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Biomedical subjects

J D Wells

Publications and source records attributed to J D Wells.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

The effects of multidisciplinary team care for acute spinal cord injury patients.

The care of 169 survivors of spinal injury receiving acute treatment at the Hamilton General Hospital in Ontario, Canada, was studied. This paper compares treatment of groups of patients before and after formation of a multidisciplinary Acute Spinal Cord Injury Team. The establishment of multidisciplinary team care for acute spinal cord injury patients in our tertiary referral center correlates with clinically and statistically significant reductions in length of stay in the acute care hospital, alterations in the rate of surgical treatment for them, changes in the use of radiological resources, and reduction in the average number of days febrile. The team also brought stronger representation of allied health professionals to the hospital records of acute spinal cord injury patients. These important changes result from implementation of an effective multidisciplinary medical team without the addition of new funds, personnel, or hospital facilities and without alteration in referral patterns. Our team did not reduce mortality, duration of intensive care unit stay, or work for physicians.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) has reached the continental United States: review of its biology, pest status, and spread around the world.

Chrysomya megacephala (F.), an Old World calliphorid of considerable public health importance, was first discovered in Brazil in 1977 and is now widely distributed in Latin America. Reports that this species has become established in southern California, and the collection of a specimen in Texas, suggest that C. megacephala may be expanding its range rapidly in North America. The biology and worldwide spread of this pest are reviewed to alert entomologists and public health workers to this growing threat.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Beta-blocking agents inhibit Na+K+ATPase in cultured corneal endothelial and epithelial cells.

An effort was made to determine whether the beta-blocking agents: timolol maleate and betaxolol hydrochloride could affect the activity of the plasma membrane, transport ATPases of corneal endothelial and epithelial cells grown in culture. It was found that both agents were able to inhibit the activity of Na+K+ATPase in endothelial cells in the concentration range from 10(-12) to 10(-4) M (47-77% inhibition with timolol and 24-78% inhibition with betaxolol). In concentrations of 10(-9) M or greater (for betaxolol) and 10(-12) M or greater (for timolol) the inhibition was highly significant (p less than .001). Timolol maleate also inhibited the activity of Na+K+ATPase in epithelial cells in the concentration range from 10(-12) to 10(-4) M (16-68%). The inhibition was significant to the p = .002 level at concentrations greater than 10(-11) M. Although the data suggested that both drugs caused inhibition of Mg+2ATPase through the same concentration ranges, none of the values were statistically different compared to the controls. This study may point to a minor inhibition of the deturgescent pump with the use of these agents. It may also indicate caution for usage in patients with metabolically stressed corneas.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Heterotopic ossification about the hip after intramedullary nailing for fractures of the femur.

A prospective study of 100 consecutive unilateral fractures of the shaft of the femur was performed to delineate the incidence of, and the factors predisposing to, heterotopic ossification about the hip after intramedullary nailing. Bone debris from reaming of the endosteal canal is deposited in the soft tissues surrounding the site of insertion of the nail, and we postulated that this debris may stimulate the formation of heterotopic bone and that decreasing the amount of debris left in the tissues after nailing may decrease the amount of heterotopic ossification. To test this theory, the patients were treated with routine intramedullary nailing and were randomly divided into two groups. In Group I, the operative incision was irrigated with 250 milliliters of normal saline solution with use of a bulb syringe before the wound was closed, and in Group II, the incision was irrigated with 3000 milliliters of normal saline solution with use of pulsatile lavage. The two groups were similar in all other respects. Eighty patients (eighty fractures; forty in Group I and forty in Group II) were available for follow-up and were evaluated in a blind fashion after the fracture had united. A grading system that was based on the length of the heterotopic ossification, as measured on antero-posterior radiographs of the hip, was used. In thirty-two of the patients (40 per cent), no heterotopic ossification developed, whereas minimum or mild ossification developed in twenty-seven patients (34 per cent). Moderate ossification developed in twelve patients (15 per cent) and severe ossification, in nine patients (11 per cent).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Age as a function of ATPase activity in cultured corneal endothelial cells.

As cells grown in tissue culture age, they typically become altered when compared to their in vivo counterparts. Bovine corneal endothelial cells were grown in culture for periods up to 60 days (primary = 10 days; secondary = 50 days). The plasma membrane enzymes: Na+K+ ATPase and Mg2+ ATPase were assayed for specific activity at selected intervals throughout the growth periods. In primary cultures, it was found that Na+K+ ATPase was quite low at 5 days (0.05 units), but increased fourfold at 10 days (0.22 units). By contrast, Mg2+ ATPase changed little over the same period. Tissue cultures grown secondarily had Na+K+ ATPase activity fall 0.3 units (0.52 to 0.22) for 35 days after a single trypsinization. After five trypsinizations over a 50-day period, the activity fell 0.23 units (0.33 to 0.10). The alterations in Mg2+ ATPase activity were more complex in secondary cultures. In the instance in which a single trypsinization was used, the activity fell 0.15 units at day 20, rose 0.12 units (above the starting value) at day 25, then returned to the initial level by day 35. When multiple trypsinizations were used, the activity fell 0.06 units by day 30, then remained stable for the duration. The data may be indicative of mechanisms such as receptor alteration, feedback inhibition and genetic instability when these cells are grown in culture.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1984

Prolonged survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

An asymptomatic female patient with CLL survived more than 32 years. Her case is compared to that of other known long-term CLL survivors. She had small, well differentiated lymphocytes in the peripheral blood with B-cell characteristics and increased numbers of cells binding surface immunoglobulin (IgM). She is only the second patient known to have survived this long without therapy and without progressive disease. She is also the longest known survivor of documented B-cell CLL.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Rapid transport of macromolecules in polysaccharide systems by means of dissipative structures.

A gravitationally stable boundary between two polymer solutions in a ternary system can develop into an interphase of structured convectional flow. The transport over this interphase is by counter-current distribution and as a result high-molecular weight material moves by bulk-flow and much more rapidly than low-molecular weight material, which is transported essentially by ordinary diffusion.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1983

Effects of barbiturates in rats tolerant to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Rats, whose behavior was maintained under a multiple fixed-ratio fixed-interval schedule of food presentation, were given delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC), pentobarbital, barbital, and d-amphetamine before, during and after chronic delta 9-THC administration. Low doses of the barbiturates and d-amphetamine increased rates of responding, especially under the fixed-interval component. Higher doses of all four drugs decreased rates of responding under both schedule components. Tolerance developed to the rate-decreasing effects of delta 9-THC and there was cross tolerance to the rate-decreasing effects of pentobarbital and to a lesser extent barbital, but not to the rate-decreasing effects of d-amphetamine. During chronic delta 9-THC administration, rate-increasing effects of pentobarbital and barbital continued to occur, but the rate-increasing effects of d-amphetamine were attenuated. A second group of rats whose behavior was maintained under a variable-interval schedule of food presentation were given delta 9-THC and barbital before and during chronic barbital administration. Low doses of barbital increased rates of responding and higher doses of both drugs decreased rates. Tolerance developed to the rate-decreasing effects of barbital and there was cross tolerance to delta 9-THC. No tolerance developed to the rate-increasing effects of barbital. Thus, there is cross tolerance between barbiturates and delta 9-THC for rate-decreasing effects on schedule-controlled behavior, but neither tolerance nor cross tolerance occurs for rate-increasing effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Local hypothermia in experimental spinal cord trauma.

A series of controlled animal experiments comparing the effects of one, four, and 18 hours of local hypothermia at 6 degrees C begun four hours after compression lesions to the thoracic cord in dogs is reported. Four hours of local cooling delivered by a small silastic epidural heat exchanger, without durotomy or tissue perfusion, is shown to give greater functional benefit than cooling for one hour or 18 hours. Experimental design, pathophysiological implications, and clinical relevance are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

A description of Walter Reed Army Medical Center's in-patient psychiatric service population 1973 to 1975.

A three-year evaluation of demographic and diagnostic patterns in a large Army psychiatric in-patient facility is described. Active duty personnel accounted for 83.6 percent of patient episodes. No simple catchment area could be defined for this facility. Active duty patient episodes tended to be with younger, junior enlisted men whose sicknesses were most frequently diagnosed as schizophrenia. The diseases of blacks were diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia more frequently than in whites. Latent schizophrenia or undifferentiated schizophrenia were diagnosed more frequently in whites than in blacks. The illnesses of active duty female military personnel were more frequently diagnosed as neurotic than as schizophrenic. Of the patient episodes during the three-year period, 12.1 percent were about dependents. They were usually the wives of older, senior enlisted men or senior officers and they stayed an average of 12 days in the hospital. On the other hand, 4.3 percent of the patient episodes were about retired personnel. They came from Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) as did their dependents, and the most frequent diagnosis was alcoholism. Their median stay was 15 days. Subsequent studies will attempt to further clarify these initial findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1972

The osmotic properties of sulphoethyl-sephadex. A model for cartilage.

1. Observations are reported on the variation of the swelling of sulphoethyl-Sephadex C-50 and C-25, and of the partition of NaCl between solution and gel, with the concentration of NaCl. 2. The results were interpreted in terms of Manning's (1969) treatment of the interactions between polyionic polymers and simple electrolytes and of Flory's (1953) treatment of the swelling of gels. 3. The results indicate net inner osmotic pressures as high as 3.6x10(5)Pa (140 mosmolar=3.6x10(5)N/m(2)) in 0.15m-NaCl. 4. It is suggested that cartilage may have net inner osmotic pressure of the order of 10(5)Pa.

Cartilage↗