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Biomedical subjects

M D Harris

Publications and source records attributed to M D Harris.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

In vitro effects of melatonin on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine expression in young and old rats.

Melatonin (MLT) treatment in vivo has been shown to have immunomodulatory and anti-immunosenescent effects in the mouse model. In the present report, the in vitro effect of MLT on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine expression was evaluated in a rat model. Splenic lymphocytes were isolated from young (6 months) and old (24 months) F344 rats and were incubated with MLT in the presence or absence of mitogens. The proliferative response to concanavalin A (ConA) or PMA plus ionomycin was measured in splenocytes or T cells isolated from young and old rats. In addition, the induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production was measured in MLT-treated and untreated lymphocytes isolated from young and old rats. The ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 expression were significantly lower and induction of IFN-gamma production was significantly higher in splenocytes and purified T cells isolated from old rats compared to splenocytes and T cells isolated from young rats. Treatment of lymphocytes with MLT did not significantly alter ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation or IL-2 or IFN-gamma expression in lymphocytes isolated from either young or old rats. On the basis of these data, we conclude that in vitro MLT treatment had no immunomodulatory effect on lymphocytes from rats.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Prospective use of intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide in pseudogout.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the efficacy of intramuscular (i.m.) triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of pseudogout. METHODS: Fourteen patients with crystal proven pseudogout presenting with an acute attack within 5 days of onset were treated with intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide 60 mg and followed for 30 days. Patients with inadequate response were eligible for a 2nd triamcinolone acetonide injection on Day 1-2. RESULTS: Twelve patients had contraindication to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAID). Acute arthritis was monoarticular in 10 patients, and involved 2 or more joints in 4 patients. All patients had good clinical response to triamcinolone acetonide based on restoration of near baseline joint range of motion and joint circumference, and at least 50% improvement in patient and physician global assessment. Major clinical improvement occurred by Day 1-2 (2 patients), Day 3-4 (11 patients), and Day 10-14 (one patient). Six patients required a 2nd triamcinolone acetonide injection on Day 1-2. Toxicities were not observed. CONCLUSION: I.m. triamcinolone acetonide appears to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in the treatment of pseudogout. It may be a reasonable alternative therapy when NSAID are contraindicated, and for polyarticular attacks where intraarticular corticosteroids are impractical.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Creative inservices to meet mandatory education requirements.

To meet the mandates of federal and accreditation bodies, home care organizations must be prepared to conduct required education. There is a need to be creative and heighten the interest of the staff while doing more with shrinking education dollars. This article presents one agency's approach to the annual mandatory inservice program that allows the staff to have fun while learning.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1996

Expression of heat shock protein 70 in rat spleen lymphocytes is affected by age but not by food restriction.

The purpose of this study was to determine if food restriction alters the age-related decline in heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) expression in lymphocytes from male Fischer 344 rats. Spleen lymphocytes were isolated from young (6 mo) and old (24 mo) rats that had free access to food (control group) and from food-restricted old (24 mo) rats that, beginning at 6 wk of age, were fed 60% (40% food restriction) of the diet consumed by the control rats. Lymphocytes were either heat shocked (42.5 degrees C for 1 h) or maintained at 37 degrees C (control). The levels of hsp70 protein and mRNA and the induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA by concanavalin A (conA) were measured in these rats. In addition, the percentage of viability (as an index of thermosensitivity) of the lymphocytes from these rats was also measured after exposure of cells to different temperatures (first at 42.5 degrees C and then 45 degrees C). We found that the induction of hsp70 protein and mRNA in lymphocytes isolated from control old rats and food-restricted old rats was lower (P < 0.001) than that in control young rats. However, the levels of hsp70 and mRNA in lymphocytes isolated from food-restricted old rats were similar to the levels in age-matched control rats. Lymphocytes from both control old rats and food-restricted old rats were more thermosensitive than lymphocytes from control young rats; however, thermosensitivity of lymphocytes from food-restricted old rats was similar to that of age-matched control rats. The induction of IL-2 mRNA levels by conA was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in old than in young control rats. In contrast to hsp70, which was not affected by food restriction, the induction of IL-2 mRNA was higher (P < 0.05) in food-restricted old rats than in age-matched control rats. Therefore, food restriction has a differential effect on gene expression.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Medicare managed care.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗
PubMed1996

Evaluating the quality of home care services using patient outcome data.

Home healthcare nurses increasingly must be focused on the outcomes of patient care. As home care is called on to deliver more services in fewer visits, it is important that clinical staff understand the concepts and apply them to patient situations. This article helps the home care nurse to understand the frameworks being used throughout the country in evaluating patient outcomes and how one agency used this framework to evaluate care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The age-related decline in the induction of IL-2 transcription is correlated to changes in the transcription factor NFAT.

The effect of aging on the induction of IL-2 transcription by concanavalin A was studied in spleen lymphocytes isolated from young (4-6 months) and old (24 months) male Fischer 344 rats. The induction of IL-2 mRNA levels and IL-2 transcription were 40 to 50% lower for spleen lymphocytes isolated from old rats compared to spleen lymphocytes isolated from young rats. Because the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor activating IL-2 transcription) plays a major role in the regulation of IL-2 transcription, the DNA binding activity of NFAT in nuclear extracts of concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes was measured using a gel shift assay. The ability of nuclear extracts isolated from either total spleen lymphocytes or T cells to bind the NFAT oligonucleotide decreased 50 to 60% with age. Therefore, the age-related decrease in the expression of IL-2 appears to occur at the level of transcription and involves the transcription factor NFAT.

Aging↗
PubMed1995

The expression of heat shock protein 70 decreases with age in lymphocytes from rats and rhesus monkeys.

The ability of cells to express heat shock proteins in response to a stress such as heat is universal to all organisms and is believed to play a critical protective role. Therefore, it was of interest to determine the influence of aging on the ability of lymphocytes to express the heat shock protein hsp70 in response to a heat shock (42.5 degrees C for 1 h). Splenic lymphocytes isolated from old (24-26 months) rats showed a marked decrease in the induction of hsp70 protein levels or hsp70 synthesis when compared to lymphocytes isolated from young (4-5 months) rats. An age-related decrease in the induction of hsp70 levels by heat also was observed in peripheral lymphocytes isolated from rhesus monkeys. The decline with age in the induction of hsp70 by lymphocytes from rats was paralleled by a decrease in the induction of hsp70 mRNA and the nuclear transcription of hsp70. In addition, it was found that the ability of extracts from heat-shocked lymphocytes to bind the heat shock element (HSE) decreased approximately 50% with age. Therefore, it appears that the reduced ability of lymphocytes from old rats to express hsp70 in response to a heat shock occurs at the level of transcription because of an alteration in the ability of the heat shock transcription factor to bind the HSE on the promoter of the hsp70 gene. The age-related decrease in the induction of hsp70 appears to be physiologically important because the viability of spleen lymphocytes exposed to high temperatures decreases significantly with age.

Aging↗
PubMed1993

Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies--should you trust the pathology report?

The presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies is closely associated with gastritis and duodenal ulceration. We have assessed the reliability of H pylori identification on haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections of gastric biopsies showing gastritis. A set of 20 slides was shown to 20 histopathologists (a total of 400 diagnoses); 11 of them were H pylori-positive, assessed using two special stains. Participants were asked to comment on the presence or absence of H pylori on H & E alone. The overall detection rate in positive cases was 66%. All pathologists missed at least one case, and there were 25 false-positive diagnoses overall. We conclude that identification of H pylori is unreliable in gastric biopsies if H & E alone is used. Clinicians who use the presence of H pylori as a basis for treatment should be aware of this problem.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1992

Teleconferencing. Home health administrators and educators enhance graduate education.

In light of the current condition of university budgets, enhancing graduate education can be a challenge for nurse educators. One effective and inexpensive strategy is teleconferencing. This strategy allows graduate students to network with nurse leaders nationwide without the expense of travel. Teleconferencing could also be adapted in other areas to bring service and educational professionals together.

Community Health Nursing↗