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Biomedical subjects

B C Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to B C Edwards.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Strain-dependent disposition of inorganic arsenic in the mouse.

Recent studies have suggested that polymorphisms in the methylation of inorganic arsenic (iAs) exist in animals and humans. Methylation of iAs is an important step in the elimination of arsenic. The objective of this study was to examine whether there are differences in iAs disposition, and hence methylation, between three strains of mice. Ninety-day-old female mice (strains: C3H/HeNCrlBR, C57BL/6NCrlBR, and B6C3F1/CrlBR) were administered [73As]arsenate or [73As]arsenite orally at dose levels of 0.5 or 5.0 mg As/kg. Another group of mice were administered [73As]arsenate (5.0 mg As/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.). Disposition of [73As] was assessed by whole-body counting, and analysis of urine, feces and tissues for radioactivity. Urine was analyzed by chromatography for arsenic metabolites. Several strain- and dose-related effects in the disposition of [73As] were observed with both arsenicals. After oral administration, the clearance of [73As]arsenate, measured by whole-body counting, was dependent on the strain. However, because there was no strain dependence on clearance of [73As]arsenate administered i.p., the effect after oral administration may be due to a difference in absorption of arsenate between the strains. With increased oral dose of arsenate and arsenite, the clearance of [73As] was slower and there was higher tissue retention of [73As]. The percentage of metabolites excreted in urine also was affected by the administered dose. With increased dose, the percentage of arsenite and monomethylarsonic acid were significantly increased, and dimethylarsinic acid decreased. However, our results suggest there is no overall difference between these strains of mice with respect to disposition of iAs. A better understanding of the role of phenotype in the disposition and toxicity of iAs would reduce the uncertainty in arsenic risk assessment.

Animals

In vitro percutaneous absorption of dimethylarsinic acid in mice.

The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro dermal absorption of [14C]dimethylarsinic acid. This organic arsenical is used as a herbicide and is a product of the mammalian metabolism of inorganic arsenic. Discs of preclipped dorsal skin were cut from adult female B6C3F1 mice and mounted in flow-through diffusion cells. HEPES-buffered Hanks balanced salt solution was used as receptor fluid. Doses of dimethylarsinic acid included 10, 100, and 500 micrograms and were applied onto the skin (0.64 cm2). Experiments (24 h) were conducted using solid compound and aqueous solution (20, 100, and 250 microliters) and soil (23 mg/cm2) as vehicles. The epidermal surface was washed at 24 h to remove compound that did not penetrate. The wash contained the greatest percentage of the dose in all experiments. Absorption of the compound into the skin and receptor fluid was observed and ranged from < 1 to 40% of the dose in experiments with the three exposure scenarios. The rank order of the various exposure conditions of dimethylarsinic acid absorption (10 micrograms) into the skin and receptor fluid was 20 microliters water > 100 microliters water > solid > 250 microliters water > soil. No dose or pH effects on absorption of dimethylarsinic acid was observed. There was also no pH effect on the partitioning of dimethylarsinic acid between 1-octanol and buffer. Short-term (1 h) exposure of dimethylarsinic acid in water followed by wash of the skin resulted in < 1% of the dose being absorbed. Thus, vehicles and duration of exposure have important roles on the in vitro dermal absorption of dimethylarsinic acid in mouse skin.

Animals

A physical approach to the rehabilitation of patients disabled by chronic low back pain.

OBJECTIVE: To report the outcome of a multidisciplinary physically based program to treat sufferers of chronic low back pain who had not responded to previous treatment. DESIGN: Prospective intervention study. SETTING: The treatment program was conducted at the private practice of Brian C Edwards and Associates Rehabilitation Centre. PATIENTS: A total of 54 patients participated in the treatment program. All patients were medically referred. No specific exclusion criteria were used; however, all were not working and had not responded to previous treatment. INTERVENTION: The rehabilitation program consisted of mobilising physiotherapy, isokinetic testing, physical reconditioning, work hardening and psychological testing. This was carried out for seven hours a day, five days a week for four weeks. RESULTS: Of the 54 patients taking part in this trial 30 (55%) were successfully rehabilitated (returned to work) and remained so at a follow-up session one year later. CONCLUSION: While selection criteria for successful rehabilitation have not been established, the results do indicate that such physical rehabilitation programs have an important part to play in the rehabilitation of sufferers of chronic low back pain.

Adult

Dermal absorption of chemicals: effect of application of chemicals as a solid, aqueous paste, suspension, or in volatile vehicle.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dermal absorption of chemicals in different physical forms when applied to female F344 rats. Chemicals were applied either as a solid, aqueous paste, suspension, or dissolved in the volatile vehicle ethanol. The chemicals investigated were [14C]-2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (DNBP, 4.2 mumol), 2,4,5,2',4',5'-[14C]-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB, 2.3 mumol), and 3,4,3',4'-[14C]-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB, 0.5 mumol). The chemicals were applied on the clipped mid-dorsal region of the rat over a 2.54-cm2 treatment area, which was then occluded. Urine and feces were collected and assayed for radioactivity. Twenty-four hours post-application, the treated skin was washed with a mixture (1:1) of soap and water, dried, and reoccluded. The animals were sacrificed at 120 h by exsanguination under ether anesthesia. Radioactivity in the blood, skin (treated and untreated), and carcass was assayed. Dermal absorption of DNBP-derived radioactivity was approximately 50% of the recovered dose after application in the four physical forms, and the major route of excretion was via the urine. Twelve percent of the absorbed dose of DNBP was retained in the body. Dermal penetration of HCB-derived radioactivity was 5-8% of the recovered dose after application in the four forms, and the major route of excretion was via the feces. Greater than 90% of the absorbed dose of HCB-derived radioactivity was retained in the body. Dermal penetration of TCB-derived radioactivity was 6-8% of the recovered dose in the four forms, and the major route of excretion was via the feces. Approximately 21% of the absorbed dose was retained in the body at 120 h. Absorption of each chemical applied either as solid, aqueous paste, or suspension was compared to the absorption of the same chemical in ethanol. Absorption of HCB applied as a solid was significantly higher (p less than or equal to .05) as compared to HCB applied in ethanol. There were no other significantly differences in the comparisons of absorption. The data indicate that the chemicals examined in this study can penetrate the skin as readily when applied either as a solid, aqueous paste, or suspension, as when applied in the volatile vehicle ethanol.

2,4-Dinitrophenol

A meta-analytic comparison of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression as measures of treatment outcome.

Some clinicians have considered the Beck Depression Inventory, a self-rating scale, too reactive to patient halo effects and, therefore, a liberal measure of treatment outcome. On the other hand, interviewer-rating scales, like the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression have been viewed as more conservative measures of treatment gain. Studies which compared the Beck Depression Inventory to the Hamilton Rating Scale, as dependent measures, were reviewed for the purpose of determining if the scales provided comparable data for assessing treatment effects. The use of meta-analysis techniques resulted in a comparison of effect sizes which indicated that the Beck Depression Inventory was significantly less liberal than the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. The implications of these results for selecting outcome measures and the application of meta-analysis techniques for comparing dependent measures are discussed.

Bipolar Disorder

Personality discriminants of cognitive perception abilities.

Discriminant analyses, using California Psychological Inventory scores, age, and Miller Analogies Test scores, were run on groups of graduate students in counselor training who were high or low on perceptual-cognitive tasks. Twenty male and 23 female Ss watched videotaped sessions in which each of two male and two female expressors talked for three minutes about each of three prescribed subject areas. Perceiver Ss then reacted to a semantic differential as they thought the expressors had previously reacted. Absolute difference scores were established for each S in each of three cognitive dimensions for each expressor sex, and a summary score was also established. Analyses were run on each of these seven scores. Implications for further research and for potential use of the phenomenon were discussed.

Cognition