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Biomedical subjects

M Barry

Publications and source records attributed to M Barry.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Histoplasmosis of the colon in patients with AIDS: imaging findings in four cases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe and illustrate the radiographic findings of colonic histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four HIV-positive patients were admitted because of fever, abdominal pain, tenderness, weight loss, and diarrhea. One patient had known disseminated histoplasmosis, one had esophageal moniliasis, and two had no other known opportunistic infections or tumors. All four patients had barium enemas, and two had abdominal CT examinations. The diagnosis was established via colonoscopic biopsy in three patients and with surgery in one patient. RESULTS: Barium enema in two patients showed separate, short, apple-core lesions in the transverse and descending colon. In one patient, a single lesion in the ascending colon mimicked colonic carcinoma. One patient had segmental involvement of the ascending colon, compatible with inflammatory bowel disease. CT examination revealed circumferential thickening of the wall of the colon with adjacent lymphadenopathy of mixed attenuation. Three patients responded to medical therapy, and one patient remained symptomatic and was found on a follow-up CT examination to have significant recurrence of retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. CONCLUSION: Colonic histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS has protean radiographic features and can mimic colonic carcinoma. In these patients, histoplasmosis should be part of the differential diagnosis, particularly when several colonic lesions are detected, associated regional and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy is present, and the patient is living or has lived in an endemic area.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Physiological and metabolic responses to open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

This study examined respiratory function and metabolic and subjective responses in patients undergoing laparoscopic (n = 10) and open (n = 11) cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis and biliary colic. Patient groups were matched for age, sex, weight and height. The duration of operation was similar in both groups. Respiratory function tests (vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, peak flow and arterial blood gases), urinary cortisol, vanillylmandelic acid, metanephrines and nitrogen loss, serum complement component C3 and C-reactive protein (CRP), full blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and subjective responses as assessed on a pain analogue scale and by analgesic usage were determined for up to 48 h after surgery. Deterioration in perioperative respiratory function was significantly less for laparoscopic surgery. Arterial blood gas determinations indicated a greater perioperative decrease in arterial pH, with carbon dioxide retention in patients undergoing open cholecystectomy (P < 0.02), reflecting poorer respiratory performance. Hormonal profile changes demonstrated an increase in urinary vanillylmandelic acid in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group (P < 0.04); no differences were detected in urinary cortisol, metanephrine or nitrogen excretion. Acute-phase responses were greatest in patients undergoing open cholecystectomy as determined by ESR and CRP level (P < 0.02 and P < 0.003, respectively). Pain and analgesic usage were significantly decreased in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group (P < 0.0009) and P < 0.0001), which led to a decreased hospital stay after operation in these patients (P < 0.0001). These data indicate improved respiratory and subjective responses and diminished acute-phase responses associated with laparoscopic surgery. Catabolic hormone release may, however, be increased.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Firing relations of medial entorhinal neurons to the hippocampal theta rhythm in urethane anesthetized and walking rats.

The firing of neurons from layers II and III of medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) was examined in relation to the hippocampal theta rhythm in urethane anesthetized and walking rats. 1) MEC neurons showed a significant phase relation to the hippocampal theta rhythm in both walking and urethane anesthetized rats, suggesting that this region contributes to the generation of both atropine-resistant and atropine-sensitive theta rhythm components. 2) The proportion of phase-locked cells was three times greater in walking rats (22/23 cells) as compared to anesthetized rats (8/23 cells), indicating that MEC cells made a greater contribution during walking theta rhythm. This difference was also manifest in the greater mean vector length for the group of phase-locked MEC cells during walking: 0.39 +/- 0.13 versus 0.21 +/- 0.08. Firing rate differences between walking and urethane conditions were not significant. 3) In walking rats, MEC cells fired on the positive peak of the dentate theta rhythm (group mean phase = 5 degrees; 0 degrees = positive peak at the hippocampal fissure). This is close to the reported phases for dentate granule and hippocampal pyramidal cells. The distribution of MEC cell phases in urethane anesthetized rats was broader (group mean phase = 90 degrees), consistent with the phase data reported for hippocampal projection cells. These findings suggest that medial entorhinal neurons are the principal determinant of theta-related firing of hippocampal neurons and that their robust rhythmicity in walking as compared to urethane anesthesia accounts for EEG differences across the two conditions.

Anesthesia↗

The role of the defunctioning ileostomy in restorative proctocolectomy.

Restorative proctocolectomy is now the treatment of choice for most patients with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis coli. Temporary defunctioning ileostomy has been advocated during the period of anastomotic healing to prevent pelvic sepsis. However, the ileostomy itself may be a source of significant complications. To examine ileostomy function we reviewed thirty five patients (mean age 34.5 +/- 1.95 years) who underwent restorative proctocolectomy. Thirty four patients had a defunctioning ileostomy established at the time of pouch anal anastomosis. Closure of the ileostomy has been carried out in 33 patients (mean closure time 3.1 +/- 0.29 months). One patient underwent early pouch excision. Thirteen of the 35 patients developed post-operative complications (37%), two directly related to the defunctioning ileostomy. Both occurred following closure of the stoma and required laparotomy. Serious complications associated with defunctioning ileostomy as demonstrated in this study are uncommon (8.5%). Given the potentially disastrous consequences of a pouch-anal anastomotic leak we feel that the relatively low morbidity associated with a defunctioning ileostomy justifies its continued routine usage in the operation of restorative proctocolectomy.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

Special health considerations for travelers.

Special health considerations include many issues that affect travelers at both ends of the age spectrum. Pulmonary diseases may seriously alter the physiologic responses to both cabin pressures in commercial airliners and exposure to high altitudes, but many of these responses can be predicted by blood gas determinations and simple measurements of pulmonary function conducted at sea level. Cardiac events represent the most common and unpredictable health problems that threaten both serious morbidity and death for adult travelers. Diabetic travelers require insulin dosage adjustments during east-west travel and well-stocked travel kits with adequate supplies. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected travelers require consideration of their levels of immunosuppression at the time of immunizations and special precautions for preventing potentially chronic enteric infections. Young children pose similar questions, and there is the additional problem posed by a limited number of readily available antimalarial agents for pediatric use.

Aircraft↗

Whiplash injuries.

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Accidents, Traffic↗

HIV risk of transmission behaviour amongst HIV-infected prisoners and its correlates.

Thirty-eight from a total of 42 known HIV-positive prisoners in the Irish prison system voluntarily cooperated in a survey of psychological attitudes, knowledge of risk behaviour, intentions with respect to future risk behaviour, and actual past risk behaviour. Of this group, 65% reported that they had put others at risk of HIV, since they became aware of their own HIV+ status. Only 16% stated that they would definitely not share their drug-taking equipment in the future and 32% that they would always use a condom in sexual intercourse. In general, psychological and biographical variables were not strongly related to whether or not the respondents had put others at risk of HIV. Nor were there any significant differences in knowledge of at risk behaviour between those who had and those who had not put others at risk. However, there was some evidence for considerable independence between risk-taking behaviour in the sexual and in the drug-taking domains, in that risk-taking in one area was not highly predictive of risk-taking in the other.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Ethical dilemmas in malaria drug and vaccine trials: a bioethical perspective.

Malaria is a disease of developing countries whose local health services do not have the time, resources or personnel to mount studies of drugs or vaccines without the collaboration and technology of western investigators. This investigative collaboration requires a unique bridging of cultural differences with respect to human investigation. The following debate, sponsored by The Institute of Medicine and The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, raises questions concerning the conduct of trans-cultural clinical malaria research. Specific questions are raised about the difficulties of informed consent in different cultural settings and whether there is any role for community involvement. Discussants debate whether drug and vaccine trials not approved in an industrialised country are ever defensible if performed in a third-world setting. Potential conflicting priorities between investigators are discussed and ideas regarding conflict resolution are offered.

Antimalarials↗

Traveler's diarrhea: new perspectives.

Despite pre-travel advice about food and water, traveler's diarrhea is the most common infectious disease problem for travelers to developing countries. New concepts of antimicrobial prophylaxis, combination treatment with antimicrobial and antimotility agents and even a new potential vaccine are reviewed.

Diarrhea↗

The missed thorn.

Following surgical exploration, a swelling on the back of a boy's hand was thought to be a tuberculous granuloma and was treated as such. Eleven months later, when the lump was re-explored, a plant thorn was retrieved from the middle of a foreign body granuloma. Even though a definite history of trauma is not given, an organic foreign body lesion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a lytic lesion of bone.

Child↗

Medical considerations for international travel with infants and older children.

This article reviews preparatory guidelines for international travel with infants and children. Pre-travel immunizations, malaria chemoprophylaxis, and chemotherapy of traveler's diarrhea are reviewed. Dosages and schedules for special vaccines to consider for children are described. Practical advice for air travel and a prolonged overseas stay is offered to ensure safe and healthy international travel with infants and children.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacogenetics and drug metabolism: an Irish perspective.

Genetic factors, particularly in relation to control of liver drug metabolism, are a major cause of variability in the response to drugs. In 145 Irish subjects 48% were fast acetylators of sulphadimidine in contrast to 80% in Chinese subjects. Eleven (7.6%) of our Irish population showed an improved ability to oxidise delrisoquine. The therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed.

Acetylation↗

Effects of cycloheximide on the retention of olfactory learning and maternal experience effects in postpartum rats.

We have previously shown that cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, blocks retention of experimentally based material responding in postpartum rats. In the following study, we investigated further the effect of this drug on maternal experience effects and, in particular, on the retention of olfactory learning. Dams were injected SC with cycloheximide or saline following a one-hour maternal experience with pups scented with one of two artificial odorants. When tested eight days later, saline but not cycloheximide animals demonstrated a preference for the odor which they had experience on pups. Animals were then tested for maternal responsiveness with pups that were scented with an odor that was either the same or different from the one used in the maternal experience. All animals receiving cycloheximide, regardless of the pup odor at testing, exhibited long latencies to become maternal, replicating our earlier finding that the retention of learning in maternal behavior is susceptible to disruption by protein synthesis inhibitors. A similar disruption of the experience effect was found when the pup odor at testing was different from the exposure odor. This suggests that olfactory learning may normally play a role in the mediation of postpartum experience effects.

Animals↗