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D Summers

Publications and source records attributed to D Summers.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Living with dying.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude to Death↗

Variant dsRNAs associated with transmission-defective isolates of wound tumor virus represent terminally conserved remnants of genome segments.

Variant double-stranded RNAs are often associated with the genome of transmission-defective isolates of wound tumor virus. These RNAs are replicated and packaged into virus particles in systemically infected plants and are transcribed in vitro by the virion-associated transcriptase. Direct physical evidence that the variant RNAs are remnants of particular WTV genome segments was provided by molecular hybridization studies. Subsequently, ribonuclease T1 digestion products of 3'-end-labeled genome and remnant RNAs were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic techniques. One-dimensional partial and complete digestion patterns were indistinguishable, indicating that the guanosine positions relative to the 3' terminus of the corresponding strands of a particular genome segment and its remnant RNA are the same for at least 40 nucleotides from each end. Fingerprints of the 3' terminal ribonuclease T1-resistant fragments were identical, showing that the nucleotide composition of the 3' terminal ends of the corresponding strands of a particular genome segment and its remnant RNA are also identical. These results indicate that variant RNAs associated with transmission-defective WTV isolates are formed by deletion of an internal portion (as much as 85%) of genomic RNA segments yielding terminally conserved genomic remnants that are functional with respect to transcription, replication, and packaging.

Animals↗

The distribution patterns of biatrial myxomas.

Biatrial myxomas are extremely rare, and by 1970 only three of eight attempts at removal had been successful. Another successful removal, the difficulty of establishing the biatrial nature of a myxoma by echocardiography, and a summary of the distribution patterns of biatrial myxomas are presented here. In more than 50% of patients, both pedicles grew into separate atrial chambers from a common location in the atrial septum. The surgical implications are discussed.

Aged↗

Circulating thrombin time anticoagulant in a procainamide-induced syndrome.

Circulating anticoagulants are unusual in drug-induced syndromes. We evaluated the prolonged thrombin time of plasma from a patient with a procainamide-induced syndrome. This defect was shown to be due to a circulating anticoagulant that was not of fibrin or fibrinogen origin and that prolonged thrombin and reptilase clotting times of plasma. Subclinical doses of heparin sodium induced hemorrhagic manifestations in this patient. Following cessation of heparin therapy, the circulating anticoagulant persisted but the bleeding tendency abated. All clinical and laboratory manifestations of this syndrome abated gradually following cessation of procainamide therapy.

Aged↗

The Baylor-ABI electromechanical total artificial heart. Accelerated endurance testing.

To test the durability of each part or assembled component of the Baylor-ABI total artificial heart (TAH), the authors performed an endurance test under severe conditions. The TAH was immersed in a saline bath at 42 degrees C, which is 4-5 degrees C higher than normal body temperature. This is an accelerated endurance test because of the elevated temperatures. In this accelerated endurance test loop, the 42 degrees C heated saline was circulated not only in the pump but also outside the pump. During pumping, temperatures of the motor and outside surface of the centerpiece were continuously measured. This testing showed that during almost 4 months of pumping no electromechanical troubles were observed. Both inside (motor) and outside temperatures were stable and the differences in both temperatures were only 3-4 degrees C, demonstrating that heat generation is not a problem. The voltage and current required in this system remained constant, indicating stable and reliable performance. Based on these results, this pump is expected to run continuously over a long duration in a normal physiologic environment. This accelerated endurance test system is very suitable for estimating the influence of heat generation by the actuator of blood pumps. It is also quite useful in validating the durability of various cardiac prosthesis.

Heart, Artificial↗