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Biomedical subjects

G Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to G Anderson.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Abuse histories in 102 cases of multiple personality disorder.

The authors interviewed 102 individuals with clinical diagnoses of multiple personality disorder at four centres using the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule. The patients reported high rates of childhood trauma: 90.2% had been sexually abused, 82.4% physically abused, and 95.1% subjected to one or both forms of child abuse. Over 50% of subjects reported initial physical and sexual abuse before age five. The average duration of both types of abuse was ten years, and numerous different perpetrators were identified. Subjects were equally likely to be physically abused by their mothers or fathers. Sexual abusers were more often male than female, but a substantial amount of sexual abuse was perpetrated by mothers, female relatives, and other females. Multiple personality disorder appears to be a response to chronic trauma originating during a vulnerable period in childhood.

Adolescent↗

Profile of sport/leisure injuries treated at emergency rooms of urban hospitals.

The main thrust of this study was to examine the nature and number of sport/leisure injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms in a large metropolitan city. A total of 244 respondents, or 4% of the total case load in six hospital emergency wards, were treated for sport/leisure injuries during the 1-week survey. The results show that 86.3% occurred to individuals 30 years of age or under, that injuries to males outnumbered those to females by a margin of 3:1, and that 57.5% of those injured were active on a regular basis (i.e., at least once a week). The highest number of sport/leisure injuries (71.5%) occurred from participation in noncontact recreational sports and 61.9% occurred during supervised activities, yet over 55% received no on-site or first-aid treatment. These data suggest a need to promote community oriented safety education and first-aid programs.

Adolescent↗

Leukocyte-endothelial interaction and capillary perfusion in ischemia/reperfusion of the rat cremaster muscle.

The role of leukocytes in the decreased perfusion following ischemia in skeletal muscle was examined in the microcirculation of the rat cremaster muscle. The isolated muscle was viewed with an intravital microscope. Diameters of A1 and A2 arterioles and collecting venules were determined hourly. The number of leukocytes rolling along the venular walls was determined from a videotape. Nonischemic (control) rats (n = 10) were observed for 6 hours. The ischemic group (n = 10) was observed for one hour, the iliac and femoral arteries and veins were then clamped for 4 hours, released, and the muscle was observed for another two hours. No change in arteriole or venule diameters occurred in the control group. The diameters of the arterioles in the ischemic group decreased significantly during reperfusion but, the venule diameters did not. There was a significant reduction during reperfusion but, perfused capillaries following ischemia compared to control. There was a small but not significant increase in the number of rolling leukocytes in the ischemic group. The extent of leukocyte rolling in postcapillary venules was found to not correlate with the decrease in capillary perfusion that occurs after ischemia and reperfusion. However, the decrease in capillary flow was associated with reduced arteriole diameters.

Animals↗

Low-dose cyclophosphamide enhances helper-to-non-helper ratios.

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of different doses of cyclophosphamide (CY) on the lymphocyte populations in the rat. Monoclonal antibodies against rat determinants were used: W3/13 (T lymphocytes), W3/25 (T helper), OX-8 (non-helper), and OX-33 (B lymphocytes). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 from four groups of F-344 Fisher rats (n = 4): three that received 25, 50, or 75 mg/kg of CY and a control group. The duration and severity of lymphocyte depletion were dose-related and were evident for both helper and non-helper cells (p less than 0.02). The helper-to-non-helper ratio increased for the group that received 25 mg/kg when compared with control and other groups, but was only significantly changed when compared with the 75 mg/kg group (p = 0.004). This effect was transitory and was only seen on day 3. The control and the 25 mg/kg groups gained weight; the other two groups lost weight (p less than 0.05). Lower doses of CY were associated with a transitory immunostimulatory effect and no morbidity when compared with higher doses.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Determination of product shelf life and activation energy for five drugs of abuse.

Estimating the shelf life of reagents and controls is a critical step in evaluating new formulations. We describe several stability assessment techniques, giving particular attention to experimental design. Activation energy was experimentally determined for five major drugs of abuse and metabolites: morphine, 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid, amphetamine, phencyclidine, and benzoylecgonine. The use of activation energy in establishing shelf life is illustrated for SENTRY (Hycor Biomedical Inc.) Drugs of Abuse Screen Control, a liquid urine-based product.

Drug Stability↗

Tubal sterilization and the long-term risk of hysterectomy.

To assess the effect of tubal sterilization on the risk of hysterectomy, we studied 7414 women aged 20 to 49 years who had had a tubal sterilization at a health maintenance organization between January 1, 1968, and December 31, 1983. Compared with a population-based cohort of nonsterilized women, women sterilized while 20 to 29 years old were 3.4 times more likely to have had a subsequent hysterectomy (95% confidence interval, 2.4 to 4.7). Adjustment for the effects of potential confounders with a subset of 276 women did not appreciably alter this association. For multivariate comparisons with 5323 wives of vasectomized men, there was no significant elevation in the risk of hysterectomy following sterilization among women sterilized while 20 to 29 years old. Tubal sterilization was not associated with hysterectomy for married women who underwent tubal sterilization at age 30 or older. These results do not support a biological basis for the relationship between tubal sterilization and hysterectomy.

Adult↗

Hospital-based utilization management: a cross-Canada survey.

Utilization management attempts to measure, understand and, when appropriate, reduce hospital use. We conducted a telephone survey to determine the status of utilization management in Canadian hospitals. The sample comprised a random selection of 30% of acute-care hospitals with over 100 beds for adults in Ontario and Quebec and all such hospitals in the other provinces. Of the 123 chief executive officers contacted 99 (80%) claimed to have a utilization management program. Of those, 90 (91%) agreed to participate in an in-depth survey or to designate a senior administrator to be interviewed who was most knowledgeable about the program. High occupancy rates and funding issues were the most common environmental triggers for the development of utilization management programs; funding issues were listed more frequently by respondents in Ontario than by those elsewhere (p = 0.0008). Retrospective review alone was used in half of the hospitals, concurrent review or some mixed approach being used in the other half. Ontario and the Atlantic provinces were more reliant than the rest of the country on retrospective review alone (p = 0.0032). Most of the hospitals used peer review and education to stimulate corrective action. Of the respondents 67% indicated that the medical staff supported the utilization management program, and 53% reported that the program had a positive impact on the relationship between administrative and medical staff. Most of the respondents were unsure of the program's impact on the quality of care or the rate of unnecessary hospital admission. However, retrospective review alone was found to be less successful in reducing inappropriate utilization than either concurrent review or combined review (p = 0.0048).

Adult↗

Postsurgical mortality in Manitoba and New England.

Per capita hospital expenditures in the United States exceed those in Canada, but little research has examined differences in outcomes. We used insurance databases to compare postsurgical mortality for 11 specific surgical procedures, both before and after adjustment for case mix, among residents of New England and Manitoba who were over 65 years of age. For low- and moderate-risk procedures, 30-day mortality rates were similar in both regions, but 6-month mortality rates were lower in Manitoba. For the two high-risk procedures, concurrent coronary bypass/valve replacement and hip fracture repair, both 30-day and 6-month mortality rates were lower in New England. Although no consistent pattern favoring New England for cardiovascular surgery was found, the increased mortality following hip fracture in Manitoba was found for all types of repair and all age groups. We conclude that for low- and moderate-risk procedures, the higher hospital expenditures in New England were not associated with lower perioperative mortality rates.

Aged↗

Development of clinical and economic prognoses from Medicare claims data.

Using a 5% nationally random sample of Medicare beneficiaries, we calculated the probability of dying, the probability of being readmitted, and the mean level of inpatient hospital expenditures within various time periods following discharge for those beneficiaries who were discharged alive from an acute-care hospital during 1983. We then examined the 674 most common principal discharge diagnoses and found significant variations by diagnosis code for all three outcomes. We believe that analyses of claims data by diagnosis code can provide useful information to clinicians and their patients regarding the clinical and economic prognosis of specific diseases, help managed-care programs identify patients likely to incur substantial costs over a several-year period, and inform insurers regarding the expected level of resources that will be used following discharge for patients with specific diseases.

Health Expenditures↗

The U6 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is transcribed by RNA polymerase C (III) in vivo and in vitro.

Unlike the majority of genes encoding small nuclear RNAs, which are transcribed by RNA polymerase B, the U6 gene contains features found in both class B and class C genes, indicating the involvement of a combination of transcription factors normally specific to each class of genes. We present direct genetic and biochemical evidence that the U6 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is transcribed by RNA polymerase C in vivo as well as in vitro. A mutant strain with a temperature-sensitive defect in the large subunit of RNA polymerase C that results in defective transcription of tRNA and 5S RNA genes shows a corresponding defect in U6 RNA levels. Also, purified RNA polymerase C transcribes the U6 gene when supplemented with partially purified TFIIIB. The other class C transcription factors, TFIIIA and Tau (TFIIIC), are not required in this system.

Base Sequence↗

Expression and function of mutant Ia antigen in transgenic mice.

Cell surface expression of Ia antigens requires the assembly of alpha and beta heterodimers. We have produced a double transgenic mouse with a wild form Ak alpha gene and a mutant Ak beta (Ak beta MB) gene with d-allele substitution at positions 63 and 65-67. Initial studies indicated that the Ak alpha and Ak beta MB transgenes are not expressed on the surface of lymphoid cells of the transgenic mice. However, when spleen cells were stimulated with LPS prior to FACS analyses, Ak/Ak MB assembly and subsequent surface expression was induced. The tail skins from transgenic founder mice were rejected by the parental mice indicating a role for the mutant antigen on the allograft. In addition, the Ak transgenic mice on H-2q/q background can partially delete V beta 6+ T cells, suggesting the presence of the transgene product in the thymus.

Animals↗

Autoreactive T lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis determined by antigen-induced secretion of interferon-gamma.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease with unknown cause characterized by inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system. Although an autoimmune pathogenesis has been suggested, there are no conclusive data on the number of T cells autoreactive with myelin antigens in MS compared to controls. We showed that T lymphocytes secreting interferon-gamma in response to possible target autoantigens are severalfold more common among PBL mononuclear cells in patients with MS than in patients with aseptic meningitis and tension headache. On average T cells reactive with myelin basic protein (MBP), two different MBP peptides, or with proteolipid protein amounted to 2.7-5.2/10(5) PBL from MS patients. MBP-reactive T cells were still more frequent among mononuclear cells isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; 185/10(5) CSF cells). We concluded that T cells reactive with myelin autoantigens are strongly increased in MS. This approach to detect them could allow definition of immunodominant T cell epitopes in individual MS patients, and thereby enable further development towards specific immunotherapy.

Adult↗

Structured interview data on 102 cases of multiple personality disorder from four centers.

Patients with multiple personality disorder (N = 102) at four different centers were interviewed with the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule. The presenting characteristics of the patients at all four centers were very similar. The clinical profile that emerged included a history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse in 97 (95.1%) of the cases. The subjects reported an average of 15.2 somatic symptoms, 6.4 Schneiderian symptoms, 10.2 secondary features of the disorder, 5.2 borderline personality disorder criteria, and 5.6 extrasensory experiences; their average score on the Dissociative Experiences Scale was 41.4. The results indicate that multiple personality disorder has a stable, consistent set of features.

Borderline Personality Disorder↗

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor induced angioedema of the head and neck.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are now in widespread use for the treatment of essential and renovascular hypertension. Consequently, angioedema, an uncommon complication of ACE inhibitor therapy is being encountered with increasing frequency. Since ACE inhibitor angioedema predominantly involves the face, lips, oral cavity, and occasionally the larynx the otolaryngologist is often consulted to evaluate affected patients. Treatment ranges from simple cessation of the drug to emergent airway intervention. The pertinent pharmacologic properties of ACE inhibitors and the pathophysiology of angioedema are discussed. The authors' experience with the evaluation and treatment of ACE inhibitor induced angioedema is presented.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗