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Biomedical subjects

S Moore

Publications and source records attributed to S Moore.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The necessity for T-cryptantigen activation screening in babies with necrotising enterocolitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of T-cryptantigen activation (TCA) and its predictive value for severity of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in babies. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective descriptive. STUDY POPULATION: Thirty-four babies with NEC were prospectively screened for TCA at Tygerberg Hospital over a 6-month period. TCA screening was done by testing for red blood cell agglutination by the common peanut lectin, Arachis hypogea. Once TCA was confirmed, only washed red cells were administered to the babies and plasma-containing blood products were avoided. NEC was divided into suspected NEC (stage 1), classic NEC (stage 2) and fulminant NEC (stage 3). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of TCA in babies with various stages of NEC; the association between TCA and bowel necrosis, need for surgery and mortality. RESULTS: TCA was positive in 8 (24%) of the babies in this study. Six babies (18%) had stage 1 NEC, 10 (29%) had stage 2 NEC and 18 (53%) had fulminating or stage 3 NEC. All 18 babies with stage 3 NEC required surgery and TCA was present in 8 (47%) of them. Twelve babies (35%) died, 3 with TCA and 9 with no TCA. Babies with TCA had portal venous gas on abdominal radiographs (P = 0.037) and stage 3 NEC (P = 0.003) more often than babies with no TCA. CONCLUSIONS: A strong association was noted between TCA and the fulminant form of NEC with bowel necrosis. TCA is a baby with NEC should alert the surgeon to the possibility of severe disease and the need to avoid plasma-containing blood products. Blood banks are urged to introduce routine screening for TCA in all babies with NEC.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1996

The role of cultural norms in the self-esteem and drug use relationship.

It is widely believed that low self-esteem (SE) is associated with greater substance use, although previous research has been unable to support such a relationship consistently. The present study used the "social deviance model" to investigate whether SE was differentially related to substance use for respondents in varying cultural norms. Responses to intensity of tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and drug use, SE, and cultural norm items from over 2,000 high school and college students failed to support this model.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Nurse evaluation of a pain medication protocol in a selective postoperative population.

Postoperative pain in 33 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy was managed by an intramuscular nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug protocol rather than by administration of narcotics. Patients rated their perception of pain with a visual analog scale on the first postoperative day both before and after receiving ketorolac tromethamine. The medication was effective in relieving pain after this major operation. Costs were approximately one half that of the traditional narcotic protocol used before this study.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Evidence for glaucoma-induced horizontal cell alterations in the human retina.

In this study we investigated changes to horizontal cells in human retinae affected by glaucoma. Glaucoma is characterized by raised intraocular pressure and is responsible for retinal ganglion cell and, possibly, photoreceptor degeneration. It was therefore assumed that horizontal cells might also be affected. The carbocyanine dye DiI was placed at discrete points on fixed, whole-mounted retinae obtained from normal and glaucomatous patients. After allowing 6-24 weeks for intramembranous diffusion within the lipid layers of the nerve cells and, therefore, fluorescent labeling, we measured horizontal cell soma and dendritic field sizes. Selected cells were then embedded in Araldite and cut at 4 microns. Horizontal cells in glaucomatous eyes appeared larger and had a granulated outline as compared with cells from normal retinae. Analysis of the mean cell soma size indicated that cells were 26% larger in the glaucomatous retinae and that this increase was significantly different from that seen in normal retinae (P < 0.05). The dendritic field size was unaffected (P > 0.05). As seen in cross section there was a clear loss of photoreceptor outer segments, and shrunken silhouettes of photoreceptor inner segments with pyknotic nuclei were observed. It is proposed that the increase in some size is indicative of horizontal cell responses that are likely to culminate in degeneration as a result of heightened intraocular pressure. In addition, this paper provides further evidence that photoreceptors are affected by advanced glaucoma.

Carbocyanines↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of GM-CSF mouthwash for prevention of chemotherapy-induced mucositis: a randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging study.

Uncontrolled clinical trials have shown that parenteral administration of GM-CSF reduces the frequency of chemotherapy-induced mucositis. The mechanism of this effect could be related to acceleration of haematopoiesis and/or increase in functional activation of WBC. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose ranging study of GM-CSF (mol-gramostim) mouthwash in patients with breast cancer during the first treatment cycle of a combination chemotherapy regimen which has historically produced dose-limiting (grade > or = 3) mucositis in approximately 39% of patients. Subjects were randomized to receive either placebo mouthwash (0.1 percent albumin) or one of four concentrations of GM-CSF mouthwash (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 or 10 mcg/ml). The primary endpoint was to evaluate the relationship between dose of GM-CSF mouthwash received and probability of grade > or = 3 mucositis using a logistic model. Solutions were administered four times daily starting within 24 hours of chemotherapy initiation and continuing until the end of the cycle (day 21). Mucositis was assessed on days 1-6, 10, 15 and 21. Day 6 plasma samples were assayed for GM-CSF. Forty-five patients were evaluable for response (nine per dosing group). A 42% risk (15/36) of mucositis grade > or = 3 was evident on day 15 in patients receiving GM-CSF compared to 2 of 9 patients on the placebo arm. No evidence of dose response was found by logistic regression. Five patients had a detectable plasma concentration of GM-CSF (56-209 pg/ml). A positive correlation between GM-CSF dose and leukocyte recovery was noted (P = 0.04).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mitogenic factors released from smooth muscle cells are responsible for neointimal cell proliferation after balloon catheter deendothelialization.

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation results in neointimal formation in response to selective deendothelialization. The neointimal SMC are characteristically different from normal, medial SMC. The major difference is that neointimal SMC have a higher proliferation rate. The high proliferation rate has been observed 15 weeks after endothelial injury. In this study, it is noted that neointimal SMC release some mitogenic factor(s) which is(are) responsible for inducing persistent SMC proliferation in an autocrine manner. The SMC were cultured from the media of normal rabbit aorta as well as the neointimal tissue formed 15 weeks after an endothelial injury. From the culture of the neointimal SMC, the conditioned medium was collected and growth factors, including PDGF-AB, TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2, and bFGF, were assayed. The conditioned medium was used to culture the medial SMC from normal rabbit aorta. The mitogenic effect of the conditioned medium was evaluated by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the SMC. Results demonstrated that PDGF-AB and TGF-beta 1 were increased in neointimal SMC-conditioned medium. After incubation with the conditioned medium, medial SMC incorporated significantly higher [3H]thymidine, compared to incubation with control medium (P < 0.01). The data indicate that endothelial injury induces production of some growth factors, including PDGF and TGF-beta, by the neointimal SMC. These growth factors may act in an autocrine manner to stimulate SMC proliferation for a long time following a single deendothelialization.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cryosurgical ablation of the prostate.

A new surgical procedure, cryosurgical ablation of the prostate, offers patients with organ-confined prostate cancer another treatment option. The advantages of this cryosurgical technique are complete ablation of prostatic cancers without radical prostatectomy procedures, less blood loss, decreased hospital stays, reduced health care costs, and minimal associated morbidity. Some possible complications of cryosurgical ablation of the prostate procedures include incontinence, impotence, rectal freezing from inadequate monitoring of the freezing process, urethrocutaneous and urethrorectal fistula formations, and urethral tissue sloughing. The intraoperative nurse's prime responsibility is to monitor the subfreezing temperatures of the cryoprobes. Postoperatively, patients have only a few perineal incisions covered with sterile dressings and a suprapubic catheter. Most patients have minimal discomfort that is managed easily with opiate analgesics.

Cryosurgery↗
PubMed1995

What medical schools and universities can learn from one another.

Colleges and universities devoted to undergraduate education and non-medical graduate education (hereafter called "universities") have much to teach medical schools and much to learn from them. Universities and medical schools differ significantly in their sources of revenue, cultures of promotion and tenure, academic values, and decision-making processes. Yet from the experience of universities, medical schools can learn innovative techniques of curriculum assessment and teaching, how to handle diversity issues, and ways to expand the definition of scholarship. In turn, medical schools can help teach universities the importance of fiscal and regulatory accountability, the benefits of interdisciplinary efforts, the practical benefits of problem-based learning, and techniques for adjusting to rapid change. The authors, all with medical school faculty backgrounds, developed the views reported in this article when they were Fellows in a leadership training program sponsored by the American Council on Education (ACE). They urge their colleagues to reach out beyond their specialties and departments and learn from higher education institutions that are grappling with problems analogous to those faced by medical schools.

Schools, Medical↗
PubMed1995

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of fluconazole in two groups of males with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection compared with those in a group of males without HIV infection.

Fluconazole pharmacokinetics, including absolute bioavailability, were determined for one group of controls (n = 10) and two groups of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (those with CD4+ T-cell counts of less than [n = 4] or greater than [n = 9] 200 cells per mm3). Twenty subjects received four doses of fluconazole; three doses were oral (50, 100, and 400 mg), and one dose was intravenous (either 50, 100, or 400 mg). The other three subjects received one or two doses. The groups were comparable in terms of the weight, body mass index, and estimated creatinine clearance of the subjects, but the people with HIV infection were older. Pharmacokinetic parameters indicated linearity in all subjects; the area under the plasma concentration-time curve and the maximum concentration increased in proportion to the dose. The fraction of an oral dose of fluconazole absorbed approximated unity in all three groups of subjects. The mean (+/- standard deviation) plasma clearance of fluconazole was lowest in the group of subjects with low CD4+ T-cell counts; the value for this group was 0.74 +/- 0.19 liter/h, compared with 0.97 +/- 0.19 liter/h in the group with HIV infection and CD4+ T-cell counts of greater than 200 cells/mm3 and 1.18 +/- 0.23 liter/h in the group of control subjects (P < 0.05). The volume of distribution was lower in those with HIV infection (P = 0.04, corrected for weight). The half-life was longest in people with HIV infection and low CD4+ T-cell counts (P = 0.01). This study has shown that some differences do exist between the pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in people with HIV infection and those in noninfected controls.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Machiavellianism and medical career choices.

Medical career choices and Machiavellianism of 36 junior and 37 senior medical students at one private midwestern medical school were studied. Machiavellianism was measured by the Mach V Scale. Students choosing psychiatry did not score significantly higher on Machiavellianism than those choosing medicine, surgery, or other clinical medical specialties. This is contrary to previous research which indicated those medical students choosing psychiatry scored higher on Machiavellianism. There were no significant differences in Machiavellianism scores from two different age groups (20-30 yr. and 31-40 yr.). No significant differences were reported in Machiavellianism scores of 45 male and 29 female medical students or between junior and senior medical students.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Machiavellian scores of nursing faculty and students.

The purpose of the research was to identify differences in scores on Machiavellianism between nursing faculty and students. Measurement of Machiavellianism was on the Mach V Scale completed by 33 nursing faculty, 47 RN students completing the nursing baccalaureate, and 58 senior generic students in one baccalaureate nursing program. Each subject received a research packet coded for retrieval of the nonrespondents and reducing selection bias associated with large nonresponse. Analysis showed no significant difference between groups and none related to education, age, clinical specialty, or for (faculty and student) groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Machiavellian characteristics among nurses.

The study of Machiavellian traits in the research literature represents a significant variable that affects professional career choice and behavior in the work environment. This research examines the following hypotheses: 1. the degree of Machiavellian orientation will be the same for hospital nursing administrators and nurse educators; and 2. head nurses will reveal high Machiavellian scores.

Faculty, Nursing↗
PubMed1994

Epidemiology of failed tobacco control legislation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of tobacco industry campaign donations, district location, and political party affiliation on tobacco control legislation among members of the US Congress. DESIGN: Data were obtained from the Federal Election Commission on money contributed by the 10 leading tobacco political action committees and by tobacco industry-aligned individuals to members of the US House of Representatives (1991-1992) and Senate (1987-1992). Logistic regression analyses were performed using recorded votes and cosponsorship activities concerning tobacco control legislation during the 102nd and 103rd Congresses and membership on the House Congressional Task Force on Tobacco and Health as the dependent variables and tobacco money received, party, district location, and caucus or committee membership as the independent variables. SETTING: United States Congress in 1991 and 1992. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Support for federal tobacco control legislation. RESULTS: The tobacco industry donated approximately $2.4 million to members of Congress from January 1991 through December 1992. House members received an average of $2943 (1991-1992) and senators received an average of $11,593 (1987-1992). The more tobacco money a member received, the less likely the member was to support tobacco control legislation. In the Senate, on a vote to end the taxpayer subsidy of tobacco products in military stores, the odds ratio that senators in the top quartile of tobacco money recipients did not support the measure vs senators in the lowest quartile of tobacco money recipients was 42.2 (95% confidence interval, 4.1 to 430.0; P < .001). In the House, on a vote to end a $3.5 million subsidy to promote American tobacco abroad, the odds that House members in the top third of tobacco money recipients would oppose the legislation were 14.4 times greater (95% confidence interval, 5.5 to 39.0; P < .001) than for House members in the lowest third of tobacco money recipients. Receiving more tobacco money, being a member of the Republican party, and representing a tobacco-producing state were all associated with decreased support for tobacco control issues. The amount of tobacco money received was the variable most strongly and consistently associated with a lack of support for tobacco control legislation, even when we controlled for additional factors such as district location and party. CONCLUSION: Tobacco industry contributions to members of the US Congress strongly influence the federal tobacco policy process. Unless this influence is diminished through a combination of members refusing tobacco money and campaign finance reform, this process of contributing to death by thwarting tobacco control will continue to claim hundreds of thousands of lives a year.

Fund Raising↗
PubMed1994

3H-n.m.r. studies of multiple conformations and dynamic processes in complexes of folate and methotrexate with Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase.

[7,3',5'-3H3]- and [7,9-3H3]-folic acid and [7,3',5'-3H3]methotrexate (MTX) have been prepared and 3H-n.m.r. spectra obtained for their complexes with Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The 3H results confirm the presence of three pH-dependent different conformational forms in the complex DHFR.NADP+.folate. The folate benzoyl ring could be shown to be in essentially the same environment in the different forms, with the major differences being associated with the pterin ring. The appearance of a single resonance for the 3',5'-tritons showed that the benzoyl ring is flipping rapidly in all three forms. In contrast, the MTX complex was shown to exist as a single conformational state with the benzoyl ring flipping rate being too low to give a single averaged signal for the 3',5'-nuclei over the temperature range 283-313 K.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1994

The human 4F2 antigen: evidence for cryptic and noncryptic epitopes and for a role of 4F2 in human T lymphocyte activation.

T lymphocyte activation can be triggered through multiple distinct, but functionally related, pathways. Murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been used to characterize the surface components of several of these pathways, as well as structures whose function is not yet known. One such cell surface structure is the heterodimeric 4F2 antigen, which is expressed on activated and proliferating cells. Two new mAbs that recognize the heavy chain of the 4F2 antigen have been produced in our laboratory. One antibody, UM7F8, is comitogenic with soluble anti-CD2 and immobilized (but not soluble) anti-CD3 mAbs. The second antibody, termed UM2G12, appears to recognize a cryptic epitope on the 4F2 heavy chain and is not comitogenic for T cells. In view of the functional effects seen with UM7F8, and the highly regulated expression of the 4F2 antigen, it seems likely that 4F2 has a specific role in T cell development and activation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗