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Biomedical subjects

D Barry

Publications and source records attributed to D Barry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

CEO summit. Building the new health care delivery alliance, Part III. Roundtable discussion.

In cooperation with McManis Associates, Hospitals & Health Networks recently convened a CEO summit on physician/hospital integration activities. In the third report of a three-part series on the summit, leading health care executives discuss investor capital needs, strategic information management needs, and the management competencies required for capitated managed care success.

Comprehensive Health Care↗
PubMed1994

CEO Summit. Building the new health care delivery alliance, Part II. Roundtable discussion.

In cooperation with McManis Associates, Hospitals & Health Networks recently convened a CEO summit on physician/hospital integration activities. The summit was designed and facilitated by the senior staff of McManis Associates. Part I, which appeared in the May 5 issue, focused on the lessons being learned by those providers on the front lines of integration. This report focuses on aligning incentives and achieving cost-effectiveness.

Chief Executive Officers, Hospital↗
PubMed1992

Synergistic action of interleukin-6 and glucocorticoids is mediated by the interleukin-6 response element of the rat alpha 2 macroglobulin gene.

One class of genes coding for the acute-phase proteins (acute-phase genes) is induced by interleukin 6 (IL-6) through the human transcription factor NF-IL-6 and its rat homolog IL-6-DBP/LAP. A second class, represented by the rat alpha 2 macroglobulin gene, utilizes a different IL-6 response element (IL-6-RE) and different DNA-binding proteins interacting with this element, the so-called IL-6-RE binding proteins (IL-6 RE-BPs). Human Hep3B and HepG2 hepatoma, U266 myeloma, and CESS lymphoblastoid cells contain IL-6 RE-BPs that form complexes, with the IL-6-RE, with gel mobilities indistinguishable from those of the corresponding complexes of rat liver cells. The ability to form these complexes was induced by IL-6 in human hepatoma cells with a maximum reached after 4 h and required ongoing protein synthesis. Multiple copies of an 18-bp element containing the IL-6-RE core were sufficient to confer both induction by IL-6 and a synergistic induction by IL-6 plus glucocorticoids to minimal promoters. The synergism was blocked by the receptor antagonist RU486 and thus was dependent on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However, the 18-bp element contained no consensus GR-binding site, and recombinant GR did not bind at this sequence. Therefore, the synergism was probably achieved by an indirect effect of a glucocorticoid-activated intermediate gene on the IL-6 RE-BPs. The rat IL-6 RE-BP had a molecular weight of 102 +/- 10 kDa and was thus distinct from NF-IL-6 and IL-6-DBP/LAP. Therefore, IL-6 must activate two different classes of liver acute-phase genes through at least two different nuclear DNA-binding proteins: NF-IL-6/IL-6-DBP/LAP and the IL-6 RE-BP.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Home intravenous therapy using a silastic long line catheter in cystic fibrosis patients.

Young patients with cystic fibrosis are now accustomed to having regular periods of intravenous therapy to help in the management of their recurring respiratory infections particularly due to pseudomonas organisms. Most patients will eventually experience difficulties in accepting recurring intravenous cannulations and the life span of the conventional intravenous cannula is frequently brief. We have compared percutaneous long line silastic catheters with conventional intravenous cannulas as intravenous access in children with cystic fibrosis being treated for pulmonary exacerbations. We conclude that silastic long lines are superior to conventional cannulas in terms of patient tolerance, reduction in the number of hospital admissions, reduction in the number of repeat venepunctures/cannulations and reduction in local complications. The high degree of patient acceptability has been impressive and has increased with the enthusiasm of children with cystic fibrosis for more frequent intravenous therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The GABA/benzodiazepine receptor chloride channel complex during repeated episodes of physical ethanol dependence in the rat.

The GABA/benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor chloride channel complex was investigated during repeated episodes of ethanol intoxication and withdrawal in the rat; the intragastric intoxication technique was applied and the severity of intoxication, withdrawal and number of seizures were recorded. The following groups were studied after decapitation during withdrawal 10-16 h after the last ethanol feeding: A) isocalorically fed controls not receiving ethanol; B) isocalorical controls subjected to a single ethanol intoxication period; C) animals subjected to 15 intoxication-withdrawal episodes (spontaneous seizures); D) same as C, but without developing seizures. A radio receptor technique was applied in the characterization of the receptor complex comprising specific binding to the BZ-receptor, the chloride channel and the GABA receptor by 3H-diazepam, 35S-TBPS and 3H-muscimol, respectively. The allosteric couplings among the components of the receptor complex were studied by 3H-diazepam and 35S-TBPS binding enhancement tests involving muscimol, ZK 93423 and DMCM. Cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum were the brain regions studied. Except for a reduced specific binding of 3H-diazepam in cerebellum, there were no indications of changes in specific binding to any part of the receptor complex. The allosteric coupling of BZ and GABA receptors as well as chloride channel-BZ receptors were unchanged in all groups. It is notable that no changes at all could be related to number of intoxication-withdrawal episodes or to the development of seizures. Thus, the present study gave no indication that the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor chloride channel complex is directly involved in the augmentation of cerebral nervous system excitability (seizures) during repeated episodes of physical ethanol dependence.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1987

Asynchronous distance between homologous DNA sequences.

The distance between homologous DNA sequences of two species is proposed to be -1/4 ln[det(P)], where P is the conditional probability matrix specifying the proportions of the various nucleotides in the second sequence, corresponding to each of the four nucleotides in the first sequence. A probability model is described which supports this choice of distance. Distance measures based on a constant evolutionary rate assumption are described and compared with the proposed measure. Sampling properties of both types of distance are examined and we conclude by applying the distance measures to mitochondrial DNA sequences of the hominoids.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Design and performance of a modified buckle transducer for the measurement of ligament tension.

The basic features of a modified buckle transducer for the direct in-situ measurement of tension in ligamentous or tendonous tissues are described. The slender shape of the modified design allows measurement in ligaments located in confined spaces with reduced risk of physical interference between the transducer and adjacent bony structures. In addition, simultaneous measurements in different fiber groups of the same ligament are made convenient. The design procedure of the proposed transducer and its performance characteristics are described.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1984

Aflatoxin contamination of maize kernels before harvest. Interaction of Aspergillus flavus spores, corn earworm larvae and fungicide applications.

Two maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids with varying degrees of resistance to damage by corn earworm (CEW) (Heliothis zea Boddie) were grown in Iowa, Georgia, and Missouri. Treatments included: introduction of Aspergillus flavus Link ex. Fr. spores onto newly-emerged silks, application of a fungicide as an aqueous spray onto test ears during the first three weeks after flowering, infestation of ears with CEW eggs, and combinations of these variables. CEW larvae were collected from developing ears and examined for the presence of internal A. flavus group propagules. Aflatoxin levels were determined in mature kernels. Toxin concentrations exhibited a distinct regional variation with relatively high levels in Georgia samples, intermediate concentrations in Missouri kernels and low levels in Iowa samples. No treatment effects were noted in Georgia samples but introduction of A. flavus and CEW increased toxin accumulation in Missouri kernels. Although the CEW-susceptible hybrid exhibited a trend towards increased damage by the insect, no treatment-related differences were observed in the presence of the fungus in larvae or in aflatoxin contamination. Fungicide applications did not significantly reduce aflatoxin levels in mature kernels.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed1983

The prognostic importance of clinical and histologic features in asymptomatic and symptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis.

To determine the life expectancy of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, we analyzed survival data from 280 patients with either symptomatic (243) or asymptomatic (37) disease. Patients were followed for up to 19 years (mean, 6.9 years). The average length of survival was 11.9 years--nearly twice that reported in other studies. In contrast, over a 12-year period the survival of the asymptomatic patients after diagnosis did not differ from that of a control population matched for age and sex. Jaundice, weight loss, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and ascites were each associated with a poor prognosis. Prognosis also correlated with the histologic stages of hepatic fibrosis, cholestasis, and periportal-cell necrosis. A multivariate analysis of clinical features revealed that at the onset of disease, age, hepatomegaly, and elevated levels of serum bilirubin were independent discriminators of a poor prognosis. A histologic finding of fibrosis limited to portal areas improved this discrimination, correlating with prolonged survival. No other factors enchanced the prediction of risk.

Ascites↗