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Biomedical subjects

J Boland

Publications and source records attributed to J Boland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Prostaglandin metabolite levels during cervical ripening with a controlled-release hydrogel polymer prostaglandin E2 pessary.

Prostaglandin E and F metabolite (PGEM and PGFM) concentrations in peripheral plasma were assayed following the vaginal administration of a controlled release hydrogel polymer pessary designed to release 0.6 mg PGE2 per hour in vivo. A linear relationship between calculated PGE2 release from the pessary and PGEM levels was observed with a correlation coefficient of 0.78. A significant rise in PGEM levels occurred two hours following pessary administration, with significantly higher PGEM levels in patients delivering within the eight hour observation period compared with those delivering later. PGFM levels increased more slowly. The results suggest that PGE2 released by the pessary crosses the vaginal epithelium and may stimulate endogenous prostaglandin production. The controlled rise of metabolites in association with the polymer pessary suggest that it should provide greater control in labour induction than other vehicles we have studied, but this should be confirmed by clinical trials.

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed1990

The concurrent in vitro and in vivo release of PGE2 from a controlled-release hydrogel polymer pessary for cervical ripening.

Twenty five patients booked for induction of labour, at 38 weeks or more gestation, were administered a controlled release vaginal polymer pessary containing 10 mg prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), designed to release 0.6 mg per hour in vivo. The release profile from the polymer was linear throughout the eight hour observation period with a correlation coefficient of 0.81, and regression slope of 0.93 mg/hr. with 95% confidence intervals of 0.63 mg/hr. to 1.23 mg/hr. This compared with a concomitant release profile in vitro which was uniform with time for the first five hours, but then continued at a decreasing rate with a correlation coefficient of 0.98. The relationship between PGE2 release and cervical score change was linear, with a correlation coefficient of 0.65. The results show that PGE2 release from the pessary in vivo is predictable, and suggest that the controlled release pessary offers the advantages of greater control of cervical ripening than alternative vehicles currently available.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1990

The Ciba Corning ACS:180 benchtop immunoassay analyzer.

We describe a new clinical laboratory instrument, the ACS:180, used to automate heterogeneous immunoassay testing. The ACS:180 automates immunoassays in which paramagnetic particles are the solid phase and changes in chemiluminescence are measured. The system can accommodate both competitive and sandwich-type assay configurations. The microprocessor-based instrument fully automates each step of the assay, including sample and reagent addition, separation and wash of paramagnetic particles, and generation and acquisition of the chemiluminescent signal. The instrument has the flexibility to operate in random-access or batch mode. The time from application of sample to first result is less than 15 min; throughput is as much as 180 tests per hour.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1977

Emotional reactions to radiation treatment.

Fifty patients sent to the Radiotherapy Service of the Mount Sinai Medical Center of New York City were interviewed by a psychiatrist. The focus of the initial interview was what they were told when referred for radiation. Although 60% were told by their doctors they had cancer, all arrived at the treatment center unprepared for the frequency, number, and procedure of treatment and for the efficacy of treatment by radiation. Patients believed that requiring radiation was very bad news. Radiation was feared as inherently damaging and quite possibly carcinogenic. Few expected it to be curative. Interviews after completing treatment revealed an incidence of depression and anxiety even greater than in the pre-treatment interviews, indicating that radiation treatment is stressful in itself. Fewer than one-third judged themselves improved by radiation. More than one-third felt worse and judged treatment to have been ineffective, not realizing their new distress resulted from side effects of radiation. Patients suffer irrational fears of damage and death because of erroneous preconceptions of radiation which doctors fail to correct. Ironically, the lay and medical concepts of the dismal manifestations and futility of radiation treatment are entirely false. In this series, only one patient suffered damage due to radiation. Sixty percent were free of signs of cancer at follow-up 18-36 months later.

Anxiety↗