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Biomedical subjects

T Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to T Kennedy.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Germin. Molecular cloning of cDNA that selects germin mRNA from bulk wheat mRNA.

(1) Bulk mRNA from germinated wheat embryos was denatured with methylmercury and subjected to electrophoresis in agarose gel to obtain a fraction of mRNA that was modestly enriched with respect to its complement of translatable germin mRNA. This fraction of mRNA was used as a source of primary templates for preparing a cDNA library. (2) Escherichia coli JM101 was transfected with recombinant pUC8 plasmids containing cDNA inserts. Colonies of transformed bacteria (ca. 4 x 10(3)) were differentially screened by hybridizing them with cDNA probes that were prepared from RNA populations containing different proportions of translatable germin mRNA. (3) A 160 base pair (bp) cDNA, which hybridized more strongly to the probe made from the RNA population containing the greater proportion of translatable germin mRNA in colony hybridizations, also hybridized more strongly to the RNA population containing the greater proportion of translatable germin mRNA when it was used as a probe for Northern analysis. (4) As judged by peptide mapping of a protein made by cell-free translation, the 160-bp cDNA selected virtually pure germin mRNA from the bulk mRNA of germinated wheat embryos when it was used in "hybrid release" experiments. The same 160-bp cDNA was used to select a "full length" germin cDNA from a library prepared by the Gubler-Hoffman method.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1988

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: preoperative radiologic evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether lateral radiographs of the pharynx and fluoroscopy of the lateral pharynx in the sleeping patient could be used as predictors of surgical success in patients undergoing soft-palate surgery for obstructive sleep apnea. A total of 12 patients had surgery after radiologic evaluation. There were six surgical successes and six failures. No successes occurred in patients with a soft-palate length of less than 46 mm, nor were there any successes among patients whose initial point of obstruction on fluoroscopy was inferior to the level of the soft palate. There was one surgical failure among patients in whom fluoroscopy showed upper airway obstruction beginning at the level of the soft palate during sleep. Results suggest that a patient is most likely to benefit from soft-palate resection if the soft palate is long--we conservatively suggest greater than 40 mm--and if sleep fluoroscopy of the lateral pharynx shows airway obstruction beginning at the level of the soft palate.

Fluoroscopy↗
PubMed1986

Cystic fibrosis in adults: delayed diagnosis in three siblings.

Cystic fibrosis (CF), which is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait, is the most common lethal genetic disease in the United States. Median survival age for patients followed up at CF centers in the US is now 21 years. While the disease is diagnosed in most patients before the age of 5 years, in 10% of cases the diagnosis is not confirmed until after age 12. We report an unusual family in which the diagnosis of CF was first established in three siblings at the ages of 36, 40, and 44 years. We describe the clinical features of the patients, as well as issues relating to the diagnosis of CF in adults. This unusual pedigree supports the concept of genetic heterogeneity in CF.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Anticoccidial efficacy of halofuginone in turkeys reared to market weight.

Floor-pen studies were conducted in three geographic locations to study the efficacy of halofuginone (3.0 ppm in feed) against important species of coccidia in turkeys. Severe coccidiosis exposure was obtained in studies in Georgia and Colorado and mild coccidiosis in Wisconsin. Coccidiosis caused by contamination of the feed with oocysts of Eimeria adenoeides, E. meleagrimitis, and E. gallopavonis was almost completely controlled by halofuginone at 3 ppm, even though intestinal lesion scores and weight loss were high in two studies. Halofuginone was also highly effective in preventing buildup of infection in pens contaminated by indirect means (movement by caretakers through the pens, etc.). Weight gains and feed conversion were best in poults receiving halofuginone, whether directly or indirectly exposed. There was no evidence that halofuginone caused any untoward reactions in the poults, even though the drug was fed until turkeys reached market weight.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A structurally novel stimulator of guanylate cyclase with long-lasting hypotensive activity in the dog.

Studies were undertaken to characterize the activity of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (DIFP) as a structurally novel stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase from rat lung and make comparisons to the activity of sodium nitroprusside (SNP). In addition, the effects of these two compounds on several cardiovascular parameters in anesthetized dogs were determined. DIFP stimulated guanylate cyclase activity within the same concentration range (10-300 microM) as SNP, causing a maximal 2-3-fold activation. The activities of both SNP and DIFP were dependent on the presence of dithiothreitol and inhibited by methylene blue. In anesthetized dogs, DIFP (i.v.) elicited a dose-related, long-lasting fall (greater than 3 h) in mean arterial pressure (MAP) which was accompanied by a reduction in total peripheral resistance and a transient rise in cardiac output. These effects on MAP were similar to those of SNP except they were of a much longer duration. In addition, both SNP and DIFP produced slight bradycardia and reduced negative dP/dt. These results suggest that DIFP and SNP, while structurally dissimilar, activate guanylate cyclase by a related mechanism which may be involved in vascular relaxation leading to reduced blood pressure.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Methodological considerations of epidemiological diagnoses in respiratory diseases.

Since epidemiological research depends extensively on questionnaire responses, a comparison of such responses with a standardized medical evaluation was conducted. It was found that standardized questionnaires do well in comparison for certain kinds of information on chronic conditions. However, clinical evaluations will elicit more information, specifically of a milder nature. It was concluded that standardized epidemiological questionnaires are satisfactory for survey of chronic conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Kaolin pneumoconiosis. Radiologic, pathologic, and mineralogic findings.

Pulmonary tissue obtained at thoracotomy or autopsy from 5 kaolin workers with complicated pneumoconiosis was studied by optical light and scanning electron microscopy. Premortem or preoperative chest roentgenograms demonstrated small irregular shadows and large opacities typical of kaolin pneumoconiosis. On gross examination, there were firm, grey-brown nodules and masses in the parenchyma and in the hilar lymph nodes. Histologically, there was extensive pulmonary kaolinite deposition associated with formation of peribronchiolar macules and nodules. The latter were comprised of kaolinite aggregates traversed by bands of fibrous tissue rather than dense whorled collagen, as seen in silicosis. Crystallographic studies confirmed the presence of kaolinite in the lungs, but silica was not demonstrable by either analytical scanning electron microscopy or X-ray diffractometry. These findings illustrate the pathology of human kaolin pneumoconiosis, confirm the fibrogenic potential of kaolinite, and emphasize differences in pulmonary responses to kaolinite and to silica.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Long-term results of proximal gastric vagotomy.

Proximal gastric vagotomy without drainage for duodenal ulcer was performed in 304 patients between 1969 and 1977. There was one operative death (0.3%) and two patients required secondary drainage (0.6%). Eleven patients died subsequently of unrelated causes. Follow-up 5 to 13 years after operation was conducted on 242 patients (80%). Of these, 141 were asymptomatic and 48 had only trivial symptoms, a success rate of 78%. Thirty-two patients had recurrent ulcer and 2 of them had Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. When these two were excluded, the recurrence rate was 12.4%. Two patients had duodenitis. Seven patients had unexplained pain and some of them may ultimately be shown to have recurrence. Appreciable esophageal reflux was seen in eight patients. Other symptoms, nearly all mild, were dumping in one, diarrhea in seven and bile reflux in six. Recurrent ulcer was treated by cimetidine initially in all 32 cases but ultimately by repeat vagotomy and antrectomy in 27, with no deaths and only one further recurrence (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome). After operative correction, the ultimate success rate (Visick grades I and II) was 90%.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1983

Gastric ulceration after Nissen fundoplication.

Thirteen patients developed gastric ulcers between 6 months and 8.5 years after Nissen fundoplication. Eight patients presented with epigastric pain alone, 3 with bleeding alone and 2 with both pain and bleeding. Nine ulcers (69 per cent) were high on the lesser curve, close to the fundoplication and 7 of these patients had recurrent hernias. Anatomical distortion produced by fundoplication is probably the most important aetiological factor, though gastric distention, bile reflux gastritis and ischaemia may be contributory.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Pneumoconiosis in Georgia kaolin workers.

Middle Georgia kaolin workers (n = 459) were surveyed for the presence of pneumoconiosis by chest radiograph and for respiratory symptoms by questionnaire. Pulmonary function was measured in all workers by spirometry. The overall prevalence of pneumoconiosis in this population was 9.2%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the only significant correlates with the radiographic presence of pneumoconiosis were ages greater than 55 yr and greater than 15 yr work exposure in the job category associated with greatest dust exposure. There was no correlation between the radiographic presence of pneumoconiosis and respiratory symptoms, cigarette smoking, or history of tuberculosis. Except in cases of complicated pneumoconiosis (large opacities), spirograms of workers with radiographic evidence of pneumoconiosis were not significantly different from spirograms of workers with normal radiographs. Clinical impairment of pulmonary function does not occur except in advanced cases, and appears to be mild even in these.

Adolescent↗