Biomedical subjects
J Anderson
Publications and source records attributed to J Anderson.
Fatal meningitis complicating cryosurgery for haemorrhoids.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Iodine toxicosis in six herds of dairy cattle.
Daily iodine intake estimated to range from greater than 68 to 600 mg/animal/day was associated with signs referable to iodine intoxication in adult cows in 6 herds of dairy cattle. Signs were reversed by lowering supplemental intake to less than 12 mg/animal/day. Results of biochemical tests other than those for serum and milk iodine were not diagnostic. Serum iodine concentrations were 2.6 to 6.9 times the mean iodine concentration found in 12 control cows, each receiving 12 mg of iodine/day. Milk iodine concentrations were 3.6 to 13.6 times milk iodine concentrations in the control cows.
Ultrasonic assessment of fetal growth in the nonhuman primate (Macaca mulatta).
Serial ultrasound measurements of fetal growth were made during uncomplicated pregnancy in 28 time-mated rhesus monkeys. Gestational sac (GS) size, crown-rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), head area (HA), abdominal circumference (AC), abdominal area (AA), and femur length (FL) were measured. Average longitudinal growth curves for each parameter were obtained from individual fetal growth curves. Data analysis indicated that the linear model was optimal for GS, CRL, HA, AA, and FL. The linear-quadratic model was optimal for AC, and the linear-cubic model was optimal for BPD and HC.
Altered helper and suppressor lymphocyte populations in surgical patients. A measure of postoperative immunosuppression.
Although a wealth of evidence has suggested that cell-mediated immunity is suppressed after simple surgical trauma, there have been contradictory results using stimulation assays of lymphocyte function. We quantitated T-lymphocyte subsets in 11 patients undergoing routine cholecystectomy by immunofluorescence microscopy using specific monoclonal antibodies. T-helper to T-suppressor cell ratios were calculated on the preoperative day and the first postoperative day in all patients, and on the third or fourth postoperative day in five patients. Helper to suppressor ratios decreased in all patients on the first postoperative day (p greater than 0.01), but returned to within normal limits on subsequent days. Changes were due more to decreases in helper cells than to increases in suppressor cells, although changes in both populations were statistically significant. The measurement of T-cell subsets by antibody-specific labeling and immunofluorescence microscopy may prove to be a more sensitive, quantifiable, and reproducible assay of immune function in surgical or traumatized patients than use of stimulation assays. Measurements of specific helper and suppressor lymphocyte populations may prove useful in predicting morbidity and mortality, and may also help in studying the effect of immunomodulating agents on the immune response.
Plasma beta-endorphin, pain thresholds and anxiety levels across the human menstrual cycle.
Nine normally cycling women and seven other women employing oral contraception were tested during five phases (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, luteal and premenstrual) of their menstrual cycle. The procedure consisted of administration of an anxiety inventory and determination of pain detection and pain thresholds in response to electric shock and the cold pressor task. Venipunctures were also performed and the plasma of normally menstruating women later assayed for beta-endorphin. Analyses revealed that the variance but not the mean levels in peripheral beta-endorphin levels significantly differed (p less than 0.01) across the menstrual cycle with the greatest amount of variance found during the ovulatory phase and the least during the luteal phase. The high variance during the period around ovulation was due to several subjects having extremely elevated beta-endorphin levels which possibly may have resulted from the occurrence of ovulation. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between anxiety levels and beta-endorphin levels was found only during the menstrual phase. The absence of findings concerning cyclic variation in pain thresholds is contrary to earlier reports and indicates that such a phenomenon may be dependent upon the paradigm employed.
Immunologic aspects of phenobarbital hypersensitivity.
Seven patients with hypersensitivity reactions to phenobarbital are described. Clinical manifestations consisted of fever and pruritic skin rash, often associated with adenopathy and conjunctivitis. Reexposure to phenobarbital or other anticonvulsants resulted in redevelopment of symptoms. In vitro lymphocyte stimulation studies with anticonvulsant drugs suggested a cell-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to phenobarbital.
Ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the long QT syndromes.
Marked prolongation of the electrocardiographic QT interval often is associated with a distinctive form of ventricular tachycardia characterized by the gradual oscillation around the baseline of the peaks of successive QRS complexes. This was named torsades de pointes, or "twisting of the points." This form of ventricular tachycardia tends to be rapid and self-terminating and often occurs in clusters, leading afflicted patients to present with recurrent dizziness and syncope. Ventricular fibrillation and sudden death are common.
Treatment of Aspergillus infection of the proximal aortic prosthetic graft with associated vertebral osteomyelitis.
This is a case report of an unusual vascular graft infection involving an invasive Aspergillus species with associated vertebral osteomyelitis. Successful treatment was obtained by graft incision, extra-anatomic bypass, and prolonged antibiotic therapy. To our knowledge this is the first successful treatment of invasive Aspergillus of an aortic prosthetic graft.
Cocrystals of the DNA-binding domain of phage 434 repressor and a synthetic phage 434 operator.
The amino-terminal domain of the phage 434 repressor forms cocrystals with a synthetic phage 434 operator. The cocrystals diffract to at least 4 A, and x-ray crystallographic analysis of them is in progress. An analysis of the packing in the cocrystals shows that complexes consisting of dimers of amino-terminal domain bound specifically to operators are stacked end to end in longer protein-DNA rods parallel to the unit cell body diagonals. The DNA in the complexes has 10.5 base pairs per turn and a rise per base of 3.26 A--values consistent with B-form DNA--indicating that DNA is neither unwound nor overwound by bound repressor. The packing analysis suggests an approach that might facilitate the cocrystallization of other DNA-binding proteins with the DNA they recognize.
An audiometric survey of Royal Artillery gun crews following "Operation Corporate".
An Audiometric Survey was carried out on two batteries of 4 Fd Regt RA (n-84) who were exposed to massive levels of impulse noise during "OP CORPORATE". A control group (n-30) was obtained from the remaining battery which did not serve in the Falklands, and it was matched well in age, service and job. They completed a questionnaire, were physically examined and had an audiogram using the MAICO M26 computer audiometer. Results were related to PULHEEMS standards and compared. No subject in the control group was classed below H2 but in those exposed, 17 were H3 or worse. This is significant (p 0.01 for 1 df) but the significance is attenuated medically and statistically. No significant correlation was found between type of ear defender and degree of protection. The survey showed that sufficient numbers had been affected to necessitate a full examination of all troops who fought in East Falkland.
Thrombin stimulates tissue plasminogen activator release from cultured human endothelial cells.
The effect of thrombin on the release of tissue plasminogen activator from endothelial cells was studied in primary cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Tissue plasminogen activator concentration in conditioned medium was measured by a two-site radioimmunometric assay. The addition of increasing concentrations (0.01 to 10 U/ml) of thrombin to confluent cultures produced a saturable, dose-dependent increase in the rate of release of tissue plasminogen activator. A sixfold increase in tissue plasminogen activator concentration (from 2 to 12 ng/ml) occurred after the addition of 1 U/ml thrombin (8 X 10(-9) M) to cultures containing 5 X 10(4) cells/cm2. Enhanced release was not observed until 6 h after thrombin addition, reached a maximum rate of 1.3 ng/ml per h between 8 and 16 h, and then declined to 0.52 ng/ml per h after 16 h. The 6-h lag period before increased tPA release was reproducible and independent of thrombin concentration. Thrombin inactivated with diisopropylfluorophosphate or hirudin did not induce an increase in tissue plasminogen activator levels. A 50-fold excess of diisopropylfluorophosphate-treated thrombin, which inhibits binding of active thrombin to endothelial cell high affinity binding sites, did not inhibit the thrombin-induced increase. It is concluded that proteolitically active thrombin causes an increase in the rate of release of tissue plasminogen activator from cultured human endothelial cells. The 6-h interval between thrombin treatment and enhanced tissue plasminogen activator release may reflect a delaying mechanism that transiently protects hemostatic plugs from the sudden increase in the local concentration of this fibrinolytic enzyme.
A longitudinal study of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) milk composition: trace elements, minerals, protein, carbohydrate, and fat.
The concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, protein, carbohydrate, and fat were analyzed in milk from rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) during the course of lactation. Concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and protein were higher in milk of early lactation (colostrum) than in mature milk, while concentrations of calcium increased with lactation time. Concentrations of zinc in monkey colostrum and mature milk were similar to that of human milk, while iron, copper, calcium, and protein concentrations were higher than in human milk.
Relationship between pubertal timing and body size in underfed male rats.
A direct connection has been proposed between body size and sexual maturation by the critical body weight and critical body fat hypotheses. To test these theories in male rats, we compared the degree of sexual maturation in animals with reduced growth rate due to undernutrition with that in weight-matched but normally fed rats. Underfed rats had significantly larger prostate, seminal vesicle, and testis weights than the weight-matched normally fed controls at the three time points studied: the early pubertal period (approximate time of onset of rising serum testosterone), late pubertal period (approximate time of appearance of mature spermatids), and young adult period. At the first time point, testes of underfed rats, but not those of normally fed, weight-matched controls, showed mature step 19 spermatids, and serum testosterone was significantly higher in the underfed animals. At all time points, serum LH levels were similar in both groups, while serum FSH levels were significantly lower in the underfed rats at all points. The Lee index, an index of fatness, was significantly lower in the underfed rats. The current study indicates that underfed rats are more sexually mature than normally fed controls of the same weight despite having a lower percentage of body fat. These findings do not support the critical body weight or critical body fat hypotheses of puberty in male rats.
Parents and therapists in a professional partnership.
Based on a review of the literature, occupational therapy intervention with parents of handicapped children is presented. Normal conflicts in raising a child, parent responses to the diagnosis of disability, and stage-related parent reactions are examined to help understand the issues of parenting a developmentally or learning disabled child. The development of a collaborative relationship between the occupational therapist and parents is stressed. Selected methods of evaluation and strategies for occupational therapy intervention are described with a focus on the use of activities with parents.
Three national intermediaries are picked to replace direct reimbursement option.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Carcinogenesis, benzo[a]pyrene metabolism, and sister chromatid exchanges in lungs of rats after intratracheal 3-methylcholanthrene.
Induction of squamous cell carcinomas in F344 rats by the intratracheal instillation of carrier-free 3-methylcholanthrene [(MCA) CAS: 56-49-5] was dependent on the total dose and on the size of the crystals. With the use of MCA particles of about 1 micron in mean diameter in doses up to 25 mg, delivered as 5 doses of 5 mg each at 2-week intervals, no tumors were produced. With particles in the range of 10-300 microns, all rats receiving 25 mg developed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. At lower doses, the tumor incidence was dose-dependent. Metabolism of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene [CAS: 50-32-8] or [3H]MCA by microsomes from lungs and livers of treated rats was increased over that of controls and remained elevated for more than 6 weeks in the lung and 2 weeks in the liver. Repeated treatment of rats did not increase the levels of enzyme activity beyond that seen after a single treatment, nor did the increased activity persist longer than was seen after a single treatment. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) were measured in primary cultures of lung cells and in peripheral and spleen lymphocytes from treated rats. Elevated frequencies of SCE were found in lung cells up to 6 weeks following a single treatment with MCA. Repeated treatment did not increase the frequency or increase the persistence of the SCE. No increase in exchange frequency was found in lymphocytes of any treated rats.
Effects of diabetic control and biosynthetic human insulin on blood rheology in established diabetics.
Blood rheology (blood viscosity, haematocrit, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation and deformability) was measured in 22 diabetics in a study to compare animal insulins with biosynthetic human insulin. All rheological variables were significantly abnormal in the diabetics when compared with matched normal controls, and were not influenced by the type of insulin injected. However, blood rheology was related to diabetic control, as judged by glycosylated haemoglobin levels; when diabetic control was worst (mean glycosylated haemoglobin 11%), blood viscosity was significantly higher and red cell deformability significantly lower than when control was at its best (mean glycosylated haemoglobin 9.5%). A similar correlation between mean red cell deformability and mean glycosylated haemoglobin was found when individual diabetics were compared (r = 0.66; p less than 0.001). The occurrence of abnormal blood viscosity and red cell deformability during periods of poor diabetic control may contribute to the development of diabetic vascular complications.