Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S L Jones

Publications and source records attributed to S L Jones.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Dissecting hematomas of the pulmonary artery: rare and fatal catastrophies.

This article presents, to the author's best knowledge, the first reported case of a fatal pulmonary artery dissecting hematoma that was a long-term complication of a Waterston shunt procedure (aortopulmonary anastamosis). Pulmonary artery dissecting hematomas are rare and generally fatal, and they are usually not diagnosed until the autopsy is performed. They occur in young adults, are almost always associated with pulmonary hypertension, and often present with the sudden onset of excruciating lancet-like retrosternal pain. Risk factors for the development of dissecting hematomas, in addition to hypertension, include vascular turbulence, trauma, connective tissue disorders, syphilis, infection, previous surgery, and iatrogenic events (e.g., catheterization). The treatment is prompt medical reduction of pulmonary hypertension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Dipyrone into the nucleus raphe magnus inhibits the rat nociceptive tail-flick reflex.

Recent studies suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have central sites of action which contribute to their analgesic efficacy. In the present study microinjections of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, dipyrone, were made into the medullary nucleus raphe magnus of lightly pentobarbital-anesthetized rats; 25, 50, 100 and 200 micrograms of dipyrone dose-dependently inhibited the nociceptive tail-flick withdrawal reflex. These results suggest that dipyrone modulates bulbospinal neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus to inhibit spinal nociceptive reflexes; thus, new routes of administration and methods of application may be possible for these analgesic agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Genetic speciation of Candida isolates by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction.

Candida species are opportunistic human pathogens capable of causing a variety of clinical diseases. Rapid and precise identification of Candida to species level is essential for effective treatment and management strategies. Conventional diagnosis of candidiasis is sometimes slow and variable. By using a random primer 5'-ACGGGCCAGT-3' in arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction, seven common Candida species (i.e., C. albicans, C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, C. lipolytica, C. tropicalis and C. (Torulopsis) glabrata) produced characteristic DNA band patterns, which enabled rapid determination to species level among them. Further analysis of the nucleotide sequences of Candida specific fragments should improve our understanding of the molecular structures and possible functions of the gene regions involved.

Candida↗
PubMed1996

FcgammaRII-mediated adhesion and phagocytosis induce L-plastin phosphorylation in human neutrophils.

L-Plastin is a calcium-regulated actin bundling protein expressed in leukocytes and some transformed cells, which is phosphorylated on serine in response to several different leukocyte-activating stimuli. Adhesion to immune complexes induced L-plastin phosphorylation in neutrophils, as did phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized particles, but insoluble immune complexes in suspension were very inefficient activators of L-plastin phosphorylation. Neutrophils express two IgG Fc receptors, the transmembrane FcgammaRII and the glycan phosphoinositol-linked FcgammaRIIIB. Use of monoclonal antibodies that distinguished the two Fc receptors demonstrated that FcgammaRII ligation was 100-fold more potent at signaling L-plastin phosphorylation than occupancy of FcgammaRIIIB. Depletion of intracellular calcium did not affect FcgammaRII-activated L-plastin phosphorylation, demonstrating that any potential regulation of plastin function by calcium did not affect its phosphorylation. Adhesion to immune complexes caused L-plastin to localize to podosomes, since it colocalized with actin to discrete, punctate Triton X-100-insoluble sites on the adherent neutrophil surface in a pattern indistinguishable from vinculin and alpha-actinin. Nonetheless, localization to podosomes was not required for L-plastin phosphorylation, since both neutrophils from a patient with leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CD18 deficiency) and neutrophils treated with anti-CD18 F(ab')2, which do not form podosomes upon adhesion to immune complexes, phosphorylated L-plastin normally. Indeed, L-plastin was normally phosphorylated in response to adhesion to immune complexes even when the actin cytoskeleton was disrupted with cytochalasin D. We conclude that efficient FcgammaRII-mediated phosphorylation of L-plastin requires cell adhesion but does not require IgG-induced rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton. These data suggest a model in which plastin phosphorylation and localization to the actin cytoskeleton can act as two distinct mechanisms regulating L-plastin functions in neutrophils adherent to immune complexes.

Actinin↗
PubMed1996

The association between objective and subjective caregiver burden.

Major consequences of the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1960s are the objective and subjective burdens for caregivers of individuals with chronic mental illness. The purpose of this report is to describe the association between the objective and subjective caregiver burdens. Objective caregiver burden is comprised of those tasks required to care for the client, whereas subjective caregiver burden indicates the extent to which the caregiver "minds" performing these tasks. The design is a longitudinal, quasi-experimental study over a 3-year period, i.e., three waves of data were collected between 1991 to 1994. Data were collected via a telephone interview schedule. Both quantitative and qualitative data are reported. The association between objective and subjective burdens is complex. Findings show that although there are many tasks required in the taking care of the client, the caregiver accepts these tasks. The problem occurs with the uncooperative nature of the client in allowing the caregiver to carry out the tasks. The caregiver-client conflict involving excessive demands and embarrassment results in increased subjective burden.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

Oral prednisolone supplement abolishes the acute adverse effects following initiation of depot bromocriptine therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Although an effective treatment for hyper-prolactinaemia, initiation of bromocriptine therapy may be associated with significant acute side-effects in some patients, particularly nausea, vomiting and postural hypotension. These may be minimized by initial treatment with i.m. depot bromocriptine (Parlodel-LAR, Sandoz, Basel, Switzerland), but adverse effects following the first injection may still be a significant problem. Following the observation that cortisol deficient patients were subject to an increased incidence of severe side-effects on initiation of bromocriptine therapy, we have evaluated whether concurrent administration of oral prednisolone to patients without cortisol deficiency might reduce adverse effects. DESIGN: Double-blind placebo-controlled trial with prednisolone (20 mg) prior to, and 16 hours after, depot injection of i.m. bromocriptine (50 or 100 mg). PATIENTS: Twenty-one consecutive patients with hyperprolactinaemia (serum prolactin > 1000 mU/l on 3 separate occasions) who were due to start depot bromocriptine and who had a normal cortisol response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. MEASUREMENTS: Symptoms at 0, 16 and 40 hours after injection were assessed using visual linear analogue scales and both inter and intra-group scores were compared by non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Depot bromocriptine was associated with the significant occurrence of light-headedness and lethargy in the placebo-administered group by 16 hours, and also with nausea and nasal congestion by 40 hours. These symptoms did not occur in the prednisolone-administered group. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent oral administration of prednisolone significantly reduces the incidence of acute adverse effects following depot bromocriptine. Two 20 mg doses of prednisolone given at 12-hour intervals may be used to avoid dopamine-agonist-induced adverse effects at the initiation of treatment with depot bromocriptine, and may also be of value in the treatment of side-effects associated with other dopamine agonist drugs.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Glomerular hyperfiltration in the prediction of nephropathy in IDDM: a 10-year follow-up study.

Glomerular hyperfiltration has been proposed as an independent risk factor for the development of diabetic nephropathy in patients with IDDM. In a case-controlled prospective study of IDDM patients without albuminuria, serial glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurements were performed over an observation period of 10 years. A group of 25 IDDM patients (20 men, 5 women; initial age, 29 [17-49] years) with glomerular hyperfiltration (GFR >135 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) were matched for age, sex, and duration of diabetes with 25 IDDM patients (20 men, 5 women; initial age, 30 [17-48] years) with glomerular normofiltration (GFR 83-135 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)). GFR, urinary albumin excretion rate (AER), blood pressure, and glycated hemoglobin were measured at baseline and at 5, 8, and 10 years. The two groups had similar entry levels of blood pressure, AER, and glycated hemoglobin. Metabolic control was similar in the two groups during follow-up. The final GFR remained higher in the group with hyperfiltration (122 [109-135] vs. 103 [95-111] ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2); P = 0.02) despite a nonsignificantly faster rate of fall of GFR compared with that of the control group (2.54 [1.20-3.88] vs. 1.50 [1.01-1.99] ml x min(-1) x year(-1); P = 0.14). A similar number of patients in each group progressed to either microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria (n = 4 vs. n = 3) or developed hypertension (blood pressure, >160/95 mmHg; n = 3 vs. n = 4). End-of-study AER was, however, higher in the group with hyperfiltration (geometric mean [95% CI]: 18.9 [11.3-31.6] vs. 11.0 [8.1-15.0]; P = 0.05), and baseline glomerular hyperfiltration was an independent determinant of end-of-study blood pressure (P = 0.04). The strongest predictors of end-of-study AER and blood pressure were their baseline values (P < 0.04 and P < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, levels of AER and blood pressure are the main risk factors for renal outcome, while glomerular hyperfiltration appears to play a lesser role.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Hydrops uteri in a caprine doe pregnant with goat-sheep hybrid fetuses.

A 5-year-old caprine doe was examined for abdominal enlargement and inability to stand. Hydrops uteri was diagnosed via ultrasonography, and was determined to be the cause of hind limb paresis. The placentomes appeared to be abnormal in shape and number. Uterine fluid electrolyte concentrations were similar to fluid from cows and sheep with hydrops amnion. Two fetuses were dead at the time of induced parturition. Hydrops uteri is rare in goats and, in the goat of this report, was believed to be caused by pregnancy with an unusual goat-sheep hybrid. The placental abnormalities discovered by ultrasonography may have been responsible for the abnormal accumulation of fluid, but a fetal abnormality also was considered to be possible.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Noxious heat-evoked Fos-like immunoreactivity in the rat medulla, with emphasis on the catecholamine cell groups.

The objectives of the present study were 1) to utilize Fos immunohistochemistry as a marker for neuronal activity in order to examine the population of neurons in the medulla that is engaged by activation of nociceptive peripheral afferents and 2) to determine whether catecholamine-containing neurons in the medulla also express noxious heat-evoked Fos-like immunoreactivity. Noxious heating of the hindpaw evoked specific patterns of Fos-like immunoreactivity in the medulla in regions known to be involved in both nociceptive processing and cardiovascular regulation. Noxious heating of the hindpaw significantly increased the mean number of neurons expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity in the contralateral ventrolateral medulla. Increased numbers of Fos-positive neurons also were observed in both the ipsilateral and the contralateral A1 catecholamine cell groups. Similarly, in the contralateral medullary dorsal reticular fields, noxious heating of the hindpaw significantly increased the mean number of neurons expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity. In contrast, in the paramedian reticular nucleus, noxious heating of the hindpaw resulted in a significant decrease in the mean number of neurons expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity. No significant differences in the mean numbers of neurons expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity were noted in the A2, C1, or C2/C3 medullary catecholamine cell groups. These results suggest that noxious stimuli affect pools of neurons in the medulla with multiple physiological functions.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1995

Validity of the Peabody Developmental Gross Motor Scale as an evaluative measure of infants receiving physical therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the Peabody Developmental Gross Motor Scale (PDMS-GM) as an evaluative measure of infants receiving physical therapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Infants who attended an early intervention program (N = 124) were grouped by diagnosis: cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, preterm with developmental delay, full term with developmental delay, and other. The PDMS-GM was administered to each infant three times over a 6-month period by a therapist who did not provide treatment. RESULTS: Mean scaled scores and age-equivalent scores increased for each group. Individual change was examined using the reliable change index. The results indicated that the change in total raw score for 62% of the infants was greater than what could be attributed to measurement error. When minimal clinically important change was defined as 10 scaled score points, the index of responsiveness was equal to 0.5. This finding indicates that a sample size of 68 subjects per group would be needed when the PDMS-GM is used as an outcome measure in research. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The mean change scores for each group support the use of the PDMS-GM as an evaluative measure. For many infants, particularly infants with cerebral palsy, the PDMS-GM was not responsive to change over a 6-month period. The index of responsiveness suggests that the PDMS-GM should be used only as an outcome measure in large clinical trials. The PDMS-GM is not recommended for evaluating the direct effects of physical therapy but is recommended for providing a global measure of change in motor development as part of a multidimensional assessment.

Cerebral Palsy↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in acromegalic patients during treatment with octreotide.

BACKGROUND: Octreotide, a synthetic long-acting analogue of somatostatin, now has an established role in the treatment of acromegaly. In acromegalic patients treated with octreotide there is an increased incidence of gallstones and possibly gastritis. OBJECTIVES: (1) To compare the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, in acromegalic patients treated with octreotide to that in patients given other treatment modalities. (2) To study retrospectively the temporal relation between H. pylori acquisition and octreotide treatment. PATIENTS: Three groups of acromegalic patients were studied; 35 (20 M) had been treated with octreotide, 17 (10 M) with bromocriptine and 19 (12 M) had received no pharmacological intervention (untreated, surgically treated or treated with radiotherapy). DESIGN/MEASUREMENTS: The presence of H. pylori infection was assessed serologically (Bio-Rad GAP test for IgG), using stored serum, on the most recent sample from each patient and on serial samples from patients treated with octreotide. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity was similar in each treatment group, 34, 35 and 37%, respectively. Mean age and duration of acromegaly were similar in the first two groups. Patients who had never received medical treatment were slightly younger. GH levels were similar in all three groups. Patients on octreotide who were seropositive for H. pylori did not differ from those with negative serology with respect to age, duration of acromegaly, duration of octreotide treatment or serum GH level. Serial samples in octreotide treated patients showed a change in status in only one patient; 18 patients continued with negative serology during a mean period of 30 (range 4-62) months. In each of the 6 patients with persistently positive serology during octreotide treatment, stored samples predating octreotide therapy were shown to have already been positive. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in acromegalic patients does not appear to be increased in a manner dependent on the type or duration of medical treatment. In particular, octreotide therapy, while causing the development of histological gastritis in some patients, does not appear to induce the development of H. pylori infection.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1995

Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by lysophosphatidylcholine.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), a component of atherogenic lipoproteins and atherosclerotic lesions, has been recently suggested to play a role in atherogenesis. LysoPC is known to induce several endothelial genes involved in leukocyte recruitment, mitogenesis, and inflammation. Cyclooxygenases (prostaglandin H2 synthases) are rate-limiting enzymes involved in the endothelial synthesis of prostacyclin, an antiplatelet, vasorelaxant, and vasoprotective molecule. We investigated the effect of lysoPC on the endothelial expression of cyclooxygenases. Our results demonstrate that, in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, lysoPC induces cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA and protein levels. Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 is accompanied by the enhancement of both basal- and calcium ionophore A23187-induced synthesis of prostacyclin. Nuclear runoff experiments demonstrated an increased rate of transcription of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene by lysoPC. In contrast, lysoPC did not affect the expression of constitutive cyclooxygenase-1. Our results suggest that the induction of endothelial cyclooxygenase-2 by lysoPC may be an important vasoprotective mechanism that limits progression of atherosclerotic lesions and promotes their regression.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1995

Effect of demographic and behavioral variables on burden of caregivers of chronic mentally ill persons.

OBJECTIVE: Persons who provide care for individuals with chronic mental illness experience both objective burden (observable, tangible cost) and subjective (perceived) burden. This study sought to determine the relative power of behaviors of chronic mentally ill clients, behaviors required of caregivers, and demographic characteristics of both groups in predicting burden. METHODS: A total of 189 caregiver-client dyads were studied using a cross-sectional, correlational design. Caregivers were interviewed by phone about clients' needs for help in nine areas and about seven potentially troublesome client behaviors. Correlation and regression analyses were used to determine relationships among variables. RESULTS: Caregivers reported much less subjective than objective burden, although the relationship between the two types of burden was not consistent across the various areas in which clients needed help. Overall, more of the reported burden was related to caregivers' behaviors (their day-to-day tasks) than to clients' behaviors. Burden was greatly increased for caregivers who lived with the client. Caregivers most at risk for burden were those who lived with male clients who threatened suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers become accustomed to the stabilized behavioral profile of the client. Mental health professionals should be sensitive to profiles and situations that may produce increased objective and subjective caregiver burden.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Renal functional reserve in subjects with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic nephropathy develops in approximately 35% of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and in a similar proportion of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, we remain at present unable to identify the susceptible subset prior to the development of microalbuminuria. Up to 25% of IDDM patients and a variable proportion of NIDDM patients manifest glomerular hyperfiltration in the first few years of diabetes. It has been debated whether this basal hyperfiltration is predictive of future renal disease and whether better prediction can be achieved by the use of the renal haemodynamic response to a protein meal, defined by some authors as renal reserve. The concept of renal functional reserve in patients with diabetes mellitus is complicated by the dependence of the GFR response on basal GFR, the influence of the prevailing metabolic conditions, and because the response differs to different stimuli. We review the factors affecting renal hemodynamics and renal hemodynamic responses in the context of supranormal, normal, and impaired renal function in diabetes. We conclude that although the measurement of renal functional reserve may help clarify important pathophysiological mechanisms, the assessment of basal GFR in clinical practice is all that is required for predictive and monitoring purposes.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗