Association of Chairmen of Departments of Physiology 1992 survey results.
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Canada↗
Biomedical subjects
C Smith
Publications and source records attributed to C Smith.
Pelvic floor evaluation with dynamic fluoroscopy.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate dynamic fluoroscopy of the pelvic floor for the study of women with pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: In a prospective, observational study in a tertiary care referral center, 30 women with prolapse beyond the introitus underwent comprehensive fluoroscopic imaging of the pelvic floor. RESULTS: Dynamic fluoroscopy of the pelvic floor was technically possible in all patients. Whereas the physical examinations appeared relatively similar in these patients, the fluoroscopic examination revealed distinct differences. Of the 30 women, 25 had a cystocele, 25 had a rectocele, and 26 had an enterocele. Eleven patients had their surgical plan modified accordingly. Pelvic floor fluoroscopy is not a test for urinary or fecal incontinence. However, incontinence was demonstrated objectively in ten women (eight with fecal incontinence, two with urinary incontinence). CONCLUSION: Dynamic fluoroscopy of the pelvic floor is a useful adjunct in the clinical evaluation of women with prolapse. This imaging can be used to individualize the operative approach to prolapse. It is superior to clinical examination for the detection of enterocele formation. In addition, it provides information regarding the emptying function of the rectocele, which is not obtainable on physical examination.
Adult↗
A study of immunoglobulin G subclass levels in black and white patients with various forms of obstructive lung disease.
The association of various respiratory disorders with disturbances in immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass levels is increasingly being recognised. This was a prospective study of the IgG subclass levels in 71 patients (37 white, 34 black) with various respiratory disorders associated with obstructive airways disease. Ten white patients with adult cystic fibrosis were studied, 4 of whom were colonised with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Alterations in individual subclass levels were seen in these patients and abnormalities noted included a decrease in IgG3 and/or an increase in IgG1 and/or IgG2 levels. Of the 17 black and 16 white patients with asthma, 2 had absent IgG4 levels associated with severe and recurrent respiratory infections, 2 had deficient IgG3 and 1 decreased IgG1 levels. Several patients had increased levels of several IgG subclasses, of which IgG1 was the most commonly affected. Both atopy and recurrent chest infections occurred most often in the latter group of patients. In the studies of 17 black and 11 white patients with bronchiectasis, all but 3 white patients were shown to have some alteration in IgG subclass levels. The commonest deficiencies were an absence of IgG4 (3 cases), and an absence of all subclasses (2 cases). One of the latter patients had an associated deficiency of total IgG and IgM, and the other demonstrated pan-hypogammaglobulinaemia. Abnormalities of IgG subclass levels appear to be commonly associated with several respiratory disorders including recurrent infections, atopy and bronchiectasis.
Adolescent↗
Development of a lacZ marked WEHI-3B D+ murine leukemic cell line as an in-vivo model of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.
Established leukemic cell lines have been useful models for studying the biology of leukemia. Analysis of the actions of differentiating agents on leukemic cell lines in vivo has been limited by an inability to unambiguously distinguish host hematopoietic elements from differentiated leukemic cells. In order to identify and quantify leukemic cells during in vivo studies, a derivative of the murine myelomonocytic leukemia cell line WEHI-3B D+, which stably expresses beta-galactosidase, was constructed utilizing retroviral vector gene transfer. This cell line, termed WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8, demonstrated in vitro growth and differentiation properties similar to the parental cell line. WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 expressed high levels of beta-galactosidase following prolonged in vitro growth and following differentiation in suspension cultures and clonogenic assays. In vivo, WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 was leukemogenic and high level expression of beta-galactosidase was maintained. Quantification of tissue involvement with WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 leukemia was performed utilizing staining with the fluorogenic beta-galactosidase substrate fluorescein di-beta-galactoside and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. In vivo differentiation efficiency following granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration was determined using a simultaneous nuclear and cytoplasmic staining procedure. Results indicate that treatment of mice inoculated with WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 cells with G-CSF administration causes detectable but limited differentiation.
Animals↗
Family patterns and primary prevention of family violence.
Although services for victims and treatment programs for batterers have priority in efforts to ameliorate family violence, primary prevention programs are also essential. The importance of primary prevention lies not only in the suffering which can avoided, but also because it is unlikely that sufficient treatment resources can be allocated to match the magnitude of the problem. The latter point is illustrated by the results of a study of nationally representative samples of 2,143 families (studied in 1975) and 6,002 families (studied in 1985). These studies show that a minimum of 16% of American couples experienced an assault during the year of the study, and that about 40% of these involved severely violent acts, such as kicking, biting, punching, choking, and attacks with weapons. These studies also identified risk factors that can serve as the focus for primary prevention, for example, early marriage, male dominance in the family and use of physical punishment. Educational and therapeutic efforts, and economic changes, which encourage equality and which teach the skills necessary for an equal relationship, can help prevent family violence.
Child↗
Acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyl transferase (ACAT) inhibitors. 1. 2-(Alkylthio)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazoles as potent inhibitors of ACAT.
A potent, bioavailable ACAT inhibitor may have beneficial effects in the treatment of atherosclerosis by (i) reducing the absorption of dietary cholesterol, (ii) reducing the secretion of very low density lipoproteins into plasma from the liver, and (iii) preventing the transformation of arterial macrophages into foam cells. We have found that a mevalonate derivative 2, which contains a 4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl moiety, inhibits rat hepatic microsomal ACAT in vitro and produces a significant hypocholesterolemic effect in the cholesterol-fed rat. Structure-activity relationships for analogues of 2 demonstrate that the 4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole moiety is a pharmacophore for inhibition of rat microsomal ACAT.
Animals↗
Kinetics of superoxide dismutase- and iron-catalyzed nitration of phenolics by peroxynitrite.
Superoxide dismutase and Fe3+EDTA catalyzed the nitration by peroxynitrite (ONOO-) of a wide range of phenolics including tyrosine in proteins. Nitration was not mediated by a free radical mechanism because hydroxyl radical scavengers did not reduce either superoxide dismutase or Fe3+EDTA-catalyzed nitration and nitrogen dioxide was not a significant product from either catalyst. Rather, metal ions appear to catalyze the heterolytic cleavage of peroxynitrite to form a nitronium-like species (NO2+). The calculated energy for separating peroxynitrous acid into hydroxide ion and nitronium ion is 13 kcal.mol-1 at pH 7.0. Fe3+EDTA catalyzed nitration with an activation energy of 12 kcal.mol-1 at a rate of 5700 M-1.s-1 at 37 degrees C and pH 7.5. The reaction rate of peroxynitrite with bovine Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase was 10(5) M-1.s-1 at low superoxide dismutase concentrations, but the rate of nitration became independent of superoxide dismutase concentration above 10 microM with only 9% of added peroxynitrite yielding nitrophenol. We propose that peroxynitrite anion is more stable in the cis conformation, whereas only a higher energy species in the trans conformation can fit in the active site of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase. At high superoxide dismutase concentrations, phenolic nitration may be limited by the rate of isomerization from the cis to trans conformations of peroxynitrite as well as by competing pathways for peroxynitrite decomposition. In contrast, Fe3+EDTA appears to react directly with the cis anion, resulting in greater nitration yields.
Animals↗
Acupuncture: an ancient treatment modality under scientific scrutiny.
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Acupuncture Analgesia↗
Effect of cocaine, ethanol or nicotine on ornithine decarboxylase activity in early chick embryo brain.
Fetal drug exposure causes multiple deficits in the developing child. For both humans and animal models, the single most common drug-related problem is fetal growth suppression. This defect is associated with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality and may also be related to significant behavioral problems appearing later in life. Studies focussed on the molecular mechanism of fetal drug effects in placental models are complicated by multiple interactions of the drug with mother, placenta and fetus. Using early (76-168 h) chick embryos as a non-placental model, and three common drugs of abuse (nicotine, ethanol and cocaine) it was found that each drug suppressed the peak in fetal brain ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity that normally occurs at 120 h of development. For each drug, the decrease in ODC activity at 120 h was followed by a small but significant increase in ODC. Thus, although the drug-treated embryos were smaller in size, they appeared to be undergoing compensatory growth and, in fact, became equal in weight to the vehicle-treated animals, if allowed to hatch.
Animals↗
Stimulation of lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl-radical generation by the contents of human atherosclerotic lesions.
Lipid peroxidation within human arterial lesions is thought to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Peroxidation can be accelerated by the presence of 'catalytic' iron or copper ions. Gruel samples from advanced atherosclerotic lesions in the abdominal aortae of human cadavers were tested for pro-oxidant properties. All samples contained bleomycin-detectable iron and phenanthroline-detectable copper. Almost all gruel samples stimulated peroxidation of rat liver microsomes, and this was usually inhibited by the iron-ion chelator desferrioxamine. Some samples stimulated formation of hydroxyl radicals from H2O2 in the presence of ascorbate, a reaction again inhibited by desferrioxamine. We conclude that the interior of human advanced atherosclerotic lesions is a highly pro-oxidant environment, and that the use of copper or iron ions to promote peroxidation of low-density lipoproteins in vitro may be a valid model for events in the arterial wall.
Animals↗
Droloxifene (3-hydroxytamoxifen) has membrane antioxidant ability: potential relevance to its mechanism of therapeutic action in breast cancer.
Droloxifene (3-hydroxytamoxifen), is a triphenylethylene derivative recently developed for the treatment of breast cancer. Droloxifene was found to exhibit a membrane antioxidant ability in that it inhibited Fe(III)-ascorbate dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and ox-brain phospholipid liposomes. It also inhibited microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(III)-ADP/NADPH. Droloxifene was a better inhibitor of lipid peroxidation than tamoxifen, but was less effective than 17 beta-oestradiol in the two microsomal systems and in the preformed liposomal system. When introduced into ox-brain phospholipid liposomes, droloxifene inhibited Fe(III)-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation to approximately the same extent as similarly introduced cholesterol and tamoxifen, although to a lesser extent than 17 beta-oestradiol. This inhibition of lipid peroxidation by droloxifene may result from a membrane stabilization that could be associated in cancer cells with decreased plasma membrane fluidity. This mechanism may be related to the clinically important antiproliferative action of droloxifene on cancer cells.
Animals↗
Treatments for hip dysplasia spark controversy.
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Animals↗
Genomic organization of the halophilic archaeon Haloferax mediterranei: physical map of the chromosome.
Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFG) has been used to study the genomic organization of the halophilic archaeon Haloferax mediterranei. Analysis of the different genomic elements as well as the restriction patterns obtained with several endonucleases revealed that this microorganism has a circular chromosome of 2.9 Mb and, at least, three extrachromosomal elements of 490, 320 and 130 kb respectively. The complete physical map of the chromosome for the endonucleases PacI and BamHI has been constructed, and several BcII, BgIII and DraI restriction fragments have been aligned on these maps. The localization of heterologous and homologous genes on the physical map, including those for rRNA, lay the ground work for the construction of a genetic map.
Chromosomes, Bacterial↗
The clinical significance of Haemophilus influenzae and H. parainfluenzae isolated from the sputum of adult patients at an urban general hospital.
Fifty-seven patients, from whose sputum Haemophilus influenzae (49 cases) or Haemophilus parainfluenzae (8 cases) was isolated during a 7-month period, were studied. In the majority of cases there were well-defined predisposing factors to respiratory tract colonisation or infection with the isolates, in particular bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive airways disease. Colonisation of the airways, bronchopneumonia in patients with underlying lung disease, acute lobar pneumonia, and postoperative chest infections were the commonest clinical diagnoses. Primary acute lobar pneumonia with these organisms alone was uncommon. All of the H. influenzae isolates were nontypeable, and there was a wide range of biotypes of both organisms. Three H. influenzae isolates produced beta-lactamase, and there was, in general, a low incidence of resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents on disc susceptibility testing.
Adult↗
Mutagenic activity of a series of synthetic and naturally occurring heterocyclic amines in Salmonella.
26 synthetic and naturally occurring heterocyclic amines were tested in the Salmonella/microsome assay (Ames test) using tester strains TA98 and TA100 in the presence of an Aroclor-induced rat-liver S9 fraction. 9 of the compounds were protein-pyrolysis products which had previously been shown to be mutagenic. Mutagenic potencies similar to previously reported values were demonstrated for these compounds with the exception that Trp-P-1 was only mutagenic in strain TA98 in our study, although it had previously been reported to be weakly mutagenic in strain TA100. 17 structurally diverse heterocyclic amines were synthesized and tested for mutagenicity. The structural diversity of these synthetic heterocyclic amines will enhance the sensitivity of future quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies by demonstrating the structural characteristics essential for mutagenicity. The results of this study provide a large data base for the mutagenicity of this important class of compounds.
Amines↗
Ovine lentivirus: a real or imagined threat?
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Animals↗
Analysis of routine sputum specimens at Hillbrow Hospital.
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Bacteria↗
Characterization of Caramel Colour IV.
A large number of commercial Caramel Colour IV samples were characterized in order to assess the uniformity of the class and to provide data to be used in specifications development. Owing to the chemical and physical complexity of caramel colour it was not feasible to perform detailed analysis of all constituents for assessment of uniformity. Instead, selected parameters were evaluated and judgements were made with respect to compositional uniformity based on the similarities of these parameters among the various samples. As Caramel Colour IV is required by the food industry in a range of colour intensities, there must be a range of properties that differ from sample to sample, but that are sufficiently similar for the material to still be considered as part of the Caramel Colour IV class. Fractions as well as whole caramel were analysed using selected spectrophotometric, chromatographic and chemical techniques. Samples were fractionated based on molecular weight and polarity. The data presented here provide evidence for the uniformity in composition of Caramel Colour IV with respect to molecular weight distribution, to nitrogen and sulphur content and their distribution throughout the fractions, to absorbance properties and to specific low molecular weight compounds. Thus, it can be concluded that Caramel Colour IV exhibits compositional uniformity within the range of colour intensity required by the food industry worldwide.
Candy↗