Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Fowler

Publications and source records attributed to C Fowler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Head injuries incurred by children and young adults during informal recreation.

To examine injuries related to playground equipment, children's vehicles, roller skates, and skateboards, 1991 data on emergency room patients younger than 25 years in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 91 surveillance hospitals were used. Head injury was the primary diagnosis for an estimated 58,480 patients, exceeding the total number of head injuries to bicyclists younger than 25 years. The head injury rate decreased with age. The large number and high rate of head injuries in children involved in a variety of recreational activities suggests the value of multipurpose helmets.

Adolescent↗

HLA DPB1 genotyping in Australian aborigines by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis.

The HLA-DPB1 alleles in 93 Australian aborigines, from two geographically separate areas within Australia, were studied by AFLP analysis. There was a restricted range of DPB1 alleles seen in the aboriginal population, and the distribution of alleles varied between the two aboriginal groups. DPB1*0501 was the most common allele in the aborigines from the Central Desert, whereas DPB1*0401 was the most frequent allele in the Northern Coast aborigines. A new AFLP pattern was observed, and was found to correspond to the allele DPB1*2201, recently identified by SSO analysis. The DPB1 allele frequency distribution for both of the aboriginal groups was different from that seen for the Australian Caucasoid population.

Alleles↗

Simplified closed circuit television magnifier for the partially sighted.

Although the use of closed circuit television (CCTV) magnifiers is now well established, the instruments tend to be bulky, complex and expensive. A magnifier is described which consists of a miniature TV camera used as a hand-held scanner, which can be plugged into a wide variety of monitors and television sets.

Blindness↗

Inhaled histamine increases the rate of absorption of sodium cromoglycate from the lung.

Since many factors may alter lung epithelial permeability (LEP) to water soluble molecules, the effect of histamine on the absorption and clearance of inhaled sodium cromoglycate was examined in seven mildly asthmatic patients with hyperresponsive airways and eight normal subjects. The subjects underwent histamine challenge to determine the provocative concentration of histamine required to reduce the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) by 20% (PC20) from baseline. On two further visits they inhaled either saline placebo or histamine and 5 min later inhaled an aerosol containing sodium cromoglycate. Measurements of FEV1 were made and blood samples taken for analysis of plasma sodium cromoglycate concentration at intervals for 3 h. In the asthmatic group histamine inhalation led to a 24 +/- 4% reduction in FEV1 but had no effect on the normal subjects. When compared with inhaled saline, histamine increased the initial pulmonary absorption of SCG without influencing the total amount of drug absorbed in both asthmatics and normals. These observations suggest that the pharmacokinetics of inhaled sodium cromoglycate may be altered significantly by inflammatory mediators present at the site of drug absorption from the airways.

Adolescent↗

A simple method for insertion of an intraprostatic coil.

A simplified method of insertion of a urethral coil for treatment of benign prostatic obstruction has been tested in 25 patients. The prostatic urethra is measured either by abdominal/transrectal ultrasound scanning or by rigid or flexible endoscopy. The coil is inserted into the prostatic urethra using simple measurements taken from a Foley catheter; 21 coils were correctly positioned at the first attempt using this new method--a success rate equivalent to that of ultrasound-guided insertion.

Aged↗

Familial Hirschsprung's disease: report of autosomal dominant and probable recessive X-linked kindreds.

Multifactorial sex-modified inheritance has been proposed as the model of transmission in familial Hirschsprung's disease (HD). A review of two separate kindreds suggests that aganglionosis may be inherited as an X-linked recessive or an autosomal dominant trait. Chromosomal anomalies and other syndromes, including G6PD deficiency, may occur with familial HD. Recurrence risk counseling for family members depends on accurate pedigree analysis and a comprehensive understanding of the genetic factors involved.

Female↗

HLA DQ alpha typing of forensic specimens by amplification restriction fragment polymorphism (ARFP) analysis.

The alleles present at the HLA DQ alpha locus may be typed by either allele specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probing or by restriction mapping, referred to here as amplification restriction fragment polymorphism (ARFP) analysis. ASO typing relies upon hybridization principles, whereas ARFP typing relies upon restriction site analysis. Dot-blot ASO typings which are of doubtful interpretation may be directly checked by ARFP analysis. Aliquots of the PCR products amplified using the commercial Amplitype HLA DQ alpha system are digested with suitable restriction endonucleases. Electrophoresis, blotting and detection of biotin-labelled restriction fragments provides a sensitive and robust typing method suited to forensic analysis.

Alleles↗

Effectiveness of a videotaped behavioral intervention in reducing anxiety in emergency oral surgery patients.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a videotaped behavioral treatment program in reducing dental anxiety in emergency oral surgery patients. It compared a videotaped placebo program and a no-treatment control condition. Anxiety, measured for two periods during the study (an anticipatory phase just before oral surgery and a post oral surgery phase), was evaluated by means of self-report, physiological, and behavioral observation measures. Results revealed significant treatment group as well as Group X Sex interaction effects for the heart rate index of physiological arousal. Results also revealed that the treatment program was reported by subjects to be significantly more helpful than the placebo program. Overall, these results suggest that a short, videotaped behavioral intervention can have a positive effect on the oral surgery patient, and that the sex of the subject may be an important variable to be incorporated in evaluating the effectiveness of this type of treatment program.

Analysis of Variance↗

Sensitivity reaction to the cinnamonaldehyde component of toothpaste.

Sixteen patients developed a variety of oral lesions following a change in the toothpaste they used. Mucosal biopsy demonstrated features consistent with application of a topical medicament and patch testing, towards the constituents of the toothpastes, indicated the flavouring agent cinnamonaldehyde as being the likely responsible agent. Avoidance of the implicated toothpastes resulted in a considerable improvement in clinical signs and symptoms, whereas rechallenge in ten patients resulted in recurrence of symptoms in eight patients. It is concluded that sensitivity to the cinnamonaldehyde constituent of certain toothpastes, although uncommon, should be considered as a possible aetiological factor in patients presenting with non-specific oral changes.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum↗

The effects of calcium, temperature and phospholamban phosphorylation on the dynamics of the calcium-stimulated ATPase of canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Highly purified sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) has been prepared from dog hearts and has been incubated with the triplet probe erythrosinyl isothiocyanate to specifically label the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase (Ca2+-ATPase) of the SR. The rotational mobility of the Ca2+-ATPase has been studied in this erythrosin-labelled SR using time-resolved phosphorescence polarization. Qualitatively, the mobility of the cardiac Ca2+-ATPase resembles that of skeletal muscle SR Ca2+-ATPase. Addition of Ca2+ to SR affects the mobility of the Ca2+-ATPase in a way consistent with a segment of the ATPase altering its orientation relative to the plane of the membrane. Phosphorylation of phospholamban in cardiac SR by the purified catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which is known to increase the activity of the Ca2+-ATPase by deinhibition, also alters measured anisotropy. The changes observed are not compatible with dissociation of the Ca2+-ATPase from phospholamban after the latter is phosphorylated. The data are more consistent with phospholamban associating with the Ca2+-ATPase following phosphorylation, or more complex models in which only the hydrophilic domain of phospholamban binds with and dissociates from the Ca2+-ATPase.

Animals↗

Deep inspiration increases the absorption of inhaled sodium cromoglycate.

The plasma concentrations of sodium cromoglycate were measured for 4 h following a single dose of 20 mg given by inhalation to six normal volunteers. A series of forced expiratory manoeuvres was performed 2 h after the dose, which resulted in a rapid and marked increase in the plasma concentrations of the drug. A similar increase was found in three volunteers who undertook a single deep inspiration at 4 h. These data indicate that the absorption of cromoglycate from the airways can be affected by manoeuvres used to assess lung function.

Absorption↗

Human satellite-III DNA: an example of a "macrosatellite" polymorphism.

Human satellite III DNA contains a complex polymorphism, which appears to be TaqI-specific. Its likely cause is a two-step point mutation in the pentameric repeat TTCCA, typical of satellite III. Hybridization of the satellite-III sequence-related probe that demonstrates this polymorphism is directly attributable to clusters of "pure" pentameric TTCCA repeats in the genome. The sites of such repeats include the 3.4-kb fragment specific to the Y chromosome and a limited number of autosomes. The polymorphism arises from the latter and is likely to include chromosomes containing so-called K domain satellite III sequences found, for example, in chromosomes 9 and 15. Segregation of the polymorphic fragments appears to follow orthodox genetics.

Animals↗

Influence of age on effects induced by intermittent ethanol treatment on the ethanol drinking pattern and related neurochemical changes in the rat.

Male rats were treated with one ethanol (2.0 g/kg i.p.) or saline injections once a week for 50 weeks. During this treatment period the rats had in addition access to ethanol (10% in drinking fluid) as a choice against water for 24 h prior to the injection. During the following evaluation period, animals had a continuous choice between ethanol and water and the concentration of the ethanol solution increased every 3rd week from 5 to 10, 15 and 25%, with 10% as a reference tested between the other concentrations. The animals were killed after an abstinence of 4 weeks, whereupon the concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined in the frontal cortex. In the remaining cerebral cortex, activity of monoamine oxidase, reuptake of NA and stimulated inositol phospholipid (PI) breakdown was also determined. Muscarinic binding sites were determined in the striatum. During treatment, saline injected rats had a constant voluntary 24 h ethanol intake. There was a decrease in the corresponding intake in the animals given the ethanol injections. The diminishing of the intake was more marked in rats starting treatment at an age of 19.4 weeks when compared to rats starting at an age of 5.4 weeks. In the evaluation period the ethanol intake was fairly constant for all groups. However, the regressions between intake of the reference concentration when plotted against the different tested concentrations were most marked in the group where ethanol injections started at an early age. In the total material there were significant F-values when concentrations of NA, 5-HIAA, 5-HT/5-HIAA in the cortex and muscarinic binding sites in the striatum were tested. Age could not be excluded as a contributing factor, but for muscarinic binding sites in the striatum, concentrations of DA and 5-HIAA in the cortex, and potassium stimulated PI breakdown in the cortex significant regressions with voluntary ethanol intake as dependent variable could be established. Since these intakes are stable, a causal relation with dependence may be involved.

Age Factors↗

Perforated diverticulitis in a Hartmann rectal pouch.

The Hartmann procedure is the surgical treatment of choice for perforated diverticulitis. Modifications leaving a long rectal pouch or mucous fistula and a variable length of bowel that contains inactive diverticula have been described. A steroid-dependent patient presented with perforated diverticulitis in residual disease in the Hartmann rectal pouch ten months after initial sigmoid resection for a perforated diverticulum. Because steroid-treated patients are at high risk for complications and recurrent disease, all diseased bowel should be resected during the initial procedure.

Aged↗

Evaluation of a new antiseptic dressing in minor burns.

A prospective trial was conducted to compare a new povidone iodine impregnated dressing (Inadine) with a standard petroleum jelly gauze dressing for small superficial burns treated on an outpatient basis. The results show no difference between comfort and ease of removal of dressings, in the number of positive bacteriological cultures or the number of days to healing. Inadine is more than twice as expensive as petroleum jelly gauze.

Adolescent↗