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Biomedical subjects

B Harrison

Publications and source records attributed to B Harrison.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

In vitro susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi to 11 antimicrobial agents.

The in vitro susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi to 11 antimicrobial agents was investigated. The antimicrobial agents evaluated included ceftizoxime, FK037, cefotaxime, dirithromycin, clarithromycin and its metabolite 14-hydroxy-clarithromycin, erythromycin, doxycycline, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin. Isolates of B. burgdorferi tested included two reference strains (B31 and ATCC 53899), six isolates from the midwestern United States, and three from Europe. A broth macrodilution method was used to determine MICs and MBCs. B. burgdorferi was inhibited by < or = 0.5 micrograms of each of the agents except the quinolones per ml. The MBCs for 90% of strains tested of ceftizoxime, FK037, clarithromycin, 14-OH clarithromycin, and dirithromycin (< or = 1.0 microgram of each per ml) were superior to those of amoxicillin (2.0 micrograms/ml) and doxycycline (4.0 micrograms/ml). Further in vivo studies are warranted to determine whether these agents may be efficacious in the treatment of Lyme borreliosis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1993

Dose escalation of mitoxantrone given with thiotepa and autologous bone marrow transplantation for metastatic breast cancer.

High-dose chemotherapy given with autologous bone marrow support has resulted in significant tumor responses in the majority of patients with metastatic breast cancer, a minority of which are durable. To improve on these results, we are developing high-dose preparative regimens which may be given in successive cycles, each with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), over a short duration. In this report, 44 patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with thiotepa (total dose: 900 mg/m2) and mitoxantrone (MT), administered in a dose-escalation fashion, with ABMT. The dose-limiting non-hematologic toxicity of mitoxantrone was cardiotoxicity, with the maximum tolerated dose being 50 mg/m2 Mucositis and pneumonia were also frequent treatment-related side-effects. The overall tumor response rate was 49% in this heavily pre-treated group of patients. We are currently evaluating the toxicity and efficacy of tandem non-cross-resistant transplant regimens, using the MT combination for the second cycle of therapy, in patients with metastatic breast cancer sensitive to standard dose chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Inactivation of a volume-sensitive basolateral potassium conductance in turtle colon: effect of metabolic inhibitors.

Previous work has shown that the basolateral membrane of turtle colon epithelium contains a quinidine-sensitive potassium conductance which can be activated by osmotic cell swelling. In this work and in the present study, potassium flow across the basolateral membrane was measured as a short-circuit current across intact pieces of epithelial tissue in which amphotericin B was used to permeabilize the apical membrane. Quinidine-sensitive currents were generated when the mucosal bath contained chloride, a permeant anion. Replacement of chloride by sulfate or addition of sucrose to the bathing solutions abolished 75-90% of the current and caused the quinidine-inhibitable fraction of the current to go from over 90% to around 6%--suggesting that decreases in cell volume had brought about inactivation of the quinidine-sensitive conductance. When metabolic inhibitors were present, inactivation of the conductance by these maneuvers was prevented. Activation of the conductance by replacement of mucosal SO4 by Cl, however, was not affected.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1992

Reflections of a distance education facilitator.

After nearly a year of preparation, 'Therapeutic Communication', the first nursing unit in our new Bachelor of Nursing degree was taught for the first time in 1988. The unit has developed and grown since this time, with both educational and financial factors determining such things as design of student materials and assessment mode. The geographically scattered--and often isolated--students are formally recognised for their individuality and their personal and professional life experiences, and given choices within the unit of what they want to learn and how they will present this material, through introduction of a learning contract as part of the unit assessment. Difficulties encountered by these students in maintaining their self-esteem when moving from the demanding and complex world of clinical nursing to the arena of tertiary study are discussed. The provision of speedy, comprehensive feedback with general as well as specific guidance with essay writing and referencing, focuses on the process skills many nurses lack as they enter this unit. The applicability of therapeutic communication to clinical practice and the diversity of projects undertaken by students within the limits of the unit demonstrate its appeal to a wide range of registered nurses. Some of the often ignored or minimised factors that differentiate external study from on-campus work are highlighted for both students and unit facilitator, and the creation of an in-house booklet to assist students in developing their skills in external study is outlined.

Communication↗
PubMed1992

Sequential treatment with low dose almitrine bismesylate in hypoxaemic chronic obstructive airways disease.

Daily dose schedules of 100-200 mg of almitrine bismesylate improve arterial blood gases in patients with hypoxaemic chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD) but dose related side effects are evident. In the present study, daily doses approximately half of those previously used were employed in a randomised double blind manner in 85 patients (age 35-79 years) with hypoxaemic COPD. After a one month period to check stability of arterial blood gases, patients were allocated to almitrine (A) or placebo (P) using an unequal code (60% A, 40% P). Tablets, 50-100 mg daily were stopped for one month after 3, 6 and 9 months to counteract drug accumulation. 50 patients in group A and 35 in group P were comparable on entry; mean age 65 (SD = 8) yrs., Pao2 7.8 (0.7) kPa (58.3 (5.0) mmHg), PaCO2 5.8 (0.8) kPa (43.2 (6.0) mmHg), forced expiratory volume in one second--FEV1 0.89 (0.25) l and 6 minute walking distance 296 (97) metres. The improvement in baseline PaO2 values was the same 0.8-1.3 kPa (6-9.8 mmHg) as with previous higher dose therapy. Approximately one third of patients did not respond, defined as PaO2 elevation > 0.67 kPa (5 mmHg). The sequential dosing scheme stabilised blood levels of almitrine within the therapeutic range of 280-300 ng.ml-1. After withdrawal of therapy arterial blood gases and spirometry reverted to pre-treatment levels, suggesting no permanent reversal of pathophysiology. Dose related side effects of breathlessness, indigestion and peripheral neuropathy were not observed. Nerve conduction studies revealed no difference in peripheral nerve dysfunction in hypoxaemic COPD between active and placebo therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Isolation and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi from Illinois Ixodes dammini.

Ixodes dammini ticks from two northwestern Illinois sites were found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi at rates of 19 and 32%. B. burgdorferi isolates, one from each site, had protein and antigenic patterns similar to those of the B-31 strain. An indirect immunofluorescence method proved to be more sensitive than dark-field microscopy in detection of these spirochetes. A modified BSK medium containing rifampin was found to be more efficient for spirochete isolation than unsupplemented BSK medium.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Colon cancer in blacks: a disease with a worsening prognosis.

Despite the fact that a significant national effort has been made over the past 10 years to improve the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer, blacks have not had any change in their prognosis compared to whites, and their survival rate appears to be independent of stage at the time of diagnosis. The disease incidence is practically the same for both races, 49 per 100,000. We reviewed all patients with colorectal cancer in our Tumor Registry over a 10-year period to determine whether the experience at an all-black institution with a black patient base for much of its history would help clarify these crucial questions. There were 118 cases (73 women/45 men), and the mean age was 68 years (range: 29 to 93). The most common signs and symptoms were gross bleeding (34%) and abdominal pain (30%), with most patients presenting with a combination of symptoms. Remarkably, none were symptom-free. Of the 96 patients who were staged surgically and pathologically, 68 (71%) were beyond Duke's B staging at the time of diagnosis and surgery. The overall 5-year survival rate was 47%, significantly related to stage of disease at diagnosis (P less than .001). We concluded that blacks have not shared in the progress made in early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, and that special attention should be given to developing screening and surveillance methodology targeted specifically at blacks.

Adenocarcinoma↗