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Biomedical subjects

S Watkins

Publications and source records attributed to S Watkins.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

HLA antigens in ocular tissues. I. In vivo expression in human eyes.

The eye is a common site for autoimmune inflammatory diseases, many of which are linked to HLA antigens. The role of these HLA phenotypes in the disease process is presently unknown. In view of the importance of HLA antigens to immune responses, a knowledge of the distribution of HLA antigens in ocular tissues may aid in our understanding of the role of these antigens in disease production or susceptibility. Apart from the cornea, the expression of HLA antigens in human ocular tissues has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study we examined the in vivo expression of HLA antigens in postmortem human eyes using immunohistochemical techniques. The majority of ocular cells were found not to express class I or class II HLA antigens, with the exception of the blood vessel endothelium, which was uniformly class I-positive. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to ocular immunity.

Choroid↗
PubMed1988

Performance of the dexamethasone suppression test in depressive illness according to ICD and DSM-III classification systems.

The performance of the dexamethasone suppression test was assessed in 90 consecutive admissions with a diagnosis of depression, categorised according to two classification systems (DSM-III and ICD-9). Non-suppression was found in most of the diagnostic categories, but there was a highly significant association with the DSM-III classification 'major depressive episode with melancholia' (52%) in comparison with the ICD group 'manic-depressive illness-depressed' (29%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The uridine nucleotides constitute a natriuretic pressor system.

1. Uridine monophosphate was tested in the conscious rat for natriuretic properties and an immunoperoxidase technique was used to localize uridine-containing compounds in the rat kidney. 2. Uridine monophosphate, infused in a moderate pressor dose, caused a significant natriuresis compared to the effect of control infusions of solvent vehicle. 3. Uridine-containing compounds were found in most tubular elements with particularly dense staining in the distal and collecting tubules. 4. While the increased sodium excretion may have been due to increased renal perfusion pressure, the high density of uridine staining in distal nephrons suggests that the uridine nucleotides have a specific nephron function, possibly relating to sodium transport.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effect of supplemental carbidopa on bioavailability of L-dopa.

The effect of doubling carbidopa intake on single dose bioavailability of L-Dopa was examined in five parkinsonian patients. Increasing carbidopa from a mean of 145 to 290 mg/day caused a mean increase in peak plasma Dopa concentrations from 1,893 +/- 476 to 2,733 +/- 607 ng/ml and area under the Dopa plasma concentration versus time curve of 24.6 +/- 10.0%, as well as a decrease in the time to peak plasma concentration to 0.7 +/- 0.2 versus 1.2 +/- 0.3 h. Increasing the within-dose ratio of carbidopa to L-Dopa, even in patients receiving "maximally effective" doses of carbidopa, further increases bioavailability of L-Dopa, presumably by inhibiting "first pass' metabolism in the gut.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Gonadotrophin-secreting pituitary adenomas masquerading as primary ovarian failure.

Three women, 20-35 years old, appeared on initial presentation to have primary ovarian failure, because each had amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea and markedly supranormal serum concentrations of gonadotrophins. On further evaluation, however, each had ovaries that could secrete oestradiol normally, and one had normal oestradiol secretion without any treatment. Another secreted oestradiol normally only after reduction of her gonadotrophins following partial excision of a pituitary adenoma. The third secreted oestradiol normally only after exogenous oestrogens were administered to reduce her gonadotrophins and were then withdrawn. Each had an enlarged, contrast-enhancing pituitary gland by computed tomographic scan and a markedly supranormal serum concentration of glycoprotein alpha subunit. We conclude that each of these women had a gonadotrophin-secreting pituitary adenoma that masqueraded as primary ovarian failure. Their persistently supranormal serum gonadotrophins appear to have inhibited ovarian function.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

Bowel preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy.

One hundred ten consecutive patients undergoing 35-cm flexible sigmoidoscopy were enrolled in a study to compare the efficacy of one vs two enemas (Fleet's) in achieving adequate bowel preparation. Fifty-five patients received two enemas administered one and three hours before sigmoidoscopy. The other 55 subjects received one enema given one hour before the procedure. Bowel preparation was considered inadequate if sigmoidoscopy was terminated prematurely because fecal material obscured visualization through the sigmoidoscope. Inadequate bowel preparation occurred in 12.9 percent of subjects who received one enema and in 20.0 percent of those who received two enemas (chi 2 = 0.97, P = .36). There was no difference between the groups in depth of penetration of the sigmoidoscope or duration (in minutes) of the examination. It is concluded that either one or two enemas are equally effective in preparing patients for sigmoidoscopy. Patient acceptance of sigmoidoscopy could be enhanced by using one enema instead of two with no decrease in adequacy of bowel preparation.

Enema↗
PubMed1984

Health experience learning program (HELP).

Since 1976, The Burke Rehabilitation Center has employed undergraduate university and college students as nurses' aides. This experience has enabled many students to make a decision or firm up their decision to go on to medical school. It has also been extremely valuable to the institution to have available for employment this intelligent and highly motivated group of individuals. The program has been mutually beneficial for both parties and could easily be adapted for other health care institutions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Routine use of BACTEC 16B bottles to remove antibacterial and antitumor agents from blood cultures of cancer patients.

A total of 1,764 paired sets of BACTEC 6B and 16B blood culture bottles were collected from patients for analysis. The majority of the patients were receiving antibiotic therapy at the time the blood specimens were collected. A total of 126 isolates were considered clinically significant. Of these, 58 grew in both 6B and 16B bottles, 25 grew only in 6B bottles, and 43 grew only in 16B bottles. In both bottles, the same amount of time was required to detect a positive culture. In 18 patients, septicemias were detected in the 16B bottles that were not detected in the 6B bottles. In seven patients, microorganisms were detected in the 6B bottles that were not detected in the 16B bottles. Interestingly, the antibiotic therapy was changed for only 4 of the 18 patients whose septicemias were detected only in the 16B bottles. Finally, an in vitro study showed that certain chemotherapeutic agents can cause the inhibition of growth of several microorganisms when tested in 6B bottles. These inhibitory effects were reduced or eliminated when the same organism-drug combinations were tested in 16B bottles.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1980

Manpower: another look.

Demographic data for the general population for the year 1978 and those predicted for 1998 have been collected and compared to the number of oral and maxillofacial surgeons practicing in 1979 and predicted to be practicing in the year 1998. The implications of these predictions are discussed, and some of the pros and cons concerning suggestions offered to meet the problems that may arise are presented.

Adolescent↗