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Biomedical subjects

C Long

Publications and source records attributed to C Long.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Goal attainment scaling with sexual offenders: a measure of clinical impact at posttreatment and at community follow-up.

The impact of cognitive-behavioral interventions was assessed for 28 low-moderate risk and 20 high-risk sexual offenders on conditional release to the Greater Toronto Area. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS--T. Hogue, 1994) for sexual offenders was used to rate clinical and motivational elements of treatment taken from reports written at pretreatment, posttreatment, and after 3 months of community follow-up. Results indicated that both groups of offenders benefited from treatment, although low-moderate risk offenders showed consistently better results on all measures. Performance along nonrelapse prevention related dimensions increased from pretreatment to posttreatment and remained relatively steady in the community. Relapse prevention related treatment components showed a steady increase from pretreatment throughout follow-up in the community for low-moderate risk offenders, but not for high-risk offenders. Both groups improved substantially in level of motivation from pretreatment to posttreatment; however, only those in the low-moderate risk group maintained their motivation levels once released to the community. These results are discussed with respect to the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral treatment of sexual offenders.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy↗
PubMed2001

Myocardial protection of warm blood cardioplegic induction during cardiopulmonary bypass.

In his prospective randomized clinical study, we evaluated the myocardial protection of warm blood cardioplegic induction and cold blood cardioplegic induction, respectively, during cardiopulmonary bypass. Twenty-eight adult patients who underwent valve replacement were randomly divided into two groups: group T (14 cases) received cold (6-8 degrees C) blood cardioplegic induction after ECG showed straight line induced by warm (35-37 degrees C) blood cardioplegia; whereas, group C (14 cases) received cold blood cardioplegic induction only. The effects of myocardial protection of both cardioplegic inductions were evaluated by clinical outcomes, myocardial biochemistry index (cardiac troponin T, cTnT), and myocardial automorphology. The ratio of myocardial auto resuscitation was significantly higher in group T (93%) than that in group C (50%). Only one case in group T (7%) and three cases in group C (21%) needed temporary pacemakers. No case in group T (0%) and five cases (36%) in group C received dopamine. The postoperative mechanical ventilation time and ICU stay time of group T were shorter than those of group C. Myocardial biochemistry indexplasma level of cTnT in group T was lower than that of group C immediately and 6 h after cardiopulmonary bypass. Myocardial morphology-group T had comparably better outcomes than group C. We concluded that warm blood cardioplegic induction during cardiopulmonary bypass, compared with cold blood cardioplegic induction, provides better myocardial protection.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Determination of phosphocreatine in muscular tissues by high performance liquid chromatography].

The quantitation of energy stores(phosphocreatine, PCr) is of paramount importance in the study of living-tissues metabolism. This is more so in the heart, which depends to a very great extent on an uninterrupted aerobic metabolism to maintain its normal function. Availability of data on myocardial energy stores is, therefore, indispensable for assessing the responses of heart to drugs or stresses such as ischemia and hypoxemia. A simple and rapid method for the determination of phosphocreatine in muscular tissues by RP-HPLC has been developed. The chromatographic conditions were as follows: Zorbax XDB-C18 column(150 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microns), V(20 mmol/L KH2PO4 and 2 mmol/L tetrabutyl ammonium phosphate): V(acetonitrile) = 96:4(pH 5.8) mobile phase and UV detector at 215 nm. PCr in muscular tissues was extracted with 0.4 mol/L HClO4. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in 5 mg/L-100 mg/L(r = 0.9992). The average recovery was 99.34%. The limit of detection was 2 mg/L. The verified results demonstrated that this method is precise, accurate and can be used for determination of PCr in muscular tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The preliminary experimental study of induced differentiation of embryonic stem cells into corneal epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: To study preliminarily induced differentiation of embryonic stem cells into corneal epithelial cells in vitro. METHODS: Murine embryonic stem cells were co-cultured with Rabbit limbal corneal epithelial cells in Transwell system to induce differentiation. Mophological and immunohistochemical examination were implemented. RESULTS: The induced cells from embryonic stem cells have an epithelial appearance. The cells formed a network and were confluent into film gradually after being co-cultured with rabbit limbal corneal epithelial cells for 24-96 hours. The cells ranged mosaic structure and localized together with clear rim. Most of the cells showed polygonal appearance. Transmission electron microscope showed lots of microvilli on the surface of induced cells and tight junctions between them. These epithelial-like cells expressed the corneal epithelial cell specific marker cytokeratin3/cytokeratin12. CONCLUSION: The potential mechanism of the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells into corneal epithelial cells induced by limbal corneal epithelial cell-derived inducing activity is to be further verified.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Pentacarbonyl(di-2-pyridylamine)tungsten(0).

In the title molecular complex, (I), the W atom is in an octahedral environment with four equatorial carbonyl ligands and a fifth in an axial position trans to the monodentate dipyridylamine ligand. The long dimension of this last bisects the angle between two of the equatorial carbonyl groups and while the non-bonded pyridyl N atom is directed away from the W atom, the bridging amine group is directed towards it. Thus, in addition to the N atom to which it is attached, the amino H has two nearest neighbour C atoms of equatorial carbonyl groups but does not participate in hydrogen bonding in any real or usual sense. The W-C bond distance for the axial carbonyl group is notably less than those of the equatorial groups.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Antibodies against ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 of Plasmodium falciparum protect mice against challenge with Plasmodium yoelii.

Antibodies against the Plasmodium falciparum P0 ribosomal phosphoprotein (PfP0) have been detected exclusively but extensively in malaria-immune persons. Polyclonal rabbit and mice sera were raised against two recombinant polypeptides of P. falciparum P0 protein, PfP0N and PfP0C, covering amino acids 17 to 61 and the remaining amino acids 61 to 316, respectively. Sera against both these domains detected a 35-kDa protein from Plasmodium yoelii subsp. yoelii, a rodent malarial parasite, and stained the surface of merozoites in immunofluorescence assays. Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) purified from rabbit and mouse anti-PfP0 sera by ammonium sulfate and DEAE-cellulose chromatography was used for passive transfer experiments in mice. Mice passively immunized with both anti-PfP0N and anti-PfP0C showed distinctly lower levels of parasitemia than control mice. With immunizations on days -1, 0, 1, 3, and 5, about 50% of both sets of mice receiving anti-PfP0N and anti-PfP0C cleared the lethal 17XL strain of P. yoelii and revived by day 25. All the control mice died by day 10. By extending the immunization schedule, the survival period of the mice could be extended for every mouse that received anti-PfP0 IgG. These data demonstrate the cross-protection of the anti-PfP0 IgG and establish parasite P0 protein as a target for invasion-blocking antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) may improve disease outcome in elderly patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) treated with CHOP chemotherapy.

Advanced age is an adverse prognostic factor in patients with DLCL. CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) has frequent dose-limiting toxicities, including myelosuppression. We retrospectively reviewed 50 consecutive patients > 60 years of age (median age 72) with B-cell DLCL who received CHOP with G-CSF. Patients received CHOP (median 6 cycles) at three-week intervals. G-CSF was given following all cycles of chemotherapy ("prophylactic G-CSF") in 28 of 50 patients, and following an episode of febrile neutropenia and thereafter in 19 patients, according to ASCO guidelines. Dose intensity, treatment delays, episodes of febrile neutropenia, complete response (CR) rate, disease-free survival, time-to-treatment failure, and overall survival were all analyzed according to the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI). The actual dose intensity for cyclophosphamide was 225.9 mg/m2/week and 0.90, respectively and for doxorubicin was 14.9 mg/m2/week (90% of ideal CHOP dosing for both drugs). Median followup was 4 years for the patients still living. Treatment delays and episodes of febrile neutropenia were less frequent among patients receiving G-CSF with all cycles of CHOP. The CR rates were 100%, 81%, 85%, and 36% for the low, low-intermediate, high-intermediate, and high aalPI risk groups, respectively. The 5-year actuarial relapse-free and overall survival for our patients were comparable to that of the cohort < or = 60 years of age and superior to the > 60 years of age cohort used to establish the aaIPI. With optimization of CHOP dosing, advanced age may not be an adverse prognostic factor for patients with DLCL. The routine use of G-CSF in elderly patients with DLCL should be further investigated.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed2000

Network 12 hepatitis B vaccination quality improvement program: an educational program directed at physicians, staff, and patients.

Hepatitis B is easily spread via contact with infected blood. Hemodialysis patients and staff are particularly at risk for acquiring hepatitis B. Consequently, vaccination of hemodialysis patients and staff is strongly recommended. However, the vaccination rate among dialysis patients in this country remains below 50%. End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 12 developed a quality improvement project directed at increasing patient vaccination by regular surveys, reports, and education of physicians, staff, and patients. Seventy-seven percent of facilities in the 4-state Network participated. Overall vaccination rate increased from 66.9% to 73.2% over 18 months (P <.05). The greatest improvement was seen among units with less than 60% of patients vaccinated initially, with mean facility vaccination rate increasing from 31.2 +/- 20.5% to 57.5 +/- 30.1% in the last available data period (P <.001). Only 3 of these 29 units failed to improve. The 90 units that had 60% to 97% vaccination rates initially improved significantly from 79.8 +/- 9.6% to 82.4 +/- 15% (P =.015). Three quarters of these units showed improvement. Only units with 100% vaccination deteriorated, but still maintained vaccination rates of 74.5 +/- 25.6%. An education-based quality improvement project can improve the hepatitis B vaccination rate of hemodialysis patients.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗
PubMed2000

Assessing readiness for death in hospice elders and older adults.

BACKGROUND: Readiness for death may affect the quality of the death experience and influence response to treatments. The psychologic vulnerability of the dying person is a major focus of palliative care. Accurate assessment of readiness for death may lead to earlier and more appropriate interventions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the revised readiness for death instrument. METHODS: Using a known groups technique and a cross-sectional study design, the revised instrument was administered to 52 elders in hospice care with a terminal diagnosis and 91 community dwelling adults without a terminal diagnosis. RESULTS: Instrument content validity (Kappa = 0.96) was supported by three expert panelists who were hospice researchers. Principal components factor analysis explained 43% of the variance and partially supported the proposed four-factor structure of the revised 26-item instrument. Internal consistency was acceptable (.76). Discriminant validity was significant as assessed by an independent t-test between two contrast groups (t = 5.98, p = 0.000). The factor analysis, reliability testing, and qualitative analysis of items supported deletion of 2 items. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that the revised instrument has sound psychometric properties but further testing with a larger sample of hospice subjects is needed to confirm the factor structure of the instrument.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Determination of the adenosine triphosphate in myocardial tissue by ion-pair reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography].

ATP depletion is an important factor contributing to the incomplete recovery of ventricular function following ischemia and reperfusion. A simple and rapid method for determination of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) in myocardial tissue by RP-HPLC was developed. The chromatographic conditions were as follows: Spherisorb ODS2 column, V(40 mmol/L KH2PO4 and 5 mmol/L TBAP):V(methanol) = 74:26 (pH 6.2) mobile phase and UV detector at 259 nm. The ATP in myocardium was extracted with 0.4 mol/L HClO4. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in 5 mg/L-100 mg/L(r = 0.9998). The recovery ranged from 97.8% to 104.1%. The limit of detection was 2 mg/L. The verified results demonstrated that this method is precise, accurate and can be used for determination of ATP in myocardial tissue.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1999

[A foci of Schistosomiasis mekongi rediscovered in Northeast Cambodia: cultural perception of the illness; description and clinical observation of 20 severe cases].

In 1992 a foci of Schistosomiasis mekongi was rediscovered in the province of Kracheh in Northeast Cambodia. Severe clinical signs due to portal hypertension, which were frequently observed in this population, allowed the discovery of this 'forgotten' focus. Elements of the perception of the population and clinical observations of 20 severe cases due to S. mekongi infections are presented. Interviews with patients and villagers of the area of Kracheh showed severe psychosocial impact including fear from death, infirmity and invalidity. The symptoms of schistosomiasis were well known by the population and were reported to have increased in frequency in the last two decades. They have received traditional names and specific traditional treatment. The description of the clinical cases illustrates the severe pathology, which was observed in the hospital of Sambour, in the north of the province of Kracheh. It shows the pathogenic potential of S. mekongi in all age groups (from 7 to 58 years old): cachexia, hepatosplenomegaly, stunting and retardation of puberty, decompensation of portal hypertension with ascites and rupture of oesophagual varicies. The efficacy of the treatment in the severe stages varies. A follow-up after 30 months showed that 5 patients died, 5 initially improved but then relapsed, 3 remained unchanged and only 5 patients clearly improved. Two patients could not be followed-up. The clinical observations and interviews show severe pathology with impact at both individual and community level. The infection with S. mekongi is the main factor but additional concomitant factors are responsible for this fact. At a certain stage of the disease the prognosis for successful treatment is very low. These observations show the importance of the foci in the Province of Kracheh, Cambodia and underline the need for a long-term global intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Scoring written material from the Mini-Mental State Examination: a comparison of face-to-face, fax and video-linked scoring.

We assessed the reliability of scoring written items of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) using different communication modes: face to face, fax and videoconferencing. A total of 99 MMSEs were recovered from the records of a community mental health team for the elderly. The written parts of the examination (sentence and pentagrams) were scored--in person, using a faxed copy or over the video-link--according to published criteria. Relative to in-person scoring, sentences could be scored reliably when faxed (kappa = 0.80), as could pentagrams (kappa = 0.71). Sentences could be reliably scored over the videoconferencing link (kappa = 0.70), but pentagrams could not (kappa = 0.47). Caution is required before accepting the results of scoring such tests over video-links.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

The effects of different resistance training protocols on muscular strength and endurance development in children.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that children can increase their muscular strength and muscular endurance as a result of regular participation in a progressive resistance training program. However, the most effective exercise prescription regarding the number of repetitions remains questionable. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of a low repetition-heavy load resistance training program and a high repetition-moderate load resistance training program on the development of muscular strength and muscular endurance in children. Design. Prospective, controlled trial. SETTING: Community-based youth fitness center. SUBJECTS: Eleven girls and 32 boys between the ages of 5.2 and 11.8 years. INTERVENTION: In twice-weekly sessions of resistance training for 8 weeks, children performed 1 set of 6 to 8 repetitions with a heavy load (n = 15) or 1 set of 13 to 15 repetitions with a moderate load (n = 16) on child-size exercise machines. Children in the control group (n = 12) did not resistance train. One repetition maximum (RM) strength and muscular endurance (repetitions performed posttraining with the pretraining 1-RM load) were determined on the leg extension and chest press exercises. RESULTS: One RM leg extension strength significantly increased in both exercise groups compared with that in the control subjects. Increases of 31.0% and 40.9%, respectively, for the low repetition-heavy load and high repetition-moderate load groups were observed. Leg extension muscular endurance significantly increased in both exercise groups compared with that in the control subjects, although gains resulting from high repetition-moderate load training (13.1 +/- 6.2 repetitions) were significantly greater than those resulting from low repetition-heavy load training (8.7 +/- 2.9 repetitions). On the chest press exercise, only the high repetition-moderate load exercise group made gains in 1-RM strength (16.3%) and muscular endurance (5.2 +/- 3.6 repetitions) that were significantly greater than gains in the control subjects. CONCLUSION: These findings support the concept that muscular strength and muscular endurance can be improved during the childhood years and favor the prescription of higher repetition-moderate load resistance training programs during the initial adaptation period.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Predicting deterioration in previously healthy infants hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of clinical deterioration leading to intensive care unit transfer in previously healthy infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection hospitalized on a general pediatric unit and, to assess the hypothesis that history, physical examination, oximetry, and chest radiographic findings at time of presentation can accurately identify these infants. STUDY DESIGN: A virology database was used to identify and determine the disposition of all children </=1 year of age admitted to the Children's Hospital at Strong (CHaS) with RSV infection during the 1985 to 1994 respiratory seasons. Index patients were all previously healthy, full-term infants admitted initially to the general inpatient services at CHaS or Rochester General Hospital, a second University of Rochester teaching hospital, whose clinical deterioration led to transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). These infants were matched retrospectively (for year and date of infection, sex, chronologic age, and race) with two hospitalized controls who did not require PICU transfer. Chest radiographic findings, respiratory rate (RR), O(2) saturation, and presence of wheezing at time of presentation to the emergency department (ED) were compared. RESULTS: During the study years, 542 previously healthy, full-term infants were admitted to the general pediatric unit at CHaS with proven RSV infection. Ten (1.8%; 95% confidence interval, 0.9%, 3.4%) were transferred subsequently to the PICU, primarily for close monitoring of progressive respiratory distress. Data for these patients and 7 patients transferred from Rochester General Hospital to the PICU at the CHaS were compared with those for control patients. The mean RR in the ED (63 vs 50), and O(2) saturation in the ED (88% vs 93%) were modestly abnormal in cases compared with controls. Wheezing on examination at time of presentation and chest radiographic findings did not differ between the two groups. A RR >80 and an O(2) saturation <85% at time of presentation each had a specificity >97% for predicting subsequent deterioration. Each parameter, however, had a sensitivity </=30%. CONCLUSION: Clinical deterioration requiring PICU admission is an uncommon occurrence in previously healthy infants admitted to a general pediatric inpatient unit with RSV infection. Extreme tachypnea and hypoxemia were both associated with subsequent deterioration; however, only a small proportion of patients who clinically deteriorated presented in this way. The clinical usefulness of these parameters, therefore, is limited. respiratory syncytial virus, deterioration, healthy infants, prediction.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1999

Correlation between histochemically assessed fiber type distribution and isomyosin and myosin heavy chain content in porcine skeletal muscles.

Highly sensitive enzyme assays developed to differentiate skeletal muscle fibers allow the recognition of three main fiber types: slow-twitch oxidative (SO), fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG), and fast-twitch glycolytic (FG). Myosin, the predominant contractile protein in mammalian skeletal muscle, can be separated based on the electrophoretic mobility under nondissociating conditions into SM2, SM1, IM, FM3, and FM2 isoforms, or under dissociating conditions into myosin heavy chain (MHC) I, IIb, IIx/d, and IIa. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the histochemical method of differentiation of fiber types is consistent with the electrophoretically identified isomyosin and MHC isoforms. These comparisons were made using serratus ventralis (SV), gluteus medius (GM), and longissimus muscles (LM) from 13 pigs. Two calculation methods for the histochemical assessed fiber type distribution were adopted. The first method incorporated the number of fibers counted for each fiber type and calculated a percentage of the total fiber number (fiber number percentage: FNP). The second method expressed the cross-sectional area of each fiber type as a percentage of the total fiber area measured per muscle (fiber area percentage: FAP). Independent of the calculation methods, correlation analyses revealed in all muscles a strong relation between SO fibers, the slow isomyosin (SM1 and SM2), and MHCI, as well as between the FG fibers, the fast isomyosin (FM3 and FM2), and MHCIIx/b content (P<.05). There were no correlations between FOG fiber population assessed by histochemical analysis and intermediate isoform (IM) or MHCIIa content. The present results did not provide conclusive evidence as to which of the calculation methods (FNP or FAP) was more closely related to myosin composition of skeletal muscles. Despite some incompatibility between the methods, the present study shows that histochemical as well as electrophoretic analyses yielded important information about the composition of porcine skeletal muscle. The combination of the two methods may be essential to accurately characterize porcine skeletal muscles.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The effect of external Ca2+ and Ca(2+)-channel modulators on red-light-induced swelling of protoplasts of Phaseolus radiatus L.

Red-light-induced swelling of the protoplasts isolated from hypocotyl of etiolated mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus L.) was observed only when Ca2+ ions were present in the medium. The optimal CaCl2 concentration was 250 microM. Swelling response declined when Ca2+ was supplied into the medium after red light irradiation. The Ca(2+)-chelator EGTA eliminated the red-light-induced swelling and 45Ca2+ accumulation in the protoplasts. In contrast, A23187, a Ca(2+)-ionophore, could mimic the effect of red light in darkness. These results indicate that Ca2+ may play a role in light signal transduction. In addition, swelling response was prevented by TFP and CPZ (both are CaM antagonists), implying the involvement of CaM in red-light-induced and Ca(2+)-dependent protoplast swelling.

Calcimycin↗
PubMed1998

Persistence of human herpesvirus 6 according to site and variant: possible greater neurotropism of variant A.

Little is known of the persistence and pathogenicity of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) after primary infection, including the role of strain variant. Over 2 to 5 years, 2,716 children and 149 families were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were examined for HHV-6 DNA and variant. Ninety-nine percent of isolates causing primary infection were HHV-6 variant B (HHV-6B), which predominated in 95%-98% of the variants persisting in PBMC and saliva specimens from children and adults. Of 668 CSF samples, 13% contained HHV-6 DNA; of 77 children examined after primary infection, 61% had HHV-6 DNA detected only in their CSF and 39% had HHV-6 DNA in both CSF and PBMCs. HHV-6 variant A (HHV-6A) was detected significantly (P = .0001) more frequently in CSF than in PBMCs or saliva. In children for whom HHV-6 was identified in both CSF and PBMCs, PBMCs contained only HHV-6B, while CSF contained HHV-6A or HHV-6B, not both. Thus, in patients with dual infection, only HHV-6A persisted in CSF, which suggests that HHV-6A has greater neurotropism. Findings for adults indicate that dual infection occurs; variant persistence is similar to that for children. The frequency of HHV-6A infection increased little with age, thereby indicating that HHV-6A infection remains uncommon into adulthood. This study suggests that HHV-6 variants have different immunobiologic courses and neurotropism.

Adult↗