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Biomedical subjects

D Palmer

Publications and source records attributed to D Palmer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Formation of a cryogel during processing of cell-free plasma.

Automated plasmapheresis devices are being integrated into many modern plasma procurement programs. Owing to the use of a different concentration and type of anticoagulant, the recovered plasma differs in pH and citrate levels from that obtained by manual plasmapheresis or whole blood donation. Recently, fractionators noted the recovery of a sticky, gelatinous fraction (cryogel) during thawing of cell-free (CF) plasma, along with reduced recovery of factor VIII:C (FVIII:C) in the cryoprecipitate fraction. Following their manufacturing procedures, it was established that the cryogel fraction of CF plasma is enriched in FVIII:C, fibrinogen, and fibronectin, as compared to cryoprecipitate from CPDA-1 plasma. Cryogel formation was not significantly affected by pH or citrate adjustment of the recovered plasma, by the use of polycarbonate or nylon filter membranes, or by the filter wetting agent polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Furthermore, passage of CPDA-1 plasma through the polycarbonate filter did not alter cryoprecipitate quality. However, cryogel formation from CF plasma was reduced significantly by 1) slow thawing at 4 degrees C rather than quick thawing at 20 and 0 or 20 and 4 degrees C, 2) the use of 1:16.6 sodium citrate rather than 1:12.5 ACD-A, or 3) the addition of intact platelets, platelet lysate, membranes, or cytosol to CF plasma before freezing. The data suggest an important and, indeed, essential role of platelet constituents in the formation of both cryoprecipitate and cryogel during the low-temperature purification of plasma proteins.

Blood Platelets↗

In vitro activity of florphenicol.

Florphenicol was active at a lower concentration than chloramphenicol against over half of 234 recent clinical bacterial isolates. The majority (98%) of the isolates were inhibited by florphenicol at a concentration of 8 mg/l or less. Florphenicol was particularly effective against chloramphenicol resistant strains of Haemophilus influenzae. Klebsiella aerogenes and Bacteroides spp. Florphenicol was bacteristatic for salmonellae and Escherichia coli but bactericidal for Haemophilus influenzae. Florphenicol was slightly more active than chloramphenicol against Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae but less active against Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Chloramphenicol↗

Effect of lumbar puncture on flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

The rate at which isotopes descend from the cisterna magna to the lumbar subarachnoid space is highly variable. In monkeys, with and without previous lumbar puncture, transit time was measured. In animals with a previous lumbar puncture, transit times were 10 to 120 minutes; in monkeys without a previous lumbar puncture, transit times were 120 to 180 minutes. In experimental studies of cerebrospinal fluid circulation, the effect of lumbar puncture must be controlled.

Animals↗

Effect of perioperative myocardial infarction on survival of postcardiotomy patients supported with ventricular-assist devices.

Ventricular-assist devices (VAD) have increased survival in patients with postcardiotomy shock, but the predictors of success need to be elucidated. We evaluated 45 patients treated with centrifugal (n = 18) or pulsatile (n = 27) VAD for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock to determine the effect of perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) on survival. The patients ranged in age from 15 to 72 years (mean age, 55.1 years). VAD support was left ventricular in 29, right ventricular in seven, and biventricular in nine, and the flow-rate range was 1.6-5.2 l/min (mean rate, 3.97 l/min) for 0.2-22 days (mean time, 4.1 days). PMI was determined by analysis of postoperative electrocardiogram (EKG), enzyme levels, or at necropsy. PMI was considered "possible" if there were either EKG or enzyme level changes, and "definite" if there were EKG and enzyme level changes or necropsy evidence. Of the 45 patients, 19 were successfully weaned from ventricular assistance; 12 were discharged (Group 1), and seven died (Group 2); the remaining 26 patients could not be weaned from VAD support (Group 3). In Group 1, one patient had a definite PMI, and three had a possible PMI. Among the 33 nonsurvivors (Groups 2 and 3), 24 patients had PMI by necropsy examination. Definite PMI was much more common in nonsurvivors (72.7%) than in survivors (8.3%) (p less than 0.05). However, Group 2 nonsurvivors were weaned despite PMI in 100% of cases. These data suggest that, although PMI is a strong negative determinant of survival in postcardiotomy patients, it cannot be considered a contraindication because it does not preclude myocardial recovery.

Adolescent↗

An evaluation of planned early postnatal transfer home with nursing support.

A community-based programme of planned early postnatal transfer home with the continuity of hospital nursing care was instituted in a defined geographic area of the western suburbs of Sydney in 1983. Mothers were offered the option of discharge in 24-48 hours after delivery, with home visits by a hospital midwife, subject to certain medical and social criteria. An evaluation of the programme in terms of morbidity, psychosocial impact on the family and costs was undertaken. For evaluation, a quasi-experimental study of parallel groups was designed in preference to randomized selection as it was believed that the personal choice would be fundamental to the success of the scheme. A contemporary control group was achieved with volunteer mothers who opted for the traditional five- to seven-day hospital stay. Studies of maternal response and the partner's response and adjustment were undertaken, including the administration of questionnaires that were designed to detect the presence of mild postnatal depression. No increased morbidity occurred in the early discharge group. The early discharge group performed more favourably on the questionnaire that was designed to measure their postpartum adjustment. Continued postnatal domiciliary surveillance reduces the risk that early neonatal pathological changes, especially jaundice, may be overlooked.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Radiation therapy for Graves' ophthalmopathy: a retrospective analysis.

A retrospective analysis of 29 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy treated from 1973-1986 was undertaken to evaluate the use of radiation therapy (RT). Most patients presented with advanced disease; 20 had been treated with steroids and 8 had undergone prior surgery with orbital decompression. Post-RT evaluation was performed by the patients' Radiation Oncologist, Ophthalmologist, and Endocrinologist with a median follow-up period of 45 months. The overall assessment of the patients' disease was judged as improved with respect to the majority of signs and symptoms in 48%. Soft tissue changes were relieved in 78% and proptosis reduced in 52%. Ophthalmoplegia responded poorly and was improved in only 24%. After RT, 26/29 (90%) of patients have had no further steroid requirements. Thirteen patients underwent surgery for residual signs/symptoms post radiation therapy, indicating that combined modality may be necessary in many patients with advanced disease.

Adult↗

Chronic osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus: controlled clinical trial of nafcillin therapy and nafcillin-rifampin therapy.

A controlled trial of treatment of chronic osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus compared nafcillin alone with nafcillin plus rifampin for a six-week period. Treatment was well tolerated, the only adverse effect being mild neutropenia in four of 18 patients; no toxicity was observed from rifampin. Eight of ten patients in the combined treatment group had a favorable clinical response (with follow-up of two to four years) as compared to four of eight in the nafcillin group (P = .2). Despite the failure to show a statistically significant advantage of rifampin plus nafcillin, we conclude that the combination, along with appropriate surgery, should be considered for patients with chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis.

Administration, Oral↗

Spread and distribution of viral antigen in nervous canine distemper.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) antigen was demonstrated immunocytochemically in the central nervous system (CNS) of 19 dogs killed from 16 to 170 days after infection. In the earliest lesions, infection of glial cells preceded demyelination, and the degree of myelin destruction correlated with the amount of viral antigen in the tissue. It was concluded that initial demyelination in distemper is directly viral-induced, but the nature of the infected glial cells remains uncertain. Ependymal infection and spread of virus in the subependymal white matter was often seen, suggesting invasion of CDV into the CNS along the CSF pathways. Inflammation during the latter stages of the infection appeared to be associated with viral clearance from the CNS in most dogs. In two dogs with chronic progressive neurologic distemper, viral antigen was still present in the brain suggesting that viral persistence and associated immunologic reactions may contribute to further myelin damage. With the exception of one dog that survived for 6 months after infection, viral antigen was no longer detected in the dogs that had recovered.

Animals↗

Canine distemper virus does not infect oligodendrocytes in vitro.

Dissociated canine brain cell cultures were infected with virulent canine distemper virus (CDV). Double immunofluorescent labelling was done to simultaneously demonstrate viral antigen and specific glial cell markers. Virus containing oligodendrocytes were not found at any stage of the infection. A certain proportion of the infected cells were shown to be astrocytes. It was concluded that CDV has no obvious tropism for oligodendrocytes which could explain the mechanism of demyelination in distemper in vivo.

Animals↗

Distribution of alpha interferon in serum and cerebrospinal fluid after systemic administration.

After intravenous infusion of recombinant leukocyte interferon (rIFN-alpha A) to four subjects with an indwelling reservoir, serial serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples were taken over 48 hr and were analyzed for interferon by an enzyme immunoassay method (ELISA). On separate occasions, 18 and 50 X 10(6) of rIFN-alpha A were infused over 10 min. Maximum serum concentrations of rIFN-alpha A ranged from 6720 to 11,000 pg/ml and from 32,900 to 43,400 pg/ml after the 18 and 50 X 10(6) U doses. There was no measurable concentration of rIFN-alpha A in the cerebrospinal fluid of subjects who received 18 X 10(6) U doses. In three of four subjects who received 50 X 10(6) U rIFN-alpha A, concentrations ranged from 17 to 70 pg/ml that were measurable no earlier than 1 hr after the start of the infusion and that in two cases were measurable throughout 24 hr.

Animals↗

Immunoperoxidase study of adenovirus pneumonia in dogs.

The pathology of adenovirus pneumonia in 16 dogs is described. Clinically, these dogs had been severely ill, with severe dyspnoea and listlessness, but only faint coughing. Histopathological lesions could be associated directly with the presence of adenovirus antigens in the lungs of these dogs by using an unlabelled immunoperoxidase technique on paraffin tissue sections. The lesions were focal and located in alveoli and bronchioles. Infected cells were mostly alveolar macrophages and less frequently type 1 and 2 pneumocytes and bronchiolar epithelial cells. Infiltrating neutrophils and lymphocytes were not observed to be infected. This type of pneumonia appears to be a fairly well defined clinical and pathological entity in kennel dogs.

Adenoviridae Infections↗