Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Green

Publications and source records attributed to L Green.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Psychosocial adjustment and physical growth in children with imperforate anus or abdominal wall defects.

Pediatric surgeons have the unique responsibility of performing surgical procedures that will enable their patients to function normally throughout a lifetime. Good anatomic results may not ensure that this goal will be achieved. Using a battery of psychological testing instruments, we evaluated the academic achievement and psychosocial status of 56 children (mean age, 10.6 years) with imperforate anus (IA) and abdominal wall defects (AWDs). Physical growth was assessed by measurement of standard anthropometric parameters, and a parent questionnaire was used to define clinical status. As a group, the children presented with average intellectual ability. Achievement in both reading and math was in the normal range. In 12.5% of the children a reading learning disability was noted and 10.7% had a disability in math. On the basis of parental assessments, 25% of the children demonstrated externalizing behavior disorders (eg, conduct problems) and 29% displayed internalizing symptomatology (eg. withdrawal, anxiety). Social competency deficits were described in 23% of the children. Data obtained from the teachers were consistent with the parental assessments. No major differences between the IA and AWD patients in academic achievement, psychosocial status, or physical growth were discovered. Routine screening of these children for learning disabilities and behavior problems is recommended.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1991

A case report of giant cell arteritis of the uterus and adnexa.

Giant cell arteritis of the uterus and adnexa is a rare disorder, which is generally asymptomatic and occasionally associated with temporal arteritis. The true clinical significance of this dramatic microscopic finding remains obscure, but arteritis of the uterus and adnexa may be associated with later development of giant cell arteritis elsewhere in the body.

Adnexal Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Congenital gastrointestinal anomalies: psychosocial functioning of children with imperforate anus, gastroschisis, and omphalocele.

This study assessed the psychosocial status of 56 children aged 6-16 years with imperforate anus, gastroschisis, or omphalocele. Results indicate that (a) children were of average intellectual ability; (b) approximately 9% of the sample had learning disabilities; (c) although the mean maternal ratings of behavioral adjustment did not differ from those reported for children without anomalies, approximately 18% of the children had deviant adjustment scores; (d) a multivariate risk and resistance model accounted for a significant amount of the variance in children's adjustment; and (e) child, maternal, and family utilitarian and psychological risk and resistance resources contributed independently to children's overall behavioral adjustment.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1991

Recombination in Escherichia coli and the definition of biological species.

The DNA sequence of part of the gnd (6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) gene was determined for eight wild strains of Escherichia coli and for Salmonella typhimurium. Since a region of the trp (tryptophan) operon and the phoA (alkaline phosphatase) gene have been sequenced from the same strains, the gene trees for these three regions were determined and compared. Gene trees are different from species or strain trees in that a gene tree is derived from a particular segment of DNA, whereas a species or strain tree should be derived from many such segments and is the tree that best represents the phylogenetic relationship of the species or strains. If there were no recombination in E. coli, the gene trees for different genes would not be statistically different from the strain tree or from each other. But, if the gene trees are significantly different, there must have been recombination. Methods are proposed that show these gene trees to be statistically different. Since the gene trees are different, we conclude that recombination is important in natural populations of E. coli. Finally, we suggest that gene trees can be used to create an operational means of defining bacterial species by using the biological species definition.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Isolation and characterization of a sulfur-regulated gene encoding a periplasmically localized protein with sequence similarity to rhodanese.

During sulfur-limited growth, the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 loses most of its photosynthetic pigments and develops an increased capacity to acquire sulfate. Sulfur deprivation also triggers the synthesis of several soluble polypeptides. We have isolated a prominent polypeptide of 33 kDa that accumulates specifically under sulfur-limiting conditions. This polypeptide was localized to the periplasmic space. The gene for this protein (designated rhdA) was isolated and discovered to lie within a region of the Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 genome that encodes components of the sulfate permease system. The mRNA for the 33-kDa protein accumulates to high levels within an hour after the cells are deprived of sulfur and drops rapidly when sulfur is added back to the cultures. The amino acid sequence of the protein has similarity to bovine liver rhodanese, an enzyme that transfers the thiol group of thiosulfate to a thiophilic acceptor molecule, and a rhodaneselike protein of Saccharopolyspora erythraea. A strain in which rhdA was interrupted by a drug resistance marker exhibited marginally lower levels of rhodanese activity but was still capable of efficiently utilizing a variety of inorganic sulfur sources. The possible role of this protein in the transport of specific sulfur compounds is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Economic substitutability of electrical brain stimulation, food, and water.

Concurrent variable-ratio schedules of electrical brain stimulation, food, and water were paired in various combinations as reinforcement of rats' lever presses. Relative prices of the concurrent reinforcers were varied by changing the ratio of the response requirements on the two levers. Economic substitutability, measured by the sensitivity of response ratio to changes in relative price, was highest with brain stimulation reinforcement of presses on both levers and lowest with food reinforcement of presses on one lever and water reinforcement of presses on the other. Substitutability with brain stimulation reinforcement of presses on one lever and either food or water reinforcement for presses on the other was about as high as with brain stimulation for presses on both levers. Electrical brain stimulation for rats may thus serve as an economic substitute for two reinforcers, neither of which is substitutable for the other.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Adverse reaction reporting of interaction between warfarin and fluoroquinolones.

Reports to the Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting System of prolonged prothrombin time due to a suspected interaction between warfarin sodium and a fluoroquinolone were reviewed. Five reports of patients who experienced this adverse reaction 2 to 16 days after the addition of a fluoroquinolone to their treatment regimen are described. Possible mechanisms of action that are discussed include inhibition of warfarin metabolism by the anti-infective agent and displacement of warfarin's binding to protein. Physicians need to be aware of this interaction and closely monitor prothrombin time in patients concurrently receiving warfarin and a fluoroquinolone.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pregnancy and cystic fibrosis.

Despite reduced fertility, pregnancy is likely to occur with increasing frequency in cystic fibrosis in proportion to the number of patients reaching childbearing age. Thirty-eight pregnancies in 25 patients with cystic fibrosis are presented. Twelve of the 25 mothers were pancreatic-sufficient. Despite previous reports of the hazards of pregnancy in cystic fibrosis, we found that pregnancy was well tolerated by the vast majority of our patients and had little effect on their pulmonary and nutritional status. Therapeutic abortion for medical indications was required in two pregnancies. The incidence of prematurity and the neonatal mortality rate were low, and no congenital abnormalities occurred. We conclude that pregnancy can be tolerated by the majority of cystic fibrosis patients, particularly those who are pancreatic-sufficient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Binding of the bacteriophage T4 regA protein to mRNA targets: an initiator AUG is required.

Bacteriophage T4 regA protein translationally represses the synthesis of a subset of early phage-induced proteins. The protein binds to the translation initiation site of at least two mRNAs and prevents formation of the initiation complex. We show here that the protein binds to the translation initiation sites of other regA-sensitive mRNAs. Analysis of mRNA binding by filtration and nuclease protection assays shows that AUG is necessary but not sufficient for specific binding of regA protein to its mRNA targets. Anticipating the need for large quantities of regA protein for structural studies to further define the regA protein-RNA ligand interaction, we also report cloning the regA gene into a T4 overexpression system. The expression of regA protein in uninfected E. coli is lethal, so in our system regA driven by a strong T7 promoter is sequestered in a T4 phage until 'induction' by phage infection is desired. We have replaced the regA sensitive wild-type ribosome binding site with a strong insensitive ribosome binding site at an optimal distance from the regA initiation codon for maximizing expression. We have obtained large amounts of regA protein.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media: report from International Primary Care Network.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The relation between a history of disorders suggestive of acute otitis media, symptoms, and findings of an examination of the tympanic membrane and doctors' certainty of diagnosis. Also, to examine differences in prescribing habits for acute otitis media among doctors from different countries. DESIGN: Questionnaires were completed by participating doctors for a maximum of 15 consecutive patients presenting with presumed acute otitis media. SETTING: General practices in Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, Israel, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, and the United States. PATIENTS: 3660 Children divided into the three age groups 0-12 months, 13-30 months, and greater than or equal to 31 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: General practitioners' responses to questions on their diagnostic certainty and resolution of patients' symptoms after two months. RESULTS: The diagnostic certainty in patients aged 0-12 months was 58.0%. This increased to 66.0% in those aged 13-30 months and 73.3% in those aged greater than or equal to 31 months. In all age groups diagnostic certainty was positively associated with the finding of a tympanic membrane that was discharging pus or bulging. Redness of the membrane and pain were also associated with certainty in patients aged 13-30 months, and a history of decreased hearing or recent upper respiratory infection was positively associated in patients aged greater than or equal to 31 months. The proportion of patients prescribed antibiotics varied greatly among the countries, from 31.2% in The Netherlands to 98.2% in both Australia and New Zealand, as did the duration of treatment. Patients who did not take antibiotics had a higher rate of recovery than those who did; the rate of recovery did not differ between different types of antibiotic. CONCLUSIONS: Doctors' certainty of diagnosis of acute otitis media was linked to patient's age. Improved criteria or techniques for diagnosing acute otitis media, especially in very young children, need to be developed. Antibiotic treatment did not improve the rate of recovery of patients in this study.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

The dangerous agitated patient. What to do right now.

Short-term management of the agitated patient involves the use of psychological, behavioral, diagnostic, and pharmacologic options. Knowledge of verbal interventions may help physicians prevent personal injury and destruction of property. Accurate diagnosis allows safe and effective pharmacologic intervention. Involuntary treatment in emergency situations is legal; however, clearly documenting all clinical events is essential.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Nimodipine enhances new learning after hippocampal damage.

Rats were trained to lever press and then were given either bilateral lesions of the hippocampus or control operations. Half of the rats in each group received oral nimodipine, a calcium entry blocker, while the remaining rats received vehicle, over a 14-day period that began the evening of surgery. The rats were studied on a DRL 20-s schedule of reinforcement (differential reinforcement of low rates of responding) that required them to withhold a response for at least 20 s after their last lever press in order to earn a reward. Rats with lesions that did not receive the drug performed poorly on the DRL 20-s schedule. In contrast, rats sustaining the same hippocampal lesions but given the drug showed scores that were virtually equivalent to those of the sham-operated control animals. Similar trends were observed when the rats were then tested on a DRL 40-s schedule of reinforcement. These findings suggest that nimodipine may attenuate the effects of acute, focal brain lesions on new learning of even difficult behavioral and cognitive tasks.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Quality assurance for family practice trainees in the USA and the UK: too little too late?

A postal survey about opinions of quality assurance and the methods used to teach this subject was sent to all family practice course organizers in England, Wales and Scotland, and to all family practice residency directors in the USA. Opinions of quality assurance were more positive from the American responders. A wide variety of teaching methods was employed, with review of records for the quality of care more common in the USA, but trainees in the UK were more likely to participate in quality assurance, rather than merely being exposed to it. However, the proportion of trainees in either country that undertook projects was disappointingly low. The teaching of quality assurance to trainees needs to be given a higher priority in both the USA and UK.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Factors predicting outcome among opiate addicts after treatment.

Eighty opiate addicts who had been successfully withdrawn from drugs were followed up for a period of six months after leaving treatment. Variables which might have been expected to relate to subsequent abstinence or drug taking were regressed against measures of outcome. Two variables consistently emerged as predictors of outcome. The number of protective factors identified by the subject and a measure of confidence about being able to remain drug free were both related to frequency of drug use during the first two months after leaving treatment, to drug status at six months and to improvement during the six-month period. In addition, the length of previous periods of abstinence related to outcome at six months, as did time spent in treatment, though caution is urged in the interpretation of this latter effect. Although risk factors have been found to relate to relapse there was no relation between perceived risks and outcome. Also, the number of coping strategies identified at admission was only related to outcome during the immediate post-discharge period. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of a model of relapse.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

In vitro screening of Chinese medicinal toothpastes: their effects on growth and plaque formation of mutans streptococci.

Many plant extracts or derivatives have been incorporated into commercial toothpastes to treat oral diseases related to caries or periodontal diseases in China. However, no information is available concerning their in vitro effects on oral bacteria. Thirty-one Chinese medicinal toothpastes were selected for this study. Their ability to inhibit growth, in vitro plaque formation and glucosyltransferase (GTF) activity of Streptococcus sobrinus B13 and Streptococcus mutans 3209 were examined. Eighty-seven percent of the tested toothpastes inhibited the growth of the mutans streptococci, with zones ranging from 0.8 to 2.5 cm. At 10 mg/ml, 74% of the toothpastes inhibited in vitro plaque formation by S. mutans. Among these, 60% completely suppressed water-insoluble glucan synthesis from sucrose by GTF. Based on data obtained from our study, the incorporation of natural plant products or their derivatives into dentifrices seems a feasible means of promoting oral health and controlling dental diseases.

Dental Plaque↗