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Biomedical subjects

C Wood

Publications and source records attributed to C Wood.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Indications for endometrial resection.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that endometrial resection may be used to control abnormal uterine bleeding in a wide variety of clinical conditions. DESIGN/SETTING: Sixty-one patients were referred to a private gynaecological practice with abnormal uterine bleeding between January and December 1990. The clinical conditions associated with abnormal uterine bleeding were fibromyomata, adenomyosis, hormone replacement therapy and anticoagulant therapy. Twenty of the patients were referred for consideration of endometrial resection and twelve for consideration of hysterectomy. The advantages and disadvantages of drug therapy, uterine curettage, endometrial resection and hysterectomy were discussed. Forty-two elected to have endometrial resection, thirteen continued with drug therapy after curettage and six proceeded to hysterectomy. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 42 patients were satisfied with the results of endometrial resection, and 39 of the 42 patients reduced their use of pads or tampons by more than 50%. Three of the failures proceeded to hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding not controlled by drug therapy may be suitable for endometrial resection. This includes patients with intramural fibromyomata and adenomyosis. The patient needs to accept a small chance of failure, the risk of complications (particularly uterine perforation) and the fact that the risk of death from the procedure, while small, has not been established.

Endometriosis↗

Comparison of pain, motion, and edema after modified radical mastectomy vs. local excision with axillary dissection and radiation.

Recent data suggest that prognosis is similar for women with primary breast cancer whether they receive modified radical mastectomy (MRM) or local excision and axillary dissection with radiation (XRT). The effects of either of these treatments on arm mobility, pain, or edema have not been compared. To assess the impact of MRM or XRT on mobility, pain, or edema, we evaluated patients treated in a prospective randomized trial designed to assess prognosis following MRM or XRT. All were provided a standardized physical therapy program including arm mobilization, shoulder strengthening, prevention and treatment of upper extremity edema, and education about arm function. Patients were evaluated for chest wall pain, arm motion, muscle strength, and edema as determined by circumferential measurements at the wrist, forearm, and arm. Evaluations were performed preoperatively and at yearly anniversaries of their surgery. Women receiving XRT had more chest wall tenderness at 1 and 2 years after surgery than those receiving MRM (p2 less than 0.0001 and p2 = 0.0007 respectively). Those receiving MRM were slower to reach their preoperative range of motion (ROM) (p2 = 0.043). Incidence of muscle weakness was similar in both groups. The few patients with local recurrence of tumor had more upper extremity edema than those who did not recur (p2 = 0.085) at 1 year and (p2 = 0.02) at 2 years. In patients who did not develop local recurrence, those who had received XRT had greater but nonsignificant increases in upper extremity circumferential measures compared with those receiving MRM at any anniversary evaluation. Patients receiving MRM and XRT are likely to have some differences in functional outcome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Breast Neoplasms↗

Exposure of operating room personnel to nitrous oxide during paediatric anaesthesia.

This study was undertaken to quantify the exposure of operating room staff to nitrous oxide during routine paediatric otolaryngeal surgery and to determine the influence of the method of induction of anaesthesia on this exposure. The nitrous oxide exposure of the anaesthetist, the surgeon and the circulating nurse were measured, using body-worn passive atmospheric samplers, during twelve routine paediatric otolaryngeal surgical lists. During six of the lists an inhalational technique, with nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane, was used for the induction of anaesthesia. During the other six lists anaesthesia was induced using intravenous thiopentone. In all cases, anaesthesia was maintained using nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane. Regardless of the induction technique used, the mean nitrous oxide exposures of the anaesthetist, the surgeon and the nurse all exceeded the maximum level of 25 ppm.hr-1 recommended by the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The use of an intravenous technique for the induction of anaesthesia reduced the nitrous oxide exposure of the anaesthetist and the circulating nurse. This suggests that, although the use of an intravenous induction may reduce exposure to nitrous oxide, the NIOSH recommendations for maximum exposure of operating room personnel to nitrous oxide are currently unattainable in practice.

Adult↗

Activation of bovine immunodeficiency-like virus expression by bovine herpesvirus type 1.

Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV) is a recently identified lentivirus that infects cattle. The virus has structural and genetic similarities to human HIV. The present study demonstrates that BIV can be activated by bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1), a pathogen frequently associated with cattle diseases. Activation of BIV expression can be detected as increased BIV reverse transcriptase activity, increased in the number of syncytia induced by BIV, and increased in the steady state level of BIV-specific RNA upon BHV-1 super-infection. Additional transactivation studies using the BIV-LTR (long terminal repeat) were conducted. The BIV-LTR was linked to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene (CAT) and transfected into bovine cell cultures in order to quantitate the levels of BIV-LTR expression. When the transfected cells were infected by BHV-1, there was an increase in CAT expression, indicating transactivation of the BIV-LTR by BHV-1. Most of the transactivation activities were abolished with an LTR construct that has deleted the NF-kappa B-like sequence located in the U3 region of the LTR. In order to further demonstrate that activation of the BIV-LTR involves factors that may bind to the LTR sequences, gel retardation assays were carried out using the BIV-LTR U3 region as probe. Our results showed that BHV-1 infection resulted in an induction of factor(s) that binds to the NF-kappa B-like sequence on the BIV-LTR. This suggests that transactivation of BIV by BHV-1 may be mediated by a bovine NF-kappa B-like protein that binds to the target sequence in the BIV promoter region.

Animals↗

Use of bacterial trpE fusion vectors to express and characterize the bovine immunodeficiency-like virus core protein.

The gag coding region from Bovine Immunodeficiency-like Virus (BIV) was cloned into E. coli and expressed as a bacterial fusion protein. Six different clones spanning various regions of the gag open reading frame were generated. The resulting fusion proteins were expressed at high concentrations and readily purified. A panel of bovine immune sera specifically recognized the recombinant Gag proteins, as did immune sera from animals infected or immunized with lentiviruses related to BIV, such as Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Analysis of the deletion clones, using the bovine immune sera panel, enabled us to identify at least one major epitope which was specifically recognized by all bovine sera examined. The ease of expression, purification, and specificity of these fusion proteins should enable a thorough study of the epidemiology of BIV infection.

Animals↗

Which central venous catheter for neonatal use?

Complications in 100 percutaneous central venous catheters used for parenteral nutrition were monitored prospectively in patients on a regional neonatal medical and surgical unit. Infants were randomly allocated to receive either a Vygon Epicutaneous catheter or Dow Corning silastic tubing. The majority of lines -63 - were removed electively when parenteral feeding was no longer required. The most common serious complication was catheter sepsis for which 11 lines were removed; all patients made a complete recovery. Minor mechanical complications were encountered with 17 catheters. There was no difference in performance or complication rate comparing the two types of catheter. Percutaneous central venous catheters provide a suitable and safe means of administration of parenteral nutrition to preterm infants over an extended period of time.

Journal Article↗

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 1 and 11 in carcinoma of the pancreas.

Little is known of the molecular-genetic changes in carcinoma of the pancreas (CaP). In order to investigate the allele loss, or loss of heterozygosity (LOH), in CaP, we studied 13 patients with exocrine CaP and two with endocrine CaP using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Twenty probes assigned to chromosomes 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 were used. The frequency of LOH, or fractional allele loss (FAL), was found in two endocrine tumours to be 0.333 and 0.455 respectively; and FAL in 13 oxocrine tumours ranged from 0 to 0.25. Allele loss was shown in both exocrine and endocrine tumours by the probes Lambda MS1 at 1p33-35, and pMS51 at 11q13. Probes for other chromosomes have as yet shown no consistent LOH. In conclusion, the study showed LOH on chromosomes 1 and 11 in both exocrine and endocrine CaP.

Carcinoma↗

Molecular characterization of two bacteriophages isolated from Desulfovibrio vulgaris NCIMB 8303 (Hildenborough).

A preliminary endonuclease restriction map of a bacteriophage isolated from Desulfovibrio vulgaris has been established. BamHI cleaved whole phage DNA into four fragments while HindIII cut the same DNA into seven fragments. Mapping studies succeeded in linking the four BamHI fragments into two DNA segments; however, no linkage between the two segments was detected. These data imply that two phages were induced from cultures of D. vulgaris and that the two segments represented the DNA from these phages. Support for this hypothesis came from size approximation of restriction enzyme fragments, electron micrographs, and density gradients.

Bacteriophages↗

Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction in a Saudi Arabian population.

The signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction present in 219 Saudi Arabians attending a dental clinic for routine dental treatment are described. Joint sounds (36%) and muscle tenderness to palpation (34%) were common findings. Of the subjects examined, 31% reported suffering from frequent headaches. The study demonstrated a high incidence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Findings were similar to those of a previous study of an investigation in a bedouin community in Western Egypt (Abdel-Hakim, 1983).

Adolescent↗

Diagnosis and surgical management of endometriomas.

Fifty two patients with endometriomas greater than 1 cm were treated by surgical excision either with or without ovarian closure. Diagnosis is reliable when clinical features of the pain, vaginal ultrasound, and laparoscopy, including ovarian mobilization and needling, are considered. Fifty of 52 patients were free of pain after 1 year and 26 (50%) became pregnant within 1 year. A second laparoscopy is justified if pain persists or pregnancy does not occur. Adhesive disease was the most common complication (40%), and persistent or recurrent endometriosis occurred in 15%. Surgery by laparoscopy with drainage and excision of the endometrioma without ovarian sutures may be more effective than excision of the endometrioma and ovarian suture.

Endometriosis↗

Laparoscopic adnexectomy--indications, technique and results.

Laparoscopic adnexectomy was performed successfully in 38 patients in whom the procedure was attempted. Failure may result from inexperience of the surgeon or when preliminary dissection near bowel suggests trauma is likely. The duration of the operation was between 15 and 105 minutes, blood loss was minimal and all but 2 patients were discharged within 24 hours of surgery. Pain was relieved in 33 of 35 patients in whom this was the dominant symptom. In 1 patient a small ovarian remnant implanted on the bladder was removed at subsequent laparoscopy. Preliminary experience of this procedure suggest it may be preferable to laparotomy because of the reduced risk of wound complications, pain, time in hospital and duration of convalescence.

Adolescent↗

Ultrasound diagnosis and laparoscopic excision of an interstitial ectopic pregnancy.

Interstitial tubal pregnancy occurs in about 5% of ectopic tubal pregnancies and is associated with an increased risk of severe haemorrhage (1). Diagnosis prior to rupture of the pregnancy into the peritoneal cavity is very important to avoid haemorrhage. Its presence has been considered to be a contraindication to laparoscopic surgery (2), although most ectopic pregnancies can be managed laparoscopically by an experienced endoscopist. We report the diagnosis of an interstitial pregnancy by ultrasound before rupture and treatment by laparoscopic excision of the pregnancy.

Adult↗

Fibrous mastocytoma in a patient with generalized cutaneous mastocytosis.

A 57-year-old woman with cutaneous mastocytosis of 23 years duration developed a hyperpigmented abdominal plaque composed of confluent indurated papules that enlarged for a period of 1 year to 12 x 8 cm. Biopsy showed dermal infiltration by closely packed spindle-shaped mast cells, fibroblasts, collagen, and scattered lymphocytes, predominantly T-suppressor cells. Electron microscopy showed close contact between mast cells, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes. Piecemeal mast cell degranulation and extrusion of mast cell granules was seen, with rare mast cell granules in fibroblasts, and collagen fibers in peripheral and perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum of mast cells. the term Fibrous mastocytoma is suggested for this tumor-like dermal fibrosis, possibly induced by lymphokines.

Biopsy↗

Identification and characterization of a human herpesvirus 6 gene segment that trans activates the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 promoter.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a lymphotropic herpesvirus, and in vitro, HHV-6 can productively infect many of the same cell types as can human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Coinfection by both viruses in vitro can lead to both activation of the HIV promoter and acceleration of cytopathic effects. We have previously demonstrated that a large, 22.25-kb cloned HHV-6 fragment, pZVB70, can trans activate HIV promoter expression in vitro. In this study, we show that the pZVB70 fragment can trans activate the HIV promoter in human T-cell lines as well as in the monkey kidney cell line CV-1. The pZVB70 insert was digested with various restriction enzymes, and individual fragments were transfected into cells to test for their ability to trans activate the HIV promoter. By this method, we have identified a 1.8-kb subfragment, B701, that is involved in trans activation. Sequence analyses show that B701 potentially encodes a 143-amino-acid protein. This protein shares no homology with other herpesvirus proteins, such as ICP0 and ICP4, that have been shown to trans activate the HIV promoter. However, it shows weak sequence homology with the gene products encoded by the cytomegalovirus early US22 gene family, suggesting that the putative B701 protein may be an HHV-6 early regulatory protein. The 143-amino-acid coding sequence of B701 was cloned by polymerase chain reaction, and transfection of this construct into cells activated HIV promoter expression. The target site on the HIV promoter for the putative B701 protein is mapped to the NF-kappa B binding site. Our results suggest that the putative B701 protein may function by directly binding to the NF-kappa B site or may involve cellular factors, such as NF-kappa B, either directly or indirectly.

Amino Acid Sequence↗