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Biomedical subjects

F Moran

Publications and source records attributed to F Moran.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The cellular immune response to immunization with zona pellucida antigens.

The cellular immune response of mice to porcine and rat zona pellucida and cynomolgus macaques to porcine zona pellucida antigens was evaluated. Mice mounted a vigorous cellular response to both antigens, as determined by the T cell proliferation response in vitro. There was poor cross-reactivity to murine zonae by T cells or serum antibodies from mice immunized with rat zona pellucida. Nevertheless, ovaries from the mice immunized with rat zona had significantly fewer antral follicles than adjuvant-treated controls, suggesting that the immune response to the zona antigen disrupted follicular development. T cells from two macaques that had been immunized with porcine zona pelludica proteins proliferated in vitro in response to this antigen. Both macaques also had strong antibody responses. The patterns of urinary steroid metabolites in these animals provided clear evidence of ovarian malfunction following immunization. The data indicate that a significant cellular immune response is generated upon immunization of animals with zona pellucida antigens regardless of whether the antigens are cross reactive with the host zona antigens. Whether impaired ovarian function and follicular development are related to the cellular response must be determined in future studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Dopamine clearance in critically ill infants and children: effect of age and organ system dysfunction.

To learn if there are age-related differences in the pharmacokinetic behavior of dopamine, plasma dopamine clearance was determined in 27 acutely ill infants and children who were receiving a continuous intravenous infusion of the drug. Steady-state clearance was calculated from dopamine concentration in arterial blood. Dopamine clearance was 60.7 +/- 28.1 ml/kg/min. The age of the patient exerted an effect on clearance of dopamine (r = -0.63; p less than 0.05), and dopamine clearance was nearly twice as rapid in children younger than 2 years as it was in older children (82.3 +/- 27.7 ml/kg/min versus 45.9 +/- 17.0 mg/kg/min). Conjugated bilirubin exerted an age-independent effect on clearance of dopamine; clearance was 44.8 +/- 28.6 ml/kg/min in children with abnormal conjugated bilirubin (greater than or equal to 0.9 mg/dl) and 70.1 +/- 2.56 ml/kg/min in children with normal conjugated bilirubin (less than 0.9 mg/dl). Clearance was lowest (29.8 +/- 5.7 ml/kg/min) in the four children who had both hepatic and renal dysfunction. Age is an important determinant of dopamine clearance, explaining in part the clinical observation that infants and young children require higher infusion rates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Lung scanning for pulmonary embolism: clinical and pulmonary angiographic correlations.

A group of 78 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism was studied by both ventilation perfusion lung scanning and pulmonary angiography. Symptoms and clinical signs were analysed using Bayesian techniques to produce pre-test odds for pulmonary embolism in individual patients. While, as a group, those with embolism could be discriminated from those without on this basis, major overlap existed between the groups, invalidating the use of this approach for individual patients. Strict diagnostic criteria for interpretation of lung scans were accurate using pulmonary angiography as the 'gold standard', but at the expense of a significant number of patients (38 per cent) in the indeterminate (non-diagnostic) group. In the 48 patients in whom the test yielded a diagnostic result, there was a sensitivity of 100 per cent (15/15) and a specificity of 97 per cent (32/33). In the series as a whole, the likelihood of lung scanning correctly diagnosing pulmonary embolism was 55 per cent (15/27) and of correctly excluding embolism, 63 per cent (32/51). By the use of strict criteria for interpretation of lung scanning, reliable information can be obtained on the presence or absence of pulmonary embolism in a large proportion of patients suspected of having the condition. Such information is more discriminating than clinical signs and symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Variation of breath sound and airway caliber induced by histamine challenge.

Inspiratory breath sounds were recorded from the chest wall during histamine challenge in five subjects with mild asthma (baseline FEV1 greater than 60% of predicted normal). The median frequency of the power spectrum of the breath sounds was found to correlate with the percentage change in FEV1 induced by histamine and with FEF50. The analysis suggests that for a decrease in FEV1 of 20%, the median frequency of breath sound would increase by 80 Hz. Variation in airway caliber produced a consistent alteration in the distribution of energy in inspiratory breath sound in the absence of wheeze. Spectral analysis of breath sound may be a useful addition to conventional spirometry in identifying changes in airway diameter.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Pulmonary abnormalities in Crohn's disease.

Abnormalities of pulmonary function in Crohn's disease have been described, although the results are conflicting and anecdotal accounts of lung involvement are few. In this study we assessed the prevalence of lung function abnormalities in Crohn's disease, and the relative contributions of age, sex, smoking and past medical history, and Crohn's disease activity to the pulmonary abnormalities found. Twenty-nine patients with Crohn's disease and 29 age-, sex- and smoking-matched volunteer controls underwent detailed respiratory assessment. Airways obstruction due to chronic bronchitis and asthma was present in 13 patients with Crohn's disease, but was not more prevalent than in the control group. FEV1 was similar in both Crohn's disease and control subjects (84.2 +/- 21.2% predicted, mean +/- SD; 93.7 +/- 16.3%, respectively: n.s.). The vital capacity was significantly lower in the Crohn's disease patients than in controls (86.7 +/- 16.6%; 95.9 +/- 12.7%; P less than 0.01), but this may have been influenced by the higher prevalence of past or intercurrent medical illnesses affecting the chest in Crohn's disease patients. No patient had evidence of fibrosing alveolitis or bronchiectasis. The haemoglobin corrected transfer factor was significantly lower in the Crohn's disease patients than in controls (100.4 +/- 17.4%; 113.2 +/- 25.1: P less than 0.05) but the diffusing coefficient was not significantly different. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.44, P less than 0.05) between the residual volume and the Crohn's disease activity index but otherwise no close relationship was observed between Crohn's disease activity, extent or duration and the indices of lung function. These findings suggest that the lungs are relatively unaffected by Crohn's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Pulmonary involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Several series have suggested that pulmonary function abnormalities are common in systemic lupus erythematosus. However, only isolated studies have attempted to relate these abnormalities to immunological aspects of the diseases. In the present study respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function tests, and immunological data were reviewed in 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Seventeen subjects had either clinical evidence or abnormalities of lung function suggestive of pulmonary involvement. A restrictive ventilatory defect or reduction in pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was demonstrated in 14 of the patients only 4 of whom were dyspnoeic. There was no correlation between pulmonary involvement, co-existent renal lupus, and immunological abnormality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

The effect of human pregnancy on the pulmonary transfer factor for carbon monoxide as measured by the single-breath method.

1. The pulmonary transfer factor for carbon monoxide was measured by the single-breath method in 21 pregnant women with no previous history of cardiac or respiratory disease. Measurements were made at monthly intervals throughout pregnancy and once post partum. 2. The transfer factor was higher in the first trimester of pregnancy than in the non-pregnant state. There was a fall in the transfer factor during pregnancy until 26 weeks gestation, after which no further decrease was observed. 3. The changes in transfer factor were not explained by alterations in haemoglobin concentration or alveolar volume. 4. Simultaneous serial estimation of plasma 17beta-oestradiol were performed in all the subjects. There was no obvious direct relation between changes in the concentration of this hormone and transfer factor measurements.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

A computer system for processing data from routine pulmonary function tests.

In larger pulmonary function laboratories there is a need for computerised techniques of data processing. A flexible computer system, which is used routinely, is described. The system processes data from a relatively large range of tests. Two types of output are produced--one for laboratory purposes, and one for return to the referring physician. The system adds an automatic interpretative report for each set of results. In developing the interpretative system it has been necessary to utilise a number of arbitrary definitions. The present terminology for reporting pulmonary function tests has limitations. The computer interpretation system affords the opportunity to take account of known interaction between measurements of function and different pathological states.

Computers↗
PubMed1976

Serial 3 orthogonal lead electrocardiographic abnormalities after pulmonary embolism. Computer assisted study.

The 3 orthogonal lead electrocardiogram has been evaluated with computer assisted interpretation in 20 patients with acute pulmonary embolism confirmed by pulmonary angiography. Initial 3-lead electrocardiographic abnormalities were found to be at least as helpful as the 12-lead electrocardiogram in supporting the clinical diagnosis. In addition, however, sequential changes in both the maximum QRS and T vector orientations in frontal and transverse planes were more often apparent than any sequential changes in the 12-lead electrocardiogram. While no specific 3 lead electrocardiographic criterion for pulmonary embolism could be determined, this technique was more helpful than conventional methods in following serial electrocardiographic changes in patients with this condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Pulmonary hypersensitivity to Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus).

Transient airways obstruction associated with reduction in the transfer factor (diffusing capacity) of the lungs is reported in a patient with a clinical syndrome in keeping with extrinsic allergic alveolitis after exposure to Ramin dust (Gonystylus bancanus). The alterations in pulmonary function were consistently demonstrated on testing the patient in his working environment and were reproduced in the laboratory after inhalational challenge. The importance of the temporal relationship of changes in pulmonary function to contact with suspected allergenic material is emphasized.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Elemental diet and external fistulae of, the digestive system].

An elemental diet is a food which provides the basic needs in calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals with two advantages: it is predigested and leaves minimal or no residue to provide bulk. The care of 20 patients, with an elemental diet, presenting 20 external fistulas (75 per cent with low output and 25 per cent with high output) succeeded to obtain a spontaneous healing in 75 per cent of the cases, and an improvement of the general conditions of 15 per cent of the patients who were operated on because of fistula persistency. The death rate was 10 per cent. We think that the elemental diet is a useful tool in the treatment of external fistulas of patients who have preserved their bowel movements and an output smaller than 500 ml. in 24 hrs.

Adult↗