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Biomedical subjects

D Everett

Publications and source records attributed to D Everett.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The Detection of Multimodal Oscillations on alpha Ursae Majoris.

We have used the star camera on the Wide-Field Infrared Explorer satellite to observe the K0 III star alpha UMa, and we report the apparent detection of 10 oscillation modes. The lowest frequency mode is at 1.82 µHz, and it appears to be the fundamental mode. The mean spacing between the mode frequencies is 2.94 µHz, which implies that all detected modes are radial. The mode frequencies are consistent with the physical parameters of a K0 III star, if we assume that only radial modes are excited. Mode amplitudes are 100-400 µmag, which is consistent with the scaling relation of Kjeldsen & Bedding.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Prospects for reducing and refining the use of dogs in the regulatory toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals.

A workshop was held to critically discuss the need for a nonrodent species and the role of the dog in regulatory toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals; to discuss opportunities to reduce and refine the use of dogs in preclinical toxicology; and to identify a number of specific recommendations which could be feasibly achieved to move the process forward. To facilitate a preliminary evaluation of the contribution of dog studies to the risk assessment process, anonymised, unpublished data were provided from fully evaluated, repeat-dose toxicity studies in the rat and dog. Results of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Human Toxicity Project were also presented and discussed. Analysis of the data demonstrated that the dog can provide additional toxicity information, which, in some cases, was shown to be predictive for humans. Discussions indicated that there is potential for achieving a reduction in dog use and several possible approaches were identified. To further the progress of this initiative, there is a need to collate the results of pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical studies to address some of the proposed approaches. One of the outcomes of the workshop will be the establishment of a steering group to co-ordinate data collation for further analysis.

Animal Testing Alternatives↗
PubMed1999

Forget me not: the spiritual care of people with Alzheimer's Disease.

This article observes that many clergy do not seem to understand the importance of ministry to persons with dementia. New understandings about the relationship between dementia and spirituality are presented and theological foundations explored. The article ends with a discussion of pastoral strategies that are important in this ministry.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

An investigation of the hospital charges related to the treatment of endophthalmitis in the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to assess the hospital charges associated with the treatment of endophthalmitis using a sample of patients from the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS). METHODS: The Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study was a multicenter, randomized clinical trial with a two-by-two factorial design to compare immediate pars plana vitrectomy to tap-biopsy and to compare the use of systemic antibiotics (intravenous) to no intravenous antibiotics in the management of postoperative endophthalmitis. Hospital charge data were collected retrospectively from 129 patients from the 4 clinical centers participating in this ancillary study. This represents 31% of the total Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study population. An analysis of variance was used to compare hospital charges across center and treatment. A charge-effectiveness analysis compared measures the effectiveness across treatment groups. The annual savings of hospital charges in the United States was estimated for a range of annual incidence rates of endophthalmitis. RESULTS: The use of intravenous antibiotics significantly increased hospital charges. Patients undergoing vitrectomy had significantly higher hospital charges than did patients undergoing tap-biopsy. The most charge-effective treatment for patients presenting with light perception only vision was immediate vitrectomy, whereas the most charge-effective treatment for patients presenting with better vision was tap-biopsy. Factors other than treatment independently associated with hospital charges were female sex, history of diabetes, symptom of red eye, and baseline vision of light perception only. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming the results of the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study were used as a guide for the treatment of endophthalmitis, the estimated annual nationwide reduction of hospital charges would be between $7.6 million and $40.0 million.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of SUZI and ICSI for severe male factor.

We compare the results of subzonal insemination (SUZI) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) carried out between February 1993 and end of August 1994. A total of 232 couples underwent 302 cycles of micro-assisted fertilization (79 patients had SUZI for a total of 93 cycles, 153 patients ICSI for a total of 209 cycles). The indications for treatment were obstructive azoospermia in 35 cycles, ejaculatory failure with severely low sperm count in 7 cycles, and failure of fertilization in a previous IVF cycle or less than 10% of oocytes fertilized in 87 cycles. In 173 cycles the indication for treatment was a poor semen parameter. Patients undergoing ICSI had significantly higher fertilization rates [43 (728/1692) versus 22.3% (151/ 676), chi 2 = 86.308, P < 0.0001], better chances of embryo transfer [95 (199/209) versus 73% (68/93), chi 2 = 30.671, P < 0.001], and greater numbers of embryos transferred (2.4 +/- 0.9 versus 1.6 +/- 1.2 F = 42, P < 0.0001) than patients who had SUZI. Eighteen patients became pregnant following the SUZI procedure, a pregnancy rate of 19% per egg collection, compared with 28% for those who underwent the ICSI procedure, where 58 out of 209 became pregnant. The pregnancy rate was similar in those who underwent embryo transfer, whether they had ICSI or SUZI (29.2 and 28.6% respectively). Overall, the pregnancy rate doubled with each number of embryos transferred, so it was 8.9% when one embryo was transferred, which increased to 18.3% when two embryos were transferred, and this rose to 37.7% when three embryos were transferred. There was no significant difference in the pregnancy wastage rate between SUZI and ICSI. None of the offspring from either SUZI or ICSI showed any evidence of fetal abnormalities. Pregnancy rate was negatively correlated, with sperm progression being 36% (36/100) if progression was < 2 and 19.8% (40/202) if it was > or = 2 (chi 2 = 8.99, P < .002). ICSI therefore provides a higher number of embryos available for transfer and should be the primary treatment for severe male factor infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Platelet tritiated imipramine binding and serotonin uptake in depressed patients and controls. Relationship to plasma cortisol levels before and after dexamethasone administration.

We measured platelet tritiated imipramine binding and serotonin uptake in 51 depressed patients and 43 normal controls. Although there were no significant differences in platelet 3H-imipramine binding or serotonin uptake when the total group of depressed patients was compared with controls, depressed women (n = 32) had a significantly lower maximal density of 3H-imipramine binding sites (beta max) than control women (n = 25). Moreover, among the total group of depressed patients, there were significant negative correlations between the beta max values and plasma cortisol levels at 4 PM (n = 41) and 11 PM (n = 41) following dexamethasone administration. These negative correlations between beta max and cortisol levels were strongest among melancholic patients both at 4 PM before dexamethasone administration (n = 14) and at 11 PM after dexamethasone administration (n = 15). These data suggest that the reported decrease in beta max found among depressed patients may be related to and is perhaps secondary to the hypercortisolemia of depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Neuroleptic-induced decrease in plasma homovanillic acid and antipsychotic activity in schizophrenic patients.

Plasma-free homovanillic acid, a major metabolite of dopamine, was measured in chronically ill schizophrenic patients both before and during treatment with the antipsychotic phenothiazine, fluphenazine. Neuroleptic treatment was associated with a significant time-dependent decrease in plasma homovanillic acid from pretreatment values, which were significantly elevated when compared with those of age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Further, both the absolute concentrations as well as the neuroleptic-induced reductions in plasma homovanillic acid determined over 5 weeks of neuroleptic treatment were statistically significantly correlated with ratings of psychosis and improvement in psychosis, respectively. These findings suggest that the delayed effects of neuroleptic agents on presynaptic dopamine activity may more closely parallel their therapeutic actions than do their immediate effects in blocking postsynaptic dopamine receptors and that a decrease in dopamine "turnover" may be responsible for their antipsychotic effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Catecholamines and the kinetics of lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes. Statistical analysis and handling of day-to-day variability in dose-response curves: a general procedure for assessing and manipulating dose-response data.

(1) As a first step in studying the kinetics of the lipolytic system of rat adipocytes, the day-to-day variation between dose-response curves has been analysed. (2) Methods are described for the evaluation of large quantities of data relating noradrenaline to lipolysis. (3) A 'clustering' technique is presented which can be used both to estimate and minimise differences between curves along the response axis. Criteria are outlined to determine whether clustering is appropriate. (4) Our findings indicate that the basic form of the relationship between lipolysis and noradrenaline concentration is relatively stable and consequently that the data can be utilized to study the relationship in greater detail. (5) The techniques described should be applicable to all hormone-mediated responses and may therefore provide the first step towards a meaningful analysis of the relationship between hormone concentrations and response in many systems.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1982

Analysis of apparent co-operativity in the catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis of rat adipose tissue.

(1) The methods available for assessment of the regulatory features of dose-response relationships that do not conform to the Hill equation are considered, and the sensitisation index Si introduced (2) The value of determining Si is assessed using lipolytic dose-response relationships yielded by beta-adrenergic agonists both alone and in the presence of their specific antagonists [D. M. F. Cooper and J. I Davies, Biochem. Pharmac. 31, 721 (1982)]. (3) It is shown that where the Hill equation is fitted to relationships between L-noradrenaline concentration and lipolysis, the high value obtained for the Hill coefficient (1.69) is artefactual (4) By fitting a rational quadratic model and evaluating Si, a solution is obtained (Si(max), 1.02) which is free of this artefact. (5) The relationship between the results obtained by analysis of dose-response curves and direct binding of catecholamine analogues to membrane receptors is discussed.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1976

Candida precipitins as a diagnostic aid in Candida endocarditis.

We report a case of aortic valve homograft endocarditis secondary to preoperative contamination of the homograft. Candida precipitins, determined by double immunodiffusion, were an invaluable aid in diagnosis in the presence of negative venous blood cultures.

Adult↗