PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Donahue

Publications and source records attributed to E Donahue.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Evaluation of chronic urticaria in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis.

The coincidence of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a commonly observed phenomenon in western New York. Previous literature suggested that there may be a direct relationship between them. We undertook these studies to determine whether humoral or cell-mediated mechanisms might link HT and CIU. Skin biopsies from patients with CIU, with or without HT, were indistinguishable by light microscopy. No immune complex deposition was observed, although only the skin from patients with CIU and HT contained perivascular fibrin deposits. Similarly, immunohistochemical studies evaluating cellular expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, and CD68 failed to differentiate between CIU with or without HT. Analysis of Vbeta restriction in thyroid tissue of patients with HT and the skin of patients with CIU and HT by in situ polymerase chain reaction failed to reveal any oligoclonal T-lymphocyte subpopulations. In contrast, only patients with CIU and HT had anti-FcepsilonRI antibodies in their sera that could induce degranulation of normal basophils. Some sera from patients with CIU and HT caused degranulation of normal basophils in the absence of anti-FceRI. The factor causing basophil degranulation in these sera was not determined. Patients with CIU and HT failed to improve clinically with thyroid replacement therapy. All CIU patients were equally well managed with symptomatic therapies. In conclusion, HT likely represents a marker of other autoimmunity, rather than being a direct causative agent in CIU. Management of CIU, with or without HT and with or without anti-FceRI antibodies, should be the same. Future studies will have to examine whether cell-mediated responses participate in CIU, especially in association with HT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gamblers seeking treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' goal was to determine the frequency of psychiatric comorbidity among treatment-seeking pathological gamblers, compare the severity of gambling and psychological problems in gamblers with and without comorbid disorders, and investigate differences between gamblers with and without comorbid disorders in the dopamine D(2) receptor gene (DRD(2)). METHOD: Sixty-nine pathological gamblers who consecutively applied to a specialized outpatient treatment program were evaluated with structured interviews, self-report questionnaires, and psychological scales and were genotyped for a DRD(2) polymorphism. RESULTS: A comorbid psychiatric disorder was present in 43 (62.3%) of the gamblers. The most frequent diagnoses were personality disorders (N=29 [42.0%]), alcohol abuse or dependence (N=23 [33.3%]), and adjustment disorders (N=12 [17.4%]). Gamblers with comorbid psychiatric disorders had gambling scores and psychological scale scores indicating greater severity of gambling and psychopathology. Significant differences in DRD(2) allele distribution were found in gamblers with and without comorbid disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric comorbidity is common among pathological gamblers and is associated with greater severity of clinical problems. The DRD(2) gene could be a liability genetic factor for psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gambling.

Comorbidity↗
PubMed1997

Synthesis, characterization, biodegradation, and drug delivery application of biodegradable lactic/glycolic acid oligomers: I. Synthesis and characterization.

A series of oligomers or low molecular weight polymers of lactic and/or glycolic acid has been synthesized with different molar ratios of lactic to glycolic acid. These oligomers have been characterized with respect to oligomer composition, molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, crystallinity, melting temperature, and glass transition temperature. The polymerization conditions for the lactic/glycolic acid oligomer syntheses were as follows: 180-220 degrees C, 5 mm Hg, 5 h, and 0.1 wt% of catalyst (antimony oxide) concentration. The polymeric compositions correlated to the feed ratios of lactic to glycolic acid. The molecular weight of the oligomers ranged from 895.8 +/- 48.7 to 1368.0 +/- 0 D with the intrinsic viscosity ranging from 0.0513 to 0.0814 dl g-1. The lactic/glycolic acid oligomers were found to be amorphous. The glass transition temperatures of the lactic/glycolic acid oligomers were lower than physiological temperature.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1994

[Extended superselective vagotomy. Experimental bases and application in the surgical treatment of duodenal ulcer].

There is a sound basis for performing EHSV with reference to the "areas of vagotomy" as described and for wider application of EHSV. Most patients with complications of duodenal ulcer disease can be treated successfully by EHSV, with a small incidence of recurrent ulcers. The liberal use of pyloroplasty or drainage procedures is justified, since the potential problems of perioperative infection and postoperative alkaline reflux are not clinically significant. Post-gastrectomy syndromes can be largely avoided if gastric resection is reserved only for the few patients with deep ulcers of the lesser curvature. Intraoperative testing for completeness of vagotomy is a useful adjunct in the performance of EHSV, especially by those who are learning the technique. If the principles of EHSV are followed, routine use of intraoperative testing is superflous.

Drainage↗
PubMed1980

Use of personal effects in the Canary Island accident investigation.

Personal effects were used extensively to provide supportive evidence for identification and in seven cases it provided the main means of identification. Personal effects were received from the Canary Islands in numbered plastic bags, having been removed from each remains. In a few cases, personal effects must have been taken from locations near a remains because four bags were found to contain identifiable personal effects that did not match the remains with the same number. therefore, personal effects were utilized less frequently than might normally occur in the course of such investigations. Thorough searches of each remains, especially X-ray, yielded additional effects during the investigation at Dover. A small dedicated team was formed which was responsible for cleaning, cataloging, and requesting antemortem information necessary for the identification process. They made extensive use of color Polaroid photography.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1980

Administrative organization and function during the identification process for mass disasters--Canary Islands crash.

The administrative functions associated with large-scale medical and identification efforts in accident investigations are substantial and contribute directly to the overall conduct of the operation. We envisioned the administrative role as one primarily responsible for integration of all antemortem and postmortem information. This required each individual involved to be thoroughly familiar with the data. This required constructions of numerous lists, charts, and records. Secondly, its role involved data storage to document the identifications made. Finally, its role required summary status reporting both during and after the main investigation. Fortunately, we haven't had many accidents the size of the one occuring in the Canary Islands. However, this leaves us with little corporate knowledge on handling administrative matters. This article is designed to explain the who, what, why, and how administration was handled in this accident, and the lessons we learned.

Accidents, Aviation↗