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Biomedical subjects

D J Paul

Publications and source records attributed to D J Paul.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Surface morphology of fetal neural transplants into the lateral ventricles after hippocampal lesions.

The surface morphology of transplants of rat fetal hippocampal tissue, and of cavities formed by aspiration lesion of the adult rat hippocampus and overlying neocortex into which the transplants were placed, was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The surface of lesion cavities was covered by a scar upon which occasional cellular profiles were found. The surface cells resembled supraependymal macrophages. Lesion cavities with a transplant showed similar scarring although the number of supraependymal structures was increased. Polymorphic cells and numerous fiber processes were observed both on the surface and embedded in the scar. Ependymal structures were seen on the non-damaged ventricular surfaces adjacent to the lesion site. These regions, however, also displayed increases in the number and types of supraependymal structures. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated considerable variability in surface morphology of different transplants and over the surface of individual transplants. A transplant could show regions of scarring, areas covered by cells resembling ependymal cells, and regions covered by a dense matrix of fibers. In many regions the fibers coalesced to form a branching, web-like network over the transplant surface. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the surface could be covered by ependymal cells or by the scar seen in scanning specimens. Some surface fibers were identified as axons. Cells on the surface of the transplants could be identified as neuronal, glial-like, and phagocytic. The cells and the possible effects of surface morphology on transplant function is discussed.

Animals

Possible catecholaminergic-opioidergic control of blood pressure during muscular contraction.

The effects of an alpha 2 adrenoceptor blocker, yohimbine, and an alpha 1 adrenoceptor blocker, phenoxybenzamine, and the central alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, on changes in arterial blood pressure and heart rate were studied during fatiguing muscular contractions to determine whether an adrenergic-opioidergic system might be involved in the mediation of cardiovascular function. Fatiguing contractions of the gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles of cats caused an increase in mean arterial blood pressure to 150-170 mmHg from resting values of 110-120 mmHg. Injection of clonidine into the cerebral aqueduct eliminated the increase in blood pressure; this effect was dose dependent. Naloxone antagonised the effects of the highest dose of clonidine (5 micrograms). Injections of yohimbine (1 microgram) into the cerebral aqueduct had no significant effect on this pressor response. Yohimbine (1 microgram) effectively counteracted the antipressor effects of clonidine when the two drugs were injected together until higher doses of clonidine (2-5 micrograms) were used. Phenoxybenzamine had no effect on the pressor response itself but unlike yohimbine was able to attenuate the effects of clonidine only when injected together. These data suggest that activation of muscle ergoreceptor afferent nerve fibres (group III and IV fibres) during muscular contractions may cause an increase in arterial blood pressure by interfering with an inhibitory adrenergic-endorphinergic pathway in the medullary region of the brainstem.

Animals

Effects of carotid artery occlusion on the pressor response induced by sustained isometric contraction in the cat.

The effects of clonidine, a central alpha 2 agonist, on changes in blood pressure caused by muscle afferent nerve (ergoreceptor) activation and baroreceptor manipulation were studied in cats. Prolonged isometric contractions (ergoreceptor activation) of the gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles increased mean arterial pressure by 53 mmHg. This pressor response was not altered by naloxone (0.5 mumol.litre-1) but was eliminated by clonidine (0.5-2.0 micrograms) when injected into the cerebral aqueduct. Brief occlusion of the carotid artery (15-30 s) caused mean arterial pressure to increase by 32-42 mmHg at rest. Neither naloxone nor clonidine altered the magnitude of the reflex pressor response to carotid occlusion. Similar increases in pressure were measured when occlusion was applied during fatiguing isometric contractions; thus baroreceptor induced increases in pressure were superimposed on the ergoreceptor induced blood pressure changes. Naloxone did not affect the changes in pressure caused by either reflex response. Clonidine continued to eliminate the pressor response to muscular contraction but did not affect the pressure increase when the carotid occlusion was applied during contractions. Electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve caused blood pressure to decrease by 36 mmHg during rest and by 41 mmHg during fatiguing isometric contractions. Clonidine did not alter the depressor response to carotid sinus nerve stimulation. These data may indicate that separate pathways centrally mediate the changes in blood pressure caused by ergoreceptor and baroreceptor afferent activation. The integration of the ergoreceptor pathway may involve a catecholaminergic-opioidergic system but the present results do not suggest a similar interaction for the baroreceptor integration.

Animals

Venous contrast extravasation during digital subtraction angiography.

Six episodes of contrast extravasation occurred in 5 patients during intravenous digital subtraction angiography in a period of 9 months. The extravasations were into the mediastinum (3), pericardium (1), and right atrial wall (2). These occurred using a variety of catheters, all the same size (5.0 F--1.67 mm). Three were Katzen catheters, one had a pigtail configuration, and two were straight catheters. We believe that the extravasations are due to three main factors. The first is catheter-related, owing to the small size (5.0 F) creating recoil and marked jet stream effect due to the large volume and pressure that must be delivered through the side holes. The second factor is related to positioning of the catheter in the superior vena cava. Finally, the respiratory phase at the time of injection becomes crucial. Understanding of these factors may help to decrease this potentially serious complication.

Adult

Lymphocele: an unusual mass in the right upper quadrant.

A patient with a palpable right upper abdominal mass eight years after cholecystectomy was found to have a subhepatic lymphocele. Although this is an uncommon location, the presence of a sonolucent mass in an area of previous surgery suggests lymphocele.

Abdomen

Hindgut duplication with rectovaginal fistula.

Complete colon duplication is an extremely rare congenital anomaly that occasionally presents diagnostic problems. This report presents a 23-year-old black woman with complete duplication of the colon and distal ileum, with termination of 1 colon into the vagina.

Adult

Diagnosis of osteomyelitis in children by combined blood pool and bone imaging.

Differentiation of osteomyelitis from cellulitis or septic arthritis can be difficult. The radiological examination often does not have the characteristic features. Seventy of 71 children with osteomyelitis had focal areas of increased radioactivity at the site of the infection. The addition of "blood pool" images aids in the interpretation of the study as they permit evaluation of the effect of hyperemia. The 13 childrenwith cellulitis had diffuse increase in radioactivity involving both the bones and soft tissues. Bone imaging as the initial screening procedure for osteomyelitis is recommended.

Adolescent

Polyphosphate bone scanning of non-malignant bone disease in children.

The advent of 99mTechnetium phosphate bone scanning radiopharmaceuticals has opened new methods of investigation of pediatric bone diseases. In axial skeleton pain, suspected osteomyelitis, evaluation of vascular integrity and suspected but undetected fractures, the bone scan has proved to be a highly complementary study to the radiologic examination.

Adolescent