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Biomedical subjects

K Allen

Publications and source records attributed to K Allen.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

A model for dentinal caries progression by digital subtraction radiography.

Extracted teeth with preexisting carious lesions were incubated in vitro at 37 degrees C in an artificial saliva buffer. Four teeth were exposed to buffer alone, four to buffer containing 5% glucose, and four to buffer containing 5% sucrose. Time-lapse radiographs were made of the carious lesions using an orienting device that fixed the position of the tooth, x-ray film, and x-ray tube collimator. The radiographs were analyzed over a period of 8 weeks using digital subtraction radiography. The subtracted images revealed that three of the four teeth incubated in saliva alone showed an increase in radiodensity (remineralization) at the depths of the lesion; one tooth showed no detectable change. Three of the four teeth incubated in the presence of 5% glucose showed increased radiolucency (demineralization); one showed no detectable change. The four teeth incubated in the presence of 5% sucrose exhibited results similar to those teeth incubated in 5% glucose.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Role of activated oxygen species on the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene.

Different scavengers of active oxygen species (superoxide dismutase, catalase, mannitol and dimethylfuran) were tested in the Ames Salmonella assay to determine the role of the reactive oxygen species in the benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) mutagenesis process. Exogenously added superoxide dismutase or catalase at 10-100 micrograms ml-1 top agar, or 3-12 mM mannitol showed no effect on B[a]P mutagenicity in the presence of S9 mix. However, dimethylfuran (DMF), a singlet oxygen scavenger, inhibited in a dose-related manner the mutagenic response of B[a]P in the presence of the microsomal fraction. DMF at 3 and 6 mM inhibited the number of revertants by 69 and 93% for strain TA 100, and 76 and 78% for TA98, respectively. DMF at these levels was neither toxic nor mutagenic to the bacteria. The result indicates that singlet oxygen may play an important role in promoting B[a]P mutagenicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of x-ray beam vertical angulation on radiographic alveolar crest level measurement.

Utilizing intraoral radiographs of human skulls taken at known vertical angulation, we have demonstrated that expression of the crest level as a distance between cej and the crest is as accurate as a ratio of bone height to root length. The degree of inaccuracy of either of these measures is related to the magnitude of the angular deviation of the x-ray beam from 90 degrees. Angular deviation can be estimated from calculation of a cusp height score (ratio of lingual cusp height to buccal cusp height x 100). Based on the analysis of cusp height scores it was determined that the x-ray beam angulation for posterior bitewings ranged between 90 degrees and 80 degrees whereas for posterior periapicals the angulation range was between 90 degrees and 70 degrees. Therefore, it is recommended that, for longitudinal studies of bone height, measurements of the crest to cej distance, particularly in the region of the molars, be made utilizing bitewing radiographs. For the premolar and incisor regions, deviation of the vertical angulation of an x-ray of up to 20 degrees from a 90 degrees baseline resulted in little, if any, change in crest level by either one of the two measures used. An appendix is provided for the theoretical modeling of the types and magnitude of change in crest level observed for projection images of different anatomical configurations.

Alveolar Process↗
PubMed1989

Violence in a community emergency room.

Violence in both community and county hospitals in the USA is increasing. It caused significant physical, emotional and economic hardship to many emergency department employees. We describe an incident that caused significant injury to an innocent bystander in a quiet upper-class community emergency department and outline procedures that hospitals and emergency department employees can take to combat this violence. Policy, procedures, planning and methods must be available for appropriately trained and equipped police officers to respond to such incidents. The effects of such violent episodes on the emergency department staff are discussed. Methods to prevent such incidents are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Quinidine-induced immune thrombocytopenia.

We have identified six cases of quinidine-induced immune thrombocytopenia based on clinical evidence and in association with elevated amounts of platelet surface IgG. The degree of thrombocytopenia did not correlate with severity of clinical symptoms, nor did it predict the amount of IgG on the platelet surface. Three of the patients recovered promptly after drug discontinuation alone whereas the other patients received additional corticosteroid therapy. The clinical presentation, mode of diagnosis, and therapeutic considerations in the treatment of drug-induced thrombocytopenia are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Dacryocystorhinostomy failure: association with nasolacrimal silicone intubation.

A retrospective review of 242 consecutive dacryocystorhinostomies (DCRs) revealed no association between failure and either age, gender, or etiology of the nasolacrimal obstruction. However, silicone intubation of the nasolacrimal system was associated with a statistically significant increase in the failure rate of primary DCR. We postulate that silicone tubing by inciting granuloma formation in the nose and lacrimal fossa, predisposes to DCR failure. Routine use of silicone tubing in DCR should be avoided unless there is canalicular scarring, a large valve of Rosenmueller occluding the common canaliculus, or a small contracted or scarred lacrimal sac.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Quantitative estimation of lactate in the brain by 1H NMR.

1H NMR was used to detect lactate accumulation in the intact gerbil brain postmortem. The lactate concentration was estimated from the spectra by comparison to signals from N-acetylaspartate, creatine + phosphocreatine, and water. The effects of T2, phase modulation, and solvent suppression were taken into account. The estimated concentrations were compared to determinations performed on the same brains after extraction. The lactate concentration estimated from the intact brain spectra was between 70 and 90% of the values determined in vitro, on the extracts, depending on the concentration standard used. If N-acetylaspartate was used as the standard then the proportion of detected lactate (92%) was not significantly different from 100%.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Acute cerebral ischaemia: concurrent changes in cerebral blood flow, energy metabolites, pH, and lactate measured with hydrogen clearance and 31P and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. III. Changes following ischaemia.

CBF has been measured with the hydrogen clearance technique in the two cerebral hemispheres of the gerbil under halothane anaesthesia. At the same time, intracellular pH and the concentrations of lactate and high-energy phosphates were measured in the brain using 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Flow and metabolism have been followed during either a 15- or a 30-min ischaemic period (induced by bilateral carotid occlusion) and for up to 1 h of recovery. There was no significant difference between the flow characteristics of the two experimental groups. High-energy phosphate levels and pH returned to control within approximately 20 min of the end of the ischaemic period. Lactate clearance, following a 30-min occlusion, was slower than the recovery of pH. The concentration of free ADP, calculated from the creatine kinase equilibrium, was lower during the recovery phase than under control conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Physostigmine enhances blood flow-metabolism ratio in neocortex.

Inhibition of central nervous system cholinesterase with a single pulse of physostigmine induces a pronounced increase of blood flow in the neocortex, cingulate gyrus, claustrum, and amygdala. This phenomenon is not accompanied by an increase in energy metabolism and may help explain the effect of this drug on memory in normal humans and patients with Alzheimer's disease, as well as other conditions. In contrast, a parallel increase of blood flow and metabolism was observed in the superior colliculus, a component of the visual pathways. Prolonged administration of physostigmine lead to persistent vasodilatation in the neocortex, a lessening of this effect in cingulate gyrus, claustrum and amygdala, and an increase in primary olfactory cortex and hippocampus when compared with single pulse administration. Effects of physostigmine on glucose utilization remained essentially the same as with pulse administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Human postnatal pulmonary arterial remodeling. Ultrastructural studies of smooth muscle cell and connective tissue maturation.

A quantitative light and electron microscopic study of the elastic conducting, small muscular resistance arteries (accompanying or just proximal to the terminal bronchioli) and respiratory unit pulmonary arteries was carried out on the autopsy specimens of 12 children (newborn to 2 years) and three adults, who died without cardiopulmonary disease. Between birth and 1 month, in muscular and respiratory unit arteries, wall thickness decreased due to a reduction in mean smooth muscle cell diameter (p less than 0.01) and a reduction in overlap between adjacent cells. In the elastic arteries, the distance between adjacent elastic lamellae decreased as smooth muscle cell diameter decreased (p less than 0.01 for both). At birth, smooth muscle cells appeared immature, synthetic rather than contractile organelles predominating. Smooth muscle cell filament (thick, thin, and intermediate) volume density increased by 12 to 13% by 6 months in the small muscular arteries and by 2 years in the elastic arteries (p less than 0.001 for both). Surface and cytoplasmic dense bodies increased in a similar manner (p less than 0.001). The findings indicate a postnatal increase in contractile myofilament and surface dense bodies. The amount of connective tissue in the subendothelium and media increased between 1 month and adulthood, collagen finally predominating in small muscular arteries and elastin in the conducting arteries. Collagen fibrils showed regional differences in size within the media, between media and adventitia, and between different types of artery, and increased in size with age (p less than 0.001). Thus, the intrapulmonary arteries from hilum to precapillary bed adapted structurally to extrauterine life. It is suggested that the high fetal pulmonary vascular resistance is due to the shape and arrangement of smooth muscle cells within the vessel wall, rather than to an excessive contractility of each cell. After 1 month, remodeling occurred more slowly with growth, involving an increase in wall thickness, connective tissue deposition, and smooth muscle cell maturation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Thinning of fetal pulmonary arterial wall and postnatal remodelling: ultrastructural studies on the respiratory unit arteries of the pig.

Adaptation to extra-uterine life and postnatal remodelling of intra-acinar arteries was followed in 34 Large White pigs, from birth to adult life, applying morphometry to light and electronmicroscopic studies. After birth, percentage wall thickness decreased rapidly due to a reduction in overlap of adjacent smooth muscle cells and an increase in smooth muscle cell surface area/volume ratio, (p less than 0.01 at 12 h), without a reduction in the volume density of smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscle cells appeared immature at birth and synthetic rather than contractile organelles predominated. Between 3 weeks and 6 months myofilament volume density doubled (p less than 0.0001). At all ages, pericytes, intermediate and smooth muscle cells showed similar volume densities of contractile and synthetic organelles. Thus, the high fetal pulmonary vascular resistance appeared to be due to the shape and arrangement of smooth muscle and other contractile cells within the vessel wall, rather than an excessive contractility of these cells. After birth rapid remodelling of arterial wall structure achieved a reduction in wall thickness by 30 min, continuing during the first week of life. After 3 weeks, remodelling involved an increase in wall thickness, connective tissue deposition with more collagen than elastin (p less than 0.0001), and smooth muscle cell differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Acute cerebral ischaemia: concurrent changes in cerebral blood flow, energy metabolites, pH, and lactate measured with hydrogen clearance and 31P and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. I. Methodology.

CBF has been measured with the hydrogen clearance technique in the two cerebral hemispheres of the gerbil under halothane anaesthesia. This has been correlated with changes in local pH, tissue lactate, and phosphorus energy metabolites measured in the same animals with 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The NMR measurements were made with two surface coils, one on each hemisphere. This article describes the experimental details and shows that in acute unilateral or bilateral forebrain ischaemia metabolic changes can be monitored by NMR with no significant interhemispheric cross talk. The metabolic effects of reperfusion are also shown. The model allows the definition of the time course of the metabolic consequences of regional ischaemia and reperfusion in individual laboratory animals.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Acute cerebral ischaemia: concurrent changes in cerebral blood flow, energy metabolites, pH, and lactate measured with hydrogen clearance and 31P and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. II. Changes during ischaemia.

CBF has been measured with the hydrogen clearance technique in the two cerebral hemispheres of the gerbil under halothane anesthesia. This has been correlated with changes in local pH, tissue lactate, and phosphorus energy metabolites measured in the same animals with 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We demonstrate a threshold flow value for the metabolic changes associated with energy failure at a level similar to the values previously reported for electrical failure and tissue water accumulation, but higher than that associated with breakdown of extracellular potassium homeostasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Altered nucleoside transporters in mammalian cells selected for resistance to the physiological effects of inhibitors of nucleoside transport.

From a mutagenized population of wild type S49 T lymphoma cells, clones were generated that were resistant to the physiological effects of the potent inhibitor of nucleoside transport, 4-nitrobenzyl-6-thioinosine (NBMPR). These cells were selected for their ability to survive in semisolid medium containing 0.5 mM hypoxanthine, 0.4 microM methotrexate, 30 microM thymidine, 30 microM deoxycytidine, in the presence of 30 microM NBMPR. NBMPR protected wild type cells from the effects of a spectrum of cytotoxic nucleosides, whereas two mutant clones, KAB1 and KAB5, were still sensitive to nucleoside-mediated cytotoxicity in the presence of NBMPR. Comparisons of the abilities of wild type cells and mutant cells to incorporate exogenous nucleoside to the corresponding nucleoside triphosphate indicated that the KAB1 and KAB5 mutant cells were refractory to normal inhibition by NBMPR. Moreover, rapid transport studies indicated that mutant cells, unlike wild type parental cells, had acquired a substantial NBMPR-insensitive nucleoside transport component. Binding studies with [3H]NBMPR indicated that KAB5 cells were 70-75% deficient in the number of NBMPR binding sites, whereas KAB1 cells possessed a wild type complement of NBMPR binding sites. These data suggest that the NBMPR binding site in wild type S49 cells is genetically distinguishable from the nucleoside carrier site.

Animals↗