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Biomedical subjects

J Burgess

Publications and source records attributed to J Burgess.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Management of adipsia by a behavioural modification technique.

Adipsia combined with diabetes insipidus after hypothalamic damage may produce major difficulties in clinical management. If there is an associated memory impairment it may be impossible to teach self-regulation of fluid balance, necessitating long-term hospital supervision. The successful use of a behaviour modification technique to achieve independent drinking and allow discharge from hospital into the community is described in a patient with adipsia, diabetes insipidus and memory impairment resulting from the removal of a craniopharyngioma.

Adult↗

Symptom characteristics in TMD patients reporting blunt trauma and/or whiplash injury.

Descriptive data are presented for 100 patients reporting facial pain and temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) precipitated by (1) overt facial/head trauma, (2) "whiplash" injury, and (3) "whiplash" injury with overt trauma. Analysis of the data suggests that these TMD trauma subsets are significantly different in terms of total number of pain sites, presence of concomitant neck pain, range of opening, and report of sleep disturbance and involvement in litigation. They also varied with respect to reducing and nonreducing disc displacement. However, significant differences were not observed for initial pain at presentation; muscle pressure pain threshold; McGill affective or HSCL-90 depression, anxiety, and somatization scores; prior pain duration; or time post-trauma before pain onset. These findings suggest that patients within these trauma categories share some common characteristics but may differ in important demographic, pain, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction variables.

Adult↗

Internalization and activation of the rat liver insulin receptor kinase in vivo.

The preparation of clearly delineated plasmalemma (PM) and endosomal subcellular fractions from rat liver has allowed us to compare insulin receptor (IR) kinase activity at the cell surface and in hepatic endosomes (ENs) as a function of dose and time after injected insulin. Tyrosine kinase activity in PM and ENs was measured, after solubilization and partial purification by wheat germ agglutinin chromatography (lectin-purified), using poly(Glu:Tyr) as substrate. Following the injection of a subsaturating dose of insulin (1.5 micrograms/100 g body weight), lectin-purified receptor showed peak activation at 30 s in PM and at 2 min in ENs. As observed previously (Khan, M. N., Savoie, S., Bergeron, J. J. M., and Posner, B. I. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 8462-8472) autophosphorylation activity was also augmented following insulin injection. In a pattern virtually identical to that of exogenous kinase activity, autophosphorylation attained peak activity at 30 s in PM and at 2 min in ENs. The time course of IR autophosphorylation in intact membranes was very similar to that observed for lectin purified receptors and was seen with an injected insulin dose as low as 150 ng/100 g body weight. Phosphatase treatment of the solubilized endosomal receptor abolished its enhanced activity. Hence, insulin treatment led to in vivo receptor phosphorylation which was reflected in the enhancement of both tyrosine kinase and autophosphorylation activities. Significant differences in the phosphorylation activities of PM and ENs were observed. Phosphoamino acid analyses revealed that the activated IR of intact PM was autophosphorylated in vitro, at both serine (55%) and tyrosine (45%) residues; whereas the activated IR of intact ENs was phosphorylated in vitro exclusively on tyrosine autophosphorylation specific activity for the activated IR of ENs was 3- to 4-fold that of the IR of PM. This was observed for the lectin purified IRs as well as for IRs of intact cell fractions. The reduced level of IR autophosphorylation in PM was not due to occlusion of tyrosine acceptor sites by prior in vivo phosphorylation. The rapidity with which activated IR accumulates in ENs as well as the sensitivity of endosomal IR kinase to activation by injected insulin are consistent with the endosomal apparatus serving a physiologically significant site for the regulation of transmembrane signaling.

Animals↗

Characterization of albumin-alginic acid complex coacervation.

Complex coacervation of albumin and alginic acid has been investigated to characterize this process, and to prepare a microencapsulation system suitable for the encapsulation of live cells, protein and polypeptide drugs. The optimum conditions of pH, ionic strength and total polyion concentration were in accordance with predictions based on the method of Burgess & Carless (1984). Albumin/alginic acid complex coacervation appears to fit the Vies-Aranyi model for complex coacervation. Coacervation was limited compared with other polypeptide/polysaccharide systems such as gelatin and acacia, with albumin/alginic acid complex precipitates rather than complex coacervates forming under certain conditions. In particular coacervation was limited to concentrations below 0.5% w/v. At concentrations between 0.35 and 0.5% w/v both complex coacervation and precipitation occurred, and at concentrations above 0.5% w/v only precipitation was detected. The albumin/alginic acid complex coacervate is very viscous and this together with the limited conditions governing the occurrence of coacervation makes this system unsuitable for the preparation of microcapsules.

Alginates↗

Reliability of visual analog and verbal descriptor scales for "objective" measurement of temporomandibular disorder pain.

Eight dentists viewed standardized videotapes showing palpations of the temporomandibular joint and muscles of mastication and recorded their judgments concerning the amount of pain the patient was experiencing. Judgments were recorded using a four-point verbal descriptor scale (VDS) ("none", "mild", "moderate", "severe" pain) or a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) anchored with the terms "no pain" and "worst pain possible". Test/re-test reliability over a one-week period and interjudge reliabilities were calculated for each scale; reliabilities of the two scales were directly compared based on the statistical equivalence of weighted kappa and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Neither scale showed satisfactory reliability. Median test/re-test reliabilities were k = 0.590 for the VDS and r = 0.822 for the VAS. Interjudge reliabilities averaged k = 0.394 for the VDS and r = 0.735 for the VAS. Direct comparison of reliabilities for the two scales showed no clear advantage for either scale. The marginal reliabilities of these scales, when used by dentists to quantify the patient's pain, suggest that neither scale should be regarded as an "objective" pain measure.

Decision Making↗

Anatomical study of the cavernous sinus emphasizing operative approaches and related vascular and neural reconstruction.

The efficacy of three operative approaches to the cavernous sinus (CS) and the possibilities of vascular and cranial nerve reconstruction in and around the CS were studied in 50 cadaver specimens (25 heads). The lateral operative approach was through the lateral wall, between Cranial Nerves V1 and IV, or between Cranial Nerves V1 and V2. The superior approach was through the superior wall of the CS after removing the anterior clinoid process and unroofing the optic canal. The inferior approach followed the petrous internal carotid artery (ICA) into the CS after an extradural subtemporal exposure or after a combined subtemporal and infratemporal fossa exposure. The different exposures of the spaces of the CS and of the intracavernous structures provided by the superior and the lateral approaches were complementary. The exposure provided by the inferior approach was minimal; however, the junction of the petrous and cavernous ICA was best exposed by this route. The combined subtemporal and infratemporal fossa approach exposed the petrous ICA (for proximal control or for reconstruction) with the greatest ease and with the least temporal lobe retraction. The combination of the superior and lateral approaches and the complete mobilization of the intracavernous ICA facilitated its repair after experimental lacerations. Lacerations of either the inferior and the inferomedial aspects of any portion of the cavernous ICA or of the anterior surface of the posterior vertical segment of the artery were the most difficult to repair. End-to-end anastomosis was more difficult with the posterior third of the artery than with the anterior two-thirds. A vein graft with an average length of 3.5 cm could be sutured from the petrous to the supraclinoid ICA to bypass the cavernous ICA, with an average occlusion time of 45 minutes. End-to-end technique was judged better for the proximal anastomosis, but end (graft)-to-side anastomosis was easier to perform at the distal end because of the location of the ophthalmic artery. Resuture of Cranial Nerves III and VI could not be performed in fresh cadavers if the gap exceeded 0.3 cm. In 3 specimens, the exposure of Cranial Nerve VI in the posterior fossa through the petrous apex and in the orbital apex was followed by graft placement (bypassing the CS). The complex anatomy of the cranial nerves at the apex of the CS was also defined in 10 specimens. Surgeons who perform operations in and around the CS for neoplastic and vascular lesions will find these studies useful.

Carotid Artery, Internal↗

Penetrating chest wounds: a 10-year review.

From January 1975 to December 1984, 93 patients with penetrating chest wounds were admitted to three hospitals in Regina. Sixty-three percent of the wounds were caused by knives and 34% by firearms. Sixty-three patients were treated conservatively, 18 patients had thoracotomy and 12 others underwent laparotomy. Of the 18 patients, 16 had wounds between the nipples; 8 of the 16 had injuries to the heart or great vessels. Whereas the majority of penetrating wounds to the chest may be treated by observation or thoracostomy alone, a surgical approach is recommended when penetrating injuries are thought to have traversed the mediastinum, because of the high incidence of associated cardiac injuries. In doubtful cases the decision should favour early thoracotomy.

Adolescent↗

Role of stromal populations in hemopoietic stem cell proliferation. I. Physically distinct subpopulations of hemopoietic stem cells and stromal progenitors determine long-term culture hemopoiesis.

The in vitro study of stem-cell-stromal-cell interactions has previously been made possible by the existence of a technique for long-term murine marrow culture, but the occurrence of both stem cells and stromal cells in fresh bone marrow (BM) explants and the heterogeneity of stromal cells have delayed functional categorization. Therefore, single-cell suspensions of murine BM were passed over nylon wool columns to allow fractionation of cells having distinctive function for in vitro hemopoiesis. A subpopulation of nylon-column-nonadherent (NNA) cells (20% +/- 1% total cells) is devoid of stromal progenitors that form the in vitro microenvironment, but the NNA subpopulation has control numbers of hemopoietic colony-forming cells, GM-CFU-C, and high-proliferative-potential colony forming cells (HPP-CFC). This subpopulation also produces control numbers of in vivo spleen colony-forming cells, CFU-S, and has control numbers of primitive, noncycling colony-forming cells that resist in vitro treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). By contrast, nylon-adherent populations, when eluted by mechanical agitation (MA) (41% +/- 1%) or by subsequent EDTA treatment (CA) (6% +/- 1%) could reform the hemopoietic microenvironment in vitro. Stromal progenitor cells were negative for surface markers Thy-1 and Mac-1. When NNA stem cells were added to culture with nylon-adherent stromal fractions, lodgement of stem cells occurred, resulting in stem cell proliferation for up to three months.

Animals↗

Neural generators of the brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in the rhesus monkey.

Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded from rhesus monkeys in response to click stimuli. The BAEPs in the monkey have only 4 major peaks, while 5 major peaks can be identified in the human BAEP. The responses from electrodes placed at the vertex and the mastoid recorded either differentially or separately using non-cephalic references were compared to concomitant recordings from the auditory nerve, the cochlear nucleus, and the inferior colliculus, including the lateral lemniscus and the brachium of the inferior colliculus. It was found that the response from the intracranial portion of the auditory nerve lags behind the far-field response recorded from the mastoid by about 0.2 msec. The major component of the potentials recorded from the lateral lemniscus appeared with a latency that was close to that of the fourth peak in the BAEP. Deafferentation of the inferior colliculus resulted in only small changes in the BAEP, indicating that the contributions to the BAEP from the inferior colliculus and more central structures of the ascending auditory pathway are insignificant. It is concluded that the main reason for the difference between the human BAEP and the BAEP in the rhesus monkey is the smaller size of the monkey's head and the resulting shorter auditory nerve. The result is that the auditory nerve in the monkey only generates one peak in the far-field response, while in man the auditory nerve gives rise to both of the two earliest peaks in the BAEP; thus, the BAEP in man has 5 peaks while that in the monkey has only 4 peaks.

Animals↗

Posttranslational processing of concanavalin A precursors in jackbean cotyledons.

Metabolic labeling of immature jackbean cotyledons with 14C-amino acids was used to determine the processing steps involved in the assembly of concanavalin A. Pulse-chase experiments and analyses of immunoprecipitated lectin forms indicated a complex series of events involving seven distinct species. The structural relatedness of all of the intermediate species was confirmed by two-dimensional mapping of 125I-tryptic peptides. An initial glycosylated precursor was deglycosylated and cleaved into smaller polypeptides, which subsequently reannealed over a period of 10-27 h. NH2-terminal sequencing of the abundant precursors confirmed that the intact subunit of concanavalin A was formed by the reannealing of two fragments, since the alignment of residues 1-118 and 119-237 was reversed in the final form of the lectin identified in the chase and the precursor first labeled. When the tissue was pulse-chased in the presence of monensin, processing of the glycosylated precursor was inhibited. The weak bases NH4Cl and chloroquine were without effect. Immunocytochemical studies showed that monensin treatment caused the accumulation of immunoreactive material at the cell surface and indicated that the ionophore had induced the secretion of a component normally destined for deposition within the protein bodies. Consideration of the tertiary structure of the glycosylated precursor and mature lectin showed that the entire series of processing events could occur without significant refolding of the initial translational product. Proteolytic events included removal of a peptide from the surface of the precursor molecule that connected the NH2- and COOH-termini of the mature protein. This processing activated the carbohydrate-binding activity of the lectin. The chase data suggest the occurrence of a simultaneous cleavage and formation of a peptide bond, raising the possibility that annealment of the fragments to give rise to the mature subunit involves a transpeptidation event rather than cleavage and subsequent religation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enalapril in moderate to severe hypertension: a comparison with atenolol.

Patients with moderate to severe essential hypertension (mean untreated supine blood pressure 190/112 mm Hg) received once daily enalapril 20-40 mg or atenolol 50-100 mg, supplemented if required by hydrochlorothiazide 25-100 mg, in a randomized observer-blind trial. Both regimens produced a highly significant reduction in supine and standing blood pressure. There was no significant difference in the antihypertensive effects of enalapril and atenolol when they were used as monotherapy. After hydrochlorothiazide was added to patients not achieving 'target' blood pressure, the fall in systolic pressure was significantly greater in the enalapril group than in the atenolol group, despite similar dosage of hydrochlorothiazide in the two groups. At the end of 6 months' treatment, a supine diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or below was achieved in 74% of patients on enalapril plus hydrochlorothiazide and 56% of patients on atenolol plus hydrochlorothiazide. This difference was not statistically significant. A small rise in plasma urea and creatinine was observed in the enalapril group and a small rise of urea only in the atenolol group. These changes were statistically significant but of uncertain clinical importance. This study confirms that once daily enalapril and atenolol, both alone and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide, are effective drugs in the management of moderate to severe hypertension.

Adolescent↗

Clinical features and natural history of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis.

Five cases of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis are presented and an additional 50 cases from the English language literature since 1960 are reviewed. Lung cancer and breast cancer were the most frequently occurring primary neoplasms, but a wide variety of solid tumors may cause intramedullary spinal cord metastasis. The presenting symptoms were pain and/or weakness. The neurologic status deteriorated rapidly in the majority of patients in a period to days to weeks. Progression to a cord hemisection syndrome or cord transection occurred in approximately half of the patients. The characteristic myelographic appearance of fusiform swelling of the cord was seen in one third of the patients, but the myelogram was normal in 42%. Plain radiographs of the spine showed no evidence of metastatic disease in three fourths of cases. The cerebrospinal fluid protein level was frequently elevated, but results of cytologic studies were usually negative. High-resolution computer-assisted tomographic scanning may show intramedullary metastases. Radiation therapy combined with corticosteroid administration offers the only effective palliation. The recognition of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis is an ominous finding. Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis generally occurred in the setting of widespread systemic and intracranial disease, but occasionally was the only site of relapse. More than 80% of patients died within 3 months. Heightened awareness of this entity may lead to early diagnosis at a stage when neurologic deficits are reversible and, it is hoped, more effective palliation can be achieved.

Adult↗

A study of maturation events in jackbeans (Canavalia ensiformis).

Maturation events have been studied in developing jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) cotyledons by using a combination of analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, overlays with 125I-concanavalin A (Con A) and the use of anti-(Con A) after Western transfer. The number of polypeptides recognized by 125I-Con A varies during maturation, until at maturity only one remains. Several molecular forms of the lectin occur during development; one, corresponding to Mr 33 000 and found only in immature seeds, interacts with 125I-Con A, suggesting that it is glycosylated.

Concanavalin A↗

Manifestations of pseudoxanthoma elasticum during pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

A 30-year-old white woman with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) was followed throughout her pregnancy with several fetal ultrasonographic examinations and other diagnostic studies; these showed normal development up to the 26th wk and then a marked deceleration of fetal growth. The ultrasonographic appearance of the placenta was abnormal at all times probably related to the microscopic changes. The baby, born at 36 wk, showed severe intrauterine growth retardation as a probable consequence of the abnormal placenta detected by ultrasound and corroborated at birth. The cotyledons were small and more numerous than normal. One third of the placenta was hypoplastic or atrophic, with focal calcification in septa, stroma, villi, and decidua, and increased deposition of fibrin around villi. The most striking change was the increased number of septa and the abnormal elastic tissue.

Adult↗

Merkel cells and Merkel cell tumors. Ultrastructure, immunocytochemistry and review of the literature.

Certain monomorphic cellular tumors that occur in the dermis have been called trabecular carcinomas or Merkel cell tumors. Forty-six cases have been reported to date and the literature on these is reviewed here, with six additional cases reported. Cytologic features include sparse cytoplasm, dispersed chromatin with inconspicuous nucleoli in round nuclei and many mitoses. Trabeculae and pseudorosettes may be identified. Electron microscopy is required for definitive diagnosis. Like normal Merkel cells, tumor cells contain electron-dense granules (80-200 nm), 10 mm filaments and desmosomes. Filament-rich cytoplasmic spikes were found in four tumors. These resemble corresponding protrusions of normal Merkel cells and have not been described in other APUDomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗