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Biomedical subjects

J L Simmons

Publications and source records attributed to J L Simmons.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Renal hemodynamic and histological consequences of diets high in unsaturated fat, protein or sucrose in obese Zucker rats.

The objective of this study was to determine the long-term effect of different dietary macronutrients on renal hemodynamics in obese Zucker rats. Female obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats were allowed to eat control chow (ObCL) or diets high in unsaturated fat (ObHF), protein (ObHP) or sucrose (ObHS) for a period of 24 weeks. Lean chow fed (LnCL) Zucker rats served as lean controls. After 24 weeks of dietary treatments, glomerular filtration rate (GFR, ml/mg/g, mean +/- SE) of ObHP and ObHS (0.38 +/- 0.06 and 0.27 +/- 0.05) rats were significantly (p < 0.005) lower than ObCL (0.74 +/- 0.05) and ObHF (0.88 +/- 0.1) rats. In a similar manner, the effective renal plasma flow (ERPF, ml/min/g) was significantly (p < 0.005) lower in ObHP and ObHS (1.28 +/- 0.16 and 1.04 +/- 0.2) than ObCL (2.46 +/- 0.31) or ObHF (2.85 +/- 0.25) rats. The ObHF rats appeared "protected" since they had similr GFR and ERPF but less proteinuria and glucosuria than ObCL rats. Histological examination of renal tissue from ObHP and ObHS fed rats revealed significant (p < 0.005) increase in sclerosis relative to ObCL rats. The sclerosis of renal tissue in ObHF was minimized and was found to be similar to ObCL rats. The mean arterial pressure and heart rates were similar in all dietary treated obese Zucker rats. When comparing obese and lean controls, ObCL rats had significantly (p < 0.03) lower GFR (0.74 +/- 0.05 vs 0.92 +/- 0.05) but similar ERPF (2.46 +/- 0.3 vs 2.82 +/- 0.12) than LnCL rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis and alveolar hemorrhage syndrome: case report and review of the literature.

The presence of widespread hemorrhage from the microvasculature of the lung into the alveolar spaces defines what is called the "alveolar hemorrhage syndrome", which can occur in association with a wide variety of clinical disorders. The cardinal manifestations of this syndrome include: hemoptysis, unexplained anemia and diffuse alveolar infiltrates on chest roentgenograms. Since the pulmonary features are similar, the diagnosis usually depends on the clinical, laboratory and pathologic evaluations. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial since the occurrence of pulmonary hemorrhage in this syndrome may represent a catastrophic event with fatal consequences. Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) has been identified as a cause of alveolar hemorrhage in a small number of cases, mainly by exclusion criteria. We report a case of a 70-year old man who presented with a 40-year history of intermittent hemoptysis and bilateral upper lobes alveolar infiltrates proved to be secondary to idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. Although the lung apices are frequently spared in IPH, they were the site of the infiltrates in our case. To our knowledge, our patient had the longest survival time ever reported in the literature in adult IPH. A brief review of some of the disorders commonly associated with alveolar hemorrhage is also presented.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Extremely low birthweight infants at 3 years: a developmental profile.

This study documents the neurodevelopmental outcome at 3 years of 52 of 55 extremely low birthweight (ELBW) survivors (survival rate 49%) born in a tertiary maternity centre from July 1985 through December 1988, and examines more closely the developmental profile of the neurologically normal survivors. At 3 years, 6 (12%) children had severe neurodevelopmental impairment (severe cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness or a General Quotient (GQ) < 70 on the Griffiths Scales), 11 (21%) had mild to moderate impairment and 35 (67%) had no neurosensory impairment and normal development (GQ > or = 85). Significant risk factors for severe impairment were stage 3 or 4 retinopathy of prematurity (odds ratio [OR] 21.5), treatment with postnatal steroids (OR 21), grade III or IV intraventricular haemorrhage (OR 11) and supplemental oxygen at 'term' (OR 6.4). The developmental profile of the 35 neurologically normal children revealed a significant weakness in eye and hand coordination skills and a relative strength in hearing and speech skills. Early recognition of this developmental profile may allow implementation of more appropriate preschool programmes for ELBW children.

Blindness↗
PubMed1992

Comparative assessment of a new breath-actuated inhaler in patients with reversible airways obstruction.

Twenty-five patients with reversible airways obstruction inhaled salbutamol (200 micrograms) from the standard press and breathe-metered dose inhaler or a new breath-actuated metered dose inhaler (Aerolin in the Autohaler inhalation device; 3M Health Care Ltd.) in a single dose, double-blind, double-dummy, 2-period, cross-over study. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate were measured in the 4-hour period after inhalation. The equivalence of the two inhaler devices was determined by analysis of the peak change and time to peak, with reference to the initial recorded baselines of the measured parameters. The efficacy of the two devices was very similar. The breath-actuated device is likely to benefit inhaler users who suffer from poor co-ordination of actuation and inhalation with a standard inhaler.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Selenium toxicosis in wild aquatic birds.

Severe gross and microscopic lesions and other changes were found in adult aquatic birds and in embryos from Kesterson Reservoir (a portion of Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge), Merced County, Calif., during 1984. Adult birds from that area were emaciated, had subacute to extensive chronic hepatic lesions, and had excess fluid and fibrin in the peritoneal cavity. Biochemical changes in their livers included elevated glycogen and non-protein-bound sulfhydryl concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity but lowered protein, total sulfhydryl, and protein-bound sulfhydryl concentrations. Congenital malformations observed grossly in embryos were often multiple and included anophthalmia, microphthalmia, abnormal beaks, amelia, micromelia, ectrodactyly, and hydrocephaly. Mean concentrations of selenium in livers (94.4 ppm, dry weight) and kidneys (96.6 ppm) of birds collected at the Kesterson ponds were about 10 times those found at a nearby control area (8.3 and 12.2 ppm). We conclude that selenium present in the agricultural drainage water supplied to the Kesterson ponds accumulated in the food chain of aquatic birds to toxic concentrations and caused the lesion and other changes observed.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1988

Efficacy and safety of two-year therapy with transdermal clonidine for essential hypertension.

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of transdermal clonidine (TC) in 23 patients with essential hypertension over a two-year period. Fourteen patients achieved control of blood pressure using TC alone. Six patients achieved control with a combination of TC and the diuretic chlorthalidone (CH). Three patients had control with CH alone or did not achieve control with either TC alone or TC plus CH and were dropped from the study. Of the 20 patients remaining in the study, six patients remained on TC or TC plus CH for the two-year study. Ten of the 20 patients quit the study because of skin reactions and four because of other side effects. No clinically significant changes were noted in serum or urinary laboratory parameters. Finally, TC was effective as long-term monotherapy for essential hypertension in only four of our patients. The major limitation is skin-related side effects.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1987

Effect of age on the sensitivity of cell cultures to Clostridium difficile toxin.

The effect of age on the sensitivity of four cell lines, human foreskin fibroblasts (HFS), CHO-K1, HEp-2, and WI-38 to detect Clostridium difficile toxin was tested. This study also addressed the sensitivity of these cell lines as expressed by early toxin detection. Twenty-eight positive and 13 negative patient specimens were tested. Cell cultures were inoculated at ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 14 days and examined for cytopathic effects at 4, 24, and 48 hours post-inoculation. The sensitivity of three of the four cell cultures to C. difficile toxin decreased as the age of the cell cultures increased. However, the sensitivity of the HFS cell line was not influenced by the age of the culture or the time the assay was read in comparison to the other three cell lines. Five- to six-day-old HFS cell cultures detected 22/28 positive samples within 4 hr after inoculation and 28/28 positive samples by 24 hr post-inoculation.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1983

Isolation of Chlamydia psittaci from naturally infected African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis).

An inclusion-forming agent was isolated from the livers of commercially raised African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) involved in an epizootic of high morbidity and mortality. Original isolation was made in McCoy cells. This agent was identified as Chlamydia psittaci based on the formation of typical intracytoplasmic inclusions which developed within 48 h, were not stained by iodine, and were resistant to sulfadiazine. The isolate from one particular frog (designated as strain 178) was further studied and found to be lethal for 7-day-old embryonated chicken eggs after intra-yolk sac inoculation. This strain was demonstrated not to be pathogenic for mice when inoculated intraperitoneally. The cell culture isolate of C. psittaci was transmitted to uninfected X. laevis, causing disease and death.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Diagnostic exercise.

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Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1982

Spontaneous and experimental infections of Xenopus laevis with Chlamydia psittaci.

Chlamydial infection was suspected when widespread pyogranulomatous inflammation and large basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were evident histopathologically in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) dying of a spontaneous disease of high morbidity and mortality. Organism morphology was determined by electron microscopy of infected hepatic sinusoidal lining cells, and it was characteristic of the unique developmental cycle of a chlamydial agent. Isolation and speciation of the organism was achieved in a McCoy cell culture system. The infected cells were inoculated into disease-free frogs reproducing the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Primary ulceration of the ileum.

A case of primary ileal ulceration with local perforation is presented. Infectious, hormonal, and traumatic causes are discussed with regard to the current medical literature. The majority of patients with ileal ulceration require operation for complications, including perforation, bleeding and obstruction. Resection of the involved segment of intestine with primary reanastomosis is recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Computed tomography and angiography in ileal carcinoid tumor and retractile mesenteritis.

Computed tomography and angiography were performed in two patients with ileal carcinoid tumor and in one with retractile mesenteritis. In each instance, a low density right lower quadrant mass with small bowel displacement and thickened mesenteric neurovascular bundles was identified at CT. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) angiography revealed contraction, kinking and irregularity of mesenteric branches in all cases, but specific histologic diagnosis was not established by angiography alone. Our preliminary experience suggests that SMA angiography may not always be necessary in the diagnosis of either carcinoid tumor or retractile mesenteritis.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Disseminated Curvularia lunata infection in a football player.

For ten years, a 25-year-old immune-competent man experienced a progressive disseminated infection with the saprophytic soil fungus, Curvularia lunata, following presumptive cutaneous inoculation while playing football. Deep, soft tissue abscesses, pulmonary suppuration, paravertebral abscess, and cerebral abscess all followed leg ulcers from neglected abrasions. The patient's delay in obtaining treatment was partially responsible for the paravertebral-mediastinal-pleural-cutaneous fistula that resulted. The importance of prompt and aggressive surgical drainage procedures is clear. Infection was arrested only by surgery. The fungus was inhibited by miconazole nitrate and amphotericin B but it developed resistance to flucytosine. Miconazole appeared to cause resolution of the cerebral abscess. Amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/day) clearly was beneficial but only after effective drainage procedures were done. The patient refused to continue amphotericin B after 5.4 g had been given in two treatments. He became bedridden one year later from back pain that was caused by recurrent disease.

Abscess↗
PubMed1978

EM changes and other toxic effects of firemaster BP-6 (polybrominated biphenyls) in the mouse.

Groups of Swiss ICR mice were fed 1000 ppm polybrominated biphenyls (FireMaster BP-6) in rodent chow for 4, 8, 11, and 14 days. Control groups were fed standard rodent chow without FireMaster BP-6. Animals were killed at the end of each feeding period and the livers examined by electron microscopy. EM changes noted were progressive increase in size of hepatocytes, a decrease in rough endoplasmic reticulum, a marked increase in smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial degeneration, increased lysosomes, and a decrease in glycogen. In addition, there was increasing proliferation of microvilli in bile canaliculi with increasing feeding times. A group of mice fed 1000 ppm FireMaster BP-6 in rodent chow for 11 days had livers with a mean of 13.93% of total body weight as compared with 6.49% for the control group (P=0.02). Tissue distribution following ingestion of 100 ppm FireMaster BP-6 for 14 days was studied. Twelve weeks post-feeding, the tissue concentrations of hexabromobiphenyl in order of highest concentration to lowest were as follows: perithymic fat, perirenal fat, adrenal glands, thymus gland, liver and stomach.

Animal Feed↗