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Biomedical subjects

W L Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to W L Thompson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Virus and virus-like particles in the faeces of cats with and without diarrhoea.

Negative staining electron microscopy was used to identify viruses in 166 normal and 62 diarrhoeal faecal samples from 208 cats admitted to an animal shelter during a 16-month period (March 1984 to June 1985). On the basis of size and shape 7 distinct viral types were detected: 24 nm parvovirus-like particles, 30 nm astrovirus, 30 nm picornavirus-like particles, reovirus, rotavirus, coronavirus and a 75 nm "togavirus-like" particle. The incidence of these particles in the 208 cats was 11%, 7%, 6%, 0.4%, 5%, 1% and 1% respectively. Virus isolation studies using 40 of the faecal samples succeeded in isolating reovirus 1 in 2 cases. Immune electron microscope studies demonstrated the presence of antibody in a human serum to cat astrovirus, but failed to clarify the identity of the parvovirus-like particles and picornavirus-like particles, other than showing that some of the parvovirus-like particles were not related to feline panleukopenia virus. It was found that parvovirus-like particles, astrovirus, picornavirus-like particles, reovirus and rotavirus could be excreted by cats with normal faeces as well as cats with diarrhoeal faeces. Parvovirus-like particles, astrovirus, picornavirus-like particles and rotavirus could be excreted in high concentration in normal faeces. There was no simple relationship between age and diarrhoea in the population of cats studied. Age was not a critical factor in the excretion of parvovirus-like particles, astrovirus, picornavirus-like particles and rotavirus. The incidence of diarrhoea was not clearly associated with the seasons.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Sexual problems in chronic respiratory disease. Achieving and maintaining intimacy.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be linked to several types of sexual dysfunction, but presence of the disease does not preclude enjoyment of sexual activity. A thorough medical and biopsychosocial evaluation of the patient with sexual dysfunction will help the physician to ascertain the cause of dysfunction and to assess contributory physical and psychological factors. In addition to appropriate medical and psychiatric treatment, management should include patient education and supportive psychotherapy. Open communication between the physician, patient, and partner is essential to a successful outcome. The patient and partner may need to alter their attitudes and develop new approaches to sex. The primary care physician can serve as a source of reassurance, information, and recommendations to help the patient live a full life, including a satisfying sex life.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Structure-function relationships of 12,13-epoxytrichothecene mycotoxins in cell culture: comparison to whole animal lethality.

Nineteen 12,13-epoxytrichothecene mycotoxins were tested for their relative capabilities to inhibit protein synthesis in Vero cells and rat spleen lymphocytes. Although the lymphocytes were generally more sensitive to the mycotoxins, good correlation existed between the relative potencies of the various trichothecenes in the two cell systems. The most potent mycotoxins (T-2, verrucarin A and roridin A) have acetyl side groups on, or a hydrocarbon chain between, carbons 4 and 15 of the basic ring structure. Loss of side groups from either of these positions or an isovaleryl group at carbon 8 resulted in reduced protein synthesis inhibition (T-2 to HT-2, neosolaniol or diacetoxyscirpenol). Any combination of loss from all three positions (T-2 triol, T-2 tetraol, 15-monoacetyl DAS, scirpentriol, fusarenon X and deoxynivalenol) further weakens their effect. Reduction of the hydroxyl groups to hydroxides, forming verrucarol and deoxyverrucarol, reduced their effectiveness by over a thousand-fold compared to the most potent mycotoxins. Addition of side groups resulted in reduced effectiveness only when an acetyl group was added to the carbon 3 position of T-2 (acetyl T-2) and deoxynivalenol (3-acetyl deoxynivalenol) or on substitution of an epoxide across the 9,10 carbons of diacetoxyscirpenol (beta-epoxide DAS). Effects of combining these and other mycotoxins were additive and showed no synergism or competition for binding to the active site. When in vitro effects of the mycotoxins were compared with results from whole animal lethality tests, several of the trichothecenes were weak inhibitors of protein synthesis in vitro but had in vivo toxicities similar to that of T-2 toxin. Thus, the in vitro cell response of a given trichothecene is not always an accurate predictor of toxicity in whole animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Psychiatric aspects of asthma in adults.

Asthma is a complex and multifactorial illness. Early theories focused on the psychosomatic aspects of this disease and more work has been done through the years to explore these theories and to further elucidate the variety of psychiatric conflicts, personality traits, and stressors, and the role they play in asthma. More recently, mechanisms have been postulated whereby these conflicts can influence the pathologic process in the lungs causing symptoms of asthma. These seem to act at the level of the limbic system and hypothalamus, the autonomic nervous system, and the immunologic system. Many psychiatric factors play a strong role in maintenance of the asthma. Family interactions, anxiety, depression, panic-fear, and many others can facilitate or impede compliance with an appropriate medical regimen. Although all these variables have yet to be sorted out definitively, asthma is certainly an area where psychiatrists can have a major therapeutic impact.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Integration of database capabilities into a patient reporting system.

A database design is described which automatically archives computer-generated patient imaging and radioassay reports. Selected phrases are condensed so that data storage will be efficient without sacrificing a prose style of report. An indexed file structure has been used to facilitate rapid record retrieval even when several hundred thousand records are stored. Personnel time is considerably reduced for recalling patient records, preparing periodic summaries of studies completed, and performing administrative functions such as billing and keeping track of checked out images. Complex queries, such as "list all the patients between the ages of 50 and 60 on digitalis referred for a stress cardiac study, with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% and apical dyskinesis," become feasible. A system for data backup is described to protect against catastrophic data loss.

Computers↗
PubMed1984

Shock. Diagnosis and management.

Recent investigations have underscored the great diversity in both the causes and manifestations of clinical shock. The emphasis has shifted toward more specific therapy when that has been possible. Pure vasoconstrictors have assumed a secondary therapeutic role, as volume replacement or expansion has become the initial management of shock. Agents, such as naloxone hydrochloride, corticosteroids, fructose diphosphate, amrinone and milrinone , and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, while still experimental, offer improved understanding and management of the shock syndrome.

Blood Volume↗
PubMed1984

Tc-99m glucoheptonate estimation of glomerular filtration rate. Correlation with endogenous creatinine clearance.

Estimation of GFR using radioisotope techniques has been successfully accomplished with I-125 iothalamate, Cr-51 EDTA, and Tc-99m DTPA. However, the techniques have required up to several hours to complete with blood and/or urine sampling. A method introduced by Schlegel and modified by Gates provides a simple and rapid technique of GFR quantitation that obviates the need for blood and urine sampling. In the present study an evaluation of Tc-99m GHA was undertaken to assess its ability to reflect GRF using a modification of Gates' technique. When the GFR determinations were compared with a current 24-hour CrC1, a correlation coefficient of 0.91 was obtained. Tc-99m GHA-derived GFR appears to closely correlate with endogenous CrC1 over a wide range of renal function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effect of thiopental therapy on cerebral blood flow after total cerebral ischemia.

The effect of barbiturate coma upon regional cerebral blood flow (RCBF) and ultimate neurologic outcome was examined after total cerebral ischemia (TCI). TCI was induced in dogs using a relatively noninvasive double-occlusion balloon technique; cardiopulmonary protection was provided during the period of ischemia. RCBF was measured using 15-mu radioactively labeled microspheres. A reproducible pattern of impaired reperfusion of the central nervous system (CNS) was observed in control animals after the restoration of cerebral perfusion pressure after TCI. This pattern was accentuated by the administration of pentothal to induce barbiturate coma. The additional depression in RCBF in those animals receiving pentothal was most prominent in cortical gray matter and brainstem structures at 3 and 6 h after TCI. It was also observed in cortical white matter. No untreated animal surviving TCI achieved a neurologic functional level better than persistent vegetative (decerebrate) survival over 1 wk of observation. Animals receiving 90 mg/kg body weight of pentothal post-TCI demonstrated irreversible cardiogenic shock related to the myocardial depressant effect of the drug. Animals receiving 40 to 60 mg/kg of pentothal post-TCI demonstrated a survival rate similar to that of untreated animals. Although this study did not establish the possible effectiveness of barbiturate coma in improving residual neurologic damage after TCI, the data do demonstrate that any possible effectiveness in this model is not associated with any improvement in the markedly decreased cerebral perfusion after TCI.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Detection and quantitation of T-2 mycotoxin with a simplified protein synthesis inhibition assay.

We describe a simple, rapid, and sensitive bioassay for the detection and quantitation of T-2 mycotoxin by using a protein synthesis assay in cultured cells. Increased sensitivity of the cells to the mycotoxin occurred with time up to ca. 60-min. Time and dose response curves show that an average of 10 to 20 ng of T-2 per ml was sufficient to cause 50% inhibition of protein synthesis in tissue culture cells. A wide range of tissue culture cells with varied type, tissue, and species sources and growth characteristics were tested by this system. All showed approximately the same sensitivity to the mycotoxin. A slight modification of the procedure was used for suspended cultures of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes, which also showed an equal degree of sensitivity to the mycotoxin. By simply changing the labeled precursor, the inhibition of RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis by T-2 mycotoxin can be compared. Although T-2 mycotoxin had little effect on RNA synthesis, DNA and protein synthesis were equally inhibited. Because of its sensitivity and its capacity to quickly assay a large number of samples, this technique has been a valuable tool in screening samples for the presence of active toxin and has been used to help establish laboratory safety standards for the inactivation of T-2 mycotoxin by chemical agents. It is presently being used in studies of mycotoxin mechanism of action and approaches toward in vivo neutralization of the toxic effects of mycotoxins.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Automated patient report-generation in nuclear medicine.

The proliferation of computer-based office-management systems in the past few years has involved the private physician's office as well as the hospital laboratory. Many radiology departments have already adopted this approach for patient report generation and data storage. Due to the absence of commercially available software, some nuclear medicine departments will be interested in writing their own, but may not have enough experience in nonimaging computer applications to determine the performance needed for a practical system. A report-generation system for scintigraphic studies has been developed in our department over the past 2 yr. During this time an essential hardware/software performance level was established. Ideas for design of program flow that enhance staff acceptance of this concept are presented. Significant reduction of errors in report transcription and billing, together with reduced requirements for secretarial and clerical staff, make a general system like this cost effective.

Computers↗
PubMed1983

Once-daily vs. continuous aminoglycoside dosing: efficacy and toxicity in animal and clinical studies of gentamicin, netilmicin, and tobramycin.

The dosing frequency of aminoglycoside antibiotics may alter efficacy and toxicity independent of total daily dose. Once-daily tobramycin dosing was compared with continuous infusion in three models of efficacy. Acute pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in guinea pigs responded better to once-daily dosing, and chronic pneumonia in rats and endocarditis in rabbits responded equally to both regimens. Dogs given gentamicin, tobramycin, or netilmicin once daily, with maximum serum concentrations of greater than 100 mg/liter, had less nephrotoxicity than dogs given continuous infusions. Tobramycin was given once daily or continuously to 52 patients with cystic fibrosis who in 10 days had no change in creatinine clearance or hearing despite maximum serum tobramycin concentrations of 40 mg/liter. Intermittent dosing of aminoglycosides, causing infrequent large maximum serum concentrations, may be less toxic and equally efficacious as frequent dosing.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Determination of cardiac output and ejection fraction with the dual cardiac probe.

Cardiac output and left ventricular ejection fraction were determined noninvasively at the bedside in 26 patients by using a dual scintillation probe. The probe is a nonimaging detector that records a high frequency time-activity curve of the passage of an intravenously injected radioactive bolus through the heart. Results were correlated with ejection fraction measured by biplane cineangiography (r = 0.80) and cardiac output determined by green dye dilution (R = 0.86). It is concluded that the dual probe provides an accurate noninvasive means of measuring these parameters, and that it may be particularly applicable to serial measurements in patients in the intensive care unit.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Clinical utility of a two-site immunoradiometric assay for creatine kinase-MB in the detection of perioperative myocardial infarction.

In 144 patients, creatine kinase MB was measured serially at 0, 8, 16, 24, 48, and 72 hr using a two-site immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Cardiac enzymes were also measured, including SGOT, LDH, total CPK, and CK-MB by electrophoresis. The presence of perioperative myocardial infarction (poMI) was established in 24 patients by the appearance of new electrocardiographic Q waves and/or new wall motion abnormalities detected by radionuclide ventriculography. In patients without poMI, CK-MB (IRMA) was elevated (6.4 +/- 4.9 equivalent units per liter) at 0-8 hr but decreased to 3.4 +/- 1.3 EU/l by 16 hr. In patients with poMI, peak values occurred at 16-24 hr (21.0 +/- 19.8 EU/l). Using a threshold value of 8.5 EU/l, patients with poMI could be distinguished from those without with 97% accuracy (sensitivity = 88%, specificity = 99%). The CK-MB (IRMA) was more reliable than the other enzyme assays, for which we used both empirically elevated threshold values based upon previous experience, and also threshold values retrospectively optimized for the study population. We conclude that the CK-MB (IRMA) can serve as a valuable postoperative screening test for poMI.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1983

Acute clinical malaria (Plasmodium inui) in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

Acute clinical malaria caused by Plasmodium inui was diagnosed in an adult female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) 4 years after importation into the United States. Stress and immunosuppression associated with experimentation completed 2 weeks earlier may have contributed to the development of severe clinical disease. Clinical findings included severe regenerative anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, weakness, lethargy, weight loss, and anorexia. The infection was treated and successfully eliminated with chloroquine hydrochloride administered intramuscularly at a dose of 5 mg/kg base given at 0, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Treatment also included a blood transfusion and intensive supportive care.

Acute Disease↗