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Biomedical subjects

B Bryan

Publications and source records attributed to B Bryan.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

The effect of war on children: the children of Europe after World War II.

In war, children are inevitably innocent victims. In the carnage that was World War II, more children were killed or orphaned than at any other time in history. This article gives a brief history of the place of children within the conflagration, then describes the effects of war on the children. We concentrate on postwar life, placing children in the context of the environment in which they were living at the time. Our article outlines the work carried out by relief agencies and how Europe began to rebuild itself, how the children were fed and made healthy, and how, where possible, they were reunited with their families. We report briefly on the physical and psychological damage children suffered, both during the war and in its aftermath. History such as this is relevant to nurses in the 21st century, as it provides insight upon which nursing care for both our present ageing population and for children of the future can be based.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Isolation and properties of the luciferase stored in the ovary of the scyphozoan medusa Periphylla periphylla.

Bioluminescence of the medusa Periphylla is based on the oxidation of coelenterazine catalyzed by luciferase. Periphylla has two types of luciferase: the soluble form luciferase L, which causes the exumbrellar bioluminescence display of the medusa, and the insoluble aggregated form, which is stored as particulate material in the ovary, in an amount over 100 times that of luciferase L. The eggs are especially rich in the insoluble luciferase, which drastically decreases upon fertilization. The insoluble form could be solubilized by 2-mercaptoethanol, yielding a mixture of luciferase oligomers with molecular masses in multiples of approximately 20 kDa. Those having the molecular masses of 20 kDa, 40 kDa, and 80 kDa were isolated and designated, respectively, as luciferase A, luciferase B, and luciferase C. The luminescence activities of Periphylla luciferases A, B, and C were 1.2 approximately 4.1 x 10(16) photon/mg. s, significantly higher than any coelenterazine luciferase known, and the quantum yields of coelenterazine catalyzed by these luciferases (about 0.30 at 24 degrees C) are comparable to that catalyzed by Oplophorus luciferase (0.34 at 22 degrees C), which has been considered the most efficient coelenterazine luciferase until now. Luciferase L (32 kDa) could also be split by 2-mercaptoethanol into luciferase A and an accessory protein (approx. 12 kDa), as yet uncharacterized. Luciferases A, B, and C are highly resistant to inactivation: their luminescence activities are only slightly diminished at pH 1 and pH 11 and are enhanced in the presence of 1 approximately 2 M guanidine hydrochloride; but they are less stable to heating than luciferase L, which is practically unaffected by boiling.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Pharmacokinetics of G3139, a phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide antisense to bcl-2, after intravenous administration or continuous subcutaneous infusion to mice.

An 18-mer full-phosphorothioate oligonucleotide with sequence antisense to the first six codons of the open reading frame of bcl-2 (G3139) has shown efficacy against the DoHH2 lymphoma implanted in severe combined immunodeficient mice. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics of 35S-labeled G3139 in female BALB/c mice after single i.v. bolus administration or s.c. infusion for 1 week. After 100 microg i.v. bolus (approximately 5 mg/kg), the radioactivity was rapidly distributed and eliminated, with low blood levels 6 hr after administration. Most of the initial plasma radioactivity was protein bound (98% at 5 min). Tissue to plasma ratios were 87 for kidney, 17 for liver, 5 for spleen, 2.5 for heart and lung and 3.5 for gut. High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of G3139 showed triexponential kinetics, with alpha, beta and gamma half-lives of 5 min, 37 min and 11 hr, respectively. After 106 microg/day s.c. infusion, plasma steady state was reached by day 3, when half of the radioactivity was protein bound and 66 to 86% of the radioactivity was associated with parent drug (0.9 microg/ml). The plasma half-life of elimination for G3139 was 22 hr. Tissue to plasma ratios were similar to those after i.v. bolus administration, but accumulation was observed in all organs including bone marrow, where the levels reached were in the cytotoxic range. G3139 was metabolized to at least three different products, all observed in plasma, liver and kidney. Two metabolites eluted before the parent compound and one after the parent compound. There was greater degradation in the liver 6 hr after i.v. administration than at 24 hr, 48 hr, 3 days and 7 days after s.c. administration. In the kidney, most radioactivity was G3139. All degradation products were found in the urine but only traces of parent drug were eliminated. After both routes of administration, most of the radioactivity was eliminated in the urine and to a lesser extent in the feces. Significantly more radioactivity was excreted in the urine after i.v. bolus, compared with s.c. infusion (33% on day 1 and 55% by day 3 for i.v. vs. 7.2% on day 1 and 12.9% by day 3 for s.c.). These data show that s.c. infusion resulted in less excretion and metabolism of the administered dose.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Nursing case management: affecting quality and cost.

North Mississippi Health Services' nursing case management program has been deemed a success by all parties involved, especially the patients. High-risk patients with specific chronic health problems receive an enhanced level of care and experience significant reductions in cost, length of stay, and repeat hospitalizations. Quality of life for many of these patients is also improved. These outcomes are made possible by assigning a registered nurse to case manage or coordinate care for these patients.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1991

The NAPPH (National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals) critical indicator project.

The National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals (NAPPH) initiated the Critical Indicator Project in 1986 to develop measures of quality and other important clinical aspects of inpatient psychiatric treatment. The tools used to collect data have undergone extensive refinements, and the data collected have been analyzed by researchers and clinicians. After careful review, in January 1990 the NAPPH Board of Trustees endorsed full implementation of the Critical Indicator Project in all member hospitals. This paper describes the project and its current major implications.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1984

Signal search analysis: a new method to localize and characterize functionally important DNA sequences.

The generation of "signal search data" represents a general method of describing the common properties of a set of DNA sequences presumed to be functionally analogous. Besides the detailed description of this method we present two computer programs which use signal search data as input data: One that processes them to a "constraint profile" and another one which lists over-represented "signals" of potential functional relevance. To illustrate the possibilities of our method we have analysed a set of transcription initiation sites of sea urchin histone genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Histochemical evaluation of glycosaminoglycan deposition in the skin.

Histologic demonstration of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) deposition in the skin has been based on the use of either colloidal iron or alcian blue. To define the best technique for the determination of skin GAG content we undertook a prospective study comparing the two stains and evaluating the use of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) to enhance fixation. Slides were prepared from skin biopsies obtained from five patients with cutaneous mucinoses. The preparations were coded and examined by three observers. Colloidal iron staining gave a higher intensity for GAG deposits in papillary and reticular dermis. Digestion by specific enzymes identified similar GAGs with either colloidal iron, or alcian blue; however, colloidal iron made GAGs more obvious, partly due to the contrast afforded by the yellow background stain. The addition of CPC to the fixative appreciably enhanced GAG fixation without interfering with the action of enzymes. Experimentally, we confirmed this effect of CPC by determining a pronounced decrease in GAG leakage into the fixative from CPC treated human umbilical cord. We conclude that the combination of CPC fixation and colloidal iron staining gives the best definition of skin GAGs in clinical specimens.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1980

Inadvertent primary vaginal incision during cesarean section.

A previously undescribed complication of low transverse cesarean section--primary entry into the upper vagina--is reported in two women. The patient at risk is a parturient whose cervix is completely dilated and who has been pushing the second stage labour. Possible complications include bladder injury, vesical fistula, hemorrhage and laceration of adjacent ligamentous structures. Management requires meticulous hemostasis, careful search for bladder injury and anatomical closure of the vaginal defect. The postoperative course and prognosis of well managed cases are good.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Thromboxane synthetase inhibitors as pharmacological tools: differential biochemical and biological effects on platelet suspensions.

The comparative effects of three so called "thromboxane-synthetase-inhibitors" (imidazole, N-0164, and U-51605) on arachidonate metabolism and on platelet aggregation were studied. All three compounds blocked platelet microsomal thromboxane synthesis from prostaglandin endoperoxides without affecting platelet adenyl cyclase. Imidazole, blocked thromboxane synthesis in intact platelets either from arachidonic acid or PGH2, without affecting aggregation. U-51605 simultaneously inhibited thromboxane synthesis and platelet suspension aggregation. N-0164 inhibited aggregation probably at extracellular sites, at concentrations that did not alter arachidonate or PGH2 metabolism. High concentrations of N-0164 simultaneously inhibited PG cyclo-oxygenase and thromboxane synthetase. The lack of specificity of these compounds requires that other actions of these compound must be considered when they are used as pharmacological tools to inhibit thromboxane synthetase.

Arachidonic Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of abnormal hemoglobins on a new microcolumn method to determine hemoglobin A1c.

A new cation-exchange microcolumn employing a borate buffer reportedly separates hemoglobin A1c from other labile glycosylated intermediates in a one step procedure. The effect of commonly occurring abnormal hemoglobins on the hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) levels as determined by this new technique has been studied and compared to the values obtained by isoelectric focusing. If a patient has hemoglobin levels in the normal range, or if HbS, HbE, or an elevated HbA2 are present, then hemoglobin A1c levels as estimated by this new column are unaffected or decreased. However, if HbF is elevated, a marked increase in the HbA1c level is observed. The increase is almost directly proportional to the HbF level up to 40 percent. This new column technique is therefore useful in eliminating labile glycosylated hemoglobin intermediates but must be coupled with other techniques if high HbF values are present.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗