Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Mullen

Publications and source records attributed to B Mullen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Effect of deoxycholate on immunoglobulin G concentration in bile: studies in humans and pigs.

Because an increase in biliary deoxycholate levels seems to be a risk factor for cholesterol gallstone formation, we determined the relationship between deoxycholate levels and levels of the pronucleating protein, immunoglobulin G (Ig) in human gallbladder bile. Patients with cholesterol gallstones had a higher concentration of biliary IgG compared with a pigmented stone group and control patients. This was associated with the simultaneous presence of two conditions in the cholesterol stone group, supersaturated bile and a high deoxycholate/cholate ratio. The other patient groups met only one of the two conditions. Next, animal studies were performed to determine if model biles mimicking the two conditions could affect IgG secretion by the gallbladder. Gallbladders were exposed in vivo and then in an Ussing chamber to model biles. The voltage clamp technique was used to monitor functional integrity of the preparation. Three different model biles were tested: (1) taurodeoxycholate (TDC), 80%; taurocholate (TC), 20%; and cholesterol saturation index (CSI), 1.2; (2) TDC, 20%; TC, 80%; and CSI, 1.2; and (3) TDC, 80%; TC, 20%; and CSI, 0.6. IgG concentrations became significantly higher in group 1 than in the other two groups. The concentration of mucous glycoprotein was also significantly greater in group 1 when compared with group 2. Plasma cells were increased in number in mucosal and submucosal layers in group 1. We conclude that cholesterol supersaturated model bile with high content of TDC induces gallbladder epithelial alterations, which increase the luminal concentration of IgG and mucous glycoprotein.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A meta-analysis of the effect of oral and inhaled corticosteroids on growth.

This analysis summarizes studies comparing attained heights with expected heights of children with asthma treated with inhaled or oral corticosteroids. The possible moderating effects of treatment duration, and dosage and asthma severity are also examined. A preliminary database of 95 articles rendered 21 includable studies representing 810 patients with asthma, which yielded 29 tests of the corticosteroid-growth effect. Statistical integration of the results of these studies revealed a significant but small tendency for corticosteroid therapy in general to be associated with diminished final height (Z = 2.328, p = 0.01, mean r = -0.023). However, this effect varied for the specific drugs under consideration. As expected, significant weak growth impairment was observed for prednisone (Z = 2.137, p = 0.0164, mean r = -0.295) and "other oral corticosteroids" (Z = 9.107, p = 2.44E-18, mean r = -0.260). On the other hand, a significant moderate tendency was observed for inhaled beclomethansone dipropionate therapy to be associated with attaining normal stature (Z = 7.395, p = 2.17E-13, mean r = +0.432). There was no statistical evidence for beclomethasone dipropionate therapy to be associated with growth impairment at higher doses, for longer therapy durations, or among patients with more severe asthma. This meta-analytic integration indicates that available studies of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate therapy do not show an association between its use and the adverse effect of diminished stature.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1994

An exploration of women's perceptions of the major factors that contributed to their alcohol abuse.

The purpose of this research was to explore the interviewees' perceptions of the major factors that contributed to their alcohol abuse. The research was carried out by interviewing seven women who were identified by community mental health professionals. The research was qualitative and exploratory. The semi-structured tape-recorded interview technique was used as an enquiry tool. The tapes were then transcribed and coded, and the findings were scrutinized and scanned for emerging themes and concepts using an interactive and cyclical process of data-reduction techniques, data display and verification of findings. The findings suggest that the majority of the interviewees could identify and isolate specific life events and past-life crises that contributed to an increase in their alcohol intake. Results also indicate that there is a need to consider the efficacy of the current models of primary, secondary and tertiary care as well as relapse-prevention programmes of care in order to facilitate women to have every opportunity to make informed and rational health choices about their drinking behaviours, and to maintain abstinence, for the promotion of positive mental health and for enhancing the quality of their lives.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The association between beta-agonist use and death from asthma. A meta-analytic integration of case-control studies.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation was to provide an empirical summary of the evidence regarding the association between beta-agonist use and death from asthma. This effort integrated the results of case-control studies that examined the use of beta-agonists among asthmatic patients who died and the use of beta-agonists among asthmatic patients who did not die. The possible moderating effects of patient sample age and mode of delivery (oral, metered-dose inhaler, and nebulizer) were also examined. DATA SOURCES: An on-line computer search (using MEDLINE) was conducted using the key words beta-agonist and asthma. This search was supplemented by ancestry and descendency approach searches. Studies that were available as of April 1992 were eligible for inclusion in this integration. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they reported the precise numbers of cases and controls who did and did not use a beta-agonist. A total of six case-control studies comprising 15 separate tests of the relation between beta-agonist use and death from asthma and data for 364 cases and 1388 controls were included. DATA EXTRACTION: The 2 (case vs control) x 2 (did vs did not use beta-agonist) designs allowed for direct derivation of a chi 2 statistic that tested the association between beta-agonist use and death from asthma. Mode of delivery and average age of sample were also coded. DATA SYNTHESIS: Statistical integration revealed a significant, although extremely weak, relation between beta-agonist use and death from asthma (z = 3.996; P = .000075; mean r = .055). This relation emerged only when beta-agonists were administered with a nebulizer (z = 4.481; P = .0000038; mean r = .103). There was no association between beta-agonist use and death when beta-agonists were administered by metered-dose inhaler (z = 1.194; P = .11; mean r = .031) or orally (z = 1.247; P = .1; mean r = .031). Adults were more likely than adolescents to evidence the association between beta-agonist use and death. CONCLUSIONS: These results document the extremely small magnitude of the relation between beta-agonist use and death from asthma. Furthermore, these results specify that the weak relation between beta-agonist use and death from asthma may really be restricted to the delivery of beta-agonists with a nebulizer. These findings suggest that the headlines that followed the report by Spitzer et al (1992) were misleading.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1993

Incidence and types of non-palpable thyroid nodules in thyroids removed for palpable disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine the number, size and types of non-palpable and ultrasound undetected thyroid nodules in thyroid glands removed for a single palpable nodule. Twenty patients undergoing partial (hemi- and subtotal) thyroidectomy and 40 patients having a total thyroidectomy were analyzed. Patients had no more than one palpable nodule, no cervical adenopathy and no history of previous thyroid surgery. An ultrasound was performed routinely within four months of surgery. Forty-six nodules were detected by final pathology in the partial thyroidectomy group but only 42% were detected by palpation and 59% by ultrasound. The median diameter of non-palpable and ultrasound undetected partial thyroidectomy nodules was 0.5 cm and all were benign except for one case of lymphoma. Pathology detected 186 nodules in the total thyroidectomy group although palpation only detected 22% of these and ultrasound 42%. The median diameters of the benign and malignant non-palpable nodules were 0.4 cm and 0.25 cm respectively. Most of the undetected nodules in the total thyroidectomy group were benign but there were 20 non-palpable and 18 ultrasound undetected papillary carcinomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cancer in an ileoanal reservoir: a new late complication?

The functional success rate of the ileoanal reservoir procedure for ulcerative colitis is quite high. Despite the few early and late complications described there is now wide-spread acceptance of this procedure in the management of ulcerative colitis. We report a patient who developed an adenocarcinoma in the rectal cuff four years after having a pelvic pouch procedure. This new late complication brings to light several points including the importance of a radical total mucosectomy. The purpose of this paper is to discuss concern as to whether or not this procedure is indicated in colitis patients in whom severe dysplasia is the primary indication for surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Pulmonary disease following intravesical BCG treatment.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that has been used in the treatment of malignant disease for over 20 years and for the treatment of bladder cancer since 1976. Major complications of this treatment are infrequent. We report two cases of systemic illness with pulmonary manifestations after treatment with intravesical BCG.

Administration, Intravesical↗
PubMed1989

Focus of attention in groups: a self-attention perspective.

In three studies, we examined the hypothesis, derived from self-attention theory, that the focus of attention of individuals in groups varies as a function of group composition. In naturally occurring, nonlaboratory settings, Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated a decrease in first-person singular pronoun usage as the proportionate number of discussants in a group increased. In a laboratory setting, Study 3 demonstrated an increase in self-reported self-focus as the number of subjects decreased relative to the number of experimenters. These results support the conceptualization of self-focused attention as a mediator of group composition effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Primary anterior mediastinal tumors in children and adults.

This review details pertinent anatomical, radiological, pathological, and clinical information regarding primary anterior mediastinal tumors. Although the majority of these lesions are included in one of several subgroups, for example, thymic tumors, teratomas, or thyroid abnormalities, other less common entities will occasionally be encountered by the practicing surgeon. Likewise, there are variations in the frequency distribution of anterior mediastinal lesions in children as opposed to adults. Management of these individual lesions is outlined.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The diagnosis of emphysema. A computed tomographic-pathologic correlation.

To assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of emphysema, we performed CT on 32 patients prior to surgery for removal of suspected tumors. The CT scans were assessed visually for emphysema by 2 independent radiologists and 1 chest physician. Intraobserver and interobserver variation were assessed. Pathologic emphysema was graded on the resected lung specimens. These grades were correlated with the CT scores and with pulmonary function tests obtained prior to surgery. Significant correlation was found between the pathologic grade on resected lung specimens and the preoperative CT score of both the resected lobe (r greater than or equal to 0.57, p less than 0.001) and the whole lung (r greater than or equal to 0.63, p less than 0.001). Compared with pulmonary function tests, CT was a better predictor of emphysema and distinguished patients with moderate emphysema from patients with normal lungs. We conclude that CT is a useful adjunct in assessing the presence and severity of emphysema.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Sequential analysis of hepatic carcinogenesis. Regeneration of liver after carbon tetrachloride-induced liver necrosis when hepatocyte proliferation is inhibited by 2-acetylaminofluorene.

The effect of inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation by dietary 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) on the restoration of liver in rats after a necrogenic dose of carbon tetrachloride has been studied. The liver weights remained low during the entire feeding period of the 2-AAF, and virtually no hepatocyte proliferation was seen, as determined autoradiographically after thymidine incorporation and by the absence of mitotic figures. Oval cell proliferation was extensive. Morphometric analysis showed (a) equal and maximum liver cell necrosis by 24 hours in both the experimental and control groups, (b) similar kinetics of removal of dead liver cells, and (c) similar values for the mean liver cell area. The distance between the portal triad and terminal hepatic vein in animals on the dietary 2-AAF was considerably reduced. Massive hepatocyte proliferation began after termination of the 2-AAF diet, and the liver returned to normal appearance within 14 days. The oval cells disappeared during this period of liver cell restoration. A new hypothesis for oval cell proliferation based on differential inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation resulting in unbalanced growth of ductular cells is presented.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1982

The effectiveness of attention and rejection as coping styles: a meta-analysis of temporal differences.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis [16] of research comparing the effects on physical adaptation of two cognitive strategies for coping with stressors: attention and rejection. Attention refers to focusing attention on the stressor and/or on one's rejection to it; rejection refers to focusing attention away from the stressor and/or one's reaction to it. For studies examining the immediate effects of attention and rejection, rejection produced better physical adaptation (i.e. fewer symptoms, reduced physiological responses) than attention. For studies looking at the long term effects of attention and rejection, attention produced better physical adaptation than rejection. Mechanisms which could produce these effects, and their implications, are discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1981

Life events, perceived control and illness: the role of uncertainty.

The health implications of recognizing the difference between situations that are controllable and those that are not has been noted by a variety of sources. With this notion in mind, the present study examined the relationship between perceptions of control and desirability of life events and subsequent health in a college student sample. Subjects indicated which of a list of life events had occurred to them over a three-month span and also specified how desirable each was and to what extent they were in control of its occurrence. Illness was reported for the following month. The results indicated that both undesirable uncontrollable events and undesirable events of uncertain controllability were significantly related to the occurrence of illness. Of greatest interest was the finding that the occurrence of events of uncertain controllability was more strongly related to illness than events perceived as totally uncontrollable. The results are discussed in terms of research and theory stressing the adaptative significance of the ability to discriminate controllable situations from uncontrollable ones.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1981

Coronary-prone behavior, social insecurity and stress among college-aged adults.

One hundred and seventy-four male college students completed a student version of the Jenkins Activity Scale, the Macmillan stress inventory, measures of social insecurity, and items concerning personal habits and preferences. Social insecurity and Type A behavior emerged as independent but additive factors associated with negative stress experience. Type A's as compared to Type B's, reported feeling more stress, having and desiring less social support, being more interested in various performance standards and being upset for a longer period of time following poor school performance. Interestingly, no difference emerged between A's and B's regarding the temporal impact of successful school performance. High Social Insecurity subjects reported feeling more stress, having less social support, being more upset following poor school performance and being more interested in social comparison information as compared to their Low Social Insecurity counterparts. The results are interpreted as supportive of the notion that social insecurity and Type A behavior may contribute to coronary heart disease by affecting one's exposure and physiological reactions to everyday life stressors.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Crystalline tissue deposits on a case of multiple myeloma.

Crystalline tissue deposits were found at the time of autopsy in a 52-year-old male subject who had had multiple myeloma for 6 1/2 years and in whom the hyperviscosity syndrome had developed terminally. The tissue deposits were digested by trypsin, but could not be further characterized by immunohistochemical techniques. The crystals varied in size and shape and were located in tissue histiocytes, renal tubular cells, Leydig's cells, and adrenocortical cells. No crystals were identified within plasma cells. Their presence in the present case may have been related to the relatively long course of the disease, the high levels of serum proteins terminally, and unusual physicochemical structure of the secreted proteins, or possibly to the effects of chemotherapy.

Adipose Tissue↗