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Biomedical subjects

S Miller

Publications and source records attributed to S Miller.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Total laryngectomy with primary voice restoration.

Forty-three patients were prospectively studied following tracheo-oesophageal puncture at the time of laryngectomy (primary voice restoration). Blom-Singer voice prostheses were used. The surgery was regarded as successful if a patient continued to use the voice prosthesis as the major means of communication with clear intelligibility 4 months after the operation. Using this criterion, the success in this series was 70%. No attempt was made to assess the quality of speech. Complications and causes of failure are discussed.

Esophagostomy↗
PubMed1992

1-Aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid induces glutamine synthetase activity in cultured astrocytes.

In this study we have investigated the effect of excitatory amino acids on the activity of glutamine synthetase, a glial-specific enzyme that plays a key role in the regulation of glutamate concentration in the CNS. We found that of L-glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate, kainate, and 1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD), only the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist trans-ACPD had an effect on glutamine synthetase specific activity in cultures of rat type I cortical astrocytes. Exposure of astrocytes to 1.0 mM trans-ACPD for 24 h resulted in an increase in glutamine synthetase activity to 149 +/- 11% of that in control cultures. This effect was concentration dependent, stereoselective, and blocked by cycloheximide. In addition, the increase in glutamine synthetase activity occurred at lower concentrations of trans-ACPD that did not produce morphological alterations or lysis of the astrocytes as measured by the lactate dehydrogenase content. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that activation of the metabotropic excitatory amino acid receptor in astrocytes is coupled to the regulation of an enzyme essential to the metabolism and recycling of the excitatory transmitter L-glutamate.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1992

A clinical evaluation of trichomoniasis in San Jose, Costa Rica using the InPouch TV test.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the prevalence of trichomoniasis in San Jose, Costa Rica, comparing two methods, the InPouch TV test and the saline wet mount. METHODS: One hundred symptomatic and asymptomatic female patients at two hospitals and at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic were evaluated. Vaginal discharge was the most prevalent genitourinary abnormality among symptomatic patients. The patients were between 18 and 70 years old. Fifty-seven were from the STD clinic, 43 from the two hospitals. A saline wet mount and a culture were taken from each patient. The culture employed a new procedure for diagnosis of trichomonads, the InPouch TV test (BioMed Diagnostics, San Jose, CA). RESULTS: Thirteen of the 100 patients were culture positive, two of whom were wet mount positive. No wet mount positives were culture negative. Eleven of the positive tests were from the STD clinic and two were from the hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this initial epidemiologic study indicate a prevalence of 19% for trichomoniasis in the STD clinic population and 4.6% in the hospitals group. Trichomonas vaginalis was not diagnosed by laboratory methods prior to this study. The InPouch TV test has a selective fungicidal and bactericidal, enriched proteose-peptone medium which provides a sensitivity of 4 organisms per ml and a 1 year shelf life at room temperature. This in vitro culture test demonstrated unique capabilities as a transport and culture medium. Its procedure offers simplicity in application and an excellent visualisation of trichomonads.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Class III malocclusion: surgery or orthodontics?

The pre-treatment lateral cephalograms of two groups of 20 subjects with severe Class III malocclusions were compared. One group had been considered suitable for orthodontic correction by the diagnosing clinician and the other offered orthognathic surgery. The most significant differences between the groups were in angle ANB, M/M ratio (P less than 0.001), lower incisor inclination and Holdaway angle (P less than 0.01). Threshold values for angle ANB and lower incisor angulation below which surgery was almost always carried out were--4 and 83 degrees, respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Telephone counseling improves adherence to colposcopy among lower-income minority women.

PURPOSE: A randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of a telephone counseling intervention to improve patient adherence to colposcopic examination for suspected cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). METHODS: Subjects were lower-income, minority women who missed a scheduled initial appointment for colposcopy at an urban medical clinic. Patients were randomly assigned to either a control condition (n = 42) or a telephone counseling condition (n = 48). The 15-minute, structured telephone counseling intervention protocol addressed educational, psychosocial, and practical barriers to colposcopy adherence. RESULTS: The most common patient-reported barriers to colposcopy adherence included a lack of understanding of the purpose of colposcopy (50%), worry about or fear of cancer (25%), and forgetting (23%). Telephone counseling was found to be highly effective in addressing these barriers and improving adherence to diagnostic follow-up and treatment. Of patients in the control condition, 43% complied with a rescheduled colposcopy appointment, compared with 67% in the telephone counseling condition. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the effect of telephone counseling was independent of sociodemographic confounder variables (odds ratio = 2.6; P less than .003). Additionally, 74% of patients who received the initial telephone counseling adhered to recommended treatment, compared with 53% of patients in the control condition. CONCLUSION: Brief, structured telephone contact may be a cost-effective mechanism for improving adherence to diagnostic follow-up and treatment for a variety of cancer screening tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Screening for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A with DNA-polymorphism analysis.

Nine chromosome 10 DNA markers (FNRB, D10S34, D10Z1, MEN203, D10S94, RBP3, D10S15, MBP [48.11], D10S22) were typed in two large Canadian pedigrees with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A). These markers and the gene for MEN 2A (MEN2A) are believed to be in one linkage group spanning approximately 15 cM (male). MEN203 and D10S94 were informative and tightly linked to MEN2A with no recombinants observed in 26 meiotic events. D10S15 (MCK2), widely used in DNA genotyping predictions, demonstrated two recombinants in these two families. The use of multiple flanking markers increases both the likelihood of informativeness and the accuracy of risk assessments for predictive testing. We were able to assign a risk estimate for all 10 at-risk individuals.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Intrarectal tear from water skiing.

We report a case of intrarectal tear and hemorrhage after a fall while water skiing. The injury resulted from rectal douche, or jet enema, which is dangerous because of the high pressure of the water jets forced into the rectum. The patient, a middle-aged woman, had colonoscopy, which revealed a deep rectal laceration. During subsequent colostomy, a full-thickness laceration and an extensive pelvic and retroperitoneal hematoma with some free blood were found. The patient's recovery was uneventful, and she subsequently had reanastomosis of her colostomy. We recommend protective apparel to prevent these injuries.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1992

Cosmetic breast surgery.

Appropriate follow-up care, including early postoperative serial mammography, is essential for women receiving cosmetic breast surgery. Common procedures include augmentation or reduction mammoplasty and breast reconstruction following mastectomy for cancer. Postoperative complications include infection, poor wound healing and pain. Hypertrophic scar formation, which may disrupt the normal breast contour, may be reduced by gentle and frequent massage of the scar. Avoiding sun exposure and using sun screens may prevent hyperpigmentation of the scar. Reduction mammoplasty is associated with sensory loss, which is occasionally permanent. Special complications associated with augmentation mammoplasty include diffusion of silicone through the implant and unfavorable breast appearance secondary to capsular contracture. Capsular contracture may be prevented by regular implant exercises. Preoperative and early postoperative serial mammograms are essential to differentiate surgical from malignant changes.

Breast↗
PubMed1991

Imaging Jupiter's aurorae from H3+ emissions in the 3-4 micrometers band.

Since H3+ was first spectroscopically detected on Jupiter, there has been considerable interest in using this simple molecular ion to probe conditions existing in the planet's auroral regions. Here we present a series of images of Jupiter recorded at wavelengths sensitive to emission by H3+, which reveal the spatial distribution of excited H3+ molecular ions in the jovian ionosphere, as seen from Earth. We believe that they provide high-spatial-resolution images of polar aurorae on Jupiter. They suggest that the intensity of the auroral emission can vary on a timescale of an hour, a shorter period than had previously been noted. We also find that the spatial distribution of H3+ emissions correlates only partially with the loci of auroral activity inferred from ultraviolet and longer-wavelength infrared observations. The H3+ emission may therefore be controlled by auroral processes that are different from those responsible for the ultraviolet and infrared emissions.

Astronomical Phenomena↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of antigen-driven proliferative responses and enhancement of antibody production during infection with Brugia pahangi.

Long standing Brugia pahangi infections in seven dogs, restricted to one rear limb popliteal lymph node and its afferent ducts, were monitored with regard to proliferative responses and antibody production specific for a PBS extract of B. pahangi (BpA) by cells from infected and uninfected lymph nodes and by PBL. Five of 10 dogs were negative for proliferative responses to BpA in node cells from infected limbs, yet they had positive PBL responses, and another was negative in both node cells and PBL. Production of BpA-specific antibody was detected in cultures of node cells from infected limbs of 9 of 10 dogs, but only in two cultures of node cells from uninfected limbs and not at all in PBL cultures. Three dogs with responsive node cells produced the least amount of anti-BpA antibody in culture. Injections of B. pahangi adult worm excretory/secretory products (ES), totaling 1 mg over 48 h, into the limb of the original infections in seven dogs, resulted in inhibition of Ag-driven proliferation by cell populations previously responsive to BpA. There was a loss of PBL responsiveness by all but one infected dog and a loss of node cell response by the two dogs previously responsive in infected and uninfected nodes. This loss of responsiveness lasted at least 28 days in three dogs. There was no evidence of suppression of responses to mitogens either before or after ES injection. In contrast, BpA-specific antibody production was greatly increased in node cells from infected limbs injected with ES. Similar injections into the uninfected limbs of two infected dogs produced no change of proliferative responses or of antibody production in the uninfected node. These results indicate that ES can modulate immune cell, Ag-driven proliferation, and simultaneously enhance antibody production in previously infected nodes. This may promote parasite survival by inhibiting cellular attack based on delayed-type hypersensitivity while directing immune responses toward production of antibodies that are less damaging to the adult helminth.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Alleles at four HLA class II loci determined by oligonucleotide hybridization and their associations in five ethnic groups.

The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide hybridization offers a new approach for the definition of HLA class II alleles. It has been possible to determine 43 alleles of DRB1, four of DRB3, two of DRB4, four of DRB5, eight of DQA1, and 14 of DQB1. These alleles are inherited together in members of families and form closely associated groups which are found repeatedly and in characteristic patterns in different populations. We have determined the HLA class II alleles and analyzed their association in 431 healthy unrelated subjects including 161 North American Caucasians, 53 Latin Americans, 61 Blacks, 88 Chinese, and 68 Israeli Jews. For-locus haplotypes (DRB1; DRB3/4/5; DQA1; DQB1) were derived from 79 B cell lines and the analysis of segregation in 34 nuclear families. The B-cell lines yielded 37 and the families showed the same, and 20 other, haplotypic combinations. In addition to these 57 haplotypes, associated alleles were assigned in the unrelated panels following certain rules. The resulting haplotypes were assigned to groups known to share associated alleles. The groups were: 1) DR1, DR2, and DRw10 (13 haplotypes); 2) DR3 and DRw6 (26 haplotypes); 3) DR5 and DRw8 (24 haplotypes); 4) DR4, DR7, and DR9 (24 haplotypes). Their distribution in populations with different ethnic backgrounds was analyzed. The expressed DRB4 allele and its null mutant were determined by PCR and oligonucleotide hybridization. The different DR7 haplotypes resulting from these determinations were analyzed in a panel of 130 North American Caucasoids. This comprehensive analysis of class II HLA haplotypes in human populations should be useful in understanding the role of these genes and in various applications including anthropology, disease susceptibility, and transplantation of allogeneic organs and tissues.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Biochemical quantitation and histochemical localization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the olfactory system of adult and aged rats.

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the hexose monophosphate shunt, was examined in olfactory epithelium, respiratory epithelium, olfactory bulb, and occipital cortex in Fisher 344 rats aged 4 and 24 months. Marked differences in this enzyme were found in olfactory compared to nonolfactory tissues. Olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb have much greater glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity than respiratory epithelium and occipital cortex at both ages. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase remains fairly constant between adulthood and senescence in respiratory epithelium and occipital cortex. However, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity decreases during the same time in both of the olfactory tissues examined. Previous studies of changes in this enzyme with aging have shown increases in enzyme activity in some brain regions, but never the decreases that we describe in olfactory tissues. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase histochemistry revealed intense staining of both the apical layer of olfactory epithelium and of Bowman's glands along with their ducts. Histochemistry of the olfactory bulb showed strongest staining in the nerve and glomerular layers of the bulb. The functional implications of these findings are discussed.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Behavioral toxicity of anticholinesterases in primates: chronic pyridostigmine and soman interactions.

Dose rates for continuous infusion of pyridostigmine bromide required to inhibit 30% and 60% of normal serum cholinesterase activity in rhesus monkeys were determined. The effects of continuous pyridostigmine infusion at these dose-rates on the behavioral toxicity of 5 daily repeated low-dose exposures to a toxic organophosphate (soman) were determined not be deleterious; in fact, they were slightly (and variably) protective. Relative to controls (5-day soman ED50 = 0.89 micrograms/kg/day), pyridostigmine infusions producing 30% and 60% inhibition produced 5-day ED50s of 1.25 and 1.11 micrograms/kg/day, respectively. Variability in response to the pyridostigmine-soman combinations appeared to be greater than in response to daily soman exposure without pyridostigmine infusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effects of green or white light for treatment of seasonal depression.

Twelve subjects with winter depression were treated with equal quanta of green or white light in a randomized crossover study. Each treatment condition consisted of 2 hours of exposure each morning for 1 week, with at least 1 interventing week without treatment. Ratings made without knowledge of treatment condition were done before and after each condition. Both treatments significantly reduced depression ratings. White light was significantly more effective than green light in reducing endogenous symptoms, but not the "atypical" symptoms that are common features of winter depression. Furthermore, sequence of treatment conditions influenced antidepressant responses. Broad-band white light may be optimal for maximizing therapeutic response.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

DNA typing for class II HLA antigens with allele-specific or group-specific amplification. V. Typing for subsets of HLA-DR1 and DR'Br'.

Three DRB1 alleles of the DR1 group including DRB1*0101, DRB1*0102, and DRB1*0103 are currently recognized. The first two of these are defined as HLA-DR1 by serologic typing and as either Dw1 or Dw20 by typing with T cells. DRB1*0103, previously called DR'Br' or DR'BON', is not detectable by serology. Little information exists about the population frequencies of DRB1*0102 and DRB1*0103. In the present study we have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotide probes to determine these alleles. To avoid cross-hybridization with other DRB genes having the same DNA sequences as those of the region to be analyzed, we performed group-specific PCR to amplify only DR1 DRB1 genes. This was accomplished using a 21-nucleotide-long primer, homologous to the first hypervariable region common to the DR1 DRB1 genes, and which under appropriate conditions amplified only DRB1 genes of the DR1 group. Five oligonucleotide probes, one matching the second hypervariable region, two spanning the third hypervariable region, and two covering codons 82 through 89, were used to determine the three alleles. DRB1*0101 (Dw1) was found to be the major type of DR1 in North American Caucasians. In North American black and Brazilian mestizo populations DRB1*0102 (Dw20) was more prevalent. DRB1*0103 (DR'Br') was detected in only six individuals in the present study.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Effects of aging and dietary restriction on DNA polymerase expression in mice.

DNA polymerase alpha was isolated from livers of 6-month-, 16-month-, or 26-month-old mice fed ad libitum, or calorically restricted. The enzymes differed in chromatographic characteristics, binding affinity for DNA, and activity, with both total activity and specific activity of DNA polymerase alpha decreasing as a function of age. A positive correlation was observed between polymerase alpha specific activity and the affinity of enzyme binding to activated DNA template-primer. The age-associated decline in enzyme activity was modified by dietary restriction, with measurably higher activity seen for polymerases from dietary restricted animals compared with ad libitum animals of all ages. The data suggest that dietary restriction could act to delay the age-associated decrease in cellular capacity for DNA synthesis, which may play a significant role in prolonging the onset of age-related diseases in which decreased DNA synthesis is a potential component.

Aging↗