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Biomedical subjects

R Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to R Kennedy.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Idiopathic acute portal vein thrombosis: a case report.

There are few reported cases of acute portal vein thrombosis presenting as an acute abdomen in adolescent age group. Most published series concern chronic extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis. Acute portal vein thrombosis is rare, but can develop into serious complications. Hence, prompt diagnosis and heparinization can prevent the development of lethal complications such as venous gangrene of the bowel and portal hypertension.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of maternal HIV infection in Scotland based on unlinked anonymous testing of newborn babies. Update.

In January 1990, unlinked anonymous testing of Guthrie cards for HIV antibody commenced in Scotland. Ethics Committee approval allowed testing of 99.6% of Scottish births. Twenty-one mothers spontaneously refused to allow testing of their baby's blood. Samples were coded by district postcodes. For 1990 through 1991, eluates of 132,531 dried blood spots were initially tested for HIV-1 antibody with the Fujirebio technique. Of the 49 positive samples 38 were confirmed to be positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot (seroprevalence 0.3 per 1000). Thirty-five of 38 samples came from large metropolitan areas in Scotland. Prevalences were 2.0 per 1000 for Edinburgh city, 0.7 per 1000 for Dundee and Aberdeen, 0.15 per 1000 for Glasgow and 0.05 per thousand for all other areas in Scotland. Recent spread of HIV infection to Aberdeen may have occurred. These figures do not support an overall increase of HIV infection in childbearing women in Scotland.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Decreased fat content and increased lean in pigs treated with antibodies to adipocyte plasma membranes.

Antibodies were prepared in sheep against purified plasma membranes from pig adipocytes. Western (immuno) blotting revealed reactions of the antisera with a large number of proteins in adipocyte plasma membranes but remarkably few in plasma membranes from muscle, kidney, liver, lung, brain, spleen, and erythrocytes. This illustrated the high degree of specificity the serum had for adipose tissue. When injected into localized subcutaneous sites such antisera were able to cause considerable adipocyte destruction, which resulted in complete loss of adipose tissue from the site for > or = 14 wk. This cell destruction was probably mediated in part by lymphocytic infiltration. Subcutaneous injections were of limited use because of the localized nature of the effects, but, when treatment was administered intraperitoneally, systemic effects were produced that resulted in a 30% reduction in backfat thickness in the region of the last rib and a 25% reduction in fat content of fore- and hind-loin joints that resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of lean tissue. Total feed intake, live weight gain, hot carcass weights, and dressing percentage were unaffected. These results demonstrate the potential for producing long-term reductions in body fat in pigs by an immunization technique that may also provide the unexpected, potential benefit of increased lean deposition. This suggests that fat deposition per se exerts a restrictive influence on lean carcass development.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1993

Nonrenal cystic masses in neonates and children.

With the increasing use of ultrasonography (US) in children, abdominal cystic masses, many of them nonrenal, are being detected more frequently both before and after birth. Between 1986 and 1991, 20 predominantly cystic abdominal or pelvic masses of nonrenal origin were detected by US in patients less than 10 years of age. Ten of the 20 patients were neonates; in 5 of these the masses were detected antenatally. Pathological correlation was obtained for 16 of the patients. Six of the cysts were ovarian; two represented cystic teratoma, two exhibited torsion and hemorrhage, one was a giant simple cyst and one was a simple cyst with herniation. Six of the lesions were duplication cysts; two were found in the antral region, of which one was ulcerated and had perforated. In the remaining group of eight cysts, three were found in newborns; one represented colonic atresia and another was a choledochal cyst. Several of these nonrenal cystic masses were detected incidentally or in patients with nonspecific abdominal pain. US correctly predicted the location of the cyst and the diagnosis in most patients. In many of the patients the masses were complicated by other problems that required diagnosis and treatment.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1992

Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome associated with elevated elastin production by affected skin fibroblasts in culture.

Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome (BOS; McKusick 16670) is an autosomal dominant connective-tissue disorder characterized by uneven osseous formation in bone (osteopoikilosis) and fibrous skin papules (dermatofibrosis lenticularis disseminata). We describe two patients in whom BOS occurred in an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. The connective tissue of the skin lesions showed both collagen and elastin abnormalities by electron microscopy. Cultured fibroblasts from both patients produced 2-8 times more tropoelastin than normal skin fibroblasts in the presence of 10% calf serum. Involved skin fibroblasts of one patient produced up to eight times normal levels, whereas apparently uninvolved skin was also elevated more than threefold. In a second patient, whose involvement was nearly complete, elastin production was high in involved areas and less so in completely involved skin. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1), a powerful stimulus for elastin production, brought about similar relative increases in normal and BOS strains. Basic fibroblast growth factor, an antagonist of TGF beta 1-stimulated elastin production, was able to reduce elastin production in basal and TGF beta 1 stimulated BOS strains. Elastin mRNA levels were elevated in all patient strains, suggesting that Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome may result, at least in part, from abnormal regulation of extracellular matrix metabolism that leads to increased steady-state levels of elastin mRNA and elastin accumulation in the dermis.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1992

Scapulothoracic motion in normal shoulders and shoulders with glenohumeral instability and impingement syndrome. A study using Moiré topographic analysis.

Qualitative visual inspection and manual muscle testing are traditional methods of evaluation that may overlook subtle weakness of the axioscapular musculature. A modification of the standard technique of Moiré topographic analysis of spinal deformity was applied to assess axioscapular muscle function in 51 subjects: 22 asymptomatic individuals, 22 with shoulder instability, and seven with impingement syndrome. Static Moiré evaluation demonstrated scapulothoracic asymmetry or increased topography in 14% of asymptomatic subjects, compared with 32% and 57% in the instability and impingement groups, respectively. The dynamic Moiré test demonstrated an abnormal Moiré pattern in 18% of asymptomatic individuals, compared with 64% and 100% in the instability and impingement groups, respectively. Axioscapular muscle dysfunction is common with both instability and impingement syndrome of the shoulder, although it remains to be determined whether this represents a primary or secondary phenomenon.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Induction of antibodies to the envelope protein of the human immunodeficiency virus by immunization with monoclonal anti-idiotypes.

Anti-idiotypes that possess the internal image of antigen can induce protective humoral immunity toward microbes. Herein we demonstrate antigen mimicry by monoclonal anti-idiotypes of a distinct epitope of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope protein that is defined by a synthetic peptide. This peptide, corresponding to amino acid residues 503-535 (peptide 503-535) of HIV-1 IIIB gp160, induced antibodies in three mammalian species that interacted with HIV-1 gp120 and inhibited in vitro syncytium formation caused by HIV-1, IIIB and MN isolates. Three monoclonal anti-idiotypes were generated against rabbit anti-gp120 antibodies specific for peptide 503-535. These anti-idiotypes recognize an interspecies cross-reactive idiotype expressed on mouse, chimpanzee, baboon, rabbit, and human anti-gp120 antibodies specific for peptide 503-535. The interaction with the cross-reactive idiotype is inhibited by synthetic peptide and HIV-1 gp160. Furthermore, rabbits immunized with the monoclonal anti-idiotypes produced antibodies that also bind HIV-1 gp120 and gp160 and recognized the epitope defined by peptide 503-535.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of maternal HIV infection in Scotland based on unlinked anonymous testing of newborn babies.

Dried blood spot samples from newborn babies have been successfully tested for HIV-1 antibody by the particle agglutination method to assess the prevalence of infection in the mothers. In January, 1990, unlinked anonymous testing of Guthrie cards for HIV antibody was begun in Scotland. 99.6% of Scottish births were tested. 9 mothers spontaneously refused to allow testing of their baby's blood. Samples were coded by district postcodes. Eluates of 65,773 dried blood spots were initially tested for HIV-1 antibody with the Fujirebio technique. Of the 31 positive samples 19 were confirmed to be positive by enzyme-linked radioimmunoassay and western blot (seroprevalence 0.29 per 1000). All these samples came from large metropolitan areas on the east coast. Prevalences were 2.5 per 1000 for Edinburgh city, 1.4 per 1000 for Dundee, and 0.7 per 1000 for Aberdeen. We identified as HIV-positive all babies known to be so in named testing programmes. HIV testing of Guthrie cards can be used to monitor HIV status in mothers who have just given birth. The use of district postcode data in sample identification will allow accurate targetting of prevention strategies and early detection of spread of infection by geographic area.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1991

Working group recommendations: research on content and efficacy of geriatric evaluation and management interventions.

Methods of conducting comprehensive geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) are proliferating in a variety of clinical settings. However, rigorous evaluations of efficacy for this new approach to care of older patients have demonstrated a favorable impact on patient outcome in only a few studies. All of these have been controlled single site studies, and replication is needed. If replication studies show similar results, further studies should be undertaken to define the minimum necessary intervention to achieve the desired outcome. Controlled trials are needed to determine if consultative geriatric evaluation and/or primary patient management is effective. Further innovative work is needed in model development for geriatric assessment and management in outpatient settings. Finally, studies of geriatric evaluation and management in other environments, such as home care or the nursing home, are recommended.

Forecasting↗
PubMed1991

Child physical abuse observed. Comparison of families with and without history of child abuse treated in an in-patient family unit.

Twenty-seven families, 14 with a history of child physical abuse and 13 with no such history, were studied over the course of intensive in-patient treatment. The families in the former group differed significantly from those in the latter group in terms of current circumstances and background histories. Families where abuse was admitted benefited significantly more from treatment than families where abuse was suspected but not admitted. The ability of mothers to remember good relationships from childhood and to establish good relationships during treatment was an important prognostic factor for successful treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A staffing standard proposal for patient and non-patient areas in hospitals. Philadelphia Chapter of the National Executive Housekeepers Association.

The Philadelphia Chapter of N.E.H.A. submits the following proposal for publication. We feel very strongly about the need to formalize some staffing standards for hospitals and all related healthcare facilities. The incentive comes from the current trend in administrative philosophies to "do more with less." The less means less for the support departments whose contribution is viewed most times as less worthy because we do not directly generate revenue. Oddly enough, the revenue generators cannot make money without the non-revenue generators.

Efficiency↗
PubMed1990

Development of an optically scanned consultation-liaison data base.

Every clinical service must record certain data about its patient care activities. In low-volume services, such as Psychiatric Inpatient Services, with perhaps 20-30 admissions per month, and an average patient stay of 2-4 weeks, a large amount of data on each patient can be obtained during the contact time with the patient. On the other hand, very large-volume psychiatric services, such as Emergency and Consultation-Liaison (C-L) Services, may not need or be able to gather such a large amount of data on every patient seen. This article describes the development of a brief, optically scannable, and computerized minimal data base form for patients seen by a very large division of C-L Psychiatry. The system is feasible and easily auditable for completeness and reliability. This data base has already served many important functions beyond providing an administrative statistical summary of services rendered. It is presented as a model for the development of similarly efficient data collection methods for other high-volume psychiatric services.

Computer Systems↗