Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M E Lynch

Publications and source records attributed to M E Lynch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Comparative in vitro activity of antimycotic agents against pathogenic vaginal yeast isolates.

Although numerous antimycotic agents are available for the treatment of yeast vaginitis there is little comparative data on the in vitro activity of these drugs. In the present two-part study, in vitro macro-broth dilution sensitivity tests were performed on a total of 377 clinical vaginal yeast isolates of nine different species. Antimycotics surveyed included amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine and eight azole derivatives. Results show that all vaginal Candida albicans isolates were uniformly sensitive at low concentration to all 10 antimycotics tested. However, non-albicans species, especially Candida glabrata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, manifested several-fold increases in minimal inhibitory concentrations to all azoles tested except butoconazole. In particular, the in vitro potency of fluconazole and terconazole against species other than C. albicans was relatively poor, whereas the drugs demonstrating the best activity were itraconazole, butoconazole and saperconazole. Susceptibility testing of vaginal C. albicans isolates is not routinely indicated, even in patients with recurrent vaginitis and should be reserved for selected organisms, especially non-albicans species, in patients with clinical failure only.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1993

Systemic cell-mediated immune reactivity in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

It has been suggested that impaired cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against Candida antigens is responsible for susceptibility to recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) in adult women. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive longitudinal study examining in vivo and in vitro systemic CMI reactivity in RVVC patients. Results showed that RVVC patients frequently demonstrated a transient loss of Candida-specific delayed cutaneous skin test reactivity during episodes of symptomatic vaginitis. In contrast, in vitro peripheral blood lymphoproliferation and Th1-type lymphokine production by RVVC patients in response to a T cell mitogen and multiple Candida and bacterial antigens were similar to controls both during acute episodes of vaginitis and during periods of infection-free remission. These results suggest that women with RVVC have no detectable impairment of systemic CMI in peripheral blood and that transient reductions in skin test reactivity appear to be a result of vaginal Candida infection and not a predisposing factor to RVVC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Social and emotional competence in children of depressed mothers.

The relation between maternal unipolar major depression and children's self-concept, self-control, and peer relationships were studied in a middle-class, predominantly white sample of 96 families. Each family included a target child between the ages of 5 and 10. Depressed mothers varied on whether or not the child's father also had a psychiatric disorder. Well mothers all had spouses with no psychiatric disorders. Analyses controlled for marital status, age, and sex of child. Children completed measures of self-concept and peer relations skills; teachers completed measures of self-control and a rating of popularity with peers. Results supported the multiple risk factor model in that fathers' psychiatric status and parents' marital status explained much of the variability in children's social and emotional competence. Maternal depression alone, in the context of a well husband/father, was only related to children having been rated by their teachers as less popular. Results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms by which maternal depression may interact with paternal psychopathology and divorce in relation to children's social and emotional competence. The findings may further indicate that older children are more vulnerable to these multiple risk factors than younger children.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Candida-specific Th1-type responsiveness in mice with experimental vaginal candidiasis.

The role of systemic cell-mediated immunity (CMI) as a host defense mechanism in the vagina is poorly understood. Using a murine pseudoestrus model of experimental vaginal candidiasis, we previously found that animals given a vaginal inoculum of viable Candida albicans blastoconidia acquired a persistent vaginal infection and developed Candida-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses. The present study was designed to characterize the peripheral CMI reactivity generated from the vaginal infection in mice and to determine whether pseudoestrus is a prerequisite for the induction of peripheral CMI reactivity. Mice treated or not treated with estrogen and given a vaginal inoculum of C. albicans blastoconidia were examined for 4 weeks for their vaginal Candida burden and peripheral CMI reactivity, including DTH responsiveness and in vitro Th1 (interleukin-2 [IL-2], gamma interferon [IFN-gamma]/Th2 (IL-4, IL-10)-type lymphokine production in response to Candida antigens. Results showed that although mice not treated with estrogen before being given a vaginal inoculum of C. albicans blastoconidia developed only a short-lived vaginal infection and harbored significantly fewer Candida CFU in the vagina compared with those given estrogen and then infected; DTH reactivity was equivalent in both groups. In vitro measurement of CMI reactivity further showed that lymph node cells from both estrogen- and non-estrogen-treated infected mice produced elevated levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in response to Candida antigens during the 4 weeks after vaginal inoculation. In contrast, lymph node cells from the same vaginally infected mice showed no IL-10 production and only small elevations of IL-4 during week 4 of infection. These results suggest that mice with experimental vaginal candidiasis develop predominantly Th1-type Candida-specific peripheral CMI reactivity and that similar patterns of Th1-type reactivity occur in mice regardless of the persistence of infection and the estrogen status of the infected mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Candida-specific cell-mediated immunity is demonstrable in mice with experimental vaginal candidiasis.

Women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis often demonstrate a down-regulation of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to Candida albicans detected by a lack of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to Candida antigens. However, the role of systemic CMI as a host defense mechanism against recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is not well understood, in part because of the lack of a well-defined murine model of vaginal candidiasis. The present study was undertaken to determine: (i) whether soluble Candida culture filtrate antigens (CaCF) could be used to induce and detect Candida-specific CMI in mice and (ii) whether these antigens would be useful in detecting systemic CMI in mice given an experimental Candida vaginal infection. To this end, mice were immunized subcutaneously with CaCF in complete Freund's adjuvant, and within 7 days they developed Candida-specific DTH reactivity detected by footpad swelling (increase in footpad thickness, 0.36 mm) 24 h after footpad challenge with CaCF. Adoptive transfer studies showed that the DTH responsiveness was elicited by CD4+ DTH T cells. In mice given a vaginal inoculum of C. albicans blastoconidia (5 x 10(5)), footpad challenge with CaCF resulted in positive DTH responses (0.24 mm) as early as 1 week, responses similar to immunization in 2 to 3 weeks (0.33 mm), and sustained low levels of DTH reactivity (0.15 mm) through 10 weeks of vaginal infection. Vaginal lavage cultures revealed that peak vaginal Candida burden occurred 1 week post-vaginal inoculation (10(5) CFU) and declined 16-fold by week 10. These results provide evidence that Candida-specific systemic CMI is generated and can be detected longitudinally in mice with Candida vaginitis by a multiantigen preparation of Candida organisms which both initiates and detects Candida-specific CMI.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

When the patient is illiterate: how nurses can help.

Nurses have a unique opportunity to provide help to illiterate patients. With good listening, observation, and teaching skills, nurses can contribute significantly to the quality of care illiterate patients receive. They can influence long term recovery and patient compliance. It is important to teach when a "teachable" moment has arrived. For instance, when patients ask questions, they are usually ready to learn and an environment conducive to learning can be created. "Teachable" moments can occur at any time during hospitalization. The discharge interview is not the point at which to begin instructions. Discharge teaching should be a review of all the teaching that has been going on during hospitalization.

Educational Status↗
PubMed1992

Dealing with advance directives for critically ill adolescents.

Respecting the values and preferences of adolescents regarding treatment is an essential dimension of nursing practice. As public policy and societal thinking about the role of minors in healthcare decisions evolves, critical care nurses are in a pivotal position to provide leadership and guidance. Critical care nurses who care for adolescents should embrace the opportunity created by the PSDA to implement creative strategies for involving minors in decision making, seek improved methods of assessing decision-making capacity, and document the values and preferences of minors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Effects of clenbuterol on skeletal muscle mass, body composition, and recovery from surgical stress in senescent rats.

Aging decreases skeletal muscle mass and strength, which may be exacerbated by age-related diseases. There is a need for therapeutic agents to prevent or restore loss of skeletal muscle in elderly subjects with muscle wasting disorders. Clenbuterol, a beta 2-adrenergic agonist, dramatically increases skeletal muscle mass in young animals and partially prevents or restores muscle loss in experimental models of muscle wasting. However, the protein anabolic and fat catabolic effects of clenbuterol have not been studied in senescent animals. To determine whether this drug has potential for preventing or repairing muscle loss in elderly subjects, we have examined its effects in young and old rats. Clenbuterol was administered by implanted osmotic minipumps to Fischer-344 rats ages 3, 12, and 23 months, at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg/24 h for 3 weeks. The weights of five hindlimb muscles and carcass protein and fat content were determined. Clenbuterol treatment increased the weight of skeletal muscles 22% to 39% in 3-month-old rats, 19% to 35% in 12-month-old rats, and 22% to 25% in 23-month-old animals. Likewise, clenbuterol increased carcass protein content 19% in 3-month-old rats, 16% in 12-month-old rats, and 24% in 23-month-old animals. Conversely, the drug reduced carcass fat content 36% in 3-month-old rats, 32% in 12-month-old rats, and 38% in 23-month-old rats. Therefore, clenbuterol had similar anabolic and catabolic effects in all age groups. In addition, clenbuterol stimulated recovery of skeletal muscle protein lost following pump implantation in senescent rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗
PubMed1987

Effect of graded doses of tri-iodothyronine on ventricular myosin ATPase activity and isomyosin profile in young and old rats.

Ventricular myosin ATPase activity, V1 isomyosin content and serum T3 (tri-iodothyronine) values decrease with age in male Fischer 344 rats. To determine if the age decrement in ATPase activity and V1 isomyosin content are caused by decreased T3 levels or an age-related decrease in V1 isomyosin induction by T3, 3-, 12- and 24-month-old male Fischer 344 rats were given constant T3 infusions by osmotic minipump. Rats at all ages were given 0.75, 5 and 15 micrograms(/100 g per 24 h) doses of T3, whereas 12- and 24-month-old rats were given an additional 0.4 microgram dose. In control rats, T3 levels decreased from 97 +/- 2.7 at 3 months to 75 +/- 4.7 ng/100 ml at 24 months. Likewise, Ca2+-activated myosin ATPase activity decreased from 1.04 +/- 0.05 to 0.68 +/- 0.05 mumol of Pi/min per mg of protein, and the relative proportion of V1 of isomyosin decreased from 90 +/- 4.0 to 26 +/- 2.0%. The lowest (0.4 microgram) T3 dose, which was sufficient to restore T3 levels in 24-month-old animals to 3-month control values, abolished the age decrement in myosin ATPase activity and markedly increased the proportion of V1 isomyosin present in the ventricle. These findings indicate that the senescent ventricle responds readily to small doses of T3 and strongly suggest that the age decrement in serum T3 levels is sufficient to contribute to the age-related decrease in myosin ATPase activity and V1 isomyosin content. Since these parameters correlate with ventricular contractility, the age decrement in T3 levels may also contribute to the decreased ventricular contractility and cardiac output observed in senescent rats.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of the effect of a protein-free and restricted high protein-low carbohydrate diet on ventricular myosin ATPase activity and isomyosin profile in young rats: evidence that protein-depleted animals are euthyroid.

Young rats fed a protein-deficient diet have elevated total triiodothyronine (T3) levels in spite of decreased skeletal muscle protein turnover. Interpretation of the thyroid status of these animals is complicated by increased T3 binding by serum proteins. Free T3 levels ranging from normal to low and decreased resting oxygen consumption have been reported. To investigate the thyroid status of animals fed a protein-free diet, ventricular myosin ATPase activity and isomyosin profile have been used as an index of thyroid hormone activity. The effect of the protein-free diet has been compared to a restricted high protein-low carbohydrate diet, which causes clear evidence of decreased thyroid hormone effect. After 28 d, calcium-activated myosin ATPase activity was 1.50 +/- 0.05 mumol Pi/(mg protein.min) in animals fed the basal diet, 1.16 +/- 0.03 mumol Pi/(mg protein.min) in animals fed the restricted high protein-low carbohydrate diet and 1.48 +/- 0.04 mumol Pi/(mg protein.min) in animals fed the protein-free diet. In addition, a shift in isomyosin content with the appearance of V2 and V3 isomyosins occurred with the restricted high protein-low carbohydrate diet but not the protein-free diet. The failure of the protein-depleted rats to decrease myosin ATPase activity and alter isomyosin content suggests that they are euthyroid.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1980

Effects of fluid shear and temperature on protein adsorption on teflon surfaces.

Partial gold decoration TEM images of protein adsorption on Teflon have been reliably obtained and confirmed by independent imaging methods. Albumin deposits are irregular in shape, unconnected, with low surface coverage in the range of 25-2500 mg/dl. The deposits tend to follow surface structural details to a scale of 4000A. In contrast, Cohn I fibrinogen deposits are reticulated, connected, with high surface coverage, which do not reflect details of surface structure, in the range of 3-300 mg/dl. The albumin adsorbates decrease with increasing wall shear rate and have negligible temperature dependence. The Cohn I fibrinogen adsorbates are not shear dependent, up to 800 sec-1, nor are they temperature dependent from 20-40 degrees C. These results support the view that nondenatured albumin maintains weak protein-polymer and protein-protein bonds, whereas Cohn I fibrinogen adsorbates are fostered by strong protein-protein interactions.

Adsorption↗