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Biomedical subjects

R E Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to R E Gordon.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Assessing the elements of biopsychosocial functioning.

New findings are reported on the validity and reliability of an equation designed to predict the functional level of psychiatric patients. The equation employs measures of aggravating stress, biomedical impairment, coping skills, directive power, and environmental supports to predict level of functioning. A study of 95 subjects (38 patients and 57 nonpatients) found that the equation was able to discriminate significantly between psychiatric patients and persons with no history of psychiatric treatment and between the condition of long-term patients at different stages in treatment. The authors review findings from other studies that show the usefulness of the functional level equation in comparing patient groups, predicting prognosis and amount of treatment needed, improving functioning, and preventing disorder.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Predicting prognosis by means of the DSM-III multiaxial diagnoses.

This clinically based retrospective study compares the DSM-III multiaxial characteristics of psychiatric inpatient and outpatient treatment-seekers with those of workmen's compensation and disability payment-seekers. It shows that 1. the groups were significantly different in their DSM-III multiaxial characteristics; 2. multiaxial diagnoses statistically predicted clinical psychiatrists' estimations of disability applicants prognosis for work; and 3. payment-seekers were more likely than treatment-seekers to have Axis II personality disorders in addition to their Axis I diagnoses.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Immunomodulation of vascular endothelium. 1. Ultrastructural changes following ultraviolet B irradiation of peripheral veins.

Immunologic function of endothelial cells is especially important in consideration of vein allografting for arterial reconstruction and in organ allotransplantation. Ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) has previously been shown to modulate graft immunogenicity, and to alter cell surface receptor function. In this study, superficial epigastric veins were UVB irradiated with 10, 24, 40, 80, and 150 mJ/cm2 while control veins were not irradiated; all specimens were examined for endothelial ultrastructural changes. Veins were perfuse-fixed at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after irradiation, and were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Control veins had a normal appearing endothelial lining, composed of elongated, attenuated endothelial cells. Veins irradiated with more than 24 mJ/cm2 displayed injured endothelial cells characterized by altered microvilli, defects in the cell surface, and a change in cell shape. The degree of cell damage correlated closely with increasing UVB dose. At doses of 80 mJ/cm2 or greater there was moderate to severe endothelial cell separation from the underlying basement membrane and an increase in cellular lysosomes. The effects of UVB were maximal at 3 days with virtual recovery in resurfacing of all specimens with endothelium 28 days after irradiation. These data suggest that UVB has a dose-dependent effect on venous endothelium that is morphologically reversible with time. Cell membrane changes seen following exposure to UVB may contribute to altered cell surface receptor function.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Culture of human endometrial cells under polarizing conditions.

Glandular epithelial and stromal cells were isolated from human endometrial biopsies and cultured in a dual-chambered system (Millicell; Millipore, Bedford, Ma., USA) that provides access of the medium to both sides of a membrane coated with reconstituted basement membrane material (Matrigel; Collaborative Research Inc., Bedford, Ma., USA). Examination by electron microscopy revealed that the epithelial cells formed a polarized cuboidal-columnar monolayer on the Matrigel surface. The cells exhibited apical microvilli, basal nuclei, and numerous cytoplasmic structures consistent with a well-differentiated cytoplasm; they were joined basally by interdigitating processes and apically by tight junctions and desmosomes. In contrast, epithelial cells cultured in parallel on plastic dishes were flattened, had fewer microvilli and cytoplasmic structures, and no junctional complexes.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed1990

Chemically sensitized erythrocytes for hemagglutination reactions.

The use of chemically modified indicator erythrocytes for hemagglutination reactions can result in increased sensitivity. Treatment of erythrocytes with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or dextran T40 (10% weight/volume) induces changes in the cell surface in the form of extensions and blebbing, thereby increasing the surface area. These sensitized cells can be used in forensic science when detection or quantitation of erythrocyte surface reacting antibodies is important. The effect of altering membrane lipid fluidity on erythrocyte surface antigens has also been investigated. Treatment of cells with a reagent that increases the membrane ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid results in enhanced hemagglutination capacity despite the lack of extensive spiculation.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1990

Immunomodulation of vascular endothelium: effects of ultraviolet B irradiation on vein allograft rejection.

Prosthetic grafts of vein allografts are inadequate as small-diameter vessel substitutes. We have applied ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation to modulate the immunogenicity of vein allografts to avoid immunologic injury. The veins of male ACI rats were irradiated with UVB (60 mJ/cm2) in situ and transplanted to male ACI rats (autografts) and female Lewis rats (allografts). Nonirradiated veins served as controls. At 4, 7, 14, and 28 days, all grafts were patent and were studied for morphologic changes by scanning electron microscopy and for immunogold labeling of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen expression. In autografts, scanning electron microscopy demonstrated minimal endothelial loss after grafting, regardless of UVB irradiation. Untreated allografts showed severe endothelial injury 4, 7, and 14 days after transplantation. UVB irradiation of veins protected allografts from injury to the endothelium and basement membrane. Major histocompatibility complex class II-positive endothelial cells were not seen in autografts but were seen in 40% of cells 4 days after transplantation in untreated allografts. UVB-treated allografts showed MHC class II antigen expression labeling of 20% of the endothelial cells. Barr body analysis demonstrated the donor origin of these endothelial cells. UVB irradiation of rat vein allografts prolongs endothelial survival while decreasing endothelial surface expression of class II antigens. These data suggest that modification of vein immunogenicity with UVB irradiation may permit functional survival of small-vessel allografts without chronic immunosuppression.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1990

Breast disorders in nursing mothers.

Family physicians should be familiar with the details of breast feeding and with the breast disorders that may occur during lactation. Such disorders range from relatively minor problems, such as sore nipples, milk stasis and mastitis, to more serious conditions, such as abscesses and neoplasms. Inflammatory changes are easily treated with frequent breast emptying; infectious processes require antibiotics. Surgical intervention may be needed for some conditions. Pregnancy or lactation should not delay or alter the diagnosis and treatment of suspected breast carcinoma.

Abscess↗
PubMed1990

Primary renal carcinoid.

A case of primary renal carcinoid in a 34-year-old man is reported. The lesion was morphologically identical to carcinoid tumors arising in the gastrointestinal or respiratory tracts. The renal carcinoid was focally argyrophilic and contained chromogranin and neuron-specific enolase disclosed by immunohistochemical studies. The diagnosis was further confirmed by membrane-bound cytoplasmic neurosecretory granules visualized by electron microscopy. The possible histogenesis of this unusual tumor and a review of the literature are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Membrane perturbations and mediation of gap junction formation in response to taurine treatment in normal and injured alveolar epithelia.

Nitrogen dioxide is an air pollutant that causes pulmonary alterations. Employing light and transmission electron microscopy, we examined plastic sections and freeze-fracture replicas of alveolar epithelium of groups of hamsters exposed to nitrogen for 24 h to determine taurine-induced changes in intercellular junctions. Prior to exposure, one group of hamsters was given 0.5% taurine in their drinking water for 2 weeks. A second group of hamsters was given taurine-free water. The taurine-treated group was divided into three subgroups. The first subgroup was exposed to nitrogen dioxide at a concentration of 7 ppm for 24 h, the second subgroup was exposed to nitrogen dioxide at a concentration of 30 ppm for 24 h, and the third subgroup was exposed to normal room air for 24 h. The nontaurine-treated animals were similarly divided into three subgroups and treated as described above. The lungs of the hamsters exposed to nitrogen dioxide without the taurine pretreatment exhibited extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in the walls of the terminal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and peribronchiolar alveoli. The degree of infiltration was proportional to the degree of nitrogen dioxide concentration. The taurine-treated animals exposed to nitrogen dioxide and the nontaurine-treated animals exposed to room aid did not show any inflammatory infiltrate. Freeze-fracture replicas of the tight junctional regions of the type I and type II pneumocytes revealed significant fragmentation in the nitrogen dioxide-exposed lungs. It was also observed that the tight junctions between the type I pneumocytes of the taurine-treated groups, whether exposed or not, revealed gap junction-like aggregates among the tight junction fibrils. The 30-ppm nitrogen dioxide exposed group exhibited larger and more frequent gap junctions between the pneumocytes than those observed in the 7-ppm nitrogen dioxide exposed group. The evidence suggests that taurine may have an effect on plasma membranes and intercellular communications. Changes in intercellular communication may contribute to decreased susceptibility to injury and increased pneumocyte survival.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of a dermal derived malignant mesenchymal tumor arising in ultraviolet irradiated mice.

Skh/hr-1 hairless albino mice were irradiated with photocarcinogenic dosages of ultraviolet light for periods of 30 weeks or longer. A high proportion of mice developed pleomorphic spindle cell tumors and epidermal neoplasms of various types. These spindle cell tumors were studied by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques and by electron microscopy. Freshly isolated tumor cells were grown in tissue culture. Immunocytochemical analysis showed varying expression of markers of mesenchymal differentiation: vimentin, procollagens I and III, type I collagen, and lysozyme. Electron microscopy showed spindled and cuboidal cells with abundant endoplasmic reticulum, filopodia, and lysosomes, but no intercellular connections. The cells grown in vitro were cuboidal and stellate and also showed mesenchymal differentiation by electron microscopy. These results are perhaps similar to those described for a human actinically produced fibrohistiocytic neoplasm, atypical fibroxanthoma, and this system may provide a useful model of ultraviolet-induced dermal neoplasia.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Immunomodulation of vascular endothelium: induction of Ia antigen expression in rejecting venous allografts.

MHC class II antigens (Ia) are important to the primary transplantation response. The present study investigates the kinetics of expression of Ia antigens on endothelial cells of rat vein autografts and allografts. The superficial epigastric veins of 15 ACI rats were anastomosed to the femoral artery of Lewis recipients using standard microsurgical technique. Eighteen Lewis-to-Lewis or ACI-to-ACI autografts served as controls. Veins were studied for Ia expression at 1, 4, and 7 days after grafting using the immunogold electron microscopic technique. All grafts remained patent for the duration of the experiment. Endothelial cells from control grafts did not demonstrate labeling of Ia antigens on their cell surfaces. Similarly, few mononuclear-adventitial cells in control grafts were Ia positive. When endothelial cells from vein allografts were studies for Ia antigen expression, 40% of the endothelial cells showed labeling for Ia at 4 days after transplantation. At 1 week following grafting, endothelial survival was inadequate for study because of cell loss secondary to rejection. In comparison to autografts, rejecting vein allografts showed numerous Ia-positive mononuclear cells permeating the vessel adventitia. Expression of Ia antigens by vascular endothelium may enable these cells to perform tasks traditionally ascribed to monocytes or dendritic cells. Effort to alter Ia expression may suggest an approach to long-term vein allograft survival.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Alveolar brush cells in an infant with desquamative interstitial pneumonitis.

A full-term infant developed bilateral pneumothoraces and respiratory distress shortly after birth, despite initially good Apgar scores. Persistent tachypnea, hypoxemia, and a chest X-ray remarkable for diffuse alveolar and interstitial infiltrates prompted a lung biopsy at 4 months of age. The biopsy revealed desquamative interstitial pneumonitis with the unique demonstration by electron microscopy of numerous alveolar brush cells. Respiratory brush cells occur normally in the trachea and bronchi of humans and mammals. Although identical cells have been noted in the alveoli of rats, they have never been reported in the alveoli of humans. We present the first electron microscopical demonstration of the alveolar brush cell in humans.

Basement Membrane↗