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Biomedical subjects

M M Henry

Publications and source records attributed to M M Henry.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Respiratory allergy and the relationship between early childhood lower respiratory illness and subsequent lung function.

In a study of 159 school-age children whose histories of outpatient visits for lower respiratory illness (LRI) had been documented from early infancy, we observed lower mean levels of small airway function in boys who had experienced two or more episodes of wheezing-associated LRI before 6 yr of age. To determine whether allergy was an important factor influencing this result, we examined relationships among the results of RAST tests for seven common inhalant allergens and concurrent lung function in 126 subjects who consented to venipuncture. Increasing values for the sum of scores for the seven RAST tests were associated with progressively lower mean levels of small airways function in boys with histories of recurrent wheezing LRI during the preschool years. The association of allergy with lower levels of lung function was largely accounted for by dust mite allergy. RAST results were not correlated with lung function in boys who had experienced zero or 1 wheezing LRI before 6 yr of age or in girls. A history of recurrent wheezing LRI during the preschool years was also associated with significantly lower mean levels of small airways function in boys who had negative RAST tests. A subset of 49 boys was reevaluated after an average interval of 4 yr with RAST tests, spirometry, and methacholine challenge. Dust mite allergy was associated with an increased prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity independent of early childhood wheezing LRI history.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Clinical relevance of monocyte procoagulant activity in horses with colic.

Endotoxin-activated monocytes express a thromboplastin-like procoagulant activity on the cell surface that may serve as a focal point for formation of microvascular thrombi. Because coagulopathy is a common sequela to endotoxemia in the equine species, we investigated the ability of monocytes, isolated from horses with colic, to express procoagulant activity. On the day of admission, and on the third and fifth day of hospitalization, monocytes were isolated from 30 adult horses with colic. A coagulation profile, including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and plasma fibrinogen and serum fibrin degradation products concentrations, was determined at each sample collection. The concentration of endotoxin in the plasma was quantitated at the time of admission. Ten clinically normal adult horses served as controls. The procoagulant activity of monocytes isolated from horses with colic was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than that of the monocytes isolated from clinically normal horses. On the first and third day of hospitalization, the mean prothrombin time was significantly (P less than 0.05) longer in horses with colic, compared with clinically normal horses, and was the most common abnormality in the coagulation profile on the day of admission (25/30; 83%). Mean fibrin degradation products concentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in horses with colic on the day of admission and was the second most common abnormality in the coagulation profile on day 1 (23/30; 77%). In horses with colic, the mean prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times were significantly (P less than 0.05) longer in horses that did not survive, compared with horses that survived.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Whole blood re-calcification time in equine colic.

Whole blood re-calcification times were evaluated as a measure of endotoxin-associated coagulopathy in horses. First, the effects of endotoxin concentration and duration of in vitro incubation of citrated whole blood with endotoxin on the whole blood re-calcification time of blood collected from healthy horses were determined. Increasing concentrations or incubation times of endotoxin accelerated the whole blood re-calcification time. This effect was attributed mainly to increased monocyte thromboplastin activity. Second, whole blood re-calcification time, a clotting profile, plasma factor VII activity and plasma endotoxin concentration on blood samples obtained from 35 equine colic patients and 10 healthy horses were determined. Compared with healthy horses, colic patients had a longer mean whole blood re-calcification and prothrombin time, lower per cent factor VII activity and higher mean fibrin degradation products concentration. Within the colic patient group, horses that did not survive had detectable endotoxin in plasma, longer whole blood re-calcification and prothrombin times, and lower plasma factor VII activity, compared with colic patients that survived. These data indicate that colic patients with endotoxaemia experience hypercoagulable states, followed by consumptive coagulopathy. Although the cause of endotoxin-associated coagulopathy is likely multi-factorial, increased expression of monocyte thromboplastin activity may be involved in the pathogenesis of coagulopathy. The whole blood recalcification time is a simple, fast and inexpensive way to detect coagulopathy during endotoxaemia and determine the prognosis for survival.

Animals↗

Lung function in school-age children who had mild lower respiratory illnesses in early childhood.

We examined the relationship between patterns of mild lower respiratory illness (LRI) experienced in early childhood and lung function in 89 boys and 70 girls 6 to 18 yr of age. The children's histories of outpatient visits for wheezing and nonwheezing LRI during the first 6 yr of life had been documented by physicians in a single pediatric practice. Most children were reported by their parents to have been free of recurrent respiratory symptoms during the 2 yr prior to lung function testing. In sex-specific analyses, average lung function assessed by spirometry was similar in children who had made zero or one physician visit for wheezing LRI during the preschool years. Boys who had experienced two or more episodes of wheezing LRI during the preschool years had lower average FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75, Vmax50, and Vmax75 than did boys who had zero or one preschool wheezing illness. The association between recurrent preschool wheezing LRI and later lung function remained after exclusion of data from seven boys who were reported to have wheezed in the 2 yr prior to study. Girls who had experienced two or more preschool wheezing LRI had lower average FEF25-75 and Vmax50 than girls with a history of zero or one such illness, but differences were not statistically significant. Recurrent nonwheezing LRI during the preschool years was not significantly associated with subsequent lung function in either sex, regardless of preschool wheezing LRI history. Detailed information concerning early childhood LRI experience is valuable in epidemiologic studies of factors influencing lung function in children.

Adolescent↗

An infant and toddler feeding group program.

At Children's Medical Center of Dayton, Ohio, several children whose early oral feedings were delayed or especially difficult due to physical problems became resistant and exhibited aversive behaviors when oral feeding was introduced. A support group, which lasted for 9 months, was initiated with six of these children and their families. In the group, professionals provided the families with general information about nutrition and behavior and with individualized intervention strategies for the nutritional and behavioral management of their child's specific problems. The families contributed mutual support and problem solving strategies through the group process. Each child demonstrated progress during the 9-month period, which suggests that intervention in a support-group format can be a successful alternative to an individual inpatient program for eating disorders in some young children.

Child, Preschool↗

Influence of an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched ration on in vivo responses of horses to endotoxin.

Because certain inflammatory processes are dependent on the fatty acid composition of the cellular membrane, dietary manipulations that replace omega-6 fatty acids with omega-3 fatty acids may modify inflammatory responses. We investigated the effect of supplemental dietary linseed oil, containing the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, on in vivo responses of horses to endotoxin. One group of horses (n = 6) was fed a control pelleted ration (0% linseed oil), and another group of horses (n = 6) was fed an 8% linseed oil pelleted ration. After 8 weeks of consuming these rations, all horses were given 0.03 micrograms of Escherichia coli 055:B5 endotoxin/kg of body weight, infused over 30 minutes. Horses were monitored over 24 hours. Compared with baseline values within each ration group, endotoxin infusion caused significant (P less than 0.05) increase in rectal temperature, heart rate, and plasma concentration of thromboxane B2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, and fibrinogen and significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in total WBC count. Compared with baseline values within each ration group, endotoxin infusion failed to cause significant changes in prothrombin, activated partial thromboplastin, thrombin, or whole blood recalcification times, serum concentration of fibrin degradation products, PCV, or plasma total protein concentration. Before and after endotoxin infusion, horses given the linseed oil ration had longer mean whole blood recalcification time and activated partial thromboplastin time than did horses fed the control ration.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Effect of dietary alpha-linolenic acid on endotoxin-induced production of tumor necrosis factor by peritoneal macrophages in horses.

A study was conducted to determine whether dietary supplements with alpha-linolenic acid altered the ability of equine peritoneal macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in response to endotoxin. Peritoneal macrophages were harvested from 6 healthy adult horses before and after the horses were fed a nutritionally balanced ration that contained 8% linseed oil as a source of alpha-linolenic acid. The macrophages were cultured in media containing no additives (control), endotoxin (0.5 to 50 ng/ml), or the calcium ionophore, A23187. Macrophage supernatants were collected after 6 and 24 hours' incubation and stored at -70 C. Tumor necrosis factor activity was estimated by a modified in vitro cytotoxicity bioassay, using the murine fibrosarcoma cell line, WEHI 164 clone 13. The TNF activity after 6 and 24 hours' incubation was greater in culture media of macrophages exposed to endotoxin than in media from control macrophages. For macrophages cultured in media that contained endotoxin, neither the concentration of endotoxin nor incubation time had any effect on TNF activity. Endotoxin-induced macrophage production of TNF, as determined by measurement of TNF activity, was significantly less after horses were fed the alpha-linolenic acid-rich ration for 8 weeks.

Animals↗

Effects of a linseed oil enriched diet on endotoxin-induced sequelae: differential in vitro and in vivo effects.

Endotoxin stimulates macrophages to synthesize membrane-associated inflammatory mediators including eicosanoids and procoagulant activity (PCA). Alpha linolenic acid, a component of linseed oil, is metabolized to eicosapentaenoic acid, which may replace arachidonic acid in membrane phospholipids. Thus, ingestion of linseed oil may alter the generation of eicosanoids, PCA and other membrane-dependent responses. This study compared the in vitro endotoxin-induced synthesis of eicosanoids and expression of PCA by peritoneal macrophages obtained from rats fed a control diet and rats fed a diet enriched with linseed oil. The effect of endotoxin on in vivo plasma eicosanoid concentrations, leukogram, and microvascular permeability were determined. Endotoxin (5 ug/ml) stimulated synthesis of iTxB2, i6-keto PGF1 alpha and expression of PCA by macrophages in vitro. These in vitro responses of macrophages from linseed oil fed rats were significantly less than those of macrophages from control rats. In contrast, there were no significant differences in in vivo responses to endotoxin. The fatty acid composition of total lipids and phospholipids in liver and plasma from linseed oil fed rats and control rats were not different. These composite data suggest several possibilities: (1) linseed oil may have effects independent of alpha-linolenic acid on macrophage function, (2) linseed oil may alter the fatty acid composition of macrophage phospholipids prior to changing that of other tissues, and (3) the reduced in vitro responses of peritoneal macrophages may not reflect the systemic responses to endotoxin.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Effect of postanal repair on progress of neurogenic damage to the pelvic floor.

Physiological evaluation of the anorectum and pelvic floor muscles was carried out in 18 patients before and 9-35 months after postanal repair for anorectal incontinence. Thirteen patients (72 per cent) were improved, but in these patients the fibre density in the external anal sphincter muscle and the pudendal nerve terminal motor latency were both increased after surgery. In the five patients not improved after surgery only a few unstable motor unit potentials could be recorded in the external anal sphincter muscle. In two of these patients the pudendal nerve terminal motor latency could not be recorded after surgery. We suggest that this progression in the neurogenic damage to the pelvic floor muscles after postanal repair may be caused by the operation, and that it may be responsible for the poor functional outcome noted in some patients.

Action Potentials↗

Clinical assessment and anorectal manometry before postanal repair: failure to predict outcome.

It has been suggested that preoperative measurement of resting anal canal pressure and internal sphincter function can be used to identify those patients with neurogenic faecal incontinence who are unlikely to benefit from the operation of postanal repair. We have therefore analysed the results of the operation in 62 patients (six men and 56 women, mean age 59 years, range 30-83 years) and related clinical outcome to preoperative assessment of: resting anal canal pressure, the presence of gape and a combination of gape and low resting pressure. None of these factors was found to predict a poor result after postanal repair.

Adult↗

Adrenergic control of the internal anal sphincter is abnormal in patients with idiopathic faecal incontinence.

There is histological and functional evidence that the internal anal sphincter is abnormal in patients with idiopathic faecal incontinence. The in vitro responsiveness of the internal anal sphincter to noradrenaline (an important sympathetic neurotransmitter) and electrical field stimulation (known to stimulate the intrinsic innervation) has been studied. Muscle strips from eight patients with incontinence undergoing postanal repair and five controls undergoing resection for low rectal carcinoma were studied. The contraction-response curves for noradrenaline were significantly different, and the EC50, the concentration required to produce 50 per cent of maximum contraction, was higher in incontinent patients (P less than 0.001). Electrical field stimulation produced initial contractions in four of the control group which were blocked by phentolamine. This contraction was not present in the incontinent patients (P less than 0.01). These results indicate an abnormality in the adrenergic innervation of the internal anal sphincter in patients with idiopathic faecal incontinence.

Action Potentials↗

Effect of vaginal delivery on the pelvic floor: a 5-year follow-up.

We have studied the pelvic floor musculature and its innervation in 14 of 24 (58 per cent) multiparous women who had been recruited into a study of the effect of childbirth on the pelvic floor as part of a prospective investigation that began in 1983. These 24 women had all delivered by the vaginal route without forceps assistance. Five of the 14 had developed clinical symptoms of stress incontinence 5 years later; two of them had had a further uncomplicated vaginal delivery during this time. There was manometric and neurophysiological evidence of weakness because of partial denervation of the pelvic floor striated sphincter musculature, with pudendal neuropathy, which was more marked in those women with incontinence. These findings provide direct evidence for the hypothesis that pudendal neuropathy due to vaginal delivery persists and may worsen with time.

Adult↗

Radiobiological advantages of an immediate interstitial boost dose in conservative treatment of breast cancer.

Minimum surgery with irradiation is emerging as one of the main modalities of therapy for operable early breast cancer. Between June 1982 and June 1986, 110 breasts with Tis, T1 to T3 lesions have been treated at our institution with lumpectomy and interstitial irradiation to the tumor bed with Iridium-192 perioperatively followed by external beam irradiation. There have been two local recurrences at or near the vicinity of the primary, at a median follow-up of 60 months. To analyze the parameters that might have contributed to the local control, we have examined the treatment volumes, prescribed dose to the tumor bed, dose at the core of the tumor bed, and dose to the surrounding normal tissue. Immediate interstitial implant has the radiobiological advantage of delivering continuous low dose irradiation, immediately upon removal of gross tumor to residual foci. Implantation of the afterloading catheters intraoperatively facilitates accurate dose delivery and avoidance of geographical misses. By precise treatment of any residual foci, immediately upon removal of the gross mass, perioperative interstitial irradiation improves local control and by facilitating less radical surgical excision, leads to better cosmetic results.

Brachytherapy↗

Effect of dietary alpha-linolenic acid on equine monocyte procoagulant activity and eicosanoid synthesis.

To investigate the effects of an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched ration on the in vitro response of equine monocytes to endotoxin, an 8-week feeding trial was conducted in which linseed oil served as the source of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid. One group of horses was fed a control pelleted ration and the other group was fed an 8% linseed oil-enriched pelleted ration. After 8 weeks of feeding, monocytes were isolated and incubated in the presence of Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin for 6 hr. After 8 weeks on the rations, the mean procoagulant activity and thromboxane B2 production by endotoxin-stimulated monocytes from horses consuming the linseed oil ration decreased by 51% and 71%, respectively, compared with cells from horses consuming the control ration. There was no difference in monocyte synthesis of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid or leukotriene B4 between groups. Fatty acid analysis of membrane phospholipids revealed a decrease in the omega-6:omega-3 ratio in monocytes from horses consuming the linseed oil ration. These data suggest that dietary supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid may modify the response to endotoxin by reducing the synthesis of potentially harmful cellular mediators.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Anorectal physiology measurement: report of a working party.

A 2-day meeting was held in Bristol on 5 and 6 July 1988 immediately before the Tripartite meeting of the Surgical Research Society in order to discuss methods and identify areas of agreement with regard to measurement of indices of anorectal physiology. The following report highlights our findings.

Anal Canal↗

Anorectal physiology validated: a repeatability study of the motor and sensory tests of anorectal function.

Sixteen subjects (mean (s.d.) age 50.7 (12.8) years, three men) were studied on two separate occasions by two experienced investigators in random order. A standard protocol of anatomical, manometric and electrophysiological assessments of anorectal motor and sensory function was followed. No significant differences were found between the results obtained by the two investigators in the measurements of perineal descent, anal canal length, and canal resting pressure and squeeze pressure, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency, single-fibre electromyography fibre density of the external anal sphincter, and thresholds of mucosal electrosensitivity. This study shows that the standard tests of anorectal sensorimotor function are repeatable by different investigators. In addition, it suggests that comparison of data obtained in different centres using these techniques is valid.

Adult↗

Increased segmental activity and intraluminal pressures in the sigmoid colon of patients with the irritable bowel syndrome.

Intraluminal pressure activity has been recorded in the unprepared true sigmoid colon of seven normal controls (mean age 37 years, range 22-55, three men) and seven patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (45 years, 24-75, four men) for 30 minutes before and 100 minutes after a standard 1000 kcal meal. Results differ from previously published data by showing much higher indices of pressure activity with amplitudes up to 490 mmHg in IBS, and 450 mmHg in controls. Study segment activity index and mean pressure wave amplitudes were significantly (p less than 0.015 and p less than 0.01) higher in IBS than controls, but per cent duration of activity was similar for the whole period of study. During the basal period in controls mean amplitudes recorded from the proximal sigmoid (40 cm from anus) were significantly (p less than 0.01) higher than those in the descending colon (50 cm), distal sigmoid (30 cm) and rectum (15 cm). This study shows that the increased colonic activity in IBS is characterised by increased amplitude, but not duration of pressure waves. In the basal state there is a high pressure zone in the proximal sigmoid colon of controls. Pressures in the unprepared colon of controls and IBS were higher than those measured under other experimental conditions.

Adult↗