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Biomedical subjects

R B Smith

Publications and source records attributed to R B Smith.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Folate metabolism in filariae. Enzymes associated with 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate.

Adult Dirofilaria immitis and Brugia pahangi were found to possess the following folate-related enzymes that catalyze the formation of 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (methenylFH4) or 10-formylFH4 (f10FH4): f10FH4 synthetase, methenylFH4 cyclohydrolase, f5FH4 cyclodehydrase, and a bifunctional complex composed of formiminoglutamate: FH4 formiminotransferase and 5-fomiminoFH4 cyclodeaminase. The properties of these filarial enzymes were generally similar to those of their counterparts from invertebrate and vertebrate sources, although each possessed one or more distinctive characteristics.

Aminohydrolases↗
PubMed1980

Evaluation of two lithium carbonate formulations.

An open, two-way crossover study of Latin-square design was used to compare the bioavailability of a new capsular formulation of lithium carbonate, Pfi-Lithium (Pfipharmecs Division, Pfizer, Inc.), with that of standard capsular formulation, Eskalith (Smith Kline & French Laboratories). Eighteen healthy, adult male volunteers received both formulations in a randomly determined order. After administration of each 300-mg dose of lithium carbonate, serial blood specimens were obtained. Data obtained from these specimens were subjected to pharmacokinetic evaluation. There were no significant differences (p less than 0.05) in peak plasma concentration, time to peak plasma concentration, and area under the plasma concentration-time curve. These single-dose suggested that the two formulations were bioequivalent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

C-peptide response to glucagon in diabetics with and without complications.

Beta cell function has been studied by measurement of C-peptide responses to intravenous glucagon in 11 diabetics with advanced complications and compared with nine long-term diabetics without complications. The majority had no C-peptide responses, but there was evidence of beta cell function in one patient from each group. These observations suggest that some factor other than continuing beta cell function is involved in the complications of insulin-requiring diabetics.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Innovative program keeps them 'down on the farm'.

A shortage of nurses continues to be felt in rural areas of the country. In an experimental program conducted by a college department of nursing in a small rural hospital, nurses received training and were retained by the rural hospital. All training was conducted at the hospital, and all graduates received high marks on the RN examination.

Career Mobility↗
PubMed1979

Segmental aortic occlusion: An unusual lesion found in menopausal women.

A subgroup of patients with aortoiliac atherosclerosis are perimenopausal women in whom the lesions are confined to the midportion of the terminal aorta. The lesions occur in relatively small, though not hypoplastic, vessels, and it is speculated that the relatively small size of the terminal aorta functions as a long stenosis with resultant predisposition to atheroma formation. Other etiologic factors are not identified except for smoking. Endarterectomy results in satisfactory restoration of distal arterial flow. Recurrence has not been observed but the question exists as to whether replacement of the small segment with a larger prosthesis may be more appropriate in view of the possible etiology described.

Aortic Diseases↗
PubMed1979

A curvilinear relationship between alcoholic withdrawal tremor and personality.

Many studies cite no more than 80% incidence of hand tremor during withdrawal in known alcoholics, although this symptom is one of the diagnostic signs of addiction. We found that of 48 patients tested, hand tremor increased in 29 Ss after the application of a passive relaxation technique while it decreased in 28. It was found that MMPI data obtained for both groups fitted the inverted U curve in that the most distressed Ss tremored as little as did the least distressed originally, while the tremor increased in the high stress group after relaxation therapy while it decreased in the least stressed group. Implications for alcoholism research and theory were discussed, and the possible superiority of the CES to drug therapy for withdrawal was noted.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

The effect of lidocaine on succinylcholine-induced rise in intraocular pressure.

The effect of lidocaine on the increase of intraocular pressure induced by succinylcholine was studied in patients 6 to 85 years of age. Three groups of patients were studied. One group of eight patients received lidocaine 1 mg.kg-1 before succinylcholine and a control group of ten patients did not have lidocaine. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 5 mg.kg-1 and maintained with nitrous oxide 50 per cent with oxygen and halothane 1.0-1.5 per cent. The tracheae of all patients were intubated. Lidocaine in doses of 1.0 to 2.0 mg.kg-1 did not prevent transient rise in intraocular pressure following administration of succinylcholine and tracheal intubation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Effects of preliminary normothermic flushing on hypothermic renal preservation.

Flushing of harvested kidneys with hypothermic perfusates is presumed to cause inappropriate circulation due to vasospasm. Effects of initial normothermic flushing prior to hypothermic flushing and cold preservation were tested in canine kidneys. Analysis of the perfusion characteristics revealed that a brief initial flushing with solutions at 37 degrees C. eliminates vasoconstriction and even facilitates subsequent hypothermic flushing. In amounts not exceeding 100 cc. it was not deleterious to transplant function. Larger volumes of normothermic flushing were proved to cause endothelial injury and resulted in poor transplant survival.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Nontraumatic rupture of renal allografts.

Eight cases of nontraumatic renal allograft rupture were identified in 237 renal transplants performed at UCLA Medical Center. Careful clinicopathologic studies in these patients suggest three principal underlying causes: major graft vessel occlusion, hyperacute or accelerated rejection, and acute rejection. The clinical and pathologic features of these various categories are compared and contrasted.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1979

In situ flushing of donor kidneys: its technique and rationale.

In situ flushing of kidneys through an isolated segment of aorta was done on mongrel dogs. The 500 cc cold perfusate at 3 to 4C (delivered in 6 minutes) effectively cooled the kidneys to about 15C. This simplified technique of in situ flushing, its usefulness and rationale are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Management of advanced testicular seminoma.

The treatment of seminoma (stages A, B1 and B2) with conventional x-ray therapy can be expected to give satisfactory cure rates. However, the cure rate for patients with advanced stages of B3 and C disease, treated with conventional radiation therapy, is unacceptable (22 per cent). It appears that with a pre-radiation/chemotherapeutic plan consisting of actinomycin D, vincristine and cyclophosphamide survival can be improved dramatically in these patients. After a rest period of 2 to 4 weeks radiation therapy is given to the retroperitoneal, mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph nodes as per standard therapy. If evidence of bulk disease persists or if positive alpha-fetoprotein or beta-human chorionic gonadotropin has been detected then retroperitoneal lymph-adenectomy should be done after completion of the radiation therapy. With adjuvant chemotherapy 5 of 5 patients survive free of disease 18 months to 5 years after therapy.

Cyclophosphamide↗