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Biomedical subjects

K Gallagher

Publications and source records attributed to K Gallagher.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Effect of regional myocardial ischemia on sympathetic nervous system as assessed by fluorine-18-metaraminol.

With the introduction of radiolabeled catecholamine analogues, the noninvasive evaluation of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system has become possible. This study evaluated the effect of regional ischemia on myocardial retention of the new norepinephrine analogue 6-[18F] fluorometaraminol (FMR) in the open chest dog model. Six dogs were injected intravenously with FMR following 30-min occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. Six sham animals served as control group. Regional myocardial blood flow as determined by microspheres decreased 87% during ischemia (p less than 0.01), but was not significantly different from control myocardium following reperfusion. Regional myocardial 18F activity as determined postmortem was significantly reduced in reperfused myocardium (-34%), which paralleled an 18% reduction of tissue norepinephrine concentration. Thus, short time periods of coronary occlusion affect neuronal function indicating the sensitivity of the sympathetic nerve terminals to ischemia. FMR provides a new tracer approach for the characterization of neuronal integrity in postischemic myocardium.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

An outbreak of infectious conjunctivitis spread by microscopes.

Among the potential occupational hazards of microscope use is the transmission of infectious agents among employees. We report a large (145 cases) and costly (+647,000) epidemic of viral conjunctivitis in a microelectronics factory. Spread of the illness appeared to be through sharing of microscopes among employees. Routine handwashing instructions and safety glasses failed to prevent spread of the epidemic. Mandatory screening prior to work and temporary plant shut-down were finally successful. We discuss efforts to control this outbreak and make recommendations to prevent similar epidemics in other workplaces.

Conjunctivitis, Viral↗
PubMed1988

Clinical response of hairy-cell leukaemia to interferon-alpha: results of an Australian study.

Twelve patients with documented, progressive hairy-cell leukaemia were treated with human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha. All patients initially received a three-month course of interferon-alpha (3 x 10(6) U each day) which resulted in two complete remissions and 10 partial remissions. All eight patients who were dependent upon packed red-cell transfusions became independent of them and the three patients with the most severe, pretreatment pancytopenia also became independent of platelet transfusions. The histological appearance of the bone marrow improved in all patients; in three patients, a complete resolution of the leukaemic infiltrate was recorded. Adverse reactions occurred in 10 patients, but these were mild and did not interrupt treatment in seven patients. Moderate reactions that required a temporary reduction in the dose of interferon-alpha were seen in three patients. Ten patients subsequently received maintenance therapy with interferon-alpha (3 x 10(6) U, three times a week). A haematological improvement continued to be seen in all patients, and the results, with a minimum of one year of follow-up, are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Bluefish-associated scombroid poisoning. An example of the expanding spectrum of food poisoning from seafood.

Five persons who attended a medical conference developed symptoms suggestive of an intoxication after a common meal. Although the symptoms were recognized as typical of scombroid poisoning, no fish of the Scrombridae family had been served. However, food histories implicated bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). The initially frozen bluefish had been improperly handled in storage and thawing. Elevated levels of histamine, putrescine, and cadaverine were detected in uncooked samples. This outbreak emphasizes that scombroid-type poisoning (1) can be caused by nonscombroid fish such as bluefish, (2) is probably more common than currently recognized, and (3) may become even more widespread as fish become a larger part of our diet. Physicians who work in conjunction with public health officials can help prevent additional cases and outbreaks.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Blood flow reductions in stenosed canine coronary arteries: vasospasm or platelet aggregation?

In 67 dogs with a 60-80% coronary stenosis produced by an external constricting plastic ring, blood flow measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter showed cyclical flow reductions of varying magnitude and duration, and then an abrupt return to control flow. In 45 dogs, heparin did not prevent these flow reductions, but ibuprofen (Motrin) or indomethacin abolished them. With incremental doses of each of these drugs, the cyclical flow reduction and the platelet function in vitro were diminished proportionately. In 10 more dogs, during low flow, pinching or poking the narrowed vessel suddenly restored normal flow. Topical application of papaverine and nitroglycerin proximal to the stenosis did not abolish the cyclic flow reduction, although a transient fall in systemic pressure indicated that they had been absorbed. Seven dogs had the constricting cylinder and flow probe chronically implanted for 4-6 weeks. A single oral dose of aspirin, 20 mg/kg, abolished their cyclic flow reductions for 2-4 days. In five dogs with 70% stenosis in the circumflex coronary artery, coronary arteriography was performed before coronary flow reduction and when coronary blood flow was low. This showed that there was a considerable additional reduction in the size of the mechanically constricted lumen during spontaneous flow reduction. In one dog, a nonopacified mass was dislodged from the area of constriction in 67 msec and this restored the lumen to its control diameter. Similar rapid clearing was filmed in two more dogs. In no case was vasospasm observed. These results suggest that obstruction from platelets aggregated in the narrowed lumen caused the cyclic flow reductions.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Influence of exercise on serum selenium and peroxide reduction system of racing Standardbreds.

Blood samples were obtained from 45 racing Standardbred horses immediately before and immediately after a training jog at a commercial race track to establish reference values for serum selenium and related values of the peroxide reduction system of racing horses. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum selenium increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas RBC-reduced glutathione decreased significantly (P < 0.01) immediately after exercise. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were not altered by exercise. Serum copper and magnesium were significantly increased (P < 0.01) after exercise.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Hemodynamic effects of controlled degrees of coronary artery stenosis in short-term and long-term studies in dogs.

Coronary and aortic blood flow, aortic and distal coronary blood pressure were measured with electromagnetic flowmeters and pressure gauges in 15 anesthetized dogs with the chest left open. Increasing degrees of known, fixed, partial coronary artery obstruction were applied with concentric plastic cylinders 3 mm. in length and with varying internal diameters. Because these plastic cylinders are radiolucent and can also be permanently implanted, postoperative arteriograms were taken to evaluate the degree of stenosis produced. At necropsy the degree of obstruction was checked by ligating and removing the narrowed vessel and examining a histologic section of a stenosed portion. The reactive hyperemic response to a 20 second complete occlusion was recorded with amounts of obstruction varying from 10 to 90 per cent. The reactive hyperemia began to decrease with an average of 36 +/- 10 per cent stenosis. A pressure gradient of 10 mm. Hg across the obstruction occurred with an average of 57 +/- 8 per cent stenosis. The reactive hyperemic response was abolished with an average of 75 +/- 6 per cent stenosis, and with greater degrees of stenosis the total flow began to decrease below control levels. The phasic coronary flow pattern was also altered with increasing amounts of fixed partial obstruction. As the per cent of stenosis was increased, the ratio of diastolic to systolic coronary flow decreased. When reactive hyperemia was abolished, very little diastolic-to-systolic variation remained.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Ionic requirements for the active ileal bile salt transport system.

Taurocholate transport by everted ileal gut sacs was studied in physiological media containing graded amounts of sodium ions. Significant uphill transport of taurocholate was observed when the bulk of NaCl was replaced by osmotic equivalents of mannitol or choline chloride. Seventy-seven percent of control transport activity was observed when 36 milliequivalents per liter of Na+ were present in the incubation medium with mannitol acting as the isosmotic replacement, and 74% of the control transport was retained when 31 milliequivalents per liter of Na+ were present in the incubation medium with choline chloride acting as the osmotic replacement. Lowering the Na+ concentration to 19 milliequivalents per liter (i.e., 84% replacement of Na+) still allowed for 69% of the uphill transport observed in the control incubations. Taurodehydrocholate transport by ileal everted sacs was more sensitive to decreased Na+ concentrations; 29% of control transport was observed at 31 milliequivalents per liter of Na+. A kinetic analysis comparing the transport of taurocholate with taurodehydrocholate, the triketo analogue, at different concentrations of Na+ indicated that the apparent affinity of the transport system for Na+ is greater in the presence of taurocholate than in the presence of taurodehydrocholate. The ability of taurodehydrocholate to depress taurocholate transport is less in media of low Na+ concentration. Finally, in vivo intestinal perfusion studies demonstrated that the depression of taurocholate absorption, following Na+ removal, is reversible. These results are in agreement with the idea that Na+ has a physiological role in intestinal bile salt transport, and that the affinities of the anionic bile salt and the sodium cation for the transport system appear to be cooperative in that one enhances the binding of the other.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physician referral patterns to a breast cancer support program.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the differences between physicians who did and did not refer their patients with breast cancer to the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program, as well as to determine the factors associated with these physician referral patterns. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 54 physicians who had and 23 physicians who had not referred their patients with breast cancer to the Mile High Unit Reach to Recovery program in 1999. Participating physicians completed a questionnaire about their knowledge, behaviors, and beliefs regarding Reach to Recovery, the characteristics of the patients they referred, and their own demographic and practice characteristics. RESULTS: General surgeons were more likely than all other specialties to refer patients to the Reach to Recovery program. The program is a part of the American Cancer Society. Feedback from patients about their experiences with Reach to Recovery and the proportion of patient time spent caring for patients with breast cancer were all positively associated with referral. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings show that those providing support programs, such as Reach to Recovery, need to use targeted strategies to ensure that physicians are aware of the services they provide and that patients relay their experiences back to their referring physician. Because the value of social support programs for women with breast cancer has been established, physicians can become valuable partners in helping more women gain access to these programs.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disulfiram-like reactions with newer cephalosporins: cefmenoxime.

A 54-year-old woman with recurrent adenocarcinoma of the uterus was treated with new third-generation cephalosporin, cefmenoxime, for a urinary tract infection. She received an alcohol-containing tylenol elixir while receiving the drug on two occasions. A disulfiram-like reaction was noticed each time. Such reactions have been described in patients receiving certain drugs such as 5-nitroimidazoles, nitrofurans, sulfonylureas and certain newer cephalosporins with a methyltetrazolethiol side chain. This is the first report of a disulfiram-like reaction with cefmenoxime. The mechanism, causes, and significance of disulfiram-like reactions are discussed.

Acetaminophen↗