PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Moss

Publications and source records attributed to E Moss.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Canadian beef quality audit.

A study was conducted in 4 Canadian processing plants in 1995-96 to determine the prevalence of quality defects in Canadian cattle. One percent of the annual number of cattle processed in Canada were evaluated on the processing floor and 0.1% were graded in the cooler. Brands were observed on 37% and multiple brands on 6% of the cattle. Forty percent of the cattle had horns, 20% of which were scurs, 33% were stubs, 10% were tipped, and 37% were full length. Tag (mud and manure on the hide) was observed on 34% of the cattle. Bruises were found on 78% of the carcasses, 81% of which were minor in severity. Fifteen percent of the bruises were located on the round, 29% on the loin, 40% on the rib, 16% on the chuck, and 0.02% on the brisket. Grubs were observed in 0.02% of the steers, and injection sites were observed in 1.3% of whole hanging carcasses. Seventy percent of the livers were passed for human food and 14% for pet food; 16% were condemned. Approximately 71% of the liver condemnations were due to liver abscesses. Four percent of the heads, 6% of the tongues, and 0.2% of whole carcasses were condemned. The pregnancy rate in female cattle was approximately 6.7%. The average hot carcass weight was 357 kg (s = 40) in steers, 325 kg (s = 41) in heifers, 305 kg (s = 53) in cows, 388 kg (s = 62) in virgin bulls and 340 kg (s = 39) in mature bulls. The average ribeye area in all cattle was 84 cm2 (s = 12); range 29 cm2 to 128 cm2. Grade fat was highly variable and averaged 9 mm (s = 4) for steers and heifers, 6 mm (s = 6) for cows, 5 mm (s = 1) for virgin bulls, and 4 mm (s = 0.5) for mature bulls. The average lean meat yield was 59.7% in cattle (s = 3.4); range 39% to 67%. One percent of the carcasses were devoid of marbling, 1% were dark cutters, and 0.05% of the steer carcasses were staggy. Six percent of the carcasses had poor conformation, 3.7% were underfinished, and 0.7% were overfinished. Yellow fat was observed in 4% of the carcasses; 10% of carcasses were aged. Based on January 1996 prices, the economic analysis showed that the Canadian beef industry lost $70.52 per head or $189.6 million annually from quality nonconformities. Methods identified to reduce these nonconformities included improvements in management, animal identification, handling, genetic selection, marketing, grading, and information transfer.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1996

Synthesis of TNF alpha and TGF beta mRNA in the different micro-environments within atheromatous plaques.

OBJECTIVE: To examine localisation of tumour necrosis factor (TNF alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) mRNA synthesis in human coronary artery atheromatous plaques, to explore how synthesis of these cytokines relates to distribution of macrophages and smooth muscle cells, and to correlate this with plaque micro-environments. METHOD: In situ hybridisation with digoxigenin-labelled sense and anti-sense riboprobes was used, combined with immunohistochemistry to detect TNF alpha protein, macrophage, lymphocyte and smooth muscle cell markers. RESULTS: In the intimal plaque TNF alpha mRNA is synthesised by monocytes/macrophages as well as by smooth muscle cells. Both TNF alpha and TGF beta mRNAs were present at the margins of the lesions and in reactive areas, where there was little lipid and fibrosis. Focal aggregates of macrophages in the adventitia expressed both TNF alpha mRNA and protein and TGF beta mRNA. CONCLUSION: Synthesis of these two cytokines by macrophages as well as smooth muscle cells contributes to the pathobiology of the plaque and that this is part of the 'reaction to injury', rather than a feature of a specific cell, or a specific layer, within the vessel wall.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1996

Effect of antagonism of mivacurium on recovery of extraocular muscle function.

We have measured extraocular muscle function in 41 patients who received neuromuscular block with mivacurium 0.2 mg kg-1 during anaesthesia with propofol, ketorolac, fentanyl and isoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen, which was antagonized at the end of surgery with neostigmine 0.05 mg kg-1 and glycopyrronium 0.01 mg kg-1 in 21 of these patients. Extraocular muscle function was measured before and after surgery in each group with the Maddox Wing apparatus and compared with a control group (n = 20) who breathed spontaneously the same gaseous anaesthetic mixture via a reinforced laryngeal mask airway. In patients where the action of mivacurium was antagonized, extraocular muscle function was improved significantly 20 min after antagonism (P < 0.001) compared with those who received no antagonism. At 60 min after antagonism, there were no differences between the groups. There were no differences between patients who received no neuromuscular blockers and those who received blocker and antagonist.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1996

The reinforced laryngeal mask airway for dento-alveolar surgery.

We have evaluated the reinforced laryngeal mask airway (LMA) for use during dento-alveolar surgery in 100 ASA I and II day-case patients allocated randomly to receive either a nasotracheal tube or reinforced LMA. We recorded ease of airway insertion, airway complications, quality of recovery and replies to a 24-h postoperative questionnaire. In addition, a fibreoptic assessment was made of laryngotracheal soiling, and the effect of head movement and the position of the reinforced LMA. There were no significant differences in difficulty in airway positioning or perioperative oxygen desaturation. Nineteen patients in the nasotracheal tube group had epistaxis (P = 0.001) and laryngotracheal soiling occurred in three of these patients. Two reinforced LMA were dislodged on moving into the operating theatre and in a further five patients in this group there was partial airway obstruction (compared with none in the nasotracheal tube group; P = 0.018) which was caused by downward pressure on the mandible by the surgeon. There were no differences in postoperative complications. No surgeon reported poor access to the operating field. Overall the reinforced LMA provided satisfactory conditions for this surgery but vigilance of the airway was required, especially at the time of extraction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Long-term outcome in infants with the shaking-impact syndrome.

Nonaccidental injury accounts for nearly one quarter of all hospital admissions for head injury in infancy, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Long-term outcome in survivors, however, has been incompletely studied. In this series, 84 infants 2 years of age and younger with the shaking-impact syndrome consecutively admitted to a single hospital between 1978 and 1988 were identified. A questionnaire detailing current medical, developmental, and behavioral status was developed, and attempts were made to locate the 62 children surviving the acute injury. Family instability and strict confidentiality restrictions precluded locating the majority of children, but 14 children with demographic and injury characteristics similar to those of the overall group were contacted at an average of 9 years after injury. Seven children were severely disabled or vegetative, 2 were moderately disabled, and 5 had a good outcome. Of the latter group, 3 had repeated grades and/or required tutoring. Acute factors associated with poor outcome included unresponsiveness on admission, need for intubation, age less than 6 months, and bilateral or unilateral diffuse hypodensity on CT scan. All children with bilateral diffuse hypodensity and loss of gray-white differentiation on CT scan remained blind, retarded, nonverbal, and nonambulatory in spite of aggressive medical and surgical management. This study suggests that the majority of children surviving the shaking-impact syndrome suffer major permanent morbidity, and that acute factors predicting long-term outcome may help guide aggressiveness of care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Group supervision: focus on countertransference.

This paper examines the advantages of a particular way of supervising psychotherapy, namely, in a group setting with a special focus on the supervisee's countertransference experience. Group supervision is conceptualized as much more than presenting a case and getting feedback. Rather, the group is used in all its interactive complexity as it resonates in a myriad of ways to aspects of the case being presented. Furthermore, because of the complexity of conscious and unconscious interactions and reverberations during this process, it is often helpful to have a focus in the supervision. One helpful possibility is to center on the supervisee's countertransference experience and use the group to reflect, amplify, and process that experience. This can be a highly valuable way of helping the therapists increase their understanding of the case and enhance the quality of therapeutic interventions.

Countertransference↗
PubMed1995

Effects of changes in mean arterial pressure on SjO2 during cerebral aneurysm surgery.

Twenty-six patients requiring clipping of cerebral aneurysms were anaesthetized with propofol, alfentanil and atracurium infusions and their lungs ventilated mechanically to hypocapnia (3.4-4.5 kPa). SjO2 was measured continuously with an Oximetrix fibreoptic oximetry catheter. Normovolaemia was maintained by observing the response of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and central venous pressure (CVP) to fluid administration. The response of SjO2 to increased MAP was noted and the lactate oxygen index (LOI) calculated at regular intervals. SjO2 measurements indicated a critical MAP of between 80 and 110 mm Hg in nine patients, and one patient had a persistently low SjO2 value despite an MAP of 110 mm Hg. An increase in MAP was associated with an increase in SjO2 in 19 patients (P < 0.001). When the effects of changes in PaCO2 were eliminated, this change was still significant (P = 0.004) (n = 9). Patients with an LOI > 0.08 at any time during the procedure had a worse initial outcome (within the first day) (P < 0.02) than patients who had a normal LOI throughout. Long-term outcome was similar to those with a normal LOI. Increasing MAP did not have a consistent effect on LOI. Jugular bulb cannulation to assess hypoperfusion in conjunction with lactate measurements and calculation of LOI provide useful information on which to base the intra- and postoperative management of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1995

Treating the love-sick patient.

Love-sick patients come to therapy because they are suffering from an obsession. Their lover has left, apparently for good. They cannot accept this fact, mourn the loss and get on with life. Object relations theory offers a framework for better understanding their suffering. The patients described have experienced early relationship disturbances, and their adult love offered an illusory defence against deep feelings of fragility and low self-esteem. Accepting the finality of their lover's departure meant re-experiencing feelings of abandonment and worthlessness. An effective psychodynamic strategy in cases like these is to focus on these painful feelings, particularly as they appear in the therapy relationship. Learning to tolerate them in this relationship can be a positive step towards accepting the lover's departure.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Air in the cavernous sinus following scalp vein cannulation.

A 7-month-old infant was found to have air in the cavernous sinus during a CT scan under general anaesthesia. An anterior scalp vein had been used to administer atracurium and contrast. The anatomy and precautions to prevent air embolism during scalp vein cannulation are discussed.

Catheterization, Peripheral↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of propofol with enflurane during hypotensive anaesthesia for middle ear surgery.

Forty patients undergoing middle ear surgery were allocated randomly to receive propofol induction and maintenance, or thiopentone induction and enflurane maintenance for anaesthesia. Both groups also received fentanyl, alcuronium, nitrous oxide and oxygen. If this did not reduce systolic arterial pressure to 70 mm Hg, labetalol, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or both, was administered. Fifteen control patients had enflurane anaesthesia without hypotension. Pre- and postoperative psychometric tests were performed in all groups. The propofol group received significantly more labetalol (P = 0.014) and GTN (P = 0.004) than the enflurane group. There was a greater increase in reaction times after operation in the study groups (P < 0.05) compared with controls. There was no difference between the propofol and enflurane groups in control of arterial pressure, recovery from anaesthesia or psychometric testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A comparison of the effect of isoflurane and propofol on arterial carbon dioxide tensions following intracranial surgery.

Thirty-four adult patients undergoing elective craniotomy were randomly allocated to receive either isoflurane or propofol to supplement nitrous oxide and fentanyl for maintenance of anaesthesia. Arterial blood gases were measured pre-operatively before premedication and at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after tracheal extubation. The arterial carbon dioxide tension was higher than the preoperative value 5 min after tracheal extubation in both groups (p < 0.01), but there was no difference between the two groups at any time. It is concluded that the degree of postoperative respiratory depression after intracranial surgery is short-lived and minimal following maintenance of anaesthesia with either propofol or isoflurane.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1992

Assessment of rejection in orthotopic human heart transplantation using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as an index of cell proliferation.

Myocardial biopsies taken during the management of cardiac transplantation were stained for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Counts of PCNA-positive interstitial cells were compared, in retrospect, with the reported histological grade of rejection. Biopsies without rejection had negligible numbers of PCNA-positive cells. Ascending grades of rejection were paralleled by an increase in the number of PCNA-positive cells [grade 1, 13 +/- 35 (mean +/- SD); grade 2a, 38 +/- 40; grade 2b, 91 +/- 75; grade 3, 170 +/- 78]. While highly significant, in statistical terms, the overlap in the counts between different grades means that prediction of rejection from the PCNA count alone is not feasible. Biopsies graded as 0 or 1 and which immediately preceded more severe rejection episodes showed no increase in PCNA-positive cells. The majority of PCNA-positive cells are fibroblasts, although in grade 2b and 3 rejection a small population of PCNA-positive T lymphocytes occurs. PCNA staining is also seen in cardiac myocytes immediately after transplantation, during rejection episodes, and late after transplantation in the absence of rejection. The positive PCNA staining of cardiac myocytes probably reflects DNA synthesis that occurs with the shift toward polyploidy in hypertrophy.

Autoantigens↗
PubMed1992

Alfentanil increases intracranial pressure when intracranial compliance is low.

Intracranial pressure increases following the administration of alfentanil 1 mg are reported in five patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus who were undergoing infusion of saline into a lateral ventricle to measure cerebrospinal fluid outflow resistance. The increase in intracranial pressure was accompanied by a fall in mean arterial pressure. These observations show that, when the intracranial compliance is reduced, alfentanil can cause considerable increases in intracranial pressure and decreases in cerebral perfusion pressure.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Atrial myxoma: a tumour in search of its origins.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether atrial myxomas express antigens suggesting a neural origin. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis based on immunohistochemical examination of myxoma tissue. SETTING: Atrial myxomas excised by two tertiary referral cardiothoracic surgical units. SUBJECTS: 24 excised atrial myxomas. Three were from known cases of familial myxoma syndrome. METHODS: Immunohistochemical identifications of three neuroendocrine markers (protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, neurone specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin) and S100 antigen; CD34 and von Willebrand factor; and chi smooth muscle actin to identify possible Schwann cell differentiation, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells respectively. RESULTS: The myxoma cells were PGP 9.5 positive in 18, S100 positive in 16, and NSE positive in 12. Of the 12 NSE positive myxomas seven were synaptophysin positive. All tumours that were NSE positive were also S100 and PGP 9.5 positive. The tumour surface was partially covered by myxoma cells, partly by endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: The histological appearances of myxomas with stellate cells embedded within a loose connective tissue stroma, abundant basophil cell infiltration, and the presence of pericellular type IV collagen are similar to nerve sheath tumours (neurofibromas) at other sites. A significant proportion of myxomas also express Schwann cell and neuroendocrine differentiation markers. These features cannot prove the origin of myxomas because tumours may develop aberrant phenotype expression but they do accord with the view that myxomas originate from endocardial sensory nerve tissue.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗