Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Lane

Publications and source records attributed to C Lane.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

MRI of the anterior optic pathways following enucleation.

We examined five patients who had enucleation of one eye for inflammatory or neoplastic disease, using MRI at 1.5 Tesla. None had symptoms referable to the enucleated orbit. In addition, age- and-sex matched individuals were imaged as control subjects, and a further 15 subjects, referred for other than orbital disease, were reviewed. Measurements were made retrospectively of the dimensions of the optic chiasm to establish normal values. All five patients showed abnormalities on MRI following enucleation: abnormal signal within the optic nerve remnant on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images, and atrophy of the nerve remnant and the chiasm. These findings were not apparent in the control or normal subjects. Such findings are to be expected following enucleation and should not be interpreted as indicating active pathology.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Heart disease education and prevention program targeting immigrant Latinos: using focus group responses to develop effective interventions.

Although research has provided considerable knowledge concerning the positive effects of behavioral change on morbidity and mortality from heart disease and related risk factors, some segments of the population have not benefited equitably from this information. In April 1995, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) conducted seven focus groups to determine knowledge and attitudes about heart disease and associated risk factors, identify media usage and preferences, and assess publications usage and preferences among Spanish-speaking Latino immigrants residing in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. This information was gathered to assist in the development of key messages and strategies for the NHLBI Latino Community Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Outreach Initiative, Salud para su Corazón--a heart disease prevention and education campaign. Findings from these focus groups indicate that Latinos may not benefit from heart disease prevention messages developed for the general population because of language and cultural differences. The researchers concluded that health education and disease prevention programs targeting the Latino community should develop educational materials and interventions that address language preferences and cultural values. Furthermore, to be effective, these programs should show people how to make positive behavioral changes based on their current circumstances, while remaining sensitive to the fact that Latino immigrants face major life adjustments and many are still greatly influenced by their country of origin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Thyrotropin receptor transcripts in human adipose tissue.

Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is generally considered to have an autoimmune pathogenesis but the target antigen has yet to be identified. It is most frequently associated with Graves' disease and there is some logic in assuming that the same antigen, the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), is the common link. Previous studies, mostly PCR based, aimed at investigating TSHR transcripts in the orbit, have yielded conflicting results, although there is circumstantial evidence for their presence in orbital fat. In this study, we have examined adult human adipose and muscle tissues from various locations, initially by PCR and subsequently by northern blot. We obtained the expected 610bp product in normal intestinal and orbital fat but not skeletal muscle, following two rounds of PCR amplification but only when reverse transcription used a TSHR specific primer. In northern blots, despite loading all of the RNA obtained from total normal orbital fat contents, TSHR transcripts were at the limit of detection and similarly for large samples of intestinal fat. The exception was RNA obtained from TAO orbital fat, in which TSHR transcripts of 4.6 and 1.7kb were clearly visible, as in the thyroid. We conclude that normal adult adipose tissues contain low levels of TSHR transcripts. In TAO, TSHR transcripts are elevated probably due to an increased number of cells, in particular of preadipocytes in orbital adipose tissue.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1996

Community leg ulcer clinics: a comparative study in two health authorities.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome and cost of care for leg ulcers in community leg ulcer clinics in Stockport District Health authority with Trafford District Health Authority as a control. DESIGN: Detailed cost and efficacy studies conducted prospectively over a three month period in both districts both before and one year after the introduction of five leg ulcer clinics in Stockport. SETTING: Two large district health authorities of broad socioeconomic mix and total population of 540,000. PATIENTS: All patients receiving treatment for an active leg ulcer, irrespective of the profession or location of their carer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of ulcerated limbs completely healed within three months and total cost of leg ulcer care. RESULTS: The introduction of community clinics in Stockport improved healing of leg ulcers from 66/252 (26%) in 1993 to 99/233 (42%) in 1994 (P < 0.001) compared with in Trafford, where 47/203 (23%) healed in 1993 and only 43/213 (20%) in 1994. This improved result in Stockport was achieved while the annual expenditure on care of leg ulcers was reduced from 409,991 pounds to only 253,371 pounds. In the same year the cost of leg ulcer care in Trafford increased from 556,039 pounds to 673,318 pounds. CONCLUSION: In the first year after the introduction of community clinics, before most patients in Stockport had access to these clinics, healing of leg ulcers was already improved whereas costs were reduced.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed1996

Accumulation of the endogenous L-arginine analogue NG-monomethyl-L-arginine in human end-stage renal failure patients on regular haemodialysis.

We measured plasma levels of L-arginine, its analogue NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), and related amino acids in normal subjects and uraemic patients (n = 31), before and after haemodialysis. Plasma levels of L-arginine were reduced to less than half of normal values in uraemic subjects compared with controls, and were not affected by haemodialysis. L-NMMA was not detectable in non-uraemic subjects, but markedly elevated in uraemic patients. In parallel, we used human red blood cells as a model to study the effect of L-NMMA upon the transport of L-arginine. L-NMMA trans-stimulated L-arginine transport significantly, confirming that L-arginine and L-NMMA share common transport pathways. Our results suggest altered L-arginine metabolism and the presence of an increased concentration of a NO synthase inhibitor in uraemia. We propose that alterations in plasma L-arginine levels and increased production of L-arginine analogues will alter NO synthesis and may help to explain some pathological changes seen in uraemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Influence of fixation accuracy on threshold variability in patients with open angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the contribution that fixation errors make to the overall variability of perimetric responses in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Frequency of seeing curves were established, with and without fixation error correction, at two locations in each of 14 patients with glaucoma and good visual acuity. One location corresponded to a relatively normal region of the visual field, whereas the second corresponded to a region in which there was a sensitivity deficit. All patients had an acuity of better than 20/63 (except one whose acuity was 20/100). The locations of the first and fourth Purkinje images of a collimated infrared source were used to give a measure of eye position, during each stimulus presentation (accuracy 10 minutes of arc). RESULTS: Considerable variation was found in patient fixation accuracy. In the worst case, fixation was within 30 minutes of the target in only 7% of presentations whereas in the best, it was within this range in more than 60%. No relationship was found between accuracy of fixation and extent of loss. The gradient of the frequency of seeing curve was found to be shallow at regions of reduced sensitivity, a finding that supports the recognized relationship between variability and sensitivity deficit. A recalculation of the frequency of seeing curves, using only those responses in which the patient's fixation was within a specified range ( < 60 minutes of arc), did not show a meaningful reduction in variability at either location. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that fixation errors, though contributing to variability, are not the major cause of the increased variability seen at locations with reduced sensitivity.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Developing a skin-care protocol in radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy can cause a number of dermatological reactions. Treatment for these reactions needs to be research-based and standardised. A clear protocol helps health-care professionals select the appropriate treatments.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Development of a cervical cancer education program for native American women in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Native American Cervical Cancer Prevention Project is a five-year, NCI-funded public health education program. The project was developed to address the problem of excess mortality from cervical cancer among Native American women by increasing screening and follow-up of abnormal cervical smears. This paper describes the process of developing and implementing the intervention, an individualized health education program. Development of the intervention was guided by the health belief model, social learning theory, self efficacy theory, and PRECEDE, a planning model. Community analysis revealed that the target populations had limited awareness of cervical cancer as a specific type of cancer, and had an experientially-based pessimistic outlook regarding survival with cancer. Steps in developing the cervical-cancer prevention program included 1) development of objectives, 2) selection of strategies and development of cervical cancer education materials, 3) pretesting and revision, and 4) implementation, monitoring, and further revision. Native American lay health educators were recruited and trained to deliver the program. The experience of developing and implementing the individualized health education program suggests that the design of health education programs for Native Americans should begin with examination of basic assumptions regarding the nature of health and illness in the target population. The unique cultures and the diversity of Native American populations are critical factors in the development of health education programs for them.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Role of support groups in cancer care.

Support groups have been introduced in medicine since a number of years and several studies indicate that these groups can be beneficial for cancer patients. This article reviews the concept and types of support groups in cancer care. The demands on facilitators and patients in these groups are discussed and potential problems are emphasized. Ground rules for the establishment of a successful support group for cancer patients are described.

Group Processes↗
PubMed1993

Regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in ischemic and reperfused canine myocardium.

Previous studies in vitro have shown an important role for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in adherence interactions of canine neutrophils with canine jugular vein endothelial cells and in cytotoxicity of canine neutrophils for adult cardiac myocytes. To evaluate the regulation of ICAM-1 in myocardial inflammation and its role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, a series of in vivo and ex vivo studies were performed in canine animals. Systemic administration of LPS elicited ICAM-1 mRNA in several tissues, including myocardium, which demonstrated increasing ICAM-1 staining on intercalated discs of cardiac myocytes. In ischemia and reperfusion protocols: (a) ICAM-1 mRNA was found in ischemic segments within 1 h of reperfusion and in both ischemic and normally perfused segments by 24 h of reperfusion; (b) expression of ICAM-1 was detected in cardiac myocytes in the ischemic region by 6 h of reperfusion; increased expression was seen thereafter as a function of time; (c) post-ischemic (but not preischemic) cardiac lymph collected at intervals from 1 to 24 h after reperfusion elicited ICAM-1 mRNA, ICAM-1 expression, and ICAM-1-dependent neutrophil adhesion in canine jugular vein endothelial cells and in cardiac myocytes with peak cytokine activity seen by 1 h; (d) extravascular localization of neutrophils was detected in ischemic areas only, and was associated with endothelium bearing high levels of ICAM-1 within 1 h of reperfusion; infiltration increased thereafter in association with increasing levels of ICAM-1 mRNA in myocardial segments and increasing levels of ICAM-1 expression on cardiac myocytes. These findings provide the first direct evidence for inflammatory regulation of ICAM-1 in ischemic and reperfused canine myocardium. They support the hypothesis that ICAM-1 participates in neutrophil-mediated myocardial damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Spontaneous rupture of the non-aneurysmal atherosclerotic abdominal aorta.

Spontaneous rupture of the non-aneurysmal atherosclerotic aorta is rare. The experience with the patient, the subject of this report, is the sixth reported case. The formation of the false aneurysm in the retroperitoneal area explained why our patient did not have a life-threatening hemorrhage. The obvious treatment is prompt surgical intervention.

Aged↗