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Biomedical subjects

D Caldwell

Publications and source records attributed to D Caldwell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Treatment of junctional epidermolysis bullosa with epidermal autografts.

We have successfully treated chronic facial erosions in three boys with junctional epidermolysis bullosa. In each patient, keratinocytes were harvested from the roof of suction blisters created on clinically uninvolved skin. They were grown in tissue culture on collagen sponges and grafted onto facial erosions that were previously treated with 2% mupirocin ointment. This experimental antibiotic ointment has proved efficacy in eradicating cutaneous pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus from chronic wounds. In two patients, complete reepithelialization was achieved over 7 and 10 months, respectively, and partial reepithelialization occurred in another patient in whom treatment is ongoing. Epidermal autografts are a promising means for improving function and appearance in eroded skin caused by junctional epidermolysis bullosa.

Adolescent↗

Abnormalities of plasma and erythrocyte essential fatty acid composition in epidermolysis bullosa: influence of treatment with diphenylhydantoin.

The fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids was determined in children with various subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and in their parents. Patients with recessive dystrophic, dominant dystrophic, simplex, or junctional forms of EB had a higher percentage composition of arachidonic acid in plasma and/or erythrocyte phospholipids compared to age-matched controls. Epidermolysis bullosa patients treated with diphenylhydantoin had lower levels of arachidonic acid in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids than did untreated EB patients. Parents of children with the recessive dystrophic or junctional EB subtypes had higher linoleic and arachidonic acids in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids than did controls. Plasma and erythrocyte total lipids were within the normal range in children with EB. Plasma zinc was also normal but plasma copper was elevated in children with recessive dystrophic EB. We conclude that higher arachidonic acid in plasma and erythrocytes may be related to the pathology of EB.

Adult↗

Interstitial deletion and ring chromosome derived from 16q.

An interstitial deletion of 16q was identified in an infant with failure to thrive, dysmorphic facies, and congenital heart defects. The mother of this infant had a similar deletion of 16q with ring formation of a fragment presumed to be derived from the deleted portion of 16q. We discuss these cases and compare them to other reports of 16q deletions.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Grafting of skin ulcers with cultured autologous epidermal cells.

We treated five adult individuals with six full-thickness chronic ulcerations in the skin caused by venous insufficiency, sickle cell anemia, or surgical wounds. Each patient received applications to the ulcerations of sheets of autologous epidermal cells grown in culture. All patients experienced relief of pain after grafting. Four of the six ulcers healed completely in 21 to 35 days, and three of the four remained healed for up to 2 years. One ulceration recurred within 2 months. Our experience suggests that cultured autologous epidermal grafts can provide continuous covering, relief from pain, and rapid healing of chronic debilitating ulcerations of the skin.

Adult↗

Phenol cauterization for ingrown toenails.

A new clinic was set up to deal with all toenail problems referred to a large general hospital. Ingrowing toenails were the commonest problem dealt with and phenol cauterization, either partial or complete, was the standard form of treatment. Over a 2-year period 1013 phenol cauterizations were carried out on 631 patients. After a minimum of 12 months follow-up, the recurrence rate was 2.96%. All recurrences were successfully treated by repeat phenol cauterization. We conclude that phenol cauterization should replace surgical ablation in the treatment of ingrown toenails.

Adolescent↗

Local environment of chronic wounds under synthetic dressings.

Local wound environment under oxygen-permeable and oxygen-nonpermeable dressings in patients with chronic ulcers was investigated. The oxygen tensions under both these dressings were very low or zero. Wound fluid was more acidic under the nonpermeable hydrocolloid dressing than under the oxygen-permeable polyurethane dressing. Bacterial growth studied in vitro was retarded at the more acidic pH similar to that found under the hydrocolloid dressing. Viable and functioning neutrophils were found under both the polyurethane and hydrocolloid dressings, with a greater percentage of viable cells under the polyurethane film. Our data suggest that these synthetic dressings create hypoxic conditions in which wound healing occurs whether or not the dressing is permeable to oxygen. Furthermore the local wound environment can be modified by use of synthetic dressings.

Aged↗

Effect of dietary sodium chloride, protein, and strain difference upon water consumption and fecal moisture content of broiler breeder males.

Water consumption of birds and moisture content and water-holding capacity of feces were determined for caged immature broiler breeder males of Strains A and B. Both strains were fed a commercial type corn-soy diet containing 16% protein and .35% sodium chloride. The breeder males of Strain A were also fed different levels of dietary proteins (12, 14, 16, and 18%) for 3 weeks and sodium chloride (0, .17, .35, and .70%) for 3 weeks to evaluate the effect on the criteria listed. A commercial type feeding and water restriction program was used. Strain A males consumed more water and had a significantly greater moisture content and a significantly reduced moisture-holding capacity of feces than did Strain B males when fed the same diet. The dietary levels of salt used had no effect on water consumption (off feed day), fecal moisture, or water holding capacity of the feces in strain A males. Water consumption on feed day significantly increased as dietary salt increased. Although decreasing dietary protein below 16% had no influence on water consumption, it did significantly decrease fecal moisture and increase the water-holding capacity of feces. It was concluded that strain differences in water consumption exist and that the large quantity of water consumed and high fecal moisture content of Strain A males was not related to dietary salt or protein.

Animals↗

Laminaria use in midtrimester abortions induced by intra-amniotic prostaglandin F2alpha with urea and intravenous oxytocin.

A laminaria tent was used as an adjunct during midtrimester abortion to attempt to shorten the injection-abortion interval without adversely affecting the frequency of infection, hemorrhage, failed abortion, or cervical laceration. Eighty patients, between 14 and 20 weeks' gestation and desiring pregnancy termination, were randomized into three groups. Abortion was initiated by an intra-amniotic infusion of 20 mg of prostaglandin F2alpha and 80 gm of hyperosmolar urea in Ringer's lactate (135 ml total volume), followed by oxytocin infused intravenously at 333 mU/min. Group I (N = 28) received no additional therapy; Group II (N = 23) had laminaria placed at the time of the abortifacient injection and removed 4 hours later; Group III (N = 29) had laminaria placed 4 hours prior to inejction and removed at the time of injection. The injection-abortion intervals in these three groups were 17.76, 20.80, and 12.96 hours, respectively. This study illustrates that a laminaria tent palced 4 hours prior to injection is significantly more effective than a laminaria tent placed at the time of injection, and produces a shorter mean injection-abortion interval than that in patients receiving no laminaria. Furthermore, laminaria augmentation results in no demonstrable increase in the frequency of serious complications.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Density matrix method for orbital localization.

A method is presented for localizing molecular orbitals, based on diagonalizing subunits of the density matrix. First, nonbonding orbitals are found by diagonalizing the monatomic subunits; then, diatomic sigma or pi bonding and antibonding orbitals are obtained from the diatomic subunits for all bonded pairs of atoms; finally, the delocalized pi-orbitals for particular chromophores are found by projecting the first set out of the self-consistent field (SCF) Hamiltonian. The results show good general agreement with other localization methods, with advantages in the ability to display group orbitals in complex molecules which most closely resemble the SCF orbitals for simple prototypes.

Journal Article↗

A heat-stable blocking factor in the plasma of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

The possible role of a defective cell-mediated immune response in the pathogenesis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis remains unclear. Cell-mediated immunity has been investigated in nine patients with this disorder. In eight patients, a heat-stable blocking factor in the plasma inhibited normal lymphocyte transformation to phytohemagglutinin and mixed lymphocyte cultures. The degree of blocking increased as the disease progressed. The nature of the blocking factor is unknown and is currently under investigation. A heat-stable blocking factor has not been described previously in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, althouth a heat-labile blocking factor has been reported in a total of five patients.

Adolescent↗

Vestibular dysfunction in emotionally disturbed children.

Twenty-five emotionally disturbed children were tested on the Lafayette Clinic Cognitive Perceptual Motor (CPM) battery. The children were next examined for vestibular function by measuring ocular nystagmus for three different rotation rates. Under conditions of eye closure, children found to have two or more marked CPM deficits demonstrated a significantly reduced amplitude of postrotatory nystagmus as compared to CPM nondeficit children, and for the slowest rate of rotation (30 degrees/sec), a significantly decreased duration of nystagmus.

Affective Symptoms↗