Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Law

Publications and source records attributed to E Law.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Supraglottic and subglottic airway injury due to deployment and rupture of an automobile airbag.

A 46-year-old white female with underlying interstitial lung disease and asthma was driving a pickup truck when it was struck broadside. The airbag inflated and then ruptured, forcing inhalation of its contents. This produced facial desquamation, productive cough, wheezing, and headache. Chest radiograph showed bilateral interstitial fibrosis. Pulmonary function tests demonstrated small airway obstruction, hyperinflation, and impaired diffusion. Computerized tomography showed extensive sinusitis. She improved following treatment with inhaled steroids, bronchodilators, and oral antibiotics. Inhalation of the airbag contents produced supraglottic and subglottic airway inflammation, resulting in sinusitis and exacerbation of her underlying asthma.

Air Bags↗
PubMed1996

Case reports and mini review of bee stings of the cornea.

Bee stings of the eye are not uncommon. Quite a few clinical case reports have documented the various ocular reactions to the venom of the bee stings, which may range from mild conjunctivitis to sudden loss of vision. This report presents 2 patients who suffered bee stings to the cornea and their different outcomes. The properties of bee venom as well as the treatment of various possible complications are also discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Psychosocial needs of family caregivers of terminally ill patients.

The primary caregivers (mean age = 63 yr.) of 28 terminally ill veterans (mean age = 67 yr.) who were living at home were surveyed for their concrete and psychosocial needs. The caregivers also completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Life Satisfaction Index, the Provision of Social Relations scale, and the Burden Inventory. The rank order of concrete and psychosocial needs is reported for these caregivers. Increased scores on depression were associated with decreased life satisfaction as was low social support. Not surprisingly, higher numbers of concrete and psychosocial needs were associated with increases in depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

An approach to the management of toxic epidermal necrolysis in a burn centre.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome, a life-threatening skin disorder, requires specialized nursing care to optimize survival. The similarity of the condition to partial skin thickness burns suggests that management on a burn unit is an effective means of therapy. A review of eight patients treated at our Burn Center emphasizes the need for aggressive team management of the condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Cytogenetic comparison of two poorly differentiated human lung squamous cell carcinoma lines.

This paper presents a cytogenetic analysis of two established but early-passage (passages 5 and 18) cell lines derived from histologically similar, poorly differentiated lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The cell lines showed 3 shared marker chromosomes, del(1)(q11), del(2)(p11.1) and del(2)(q11.1). One of the lines (DLKP) had 8 additional markers including structural rearrangements such as translocations and isochromosomes. Five additional markers (including two deletions of chromosome 3) were found in DLRP. A notable feature of DLRP was the high incidence of telomeric association evident in the majority of metaphase plates. Over-representation of chromosome 7 was a characteristic feature of metaphases derived from DLKP, and identification of i(21q) in this cell line was an unusual finding. The results indicate significant cytogenetic heterogeneity between these early-passage cell lines derived from two apparently histologically similar tumors.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1991

Effect of subcutaneous and intraperitoneal administration of recombinant human erythropoietin on blood pressure and vasoactive hormones in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The effect of subcutaneous and intraperitoneal administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on blood pressure was evaluated in 20 patients with renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The two groups of patients were commenced on a 16-week course of twice weekly rHuEPO by either the subcutaneous (10 patients) or the intraperitoneal route (10 patients). One patient in the latter group was subsequently excluded because of operation and transfusion. The hemoglobulin increased significantly from 6.9 +/- 0.3 g/dl to 9.8 +/- 0.6 g/dl after subcutaneous rHuEPO treatment (p less than 0.01) at an average dose of 84 +/- 9 U/kg body weight/week. For the intraperitoneal group, despite a higher average rHuEPO dosage (133 +/- 7 U/kg body weight/week), the hemoglobin level was not significantly altered (7.0 +/- 0.4 g/dl to 8.0 +/- 0.4 g/dl, p less than 0.05). During the 16-week period of rHuEPO therapy, an increase in antihypertensive therapy was required more frequently in patients in the intraperitoneal group but the difference between groups failed to reach statistical significance. There was no conclusive evidence that the rise in hematocrit was an independent precipitant of hypertension. Patients who were hypertensive prior to rHuEPO therapy appeared most susceptible to the pressor effects in that 8 of 11 treated hypertensive patients required more intensive antihypertensive treatment during EPO administration whereas none of the untreated patients developed hypertension during the study (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.007). Plasma levels of the vasoactive hormones, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), plasma renin activity (PRA), and endothelin (ET) remained unchanged during both subcutaneous and intraperitoneal rHuEPO therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Large-volume paracentesis versus dialytic ultrafiltration in the treatment of cirrhotic ascites.

We compared the clinical efficacy and safety of large-volume paracentesis and dialytic ultrafiltration in the treatment of refractory ascites in cirrhotic patients. A group of cirrhotic subjects (age 49-80 years) were randomly allocated to either continuous paracentesis (1-1.5 l/hour) or dialytic ultrafiltration until disappearance of ascites. Each patient was maintained on bed rest, fluid restriction (1 l/day) and a low (25 mmol/day) sodium diet for 14 days. Five patients (three in the paracentesis group and two in dialytic ultrafiltration group) developed massive ascites 3-5 months later, and received the crossover treatment. The average volume of fluid removed was similar in the two groups (4.70 +/- 1.47 l for dialytic ultrafiltration versus 4.69 +/- 1.84 l for paracentesis), but the treatment period was significantly shorter with dialytic ultrafiltration. The plasma creatinine significantly increased three days after paracentesis but did not increase in patients treated with dialytic ultrafiltration. There was an initial fall in mean arterial pressure during the first two hours of either treatment; a further fall in blood pressure was observed with paracentesis but not with dialytic ultrafiltration. Pretreatment plasma renin activity was elevated, but was not altered by either treatment. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels were in the high-normal range before treatment. Paracentesis was associated with a delayed fall in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, while dialytic ultrafiltration induced a modest but significant rise. No complication was experienced with dialytic ultrafiltration in the two weeks following treatment, but four of the eight patients who underwent paracentesis had developed severe complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Vasoactive hormones in uremic patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), renin activity (PRA), and endothelin (ET) are often elevated in uremic patients on hemodialysis treatment. The profile of these vasoactive hormones and their relationships with hemodynamic indices in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), however, are not clear. We therefore measured plasma concentrations of ANP, PRA, ET, together with parathyroid hormone (PTH) in 17 patients (mean age 38.5 years) on maintenance CAPD over a period of 12 weeks. Baseline ANP, PRA, and ET levels were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects, and no significant changes in these indices were observed over the 12 week period. There was a significant positive correlation between levels of plasma ANP and PRA [rank correlation coefficient, R(s) = 0.496, p less than 0.05] as has been reported in cardiac failure. Despite the absence of clinically overt heart failure, a significant proportion (approximately 50%) of our patients demonstrated evidence of myocardial dysfunction on echocardiography. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was demonstrated between plasma ANP and left atrial size [R(s) = 0.61, p less than 0.01] and an inverse correlation existed between plasma ANP and the left ventricular ejection fraction [R(s) = 0.51, p less than 0.05]. Twelve patients (71%) had biochemical evidence of hyperparathyroidism with raised levels of serum PTH. Our study demonstrates increased levels of plasma ANP, PRA, and ET in uremic patients on long-term CAPD. A positive correlation exists between plasma ANP and PRA suggesting their myocardial function may be compromised and this was confirmed on echocardiography. The possibility that high circulating PTH concentrations contribute to impaired cardiac function in such patients, deserves further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cytological differences between normal and malignant human cell populations in culture.

Cells from early-passage cultures of normal and malignant human tissues were analyzed for the presence of multiple nucleoli and tri- or multipolar mitoses; these properties are characteristic of malignant cell populations in tissue sections. For the cell types examined the presence of tri- or multipolar mitoses was characteristic of cells of malignant origin. Within epithelial cell populations, cells containing more than 4 nucleoli were found in populations of malignant but not of normal origin; this distinction did not apply to fibroblast populations. Large numbers of cells must be analyzed quantitatively to establish the distinctions described here, since they are properties characteristic of populations, not of individual cells. This approach may facilitate identification of normal and malignant cell populations in primary and early-passage culture.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1990

Establishment of two new multi-drug resistant variants of the human tumor line Hep-2.

Two multi-drug resistant variants of the human carcinoma line Hep-2 have been selected by adaptation to progressively increasing concentrations of adriamycin. In comparison to the wild-type Hep-2 cells, the variant lines both showed approximately 100-fold resistance to adriamycin, 10 to 20-fold resistance to the vinca alkaloids but only 2-3 fold resistance to VP-16 and VM-26. There was essentially no difference between wild-type and variant cells in regard to sensitivity to threosulfan and 5-fluorouracil. The drug-resistant phenotype is stable for at least 3 months in the absence of drug, and is partially reversible by concomitant treatment with Verapamil. Chromosomal abnormalities consistent with gene amplification were observed in one of the variant lines. Sensitivity of variant cells to adriamycin was enhanced following trypsin-EDTA treatment.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1987

Measurement of hand bone mineral content using single-photon absorptiometry.

A single photon absorption imaging technique has been developed to assess the bone mass of the hand, especially in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or bronchial asthma. A modified rectilinear scanner images the hand by transmission scanning in a water bath with a 7.4 GBq 125I source. A microcomputer is used to calculate the bone mineral distribution, and the total bone mineral content (BMC) of the hand is determined from that distribution. The precision (coefficient of variation) of the measurement is 1.9%. A control population of 20 men and 58 women has been studied to determine normal variations in hand bone mineral content with age, sex, body size, hand volume and years since menopause. The normal men are found to have an average hand BMC of 25.1 g with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 22%, which is reduced to 12% by normalising for body size using span. The normal women had an average hand BMC of 18.0 g +/- 15%. The CV is reduced to 13% by normalising for span and years post-menopause.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Falsely elevated CSF total protein due to carryover in a discrete analyzer (Beckman Astra-8).

Falsely elevated values for CSF total protein, as determined in the Beckman Astra-8 Total Protein Module, were shown to be due to a combined effect of sample cross-contamination and reaction cup contamination by serum samples on the same sample tray. Normal CSF may be misdiagnosed as having an abnormally high protein concentration, due to this interference by normal serum samples. To avoid this carryover phenomenon, it is recommended that 3 saline samples be analysed for total protein before the analysis of the CSF samples; alternatively, all the CSF samples should be analysed separately in one batch.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins↗
PubMed1987

A prospective study of thymopentin in severely burned patients.

A randomized prospective double-blind study of thymopentin was performed upon 24 severely burned patients to evaluate its efficacy in correcting postburn immunologic abnormalities and preventing infectious morbidity and mortality. Patients in the treated group received 50 milligrams of thymopentin daily for the first two weeks after injury and three times weekly thereafter until the patient was no longer at risk for having infections develop. The placebo group received saline solution intravenously. The rate of infectious complications was recorded. Immunologic tests used at least weekly were: white blood cell counts, OKT4 to OKT8 ratios, lymphocyte blastogenesis and neutrophil bactericidal index. There were no differences noted in patient mortality, infectious complications or antibiotic use. There were two significant differences noted among the immunologic tests. First, there was a decreased lymphocyte blastogenic response in the treated group at two weeks after injury without a difference in T4 to T8 ratios. Second, there was less leukopenia during the first week after injury in the treated group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Acute upper airway obstruction in the postburn period.

Upper airway obstruction in the severely burned patient is a well-known problem that is due to mucosal edema secondary to the effects of toxic substances and heat on the laryngeal and tracheal mucosa. Herein, we report a different cause of airway obstruction seen in the late postburn period during the induction of anesthesia for reconstructive procedures. This obstruction is due to the presence of severe burn-scar contractures of the neck that prevent successful endotracheal intubation. We have seen this occur 17 times in 13 patients. All of the patients were successfully treated by an emergency neck release, after which most of the patients could be intubated and the release then skin grafted. Surgeons operating on patients with scar contractures of the neck should be aware of this condition and its appropriate treatment.

Adolescent↗