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Biomedical subjects

R M Hill

Publications and source records attributed to R M Hill.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Influence of rigid contact lens base curve radius on tear pump efficiency.

The effects of rigid contact lens base curve radius changes on tear pump efficiency were determined by measuring oxygen uptake on six with-the-rule corneas (with toricities between 0.37 and 1.00 D) under three conditions: (1) normal open eye, (2) after 5 min of static (without blinking) wear of polymethyl methacrylate (non-gas permeable) contact lenses, and (3) after 5 min of dynamic (with blinking once every 5 s) wear of the same lenses. The difference between the oxygen uptake rates measured under static and dynamic conditions provides an index of tear pump efficiency. Each subject wore a series of five lenses: fitted on K and 0.05 or 0.10 mm steeper and flatter than the flattest corneal meridian. The overall diameter of all lenses was 8.8 mm, the optic zone was 7.4 mm, the axial edge lift was 0.09 mm, and all other parameters were constant. The contact lens fitted on K was associated with the greatest central corneal oxygen debt under static conditions, whereas the same lens also provided for the best tear exchange with the blink. In addition, better tear exchange was found to be associated with larger palpebral aperture sizes.

Adult

Influence of power changes in single cut rigid contact lenses on tear pump efficiency.

Differences between corneal oxygen uptake rates measured after 5 min of static (without blinking) and 5 min of dynamic (with blinking once every 5 s) non-gas permeable (polymethyl methacrylate) contact lens wear, referenced to the oxygen uptake rates of the normal open eye, were used as indications of tear pump efficiencies associated with each of seven contact lens back vertex powers (-9.00 to +9.00 D, in 3.00 D steps). Measurements were made in vivo on six human corneas showing with-the-rule (0.25 to 0.87 D) toricity. Lens overall diameter was 8.8 mm, optic zone diameter was 7.4 mm, and base curve radius was fitted "on K." Lens center thickness was 0.14 mm for all minus-powered lenses, and 0.19, 0.26, 0.34, and 0.41 mm for the plano, +3.00, +6.00, and +9.00 D lenses, respectively, maintaining an edge thickness of 0.11 mm. Under both static and dynamic wearing conditions, no significant differences were found among the corneal oxygen uptake rates associated with the various contact lens back vertex powers; however, the difference between the static and dynamic condition data, an indication of tear pump efficiency, was greatest for the -3.00 D lens. The difference values associated with the +9.00 and +6.00 D lenses were significantly lower than those associated with the minus power lenses.

Adult

Corneal epithelial healing under contact lenses. Quantitative analysis in the rabbit.

The rate of corneal epithelial healing was determined as a function of the oxygen level present at the tear-cornea interface. Oxygen levels of 1.77, 2.3, 5.3, 8.55, 10.12, and 16.45% were created over the rabbit cornea with tarsorrhaphy and various contact lenses. Full depth epithelial defects of 4.5 mm diameter were created in 6 animals for each test condition with the fellow eye serving as a control and healing in air (21.09% oxygen). The defect (radius) was measured at 24-h intervals until healing occurred. Statistically significant (p less than 0.05, paired Student t-test) delays in healing were found with oxygen levels of 8.55% and below. These delays were most profound over the initial 24 h. The healing rate with tarsorrhaphy, at the 1.77% oxygen level, over the first 24 h was 5.2 microns/h radius, only 15.2% of the paired control, 34.0 microns/h radius, healing in air (21.09% oxygen). Healing rates over the initial 24 h under contact lenses allowing 2.3, 5.3, 8.55, 10.12, and 16.45% oxygen were 6.1, 23.5, 26.5, 43.0, and 45.0 microns/h in radius, respectively.

Animals

Responses to oxygen deprivation: variations among human corneas.

The cornea's interface with the atmosphere makes it uniquely accessible among avascular tissue for the study of local oxygen demand and proximal reservoir dynamics. Corneal oxygen-uptake rates obtained under normoxic vs hypoxic conditions are not predictive of each other. Proximal tissue reservoirs appear to play a role in moderating oxygen demands following periods of hypoxic stress: as the ratio of epithelia/stromal thickness rises, so does oxygen demand (r = +0.932, P = 0.01). The thickness of the stroma was most closely related to the oxygen uptake rates associated with the normal, open eye (r = +0.773, P = 0.07), whereas the thickness of the epithelium was more closely related to rates obtained after the cornea had been deprived of oxygen (r = +0.783, P = 0.07).

Adult

Rigid contact lens design: effects of overall diameter changes on tear pump efficiency.

The effects of rigid contact lens overall diameter changes on tear pump efficiency were studied for lenses of 7 overall diameters (8.2 to 10.0 mm in 0.3-mm steps) while maintaining all other parameters (including a 7.4-mm optic zone diameter) constant. Oxygen uptake rates were measured in the normal, open eye and after static (without blinking) and dynamic (with blinking once every 5 s) wear of oxygen-impermeable (polymethyl methacrylate) contact lenses. Differences between uptake rates obtained under static vs. dynamic conditions served as an index of tear pump efficiency for each lens. Tear pump efficiency increased with the use of progressively smaller lens diameters and subjects with large palpebral aperture sizes were also found to have better tear exchange (r = 0.934, p = 0.006 for the 9.1-mm overall diameter reference lens).

Adult

Rigid lens tear pump efficiency: effects of overall diameter/base curve combinations.

The effect of changes in rigid contact lens overall and optic zone diameters on tear pump efficiency were studied using a polarographic technique. Six overall diameters ranged from 7.6 to 10.6 mm in 0.6-mm steps, with the optic zone diameter always being 1.4 mm smaller. Base curve radii were made flatter as lens overall/optic zone diameters increased in order to maintain a constant tear layer thickness. All other parameters were held constant. Oxygen uptake rates were measured for the normal, open eye, as well as after 5 min of static (without blinking) and dynamic (with blinking once every 5 s) wear of each lens design. Under both static and dynamic conditions, oxygen uptake rates increased with increase in lens overall/optic zone diameter. The differences between the static and dynamic condition data served as an index of tear pump efficiency for each lens. These differences decreased with increase in lens overall/optic zone diameter.

Analysis of Variance

Effects of rigid contact lens edge lift changes on tear pump efficiency.

The effects of rigid contact lens axial edge lift changes on corneal oxygenation and tear exchange with the blink were studied for lenses of five axial edge lifts (0.05 to 0.13 mm in 0.02-mm steps). The overall and optic zone diameters were maintained at 8.8 and 7.4 mm, respectively, and all other parameters were held constant. Oxygen uptake rates were measured for the normal open eye after 5 min of static (without blinking) and dynamic (with blinking once every 5 s) contact lens wear. As expected, no significant differences were found in the oxygen uptake rates associated with the static wear of the contact lenses; however, under dynamic conditions, increasing edge lift was associated with a reduction in oxygen demand. The differences between data obtained under static and dynamic conditions increased with increasing axial edge lift, and subjects with small palpebral aperture sizes seemed to benefit more from increasing axial edge lift.

Adult

Individual growth curve standards in triplets: prediction of third-trimester growth and birth characteristics.

We investigated the ability of Rossavik growth models, determined from measurements obtained before 24 weeks (head circumference [HC], abdominal circumference [AC], femur diaphysis length, and estimated fetal weight [EFW]) or 25 weeks (thigh circumference), to predict third-trimester growth and birth characteristics in normally growing triplets. Comparisons of coefficient c values for six anatomical measurements indicated no statistically significant differences in the second-trimester growth of triplets, twins, and singletons. Third-trimester triplet values for HC, AC, and femur diaphysis length were predicted with an accuracy of +/- 6-8%. For thigh circumference and EFW, the comparable values were +/- 17 and +/- 15%, respectively. The HC at birth was predicted without bias; the random error was approximately -27 to 9.0%. Weight, AC, and thigh circumference were systematically overestimated (16.5, 20.9, and 16.3%, respectively). After correction for systematic errors, these characteristics could be predicted with random errors of -13.0 to 9.5% (weight), -12.0 to 2.8% (AC), and -16.7 to 11.3% (thigh circumference). Growth Potential Realization Index values had means of approximately 100% and ranges from 90-121%. The mean triplet value of the Neonatal Growth Assessment Score was 13.6, ranging from 2.8-26.5. These results are similar to those for singletons and twins and indicate that individual assessment of growth in triplets can be performed with the same methods used for both singletons and twins.

Adult

The complete cDNA and amino acid sequence of bovine fetuin. Its homology with alpha 2HS glycoprotein and relation to other members of the cystatin superfamily.

The cDNA sequence encoding the bovine fetal protein fetuin is reported. The deduced amino acid sequence is identical with that obtained from amino acid sequencing. The protein is a single chain preceded by a signal sequence. The three N-linked glycosylation sites have been determined. The sequence of fetuin shows over 70% similarity to human alpha 2HS glycoprotein. All of the cysteine residues are conserved in both proteins, suggesting that fetuin has the same arrangement of disulfide loops as alpha 2HS glycoprotein and may also be a member of the cystatin family. Southern blot analysis indicates that a single gene codes for fetuin. No evidence for a separate gene for a bovine alpha 2HS glycoprotein was obtained; thus, fetuin in cattle and alpha 2HS glycoprotein in the human are equivalent proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence

Human tear buffering capacity.

With the use of a closed chamber microelectrode system, we measured the relative buffering capacities of 490 human tear samples from young healthy adults. The buffering capacities of the 457 waking-hour samples did show small but regular oscillations that were similar to those previously reported for blood and tear pH, but only rarely did the buffering capacity of one sample approach double that of another. The buffering capacities of 33 tear samples, associated with periods of prolonged eye closure (sleep), were not significantly different (P less than 0.5) from those of the open eye.

Adult

Tear pH: resistance to change.

While considerable study and clinical speculation has been given to tear pH, almost no attention has been paid to the buffering capacity of this fluid. Responses of tears to an alkaline challenge test as a measure of their buffering capacity are described here for a series of patients. The magnitudes of those resulting shifts, and the probable mechanisms influencing them are commented upon.

Buffers

Human tear osmotic pressure: diurnal variations and the closed eye.

Using a micro-osmometry technique, 450 nonreflex tear samples were collected hourly from six subjects throughout their waking hours, and on initial opening of the eyes following six to eight hours of sleep. While the waking day mean found for this population agreed closely with current values in the literature, considerable variation did occur among individuals, both in their mean as well as in their hour-to-hour levels. The prolonged lid closure condition resulted in a considerable decrease in tear osmotic pressure and was found to be significantly different from the open-eye condition (P less than .001). No significant differences could be shown however between findings for men and women for either condition, and no consistent impact of food or fluid intake could be demonstrated.

Adult

Tear pH: how predictable?

While the tear pH of a patient is now known to be continually shifting throughout the waking day, such variations were found to be contained within fairly narrow limits (a range here of about 0.6 of a pH unit). Further, sufficient repetition of these shifts occurred over 10 days observed that patterns distinctive of the individual patient often emerged.

Humans

Urinary excretion of phenobarbital in a neonate having withdrawal symptoms.

Utilizing methods of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer systems operated in a chemical ionization mode, metabolites of mephobarbital were demostrated in urines collected from two infants whose mother was treated with mephobarbital during pregnancy. Identification of the major metabolite in one infant was possibe for 22 days after delivery. The urinary half-life of mephobartial was 30 hours and the half-life of phenobarbital was 48 hours. Both infants demonstrated withdrawal symptoms for four to six months and manifested the physical phenotype of infants exposed in utero to anticonvulsant agents.

Adult