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Biomedical subjects

B Burton

Publications and source records attributed to B Burton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy (CRION).

We describe the clinical characteristics and early natural history of a form of inflammatory optic neuropathy which is frequently bilateral and often painful, and is characterized by relapses and remissions. MRI scans of the brain are normal and those of the optic nerves often, but not always, show high signal abnormalities which enhance. The symptoms and signs respond well to corticosteroid treatment, although long-term immuno suppression is often necessary. The syndrome behaves in a way which is typical of the condition known as granulomatous optic neuropathy, but during a median follow-up of 8 (2-26) years in no case has evidence for systemic sarcoidosis been identified. We suggest that the disorder be named chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy (CRION).

Adult↗

Phenylketonuria in adulthood: a collaborative study.

During 1967-1983, the Maternal and Child Health Division of the Public Health Services funded a collaborative study of 211 newborn infants identified on newborn screening as having phenylketonuria (PKU). Subsequently, financial support was provided by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The infants were treated with a phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet to age 6 years and then randomized either to continue the diet or to discontinue dietary treatment altogether. One hundred and twenty-five of the 211 children were then followed until 10 years of age. In 1998, NICHD scheduled a Consensus Development Conference on Phenylketonuria and initiated a study to follow up the participants from the original Collaborative Study to evaluate their present medical, nutritional, psychological, and socioeconomic status. Fourteen of the original clinics (1967-1983) participated in the Follow-up Study effort. Each clinic director was provided with a list of PKU subjects who had completed the original study (1967-1983), and was asked to evaluate as many as possible using a uniform protocol and data collection forms. In a subset of cases, magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) were performed to study brain Phe concentrations. The medical evaluations revealed that the subjects who maintained a phenylalanine-restricted diet reported fewer problems than the diet discontinuers, who had an increased rate of eczema, asthma, mental disorders, headache, hyperactivity and hypoactivity. Psychological data showed that lower intellectual and achievement test scores were associated with dietary discontinuation and with higher childhood and adult blood Phe concentrations. Abnormal MRI results were associated with higher brain Phe concentrations. Early dietary discontinuation for subjects with PKU is associated with poorer outcomes not only in intellectual ability, but also in achievement test scores and increased rates of medical and behavioural problems.

Adult↗

The discovery of RPR 200765A, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor displaying a good oral anti-arthritic efficacy.

RPR132331, a 2-(2-dioxanyl)imidazole, was identified as an inhibitor of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha release from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytes. An intensive programme of work exploring the biology, toxicity and physical chemistry of a novel series of inhibitors, derived from RPR132331, has led to the identification of RPR200765A, a development candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RPR200765A is a potent and selective inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase (IC50 = 50 nM). It inhibits LPS-stimulated TNFalpha release both in vitro, from human monocytes (EC50 = 110 nM), and in vivo in Balb/c mice (ED50 = 6 mg/kg). At oral doses between 10 and 30 mg/kg/day it reduces the incidence and progression in the rat streptococcal cell wall (SCW) arthritis model when administered in either prophylactic or therapeutic dosing regimens. The compound, which is a mesylate salt and exists as a stable monohydrate, shows good oral bioavailabiltiy (F = 50% in the rat) and excellent chemical stability. The data from the SCW disease model suggests that RPR200765A could exhibit a profile of disease modifying activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients which is not observed with current drug therapies.

Administration, Oral↗

Cervical spine injury in child abuse: report of two cases.

Pediatric cervical spine injuries have rarely been reported in the setting of child abuse. We report two cases of unsuspected lower cervical spine fracture-dislocation in twin infant girls who had no physical examination findings to suggest cervical spine injury. Classic radiographic findings of child abuse were noted at multiple other sites in the axial and appendicular skeleton. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging proved to be valuable in both the initial evaluation of the extent of cervical spine injury and in following postoperative changes. The unexpected yet devastating findings in these two cases further substantiate the importance of routine evaluation of the cervical spine in cases of suspected child abuse.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

Phaeochromocytoma with central nervous system manifestations.

A 35-year-old Samoan male presented with intermittent headaches and hypertensive episodes for several months. A subsequent left adrenal gland phaeochromocytoma was discovered and surgically excised. An MRI of his brain demonstrated periventricular, basal ganglia, and centrum semi-ovale infarction. We suggest that catecholamine excess and neuropeptide Y may contribute to intracerebral haemorrhage and infarcts associated with phaeochromocytomas. Additionally, our surgical approach in removing the phaeochromocytoma is discussed.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Outsourcing inpatient i.v. compounding: expense and medication error implications.

A quasi-experiment was conducted to evaluate differences in intravenous (i.v.) drug compounding costs and frequency of medication administration errors of omission before and after outsourcing the hospital's i.v. admixture refill program to an alternate site home i.v. infusion pharmacy. As part of the outsourcing changes, the pharmacy redeployed an i.v. admixture technician to do i.v. recycling on the nursing units. The study was a single subject, pretest, posttest (within subjects) design using an observer. The independent variables were outsourcing and having an i.v. recycling technician. The dependent variables were medication errors of omission and costs directly associated with the two i.v. programs. A statistically significant reduction in the frequency of medication administration errors of omission was associated with implementation of the outsourcing program. In addition, first year expenses were reduced by an estimated $86,356.

Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems↗

Clinical and research applications of real-time ultrasonography in bovine reproduction: a review.

Transrectal real-time ultrasonography has proved to be a rapid and reliable technique for studying reproductive functions in cattle. Through ultrasonography it is now established that follicular growth occurs in wave-like patterns during each estrous cycle. It has been shown that follicular growth and regression continue during early pregnancy, as well as in the postpartum anestrous period. Ultrasound has also helped us to understand the influence of dominant follicles on medium and small follicles. Among the numerous demonstrated applications of ultrasonography, early pregnancy diagnosis, fetal sexing, and postpartum reproductive management appear to be promising areas for immediate application. The new information that has been generated through ultrasound has thrown light on hitherto poorly understood areas of ovarian follicular dynamics, corpus luteum function, pregnancy establishment, and embryonic development in cattle, thereby opening newer areas for research. Still there is great potential for the continued application of this technology to further our understanding of the reproductive processes and to maximize reproductive efficiency of the bovine species. The significant contributions of real-time ultrasonography to the study of bovine reproduction in general and its practical applications in particular are discussed in this paper. The need for taking up technology assessment studies and for the introduction of low-cost portable equipment are stressed. Literature search for this review was done by scanning Current Contents Series 1991-92, AGRICOLA 1980-92, and MEDLINE 1990-92.

Animals↗

The development of a simple fecal immunoreactive progestin assay to monitor reproductive function in swine.

The objectives of the study were to (a) develop a simple fecal progestin extraction and radioimmunoassay method to measure immunoreactive progestin in porcine feces and (b) to characterize fecal progestin profiles during the estrous cycle and postpartum. A simple extraction method was developed in trial 1 and the mean (+/- SD) progestin recovery of the method was 84.3 +/- 3.5%. Progesterone levels measured at five different spiked concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400, and 500 ng/0.5 g feces) showed no systematic error. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.16 nmol/L of the extract. Trial 2 involved collecting fecal samples from six cycling sows every second or third day, beginning on the day of estrus (day 0) and continuing until day 22. The mean (+/- SD) fecal progestin concentrations of these sows determined by the above assay during days 0-5, days 6-10, days 11-15, and days 16-21 were 87.1 +/- 17.5, 262.6 +/- 102.1, 1188.2 +/- 454.1, and 897.3 +/- 274.1 x 10(-3) nmol/g feces, respectively. In trial 3, fecal samples from six postpartum sows were collected at weekly intervals beginning from day 7 after farrowing until day 50. The mean (+/- SD) fecal progestin concentrations were 111.0 +/- 61.1, 74.1 +/- 21.3, 66.5 +/- 26.1, 122.7 +/- 58.8 and 533.5 +/- 244.2 x 10(-3) nmol/g feces, during days 7-10, days 11-20, days 21-30, days 31-40, and days 41-50 postpartum, respectively. The results indicate that simple fecal progestin extraction and assay are feasible alternatives to the standard blood progesterone assays for monitoring reproductive function in swine.

Animals↗

Institutional loyalty and job satisfaction among nurse aides in nursing homes.

The high rate of turnover among nurse aides employed in nursing homes has been associated with the low job status and the poor job benefits accorded workers. However, this is not always the case. Competitive benefit packages and limited labor market opportunities increase the likelihood that nurse aides in some nursing homes may stay on the job despite their dissatisfaction with it. The present study investigated "institutional loyalty," an attitudinal proxy for job turnover, among 219 nurse aides for its relationship to a number of job-related factors. Somewhat unexpectedly, the quality of the social environment of the nursing home was found to be as important as attitudes toward job benefits in accounting for institutional loyalty.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Financial support for poison control centers: a unique partnership with a chain drug store corporation.

The Oregon Poison Center has developed a unique partnership with a chain drug store corporation which sponsors the Center's poison prevention, public awareness, and professional education programs. Termed the Poison Prevention and Public Awareness Program, this affiliation offers significant financial support to the Oregon Poison Center on a continuing basis. It establishes an integral role for the drug stores in poison control activities. In addition, the program provides a mechanism for customer capture and reaps significant public and professional relation benefits for the corporation. This presentation describes the materialization of the affiliation, including the development of the program proposal, its presentation to potential participants, and the selection of a chain drug store corporation.

Financing, Organized↗

Attitudes towards oocyte and embryo donation and disposal.

The attitudes of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) patients, their relatives, and their friends towards oocyte and embryo donation and disposal of frozen embryos were determined by questionnaire. The results obtained from a group of patients undergoing IVF treatment in the hospital were compared and some differences in attitudes were detected. Most respondents find embryo research and the creation of embryos, especially for research, acceptable under some circumstances and this contrasts with current Victorian legislation.

Adult↗

Treatment of episodic hyperammonemia in children with inborn errors of urea synthesis.

Although normal plasma ammonium levels can be maintained in children with inborn errors of ureagenesis, these children are vulnerable to episodic hyperammonemia often resulting in coma and death. To treat such episodes, we designed a therapeutic protocol that included prompt recognition of hyperammonemia, therapy with intravenous sodium benzoate, sodium phenylacetate, and arginine, and nitrogen-free intravenous alimentation. Dialysis was performed if the hyperammonemia was unresponsive to drug therapy. Twelve episodes of hyperammonemia in seven children deficient in carbamyl phosphate synthetase, ornithine transcarbamylase, or argininosuccinic acid synthetase were treated; one patient died and the others recovered. In two patients measurement of the distribution of urinary nitrogen revealed that hippurate nitrogen and phenylacetylglutamine nitrogen together accounted for 60 per cent of "effective" urinary waste nitrogen. Successful therapy of episodic hyperammonemia plays an important part in the long-term management of disorders of the urea cycle.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗