Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Mitchell

Publications and source records attributed to L Mitchell.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

English yew poisoning in 43 cattle.

Thirty-five privately owned 1- to 2-year-old mixed-breed steers and heifers, weighing 340 to 454 kg, died from accidental ingestion of English yew (Taxus baccata). Estimated dosages ranged from 0.36 to 0.70 g of fresh plant/kg of body weight. Clinical signs of poisoning and death began 2 to 3 hours after first exposure, and cattle continued to have clinical signs, which ended in death 6 to 8 hours later. Most cattle had died by 4 hours after first ingestion. Necropsy of 4 cattle revealed substantial amounts of English yew leaves and small stems in the rumen contents. Grossly, there were areas of hyperemia in the abomasum and small intestine. Histologically, lesions were limited to the lungs and included moderate congestion and interlobular edema. Chemical analysis by thin-layer chromatography of suspected yew plant material from the rumen contents of the 4 necropsied cattle was compared to authentic taxol, and confirmed the presence of taxol in rumen samples.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

An antithrombin III assay based on factor Xa inhibition provides a more reliable test to identify congenital antithrombin III deficiency than an assay based on thrombin inhibition.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether functional antithrombin III (AT-III) levels measured by a factor Xa inhibition (AT-III-Xa) assay identifies AT-III deficient individuals more reliably than functional AT-III levels measured by a thrombin inhibition (AT-III-IIa) assay. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PATIENT POPULATION: Sixty-seven members of a large family with type 2 AT-III deficiency. INTERVENTION: DNA analysis was used as the reference diagnostic standard for AT-III status and subjects were classified as AT-III deficient or non deficient according to these results. Functional AT-III levels were measured in all subjects using: 1) a chromogenic substrate for thrombin and added human thrombin (AT-III-IIa), and 2) a chromogenic substrate for factor Xa and added bovine factor Xa (AT-III-Xa). Functional heparin cofactor II (HC-II) levels were measured using a commercially available kit. The proportions of 125I-alpha-thrombin complexed to AT-III and HC-II were measured by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. RESULTS: Thirty-one (46%) individuals were classified as AT-III deficient and 36 (54%) as AT-III non deficient. AT-III-Xa assay measured a significantly lower mean AT-III value and a narrower range for individuals classified as AT-III deficient than the AT-III-IIa assay. Using the AT-III-IIa assay, six subjects had borderline AT-III levels compared to none with the AT-III-Xa assay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Standardization of prothrombin times in newborn infants.

The prothrombin time (PT) for patients receiving warfarin varies widely, reflecting the heterogeneity of thromboplastin reagents. The International Committee on Thrombosis and Haemostasis recommends that PT values for these patients be expressed as international normalized ratios. This study showed that thromboplastin reagents also significantly influence PT values in neonatal plasma and that expressing PT values as international normalized ratios decreases this variability.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Extraction, evaluation, and amplification of DNA from decalcified and undecalcified United States Civil War bone.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from documented skeletal specimens of U.S. Civil War soldiers to determine the need for decalcification prior to extraction. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine if the calcification state had an effect on the ability to amplify the extracts and to determine how successful amplification would be with these aged specimens. Bone samples were pulverized to a fine powder and divided into two sets. One set of samples was decalcified and the other set left undecalcified. Both sets were extracted using an organic procedure. The results demonstrate that decalcification is not a necessary step in the extraction process and that the yield of DNA is generally two times greater when decalcification is omitted. Furthermore, the calcification state had no effect on the ability to perform the PCR. Although the extracted DNA was very degraded, a 410 base pair (bp) segment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was amplified. These results suggest that DNA can be extracted and amplified from 125 year old bone without decalcification, which may assist in the identity of modern and historic forensic specimens.

Anthropology, Physical↗
PubMed1992

Maturation of the hemostatic system during childhood.

The hemostatic system is assumed to be similar in children and adults and reference ranges established for adults are commonly used to evaluate children suspected of having congenital or acquired hemostatic problems. However, we know that the hemostatic system is not fully mature by 6 months of age and comprehensive studies of healthy older children have not been published. Therefore, we conducted a prospective cohort study of the hemostatic system in healthy children having minor, elective day surgery. After obtaining informed consent, a 3-mL blood sample was obtained at the time routine preoperative blood work was drawn. The plasma was fractioned and stored at -70 degrees C for batch assaying. We measured the concentration of 33 components of the hemostatic system (functional and immunologic assays) and the bleeding time (automated pediatric device) in 246 children aged 1 to 16 inclusive (a minimum of four subjects at each age). Eleven components of hemostasis (fibrinogen, prekallikrein, high-molecular weight kininogen, factors VIII and XIII, antithrombin III [ATIII], heparin cofactor II [HCII], alpha 1-antitrypsin [alpha 1AT], protein S, plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin [alpha 2AP]) had mean values and ranges of normal that were similar to adults. Mean values of seven coagulants (II, V, VII, IX, X, XI, XII) were significantly lower than adult values and varied with age. Values for three inhibitors, alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), protein C, and protein C1-inhibitor (C1-Inh) also differed from adults. Alpha 2M and C1-Inh inhibitor levels were elevated throughout childhood, whereas protein C levels were low, with a lower limit of normal of 0.40 U/mL until the age of 11. Finally, the upper limit of normal for the bleeding time was longer in children during the first 10 years of life, but decreased to adult values in the teenage years. In summary, there are important physiologic differences in the hemostatic system in children compared with adults. The decreased levels of several critical coagulants and increased levels of alpha 2M may contribute in part to the lower risk of thrombotic events in childhood. Age-matched controls should be used for evaluation of the hemostatic system in children with suspected congenital or acquired defects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Dependence of hypotensive effect of neuropeptide-Y 18-36 fragment on intact vagus nerves.

Effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY 2.35-4.7 nmol) and the fragment NPY 18-36 (3.6-36 nmol) were studied in anaesthetized rats before and after vagotomy for actions on blood pressure (a postjunctional action) and on the change in pulse interval evoked by stimulation of the cut, peripheral vagus nerve (a prejunctional action). In intact rats NPY increased blood pressure. Low doses of NPY 18-36 (2.3-4.7 nmol) also increased blood pressure slightly but higher doses only transiently increased blood pressure and this was followed by a prolonged decrease in blood pressure. In vagotomised rats NPY increased blood pressure and attenuated cardiac vagal action. In higher doses the presynaptic effect of NPY 18-36 was more marked than its pressor action. NPY 18-36 (3.6-36 nmol) also increased blood pressure and attenuated cardiac vagal action. Thus, we conclude that the hypotensive action of NPY 18-36 depends on the intact vagus nerves: in the vagotomised rat NPY 18-36 has similar biological activity to NPY, but with reduced potency. To examine further the mechanism of hypotensive action of NPY 18-36 arterial rings from the central artery of the rabbit ear were also tested for direct actions of the peptides. This preparation is also suitable for testing any potentiation of contraction evoked by injection of noradrenaline. Neither NPY nor NPY 18-36 caused direct constrictor action in concentrations up to 10 microM. NPY 18-36 had no relaxing effect on constricted arterial rings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Regional cerebral blood flow with manual internal cardiac massage versus direct mechanical ventricular assistance.

STUDY HYPOTHESIS: Previous studies have not discerned the best method for generating regional cerebral blood flow during internal cardiac massage. We hypothesized that regional cerebral blood flow generated by a mechanical method--direct mechanical ventricular assistance (DMVA)--would be superior to manual internal cardiac massage (MAN). STUDY POPULATION: Twelve adult Yucatan minipigs weighing more than 44 kg each were studied. METHODS: Swine were instrumented for regional cerebral blood flow measurements using tracer microspheres. After 15 minutes of ventricular fibrillation, swine were randomized to receive either MAN or DMVA. Regional cerebral blood flow was measured during normal sinus rhythm and at one minute (VF-1) and six minutes (VF-2) after initiation of circulatory support. Regional cerebral blood flow values were compared using a Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: During VF-1, there was a tendency for DMVA to produce greater regional cerebral blood flow than MAN, although these differences were not statistically significant (DMVA vs MAN as mL/min/100 g): cerebral cortex, 28 versus 11; cerebellum, 49 versus 22; midbrain, 43 versus 16; pons, 55 versus 18; medulla, 55 versus 19; and spinal cord, 33 versus 10. During VF-2, DMVA produced greater regional cerebral blood flows than were produced by MAN: cerebral cortex, 39 versus 12 (P less than .06); cerebellum, 58 versus 20 (P less than 0.5); midbrain, 50 versus 18 (P less than .05); pons, 52 versus 22 (P less than .06); medulla, 53 versus 20 (P less than .05); and spinal cord, 31 versus 12 (P less than .05). CONCLUSION: DMVA produces greater regional cerebral blood flow than is produced during MAN after 15 minutes of ventricular fibrillation. DMVA is effective at maintaining regional cerebral blood flow after a prolonged cardiac arrest.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

An anticoagulant dermatan sulfate proteoglycan circulates in the pregnant woman and her fetus.

Investigation of the in vitro ability of plasma from pregnant women to inhibit exogenous thrombin (25 nM) demonstrated that heparin cofactor II inhibited more thrombin (3.0 +/- 0.7 nM, mean +/- SD) than plasma from women 3-5 d postpartum (1.9 +/- 0.5 nM) or plasma from nonpregnant adults (1.5 +/- 0.4 nM). Levels of heparin cofactor II were only slightly increased over normal in both pregnant and postpartum women and did not account for the observed increase in thrombin bound to heparin cofactor II. Assay of pregnancy plasma for dermatan sulfate anticoagulant activity demonstrated the presence of activity equivalent to 0.23 +/- 0.02 micrograms/ml of porcine mucosal dermatan sulfate. This activity could not be demonstrated in normal adult plasma or plasma from women on the contraceptive pill. The mass of dermatan sulfate in pregnancy and umbilical cord plasmas was increased over adult control plasma by 0.20 micrograms/ml (53%) and 0.29 micrograms/ml (76%), respectively. The glycosaminoglycan-containing fraction of plasma was isolated and an assay for anticoagulant dermatan sulfate confirmed its presence in both pregnancy and cord plasmas but minimal activity in adult plasma. Gel chromatography of isolated fractions from both pregnancy and cord plasmas revealed a polydisperse, active species with apparent Mr 150,000 D. Reductive elimination decreased the apparent Mr of the active species on gel chromatography to 31,000 D for cord and 21,000 D for pregnancy products. This confirmed the presence of an anticoagulant active dermatan sulfate proteoglycan circulating in the plasmas of pregnant women at term and fetuses at delivery.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1992

Supernumerary teeth causing delayed eruption--a retrospective study.

The majority of previous studies that have looked at the management of delayed eruption secondary to a supernumerary tooth advocate exposure of the unerupted tooth at the time of supernumerary removal. However, accepted UK orthodontic practice is to extract the supernumerary and provide sufficient space for the unerupted tooth to erupt spontaneously. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the management and outcome for 96 patients who had been referred to Newcastle Dental Hospital between 1976 and 1988 who between them had 120 teeth with delayed eruption secondary to a supernumerary tooth.

Child↗
PubMed1992

An investigation into the effect of a fluoride releasing adhesive on the prevalence of enamel surface changes associated with directly bonded orthodontic attachments.

Despite careful patient selection, decalcification still remains a problem during fixed orthodontic treatment. The advantages of a method of delivering fluoride to the area of the tooth most at risk, which does not rely on patient compliance, makes a fluoride releasing bonding adhesive desirable. The aims of this study were to investigate the potential of a fluoride releasing bonding material for preventing decalcification and to monitor its efficacy at retaining orthodontic brackets. In order to carry out the first part of the study it was necessary to devise a reproducible and sensitive method of recording the extent and severity of any decalcification. A photographic technique which fulfils these criteria is described.

Adhesives↗
PubMed1991

Alpha-2-macroglobulin may provide protection from thromboembolic events in antithrombin III-deficient children.

Antithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency has been implicated in adults as a predisposing factor to thrombosis; however, thromboembolic complications are rare in children with the same deficiency. We hypothesized that because of the elevated levels of plasma alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) throughout childhood, plasmas of ATIII-deficient children inhibit thrombin more efficiently than those of ATIII-deficient adults. In total, 14 ATIII-deficient adults (ages 25 to 46 years), 13 ATIII-deficient children (ages 2 to 13 years), 9 normal children (ages 3 to 15 years), and 16 normal adults were studied. We measured thrombin inhibition in these plasmas, as well as the contributions of ATIII, alpha 2M, and heparin cofactor II (HCII) as thrombin inhibitors in each plasma. 125I-alpha-thrombin, 25 nmol/L, was added to each plasma (defibrinated with Arvin at 37 degrees C), and 90 seconds later the free thrombin and thrombin-inhibitor complexes were quantitated after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, autoradiography, and densitometric scanning. Plasma from ATIII-deficient adults inhibited significantly less thrombin (12.8 +/- 0.6 nmol/L) than both normal adults (16.1 +/- 0.3 nmol/L, P less than .01), normal children (15.7 +/- 0.4 nmol/L, P less than .01), or ATIII-deficient children (15.5 +/- 0.3 nmol/L, P less than .01). There was no significant difference between the total concentration of thrombin inhibited by ATIII-deficient children and either normal adult or normal children groups. In addition, plasmas of ATIII-deficient children inhibited thrombin significantly more efficiently than plasma of ATIII-deficient adults (P less than .01). In the ATIII-deficient patients there was a significant correlation between the alpha 2M level and ability to inhibit thrombin (P less than .01), but no correlation between either ATIII or HCII levels and thrombin inhibition. On the addition of heparin (0.4 U/mL) to plasma, all four types of plasma inhibited thrombin to the same extent. Although ATIII was the predominant inhibitor in all heparinized plasmas, HCII inhibited more thrombin in the ATIII-deficient patients than in normal patients (2.8 +/- 0.3 v 1.2 +/- 0.2 nmol/L, P less than .01). We hypothesize that the lower risk of thromboembolic complications in ATIII-deficient children may be due in part to the protective effect of elevated alpha 2M levels during childhood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Adverse reactions to the preschool (fifth) dose of adsorbed diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine in Canadian children.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify accurately the rate of adverse reactions after the preschool (fifth) dose of adsorbed diphtheria toxoid-pertussis vaccine-tetanus toxoid (DPT) vaccine and to test the hypothesis that large local reactions are attributable to the diphtheria toxoid. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Suburban community public health unit. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy children 4 to 5 years of age with a history of having received four doses of adsorbed DPT vaccine. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were given either the standard DPT vaccine (with 25 Lf units of diphtheria toxoid) or a modified DPT vaccine (with 10 Lf units of diphtheria toxoid). They were assessed 24 hours later by a nurse. Serum samples obtained before vaccination were tested for diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin levels by means of neutralization assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of large local reactions (an area of redness or swelling or both of 5 cm or greater) 24 hours after vaccination in the two groups. Relation between serum antitoxin levels before vaccination and the rate of large local reactions in each group. RESULTS: Of the 250 subjects enrolled 124 received the standard vaccine and 126 the modified one. Large local reactions occurred in 71% of the subjects receiving the standard vaccine and 52% of those receiving the modified one (p less than 0.01). In the former group large erythematous reactions occurred significantly more often in those with an elevated prevaccination diphtheria antitoxin level than in those without an elevated level; no relation was found between such reactions and the prevaccination tetanus antitoxin level. Reduced arm movement was evident in 45% of the children in the two groups. Few had systemic adverse reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Large local reactions occur frequently after the preschool administration of the DPT vaccine. These reactions are uncomfortable but not serious. They result in part from the large amount of diphtheria toxoid in the standard DPT vaccine.

Child, Preschool↗