitioner-population ratio of 1:1533.

Australia↗