Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M A Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to M A Wilson.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Method for assuring accuracy of bone biopsy using technetium 99 bone scan.

In the clinical staging of malignancy, radionuclide bone scanning has played an increasingly important role. An area of increased radionuclide uptake on technetium 99 (99Tc) bone scan which is not visualized on skeletal radiographs can present a significant diagnostic dilemma. This can be further compounded by nonrevealing percutaneous or open surgical biopsies. The authors present a method of definitively localizing the appropriate site for bone biopsy in such circumstances. Use of this technique has allowed us to ascertain that isolated rib lesions in two patients with extra-osseous malignancies were not due to metastatic disease.

Aged↗

Molecular dynamics of the water liquid-vapor interface.

The results of molecular dynamics calculations on the equilibrium interface between liquid water and its vapor at 325 K are presented. For the TIP4P model of water intermolecular pair potentials, the average surface dipole density points from the vapor to the liquid. The most common orientations of water molecules have the C2 nu molecular axis roughly parallel to the interface. The distributions are quite broad and therefore compatible with the intermolecular correlations characteristic of bulk liquid water. All near-neighbor pairs in the outermost interfacial layers are hydrogen bonded according to the common definition adopted here. The orientational preferences of water molecules near a free surface differ from those near rigidly planar walls which can be interpreted in terms of patterns found in hexagonal ice 1. The mean electric field in the interfacial region is parallel to the mean polarization which indicates that attention cannot be limited to dipolar charge distributions in macroscopic descriptions of the electrical properties of this interface. The value of the surface tension obtained is 132 +/- 46 dyn/cm, significantly different from the value for experimental water of 68 dyn/cm at 325 K.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Bone scintigraphic findings in patellar tendonitis.

Three patients with the signs and symptoms of patellar tendonitis were studied with technetium-99m utilizing the triple phase technique. The scans demonstrated characteristic abnormal radiotracer localization at the inferior pole of the patella or tibial tuberosity on early and delayed images. The regional patellar anatomy likely explains the bone scintigraphic findings in patellar tendonitis.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetics of imipramine are affected by age and sex in rats.

Chronic treatment with the antidepressant imipramine (IMI) leads to accumulation of imipramine's major metabolite desmethylimipramine (DMI) in the brain. Juvenile, young and middle-aged female rats, as well as juvenile and young male rats were treated chronically with imipramine (14 days) and analyzed 24 hours later for levels of IMI and DMI in the hypothalamus-preoptic area (HPA) and serum. Older animals of both sexes showed higher levels of DMI than juvenile animals, in both the HPA and serum. Females also had higher DMI levels than males at comparable ages. Analysis of IMI and DMI levels at intervals after a single imipramine injection suggested that the initial metabolism of imipramine is slower in older animals and in females (compared to males). The results indicate that age and gender alter the initial metabolism of imipramine, leading to enhanced accumulation of metabolites during chronic treatment in older animals and in female rats, compared to younger rats and males, respectively.

Aging↗

Absorption of oral diphosphonate in normal subjects.

Absorption of the diphosphonate etidronate (HEDP) was measured in 20 volunteer subjects at two centres (Glasgow and Madison) using a new method based on simultaneous administration of HEDP and intravenous 99mTc-HEDP (Osteoscan). The mean absorption of HEDP in fasting subjects in Glasgow was 3.5% (range 1-8.9%) and in Madison 1.5% (0.7-2.8%) (P less than 0.035). In four subjects studies were repeated with good agreement between results (mean 3.9 cf. 3.5%). Six subjects had studies repeated when drug was ingested with food and in all cases absorption was effectively reduced to zero. We conclude that absorption of HEDP is significantly higher in normal subjects in Glasgow than in Madison. This may be of importance with regard to the finding of histological osteomalacia and fracture associated with HEDP use in Glasgow.

Administration, Oral↗

Estrogen-induced progestin receptors in the brain and pituitary of the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis.

High-affinity progestin binding sites were found in the brain and pituitary of the female South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Cytosol progestin receptors in the hypothalamus-preoptic area and pituitary were increased in number by estradiol treatment in ovariectomized frogs. The telencephalon also contained high-affinity binding sites, but the concentration was not affected by estrogen priming. Autoradiographic analysis of the distribution of the synthetic progestin 3H-R5020 revealed some lightly labeled cells in the anterior preoptic area and ventral infundibulum of ovariectomized animals. After estrogen priming, many heavily labeled cells were observed in the following areas: ventrolateral striatum and amygdala, anterior preoptic area, ventral infundibular nucleus, laminar nucleus of the torus semicircularis, and anterior pituitary. The areas in which dense accumulations of 3H-R5020 labeled cells were found after estrogen treatment are a subset of areas known to contain estrogen binding sites. The induction of progestin receptors by estradiol may be related to the requirement for both estrogen and progestin to elicit female sexual behavior in this species.

Animals↗

The rim sign: association with acute cholecystitis.

In a retrospective analysis of 218 hepatobiliary studies in patients clinically suspected of acute cholecystitis, a rim of increased hepatic activity adjacent to the gallbladder fossa (the "rim sign") has been evaluated as a scintigraphic predictor of confirmed acute cholecystitis. Of 28 cases with pathologic confirmation of acute cholecystitis in this series, 17 (60%) demonstrated this sign. When associated with nonvisualization of the gallbladder at 1 hr, the positive predictive value of this photon-intense rim for acute cholecystitis was 94%. When the rim sign was absent, the positive predictive value of nonvisualization of the gallbladder at 1 hr for acute cholecystitis was only 36%. As this sign was always seen during the first hour postinjection, it can, when associated with nonvisualization, reduce the time required for completion of an hepatobiliary examination in suspected acute cholecystitis.

Acute Disease↗

Classroom performance and social factors of children with birth weights of 1,250 grams or less: follow-up at 5 to 8 years of age.

Of 43 long-term survivors with birth weights of 1,250 g or less, 33 were compared with peers and school-aged siblings for educational levels and needs. Of the 33 children in school, three (9.1%) were in classes for children with major handicaps, whereas 30 (90.9%) were found to be comparable to their classmates by teachers and/or test scores, but 14 (47%) were receiving remedial instruction to perform at grade level. Of 13 children with school-aged siblings, three required more hours of assistance by specialized teaching staff than their siblings. The group without the need for specialized teaching staff had older mothers and tended to reside in higher socioeconomic households. Overall, our children with birth weights of 1,250 g or less (51.5%) required more special education efforts than the general school population (24.1%), thereby enabling most to compare favorably with their peers.

Child↗

pH sensitivity of calmodulin distribution in nervous tissue fractions.

Alkalinization of nervous system extracts of the mollusk, Pleurobranchaea, from pH 7.0 to 8.0 markedly increases the ratio of soluble to total calmodulin. This effect is independent of pH effects on free Ca2+ concentration and is pronounced at micromolar (near intracellular) levels of Ca2+. These data may relate to recent evidence that Ca2+/calmodulin-activated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase mediates the effects of small changes in intracellular pH (0.1-0.2 units) on the electrical activity of neurons. Calmodulin redistribution could reflect altered availability to stimulate phosphodiesterase activity and supports a role for calmodulin in mediating effects of intracellular pH fluxes on cellular activity.

Animals↗

Age alters the observed response of imipramine binding sites to chronic antidepressant treatment in female rats.

Age alters hypothalamic imipramine binding sites in female rats. Older females have increased levels of imipramine binding with decreased affinity. The response of hypothalamic imipramine binding sites to chronic antidepressant treatment varies depending on the age of the animals treated. In juvenile female rats imipramine binding sites decrease after antidepressant treatment, consistent with previous reports. However, in young females chronic imipramine treatment produces no change in levels of imipramine binding with a slight decrease in binding affinity. In middle-aged female rats, the same treatment causes an apparent increase in levels of imipramine binding sites along with a decrease in affinity. These decreases in the affinity of imipramine binding sites in older female rats, and the concomitant changes in the levels of imipramine binding are the result of imipramine metabolites remaining in the tissue after antidepressant treatment and interfering with the binding assay, despite extensive washing of the membrane preparation. Thus, the observed changes in the response of imipramine binding sites to chronic imipramine treatment with age are probably due to age-related alterations in the metabolism of imipramine in female rats.

Aging↗

Percutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation: evaluation of a new jet ventilator.

This study compared percutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation (PTJV) at a frequency (f) of 20/min, with high-frequency positive-pressure ventilation (HFPPV) at f of 60/min, and endotracheal intubation and intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (ET IPPV) at f of 10/min in apneic dogs. Fifty-four emergency medicine trainees (EMTs) attempted PTJV via a 14-gauge Angiocath attached to a hand-held jet ventilator, f of 20/min, and ET IPPV using an Ambu bag, f of 10/min. Twenty-nine other EMTs attempted cricothyrotomy using a prototype nonkinkable catheter (Arrow) and a new jet ventilator, Bronchovent, f of 60/min, equipped with a pressure sensor which stops ventilation at pressures greater than 20 cm H2O. Adequate oxygenation was achieved by all 3 groups, but only the HFPPV group avoided respiratory alkalosis. There was a higher equipment failure rate (catheter kinking and dislodgment) in the PTJV group. In the HFPPV group, the Bronchovent's pressure-limiting sensor stopped ventilation when the catheter was kinked or out of position, reducing the extent of subcutaneous emphysema and barotrauma. With further catheter improvements, HFPPV Bronchovent may offer a safe and reliable method of ventilating patients during CPR in the field.

Alkalosis, Respiratory↗