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Biomedical subjects

R Gabriel

Publications and source records attributed to R Gabriel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Gastroschisis: what part can the obstetrician play?

In order to assess the contribution of antenatal diagnosis to the management of gastroschisis, the antenatal and postnatal data from 24 cases of gastroschisis observed between 1974 and 1990 were re-examined. The frequency of antenatal diagnosis (29%), polyhydramnios (21%), atresia of the small intestine (29%), length of pregnancy (36.6 +/- 2 weeks of amenorrhea), proportion of cesarean sections (21%), birth weight (2230 +/- 430 g) and the Apgar score after 5 min (9.0 +/- 1.5) were comparable to findings reported elsewhere. The overall mortality rate for the period studied was high (41%), and was not influenced by any antenatal parameter or by the mode of delivery; its recent fall (P = 0.01) is explained by the development of therapeutic methods. These results are consistent with other recent studies and suggest that antenatal diagnosis does not enable an accurate assessment of the prognosis to be made and has no major influence on the mortality rate in gastroschisis.

Abdominal Muscles

Morphological features of the myenteric plexus of the stomach of the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, revealed by immunocytochemistry.

The general morphology of the intramural innervation of the myenteric plexus of the axolotl stomach has been investigated using antisera raised against neuron-specific enolase and a microtubule-associated protein. Additionally, the occurrence of serotonin and several peptidergic neurotransmitter/neuromodulator substances was studied. Immunoreactivity for galanin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P and neuromedin U was found in both fibres and intrinsic perikarya, whereas the serotonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like-substance-containing nerve fibres seemed to be of extrinsic origin. The axolotl stomach myenteric plexus appeared to be devoid of enkephalin-, neuropeptide Y-, somatostatin- and bombesin-like immunoreactive nerve fibres and nerve cell bodies. Double labelling experiments revealed the presence of a subpopulation of substance P/calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive nerve fibres. Contrary to mammals, no coexistence of neuromedin U and substance P was found. Our findings illustrate that besides a number of similarities, considerable species differences exist between urodeles and anurans with regard to the organization of the enteric nervous system.

Ambystoma

Molar or mass?

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International System of Units

The innervation of the gastrointestinal tract of a chelonian reptile, Pseudemys scripta elegans. I. Structure and topography of the enteric nerve plexuses using neuron-specific enolase immunohistochemistry.

The general morphological features of the intramural enteric nervous system of a chelonian species, i.e. the red-eared turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans, has been studied in whole-mounts and cryosections by means of neuron-specific enolase immunohistochemistry. A clear visualization of both neuronal cell bodies and nerve fibres allows the recognition of a myenteric plexus as well as a submucous plexus in several gut regions, namely the stomach, midgut and hindgut. The highest innervation density was found in the midgut portion. In contrast to other lower vertebrates, such as amphibians and other reptilian groups, the present study clearly demonstrates the occurrence of neuronal cell bodies in the submucous plexus of all regions investigated. The neurons stained for neuron-specific enolase harboured smooth-contoured perikarya from which one or more processes emerge, as demonstrated for the mammalian enteric nervous system.

Animals

The innervation of the gastrointestinal tract of a chelonian reptile, Pseudemys scripta elegans. II. Distribution of neuropeptides in the myenteric plexus.

The myenteric plexus of the stomach, midgut and hindgut of the red-eared turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans, has been investigated for the occurrence of immunoreactivity to nine neuropeptides. Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-, bombesin (BOM)- as well as substance P (SP)-like immunoreactivity (LI) were found in nerve fibres of all investigated gut regions. From all peptides investigated immunoreactivity for NPY was more pronounced. In the stomach NPY-LI was mainly found in the perikarya, while in the midgut region both NPY-immunoreactive (IR) somata and nerve fibres were revealed. The hindgut harboured few NPY-IR nerve cells and nerve fibres. A few SP-IR nerve cell bodies were observed in the stomach and midgut region. In the hindgut BOM-IR neuronal cell bodies were found. Neuromedin U (NMU)-LI was mainly observed in the stomach region, revealing both immunoreactive perikarya and nerve fibres. Immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, somatostatin, galanin and enkephalin could not be detected so far. Double labelling experiments revealed the coexistence of CGRP and SP in some nerve fibres in all three gut regions examined. Some SP-IR fibres in the midgut were immunoreactive for NMU.

Animals

Pulmonary function in chronic renal failure: effects of dialysis and transplantation.

Many possible pulmonary complications of renal disease have been described, but little is known of their physiological importance or the effects on them of different forms of renal replacement therapy. Four groups were recruited, each containing 20 patients. The groups consisted of patients with chronic renal failure before dialysis (group 1); patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, never having received a transplant (group 2); patients receiving haemodialysis, never having received a transplant (group 3); and patients after their first successful cadaveric renal transplant (group 4). All were attending the same regional dialysis and transplant unit. None was known to have clinically important lung or chest wall disease. Flow-volume loops were recorded before and after 400 micrograms of salbutamol, and plethysmographic lung volumes and airway conductance and single breath carbon monoxide transfer factor were measured. Only nine of 80 patients had normal lung function. The reductions in spirometric values were minor. Whole lung carbon monoxide transfer factor was reduced in all groups (mean % predicted with 95% confidence intervals: group 1 81.7% (74-89%); group 2 69.7% (62-77%); group 3 87.5% (80-96%); group 4 82.5% (78-87%]. The values were significantly lower in those having continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (group 2). Residual volume was reduced significantly in the group who had undergone renal transplantation (85.7%, 77-94%). There was no correlation between these changes and smoking habit, age, duration or severity of renal failure, duration of treatment, or biochemical derangement. It is concluded that abnormal lung function is common in renal disease. The main change is a reduction in carbon monoxide transfer that persists after transplantation. The likeliest explanation is that subclinical pulmonary oedema progresses to fibrosis before transplantation. The fibrosis may worsen further to cause the reduced residual volume in the recipients of grafts.

Adult

[Radiation risk in dentistry].

Reference is made to recommendation by the International Commission for Radiation Protection No. 26 on determination of the risk potentially caused by low-dosage ionising radiation. Calculations were made on that basis of the stochastic radiation risk for the general public.

Humans

[Diagnostic value of radioisotope clearance in patients with a single kidney].

In a group of patients with solitar kidney a radioisotope clearance was performed to determine exactly the renal functional status and to reduce the blind area of standard diagnostical parameters. In 41 percent of these patients a restriction of the glomerular or tubular value was found. In the same way the function-diminishing effect of hypertension on renal plasma flow and tubular-secretory function was determine. In the present study of dynamic radioisotope investigations in patients with solitar kidney could be verified.

Glomerular Filtration Rate

The specificity of the zimelidine reaction.

The first of a series of 5HT reuptake inhibitors, zimelidine was withdrawn because of associated hypersensitivity reactions. There was concern that such reactions might be seen with other compounds of this class. Two depressed patients who had a sensitivity reaction to treatment with zimelidine were crossed over to treatment with fluoxetine and no abnormalities were observed. Both patients remained well during uneventful long term treatment with fluoxetine.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury

Prevalence, concentration, and prognostic importance of proteinuria in patients with malignancies.

Protein was found significantly more frequently in single urine samples from 504 patients with malignancy (290; 58%) than in 529 controls (119; 22%) (p less than 0.01). Median protein concentration was greater (p less than 0.001) in patients with neoplasia (0.14 g/l) than in controls (0.07 g/l). Actuarial analysis showed a median survival of 4.5 months in patients with proteinuria compared with 10 months in those without (p less than 0.001). The association between proteinuria and shorter survival was statistically significant for patients with gut tumours, lung tumours, and tumours at other sites analysed as a group. Patients with myeloma or urinary tract tumours were not studied. In many patients with malignancy the presence of proteinuria may be associated with a substantially reduced survival time.

Adult

Progressive hypokalaemia in elderly patients taking three thiazide potassium-sparing diuretic combinations for thirty-six months.

Three different thiazide potassium-sparing diuretic combinations were given to elderly patients for heart failure. Eighty patients received their allocated combinations for 3 years and had 6-monthly measurements of plasma potassium. A further 84 were recruited for study but 29 died within 6 months and 55 had to be withdrawn from the trial. The triamterene-containing preparation was discontinued most frequently (6/44) because of hypokalaemia (plasma potassium less than 3.0 mmol/l); amiloride (5/44) and spironolactone (1/47). The median fall in plasma potassium over 3 years in those patients not withdrawn because of hypokalaemia was similar in each case (P greater than 0.05) and possibly failed to reach significance because of the withdrawal rate (9%). The trend was for a greater fall in those patients taking triamterene. The spironolactone-containing preparation may be the least unsatisfactory of the three.

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