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Biomedical subjects

C Randall

Publications and source records attributed to C Randall.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Gender differences in substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to explore gender differences in demographic variables, psychiatric comorbidity, and personality disorders in individuals with substance use disorders. METHOD: A total of 100 treatment-seeking substance users (50 men and 50 women) admitted to a university-based and a university-affiliated private chemical dependency hospital were compared with regard to demographic variables and comorbid psychiatric and personality diagnosis according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R after 14-21 days in treatment. RESULTS: Men were significantly more likely to have a higher household income and to be alcohol dependent. Women were significantly more likely to have another axis I disorder in addition to substance use disorder, particularly anxiety disorders, but these gender differences were not substantially different from the gender prevalence of these disorders in the general population. Men had more affective disorders relative to women than would be expected from the general population data. Female alcoholics had substantially more psychopathology than male alcoholics, and generally these differences were consistent with the ratios of these disorders in the general population. For cocaine users, female/male ratios of anxiety and affective disorders were inconsistent with general population ratios and indicated more psychopathology than would be expected in male cocaine users. There were no gender differences in axis II diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the gender differences in psychopathology in substance users are at odds with gender differences for psychopathology in the general population. Further exploration of these differences could have important theoretical and treatment implications.

Adult↗

Different effects of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and aphidicolin in S-phase cells--chromosome aberrations, cell-cycle delay and cytotoxicity.

Some effects of a 2-h exposure to either aphidicolin (APC) or cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) on S-phase cells of the cell line JU56 have been measured. At a concentration of 1.5 X 10(-5) M of either drug, incorporation of tritiated thymidine into log-phase cultured was reduced by 97-99%. A 2-h exposure to either drug at the same concentration induced chromosome aberrations in cells in S when they subsequently reached mitosis. However, exposure to ara-C induced small numbers of aberrations per damaged cells, and most cells were undamaged. Exposure to APC induced gross chromosomal damage (pulverized chromosomes) in damaged cells. More cells were delayed, and for longer, after exposure to APC than after exposure to ara-C. The results of clonal assays were consistent with the assumption that chromosome aberrations are the proximal cause of reproductive cell death. In the case of ara-C, the results of this and a previous study are consistent with the assumption that cell death and chromosome aberrations are correlated with incorporation of ara-C into DNA in S-phase cells, but that these biological effects manifest themselves only with doses when inhibition of semi-conservative DNA synthesis is greater than 97%.

Animals↗

Assessment of bullet injuries in the neck (a salutory lesson).

Bullet injuries in the neck are fortunately rare in England and Wales, although their incidence is increasing. Clinical assessment of the extent of the injury and the decision whether or not to explore the neck in the absence of obvious major visceral or vascular damage can be difficult. We report a case where a potentially fatal injury was not suggested by the patient's clinical condition and we recommend prompt exploration of bullet wounds in the neck whenever there is a possibility of vascular damage.

Adult↗

Post-operative haemorrhage in tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children.

A second anaesthetic for bleeding after adeno-tonsillectomy in children represents a significant hazard. The true incidence of this complication is assessed for over 20,000 operations. The incidence of bleeding after adeno-tonsillectomy was found to be the sum of bleeding post-adenoidectomy and post-tonsillectomy. Bleeding post-adenoidectomy is at least as common as post-tonsillectomy and both occur most frequently within 12 hours of operation. No reason for the bleeding occurring in these particular patients could be found.

Adenoidectomy↗

Oncogenic transformation of non-permissive murine cells by viable equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and EHV-1 DNA.

Primary cultures of BALB/c mouse embryo fibroblasts infected with as much as 100 PFU per cell of EHV-1 do not exhibit cytopathology or synthesize detectable amounts of EHV-1 specific RNA, DNA, or infectious virus. Addition of 1--2 microgram of non-fragmented EHV-1 DNA as a co-precipitate with calcium phosphate to monolayers of such non-permissive mouse cells resulted in the appearance, after 4--6 weeks, of foci of piled-up, morphologically altered cells. Cell lines established from such transformed foci exhibited a greatly increased growth rate, unlimited growth potential, aneuploid karyotype, and grew with colony formation in soft agar. Inoculation of 10(6) transformed cells into newborn syngeneic mice resulted in the formation of serially transplantable tumours (undifferentiated fibrosarcomas) with a 100% incidence within eight weeks. Infectious virus could not be rescued from the EHV-1 transformed or tumour-derived cell lines by growth in the presence of IUDR, by cocultivation with permissive horse cells, or by attempts to transfect permissive cells with transformed or tumour cell DNA. However, EHV-1 specific membrane antigens were detected in the transformed cells by immunofluorescence with hyperimmune anti-EHV-1 mouse serum, and the presence of a fragment of the EHV-1 genome was demonstrated in both the transformed and tumour cells. These results indicate that cells nonpermissive for replication of EHV-1 remain susceptible to neoplastic transformation by the EHV-1 genome.

Animals↗

Ecology of 350 isolates of group F Streptococcus.

The ecology of 350 strains of group F streptococci isolated from clinical material over a six-year period is described. The respiratory tract, particularly the throat, yielded the largest number of isolates. Wound swabs, mainly appendectomy, ranked second as a source of this organism, followed closely by the genitourinary tract. A significant proportion of strains was recovered from gastrointestinal sites. Dental abscess yielded several strains, often in pure culture, and the external auditory canal was identified as minor locale of the group F streptococcus. A few isolates were also obtained from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and miscellaneous tissues.

Digestive System↗

Experience with Yersinia enterocolitica at The Hospital for Sick Children, 1972-74.

Thirty-six cases of Yersinia enterocolitica infection were detected in the years 1972-74. The form of the illness in young children was acute gastroenteritis and in older children "appendicular syndrome". Improved isolation and identification techniques have increased the laboratory recognition of this enteric pathogen.

Acute Disease↗

Lesbian stereotypes.

The American Psychological Association's Committee on Gay and Lesbian Concerns (Herek, 1987) expressed a need for research that focuses specifically on the concerns of lesbians. To this end, we attempted to identify stereotypes about lesbians, as noted in 278 female nursing students' responses to open-ended questions. Content analysis of the responses revealed a number of consistent themes or stereotypes. The most prevalent stereotypes included lesbians' seduction of heterosexual women, lesbian "boasting," and the "masculine aura" of lesbians. None of the participant variables (age, educational level, social class, and type of nursing education) were significantly related to particular stereotypes. The impact of stereotypes on the acceptance of lesbians within society is discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Lack of association between hypertension and hypothyroidism in postmenopausal women seen in a primary care setting.

BACKGROUND: Several studies undertaken in hospital-based specialty clinics have reported an association between hypertension and hypothyroidism. This work examines the association between these two common disorders in postmenopausal women seen within a primary care office setting. METHODS: Seven hundred seven postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older were studied using a cross-sectional design. Data on thyroid status, hypertension and risk factors, and patient demographics were collected from the office medical record. RESULTS: Overall, 45.4 percent of the population studied had hypertension and 10.9 percent had hypothyroidism. Compared with normotensive women, hypertensive women were significantly older (66.4 years versus 63.0 years, P < 0.0001) and had a higher body mass index (29.2 kg/m2 versus 26.2 kg/m2, P < 0.0001). Hypertension was significantly associated with diabetes mellitus and the use of NSAIDS (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.77 and 2.63, respectively). We did not find a significant association between hypertension and hypothyroidism (OR 1.04, 95 percent confidence interval 0.64 to 1.76 CONCLUSIONS: In this population of postmenopausal women we did not find hypertension to be associated with hypothyroidism.

Aged↗