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Diane Buchanan

Publications and source records attributed to Diane Buchanan.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Asthmatic bronchial epithelium is more susceptible to oxidant-induced apoptosis.

Abnormal apoptotic mechanisms are associated with disease pathogenesis. Because the asthmatic bronchial epithelium is characteristically damaged with loss of columnar epithelial cells, we postulated that this is due to unscheduled apoptosis. Using an antibody directed toward the caspase cleavage product of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, immunohistochemistry applied to endobronchial biopsies showed higher levels of staining in the bronchial epithelium of subjects with asthma as compared with normal control subjects (% epithelial staining [median (range) = 10.5 (1.4-24.5) versus 0.4 (0.0-9.7)]; P < 0.001). Because we were unable to determine whether this difference was due to ongoing inflammation in vivo, cultures of normal and asthmatic bronchial epithelial cells were used to study apoptosis in vitro. In complete growth medium, these cells showed no difference in their rate of proliferation or viability. However, cells from subjects with asthma were more susceptible to the apoptotic effects of H2O2 than cells from normal control subjects (% apoptotic cells = 32.2 [8.8-54.9] versus 14.3 [6.4-24.7]; P < 0.05), even though both were similarly affected by treatment with actinomycin D. These data indicate that the susceptibility of asthmatic bronchial epithelium to oxidants is greater than normal. This susceptibility may contribute to the rising trends in asthma associated with air pollution and diets low in antioxidants.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A critical review and synthesis of literature on reminiscing with older adults.

Reminiscing is an intervention that has been used independently in nursing with different populations for many years. A critical analysis of the literature on reminiscing was carried out in 3 stages: identification of the studies to be included, review of the studies to ensure that they were research-based, and critical appraisal of the studies. The analysis resulted in clarity regarding the operational definitions of reminiscing and life review. Of the many studies reviewed, only a handful were research-based. The others were valuable in other respects, such as providing guidance for the design of imaginative and age-related reminiscing and life-review programs.

Aged↗