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Biomedical subjects

C Turnbull

Publications and source records attributed to C Turnbull.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Radiotherapy and genetic predisposition to breast cancer.

Cancer genetics is becoming increasingly integrated into oncological care; particularly in breast cancer management. The recognition of monogenic breast cancer predisposition syndromes, such as BRCA, is critical as there is also a risk of other cancers in addition to a markedly elevated risk of contralateral breast cancer. In individuals with breast cancer due to some predisposition genes, radiation should be avoided, e.g. the ATM and TP53 genes, but there is still controversy as to whether radiation should be used in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and more follow-up is needed. There are some radiation-sensitive genetic conditions where, if breast cancer occurs (as it may occur in any individual, not necessarily due to an increased risk associated with the condition), radiation should be avoided. These conditions are often associated with dysmorphic features. If such features are noticed then the advice of a geneticist should be sought urgently prior to giving radiation.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2004

Effects of manipulating intrauterine growth on post natal adrenocortical development and other parameters of maturity in neonatal foals.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) impairs post natal adaptive responses and is associated with increased adrenocortical activity in many species. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a restricted or enhanced intrauterine environment affects neonatal adaptation and adrenocortical function in horses. METHODS: Embryos from large (577 kg) Thoroughbred (TB) mares were transferred to smaller (343 kg) pony (P) mares and vice versa, to create a restricted (TB-in-P, n = 11) or enhanced (P-in-TB, n = 8) intrauterine environment. Control groups (TB-in-TB, n = 8; P-in-P, n = 7) were also included. RESULTS: Thirty foals were born live at full term (range 314-348 days) and 4 (3 TB-in-P, 1 P-in-TB) were stillborn between 275 and 335 days. TB-in-P foals were significantly (P<0.05) lighter than TB-in-TB, but heavier than P-in-P foals. TB-in-P foals took longer to first stand and suck and some had fetlock hyperextension and low (<4 g/l) plasma immunoglobulin G concentrations. Other foal groups showed normal behavioural responses. Haematological parameters were normal in all 4 groups of foals. Plasma ACTH levels were high at birth and plasma cortisol concentrations increased after delivery and returned to baseline within 6 h post partum in all but the TB-in-P foals, which had elevated levels until 48 h post partum. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased in all groups following exogenous ACTH administered on Days 1 and 5 postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The TB-in-P foals showed IUGR and impaired post natal adaptive responses with basal hypercortisolaemia. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Foals born following IUGR may require clinical assistance in the early post natal period, but appear mature with respect to adrenocortical function.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed2002

Influence of maternal size on placental, fetal and postnatal growth in the horse. I. Development in utero.

The interacting influences of maternal size and fetal genotype on placental and fetal development in the mare were assessed by comparing conventional within-breed Thoroughbred (Tb-in-Tb, n = 7) and Pony (P-in-P, n = 7) control pregnancies established by artificial insemination (AI) with between-breed (Tb-in-P, n = 8; deprived in utero condition and P-in-Tb, n = 7; luxurious in utero condition) experimental pregnancies established by embryo transfer. All foals were born spontaneously and the mean (+/- SEM) duration of gestation in the two groups of control mares was significantly different (P < 0.001) at 325 +/- 3.0 days for the P-in-P pregnancies and 339 +/- 3.0 days for the Tb-in-Tb pregnancies, whereas the durations of gestation for the two experimental groups were very similar and midway between those of the control pregnancies at 332 +/- 2.8 days for the Tb-in-P and 331 +/- 2.7 days for the P-in-Tb. Mean (+/- SEM) foal birth weight and the mean (+/- SEM) values for the mass, gross area and volume of the allantochorion were all highest in the seven Tb-in-Tb pregnancies (53.1 +/- 2.6 kg, 3.8 +/- 0.3 kg, 12.9 +/- 0.3 x 10(3) cm(2), 3.5 +/- 0.2 l, respectively) and lowest in the seven P-in-P control pregnancies (24.0 +/- 1.3 kg, 1.7 +/- 0.1 kg, 8.3 +/- 0.3 x 10(3) cm(2), 1.8 +/- 0.1 l, respectively). These parameters were higher in the seven P-in-Tb pregnancies (37.9 +/- 2.1 kg, 2.7 +/- 0.1 kg, 10.1 +/- 0.5 x 10(3) cm(2), 2.5 +/- 0.1 l, respectively) than in the eight Tb-in-P (33.0 +/- 2.4 kg, 2.3 +/- 0.2 kg, 9.0 +/- 0.5 x 10(3) cm(2), 2.1 +/- 0.1 l) experimental pregnancies. Foal birth weight was positively correlated with the mass (r = 0.84, P < 0.001), gross area (r = 0.87, P < 0.001) and volume (r = 0.91, P < 0.001) of the allantochorion, and maternal weight was also positively correlated with both the mass and gross area of the allantochorion (r = 0.64 and 0.69, respectively; both P < 0.001). Application of stereology to multiple random biopsies recovered from each placenta produced mean values for the surface density of microcotyledons on the allantochorion (S(v)). Values were higher in Thoroughbred than in Pony mares regardless of the breed of fetus being carried. Multiplication of S(v) by the volume of the allantochorion to give the total microscopic area of fetomaternal contact at the placental interface was also positively correlated with foal birth weight (r = 0.84, P < 0.001). Foal birth weight was determined by the microscopic area of fetomaternal contact of the placenta and there were no differences in foal weight per m(2) of placenta regardless of fetal or maternal genomes. Thus, the results indicate that in equids, maternal size interacts with both the maternal and fetal genotypes to control the rate and extent of fetal growth by influencing the gross area of the diffuse allantochorion, and the density, complexity and depth of the microcotyledons on its surface.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1991

Perception and memory for faces in Parkinson's disease.

This study investigated face processing abilities in patients with late-onset Parkinson's disease. In the first experiment, the Parkinson's disease patients were impaired on a recognition memory test for unfamiliar faces but showed no deficit relative to controls in recognition memory for words. The Parkinson's disease patients were also impaired at matching different photographs of unfamiliar faces. Experiment 2 revealed that the memory deficit affected recognition of familiar as well as unfamiliar faces and extended the face perception impairment to sex decisions and to the analysis of facial speech. An additional verbal recognition memory test again revealed no significant differences between the performance of the Parkinson's disease and control groups. It is argued that the memory impairment is not accountable for simply in terms of the perceptual deficits, and the problems that the patients experience are discussed in terms of the functional model of face processing put forward by Bruce and Young (Brit. J. Psychol. 77, 305-327, 1986).

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Verbal fluency in Parkinson's disease.

This study compares the performance of Parkinson's disease patients with age-matched controls on semantic and letter-initial verbal fluency tests. An analysis of variance revealed that Parkinsonian patients showed impaired word production. However when the covariates of age, present verbal ability (Mill Hill Synonyms) and severity of depression (Geriatric Depression Screening Scale) were included in an analysis of covariance, the significant effect of Parkinson's disease on verbal fluency disappeared. Instead, age and present verbal ability were revealed to be the significant sources of between subject variation in total verbal fluency performance; results indicated that increased age and lower present verbal ability resulted in poorer performance on the verbal fluency tests. Depression score was not a significant source of between subject variation. The results are discussed in relation to those recently reported by Gurd and Ward (1989).

Aged↗
PubMed1985

A retrospective study of the incidence and causes of failed spinal anesthetics in a university hospital.

One hundred sequential spinal anesthetic procedures were reviewed retrospectively to study specifically the incidence and causes of spinal anesthesia. Variables examined included the patient population, the technical aspects of performing subarachnoid tap and subsequent blockade, and the level of training of the anesthetists. We found a 17% incidence of spinal failure, defined as the need to use general anesthesia during the surgical procedure. Failure was found to be significantly associated with a lack of free flow of cerebral spinal fluid, the use of tetracaine without epinephrine, and an increased administration of intravenous supplementation. Forty-one% of the failures represented errors in judgement, either in not properly anticipating the duration of surgery or injecting local anesthetic solution in the absence of a free flow of cerebral spinal fluid. An incidental finding was the lack of documentation in many of the variables examined. We attribute the high incidence of failed spinal anesthesia mainly to technical reasons, most of them avoidable. The use of local and regional anesthesia requires considerable technical skills and demands a precise and total understanding of regional anatomic relationships. With the decreasing use of regional anesthesia in our operating rooms, only those regional anesthesia techniques that require minimum dexterity, such as spinal and epidural anesthesia, continue to be utilized widely; and even these techniques, safe as they are, are being poorly taught.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Comparative diagnostic criteria for melancholia and endogenous depression.

Five scales were evaluated for the diagnosis of melancholia or endogenous depression. Of 21 total items, none appeared in all five scales, but four items occurred in four of the scales: autonomy of mood, prevasive anhedonia, psychomotor change, and guilt. Vegetative changes were represented inconsistently, with anorexia and weight loss in three scales, as was distinct quality of mood. Thereafter, item agreement between the scales fell off. Scale performance was tested in 50 depressive patients. Major differences were found in frequency of melancholia and scale orientation toward inpatients and outpatients. A number of old controversies remain dormant in these scales. Unresolved are the relationship between melancholia and severity of depression; the relevance of precipitating events, previous depressive episodes, type of onset, and adequacy of personality; and whether to classify by category or continuum. The merits of statistically and consensually derived scales also need to be evaluated.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The Newcastle Endogenous Depression Diagnostic Index: validity and reliability.

The newcastle Endogenous Depression Diagnostic Index of Carney et al. was studied for reliability and validity. Good inter-rater reliability was obtained for diagnostic category and for item scores in 36 patients. The scale showed construct validity with reference to the Hamilton and Montgomery-Asberg rating scales. Concurrent validity was shown relative to other diagnostic scales of endogenous depression. Predictive validity was demonstrated in that endogenous and nonendogenous depressive responded differently to isocarboxazid. The continued use of 5 as the point of separation between endogenous and nonendogenous depression is questionable.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1984

The importance of dose in isocarboxazid therapy.

Little information is available on the effectiveness and safety of particular doses of isocarboxazid. In a study using isocarboxazid doses of 30 and 50 mg/day in depressed inpatients, the higher dose was well tolerated and did not result in any greater toxicity than the 30 mg dose. Significantly greater elevation of plasma serotonin (Week 2) and platelet MAO inhibition were seen with 50 mg/day. In nonmelancholic depressions, 50 mg proved to be more effective than 30 mg in symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, this did not apply to the vegetative-physiologic symptoms of depression.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1983

Isocarboxazid. Efficacy and tolerance.

In a double-blind study, isocarboxazid was found to have greater efficacy than placebo. Patients with weight gain, increased appetite, and increased sleep responded particularly well, with a rapid onset of improvement that was apparent by one week. Their response to placebo was poor. Using a flexible dose, the modal range was 30-60 mg per day. Higher doses were poorly tolerated. At the doses used, side effects were generally mild, the most common being dizziness and myoclonus.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMed1976

Localization of the neurofilament protein in neuroblastoma cells by immunofluorescent staining.

Neurofilament protein (54,000-56,000 daltons) has been localized in murine neuroblastoma cells by indirect immunofluorescent staining with antisera to purified calf brain neurofilament protein. In some cells with only short processes, specific staining of fibrous material was present in the perinuclear region while in other cells similar fibers, coiled to varying degrees, were present in other regions of the cytoplasm. In cells with longer processes a stained fiber extended throughout each process. The staining pattern observed followed the distribution of bundles of 100 A filaments as determined by electron microscopy. The fibers did not stain with antisera to tubulin or tropomyosin. The observations reported strongly indicate (i) that neurofilament protein isolated from calf brain is antigenically related to a component of the bundles of 100 A filaments in neuroblastoma cells, and (ii) that the neurofilament protein is an integral part of bundles of 100 A filaments in neuroblastoma cells, while neither tubulin nor tropomyosin is present in these bundles.

Animals↗