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Biomedical subjects

C Barrett

Publications and source records attributed to C Barrett.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Delay in pulmonary glycogen degradation in fetuses of streptozotocin diabetic rats.

The developmental profile of pulmonary glycogen was investigated in fetuses of rats made diabetic before conception with the injection of 40 mg/kg streptozotocin. Lungs of control litters showed increasing pulmonary glycogen concentration from day 16-20, followed by significant decline by term (= 22 days). In contrast, the diabetic litters, which had pulmonary glycogen concentration equal to controls until day 20, showed significantly higher glycogen values (P less than 0.01) on days 21 and 22, consistent with a delay in glycogen degradation. This coincided with the finding of decreased amounts of fetal pulmonary phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine on day 21 of the diabetic gestation (P less than 0.05), but not before that time. Pulmonary glycogen phosphorylase A activity was significantly decreased in the diabetic litters on the final days of gestation, at the same time that the delay in glycogen breakdown became evident. Pulmonary glycogen synthase activity did not differ in the control and diabetic fetuses. The delay in pulmonary glycogen degradation seen in the fetus of the diabetic gestation is thus temporally related to the delay in lung maturation seen in this model and may be secondary to a decrease in the activity of the glycogenolytic enzyme phosphorylase A. Decreased availability of pulmonary glycogen stores for surfactant synthesis may be important in elucidating the mechanism of the delayed pulmonic maturation seen in fetuses of diabetic pregnancies.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Impaired antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (synonym: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis).

Mononuclear cells from the blood of 26 patients with the 'autoimmune' connective tissue disorder cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) were examined in Chang cell cytotoxicity assays for their capacity to mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). The results showed an impairment for the group by comparison with a group of 45 normal healthy controls (P less than 0.01). The impairment was greater in patients with associated connective tissue disorders of other systems (CFA+CT) than in those having the lung disorder alone (lone CFA); (P less than 0.001). The reduction in ADCC showed a correlation with reducing counts of cells bearing Fc gamma G surface receptors (P less than 0.05), and with increasing levels of soluble immune complexes in the blood of these patients by C1q binding (P=0.05). Non-specific esterase staining indicated that the Fc gamma G rosetting cells were subpopulations of lymphocytes not monocytes. We therefore suggest that the observed ADCC impairment may be due to impairment of lymphocyte Fc receptor function, and we speculate that this may influence immune regulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Health administration: good communication is the key to success.

Chris Barrett, area pharmaceutical officer, City and East London AHA, starts the Journal's series of articles on the organisation of pharmaceutical services by outlining the administrative structure and considering the role of regional, area and district pharmaceutical officers. He says that it is essential that all three should form good working relationships if there is to be a good service.

Communication↗
PubMed1975

Serious complications after umbilical artery catheterization for neonatal monitoring.

Umbilical artery catheterization in critically ill neonates caused major complications, including five deaths, in 15 of 165 infants with respiratory distress syndrome who underwent autopsy at the UCLA Hospital during the past eight years. Arterial occlusion leading to visceral infarction occurred in 12 patients, and vascular perforation caused hemoperitoneum in three patients. Repeated catheter manipulation and protracted catheter use were common factors identified in patients in whom complications developed. Restricted indications for catheter use, routine roentgenographic confirmation of catheter tip location below the kidneys, low-dosage heparin sodium infusion, use of cannulas with decreased thrombogenicity, avoidance of catheter manipulation, and vigilance to remove catheters when no longer required should reduce the incidence of this iatrogenic neonatal complication while still permitting arterial pressure and blood gas monitoring when clinically indicated.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1975

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

The patient reported here is the twentieth reported case of thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) occurring in pregnancy, the third survivor, and the first to be delivered by cesarean section. Diagnosis of TTP is usually made on the basis of the pentad of anemia, thrombocytopenia, renal disease, neurologic abnormalities, and fever. A peripheral smear showing microangiopathic hemolysis can be confirmatory and may even be regarded as a definitive test in questionable cases of thrombocytopenia. Although splenectomy, steroids, heparin, and early delivery have been recommended, splenectomy is the only treatment showing a statistically significant improvement in survival rate; 60% of infants born at or beyond 33 weeks' gestation have survived.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Characterization of Escherichia coli mutants tolerant to bacteriocin JF246: two new classes of tolerant mutants.

Several hundred independent bacteriocin-tolerant mutants have been isolated without mutagenesis from three strains of Escherichia coli. On the basis of patterns of sensitivity to eight different colicins, over 85% of these mutants could be grouped into four classes. Two classes of mutants, class A and class B, are equivalent to tolA and tolB type mutants. We found tolA and tolB mutants were sensitive to the antibiotic bacitracin. The other two classes of bacteriocin-tolerant mutants, class F and class G, are distinguished from other types of colicin-tolerant mutants on the basis of sensitivity to colicins, dyes, detergents, antibiotics, and chelating agents. The mutation in class F and class G mutants is located between 21 to 23 min on the E. coli chromosome. We propose to designate the loci of these mutations as tolF and tolG, respectively.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ganglion cyst of the hallux: an aberrant presentation.

Ganglion cysts are benign, thin walled, fluid-filled lesions commonly occurring in the distal extremities. Although widely debated in the literature, a true, identifiable etiology has remained elusive. The authors report on a ganglion cyst with a unique presentation on the hallux, and a review of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of neonatal mortality in 1,500-1,999 g premature infants with respiratory failure. Basis for ECMO Therapeutic Trial.

Despite the introduction of new ventilation techniques and surfactant therapy, some premature infants still experience severe respiratory failure and either die or survive with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is currently not offered for preterm infants with a birth weight less than 2,000 g, mainly because of the potential high risk for intracranial hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to determine risk predictors for mortality alone and for mortality or major lung morbidity in 1,500-1,999 g premature infants with respiratory failure. We reviewed the medical records of all preterm infants (n = 459) with respiratory failure and a birth weight of 1,500-1,999 g treated at five medical centers from 1989 to 1991. Of those infants, 23 (5%) had severe respiratory failure, defined as a requirement for ventilatory support with the fraction of inspired oxygen > or = 0.8 or peak inspiratory pressure > or = 30 cmH2O for > or = 3 hr in the 1st week of life. A mortality of > or = 75% was associated with a single arterial/alveolar oxygen ratio < or = 0.04; pulmonary air leak alone or pulmonary air leak with a mean airway pressure > or = 12 cmH2O; and arterial oxygen tension < or = 50 mmHg. These risk predictors may provide a basis for the selection of patients for future clinical trials of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in this high-risk group of 1,500-1,999 g premature infants with severe respiratory failure.

Body Weight↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The professional issues forum for primary nurses: a method for professional development.

This article describes a formal mechanism for facilitating a theory-based practice through professional development of primary nurses in a large teaching hospital. The use of the theoretical concepts in clinical decision-making by primary nurses is illustrated by a case presentation. The continuing nurse educator's role in planning and conducting the forums is discussed.

Education, Nursing, Continuing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses' perceptions of their health educator role.

A questionnaire was designed to describe and understand the role of the registered nurse in patient teaching as perceived by nurses. The questionnaire was distributed to 1355 nurses working in an acute care tertiary teaching hospital. The data indicated most nurses expressed strong agreement with the majority of items relating to their skill and educational preparation to teach patients. Selected questions relating to the nurse's role as a patient educator showed nurses viewed their patient education role as satisfying and expected by their patients. Needs relating to their patient education role included: additional time to teach patients, more educational materials, peer feedback regarding teaching effectiveness, and sufficient medical information. Additionally, the majority of nurses perceived that patients did not have sufficient knowledge to care for themselves after leaving the hospital and that too much information about their condition was withheld from them. Summary scales showed significant differences in area of work and position with the nurse's perception of the health educator role.

Clinical Competence↗