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Biomedical subjects

B L Warren

Publications and source records attributed to B L Warren.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Small vessel occlusion in acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Ischemia is one mechanism implicated in the pathogenesis of acute acalculous cholecystitis. Gallbladder specimen arteriography was performed to define the comparative status of cystic artery runoff in the macroscopically normal gallbladder (n = 10), in acute gallstone-associated cholecystitis (n = 10), and in acute acalculous cholecystitis (n = 7). Standardized film exposure and quantity of contrast medium administered permitted objective intergroup comparison. Compared to the macroscopically normal gallbladder, specimens of acute gallstone-associated cholecystitis exhibited arterial dilatation and extensive venous filling. In contrast, multiple arterial occlusions, with absent or minimal venous filling, were consistent features of acute acalculous cholecystitis; the degree of arteriographic abnormality for acute acalculous cholecystitis corresponded to the severity of gallbladder pathologic findings. Small vessel occlusion, on the basis of low splanchnic flow or intravascular coagulation, may be a fundamental element in the pathogenesis of acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Acute Disease↗

Effectiveness of a personalized fitness module on knowledge, attitude, and cardiovascular endurance of fifth-grade students: "heart smart".

The effectiveness of a Personalized Fitness Module was compared to a Traditional Fitness Unit, both of which were designed to develop knowledge, behavioral skills, fitness and positive attitudes. 95 students in Grade 5 and from intact physical education/health classes within two public schools participated in a seven-week cardiovascular fitness program. The experimental group of 48 participated in the personalized and noncompetitive fitness module. The control group of 47 participated in the traditional unit, a teacher-centered fitness module. Students received a total of 14 55-min. lessons over seven weeks. Pre- and posttest measurements included the Superkids-Superfit Knowledge Test, the Children's Attitudes Toward Physical Activity Inventory, and the one-mile run/walk. Data were analyzed using group mean gain scores on eight dependent variables (knowledge, six subscales of attitude, and one-mile run/walk) followed by a multivariate analysis of variance. A significant difference between groups led to a discriminant function analysis as a post hoc test. Findings indicated that the use of the personalized unit can substantially improve one-mile run/walk time. The use of modules of this type in health and physical education programs may promote life-long exercise patterns and fitness.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Plantar fasciitis in runners. Treatment and prevention.

Plantar fasciitis is a common overuse injury found in runners. The plantar fascia, which is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the longitudinal arch, becomes irritated, inflamed or torn by repetitive stresses placed upon it. Commonly cited predisposers of plantar fasciitis are excessive pronation, a flat or cavus foot, tight Achilles tendon, type of training shoes worn, and errors in the training routine. Once the plantar fascia becomes irritated a myriad of conservative measures may be used, including everything from rest, ice and elevation to steroid injections and, if all else fails, surgery. In most cases conservative treatment of one kind or another will alleviate the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. However, it is essential to determine and correct the cause of the problem in order for the runner to resume normal activity levels. Controlling anatomical/biomechanical inefficiencies of the feet, stretching and strengthening exercises for the lower extremity, proper training shoes, and reasonable training routines will alleviate the symptoms of plantar fasciitis in a large percentage of sufferers. To prevent this injury, runners should be aware of the potential overuse injury and take precautionary measures, e.g. seek a biomechanical/anatomical evaluation from a qualified practitioner. The practitioner can then offer suggestions as to the specific steps the runner should follow to prevent the injury condition.

Aspirin↗

Phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy. A report of 3 cases.

The coincidence of phaeochromocytoma and pregnancy is rare and potentially lethal. Three cases are reported; in 2 the fetus had died before the patient presented. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment there should be no maternal mortality, and the fetal mortality rate should be reduced to less than 20%.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Determining predictor variables for running-related pain.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific predictor variables exist for particular running-related injuries. Data on 134 patients with running-related injuries were evaluated to establish the factors that were associated with specific pain sites. Patient data consisted of a brief running history and measurements of 72 anatomical variables that have been cited in the literature as predisposers to running-related injuries. The descriptive statistics indicated certain associations of variables with each pain group. A factor analysis was used to eliminate multicollinearity and to reduce the 72 variables to 9 factors. The results of a discriminant function analysis using factor scores indicated that patients' membership in one of six pain groups could be predicted correctly in 29.1% of the cases. We concluded that the factors used in this study were not good predictors of pain groups. Physical therapists, however, should publish their data on runners' injuries, treatment, and rehabilitation to supplement the published data that relate anatomical and biomechanical factors to running-related injuries.

Athletic Injuries↗

Predicting plantar fasciitis in runners.

Ninety-one runners were studied to determine whether specific variables were indicative of runners who had suffered with plantar fasciitis either presently or formerly vs runners who had never suffered with plantar fasciitis. Each runner was asked to complete a running history, was subjected to several anatomical measurements, and was asked to run on a treadmill in both a barefoot and shoe condition at a speed of 3.35 mps (8 min mile pace). Factor coefficients were used in a discriminant function analysis which revealed that, when group membership was predicted, 63% of the runners could be correctly assigned to their group. Considering that 76% of the control group was correctly predicted, it was concluded that the predictor variables were able to correctly predict membership of the control group, but not able to correctly predict the presently or formerly injured sufferers of plantar fasciitis.

Age Factors↗

Congenital choledochal cyst. A case report.

A congenital choledochal cyst presented as an upper abdominal mass in a non-jaundiced woman; at laparotomy total cystectomy was performed and biliary enteric continuity re-established by a hepaticojejunostomy Roux-en-Y anastomosis.

Adult↗

Characterization studies of a rat hepatic cytosolic androgen-binding protein.

A rat hepatic cytosolic [3H]methyltrienolone (R1881) binding protein was studied under various conditions. This protein was also compared with the male-specific high capacity--low affinity estrogen-binding protein derived from the same cytosolic fraction. Analysis of the R1881 binding protein in adult (60-85 days old) male rat liver cytosol indicated the presence of a high affinity--low capacity binding site (Kd = 0.3 nM; Bmax = 5.9 fmol/mg) and a lower affinity--higher capacity component (Kd = 10.4 nM; Bmax = 131 fmol/mg). The latter component was eliminated by addition of triamcinolone or cortisol to the assay mixture. Steroid binding to the high affinity R1881 site was specific for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, and mibolerone, with a moderate specificity to cyproterone acetate, flutamide hydroxide, and estradiol. Saturation studies indicated that these steroids were binding to the same or a similar high affinity component except for flutamide hydroxide which produced nonsaturable displacement. The high affinity site had no specificity for progesterone, diethylstilbestrol, or cortisol. Like the high capacity--low affinity protein, this protein was not present in the immature, adult, or 10-day ovariectomized adult female. However, unlike the high capacity--low affinity protein, it was present in low quantities in the immature male. In addition, castration of the adult for 18 h, 4 days, or 10 days or hypophysectomy for 10-17 days did not have a significant effect on the high affinity component compared with the controls. Testosterone administration to these animals did not alter this protein binding. These studies indicate that a specific, high affinity--low capacity androgen-binding protein exists in rat hepatic cytosol. Furthermore, this protein shows age and sex dependency, but its presence is not affected by altering gonadal or hypophyseal factors in the adult male.

Androgen-Binding Protein↗

Anatomical factors associated with predicting plantar fasciitis in long-distance runners.

The purpose of this study was to identify anatomical variables associated with plantar-fasciitis sufferers. Selected anatomical variables which were chosen for measurement were leg length, pronation of the subtalar joint, plantar and dorsiflexion ability, and arch height of the foot, as well as the variables height, weight, age, and miles run per week. The means and standard deviations revealed that leg-length inequality, pronation of the subtalar joint, and arch height were not good indicators of plantar-fasciitis sufferers. According to the discriminant-function analysis in which 64% of the subjects were assigned to the appropriate group, plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, and height were good predictors of the recovered and non-recovered sufferers, but could predict no more than 50% of the present sufferers. Therefore, a set of predictor variables was not found for the prediction of plantar-fasciitis sufferers.

Achilles Tendon↗

Differential effects of diabetes on microsomal metabolism of various substrates. Comparison of streptozotocin and spontaneously diabetic Wistar rats.

We have examined the effect of recent onset diabetes on several aspects of hepatic microsomal metabolism in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced and spontaneously diabetic BioBreeding (BB) male and female Wistar rats. Differential alterations of the diabetic state on hepatic microsomal enzyme activities were observed. Female diabetic rats exhibited no change in benzo [a]pyrene (BP) hydroxylase activity, a decrease in testosterone delta 4-hydrogenase, and an increase in aniline hydroxylase. On the other hand, male diabetic rats demonstrated a decrease in hepatic BP hydroxylase activity, no change in testosterone delta 4-hydrogenase, and an increase in aniline hydroxylase. Insulin treatment corrected these effects. No change in kidney BP hydroxylase activity was apparent in either female or male diabetics. There were no marked differences between the chemically induced and genetic models of diabetes with respect to the metabolism studies. Serum testosterone levels were significantly lower than control in male BB diabetics, whereas no change was apparent in female diabetics. Light microscopy and serum insulin determinations indicated that the spontaneously diabetic animals we examined were not severely diabetic. From electrophoresis of hepatic microsomal proteins we determined that spontaneous diabetes of short duration does alter the protein distribution in the cytochrome P-450 region. We conclude that the acute effects of STZ-induced and spontaneous diabetes on hepatic microsomal metabolism are quantitatively and qualitatively similar, despite probable differences in etiology of the diabetic state.

Animals↗

Effects of chronic mestranol and (or)norethindrone treatment on ethanol-associated decreases in hepatic benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity and increases in central vein fat accumulation in the female Wistar rat.

Female Wistar rats were fed a liquid diet, Sustacal, which contained ethanol (40% of calories) or isocaloric sucrose. Mestranol and norethindrone in pharmacological doses were also administered via this diet. Hepatic microsomal benzo[a]pyrene (BP) hydroxylase, epoxide hydrase, aniline hydroxylase, and aminopyrine-N-demethylase activities were measured after 3 and 6 months treatment. In addition, hepatic histology and electron microscopic studies were carried out in an attempt to monitor ethanol-associated fat accumulation in the central vein region. Mestranol or norethindrone alone for 3 months produced an elevation of BP hydroxylase activity which was no longer present after 6 months treatment. When compared with the 3-month time period, BP hydroxylase activity was significantly decreased in livers of animals which had ingested ethanol (group 10 vs. group 2), ethanol plus mestranol (group 12 vs. group 4), and ethanol plus norethindrone (group 14 vs. group 6) for 6 months. However, in the steroid-treated groups, the ethanol associated decreases were not as large as that seen without ethanol over the 3-month time period (group 11 vs. group 3; group 13 vs. group 5). No decrease was observed in the combined steroid plus ethanol-treated groups. Ethanol treatment for 6 months increased hepatic epoxide hydrase activity in both the nonsteroid and mestranol-treated group. Aniline hydroxylase was increased by ethanol in the combined steroid-treated animals. Otherwise there were no significant changes in the enzyme activities measured. Hepatic histology studies carried out on the 6-month ethanol-treated animals provided evidence of fat accumulation in the central vein region of the liver lobule, as expected. However, the steroid- plus ethanol-treated groups exhibited less apparent fat accumulation in the central vein region. These data do not support the hypothesis that mestranol and (or) norethindrone will accentuate the inhibition of liver BP hydroxylase or the central vein fat accumulation produced by chronic ethanol ingestion in the female rat.

Animals↗

Serum theophylline analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

We have developed and evaluated a rapid, high-pressure liquid-chromatographic method for theophylline in serum. Only 0.2 ml of serum is required for each determination, and the sensitivity of this method is 0.5 mg/liter. This method, involving liquid extraction and silica adsorption chromatography, provides adequate selectivity, accuracy, and precision for routine or research applications. Little sample preparation is required before chromatography. We found no endogenous or exogenous interferences. Use of beta-hydroxypropyl theophylline as the internal standard provides reproducible results for this micro-scale method.

Caffeine↗

Determination of serum copper by atomic absorption, with use of the graphite cuvette.

We have established and evaluated a flameless graphite cuvette method for copper in serum. This atomic absorption method provides substantial improvement in sensitivity, adequate accuracy, and acceptable precision, and little sample preparation is required before the analysis. Standard addition studies and measurements of National Bureau of Standards materials indicated that the proposed method is accurate, but that sample pH must be kept between 2 and 3 for high accuracy. Cations and anions that frequently are present in protein-containing samples do not interfere significantly. Sample cross contamination in the syringe must be carefully avoided. Finally, when results for more than 100 patients' sera by this method were compared to those obtained by flame atomic absorption for the same samples, no substantial bias or inaccuracies could be attributed to this new micro-scale method for serum copper. Hence, this method is ideally suited for use on pediatric patients.

Copper↗