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Biomedical subjects

J E Miller

Publications and source records attributed to J E Miller.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Determinants of intrauterine growth retardation: evidence against maternal depletion.

This analysis examines the relationship between length of preceding birth interval and risk of intrauterine growth retardation using data on Swedish infants from the 1973 World Health Organization study of perinatal mortality. Results of a multivariate logit analysis demonstrate that the lower than average mean birth weight of infants born after short birth intervals cannot be completely attributed to their shorter mean gestation length. Infants born after birth intervals of 12 months or less are 30% more likely to be small for gestational age (SGA) than infants born 18-59 months after the previous birth, even when the effects of maternal age and parity are controlled. The results obtained here do not support maternal depletion as an explanation for the association between short birth intervals and elevated risk of SGA, since there is no evidence of an attenuation of the risk of SGA with increasing length of interval in the under 18 month birth interval range.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Enhanced survival of full-thickness skin grafts following the application of DC electrical fields.

The present study was undertaken to determine if uses of exogenous electrical fields could improve the posttraumatic quality of dermis and epidermis in isolated grafts in the rat. In blinded procedures, a full-thickness area of skin was removed and reattached to the original site. A galvanic device delivering 4.5 microA of direct current was applied using three electrode orientations: (1) anode above graft (AT; N = 8), (2) cathode above graft (CT; N = 7), and (3) no current (NC; N = 7). Current delivery was discontinued 4 days postoperatively. Quantitative assessment at 7 days postoperatively indicated the presence of necrotic skin over 80 to 90 percent of the graft surface area in NC and CT animals. In contrast, only 50 percent of the graft area was necrotic in AT rats. Histologic examinations indicated a significantly thickened dermis in the AT (versus NC and CT) rats, accompanied by patches of multilayered intact epidermis, which was virtually absent from the other experimental groups. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that direct-current stimulation can affect skin graft survival and repair.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Experimental inhibition of reactive gliotic-like changes in astrocytic cultures.

Dibutylcyclic AMP (DiBucAMP) can induce astroblast-containing cultures to form cells which resemble reactive astrocytes observed in vivo. In the present study, myelin- or axolemmal-enriched fractions were assessed for the ability to inhibit (DiBucAMP)-stimulated reactive-like changes in astrocytic cultures. Addition of exogenous myelin- or axolemmal-enriched fractions to DiBcAMP-exposed cultures prevented drug-induced elevation of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) 2 days after initial addition of the drug and moderated DiBucAMP-induced decreases in the enzyme's activity normally observed 5 days later. The proportion of reactive colonies (i.e., those in which more than 50% of cells are stellate-shape) was significantly lower in cultures exposed to the drug plus myelin or axolemma vs those exposed to DiBucAMP alone. The inhibitory factors in axolemmal fractions were heat sensitive (at 100 degrees C), whereas those in myelin were not. Both fractions were inactivated by trypsin. Whole brain homogenates had no effect on diBucAMP-stimulated changes in culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Surgical management of lung cancer with solitary cerebral metastasis.

Between 1964 and 1986, 19 patients underwent resection of both a primary lung cancer and the associated brain metastasis. One patient underwent resection of 2 separate primary lung cancers and the associated metastases. The 12 men and 7 women ranged in age from 42 to 67 years (mean, 54.6 years). The cell type was adenocarcinoma in 12 tumors, squamous or adenosquamous cell in 5, large cell undifferentiated or anaplastic in 2, and malignant carcinoid in 1 tumor. The types of resection were as follows: lobectomy for 12 neoplasms, pneumonectomy for 5, bilobectomy for 2, and wedge resection for 1 neoplasm. Radiotherapy to the brain was given in connection with sixteen of the twenty craniotomies. The patient with 2 separate primary neoplasms survived 19 years before dying 5 months after the second craniotomy. The mean survival is 8.0 +/- 2.1 years (+/- the standard error), and the median survival is 1.67 years. Survival at 1 year was 65 +/- 10.7% and at 5 years, 45 +/- 11.1%. On univariate analysis, the following factors were found to correlate significantly with longer survival: a lung tumor in Stage I or II; negative mediastinal nodes; curative rather than palliative resection of the lung tumor; and age younger than 55 years. However, on multivariate analysis, only curative resection was a significant factor (p less than 0.01). We believe these results justify continued application of this combined surgical approach to patients having limited-stage lung cancer with a solitary brain metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Suppression of in vitro granulocytopoiesis by captopril and penicillamine.

The mechanisms underlying drug-induced neutropenia are poorly characterized. We have examined the mechanism of suppression of granulocytopoiesis by captopril and penicillamine using human and canine bone marrow cells in an in vitro culture system. Addition of captopril caused no significant change in granulocyte-macrophage colony formation at concentrations up to 30 micrograms/ml. In the presence of CuSO4 (1-3 micrograms/ml), however, captopril caused significant inhibition of colony growth (p less than 0.05). Penicillamine, another agent associated with neutropenia and, like captopril, having a reactive thiol group, also inhibited colony formation in the presence of copper. Chemical congeners of captopril lacking a reactive thiol group and enalaprilic acid, an alternative angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, failed to show inhibition, suggesting that the thiol group and not ACE inhibition was responsible. Analysis of day-7 colonies (98% neutrophilic) and day-21 colonies (37% neutrophilic, 30% macrophagic, 27% eosinophilic, and 6% mixed) showed that neutrophil-containing colonies, but not nonneutrophilic colonies were inhibited by the addition of captopril plus copper. Catalase totally reversed the inhibition of colony formation caused by these agents. Direct measurement of oxygen consumption in the presence of captopril showed marked enhancement with the addition of CuSO4 and a 48% reduction in the presence of added catalase. These data indicate that drugs with a reactive thiol group can interact with copper to generate H2O2, which can be toxic to neutrophilic progenitor cells. We postulate that this may be an important mechanism for drug-associated neutropenia and a general mechanism for drug-induced marrow cell injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Abnormal GM-CSA generation by lymphocytes in patients with cyclic hematopoiesis.

Human cyclic hematopoiesis (CH) is a disease characterized by regular 21-day cyclic fluctuations of blood cell counts due to fluctuations in bone marrow cell production. The regular periodicity of the fluctuations suggests a defect in a regulatory feedback control loop. We examined the production of monocyte-derived recruiting activity (MRA) by monocytes and the response to MRA of lymphocytes from three patients with CH. MRA production was normal or increased in patients' monocytes, but granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity (GM-CSA) production in response to MRA was decreased in lymphocytes from patients with CH (p = 0.005). These data suggest that the regulatory defect in CH may involve defective lymphocyte generation of GM-CSA, resulting in deficient production of mature neutrophils.

Colony-Stimulating Factors↗
PubMed1988

Efficacy of oxfendazole against inhibited larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi acquired by calves in the spring.

During the spring of 1985, 40 calves grazed pastures known to have high numbers of spring inhibition-prone, infective Ostertagia ostertagi larvae. Calves were removed from pasture and placed in outdoor pens with concrete floors from 10 days prior to treatment until necropsy 14 days after treatment. Ten calves were allocated to each of 4 treatment groups, and oxfendazole was administered to each group by intraruminal injection at dosages of 0, 2.25, 4.5, and 6.75 mg/kg of body weight. Efficacies greater than or equal to 94.6% were achieved at dosages of 4.5 and 6.75 mg/kg against adult Ostertagia spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Haemonchus placei, Cooperia punctata, Bunostomum phlebotomum, Oesophagostomum radiatum, and Dictyocaulus viviparus. Efficacy against inhibited larvae of O ostertagi was variable, with the highest efficacy (90.2%) attained at a dosage of 6.75 mg/kg.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Microscopic metastasis of a human lung carcinoma cell line in athymic nude mice: isolation of a metastatic variant.

A human lung carcinoma cell line, UCP3, was carried as subcutaneous xenotransplants in athymic mice. Autopsies of these animals showed rare foci of microscopically visible metastases to any of the other organs. A metastatic variant, 522, was established serendipitously in vitro as a continuous cell line by blind isolation of the pulmonary metastatic foci, at the time of autopsy, from the lungs of the animals that carried subcutaneous xenotransplants of the parental cell line. The parental UCP3 and the metastatic variant 522 were examined by karyotypic and isoenzyme analysis and shown to be human and related. The metastatic variant, 522, metastasizes spontaneously from subcutaneous sites (like the parental UCP3). However, it forms larger subcutaneous xenotransplants and forms more metastatic foci in the lungs of the animals than does the parental cell line. Comparisons of the cell surface glycolipids show many similarities and a few differences. This model system may now be used for further investigations into the processes of metastasis of this human neoplasm.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Effects of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet on serum lipids, platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet on serum lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation and blood pressure. Fifteen hyperlipidemic males with normal blood pressure were treated for 2 weeks. Resting supine blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides all were significantly reduced. The maximum aggregation and velocity of aggregation for isolated platelets stimulated with either ADP or collagen was significantly reduced. Thromboxane formation during 5 min of platelet aggregation with collagen or ADP was also significantly reduced. These results have important implications for hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1987

Transhiatal esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus: experience with 26 patients.

Transhiatal esophagectomy was performed in 26 patients with esophageal carcinoma. The patients were selected for this procedure by means of transhiatal palpation of the tumor at laparotomy. Twenty had squamous cell carcinoma and 6, adenocarcinoma. The tumor locations were the upper third in 8, middle third in 12, and lower third in 6. On postoperative staging, 15 patients had Stage III and 6, Stage IV neoplasms. Among 25 elective resections there was 1 hospital death, which was due to severe coronary artery disease. One patient who had an urgent resection for a perforated carcinoma died of multisystem failure 32 days postoperatively. Complications included splenic injury requiring splenectomy in 5 patients; tracheal laceration in 2 patients (only 1 requiring a thoracotomy); azygos vein laceration requiring sternotomy for repair in 1 patient; chylothorax in 1; recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis in 3 (temporary in 2); and transient anastomotic leaks in 3. Five patients had pneumonia with transient respiratory failure. Twelve of the operative survivors died of cancer 3.2 to 32 months postoperatively, and 12 are alive 3 to 28 months after operation. The actuarial survival is 53 +/- 11% (+/- standard error) at one year and 46 +/- 12% at two years. Transhiatal esophagectomy is a reasonable, safe operation that should be considered for tumors at all levels of the esophagus.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1987

Cross-union complicating fracture of the forearm. Part I: Adults.

The cases of twenty-eight adults who had cross-union as a complication of fractures of the forearm were analyzed according to a new classification system. Four cross-unions were Type 1 (distal intra-articular part of the radius and ulna); fourteen, Type 2 (middle third or non-articular part of the distal third of the radius and ulna); and ten, Type 3 (proximal third of the radius and ulna). Type-1 cross-union occurred rarely, but it developed most commonly after closed reduction of a fracture. Types 2 and 3 typically followed severe local trauma and delayed open reduction. Bone fragments left in the interosseous space and bone screws that broached the opposite part of the cortex were common findings. Seventeen cross-unions were excised. Three of the four Type-1, none of the ten Type-2, and two of three Type-3 cross-unions recurred. The results after excision of Type-2 cross-unions in our series were far better than other results that have been previously reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Cross-union complicating fracture of the forearm. Part II: Children.

Cross-union is a rare complication of fractures of the forearm in children. Of the ten cross-unions reported in this series, four were Type 2 (middle third or non-articular part of the distal third of the radius and ulna) and six were Type 3 (proximal third of the forearm). There were no Type-1 (intra-articular part of the distal third of the radius and ulna) cross-unions. As in adults, the Type-2 cross-unions followed a high-energy injury. Three of the four Type-2 cross-unions were excised; one of them recurred. Type-3 cross-unions occurred equally after closed or open reduction of a fracture. Three patients with a Type-3 cross-union had excision of the radial head. The only patient who did not have a recurrence of the cross-union also underwent insertion of a prosthesis for the radial head. The results after resection of a cross-union appear to be better in the adult than in the child, although the number of patients in this and other studies is too small to allow firm conclusions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Efficacy of levamisole and netobimin against Haemonchus contortus in lambs in Louisiana.

Efficacy of levamisole was evaluated in a suspected levamisole-resistant population of Haemonchus contortus in the Louisiana State University sheep flock. The efficacy of netobimin also was evaluated against this population of Haemonchus. In trial 1, 5 lambs naturally infected with H contortus were given 8 mg of levamisole/kg of body weight as a drench, and 5 lambs were not treated (controls). Nematode recovery after slaughter indicated 0% efficacy against H contortus. In trial 2, 30 nematode-free lambs were each given 8,300 F1 generation infective larvae of H contortus, which were derived from parent H contortus that survived 2 levamisole treatments in lambs being maintained in a nematode-free environment. Ten lambs were treated with 8 mg of levamisole/kg as a drench, 10 were treated with 20 mg of netobimin/kg as a drench, and 10 were not treated (control). Nematode recovery after slaughter revealed 62.3% and 99.8% efficacy for levamisole and netobimin, respectively, against H contortus.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Spontaneous osteogenic sarcoma in the rat.

A spontaneous osteogenic sarcoma of the spinal column (tail, sacrum and lumbar regions) with metastases to the lungs, kidneys and right ovary were found in a 15-month-old BHE rat. The literature on spontaneous osteogenic sarcoma in rats indicates that this tumour is rare (0.22 per cent), occurs in several strains and has no sex, age or site predilections; non-metastatic cases are more common than metastatic ones.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Carcinoma in situ of the glans penis and distal urethra.

A case is presented of erythroplasia of Queyrat involving the distal glans penis surrounding the urethral meatus. Therapy with topical 5-fluorouracil was followed by recurrence within 14 months. Treatment by excision utilizing the Mohs technique demonstrated carcinoma in situ of over 5 cm of the distal urethra. Plastic surgical reconstruction produced a cosmetically and functionally normal penis.

Adult↗