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Biomedical subjects

R Smith

Publications and source records attributed to R Smith.

At least 955 records · Page 53Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Cataract extraction without retrobulbar anaesthetic injection.

Extracapsular cataract extraction with lens implant under local anaesthesia consisting of amethocaine drops followed by a simple subconjunctival injection in the upper part of the globe but without a retrobulbar injection was carried out in 175 eyes of 165 patients. The purpose of the study was to establish the feasibility of this type of anaesthesia in cataract surgery with the principal object of avoiding the possibility of retrobulbar haemorrhage and the other, rarer, complications of retrobulbar injection. The method, which is referred to as the NR method, proved to be satisfactory. No undue difficulties were encountered as a result of using the technique, the visual results were satisfactory and compared favourably with those under general anaesthesia, and the patients accepted the method well, possibly preferring it to conventional methods.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Lye in the eye.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Burns, Chemical↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of int-2: a member of the fibroblast growth factor family.

int-2 was discovered as a proto-oncogene transcriptionally activated by MMTV proviral insertion during mammary tumorigenesis in the mouse. Sequence analysis showed int-2 to be a member of the fibroblast growth factor family of genes. In normal breast and most other adult mouse tissues, int-2 expression was not detected except for low levels in brain and testis. However, using in situ hybridization, expression was found at a number of sites during embryonic development, from day 7 until birth. An analysis of the int-2 transcripts found in embryonal carcinoma cells revealed six major classes of RNA initiating at three promoters and terminating at either of two polyadenylation sites. Despite the transcriptional complexities, all size classes of RNA encompass the same open reading frame. Using an SV40 early promoter to drive transcription of an int-2 cDNA in COS-1 cells, several proteins were observed. These were shown to be generated by initiation from either of two codons: One, a CUG, leads to a product which localizes extensively to the cell nucleus and partially to the secretory pathway. In contrast, initiation at a downstream AUG codon results in quantitative translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum and the accumulation of products ranging in size from 27.5 x 10(3) Mr to 31.5 x 10(3) Mr in organelles of the secretory pathway. These proteins represented glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms of the same primary product with or without the signal peptide removed. These findings suggest the potential for a dual role of int-2; an autocrine function acting at the cell nucleus, and a possible paracrine action through a secreted product.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Urinary corticotropin-releasing hormone immunoreactivity is elevated during human pregnancy.

Plasma corticotropin-releasing hormone immunoreactivity (CRH IR) rises with gestational age in women. In order to investigate the physiological changes of the hormone in pregnant women's urine, CRH IR was measured by radioimmunoassay in urine collected over a 24-hour period, a blood sample and a subsequent single collection of urine after the 24-hour collection (spot urine). Plasma CRH IR in pregnant subjects, 8682.8 +/- 2063.0 pg CRH IR/ml plasma (mean +/- SEM, n = 25), was significantly higher than that in the non-pregnant controls (7.2 +/- 1.6 pg/ml, n = 5; separate t = 4.21, p = 0.0003, d.f. = 24). Similarly, pregnant women had higher spot urine CRH IR - 54.6 +/- 15.5 pg/mumol creatinine (Cr) versus 5.0 +/- 0.5 pg/mumol Cr (separate t = 3.20, p = 0.0038, d.f. = 24.0) - and 24-hour urine CRH IR - 13.7 +/- 1.2 pg/mumol Cr compared with 7.7 +/- 0.8 pg/mumol Cr (separate t = 4.28, p = 0.003, d.f. = 24.4) than the non-pregnant cohort. The difference between urinary excretion of CRH IR as estimated by 24-hour urine (13.7 +/- 1.2 pg/mumol Cr) and spot urine (54.6 +/- 15.5 pg/mumol Cr) indicated that CRH IR in 24-hour urine may be degraded during storage. The weak associations between plasma and 24-hour urine CRH IR of pregnant women (correlation coefficient r = 0.34, p greater than 0.1), and total 24-hour urine and spot urine CRH IR (r = 0.25, p less than 0.1) further indicate CRH degradation. Plasma and spot urinary CRH IR, however, were strongly correlated (r = 0.80, p = 0.001). The total CRH IR excreted as estimated from the spot urine value (0.5 +/- 0.1 micrograms/day) compared with the total filtered load of CRH IR in the pregnant group (1306.9 +/- 324.6 micrograms/day) showed that 99.97% of the filtered CRH IR was reabsorbed or metabolized by the kidneys. Acidic gel chromatography of spot and 24-hour urine samples showed a CRH IR peak at CRH41 standard elution position (Kd = 0.5), indicating that the molecular form in urine is similar to the 41-residue standard. Pregnancy-induced hypertension correlated positively with plasma CRH IR (r = 0.62, p less than 0.001) and spot urine CRH IR (r = 0.46, p less than 0.01), and negatively with parity (r = -0.60, p less than 0.001). Plasma CRH IR and parity also negatively correlated (r = -0.41, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone↗
PubMed1990

A comparative study of terfenadine at two dose levels in the management of hayfever.

One hundred and twenty patients with hayfever were enrolled in a single-centre, double-blind crossover study designed to compare the efficacy and safety of terfenadine at doses of 60 mg bd and 120 mg bd. A two-week placebo run-in period was followed by the two treatment periods, each lasting two weeks. Assessments of hayfever symptoms were made daily by patients and at each clinic visit by the investigator. Adverse events were recorded at the end of each treatment period. At the end of the study both investigator and patient rated the overall efficacy and the patient recorded treatment preference. The data were examined by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for treatment, period and crossover effects. Pollen counts were recorded for the duration of the study. Seventy-four patients completed the study, the majority of withdrawals occurring during the placebo phase. There was no significant difference in symptom relief between the two doses of terfenadine. The number of adverse events, including drowsiness, was similar for the two treatments and for placebo. Mean and peak pollen counts both correlated well with symptom severity. These data show that terfenadine 60 mg bd is an adequate dose for the treatment of hayfever symptoms.

Adult↗