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Biomedical subjects

B Kent

Publications and source records attributed to B Kent.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Pseudoaneurysm of the lingual artery secondary to tonsillectomy treated with selective embolization.

False aneurysm may occur from trauma to the floor of the mouth, including iatrogenic trauma from surgical procedures. This report will present a case of a pseudoaneurysm of the lingual artery following tonsillectomy. Development of lingual artery pseudoaneurysms can occur within a few hours following tonsillectomy. Angiography provides the diagnosis, and endovascular intervention is an efficient alternative to surgery for treatment of such aneurysm with low morbidity. Endovascular embolization with platinum coils is an effective means of controlling bleeding and avoiding surgical intervention.

Aneurysm, False↗
PubMed2001

A case study of DNAPL remediation in northeastern Brazil.

Aquifer restoration in the United States is recognized as a technically challenging objective when dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) are present (1). In fact, only a few aquifers impacted by DNAPLs have been restored. Factors that have typically contributed to the lack of successful aquifer restoration include the chemical properties of the DNAPL, the physical properties of the aquifer, the absence of cost-effective technologies, and an incomplete or inaccurate development of a conceptual hydrogeological model for the site. In Latin America, environmental studies historically have been related to biological quality of surface water and groundwater. Recently, the U.S. and Canada have experienced an increased influx of foreign students and professionals interested in studying specialized courses in environmental engineering, or participating in conferences. This exposure to current topics has strengthened the awareness of these professionals regarding groundwater contamination from gasoline-derived compounds and chlorinated solvents. As a result of this increased awareness, Latin American hydrogeologists and environmental regulators have been able to recognize the potential problems that could result from DNAPL spills that may impact groundwater and have learned to approach them using locally available technology and resources. A case study of such an example is presented below.

Brazil↗
PubMed2001

Remediation of NAPL-contaminated aquifers: is the cure worth the cost?

Millions of dollars are spent in the United States each year to design, construct, and operate systems intended to remediate groundwater impacted by dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), such as trichloroethlene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE), or light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs), such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. However, several recent studies suggest that many of these groundwater remediation systems may operate for decades without restoring groundwater to background conditions. This paper examines the potential economic impacts of continuing the current regulatory approach to remediation of NAPL-contaminated aquifers versus considering regionally contaminated aquifers as large storage basins instead of pristine resources. Treating water at the point of extraction when needed, provides an equivalent benefit and may be more practical and cost effective than attempting to restore aquifers to background conditions at the point of contamination.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1997

Understanding attitudes towards tissue donation.

Nurses discussing organ or tissue donation with patients and their relatives need to be well informed. Tissue donation is not being optimised. The attitude of health professionals towards organ and tissue donation can influence the relatives' decision.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1995

Conflicting attitudes to corneal and organ donation: a study of nurses' attitudes to organ donation.

The demand for transplantable organs and tissues is steadily increasing and action is necessary to improve the organ and tissue donation rates. Previous research has suggested that nurses have a substantial influence on the rates of donation in the clinical area. Nurses (N = 150) were asked to complete a number of measures to assess positive and negative attitudes towards cadaveric organ donation, with 112 (74.6%) responding. The findings identified conflicting attitudes particularly in relation to corneal donation; 25% of the respondents would not donate their corneas. Reasons given included fear of disfigurement, religious factors such as the need to see into the next life, and dislike of the thought of donation of eyes but without knowing why. The majority of the respondents were in favour of donation generally and many carried or had signed donor cards. Nurses are usually the professionals who have the most contact with the patient in the clinical and are therefore able to identify potential donors. It seems likely that nurses with conflicting attitudes to donation are less likely to undertake the emotional costs involved when relatives of potential donors are approached re donation, than those who have more positive attitudes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of phenytoin on acute lung injuries in unanesthetized sheep.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the intravenous administration of phenytoin attenuates or prevents acute experimental lung injury. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, longitudinal animal investigative study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Sixteen yearling female lambs weighing 30 +/- 3 kg. INTERVENTION: After administration of anesthesia, the animals were endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated. Using sterile techniques, four thoracotomies were performed. Through the left fourth intercostal space, cannulas for pressure measurements were inserted directly into the main pulmonary artery and left atrium. An ultrasound flow cuff for determination of cardiac output was placed around the main pulmonary artery. Through the left tenth intercostal space, the diaphragmatic and mediastinal parietal pleura were widely cauterized. Through the right tenth intercostal space, the caudal mediastinal lymph node was identified and divided at the caudal margin of the right pulmonary ligament, and a 1- to 2-cm portion of the node distal to the ligament was resected. The diaphragmatic and mediastinal parietal pleura were widely cauterized. Through the right sixth intercostal space, the efferent duct (or ducts) was identified, ligated at the site of entry into the thoracic duct, and cannulated. The lymph cannula was brought to the outside of the thorax through a separate stab wound. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Unanesthetized sheep were studied 7 to 10 days after surgery. Hemodynamic, lung fluid balance, and arterial blood variables were measured in uninjured sheep and in sheep injured by intravenous infusions of Escherichia coli endotoxin (1 microgram/kg iv over 30 mins), air bubbles (0.056 to 0.074 mL/kg/min over 4 hrs), or oleic acid (0.06 mL/kg over 1 hr). The sheep were studied when untreated and after pretreatment with phenytoin. We found that the expected increase in protein-rich lung lymph flow with injuries, resulting from increased microvascular permeability in the lungs, was attenuated by phenytoin when the lungs were injured by endotoxin or air bubbles. In contrast, phenytoin had no effect on oleic acid-induced lung injury or on uninjured lungs. CONCLUSIONS: Phenytoin attenuates acute lung injuries in sheep that are thought to be caused by stimulation of host inflammatory responses (e.g., endotoxin and air bubbles), but has no effect on direct injuries to the lungs (e.g., oleic acid). A plausible mechanism for this finding is phenytoin inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Factors related to physical therapy students' decisions to work with elderly patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors related to physical therapy students' decisions to work with elderly patients subsequent to graduation. Questionnaires, distributed to students in graduating classes of seven entry-level master's degree programs and seven baccalaureate degree programs, were returned by 326 participants. The questionnaires included 20 questions within four categories--biographical (3), experiential (7), perceived socioeconomic (3), and attitudinal (7) factors--plus 1 question to determine whether students intended to work with elderly patients. Chi-square tests (p less than .05) determined significant relationships between the participants' intentions to work with elderly people and their answers to 10 of the questions (1 biographical, 3 experiential, and 6 attitudinal). The answers to 1 of these experiential questions and 4 of these attitudinal questions were significant at the .001 level. No perceived socioeconomic questions were significant. Our results may help in planning strategies to encourage physical therapy students to work with elderly people.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Proteolytic activity in sheep lung lymph as marker of lung capillary injury.

Intravenous infusions of Escherichia coli endotoxin into sheep caused the appearance in lung lymph of high levels of an enzyme with trypsinlike activity. The time course of appearance of the enzyme and the extent of its increase corresponded to the known events of endotoxin-induced capillary injury. Accordingly, activity was low in the first phase of endotoxin-induced increased lung lymph flow caused by increased pressure filtration but was high in the second phase of increased lung lymph flow caused by increased permeability filtration. Recovery was associated with a decrease of activity to preinfusion levels. Capillary damage and increased permeability filtration induced by air emboli or oleic acid led to a similar increase in lung lymph proteolytic activity. By contrast lung lymph proteolytic activity remained virtually unchanged during increased pressure filtration induced by inflation of a balloon in the left atrium. Activity also remained unchanged in thoracic duct lymph, indicating that the increased activity in lung lymph is not an expression of a generalized response to endotoxin. The enzyme, a serine protease with a molecular weight of about 70,000 to 75,000 and a pH optimum between 7.3 and 7.6, was not related to lymph clotting and was not capable of correcting the clotting defects of plasmas deficient in enzymes of the clotting cascade. These results together with specificity studies indicate that the enzyme represents a new, hitherto unidentified, protease. Measurements of its activity in lung lymph represent a sensitive marker of lung capillary injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Blood flow changes at the wrist in manual workers after preventive interventions.

Radial and ulnar artery circulatory changes at the wrist were studied at the work site in manual workers performing repetitive tasks to compare the effects of two preventive interventions, exercise and rest. The Doppler method was used for assessment of blood flow velocity, and systolic blood pressure measurements were made on 16 right hand-dominant female workers in a suture manufacturing industry. Radial and ulnar blood flow velocity decreased while systolic blood pressure at these arteries remained stable after 1 1/2 hours of manual work. After 5-minute interventions of either exercise or rest, blood flow velocity increased, radial blood pressure remained stable, and ulnar blood pressure decreased. A 5-minute exercise program produced greater increases in radial blood flow velocity than did a 5-minute rest program. Brief exercise programs have been shown to improve circulation at the wrist after circulation was compromised by the performance of manual work. Such programs may offer one practical method of preventing soft tissue injuries related to the sustained compromise of blood flow at the wrist.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Thermographic evaluation of the painful shoulder in the hemiplegic patient.

In this study, we investigated the applicability of thermography as a technique for evaluating the painful postcerebrovascular accident (CVA) shoulder in hemiplegic patients. A thermographic series was taken of the upper extremities and upper trunk of 27 female subjects. The four groups we evaluated were nonhemiplegic subjects (n = 9), post-CVA subjects with recovered function (n = 6), hemiplegic subjects with upper extremity motor impairment (n = 6), and hemiplegic subjects with both motor impairment and ipsilateral shoulder pain (n = 6). The data revealed a normal thermographic series in 8 of the 9 nonhemiplegic subjects, but only in 1 of the 18 post-CVA subjects. The majority of the abnormal thermographic series of post-CVA subjects showed a 1 degree to 5 degree C coolness on the involved side. No consistent thermographic patterns emerged that could be related to the severity or location of pain. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of thermography as a means of determining the relationship between ipsilateral post-CVA coolness and hemiplegic shoulder pain.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Improvement of quantitation of biological X-ray microanalysis.

Absolute measurements of elemental concentrations within thin biological samples are often made by reference to a series of standards which resemble the samples in chemical and physical properties and the linear relationship between (p-b)/c and concentration. This principle requires that the chemical and physical properties of the matrix remain constant throughout a series of standards with different elemental contents and throughout different regions of the samples. Some of the changes undergone by specimens during X-ray microanalysis, e.g. loss of elements or organic mass loss, are also influenced by the composition of the matrix. A simple empirical modification to the linear (p-b)/c versus concentration relationship is presented to account for some of these effects and therefore improve quantitation of analyses.

Electron Probe Microanalysis↗
PubMed1982

Blood flow in the rectal gland of Squalus acanthias.

The percent of cardiac output distributed to the rectal gland of 33 free-swimming fish was quantitated by the isotopically labeled microsphere technique. In 21 fish less than 1% was found in the rectal gland; 12 fish had 2-7%, suggesting a pattern of intermittent blood flow. Methylmethacrylate corrosion casts were made for scanning electron microscopy study of the microvasculature. Blood entering the rectal gland artery is distributed via three pathways. The most extensive is along the rectal gland artery into 11 or 12 circumferential vessels, which branch along the capsule and give rise to the radially arranged sinusoids that perfuse the secretory tubules and then join to form the central rectal gland vein. A second is an arterial bypass that runs the length of the rectal gland and joins the circulation of the postvalvular intestine. The third is via arteriovenous anastomoses in the capsule between tightly packed small arteries and veins. The low to moderate blood flow in most rectal glands and the very high flow in others is consistent with the observation that in vivo the rectal gland secretes only intermittently. Blood pathways allowing bypass of the rectal gland parenchyma suggest a role of blood flow in the regulation of the secretory process.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

The microvasculature of the elasmobranch gill.

Corrosion replicas were made of the gill vasculature of the spiny dogfish shark (S. acanthias) and little skate (R. erinacea) by methylmethacrylate perfusion via the ventral or dorsal aorta at 2.0-5.3 kPa. After tissue maceration the replicas were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. In both species 3 vascular pathways were found: (1) the major pathway subserving the respiratory function of the gill, consisting of the afferent filamental artery which feeds into a medial afferent sinus (MA) from which arise the prelamellar arterioles (AL) leading to the lamellae, the postlamellar arterioles and efferent filamental artery (EA); (2) a nutrient circulation arising from the EA, supplying oxygenated blood to the filamental tissue, and anastomosing with the interlamellar vessels (IL); (3) a collateral circulation consisting of ILs which drain through channels interdigitating with the ALs and which then form a collateral reticulum, beneath the water channel epithelium, with vessels from the adjacent filaments. In the dogfish, small prelamellar arteriovenous anastomoses (PA) connect the MAs to the ILs with the same frequency as the ALs. PAs have not been found in the skate, but the efferent nutrient circulation is much more extensively developed. Many similarities exist between the elasmobranchs and teleosts in regard to the microvascular organization of the gill.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Castles or boarding-houses: a new concept of security.

Current concepts of security, even if valid in the past, are inappropriate now. We need a new concept of security based on co-operation and interdependence, not military (and especially nuclear) confrontation. The International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the legality of nuclear weapons, international concern on the dangers of the arms trade, the landmines campaign, and statements by retired military leaders, are all signs of hope. But others, including non-governmental organizations, must also learn to co-operate. The Year of the Culture of Peace is an opportunity to make co-operation more effective and, particularly in schools, to make the United Nations better known and better appreciated.

Humans↗