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Biomedical subjects

G Gray

Publications and source records attributed to G Gray.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

cDNA cloning of human apoA-I: amino acid sequence of preproapoA-I.

ds-cDNA to human liver apoA-I mRNA has been cloned. Nucleic acid sequence analysis revealed that apoA-I mRNA codes for a precursor apolipoprotein, preproapoA-I, which contains 24 amino acids on the NH2-terminal end of the mature plasma apoA-I. Eighteen amino acids are contained within the hydrophobic prepeptide (Met-Lys-Ala-Ala-Val-Leu-Thr-Leu-Ala-Val-Leu-Phe-Leu-Thr-Gly-Ser-Gln-Ala) followed by a 6 amino acid propeptide (Arg-His-Phe-Trp-Gln-Gln). Our results on human apoA-I are in agreement with the partial sequence of the precursor of rat apoA-I with respect to the length of the precursor sequence, location of the prepeptide, and the presence of an unusual propeptide sequence terminating in a neutral dipeptide Gln-Gln. A detailed analysis of the primary structure of normal human apoA-I mRNA will be essential to our ultimate understanding of the processing of human apoA-I and diseases characterized by molecular defects in apoA-I structure and function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A survey of placebo use in a general hospital.

Two hundred thirty registered nurses and seventy physicians participated in a retrospective study scrutinizing placebo effects, prescribing patterns, and staff attitudes in a university-based general hospital setting. Despite copious experimental literature devoted to placebo effects over the past thirty years, the medical and surgical use of placebos seems to disregard experimental data. Although 80% of the staff had used placebos in the hospital, their knowledge of placebo effects was in many respects deficient. Within the hospital, 89% of placebo use was directed toward the amelioration of "pain"; the authors believe that emphasis should be placed on the education of staff to perceive emotional, social, and physiological concomitants of pain rather than resorting to a purely physicalistic approach. A need to acknowledge staff conflicts over the ethical use of placebos should be a significant part of this educational approach.

Drug Utilization↗

Carcinoma arising in pilonidal sinuses.

Pilonidal carcinoma is an infrequent complication of pilonidal disease. The surgeon's suspicion should be raised in cases of longstanding pilonidal inflammation. The disease occurs most frequently in men. The lesion is often a well-differentiated squamous carcinoma. Wide excisions at the initial procedure following a brief period of local wound care, is the optimum treatment and increases the chances for a five-year survival. Definitive closure of the defect is delayed and accomplished by rotational flaps or skin grafts. It palpable nodes are present in the inguinal region they should be biopsied even though this does not necessarily connote metastasis. When inguinal node metastasis is present, this is associated with a poor prognosis. The incidence of occult node metastasis is not known because no prophylactic groin dissections were performed. Staged groin dissections were not associated with any long-term survivals. The series was too small to determine its palliative potential. Radiation therapy may palliate local bone or soft tissue recurrences. Re-excisions of local soft tissue recurrences can provide, in some instances, long disease-free intervals. Both topical and systemic chemotherapy were administered in more recent cases with poor results, but this series is not large enough to form conclusions for this modality of treatment.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Comparison of metabolic and clinical effects of four oral contraceptive formulations and a contraceptive vaginal ring.

A group of 100 women desiring OC received one of the following four formulations on a randomized basis: (1) mestranol 50 micrograms and norethindrone 1 mg, , (2) ethinyl estradiol 50 micrograms and norethindrone 1 mg, (3) ethinyl estradiol 35 micrograms and norethindrone 1 mg, and (4) ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms and levonorgestrel 150 mg. An additional 10 women received a CVR containing levonorgestrel and estradiol. Measurement of a large number of serum chemistries, lipids, proteins, clotting factors, and liver enzymes was obtained before and 3 and 6 months after starting medication. Clinical factors such as weight, blood pressure, bleeding or spotting, or any adverse side effects were also recorded. There was no significant difference in the metabolic parameters measured among the four oral contraceptives except the increase in angiotensinogen was slightly less in the groups receiving the compounds with 30 or 35 micrograms estrogen and the groups receiving the norgestrel compound had no increase in triglycerides and a slight decrease in cholesterol levels. When the CVR was compared with all oral contraceptives it was found to produce no change in angiotensinogen levels and a decrease in triglycerides. Some of each group of OC users had a lowering of antithrombin III to abnormal levels but none of the CVR users had his amount of decrease. As oral steroids with 30 or 35 micrograms of estrogen do not produce significantly less metabolic alteration than do compounds with 50 micrograms of estrogen, it is unlikely that their use will reduce the incidence of the uncommon serious adverse effects associated with OC use. However, since the CVR's did not increase angiotensinogen, their use as contraceptives will most likely not produce hypertension and possibly the other serious circulatory problems which are increased in some OC users.

Adolescent↗

Ultrasonography, computerized transaxial tomography and pathology of angiomyolipoma of the kidney: solution to a diagnostic dilemma.

The review of 9 anatomically proved cases of angiomyolipomas of the kidney has revealed characteristic findings of marked echoes on ultrasonography and areas of fat attenuation on computerized transaxial tomography. These 2 findings should resolve the diagnostic dilemma in this benign lesion and prevent the need for operation intervention in most cases.

Adult↗

Screening the nipple for involvement in breast cancer.

On the basis of independent clinical and pathological screens, mastectomy patients can be effectively classified into high-risk and low-risk groups for neoplastic involvement of the nipple-areolar complex. Clinical criteria included gross nipple signs, cutaneous signs, and tumor location, size, and bilaterality. Pathological criteria comprised subareolar involvement multicentricity, and nodal involvement. Fifty consecutive women undergoing mastectomy for cancer at the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center underwent classification into high-risk and low-risk groups on the basis of these criteria. Fifty-four percent of the patients studied passed the screens and were included in the low-risk group. The incidence of nipple involvement in this group was 0. In the remaining 46%, failing either or both of the screens and constituting the high-risk group, the incidence of neoplastic involvement of the nipple was 35%. All involved nipples fell into this group.

Breast↗

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: an unusual cause of acute respiratory failure.

A 75-year-old man developed dyspnea, cough, peripheral radiographic infiltrates, eosinophilia, and severe hypoxemia requiring mechanical ventilation. An open lung biopsy revealed chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, and the patient recovered with corticosteroid therapy. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is a disease that should be included in the different diagnosis of treatable causes of acute respiratory failure.

Acute Disease↗

Parental and peer influences as correlates of problem drinking among high school students.

This study was concerned with the relative importance of parental, peer, and demographic variables in predicting problem drinking among young people. A survey of drinking and drinking problems was conducted among 1,439 students in two schools in Ontario. A Multiple Classification Analysis was employed to identify variables with a significant and unique predictive power. It was found that problem drinking is best predicted with situational factors and those directly connected with drinking. Parental and peer variables had little unique predictive power. Problem drinkers were more often male, had their first drinks away from home, and usually drank in cars.

Adolescent↗

Multiple predictors of dropout from alcoholism treatment.

A common problem in treating alcoholics is the high dropout rate. Many studies have identified individual factors associated with dropout, eg, poor motivation and previous dropout. We believe the present study reports the first major effort to use multivariate analyses to predict dropout in a large (792), one-year follow-up study of alcoholics, and examines the possibility that medical and nonmedical treatments lead to differential dropout rates. A multiple classification analysis technique showed that treatment variables as opposed to client characteristics were the best predictors of dropout. Patients remaining in treatment were more likely to have a variety of medical interventions, eg, medication and medical assessment, than those who dropped out. Results were similar to studies using other techniques and have interesting implications for the treatment of alcoholics, raising questions about current trends toward nonmedical treatment of alcoholism.

Alcoholism↗

Rhynchosporoside, a host-selective toxin produced by Rhynchosporium secalis, the causal agent of scald disease of barley.

Rhynchosporoside, a phytotoxic compound, has been isolated from cultures of Rhynchosporium secalis, the causal agent of scald disease of barley. The toxin is a cello-bioside of 1,2-propanediol. The compound may play some role in symptom expression because it was isolated from diseased plants in concentrations similar to those that could cause symptoms in toxin-treated plants. The toxin causes leaf tip and marginal necrosis and subsequent chlorosis of the entire leaf. The toxin affects only certain cultivars and lines of barley and rye; however, it also affects certain nonhosts of R. secalis. The genetic factor controlling host resistance to the fungus is not identical to that controlling insensitivity to the toxin.

Journal Article↗