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Biomedical subjects

E Farrell

Publications and source records attributed to E Farrell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Safety and role of repeated administrations of Indium-111-labeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody ZCE 025 in the postoperative follow-up of colorectal carcinoma patients.

The safety and clinical utility of repeated administrations of 111In-ZCE 025 were evaluated in 25 patients who have undergone colorectal carcinoma resection. Fifteen patients were clinically and radiologically free of recurrences and asymptomatic while 10 had rising CEA and/or symptoms. We repeatedly imaged the patients following intravenous administrations of 40 mg ZCE 025, every 4 to 6 mo. Side effects occurred in 16% of patients who received two or more infusions. Sixteen lesions were detected by immunoscintigraphy in 11 patients who were free of disease by CT scans or other imaging modalities. Ten recurrences were surgically confirmed in seven patients. Radiographic and clinical follow-up confirmed the remaining 6 Mab-positive lesions. Elevated human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) titers were detectable in the sera of 30% and 64% of patients following the 1st and 2nd Mab injection respectively, but did not interfere with successful immunoscintigraphy nor correlated with the occurrence of side effects. This study suggests that a negative Mab scan indicates that a patient will remain free of recurrence; conversely, a positive scan was associated with recurrences of disease.

Adult↗

A comparison of hormone therapy, coping skills training, and relaxation for the relief of premenstrual syndrome.

Approximately 10% of women are severely affected by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) during their reproductive years. Several biological theories of causation have been proposed and each has provoked treatment attempts through medication to little sustained effect. As many of the reported complaints are psychological, a new treatment approach was considered using cognitive-behavioral therapy. A preliminary study which combined cognitive-behavioral therapy with drug treatment produced considerable symptom reduction. The present study examined the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy alone in direct comparison with hormone treatment. Relaxation instructions were provided to a control group. Initial rapid responses to drug treatment and relaxation diminishes after 2 months, together with marked attrition in the control group. Significant positive benefits from cognitive-behavioral therapy were achieved after the first treatment month that continued throughout and were maintained at follow-up 3 months later. Implications for future management are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Lamellar body number density and the prediction of respiratory distress.

The determination of amniotic fluid lamellar body number density (LBND) has recently been shown to correlate well with other established indicators of fetal lung maturity. The authors have compared the LBND with a fetal lung phospholipid profile in predicting the clinical outcome in 52 well-documented cases. If a cutoff of 30,000/microL was used to indicate fetal lung maturity, there were no false-negative results for the LBND whereas there was one for the fetal lung profile. On the other hand, this cutoff resulted in 22 false-positive results for the LBND, whereas there were only 7 false-positive results by the fetal lung profile. The number of false-positive results by the LBND can be decreased by using a separate cutoff of less than 10,000/microL to indicate high risk for development of respiratory distress, while leaving the cutoff for predicting mature lung at 30,000/microL. This resulted in only four false-positive results for the LBND; each of these were from the same patients who also had false-positive results by the fetal lung profile. Care must be taken to ensure that the particle counter used is properly calibrated and that the appropriate cutoffs for both lung maturity and immaturity are used.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Prospective randomized multicenter comparison of in situ and reversed vein infrapopliteal bypasses.

We have performed a prospective, randomized, multicenter study to compare in situ and reversed vein grafts for long limb salvage bypasses from the proximal thigh to an infrapopliteal artery. Three hundred eighty-four patients required an infrapopliteal bypass for critical lower extremity ischemia. Of these, 259 were excluded because a short vein bypass was performed or because the vein was considered inadequate. The remaining 125 patients had a randomized vein bypass, 63 reversed, 62 in situ. The two groups were similar with regard to risk factors, indications, graft dimensions, and outflow. Secondary patency at 30 months was similar for both techniques: reversed 67% +/- 9% (+/- SE); in situ 69% +/- 8%. For veins less than or equal to 3.0 mm in minimum distended diameter 24-month patency rates were 61% +/- 22% for 12 in situ veins and 37% +/- 29% for 10 reversed veins (p greater than 0.05). Angiographic evaluation of failing grafts revealed lesions similar in type and frequency in both types of grafts. These included focal (in situ, n = 4; reversed, n = 7) and diffuse vein hyperplasia (in situ, n = 2; reversed, n = 1), and inflow and outflow stenoses (in situ, n = 4; reversed, n = 3). The incidence of wound complications and the mortality rate were similar for the two groups. These data show no significant difference in overall patency rates for the two types of vein grafts at 2 1/2 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Short vein grafts in limb-saving arterial reconstructions.

In the management of limb-threatening infrainguinal arteriosclerosis, the short vein graft is a feature of distal-origin bypass procedures from the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries to more distal arteries. These procedures, which can only be performed in selected patients, have patency rates equivalent to those of comparable bypasses from the common femoral artery. Other advantages include the increased availability of the shorter vein graft segment that is required. Two newer operations that use short vein grafts are tibio-tibial bypasses and bypasses to isolated segments of infrapopliteal arteries. The authors' initial experience with these two procedures includes encouraging patency and limb salvage rates for periods up to 2 years in patients for whom there was no other therapeutic option short of amputation.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

Effect of chronic ivermectin treatment on GABA receptor function in ethanol withdrawal-seizure prone and resistant mice.

Ivermectin, a potent, effective anthelmintic, is easy to administer, has a broad spectrum of action and a wide safety margin. However, no testing has been done in hosts genetically selected for seizure susceptibility which may be more sensitive to the effects of ivermectin than other animals. This was done in the present experiments with seizure prone and seizure resistant mice infested with Syphacia obvelata (pinworm). These subjects were treated daily with oral ivermectin in their drinking water every other week for six weeks, for a total of 21 days. The treatment cleared the mice of the pinworm infestation, but did not alter the seizure susceptibility or binding parameters of [3H]flunitrazepam in either of the selected lines.

Animals↗

The bases of the tRNA anticodon loop are independent by genetic criteria.

We employed two methods to study the translational role of interactions between anticodon loop nucleotides. Starting with a set of previously constructed weakly-suppressing anticodon loop mutants of Su7, we searched for second-site revertants that increase amber suppressor efficiency. Though hundreds of revertants were characterized, no second-site revertants were found in the anticodon loop. Second site reversion was detected in the D-stem, thereby demonstrating the efficacy of the search method. As a second method for detecting interactions, we used site-directed mutagenesis to construct multiple mutations in the anticodon loop. These multiple mutants are very weak suppressors and have translational activities that are equal to or lower than that predicted for the independent action of single mutations. We conclude that although the anticodon loop sequence of Su7 has an optimal structure for the translation of amber codons, we find no evidence that interactions between loop bases can enhance translational efficiency.

Anticodon↗

Physical, chemical, and physiological characteristics of isolates of pulmonary surfactant from adult rabbits.

Physical and chemical characteristics of two types of preparations of surface active material from adult rabbits were determined. A procedure using multiple centrifugations produced a surface active material (type A) which had 6.6% by weight protein and a phosphorus/protein ratio of 13.1 nmol P/microgram protein. A simpler protocol involving two centrifugations yielded a surface active material (type B) with more protein (10.8%) and a lower phosphorus/protein ratio (8.4 nmol/micrograms). Lipid compositions of both types were similar with phosphatidylcholine being the major phospholipid (80%) and palmitate the major fatty acid in the total lipid (65-71%) and in phosphatidylcholine (80%). Both types exhibited broad thermotropic phase transitions encompassing 37 degrees C. Measurements of aqueous dispersions of surface active material on the surface of a Langmuir-Whilhelmy balance or in a pulsating bubble apparatus indicated that there was variability both between types and between batches of the same type in the capacity to reach low surface tension on the surface balance and in the rates at which low surface tension was achieved on the bubble apparatus. Type A preparations were somewhat more reliable in meeting these ends than were type B. Both types of isolates were effective in normalizing pressure-volume characteristics when instilled into the lungs of immature rabbit fetuses.

Animals↗

The effect of anaesthetics on the uptake of brain-imaging agents in rats.

Anaesthetics are shown to affect the brain uptake of two pH-shift brain imaging agents, di-B-(morpholinoethyl)-selenide and N,N,N'-trimethyl-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-iodobenzyl)-1,3-propanediamine significantly. This is probably due to changing regional cerebral blood flow. The present study reaffirms previous observations that small disturbances such as stress and type of anaesthesia will significantly alter the regional cerebral blood flow and, as a consequence, brain uptake in rats. This is an important factor to consider when measuring or comparing brain uptake data.

Anesthetics↗

A controlled trial of fetal heart rate monitoring in a low-risk obstetric population.

A controlled trial of fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring in a low-risk obstetric population was carried out in 989 patients at the Mercy Maternity Hospital and Queen Victoria Medical Centre. The use of monitoring failed to demonstrate any improvement in perinatal outcome. Monitoring was associated with an increased intervention rate and a small increase in the number of babies who remained in the isolette beyond 3 days. This study does not support the view that FHR monitoring should be used in all labors. Further study in a larger sample is recommended.

Adult↗

Survival of R+ Escherichia coli in sea water.

The survival of Escherichia coli strains in sea water appears not to be affected by the possession of an R(+) factor. Sea water induces no detectable curing of R(+)E. coli.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗