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Biomedical subjects

S Lawson

Publications and source records attributed to S Lawson.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Use of end-tidal PCO2 and transcutaneous PCO2 as noninvasive measurement of arterial PCO2 in extubated patients recovering from general anesthesia.

This study was designed to assess the accuracy of end-tidal PCO2 and transcutaneous PCO2 as measurements of arterial PCO2 in extubated, spontaneously breathing patients recovering from general anesthesia. In 30 patients, measurement of arterial transcutaneous, and end-tidal PCO2 were taken simultaneously with body temperature approximately every 15 minutes over a 2-hour period. Arterial PCO2 values were corrected for body temperature. Values for PaCO2 were compared with those for PETCO2 and PsCO2 by linear regression analysis and by calculation of bias +/- precision. Thirty-six percent of the capnogram tracings obtained did not develop a plateau phase. We found poor correlation between end-tidal and arterial PCO2 regardless of the shape of the capnogram tracing, as well as poor correlation between transcutaneous and arterial PCO2. Although the measurements of bias and precision of noninvasive PCO2 monitors in this population are comparable to studies in other populations, we advise caution in relying on the routine use of PETCO2 or PsCO2 for the noninvasive assessment of respiratory depression in extubated, spontaneously breathing patients recovering from general anesthesia.

Anesthesia, General↗

Genetic and molecular analysis of spontaneous respiratory deficient (res-) mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

Respiratory deficient (res-) mutants of E. coli are slow growing microcolonial, anaerobic, catalase and benzidine negative strains whose broad phenotypic alteration may result from pleiotropic mutations in genes of the hemin biosynthetic pathway. They are easily recovered from platings of sensitive cells on concentrations of gentamicin higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration. These mutants show a dramatic change in their biochemical diagnostic profile resulting primarily from deficiencies in the active transport mechanisms of the cell. Using well-marked F- and Hfr strains, 157 mutants were analyzed from 3 different parent strains; all but 2 resulted from mutations in 3 loci of the hemin biosynthetic pathway. Of these a marked skew to hemB- mutations was seen, with more than 80% mapping there. The possibility that this hot spot resulted from transpositional activity was tested by Southern hybridization of EcoRI digests of the chromosomal DNA, using as a probe, a 2.8-kb fragment containing the hemB gene. The WT and other hemB+ control strains contained a 14.6-kb fragment. Of 18 hemB strains tested, 14 showed deletion and insertion mutations which fell into four classes based on the variation in the size of the fragment or on the absence of hybridization. The latter resulted from complete deletion of the hemB gene. An increase in fragment size from 1.5-kb to 3.4-kb was observed in some of the strains.

Aminoglycosides↗

Reliability of hand preference items and factors.

The present study examined the test-retest reliability of a 32-item version of the Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire (Steenhuis & Bryden, 1987, 1988, 1989) on 500 subjects. The questionnaire was shown to be reliable in terms of basic factor structure. High test-retest reliability was also found within subjects' responses and across items for both right-handers and left-handers, although left-handers were less consistent than right-handers, particularly with regard to direction of hand preference on individual questionnaire items. Furthermore, the direction of hand preference was more reliable than was the degree of hand preference. These data support a multidimensional view of hand preference in which both direction and degree can be reliably assessed.

Adult↗

Tumor progression mediated by two cooperating DNA segments of human cytomegalovirus.

The terminal fragments (EJ and EM) of the XbaI-E transforming segment of human cytomegalovirus can independently induce the tumorigenic conversion of immortalized cells. To study their interaction, Rat-2 cells were transfected singly or with a combination of cloned EJ and EM DNAs. Large transformed foci were induced at a 10-fold higher frequency by EJ plus EM than by either DNA fragment alone. Focus-derived lines transformed by EJ plus EM produced tumors in syngeneic rats at a much faster rate (5 to 7 days) than did cell lines transformed by EJ or EM alone (25 to 35 days). Southern hybridizations showed that EM-homologous DNA was retained, exhibiting a complex pattern of multiple and amplified bands in EJ-plus-EM lines compared to a simple pattern in EM-induced lines. EJ DNA was not detected in the single or double transformants. The levels of p29, a 29-kilodalton transformation-sensitive marker in Rat-2 cells, were decreased 10- to 100-fold in cell lines transformed by EJ or EM fragment alone. Synthesis of p29 was shut off in EJ- plus-EM transformants. These data demonstrate that two unlinked transforming regions of human cytomegalovirus can cooperate to produce an aggressive tumorigenic phenotype.

Animals↗

Down-regulation of an abundant cellular protein associated with tumor progression.

Alteration of gene expression in neoplastic cells can be detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. This study reports the altered synthesis of an abundant cellular protein, p29, accompanying tumorigenic transformation of immortalized fibroblasts induced by transfection with oncogenic DNA. Cell lines derived from morphologically transformed foci synthesized p29 at 60-75% reduced levels compared with untransformed parental cells. Upon inoculation into syngeneic immunocompetent animals, transformed cells gave rise to tumors which were excised and established in culture. The amount of p29 in both focal and tumor-derived lines was inversely correlated with the latent period for tumor formation. In cell lines with a tumor latency of 12-20 days, the level of p29 was decreased by 90-99%. In rapidly tumorigenic cells with a short latency (3-6 days), p29 synthesis was not detectable. These data demonstrate that p29 may be a sensitive and reliable marker for tumor progression of fibroblasts.

Animals↗

Shrinkage of uterine fibroids during therapy with goserelin (Zoladex): a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist administered as a monthly subcutaneous depot.

Thirteen premenopausal women with uterine fibroids were treated for a maximum of 6 months with a long-acting agonist of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), goserelin (Zoladex depot, ICI Pharmaceuticals, Macclesfield, UK) 3.6 mg, administered subcutaneously every 28 days. A 55% reduction (range, 38% to 84%) in uterine volume assessed by ultrasound was obtained. The greatest reduction (30%) was apparent within the first treatment cycle regardless of whether treatment was started in the early follicular or the luteal phase. Fibroid regression was inversely correlated with urinary estrogen concentration. Treatment was well tolerated and only one subject withdrew from the study before its scheduled completion. Following cessation of therapy, ovulatory menstruation returned within 3 months in the majority of the subjects, but this was accompanied by a rapid regrowth of the fibroids. This medical approach to the management of fibroids merits further investigation but as yet cannot be regarded as an alternative to surgery.

Adult↗

Incidence of squamous cell carcinoma in hairless mice irradiated with ultraviolet light in relation to intake of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and of D, L-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E).

We have carried out a study of large malignant skin tumours (squamous-cell carcinomas) and other lesions in "hairless" mice (in groups of 45 or 60 mice) intermittently exposed to ultraviolet light over a period of 15 weeks, beginning when the mice were about 8 weeks old. Various groups were given a standard diet (Wayne Lab-Blox) or the same food with added vitamin C or vitamin E throughout the study. Lesions, classified by histopathologic study as atypical squamous-cell proliferations varying from early actinic keratoses to invasive poorly differentiated squamous-cell carcinomas, had begun to develop by the end of the period of irradiation. They were counted twice a month for five months. The observed fraction of mice that developed lesions during successive time periods was analyzed by the statistical method recommended by a committee of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A pronounced effect of vitamin C in decreasing the incidence of the malignant lesions was observed with very high statistical significance. No significant effect of vitamin E was observed. We conclude that vitamin C should be given special attention with respect to the relation between diet and cancer.

Animals↗

The effect of laparoscopic sterilisation by diathermy or silastic bands on post-operative pain, menstrual symptoms and sexuality.

A total of 530 patients was reviewed six months after laparoscopic sterilisation by diathermy (235 patients) or silastic bands (295 patients). In the immediate postoperative period severe lower abdominal pain was more common in the patients who had silastic bands. There was no differences in the nature or incidence of menstrual problems when the two methods were compared. In all, 40 per cent of patients reported an increase in menstrual blood loss ad 26 per cent of patients an increase in menstrual pain, and this could not be attributed entirely to stopping oral contraception; 42 per cent of patients reported improvement in their sex lives after sterilisation, while 6.6 per cent reported deterioration mainly due to lack of libido. There was some regret about the operation in 5.1 per cent of patients.

Diathermy↗

Second primary cancer after irradiation of laryngeal cancer.

Thirty (5.6%) of 535 patients followed 5-25 years after treatment of cordal carcinoma (T1A,B) developed a second primary laryngeal carcinoma. When analyzed by treatment modality, 3.9% of operated cases and 9% of irradiated cases formed new laryngeal or laryngopharyngeal malignancies. An explanation by radiation-induced carcinogenesis for this statistically significant difference between the two groups is discussed. It is also suggested that supervoltage radiation directed to the laryngeal mucosa may produce the diminished latent period observed between the appearance of the second primary carcinoma.

Humans↗