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Biomedical subjects

K Dalziel

Publications and source records attributed to K Dalziel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

When is it futile for ambulance personnel to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients with unexpected prehospital cardiac arrest could be identified in whom ambulance resuscitation attempts would be futile. DESIGN: Review of ambulance and hospital records; detailed review of automated external defibrillator rhythm strips of patients in whom no shock was advised. SETTING: Scottish Ambulance Service; all cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts after cardiorespiratory arrest during 1988-94 included in the Heartstart Scotland database. SUBJECT: 414 cardiorespiratory arrest patients with no pulse or breathing on arrival of ambulance personnel, no bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed, and more than 15 minutes from time of arrest to arrival of ambulance. Patients were stratified into those with "shockable" and "non-shockable" rhythms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Return of spontaneous circulation, or survival to reach hospital alive, or survival to discharge, or all three. RESULTS: No patient with a non-shockable rhythm who met the entry criteria for analysis survived a resuscitation attempt. Review of the defibrillator rhythm strips of these patients failed to find any case in which the tracing was deemed compatible with survival. CONCLUSION: On the basis that it would be inappropriate to initiate vigorous resuscitation in patients who can be identified as "dead" and beyond help an algorithm was prepared to guide ambulance personnel.

Algorithms

The causative rhythm in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests witnessed by the emergency medical services in the Heartstart Scotland Project.

Out-of-hospital defibrillation has been shown to improve survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The maximum performance of defibrillation-based systems is dependent on the proportion of cardiac arrests due to tachyarrhythmias. We reviewed 4248 reported arrests in the Heartstart Scotland database. We identified 3489 arrests due to cardiac or unknown cause. From this group we selected 258 cases known to be conscious on arrival of the crew. We were able to retrieve electrocardiographic data on the period within 2 min of the arrest in 106 cases. The first recorded rhythm at the arrest was ventricular fibrillation in 64%, ventricular tachycardia 4%, bradycardia in 28% and electromechanical dissociation in 4%. Defibrillatory shocks were delivered to 96% of patients in ventricular fibrillation and 60% of these patients survived. None of the patients with bradycardic arrests survived. Preceding chest pain was noted in 79% of patients subsequently developing ventricular fibrillation as the cause of arrest compared to only 37% of those suffering bradycardic arrests. It would appear that public awareness of the importance of early contact with the emergency services after the onset of chest pain could substantially improve the survival from out-of-hospital arrests.

Aged

Performance of an established system of first responder out-of-hospital defibrillation. The results of the second year of the Heartstart Scotland Project in the 'Utstein Style'.

The Heartstart Scotland project for out-of-hospital defibrillation covers the whole of Scotland, a population of approximately 5,102,400 (14.9% > 65 years, 48.3% male). All 395 ambulances in Scotland have been equipped with an automated external defibrillator and crews are trained in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillator use (EMT-D). Between 1 May 1990 and 30 April 1991 a total of 1700 cardiac arrests was reported by the ambulance service. Of the 1676 arrests which we could trace, 63% were witnessed. A total of 1383 (83%) of all patients were declared dead on arrival at hospital or in the emergency department, 119 (7%) died in hospital and 174 (10%) were discharged alive. Of the 174 survivors, 87% were conscious and normal at discharge, 9% had moderate residual disability and 2% severe disability. Survival of patients discharged alive from hospital was 85% at 1 year. Defibrillation was undertaken in 71% of the reported cardiac arrests. Survival of bystander witnessed arrests was increased from 7 to 15% with bystander CPR (P < 0.005). If the cardiac arrest was witnessed by the ambulance crew and required defibrillation, survival to discharge was 39%. Of bystander witnessed arrests reached while still in VF (n = 643), 11% were discharged alive. Patients who were defibrillated within 4 min of arrest had a 43% survival rate to hospital discharge.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Pemphigus associated with nail dystrophy.

Two patients suffering from pemphigus vulgaris were found to have nail dystrophies which antedated the onset of mucocutaneous lesions by many years. The nail changes improved substantially on treatment of the bullous disease. One patient had nail matrix histology consistent with pemphigus, and both had positive direct immunofluorescence with intercellular IgG in the matrix epithelium, as well as at other body sites. We propose that dystrophic nails, as a non-specific indicator of autoimmune disease, are a genuine and relevant finding in pemphigus.

Aged

NADP-linked malic enzyme. Purification from maize leaves, Mr and subunit composition.

1. The isolation of NADP-linked malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) from maize leaves is described, together with studies of its Mr and subunit composition. 2. The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity by affinity chromatography on N6-aminohexyl-2',5'-bisphosphoadenosine-agarose, gel filtration with Sephadex G-100 and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. A purification of 140-fold with a 30% yield was obtained. 3. A detailed study of the Mr by several methods revealed the existence of different Mr forms in solution. 4. In the presence of dithiothreitol the enzyme appears to be present in triethanolamine buffer, pH 7.5, as a tetramer with a subunit Mr of 60,000 and an S20,w of 10.75 S. 5. In phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, it seems to be a dimer of Mr 120,000 with an S20,w of 7.95 S. 6. In the absence of dithiothreitol, lower-Mr forms were detected by sedimentation-equilibrium and sedimentation-velocity studies in triethanolamine buffer. 7. Results from gel filtration gave Mr values of about 340,000 in both buffers.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient

The effects of isotretinoin on follicular and sebaceous gland differentiation.

Follicular and sebaceous gland cell differentiation was investigated during treatment of acne patients with isotretinoin. Sebaceous glands were significantly reduced in volume and showed decreased metabolic activity as measured by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase enzyme activities. There was no measurable change in the volume of follicular duct epithelium or in its metabolic activity during treatment. Metabolic activity was also unchanged in the interfollicular epidermis, contrasting with the effects of another retinoid, etretinate. These findings provide no support for the proposition that alteration in the process of follicular keratinization forms a substantial part of the mode of action of isotretinoin.

Acne Vulgaris

The effect of tetracycline and erythromycin in a model of acne-type inflammation.

The effects of systemically administered oxytetracycline and erythromycin in a guinea pig model of acne-type inflammation were assessed histologically and by tissue measurement techniques. It was found that oxytetracycline significantly reduced the volume and maximum area of inflammation compared with both control and erythromycin treated groups. Oxytetracycline also altered the morphology of the inflammatory infiltrate significantly reducing the proportion of polymorphonuclear leucocytes present. In this model, erythromycin did not alter the inflammatory response but did seem to reduce the amount of transepidermal elimination of inflammatory debris.

Acne Vulgaris

Kinetic studies of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from sheep liver.

The steady-state kinetics of the oxidative decarboxylation of 6-phosphogluconate catalysed by 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from sheep liver in triethanolamine and phosphate buffers (pH 7.0) have been reinvestigated. In triethanolamine buffer the enzyme is inhibited by high NADP+ concentrations in the presence of low fixed concentrations of 6-phosphogluconate. Data are consistent with an asymmetric sequential mechanism in which NADP+ and 6-phosphogluconate bind randomly and product release is ordered. The pathway through the enzyme--6-phosphogluconate complex appears to be preferred in triethanolamine buffer. Pre-steady-state studies of the oxidative decarboxylation reaction at pH 6.0-8.0 show that hydride transfer is greater than 900 s-1. After the fast formation of NADPH in amounts equivalent to about half of the enzyme-active-centre concentration, the rate of NADPH formation is equal to the steady-state rate. Two possible interpretations are considered. Rapid fluorescence measurements of the displacement of NADPH from its complex with the enzyme at pH 6.0 and 7.0 indicate that the dissociation of NADPH is fast (greater than 800 s-1) and cannot be the rate-limiting step in oxidative decarboxylation. Coenzyme binding studies at equilibrium have been extended to include the determination of the dissociation constants for the binary complexes of enzyme with NADPH and NADP+ at pH 6.0-8.0 and the dissociation constant for NADPH in the ternary enzyme--6-phosphogluconate--NADPH complex in triethanolamine buffer, pH 7.0.

Animals

The chemical mechanism of sheep liver 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. A Schiff-base intermediate is not involved.

[2-18O]Ribulose 5-phosphate was prepared and shown to be converted enzymically by 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from sheep liver into 6-phosphogluconate with complete retention of the heavy isotope. This finding unequivocally excludes the possibility of a Schiff-base mechanism for the enzyme. The involvement of metal ions has already been excluded, and other possible mechanisms are discussed. The enzyme was purified by an improved large-scale procedure, which is briefly described.

Animals

Chemical modification of sheep-liver 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase by diethylpyrocarbonate. Evidence for an essential histidine residue.

Sheep liver 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase is shown to be inactivated by diethylpyrocarbonate in a biphasic manner at pH 6.0, 25 degrees C. After allowing for the hydrolysis of the reagent, rate constants of 56 M-1 s-1 and 11.0 M-1 s-1 were estimated for the two processes. The complete reactivation of partially inactivated enzyme by neutral hydroxylamine, the elimination of the possibility that modification of cysteine or tyrosine residues are responsible for inactivation, and the magnitudes of the rate constants for inactivation relative to the experimentally determined value for the reaction of diethylpyrocarbonate with N alpha-acetylhistidine (2.2 M-1 s-1), all suggested that enzyme inactivation occurs solely by modification of histidine residues. Comparison of the experimental plot of residual fractional activity versus the number of modified histidine residues per subunit with simulated plots for three hypothetical models, each predicting biphasic kinetics, indicated that inactivation results from the modification of at most one essential histidine residue per subunit, although it appears that other (non-essential) histidines react independently. This histidine is thought to be His-242 and is present in the active site. Evidence in support of its role in catalysis is briefly discussed. Both 6-phosphogluconate and organic phosphate protect against inactivation, and a kinetic analysis of the protection indicated a dissociation constant of 2.1 X 10(-6) M for the enzyme--6-phosphogluconate complex. NADP+ also protected, but this might be due, at least in part, to a reduction in the effective concentration of diethylpyrocarbonate.

Animals

Hair follicle-like change over histiocytomas.

Epidermal hyperplasia is a common finding overlying histiocytomas. Occasionally, a distinctive type of basaloid hyperplasia occurs, with differentiation into primitive hair follicle tissue. This study attempts to characterize this change and determine whether it is associated with any particular clinical or histological feature. Data from patients with histiocytomas displaying induction of pilar epithelium in the epidermis above the lesions was compared with data from controls who did not show this change. The size, site, and duration of histiocytomas were similar in both groups, as were the predominant cell type and distance of histiocytoma from the epidermis. Serial sectioning of histiocytomas showed that the induction of pilar epithelium was a focal phenomenon, often missed in routine sections. It is suggested that histiocytoma cells may produce a "hair organizing mediator."

Epidermis

Inflammation caused by intracutaneous implantation of stratum corneum.

When an epidermoid cyst ruptures, a granulomatous infiltrate develops around the damaged structure. The same is true when other horn-containing cysts release their content into the epidermis. A similar type of inflammation may be observed in the dermis around disrupted and horn-filled follicles in acne vulgaris. In this paper we describe experiments in which a granulomatous inflammation has been produced in guinea-pig skin by the intracutaneous implantation of stratum corneum and discuss the potential of this system as a model for the inflammation in acne.

Acne Vulgaris

Inflammation due to intra-cutaneous implantation of stratum corneum.

Fragments of sterile heel callus and suspensions of human corneocytes were implanted or injected intra-cutaneously into flank skin of guinea pigs. A mixed cellular type of inflammation was produced characterized by the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the early stages and a more granulomatous picture in the later stages. Epithelial hypertrophy and follicular distortion with transepidermal elimination was a frequent accompaniment. Immunoglobulins and the complement component C3 were found scattered irregularly in the inflammation produced and were not thought to be important in the process. The inflammation produced closely emulated the changes observed in acne inflammation and after rupture of horn containing cysts. It is suggested that inflammation caused by the implantation of horn may be suitable for study of human skin disease in which horny debris is released into the dermis, such as acne.

Acne Vulgaris

Kinetics of dissociation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate from its complexes with malic enzyme in relation to substrate inhibition and half-of-the-sites reactivity.

Malic enzyme of pigeon liver binds NADPH at four equivalent enzyme sites and binds Mn2+ and malate each at two sets of "tight" and "weak" sites with negative cooperativity [Pry, T. A., & Hsu, R. Y. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 951-962]. Stopped-flow studies on the displacement of NADPH from the malate-enzyme complexes E4-NADPH4, E4-Mn2(2+)-NADPH4, E4-Mn2(2+)-NADPH4-dimalate, and E4-Mn2(2+)-NADPH4-tetramalate by large excess NADP+ or its analogue phosphoadenosine(2')diphospho(5')ribose show that NADPH dissociates from the binary complex rapidly with a first-order rate constant of 427 s-1. Dissociation from the ternary E4-Mn2(2+)-NADPH4 complex containing two tightly bound Mn2+ ions can be described by a single first-order process with a rate constant of 135 s-1, or more satisfactorily by two simultaneous first-order processes attributable to the reactions of Mn2+-deficient (k congruent to 427 s-1) and Mn2+-liganded (k = 96 s-1) subunits. The latter equals twice the maximum steady-state turnover rate of 53.2 + 3.0 s-1 assigned to dissociation of the reduced nucleotide from transient E-Mn2+-NADPH, and this 2:1 ratio strongly supports our proposed "half-of-the-sites" model [Hsu, R. Y., & Pry, T. A. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 962-968]. Dissociation from the E4-Mn2(2+)-NADPH4-dimalate complex (k = 100 s-1) follows only the slower process, suggesting that occupancy of malate at two sites tightens enzyme-bound NADPH on the adjacent sites. Binding of malate at two additional weak sites yields E4-Mn2(2+)-NADPH4-tetramalate and a NADPH dissociation rate constant of 2.69 s-1. The 97% decrease in NADPH dissociation parallels the observed 93% maximal inhibition by malate and is the cause of substrate inhibition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Binding Sites