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Biomedical subjects

E Turner

Publications and source records attributed to E Turner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Lack of association between an RFLP near the D2 dopamine receptor gene and severe alcoholism.

Blum et al (1990) have recently examined a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) detected by TaqI RFLP to the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) in deceased alcoholics and nonalcoholics, and reported an association between alcoholism and the A1 allele. Subsequent studies, however, by other investigators have failed to confirm this. We have examined the DRD2 TaqI RFLP in 47 living Caucasian males with severe alcoholism. All alcoholic subjects were thoroughly characterized by a structured interview, and met DSM-III-R criteria for alcohol dependence. Only 9/47 (19%) (1990) of these alcoholics had the AI allele compared to 14/22 (64%) reported by Blum et al. This rate was not significantly different from the rates reported in control populations by Blum et al (1990), CEPH, or Bolos et al (1990), and differed only slightly from those reported by Grandy et al (1990). Alcoholics selected for severe medical complications also displayed a similar rate. Our data do not support an association between alcoholism and the D2 dopamine receptor gene in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The incidence of hypoxia in the immediate postoperative period].

Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was continuously measured using a pulse oximeter in 214 spontaneously breathing adult patients in a recovery room. Hypoxaemia was defined as an SaO2 of 90% or below. The patients were divided into three groups: in group I (n = 83) monitoring was started immediately after arrival in the recovery room, just before oxygen therapy was begun. The patients in group II (n = 106) were observed during and after oxygen therapy. Patients in group III (n = 25), most of whom had regional anaesthesia, were not treated with oxygen in the recovery room. RESULTS. Clinically unexpected hypoxaemia occurred in all three groups: hypoxaemia was observed in 32.6% of patients before oxygen administration (group I). Under oxygen therapy SaO2 was normal in 99.4% of the patients; however, in 30.2% of patients hypoxaemia recurred after oxygen had been discontinued (group II). Hypoxaemic periods were seen in 24% of patients in group III. CONCLUSION. The results indicate the necessity of oxygen administration during transport and in the early postoperative period to all patients. Even during and after regional anaesthesia or brief general anaesthesia, oxygen administration appears to be indicated. Monitoring of SaO2 with a pulse oximeter has become an increasingly standard procedure in modern anaesthesia and should be mandatory.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Biochemical signal transduction of mechanical strain in osteoblast-like cells.

The responses to mechanical loading of two types of osteoblast-like cells and skin fibroblasts were investigated using two new devices for applying defined and homogeneous strains to cells. The results indicate that only periostal (bone surface) osteoblasts are sensitive to strains within the physiological range and that a specific strain mechanism is responsible. Osteoblasts derived from the haversian system and skin fibroblasts do not respond except at higher, unphysiological strains. The mechanism is located in the cytoskeleton and activates the membrane phospholipase C within milliseconds and may react to distension of a strain sensitive protein. Activation of phospholipase C can account for only some of the observed responses of bone to mechanical loading such as stimulation of cell division, increase in collagen and collagenase production. Application of over 10,000 mu strains results in a de-differentiation of the osteoblasts and a change in cell morphology to become fibroblast-like.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Colon cancer in blacks: a disease with a worsening prognosis.

Despite the fact that a significant national effort has been made over the past 10 years to improve the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer, blacks have not had any change in their prognosis compared to whites, and their survival rate appears to be independent of stage at the time of diagnosis. The disease incidence is practically the same for both races, 49 per 100,000. We reviewed all patients with colorectal cancer in our Tumor Registry over a 10-year period to determine whether the experience at an all-black institution with a black patient base for much of its history would help clarify these crucial questions. There were 118 cases (73 women/45 men), and the mean age was 68 years (range: 29 to 93). The most common signs and symptoms were gross bleeding (34%) and abdominal pain (30%), with most patients presenting with a combination of symptoms. Remarkably, none were symptom-free. Of the 96 patients who were staged surgically and pathologically, 68 (71%) were beyond Duke's B staging at the time of diagnosis and surgery. The overall 5-year survival rate was 47%, significantly related to stage of disease at diagnosis (P less than .001). We concluded that blacks have not shared in the progress made in early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, and that special attention should be given to developing screening and surveillance methodology targeted specifically at blacks.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Nitrogen metabolism in sickle cell anemia: free amino acids in plasma and urine.

Twenty-four hour urinary levels and fasting plasma concentrations of free amino acids (AA) were evaluated in adult sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and age-matched HbAA subjects with comparable daily energy (E) and protein (N) intake. HbSS elicited significant reduction in the sum of plasma indispensable (EAA) with no change in the dispensable (NAA) amino acids, resulting in a prominent (P less than 0.01) reduction in the EAA/NAA ratio from 71% to 55%. Arg (-38%), Leu (-32%), Val (-28%) and His (-32%) were among the AA most severely affected. Despite a twofold increase in 24-hour urine volume in HbSS compared with HbAA subjects, total urinary losses of EAA and NAA were markedly reduced in the former group, with Arg (-53%) and Gly (-56%) levels most prominently affected. Compared with HbAA controls, HbSS subjects showed a three-fourfold increase in 24-hour urinary orotate excretion that had no relationship to amount of N intake. The results indicated that adult subjects with HbSS, who consumed adequate N and E as per the RDA for healthy individuals, behaved like normal HbAA controls on a low protein diet. There was evidence that the HbSS subject might be in a precarious state with respect to sufficiency of several amino acids, particularly L-Arg, which is now classified as conditionally indispensable for the human.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of methods for indirect calorimetry with a ventilated lung model.

A combined lung and ventilator model was built, validated and used to test commercial systems for indirect calorimetry. It simulates O2 uptake and CO2 excretion under ventilator treatment conditions. In the model inspiratory gases are diluted with N2 and CO2 to give the desired expiratory concentrations. Minute volume, FIO2, ventilatory pressure, VO2, VCO2 and consequently RQ can be altered to simulate the adult clinical situation. A selected respiratory pattern is maintained by the lung model. Equipment for indirect calorimetry can then be connected to it and the results compared. Reference values are derived from measurements with a mass spectrometer and a Godart spirometer. Three commercially available instruments (Beckman MMC, Horizon MMC and Engström MC) were evaluated with this system. The limits of agreement with the reference values under different conditions (FIO2 0.4-0.7, ventilatory pressure 0-50 cmH2O) were determined. Differences as high as 15% from the true values of VO2 and V CO2 were observed. The pattern of mechanical ventilation and the intrinsic properties of the analyzers in the equipment used for indirect calorimetry influence measurements to a significant extent.

Calorimetry↗
PubMed1989

Brachial plexus lesions following cardiac surgery with median sternotomy and cannulation of the internal jugular vein.

There are many possible complications after cannulation of the internal jugular vein (IJV) including injury to the brachial plexus. Neurologic injuries can also occur from sternal splitting. The present study looked at the incidence of brachial plexus lesions after cardiac surgery with and without IJV cannulation. Over 12 months, 815 patients were studied after all types of cardiac surgery. In one half of the group, cannulation of the IJV was avoided when possible. Reducing the incidence of IJV catheterization did not lower the overall incidence of brachial plexus lesions (1.8% to 1.4%). However, there was a higher incidence of neurologic lesions in patients with IJV catheters (3.0% to 0.8%) during the entire study period. All 13 plexus lesions were in the C8-T1 distribution, and seven of the patients had a Horner's syndrome on the same side. No posterior first rib fractures could be detected by radiographs. The brachial plexus lesions were transient but the Horner's syndromes were longer-lasting. It is concluded that the injuries are due to compression and traction of the plexus due to stretching and possibly from hematoma formation from the IJV punctures.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Fibreoptic bronchoscopy: an assessment of immediate cytological diagnosis using methylene blue stain.

A method of examining cytological material during fibreoptic bronchoscopy using a methylene blue (MB) stain was assessed in 164 consecutive fibreoptic bronchoscopies where cytology specimens were taken. The MB method provided an immediate positive diagnosis in 86% of bronchoscopically visible tumours. Subsequent histology provided a positive diagnosis in 69%, conventional brush cytology in 81% and trap cytology in 77%. The MB method produced no false positive diagnosis of malignancy and the tumour cell type identified by MB stain agreed with the histological cell type in 72% of cases. This technique is considered to be sufficiently specific to provide a method of controlling the quality of specimens taken at bronchoscopy, for further analysis in the laboratory.

Bronchial Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Ovothiol replaces glutathione peroxidase as a hydrogen peroxide scavenger in sea urchin eggs.

Despite its potential toxicity, H2O2 is used as an extracellular oxidant by Stronglylocentrotus purpuratus eggs to cross-link their fertilization envelopes. These eggs contain 5 mM 1-methyl-N alpha,N alpha-dimethyl-4-mercaptohistidine (ovothiol C), which reacts with H2O2. In consuming H2O2 and being reduced by glutathione, ovothiol acts as a glutathione peroxidase and replaces the function of the enzyme in eggs. The ovothiol system is more effective than egg catalase in destroying H2O2 at concentrations produced during fertilization and constitutes a principal mechanism for preventing oxidative damage at fertilization.

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗
PubMed1988

Oxidative stress and the role of novel thiol compounds at fertilization.

A new class of thiols, the 1-methyl-4-mercaptohistidines, has been found in high concentrations in invertebrate eggs. This family, called the ovothiols, has unusual redox properties, including the ability to confer a CN- -resistant NAD(P)H oxidase activity on ovoperoxidase, the enzyme that catalyzes the physiological crosslinking of the fertilization envelope with dityrosine residues. Ovothiol has a redox potential of 44 mV positive to glutathione and thus is maintained in the reduced state in eggs by reduced glutathione, without the need for an ovothiol reductase. We propose that high concentrations of reduced ovothiol are present in eggs to protect them from the oxidative stress caused by the respiratory burst of fertilization.

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗