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Biomedical subjects

B Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to B Sullivan.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Transplanted retinal pigment epithelium modifies the retinal degeneration in the RCS rat.

Transplantation of dissociated retinal epithelial cells obtained from the retinas of normal, congenic pigmented strain of rats to Bruch's membrane and the subretinal space of dystrophic rats from the Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) strain can prevent photoreceptor cell degeneration in this retina for at least 4 months after transplantation. Host and transplant cells form close apposition with one another but can be distinguished by the presence of both phagosomes and melanin granules in the transplant and the absence of these inclusions in the host retinal epithelium. Transplanted cells show excessive amounts of phagosomal material within 48 hr after transplantation, implying that restoration of phagocytosis is responsible for the photoreceptor survival.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Clonidine in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a subgroup study.

The authors studied the effects of clonidine on a subgroup of women who had symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome; the subgroup comprised 24 women aged 19 to 41 years who had "moderate" to "severe" cyclic decreases in beta-endorphin levels. All of the women received clonidine and placebo in a double-blind cross-over design that spanned four menstrual cycles. Clonidine was significantly (p less than .05) more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Transfusion-related sepsis after prolonged platelet storage.

The antecubital fossa venipuncture site in frequent blood donors can become scarred or "dimpled" and colonized with surface and deep bacteria that are not sterilized by standard iodophor preparation techniques. These microorganisms can be introduced into blood or platelets at the time of donation. Recent advances that permit the prolonged storage of platelets at room temperature before transfusion allow proliferation of these contaminating bacteria, particularly gram-positive microorganisms. Documented are three episodes of platelet contamination with gram-positive organisms and four cases of sepsis in recipients of these platelets, which were obtained through the "dimpled" site of a single donor and stored for at least 80 hours at 22 degrees C before transfusion. In contrast, platelets harvested from this donor's "dimpled" site and stored for not more than 50 hours were transfused to 25 patients without complication. Therefore, the extended storage of platelets at 22 degrees C prior to transfusion demands strict awareness of any possible sources of extrinsic contamination, since gram-positive bacteria can proliferate under these conditions and result in infectious complications in recipients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Endogenous adrenergic modification of exercise-induced asthma.

To determine if endogenous adrenergic activity could modify the obstructive response to exercise in subjects with asthma, we had 10 subjects undergo two bouts of cycle ergometry under controlled inspired air conditions while peak expiratory flow rates and plasma catecholamines were serially recorded. The second challenge of each pair was timed to coincide with the height of the bronchospasm induced by the first. A similar protocol was undertaken with isocapnic hyperventilation to serve as a control. The initial exercise produced bronchodilatation followed by bronchoconstriction when exercise ceased. During the second challenge, the obstruction resolved totally, only to recur once more when the subjects stopped work. Plasma concentrations of norepinephrine exactly mirrored the fluctuations in pulmonary mechanics, rising with bronchodilatation and falling with bronchoconstriction. The pattern with hyperventilation differed from exercise in that there was no significant increase in norepinephrine during the challenges. To determine if norepinephrine could abolish the bronchial narrowing produced by exercise, and, as a result, possibly account for the changes in mechanics that we observed, we performed a second study in which eight subjects were administered an aerosol of this compound to inhale during an episode of exercise-induced asthma. As with the endogenous elevation, exogenously administered norepinephrine also totally abolished the attack. These data demonstrate that the sympathoadrenal activity that occurs with repetitive exercise in subjects with asthma can materially influence the severity of exercise-induced asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Constipation.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗
PubMed1983

Clinical and bacteriological responses to three antibiotic regimens for acute exacerbations of cystic fibrosis: ticarcillin-tobramycin, azlocillin-tobramycin, and azlocillin-placebo.

In a randomized, double-blind study, cystic fibrosis patients 11-30 years of age with an acute exacerbation of their pulmonary disease were treated with either ticarcillin-tobramycin, azlocillin-tobramycin, or azlocillin-placebo for 10 days. There was significant improvement in Shwachman scores and pulmonary function tests. Concentrations of sputum bacteria were significantly reduced, but after therapy patients had a mean of 10(7) bacteria/ml of sputum. Pseudomonas was transiently eliminated in only one patient. The three regimens had similar impacts on pulmonary function and sputum bacterial concentration. Antibiotic resistance was noted more frequently in the azlocillin-placebo group, but this trend was not statistically significant. Improvement in pulmonary function did not correlate with bacteriological response. Four weeks after discharge, 62% of the improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second and 75% of the improvement in vital capacity remained, but concentrations of sputum bacteria had returned to pretreatment levels, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria persisted.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Randomized, double-blind evaluation of azlocillin for the treatment of pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis.

Patients with cystic fibrosis hospitalized because of deterioration in their pulmonary disease were randomly assigned to receive ten days of intravenous antibiotic therapy with either ticarcillin plus tobramycin (previously the standard regimen at our hospital), azlocillin plus tobramycin or azlocillin plus placebo. Pulmonary function and microbiological responses were similar in the three treatment groups, although patients receiving azlocillin and placebo tended to have a smaller reduction in the concentration of bacteria in the sputum and a greater rate of acquisition of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Overall, in-hospital treatment was associated with a significant improvement in Shwachman score, pulmonary function tests, and PO2. Improvement was noted by day 5 of therapy, continued through day 10, and was partially maintained at follow-up clinic visit one month after discharge. There was also a statistically significant reduction in sputum bacterial concentration, but patients cultured at the conclusion of antibiotic therapy still had a mean of 10(7) cfu/ml in sputum. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the principal pathogen recovered from sputum cultures in this study, was transiently suppressed to sub-detectable levels in only one patient. There was no correlation between microbiological response and change in any parameter of pulmonary function. By follow-up clinic visit, sputum bacteria had returned to pre-treatment levels, and antibiotic-resistant organisms persisted in all patients from whom they had been recovered during hospitalization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Unusual aspects of Kawasaki syndrome.

Kawasaki syndrome (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome) occurs predominantly in children. The criteria for diagnosis include unresponsive fever; lesions of the skin and conjunctival mucous membrane; edema, rashes and other abnormalities of the hands and feet, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Unusual features occur in the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems, as well as elsewhere. The variety of findings may be misleading, and the diagnostic criteria must be kept in mind.

Aspirin↗
PubMed1982

Some thoughts on the constitutionality of good samaritan statutes.

Good samaritan laws provide legal immunity to persons who assist in medical emergencies. Because good samaritan laws eliminate the common law right of victims to secure redress for their injuries, these statutes raise certain constitutional questions. The Article begins by examining the vulnerability of good samaritan statutes to federal constitutional attack on substantive due process and equal protection grounds. It then considers the susceptibility of such laws to state constitutional attack on the same grounds. The Article concludes that while such statutes are not likely to violate federal substantive due process and equal protection provisions, they may be held unconstitutional on similar state grounds.

Emergency Medical Services↗
PubMed1981

Sex education: a review of its effects.

This paper reviewed 33 empirical studies which assessed the effectiveness of sex education. Methodological issues were considered within six sections: (a) populations, (b) instructors, (c) program formats, (d) time format, (e) program goals, and (f) outcome measures. College students were the most frequently assessed population, followed by educators and counselors, and then medical-school populations. Most investigators did not include control subjects. In the studies which included them, they were usually nonequivalent to the experimental subjects. The results were almost exclusively dependent upon questionnaire data. Only a few studies included a follow-up. In general, the subjects reported gains in sexual knowledge and shifts toward more tolerant and liberal sexual attitudes. However, it was not clear whether or to what extent these changes affected the subjects' behavior. The surprising lack of studies evaluating the effects of sex education on elementary, junior high, and high school students was noted in light of the controversy surrounding the presentation of sex-related information to these populations. In addition to the recommendation that sex education presented to "normal" students who are below the college level should be evaluated, suggestions for future research included the use of equivalent experimental and control subjects, the reporting of instructor characteristics, the specification of program goals, and the inclusion of follow-up evaluations.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Rifampin chemoprophylaxis for household contacts of patients with invasive infections due to Haemophilus influenzae type b.

To determine the efficacy of rifampin chemoprophylaxis in eradication of oropharyngeal carriage of Haemophilus influenzae type b, we conducted a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial among household contacts of patients hospitalized for invasive HIB infection. Seventy-nine index patients and 400 close contacts were studied; 26.5% of contacts were colonized. The efficacy of rifampin (10 mg/kg/dose, 600 mg/dose maximum, twice daily for two days) in eradicating carriage was 52% and varied with age (75.6% in persons greater than or equal to 5 and 27% in those less than 5 years). Eradication rates in those less than 5 years were not significantly better than for placebo. No resistant isolates were encountered in sensitivity testing. The low efficacy of this rifampin regimen in young children precludes its routine use as a chemoprophylactic agent for family contacts. The occurrence of three cases of invasive HIB infection in individuals outside the defined contact group raises concern regarding the efficacy of any chemoprophylactic regimen.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗