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Biomedical subjects

C McCarthy

Publications and source records attributed to C McCarthy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Blocking the Ca(2+)-activated cytotoxic mechanisms of cholinergic neuronal death: a novel treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease.

The major neuropathological finding in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the death of cholinergic cell bodies originating in the nucleus basalis of Mynert. This paper will review the data suggesting that a pharmacologic strategy designed to slow the rate of cholinergic neuronal death (CND) should be of palliative value in the treatment of AD. Recent data on the biology of cell death (CD) show that there are two patterns of CD: necrosis and apoptosis or genetically controlled, programmed cell death. Regardless of whether cells die by necrosis or apoptosis, four Ca(2+)-activated cytotoxic mechanisms are triggered. Cytosolic free [Ca2+]i increases with aging. After 75 years, this rise may lead to the activation of a putative apoptotic gene in AD that results in CND. Since the increase in cytosolic [Ca2+]i may be mediated by the voltage operated L-type Ca2+ channel on the neuronal cell body, chronic treatment with an L-channel blocker, like nimodipine, might palliate the progression of and possibly prevent the majority of cases of AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1992

Parents' knowledge of neonatal screening and response to false-positive cystic fibrosis testing.

Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) has become feasible through analyzing dried blood specimens for immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT), but the benefits and risks of such a screening program remain to be delineated. This study, a survey of the parents of 104 Wisconsin infants with false-positive IRT tests, showed parents had knowledge deficits about neonatal screening in general, misconceptions about test results, and high levels of anxiety. Parenting behaviors were reportedly unchanged during the usual 3-day waiting period between the news of the abnormal screening test and the diagnostic sweat test. Most, but not all, parents were relieved by negative sweat test results subsequent to the abnormal IRT test. Factors associated with continued parental concern included having less than a high school education and/or having an infant with low Apgar scores. Additionally, those contacted by telephone were more likely to have misinformation and lingering concerns about the presence of CF in their child.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1991

Diagnosis of measles by fluorescent antibody and culture of nasopharyngeal secretions.

An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) was evaluated using commercial mouse anti-measles monoclonal antibody and FITC-labeled goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin. For measles isolation, specimens were inoculated into Rhesus monkey kidney (RMK) cells and, when available, CV-1 cells. 381 specimens were tested by IFA and 408 specimens were cultured from patients suspected of having measles. For the 381 specimens tested by both methods, IFA and culture were positive for 31%, culture alone for 14%, IFA alone for 15%, and both negative for 40%. This study indicates that both IFA and culture are required for maximum measles virus detection. Of the positive specimens, 48% were detected either by IFA only (24%) or culture only (24%). IFA was positive in 69% of the culture-positive specimens and therefore, provided rapid diagnosis for many patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

McCarthy assesses the issues, looks to future strategy debate.

Facts aren't always enough to engender change, but they have helped the AHA make progress in influencing health care policy decisions, according to AHA president Carol McCarthy, PhD. In a speech presented at the AHA's 1990 annual convention in Washington, DC, McCarthy takes stock of the past year's events and how they might affect hospitals.

American Hospital Association↗
PubMed1990

Cardiac catheterisation with 5 French catheters.

From the beginning of November 1987 to the end of January 1989, 526 coronary arteriograms and left ventricular angiograms were performed with 5 French coronary catheters. In 448 (85%) patients diagnostic pictures were obtained with three standard types of 5 French catheters (No 4 Judkins): that is, left coronary, right coronary, and pigtail catheters. In 60 patients (11.4%) various other 5 French catheters were required to complete the study. In nine patients (1.7%), a 7 or 8 French catheter was used. Major complications causing cardiac arrest or requiring urgent operation developed in five patients. Sixty two patients (11.77%) had minor complications that required sublingual nitrates or a single bolus of atropine, or developed a haematoma that did not need intervention or had a mild reaction to the contrast material. Complications of moderate severity developed in 17 patients (3.2%): severe chest pain, arrhythmia requiring a temporary pacemaker, contrast reaction associated with hypotension, haematoma requiring blood transfusion, or a transient ischaemic episode. There were no deaths. 5 French catheters were used for routine coronary angiography and left ventriculography in 98.3% of patients. There were no major complications related to femoral artery puncture. The routine use of 5 French coronary catheters should increase the feasibility of safe coronary angiography in outpatients and should reduce the cost of this investigation.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1989

Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis in Wisconsin.

Primary care physicians have been very cooperative in referring screened patients to the two designated CF centers in Wisconsin--the University of Wisconsin Cystic Fibrosis Center, and the center at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee--and their help has made this study possible. By 1990, we anticipate that meaningful clinical comparisons between the screened and control groups will be possible, and at that time we can begin to obtain some definitive answers concerning the benefits and potential risks of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis. At this time, it would be premature to make a decision concerning the efficacy of screening for cystic fibrosis for the State of Wisconsin. It is very important that the study go to completion before making conclusive recommendations. We are eager to meticulously document the natural history of CF by following study patients for a long time. Answers to questions concerning rate of decline of the IRT value in true positives, psychosocial risks of screening to true positives, effect on future reproductive plans, and the cost effectiveness of the screening program will not be available for at least two more years. False positive IRT results seem to be related to perinatal asphyxia. We postulate the mechanism is ischemia in the pancreas related to hypoxia during the perinatal period leading to transient release of trypsin from the pancreas into the bloodstream. Decline of the IRT result over time is of great interest because a repeat blood sampling approach would hopefully eliminate several false positives.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed1988

Endogenous superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and radiation resistance in mouse cell lines.

The relationship between the endogenous cytoplasmic levels of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase and the inhibition of cell proliferation by radiation has been studied in 11 mouse cell lines. The resistance of these mouse cell lines to radiation was found to vary by over 25-fold. No correlation was found between the cytoplasmic level of CuZn-superoxide dismutase or catalase and the resistance to radiation as measured by extrapolation number (EN), quasi-threshold dose (Dq), or DO. None of the cell lines had detectable cytoplasmic Mn-superoxide dismutase. The apparent Ki of potassium cyanide for mouse CuZn-superoxide dismutase was determined (Ki = 6.5 mumol dm-3).

Animals↗