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Biomedical subjects

S Adams

Publications and source records attributed to S Adams.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Prediction of neurological damage after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Use of the cerebral function analysing monitor.

Sixty-five patients who had coronary artery graft surgery were subjected to detailed neuropsychometric assessment before operation and twice again within 7 days after operation. They were monitored continuously with a cerebral function analysing monitor during the operation. The results of the peroperative cerebral monitoring were compared on completion of the study with the neuropsychometric assessments. Seventy-six percent of the patients with a significant neuropsychometric deficit after operation also showed significant peroperative changes on the analysing monitor; the majority occurred immediately after the start of perfusion. Twenty-eight patients failed to demonstrate any evidence of neuropsychometric deficit and six (21%) of these also showed significant peroperative changes. All patients whose traces demonstrated more than one significant change during the peroperative course had a significant neuropsychometric deficit afterwards.

Brain↗
PubMed1988

Induction of circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) as the mechanism for the febrile response to interleukin-2 (IL-2) in cancer patients.

Fever is frequently observed in cancer patients treated with high-dose recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2). The preincubation of rIL-2 with polymyxin B, an antibiotic that inhibits the biologic effects of endotoxins, did not diminish the pyrogenicity of IL-2 in New Zealand rabbits, indicating that IL-2-induced fever is not due to contaminating endotoxins. In contrast to interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon alpha, which cause fever through their effects on arachidonic acid metabolism in the hypothalamus, IL-2 was unable to induce prostaglandin E2 synthesis in hypothalamic cells or fibroblasts in vitro, suggesting that IL-2 is not intrinsically pyrogenic. To determine if IL-2-induced fever is mediated indirectly through the generation of pyrogenic cytokines, culture supernatants from IL-2-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were screened for the presence of pyrogens by direct injection into rabbits and by measuring the amounts of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TNF alpha by specific radioimmunoassays (RIA). All three cytokines were readily detected by RIA in these supernatants, which in turn caused fever when injected into rabbits. Furthermore, in six of six cancer patients treated with rIL-2, elevated levels of TNF alpha were detected in the plasma by RIA 2 hr after IL-2 administration. Plasma TNF levels increased from pretreatment values of 14 +/- 7 to 765 +/- 150 pg/ml 2 hr after an IL-2 injection. These results strongly implicate IL-2-induced pyrogenic cytokines, in particular TNF alpha, as a major cause of the fever and possibly other aspects of the acute-phase response associated with IL-2 therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Schistosoma mansoni: the basis for the antischistosomal effect of cyclosporine A.

A potent antiparasitic effect against a broad range of microorganisms is now known to follow the administration of cyclosporine A (CSA) to a variety of mammalian species and birds. Even though in the case of Schistosoma mansoni a direct antischistosomal effect by CSA has been in principle ruled out, this possible mechanism of action has not been previously explored in depth. In this paper we show that (a) concentrations of CSA of as low as 1 microgram/ml are schistosomulicidal in vitro as determined by morphological criteria, (b) mice receiving antischistosomal regimens in vivo exhibit serum concentrations of CSA that are within the range of toxic doses in vitro, (c) schistosomulicidal concentrations of CSA are maintained in vivo for sufficiently long periods of time to secure parasite death, (d) the antischistosomal activity of heat-inactivated mouse sera closely correlates with their levels of CSA, and (e) independent of the site of administration, CSA offers protection against a schistosomal infection in vivo only when present in the serum. The data strongly support the contention that CSA has a direct effect on the early forms of Schistosoma mansoni, and suggest that interference with a survival mechanism, perhaps common to several parasites, represents one likely mode of action.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Evidence for involvement of hypocapnia and hypoperfusion in aetiology of neurological deficit after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Arterial and jugular bulb pressures and blood gas tensions were recorded for later analysis in 65 patients having coronary artery graft surgery. In the first 35 (group A) routine peroperative monitoring was used; and in the next 30 (group B), similar in age and other characteristics, special measures were adopted to maintain normocapnia (PaCO2 35-45 mm Hg) by continuous monitoring during surgery. On the third postoperative day clinical neurological deficits were observed in 46% of group A and 27% of group B, and psychometric deficits in 71% and 40%, respectively. On analysis of the records, more than half of group A proved to have been hypocapnic immediately before onset of cardiopulmonary bypass, and those with postoperative deficits differed from the others in this group in having had greater changes in PaCO2 after onset of bypass and lower cerebral perfusion pressures in the first 10 minutes of bypass, usually because of a rise in cerebral venous pressure.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1987

Chronic effects of fractionated renal irradiation on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous methotrexate.

the chronic effects of renal irradiation on the pharmacology of methotrexate was studied in a rat model. Unanesthetized rats received 2 doses of bilateral fractionated kidney irradiation (16.2 Gy or 19.8 Gy in 9 fractions). Alterations in renal function were first seen at 3 months in the 19.8 Gy group and 12 months in the 16.2 Gy groups. Life table analysis showed a shift in the survival curve of about 3 months between the 2 radiation doses. The pharmacokinetics of i.v. methotrexate showed an increase in the area under the plasma curve beginning at 9 months in the 19.8 Gy group and at 15 months in the 16.2 Gy group. The volume of distribution of methotrexate was smaller in the irradiated rats than in unirradiated controls. Multiple linear regression models showed significant correlations between parameters of methotrexate clearance and certain renal function tests. Nevertheless, no set of renal function tests consistently predicted alteration in methotrexate clearance in the 2 radiation groups. Furthermore, time after irradiation remained a highly significant variable indicating that renal irradiation causes time dependent change in methotrexate pharmacokinetics that can not be accounted for by the usual tests of renal function.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The genetic organization of the yeast Ty element.

The genetic organization of the yeast transposon Ty resembles that of higher eukaryotic retroviruses and other elements such as the copia-like sequences of Drosophila. The Ty genome is 5.9 kb (10(3) bases) long. It has 340 bp (base pairs) terminal repeats known as delta sequences and it produces a terminally redundant 5.7 kb RNA that starts in the 5' delta and ends in the 3' delta. Ty transcription is directed by signals upstream and downstream of the major RNA start site and is regulated by the mating-type configuration of the cell. The 5.7 kb transcriptional unit is divided into two overlapping open reading frames, TYA and TYB. TYA occupies approximately the first quarter of the transcriptional unit while TYB occupies the rest. TYB overlaps TYA by either 38 or 44 nucleotides, depending on the element, and is in the plus one reading frame with respect to TYA. TYA is expressed to produce protein p1 (50 x 10(3) Mr) and TYB is expressed as a TYA:TYB fusion protein, p3 (190 x 10(3) Mr). Both of these proteins are subsequently cleaved to produce proteins p2, p4, p5, p6, reverse transcriptase and a protease that is responsible for some of these cleavage events. These proteins are assembled into virus-like particles (Ty-VLPs) that contain Ty RNA and reverse transcriptase activity. It is likely that the Ty-VLPs are units of transposition as Ty transposes via an RNA intermediate.

DNA Transposable Elements↗
PubMed1986

Molecular cloning of two cysteine proteinases from paw-paw (Carica papaya).

Two cDNA clones for plant cysteine proteinases have been isolated from a Carica papaya (paw-paw, papaya) leaf tissue cDNA library by using a mixture of 16 synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides as a hybridization probe. The inserted regions are 311 and 440 base-pairs in length and have the potential to encode a region corresponding to the C-terminal region of two proteins which are homologous with the known plant cysteine proteinases and the mammalian thiol cathepsins. One of the sequences shows a high (greater than 77%) homology with the plant cysteine proteinase papain, the other is closely related to papaya chymopapain. One sequence contains all, and the other most, of the 3' untranslated region of the mRNA. The inserts were used as specific probes in Northern Blot analyses giving an estimated size for the two mRNA species of 1.45 kilobases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

The effectiveness of an organized emergency department follow-up system.

Half the patients discharged home from our emergency department with the diagnoses of acute infection, cervicolumbar strain, bronchospasm, allergic reaction, headache, syncope, vaginal hemorrhage, and undiagnosed chest/abdominal pain were randomly assigned to receive a follow-up telephone call two to three days after their visit. Patients in the follow-up call group were telephoned by an ED nurse who questioned them about changes in their clinical status and clarified the aftercare and referral instructions received during the ED visit. Seven days after the visit, a questionnaire that rated patient satisfaction about six aspects of the ED visit was sent to those patients who had been contacted successfully (study group), and to a diagnosis-matched group of patients (control) who did not receive a follow-up call. A nurse was able to reach 144 of the 297 patients assigned to the study group. Significant referral and aftercare interventions were made in 53 (37%) cases including three patients who were instructed to return to the ED. Questionnaires were returned by 83 of 144 (49%) of the study group and by 94 of 262 (35%) of the control group. Male study group patients consistently rated five of six aspects of their visit higher than did the male controls. No difference was observed in questionnaire ratings between the female study and control groups. We conclude that male patients reached by a follow-up telephone call have a more positive perception of their ED visit. A follow-up call also can be useful for reinforcing aftercare instructions, follow-up referrals, and problem-patient identification.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Enteral versus parenteral nutritional support following laparotomy for trauma: a randomized prospective trial.

Although enteral nutrition is considered more 'physiologic' than parenteral nutrition, there is greater published experience with parenteral nutrition in trauma patients. To compare the efficacy of these two techniques, we prospectively randomized multiple trauma patients during their admission laparotomy to receive either central venous parenteral nutritional (TPN: n = 23) or enteral nutrition by jejunostomy (Jej: n = 23). Nutritional support began on the first postoperative day; the study period continued a maximum of 14 days. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, injury severity, estimated caloric needs (3,322 TPN; 3,114 Jej), hours to achieve full prescription (77 PTN; 79 Jej), or the number of days on nutritional support (22 TPN; 25 Jej). Average daily caloric intakes, nitrogen balance results, and complication rates were also comparable. These results suggest that early postoperative jejunostomy feeding is a safe and efficacious choice for multiple trauma patients undergoing laparotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Firm udder in periparturient ewes with lymphocytic accumulations, retrovirus infection, and milk unavailable at the teat.

A condition of firm udders in periparturient ewes, with little or no milk available at the teat, was associated with negative bacterial cultures of mammary tissue, isolation of ovine progressive pneumonia virus from mammary tissue, lymphocytic accumulations in mammary tissue, especially around ducts, and antibody to ovine progressive pneumonia virus in sera. Milk was present in the glands, but was not adequately transported through the duct system. The cull rate of ewes with this condition was reported by producers and veterinarians to be less than 5% in flocks where the condition was recognized, but approximately 10% of ewes were apparently affected in at least 1 flock.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect of voluntary exercise on longevity of rats.

The purpose of this study was to obtain information regarding the effects of exercise on longevity in rats. The exercise used was voluntary activity wheel running. The runners gradually decreased their running from approximately 4 to approximately 1 mile/day as they aged from 9 to 30 mo. The runners lived slightly but significantly longer than sedentary freely eating controls and sedentary pair-fed controls (1,012 +/- 138 vs. 923 +/- 160 and 928 +/- 186 days) but significantly less long than food-restricted paired-weight sedentary controls (1,113 +/- 150 days). Although the exercise improved survival, it did not result in an extension of life-span. In contrast, the food-restricted paired-weight sedentary rats showed a true increase in life-span. The paired-weight rats also had a significantly reduced incidence of malignancies compared with the other three groups. However, there was no significant difference between the runners and the freely eating or pair-fed sedentary controls in the cause of death. These results provide evidence that exercise improves survival but does not result in an extension of life-span in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Offer vs. serve foodservice in lower elementary school lunchrooms.

The study indicated that neither method of serving was superior to the other in terms of food consumption, thus supporting the theory that food consumption was not adversely affected when offer vs. serve was implemented. Although the study did not include an analysis of nutrients consumed, it can be assumed that the vitamin, mineral, and protein intakes of the students in the offer vs. serve programs would be higher, as the foods eaten in greater portions (bread, vegetables, and combination dish) are good sources of those nutrients. Within the limitations of this study of food consumption by young children, it appears that offer vs. serve is worthy of careful consideration as a means of cutting lunchroom costs without producing a negative impact on nutrition.

Child↗
PubMed1984

Clinical waste.

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Humans↗