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Biomedical subjects

D Bennett

Publications and source records attributed to D Bennett.

411 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

Evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of EMLA cream in volunteers with differing skin pigmentation undergoing venipuncture.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lidocaine/prilocaine cream (EMLA) applied to intact skin for 60 minutes has been shown to reduce venipuncture pain. Recent studies have suggested that lidocaine/prilocaine cream is less effective on heavily pigmented skin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the topical anesthetic efficacy of lidocaine/prilocaine cream in volunteers with varying skin pigmentation types. METHODS: Sixty volunteers were enrolled into each of three groups based on skin pigmentation history. Subjects were randomized to receive lidocaine/prilocaine cream onto the antecubital fossa of one arm and placebo cream on the comparable location of the other arm for either 60, 90, or 120 minutes prior to venipuncture. Assessments of perceived pain associated with each venipuncture were made by the subject using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: Lidocaine/prilocaine cream applied for 60 minutes significantly (P < .0001) reduced the pain of venipuncture compared to placebo regardless of the skin pigmentation type. Pain reduction did not differ significantly across skin types (P = .7986). Additional exposure up to 120 minutes did not change the efficacy of EMLA cream. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine/prilocaine cream is a safe and effective topical anesthetic for reducing pain associated with venipuncture in individuals, regardless of skin pigmentation.

Administration, Topical↗

Deletion analysis of male sterility effects of t-haplotypes in the mouse.

We present data on the effects of three chromosome 17 deletions on transmission ratio distortion (TRD) and sterility of several t-haplotypes. All three deletions have similar effects on male TRD: that is, Tdel/tcomplete genotypes all transmit their t-haplotype in very high proportion. However, each deletion has different effects on sterility of heterozygous males, with TOr/t being fertile, Thp/t less fertile, and TOrl/t still less fertile. These data suggest that wild-type genes on chromosomes homologous to t-haplotypes can be important regulators of both TRD and fertility in males, and that the wild-type genes concerned with TRD and fertility are at least to some extent different. The data also provide a rough map of the positions of these genes.

Animals↗

Inhibition and inactivation of murine hepatic ethoxy- and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase by naturally occurring coumarins.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of a series of natural coumarins on ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (EROD) and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (PROD) activities in vitro using hepatic tissues from SENCAR mice. Fifteen different coumarins were examined for potential modulating activities. Several naturally occurring coumarins, found in the human diet, were effective inhibitors of hepatic EROD activity in vitro, including coriandrin, bergamottin, isoimperatorin, and ostruthin. Notably, coriandrin and bergamottin were approximately as potent as 7,8-benzoflavone, a relatively selective inhibitor of cytochrome P450 1A1. Several naturally occurring coumarins were also potent inhibitors of hepatic PROD activity, including imperatorin, bergamottin, isopimpinellin, and angelicin. Kinetic studies of the type of inhibition revealed that these compounds inhibited hepatic EROD and PROD activity by a variety of modes rather than by a uniform one. Furthermore, experiments using a two-stage incubation assay revealed that coriandrin, imperatorin, ostruthin, and several other natural coumarins inactivated hepatic EROD activity (i.e., predominantly cytochrome P450 1A1-mediated) and that isopimpinellin inactivated hepatic PROD activity (i.e., predominantly cytochrome P450 2B1-mediated). Finally, the results indicate that some coumarins had selective inhibitory effects for EROD vs PROD and preliminary analyses suggested a possible structural basis for the observed differences. The current data suggest that certain naturally occurring coumarins, to which humans are exposed in the diet, are potent modulators of cytochrome P450. Furthermore, these compounds may be capable of influencing the metabolic activation of other xenobiotics, including chemical carcinogens.

Animals↗

Inversion in the H-2 complex of t-haplotypes in mice.

Mouse t-haplotypes demonstrate strong linkage disequilibrium between t-lethal genes and specific H-2 types, presumably a result of recombination suppression between t and normal chromosomes. The observation of free recombination occurring between two complementary t-haplotypes suggested a chromosomal mismatch between t and normal chromosomes. Recent data showing the H-2 complex to be misplaced relative to two other markers, T and tf, in t-haplotypes suggested that chromosomal rearrangement in t-haplotypes might be the basis for their 'mismatch' with the normal chromosome. Here, to analyse the molecular nature of the rearrangement, we have cloned a polymorphic H-2 class I restriction fragment, which had previously been shown to map centromeric to the serologically defined H-2 complex in t-haplotypes. Genetic mapping studies show that this cloned t-DNA is homologous to the H-2 D region of wild-type chromosomes, and that the E alpha Ia gene maps telomeric to this DNA fragment in t-haplotypes, in contrast to its orientation in wild-type chromosomes. These results give molecular evidence for an inversion of H-2 in t-haplotypes, which may be at least partially responsible for recombination suppression and thus for linkage disequilibrium.

Animals↗

Transmission distortion of t-haplotypes is due to interactions between meiotic partners.

The T/t-complex of the mouse includes a series of recessive lethal and semi-lethal mutations but, despite such lethalities, mutant t-haplotypes are found in high frequency in wild mouse populations. This polymorphism is apparently maintained because heterozygous males preferentially transmit the t-bearing chromosome to their offspring. Despite many attempts to define the basis of the transmission ratio distortion, it has been unclear whether this is because t-bearing sperm have better than average fertilizing ability or whether +-bearing sperm in heterozygous males are rendered defective. To examine this point, we constructed male (XY in equilibrium XY) chimaeras containing +/+ and +/tw73 genotypes, marked respectively by albino and pigmented coat colours, and two isozyme variants. Such males produce a mixture of three different sperm types: +-bearing sperm from the +/+ genotype, +-bearing sperm from the +/t genotype, and t-bearing sperm from the +/t genotype. Appropriate matings can distinguish between these three types, and our data, reported here, show that t-bearing sperm in chimaeric mice maintain their advantage over their 'meiotic partners' but do not have any advantage over sperm from the +/+ genotype.

Alleles↗

Organochlorine pesticide concentrations in perinatal samples from mothers and babies.

Samples were obtained from Dutch mothers and their babies throughout the perinatal period and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection for a range of organochlorine pesticides. Organochlorine concentrations in the blood of breast or bottle-fed babies were not significantly different. Differences in organochlorine concentrations in blood between mothers who had "slimmed" and those who had not were small, but it must be noted that there were few slimming mothers in our sample. Twelve to 21% and 36-61% of the estimated daily intake of dieldrin and DDT, respectively, by mothers may be eliminated by lactation. The placenta restricts the transmission of organochlorine pesticides to the fetus to some extent. The very low concentrations of organochlorine in fetal blood prevented a study of the comparative metabolism in mothers and babies.

Body Weight↗

Wastewater dewatering polymer affect on biosolids odor emissions and microbial activity.

Odor emissions and microbial activity associated with biosolids dewatered using seven different polyacrylamide cationic polymers were investigated. Nitrogen, sulfur, ketone, and odor unit emissions, and biosolids microbial community metabolic profiles were measured for biosolids containing each polymer. Ammonia represented more than 98% of total nitrogen flux for all polymers, with small concentrations of trimethyl amine. Dimethyl disulfide and carbon disulfide fluxes summed represented 87 to 97% of the sulfur flux for all polymers, with lesser quantities of dimethyl sulfide. Maximum dimethyl disulfide, ammonia, and trimethyl amine concentrations were estimated to be 3.4, 3.2, and 13.5 times greater than published detection limits, respectively. Maximum dimethyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone concentrations were estimated to be 0.028, 0.007, 0.002, and 0.0006 times less than published detection limits, respectively. All treatments were found to volatilize equal odor unit emissions (with the exception of one polymer), and polymers were not found to dramatically affect odor emission from biosolids application. Metabolic fingerprints revealed differences in the ability of microbial communities from certain polymer treatments to degrade amino acids as a sole carbon substrate. In addition, odor unit emissions were significantly correlated with potential for amino acid decomposition.

Amino Acids↗

Acute sensorineural deafness in Lassa fever.

A prospective audiometric evaluation of 69 hospitalized febrile patients in Sierra Leone, West Africa, revealed a sensorineural hearing deficit (SNHD) in 14 (29%) of 49 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and in 0 of 20 febrile controls. An SNHD was present in nine (17.6%) of 51 people who had evidence of previous Lassa virus infection. Twenty-six of 32 local residents who had previously sustained a sudden deafness had antibody titers to Lassa virus of 16 or greater, compared with six of 32 matched controls. Lassa fever is associated with an incidence of SNHD, which considerably exceeds that previously reported with any other postnatally acquired infection, and accounts for a prevalence of virus-related hearing impairment in the eastern province of Sierra Leone that is greater than that reported from anywhere else in the world.

Acute Disease↗