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Biomedical subjects

D Morton

Publications and source records attributed to D Morton.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

p53 accumulation in benign breast biopsy specimens.

Several studies of benign breast lesions using methacran-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues and cytological preparations have suggested that p53 accumulation in these lesions as detected by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining is rare to absent. As a result, several different investigators have suggested that p53 immunoreactivity in breast specimens infers a diagnosis of malignancy or may identify premalignant lesions. We immunostained 271 breast biopsy specimens from 271 patients with the monoclonal anti-p53 antibody BP-53-12 and found positive nuclear staining in seven of 23 malignant lesions (30%) and 39 of 248 benign biopsy specimens (16%). Of the benign lesions, 30% of fibroadenomas, nonpremalignant breast lesions, were positive. Long-term follow-up information was available on 48 patients with benign biopsy specimens and showed that 12% of those positive and 7% of those negative for p53 developed breast carcinoma. This difference was not significant (P > .2). We conclude that (1) p53 immunoreactivity in breast lesions should not be used as exclusive evidence of malignancy and (2) p53 immunoreactivity in benign breast lesions may not identify a subset of patients at increased risk for breast carcinoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1994

A statewide evaluation of pediatric prehospital and hospital emergency services.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent of pediatric emergency training and the availability of pediatric equipment and patient care protocols in the prehospital and hospital settings. DESIGN: Statewide surveys developed by the North Carolina Provisional Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medical Services and by the Office of Emergency Medical Services. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Surveys were mailed to all 572 prehospital Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agencies and separately to all 125 acute-care hospitals in North Carolina. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: Surveys were returned by 335 (58.6%) of the prehospital providers, including all 45 paramedic and 14 advanced-intermediate provider agencies. One hundred (80%) of the acute-care hospitals returned surveys. Only 10.8% of the prehospital EMS agencies provided more than 10 hours of basic training in pediatric emergency care; 18% provided more than 5 hours of continuing education in pediatric emergencies over a 3-year period. Pediatric-specific equipment was available in many prehospital vehicles, although some deficiencies were noted. Written pediatric management, bypass, and helicopter transport protocols were absent in most prehospital programs. Paramedic programs generally were much better in all areas, although deficiencies were present. Only 14% of the responding hospitals had more than 20 pediatric beds; 13% reported seeing more than 100 patients per day in the emergency department. Deficiencies were identified in pediatric patient care protocols, triage and transport agreements, pediatric training of nurses and physicians, and equipment. Equipment deficiencies were more marked in the intensive care units than in the emergency departments. CONCLUSIONS: These survey data are inexpensive to obtain and demonstrate EMS system deficiencies. The survey information provides a baseline measurement that can lead to measurable, targeted changes in the state's EMS system for children.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Mini-dose (1-microCi) 14C-urea breath test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a mini-dose (1-microCi) 14C-urea breath test (UBT), using a simplified protocol. METHODS: Fasting patients (n = 95) were given a drink of 1 microCi (37 kBq) of 14C-urea. Samples of breath carbon dioxide (2 mmol) were collected at 10, 20, and 30 min later by trapping in hyamine solution; 14C activity was measured by liquid scintillation counting. Results were expressed as "CO2 recovery," i.e., [(% of administered dose recovered/mmol CO2 trapped) x body weight (kg)]. Reproducibility of the test was assessed by repeat studies on two consecutive days in 11 volunteers. All breath test results were compared with culture for Helicobacter pylori. In 27 patients, results also were compared with 13C-urea breath test (European protocol). RESULTS: Using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, we selected a cut-off value of 0.55 at 20 min to separate those positive and negative for H. pylori. Sensitivity and specificity were 98% and 87%, respectively. Among four patients with negative culture but positive 14C-breath tests, three had evidence of infection by serology or 13C-UBT. Assuming that these three were genuinely positive, the recalculated specificity improved to 97%, sensitivity remaining at 98%. The reproducibility of the test was good, with only a minor day-to-day variation. Concordance with the 13C-UBT was excellent: there was 100% agreement in the diagnostic classification of all 27 patients (19 positive, eight negative). CONCLUSIONS: The mini-dose 14C-urea breath test has a high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 98%, specificity 97%) with minimal radiation exposure. It is simple, rapid, and convenient for a busy general hospital.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1992

Docking of dogs.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1992

Docking of dogs: practical and ethical aspects.

Next month, the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons will discuss the docking of dogs' tails, with a view to deciding whether docking for non-therapeutic purposes should be considered as prima-facie evidence of disgraceful professional conduct. Here, Professor David Morton considers the arguments for and against tail docking, and the ethical issues involved.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1992

Mycobacterium bovis infection in a captive herd of Sika deer.

Infection with Mycobacterium bovis was diagnosed in a small privately owned herd of Sika deer. After postmortem examination of a deer with progressive pulmonary disease, diagnosis of infection with M bovis was confirmed by bacteriologic culture. The 2 remaining deer in this herd were euthanatized, necropsied, and confirmed to be infected with M bovis. Three cats in contact with the deer were also euthanatized and necropsied. One of these cats had lesions suggestive of mycobacterial infection in the colon and mesenteric lymph nodes. Infection of this cat with M bovis was not confirmed by bacterial culture. Mycobacteriosis, infrequently encountered in clinical veterinary practice, may be confused with disease caused by other infective agents or neoplasia. The zoonotic potential of these bacteria and a recent increase in human tuberculosis warrants continued surveillance of companion and food animal populations for mycobacterial infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Reproduction in female cattle in a communal farming area of Zimbabwe.

Cattle in a communal farming area of Zimbabwe were identified and examined in the late dry and mid wet season of 1985/86. Ovarian activity rates were 17.9% and 38.6% in the dry and wet season respectively. Pregnancy rates were 16.1% and 24.6% respectively. A major limitation to reproduction was the percentage of anoestrous females. There was no evidence of a seasonal calving pattern. Median body condition score was 2.0 in the dry season and 1.5 in the wet season. Adult females of body condition score 2.5 and above had ovarian activity rates of 41.9% and pregnancy rates of 41.9 per cent. Those with a body condition score below 2.5 had rates of 26.8% and 16.4% respectively. Serum progesterone levels in pregnant animals were positively related to body condition score, with some animals having progesterone levels similar to non-pregnant animals. Metabolic profiles suggested that the major limiting nutrient in both seasons was nitrogen, although other micronutrients might also be involved in low reproductive rates.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1992

Modulation of histamine type II receptors on CD8+ T cells by interleukin-2 and cimetidine.

CD8+ T cells are known to play a major role in regulating immune functions under normal and disease conditions. In this study a radioligand binding assay was used to quantitate histamine type II (H2) receptors on activated T cells. The objective was to examine the expression of H2 receptors on T cells during activation with interleukin-2 (IL-2) and treatment with cimetidine. Activated suppressor T cells induced by concanavalin A+IL-2 showed a significant (p less than 0.01) increase in H2 receptors compared to the control nonactivated T cells. The T cells expressing the H2 receptors were identified as CD8+ cells; those among them that had an enhanced level of H2 receptors were identified as CD25+. Treatment of activated suppressor cells with the H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine at a concentration of 10(-5) M significantly reduced the number of H2 receptors. Suppressor cells induced by Con A+IL-2 were able to suppress both IgG and IgM production that was reversible with cimetidine. Incubation of lymphocytes with 50 U/ml IL-2 alone in 3-day culture significantly (p less than 0.005) enhanced H2 receptor expression. These studies demonstrate that activated suppressor T cells that are CD8+CD25+ have enhanced levels of H2 receptors and can be modulated by cimetidine.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1992

Characterisation and evaluation of a new double lumen central venous catheter.

The performance of a new double lumen central venous haemodialysis catheter was tested in two laboratory models. In a bench model the patient's venous system was simulated by a reservoir from which water or glycerol was drawn through a fixed tube. A double lumen silastic catheter was then inserted into the tube, as it would in a major vein, with the tip directed away from the direction of flow. The catheter was linked to a dialysis circuit incorporating pressure sensors and dye was infused at constant rate so that recirculation at the tip could be measured and found to be less than 5%. The same catheters were inserted operatively into the superior vena cava via the external jugular vein of three pigs (weight 27-31 kg). The catheters remained patent for four weeks and when connected to an extracorporeal circuit had recirculation and pressure flow characteristics comparable to the bench model in the range 50-400 ml/min. The new double lumen catheter is worthy of clinical evaluation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Reproductive parameters in free-ranging female black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) in Zimbabwe.

Samples and data were collected from twenty-eight female black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) during translocation efforts carried out by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management in Zimbabwe. Biological data were collected, cytological examination of vaginal smears was performed, and serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, oestriol, and 17-beta-oestradiol were determined by radio-immuno-assay. Prolactin levels were determined for 3 pregnant animals, 1 of which was sampled before and after parturition. Vaginal cytology was not found to be helpful for indicating the oestrous cycle stage for the black rhinoceros, but progesterone and 17-beta-oestradiol levels were found to be useful indicators of pregnancy and possibly of oestrous cycle stage as well.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A structured psychiatric intervention for cancer patients. I. Changes over time in methods of coping and affective disturbance.

We evaluated the immediate and long-term effects on psychological distress and coping methods of a 6-week, structured, psychiatric group intervention for postsurgical patients with malignant melanoma. The intervention consisted of health education, enhancement of problem-solving skills, stress management (eg, relaxation techniques), and psychological support. In spite of good prognosis, most patients had high levels of psychological distress at baseline, comparable with other patients with cancer. However, at the end of brief psychiatric intervention, the experimental subjects (n = 38), while not without some distress, exhibited higher vigor and greater use of active-behavioral coping than the controls (n = 28). At 6 months' follow-up, the group differences were even more pronounced. The intervention-group patients then showed significantly lower depression, fatigue, confusion, and total mood disturbance as well as higher vigor. They were also using significantly more active-behavioral and active-cognitive coping than the controls. These results indicate that a short-term psychiatric group intervention for patients with malignant melanoma effectively reduces psychological distress and enhances longer-term effective coping.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

A structured psychiatric intervention for cancer patients. II. Changes over time in immunological measures.

We evaluated the immediate and long-term effects on immune function measures of a 6-week structure psychiatric group intervention for patients with malignant melanoma. Along with a reduction in levels of psychological distress and greater use of active coping methods, the following immune changes were seen at the 6-month assessment point in the intervention-group patients (n = 35) compared with controls (n = 26): significant increases in the percent of large granular lymphocytes (defined as CD57 with Leu-7) and natural killer (NK) cells (defined as CD16 with Leu-11 and CD56 with NKH1) along with indications of increase in NK cytotoxic activity; and a small decrease in the percent of CD4 (helper/inducer) T cells. At the 6-week follow-up point, the majority of these changes were not yet observable. The results indicate that a short-term psychiatric group intervention in patients with malignant melanoma with a good prognosis was associated with longer-term changes in affective state, coping, and the NK lymphoid cell system. Affective rather than coping measures showed some significant correlations with immune cell changes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Hepatic encephalopathy induced by small bowel obstruction in a noncirrhotic child with portal vein thrombosis.

A case of hepatic encephalopathy in a noncirrhotic child, who has undergone a previous mesocaval shunt for extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis, is presented. Hepatic encephalopathy developed 5 years after the operation and is believed to have been precipitated by the presence of small bowel obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy and lysis of an adhesion relieved the obstruction and led to the resolution of the encephalopathy.

Adolescent↗