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Biomedical subjects

G B Russell

Publications and source records attributed to G B Russell.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Effects of hemodialysis on prostate-specific antigen.

We undertook a prospective study to evaluate the effects of hemodialysis on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in 26 male patients with end-stage renal disease as a clinical model for assessing the role of the kidney in PSA clearance. Patients ranging in age from fifty-one to eighty-three years (mean 64.8 years) underwent phlebotomy immediately before and after outpatient hemodialysis on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday schedule, with serum PSA values determined by the Abbott IMX Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay. The mean +/- standard deviation for all post-dialysis PSA levels, 2.43 +/- 3.74, was significantly greater than that for pre-dialysis levels, 2.11 +/- 3.19 (p = 0.04). However, no statistically significant differences were found on comparing the combined pre- and post-dialysis PSA values over the course of the study (p = 0.2733) or when sequential pre-dialysis (p = 0.28) and post-dialysis (p = 0.92) levels were analyzed separately. We conclude that PSA is not eliminated by hemodialysis, and our results infer that it is not cleared by renal mechanisms.

Aged↗

Measurement of hand microvascular blood flow with isolated cold stress testing and laser Doppler fluxmetry.

Isolated cold stress testing applies cold thermal stress to an extremity for noninvasive study of skin surface temperature as an index of digital microcirculation. In this study, laser Doppler fluxmetry was combined with isolated cold stress testing to examine the relationship between digital thermoregulation (measured by isolated cold stress testing) and digital microcirculatory blood flow (measured by laser Doppler fluxmetry) in 50 healthy men and women. After a 5-minute baseline period, both hands were subjected to cold stress (average, 8 degrees C) for 20 minutes and then returned to room temperature for 20 minutes. Digital temperatures and laser Doppler measurements were graphed to document individual responses. The 25 women had lower digital temperatures, lower laser Doppler fluxmetry values, and less average rewarming than the 25 men. Statistical cluster analysis revealed a cold pattern, found predominantly in women, and a warm pattern, found predominantly in men. These patterns of response may help to elucidate the pathogenesis of the vascular occlusive syndromes occurring predominantly in women.

Adolescent↗

Hypoxemic episodes of patients in a postanesthesia care unit.

The incidence, degree, and duration of acute hypoxemia were evaluated with continuous arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation monitoring by pulse oximetry in 100 postoperative patients during 40 percent oxygen administration by aerosol face tent from postanesthetic recovery room admission to discharge. Saturations were recorded by pulse oximeters (Nellcor-N 200) with desaturations of < or = 92 percent for > or = 30 s considered significant. On recovery room admission, 15 percent of patients were experiencing episodes of desaturation. Low admission saturations correlated positively with patient age and body weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, patients having received general anesthesia, and with greater volumes of intraoperative intravenous fluids, particularly > 1,500 ml. Later desaturations to 86.7 +/- 4.6 percent (72 to 91 percent) at 32 +/- 54 min after admission for 5.2 +/- 12.6 min occurred in 25 percent of patients and correlated positively with peripheral surgical procedures, low oxygen saturation on admission, duration of anesthesia, and volume of intraoperative intravenous fluids. Desaturation durations were longer for female subjects and correlated positively with body weight and intravenous fluid volume. Significant arterial hemoglobin oxygen desaturations occurred despite prophylactic oxygen administration by aerosol face tent during short-term postoperative recovery room care.

Acute Disease↗

Cathepsin D as a prognostic indicator for node-negative breast cancer patients using both immunoassays and enzymatic assays.

This is a retrospective study on 162 node-negative patients, with both biochemical and clinical factors being measured for determination of prognostic markers. Steroid receptors were measured on all tumors, while tumor size, histological grade, ploidy status, and cell cycle kinetics indicators could not be found or measured on 25 or less of the patient group. The primary focus of this study was the measurement of cathepsin D, analyzed by two different procedures, and 161 of the 162 patients had at least one value. The antigenic assay was performed using the US-CIS kit, and it was sensitive and reproducible. A biochemical assay using the enzymatic activity of cathepsin D was developed, and it gave proportional values, compared to the antigenic assay values (r2 = 0.79). Our results indicated that the mean antigenic levels were 20% higher than the biochemical assay levels (P = 0.001). High levels of cathepsin D by the antigenic assay predicted poor relapse-free (P = 0.0001) and overall (P = 0.0004) survival. High levels of cathepsin D by the biochemical assay also predicted poor relapse-free (P = 0.031) and overall (P = 0.0013) survival. The cathepsin D values were still useful as predictors of outcome after multivariate analysis. Several other factors, such as grade and S phase, were useful as additional prognostic indicators. In conclusion, cathepsin D is the most useful marker in node-negative patients, and the analysis can be performed by both a biochemical and an antigenic assay.

Analysis of Variance↗

Clinical trials of an intravenous oxygenator in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.

In patients with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilation may not be able to ensure gas exchange sufficient to sustain life. We report the use of an intravenous oxygenator (IVOX) in five patients who were suffering from severe adult respiratory distress syndrome as a result of aspiration, fat embolism, or pneumonia. IVOX was used in an attempt to provide supplemental transfer of CO2 and O2 and thereby reduce O2 toxicity and barotrauma. All patients were tracheally intubated, sedated, and chemically paralyzed and had a PaO2 < 60 mmHg when the lungs were ventilated with an FIO2 = 1.0 and a positive end expiratory pressure of > or = 5 cmH2O. The right common femoral vein was located surgically, and the patient was systemically anticoagulated with heparin. A hollow introducer tube was inserted into the right common femoral vein, and the furled IVOX was passed into the inferior vena cava and advanced until the tip was in the lower portion of the superior vena cava. IVOX use ranged from 2 h to 4 days. In this group of patients, IVOX gas exchange ranged from 21 to 87 ml x min-1 of CO2 and from 28 to 85 ml x min-1 of O2. One of the five patients survived and was discharged from the hospital. The IVOX transferred up to 28% of metabolic gas-exchange requirements. One patient with a small vena cava showed signs of caval obstruction. Three other patients demonstrated signs of a septic syndrome after the device was inserted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

End-tidal carbon dioxide as an indicator of arterial carbon dioxide in neurointensive care patients.

The relationship between the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Paco2) and the end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PEtco2) was evaluated in 11 critically ill adult neurointensive care patients during mechanical ventilation. It was hypothesized that the Paco2 to PEtco2 gradient, or P(a-Et)co2, was maintained and that PEtco2 can be used to determine Paco2 accurately in these patients. After approval by the Clinical Investigations Committee, when clinically indicated arterial blood gases (with Paco2) were measured, the PEtco2 was determined from the capnograph (Hewlett Packard 78520A infrared capnometer). The P(a-Et)co2 was evaluated for possible effects from changes in the other monitored hemodynamic and respiratory parameters. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the significance of the relationship between Paco2 and PEtco2 and other assessed variables. Student's t tests were used where applicable. A p value </=0.05 determined significance. One hundred thirty-five comparisons, 12.3 +/- 5.8 per patient, of Paco2 and PEtco2 were made. (All values are means +/- SD.) The P(a-Et)co2 was 6.9 +/- 4.4 mm Hg (-11-21 mm Hg), with Paco2 = 34 +/- 6 mm Hg and PEtco2 = 27 +/- 6 mm Hg. There was a significant correlation between Paco2 and PEtco2 values for the total study population (r = 0.72, p = 0.001). However, when the relationship between Paco2 and PEtco2 values for individual patients was analyzed, only seven of 11 patients (64%) had significant correlations. The direction of Paco2 change was inaccurately predicted by PEtco2 changes in 31.9% of measurements. PEtco2 does not provide a stable reflection of Paco2 in all neurointensive care patients. Arterial blood gases cannot be eliminated when monitoring respiratory acid-base balance in mechanically ventilated neurointensive care patients.

Journal Article↗

Direct measurement of nitrous oxide MAC and neurologic monitoring in rats during anesthesia under hyperbaric conditions.

The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of nitrous oxide necessary to prevent purposeful movement in rats has not been directly measured; rather, it has been extrapolated because the required partial pressure exceeds 760 mm Hg, or 1 atm absolute pressure (ATA). Values reported have ranged from 1.36 to 2.20 ATA (136-220 vol%, or 1034-1672 mm Hg). By maintaining general anesthesia at 2.25 ATA (1710 mm Hg), we directly measured the nitrous oxide MAC in 17 Long-Evans rats during mechanical ventilation and monitoring of two-channel electroencephalogram, compressed spectral array and cortical evoked potentials, electrocardiograph, and respiratory and anesthetic gases by mass spectrometry. After a minimal stabilization period of 30 min during ventilation by 1.8 ATA nitrous oxide and 0.45 ATA oxygen, MAC measurements were begun. Each rat was given up to three noxious electrical stimulations of 50 V by 10-ms-duration pulses at 50/s for 45 s. The partial pressure of nitrous oxide was decreased by approximately 10% after each negative response. The MAC was taken as the nitrous oxide concentration midway between that at which there was no response and that at which the rat moved purposefully. The nitrous oxide MAC in Long-Evans rats was determined to be 1.55 +/- 0.16 ATA (mean +/- SD). Hyperbaric nitrous oxide decreased electroencephalogram wave frequency to a predominantly theta rhythm of increased amplitude. Cortical evoked potentials had decreased wave amplitudes and increased latencies with increasing partial pressures > 0.75 ATA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Detection of venous air embolism: comparison of oxygenation and ventilation monitoring methods in dogs.

Venous air embolism (VAE) results in both hypoxemia and hypercapnea with decreased end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO 2). Relative sensitivities for VAE detection were determined for (a) continuous oxygen saturation monitoring, as measured by pulse oximetry (SapO 2), an arterial fiberoptic catheter (SacO 2), and a pulmonary artery (PA) fiberoptic catheter (SvcO 2) compared with those determined by arterial and mixed venous blood gas measurements (SabgO 2 and SvbgO 2, respectively) and (b) continuous ETCO 2 and intermittent PaCO 2 measurements in eight anesthetized, mechanically ventilated mongrel dogs. Air was infused (in varied order) at 0.05, 0.10, and 0.20 ml/kg/min for 5 min into the jugular vein. Arterial and mixed venous blood gas tensions were determined prior to and at 2.5, 5, and 10 min after VAE was begun. VAE was diagnosed by a greater than or equal to 5% decrease in any O 2 saturation or a greater than or equal to 3 mm Hg increase in PaCO 2 or decrease in ETCO 2. Values obtained were statistically compared by multiple regression analyses, analysis of variance, and Student t tests, where applicable. VAE was detected more readily by decreases in ETCO 2 and increases in PaCO 2 than decreases in oxygen saturation, as measured by either method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Detection of venous air embolism by continuous mixed venous oximetry in dogs.

Continuous mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO 2) was evaluated as a monitor of venous air embolism in a canine model. Nineteen dogs were anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated. Invasive monitoring included SvO 2, systemic and pulmonary artery blood pressures, and thermodilution cardiac outputs. Air boluses of 0.25 and 0.5 ml/kg were injected in six dogs and 1 ml/kg in all. All 1 ml/kg emboli were detected by greater than or equal to 5% decreases in the SvO 2. The SvO 2 decreased from 82 +/- 8% to 72 +/- 11% (mean +/- SD), an average decrease of 9 +/- 5% (p = 0.004). Time to the SvO 2 nadir was 2.6 +/- 2.5 min. Of the 0.5 and 0.25 ml/kg emboli, 50% and 17% were detected, respectively. Cardiac output decreased from 2.9 +/- 0.8 to 2.1 +/- 0.8 L/min after the 1 ml/kg emboli (p = 0.02). The 1 ml/kg emboli increased pulmonary artery pressures and decreased systemic blood pressure in 100% and 75% of animals, respectively. Peak changes in pulmonary artery pressure occurred at 1.2 +/- 0.8 min. In the present study, time to maximum change was greater for SvO 2 than for pulmonary artery pressure changes. Use of fiberoptic pulmonary artery catheters for continuous measurement of SvO 2 can add a new diagnostic modality to venous air embolism detection in patients who require a pulmonary artery catheter for other medical indications.

Animals↗

Detection of arterial gas embolism by increased end-tidal nitrogen in dogs.

Increased end-tidal (ET) nitrogen in a patient being ventilated with a nitrogen-free gas mixture through a leak-free circuit has been considered a specific sign of venous air embolism. We hypothesized that increased ETN2 would occur after arterial air emboli, just as following venous air emboli, and that clinically relevant arterial air emboli could be detected with respiratory gas monitoring by mass spectrometry. After approval from the institutional Animal Utilization Committee, eight mongrel dogs were studied. All were anesthetized with pentobarbital and ventilated with room air by a volume ventilator. Each animal was monitored by a femoral artery and a pulmonary artery catheter for systemic and pulmonary blood pressures, respectively, an electrocardiograph, pulse oximetry, and inspired and expired respiratory gas measurements by mass spectrometry. Arterial blood gas analysis was undertaken after one series of air emboli. Air boluses (containing the nonradioactive nitrogen isotope N2) of 50, 100, 200, and 500 mul/kg were injected slowly into the distal aorta through a second arterial catheter advanced 35 cm above the inguinal ligament. All emboli >/=100 mul/kg and 60% of the 50 mul/kg emboli were detected by increased ETN2 within 30 s, reaching peak levels in <2.75 min. The washout time for the N2 was longer for larger emboli, ranging from 2.9 +/- 2.8 min for 50 mul/kg emboli to 17.3 +/- 3.2 min for the 500 mug/kg emboli. There were no significant changes in end-tidal carbon dioxide, pulmonary or systemic blood pressures, or arterial blood gases. Increased ETN2 can no longer be considered pathognomonic for venous air embolism; arterial air embolism may have occurred.

Journal Article↗

The diagnostic utility of the antibody-coated bacteria test in intubated patients.

PURPOSE: Pilot study to determine if the presence of antibody-coated bacteria (ACB) in sputum specimens obtained from endotracheal tube suctioning would aid in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated patients for a two-month period were recruited for study. The diagnosis of LRTI was based on a clinical suspicion sufficient enough to start or change antibiotic therapy. Specimens were obtained by blind endotracheal tube suctioning. After processing, sputum smears were stained with fluorescein-labelled antibody to the Fc portion of IgG, IgM, and IgA. More than five fluorescein-labelled bacteria per oil immersion field were considered positive smears. RESULTS: Seventy-one specimens were obtained from 36 patients. Eighteen specimens were positive in 12 patients, all of whom had LRTI. No specimen was positive in patients not diagnosed as having LRTI. The ACB test was positive in 12 of 25 patients with LRTI. Patients with LRTI but negative ACB were more likely to have received prior antibiotic therapy (p less than 0.001). ACB was positive prior to the clinical diagnosis of LRTI in seven of nine patients (av 4.1 days, range 2-6 days) and converted to negative in three specimens obtained seven or more days after starting appropriate antibiotics, while in three specimens it remained positive three-six days post treatment initiation. CONCLUSIONS: The ACB test appears to be highly specific for the presence of LRTI in intubated patients. Sensitivity of the test may be adversely affected by prior antibiotic therapy. A positive ACB test may predict the subsequent development of LRTI. Further study is warranted.

Cross Infection↗

Leukapheresis induced changes in cell cycle distribution and nucleoside transporters in patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia.

Bone marrow leukemia cells from eight adults with untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were evaluated before and after three daily leukaphereses to determine if mechanical cytoreduction can modulate the cell cycle distribution. The percentage of cells in S-phase and the proliferative fraction (PF = %S + %G2M) were determined by flow cytometry after dual labeling with bromodeoxyuridine and propidium iodide. Prior to pheresis the median %S and PF were 5.4 and 15.4%, respectively. The median change in %S was +2.5% (range -5.5 to +18.8) with increases greater than or equal to 3.7% in 4/8 patients. The median change in PF was +6.1% (range -13.8 to +25.3) with an increase of greater than or equal to 3.6% in 6/8 patients. The median absolute changes of 2.5 and 6.1% represent increases of 47% for %S and 40% for PF compared to the day 1 (pre-pheresis) median values. As the number of nucleoside transporters in the cell membrane [nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR) binding sites] has been related to the percentage of cells in S-phase and to cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) cellular pharmacology, these were also measured before and after leukapheresis. Changes in the number of NBMPR binding sites varied widely with a median increase of 365 sites per cell (range -26,061 to +10,396). The change in NBMPR sites was significantly and positively correlated with changes in %S (r = 0.829, p = 0.042). These data suggest that mechanical cytoreduction by leukapheresis can increase the fraction of leukemia cells in S-phase and the PF in some patients with AML. The increase in %S is accompanied by an increase in NBMPR binding sites per cell. These changes in leukemia cell characteristics would be expected to result in an increase in efficacy of ara-C or other S-phase specific agents.

Binding Sites↗

Venous air emboli with 15N2: pulmonary excretion and physiologic responses in dogs.

Venous air embolism occurs with decompression sickness as well as during a wide variety of surgical procedures in hospitalized patients. We developed a canine model to allow documentation and quantitation of pulmonary excretion of intravascular air emboli both in a control air breathing state and during treatment. We utilized 15N2 (a stable, nonradioactive isotope of room air nitrogen, 14N2) as the nitrogen component of venous air emboli (1 ml.kg-1) given to 27 anesthetized mongrel dogs ventilated with room air (tidal volume = 15 ml.kg-1). End-tidal 15N2 was measured and the embolism diagnosed by increased levels in exhaled gases. Exhaled gases were also collected in Douglas bags and the 15N2 recovered was quantitated by a helium dilution technique. Systemic and pulmonary artery pressure changes and quantitation of excreted 15N2 were documented after embolism during a control state with continued room air (21% oxygen) ventilation, and after treatments with either a) 100% oxygen ventilation; b) compression to 2128 mmHg, or 2.8 atm abs, and room air ventilation; or c) a combination of 100% oxygen ventilation and 2.8 atm abs compression. Increased end-tidal 15N2 was characteristic of all emboli, and use of 15N2 allowed accurate measurement of excreted gas during both room air and 100% oxygen ventilation. Embolic gas recoveries were not increased significantly by any of the treatments.

Animals↗

Breath-by-breath monitoring of respiratory gas concentrations during compression and decompression.

We compared six systems for sampling respiratory gases from within a hyperbaric chamber to provide online gas concentrations by a mass spectrometer (MS) outside the chamber. Gas at hyperbaric pressure was sampled through either a capillary and mass flow controller (system 1), a capillary and micrometering manual valve (system 2), or a capillary alone (system 3) by a vacuum pump outside the chamber. In each system, a small amount of decompressed gas was drawn into the MS for analysis while the balance vented into the room. Systems 4-6 were constructed from systems 1-3, respectively, by eliminating the vacuum pump. Using a square wave respiratory simulator, which generated known gas concentration profiles within the chamber, MS analyses were recorded from each sampling system at compression and decompression rates of 20 meters of sea water.min(-1) and chamber pressures from 1.0 to 6.0 atm abs. Inspiratory and end-expiratory concentrations of nitrogen (0.0 and 1.0%, respectively) and carbon dioxide (0.0 and 4.2%, respectively) were accurately determined at respiratory rates of up to 70 breaths.min(-1) with a sensitivity of 0.05% and without pressure artifact.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Detection of venous air embolism in dogs by emission spectrometry.

Emission spectrometers provide alternative, relatively inexpensive methods for detecting the concentration of respiratory gas nitrogen. Mass spectrometers are accepted as reliable monitors of end-tidal nitrogen for detection of venous air embolisms. We evaluated an inexpensive emission spectrometer for detecting changes in nitrogen levels and compared it with a mass spectrometer for detecting increased end-tidal nitrogen levels in dogs with venous air embolisms. During in vitro gas flow studies (helium; oxygen; helium/oxygen mixtures; or 70% nitrous oxide/30% oxygen with 0, 1, 2, or 3% isoflurane), air boluses (0.01 to 5.0 ml) were injected into a gas flow circuit and outlet nitrogen levels were measured by a Collins 21232 emission spectrometer. Responses were greater after each bolus when helium rather than oxygen was the major diluent gas. During in vivo studies, 5 dogs were anesthetized, ventilated, denitrogenated, and given venous air embolisms (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 ml.kg-1) during oxygen and then during Heliox (20% oxygen:80% helium) breathing. End-tidal nitrogen increased approximately two-fold after venous air embolisms given during Heliox as compared with oxygen ventilation. In all 0.1-ml.kg-1 venous air embolisms end-tidal nitrogen increased when the emission spectrometer was used, but venous air embolisms less than 1.0 ml.kg-1 were not consistently detected by mass spectrometry. Emission spectrometry can be used to detect increased end-tidal nitrogen levels indicative of venous air embolism and may be a more sensitive detector than mass spectrometry.

Animals↗

Stability of arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients during postoperative cardiorespiratory support.

The changes in the arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradient. P(a-ET)CO2, were studied in postoperative cardiac surgery patients from the time of admission to the intensive care unit, during changing cardiorespiratory support, up to the time of tracheal extubation. Individual factors evaluated for their effects on P(a-ET)CO2 included rate of mechanical ventilation, infusion of vasoactive agents (nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, dopamine, dobutamine, and metariminol), and associated changes in haemodynamic pathophysiology (cardiac index, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index, systemic vascular resistance index, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure). After approval by the Clinical Investigation Committee, 59 patients, age 63 +/- 9 (41 to 75) yr, were studied and 382 individual gradient determinations made. Mean P(a-ET)CO2 was 5.47 +/- 5.21 mmHg, with the mean PaCO2, 36.51 +/- 5.89 mmHg and mean ETCO2, 31.04 +/- 6.44 mmHg. For the population as a whole, the correlation between PaCO2 and ETCO2 determined by regression analysis was maintained (R = 0.644, P less than 0.001). Comparison of the individual and population correlation coefficients by Student's t test showed no significant difference, but a normal population distribution of the gradients (P less than 0.05). None of the variables assessed could be determined to influence P(a-ET)CO2 significantly. For many of the individual patients, however, the relationship between PaCO2 and ETCO2 did not maintain a significant correlation throughout the study period. In the postoperative cardiac surgery patient population P(a-ET)CO2 follows a normal distribution and PaCO2 and ETCO2 maintain a statistically significant correlation. However, when evaluating individual patients, this relationship has wide variability.

Adult↗

Hyperbaric nitrous oxide as a sole anesthetic agent in humans.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been used to produce analgesia and anesthesia for more than 100 yr. However, because of its high MAC value (1.04), general anesthesia with N2O can usually be attained only in a hyperbaric environment. Because of the sparsity of documentation for human physiologic responses to hyperbaric N2O, we studied eight male volunteers at 2 ATA (1520 mm Hg) anesthetized with N2O only for periods of 2-4 h. N2O partial pressures ranged from 836 to 1368 mm Hg. The anesthetic state was associated with tachypnea, tachycardia, increases in systemic blood pressure, mydriasis, diaphoresis, and at times, clonus and opisthotonus. A stable level of physiologic activity was difficult to maintain.

Adult↗