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Biomedical subjects

D Powers

Publications and source records attributed to D Powers.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Ticrynafen-induced acute renal failure.

Two cases of acute renal failure associated with ticrynafen administration are reported. Both patients had received hydrochlorothiazide prior to the institution of ticrynafen therapy and were mildly hyperuricemic. Flank pain, oliguria, and azotemia developed after the institution of ticrynafen in both cases. Clinical and laboratory features were consistent with acute uric acid nephropathy in both patients. In addition, a newly formed collection of radiolucent material was found by intravenous urography in the renal pelvis of one of the patients. Both patients were treated with intravenous fluids and sodium bicarbonate. One of the patients received allopurinol as well. Complete recovery of renal function was observed in both patients. Ticrynafen-induced hyperuricosuria in these previously volume-depleted and hyperuricemic subjects is felt to have been responsible for intrarenal and extrarenal deposition of uric acid in our patients.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Pulmonary tissue concentrations of ethchlorvynol after intravenous injection.

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema has been reported to follow the intravenous use of ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) in both human clinical and animal experimental situations. In a further attempt to define ethchlorvynol-pulmonary tissue inter-relations, we measured ethchlorvynol concentrations in venous and arterial blood and lung and liver tissue of dogs after intravenous injection of 15 to 25 mg of the drug per kg of body weight. In 10 dogs, the mean +/- SEM lung concentrations 1, 3, and 5 min after injection were 70 +/- 20, 50 +/- 13, and 24 +/- 9 mug per g of tissue, respectively. Simultaneous mean +/- SEM venous contrations were 75 +/- 40, 29+/-5, and 22 +/- 5 mug per ml of blood, respectively. During minutes 1 and 3, the liver concentrations were lower than those found in the lung. In an additional 3 dogs, injection of ethchlorvynol into the portal vein led to higher concentrations (at all sample times) in the liver when compared to the lung. In vitro lung slice studies using ethchlorvynol labeled with iodine-131 revealed no active energy-dependent uptake. Intravenously administered ethchlorvynol rapidly fluxes into and out of lung tissue, apparently following the laws of diffusion.

Animals↗

Importance of microscopic vascular invasion in primary cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Invasion into blood vessels by malignant melanoma at the primary cutaneous site is a superior discriminant for an adverse prognosis. However, until the question of relative prognostic values is resolved conclusively, surgical pathologists should document the collection of histopathologic observations recommended by McGovern and co-conferees.

Blood Vessels↗

Molecular phylogenetic position of hexactinellid sponges in relation to the Protista and Demospongiae.

Although it is generally accepted that the first multicellular organisms arose from unicellular ancestors, the phylogenetic relationships linking these groups remain unclear. Anatomical, physiological, and molecular studies of current multicellular organisms with relatively simple body organization suggest key characteristics of the earliest multicellular lineages. Glass sponges, the Hexactinellida, possess cellular characteristics that resemble some unicellular protistan organisms. These unique sponges were abundant in shallow seas of the early Cambrian, but they are currently restricted to polar habitats or very deep regions of the world oceans. Due in part to their relative inaccessibility, their potential significance to the early phylogeny of the eukaryotic kingdoms has been largely overlooked. We used sequences of the 18s ribosomal RNA gene of Farrea occa, a representative of the deep-water hexactinellid sponges, and Coelocarteria singaporense, a representative of the more common demosponges, and compared them with selected ribosomal RNA gene sequences available within the Protista. Using four computational methods for phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal DNA sequences, we found that the hexactinellid sponge-demosponge cluster is most closely related to Volvox and Acanthamoeba.

Animals↗

Importance of psychological variables in understanding risk perceptions and breast cancer screening of African American women.

African American women are less likely than white women to receive and perform adequate breast screening, and represent a group that has not been thoroughly researched in the area of breast cancer risk. In general, perceptions of risk and worry about cancer are both related to obtaining mammography and possibly other screening activities. We examine African American women's worry and beliefs about breast cancer, and their intentions to perform breast and genetic screening behaviors, using the self-regulatory model. Participants were recruited via media announcements; they completed questionnaires addressing several aspects of the self-regulatory model. Forty-one percent of participants were underestimators, 23% were overestimators, and 37% were extreme overestimators of their own personal risk for breast cancer. Several variables were significant predictors of willingness to undergo mammography and genetic screening, including ethnic identity, attitudes toward the physician, emotional distress, and risk overestimation. These data highlight the importance of psychological variables in understanding screening in African American women and hold promise for intervention design.

Adult↗