PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

G R Ross

Publications and source records attributed to G R Ross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ascorbic acid metabolism and polyol pathway in diabetes.

It has been reported previously that the plasma concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) is reduced in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats and can be normalized by treatment with the aldose reductase inhibitor tolrestat. This study was designed to investigate further the relationship between the polyol pathway and AA metabolism in diabetic rats. Disturbance of AA metabolism was demonstrable after 1 wk of diabetes. Dietary myo-inositol supplementation was effective in normalizing plasma AA levels, as was treatment with tolrestat. In untreated diabetes, despite low plasma AA concentration, there was increased urinary excretion of AA that was reversed by treatment with either tolrestat or myo-inositol. In contrast, AA supplementation normalized plasma AA concentrations while further increasing urinary AA excretion. The abnormality of AA metabolism was less severe in galactose-fed rats, which had normal plasma AA levels and only minor increases in urinary AA excretion. These studies demonstrated a disturbance in the regulation of plasma and urinary AA concentration in experimental diabetes and confirmed the relationship of AA with the polyol pathway. Because AA has many important biological functions, abnormalities of AA metabolism could be important in the pathogenesis of some diabetic complications. The interaction of the polyol and AA pathways suggests that this could be another site of action for aldose reductase inhibitors.

Aldehyde Reductase

Teachers' perceptions concerning the relative values of personal and clinical characteristics and their influence on the assignment of students' clinical grades.

Twenty senior teachers were asked to rank, in order of influence, the seven clinical and five personal characteristics used to grade third-year medicine clerks. Seventeen perceived themselves to be more influenced by clinical characteristics when assigning grades. Independently, the actual ratings completed over a 3-year period by these same teachers were analysed to measure the congruency between their perceived and actual grading behaviour. When actually rating students only nine raters were more influenced by clinical characteristics and just one half of the teachers displayed a congruency between their perceived and actual rating behaviour. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel

Deficiency of ascorbic acid in experimental diabetes. Relationship with collagen and polyol pathway abnormalities.

The plasma and tissue concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) is reduced in diabetes. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism and significance of this phenomenon. The low plasma AA concentration of diabetic rats can be normalized by dietary AA supplement (20-40 mg/day), a dosage approximately equal to the maximal synthetic rate of this substance in the rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with this regime prevented the decrease in activity of granulation tissue prolyl hydroxylase (PRLase), an AA-dependent enzyme required for maintaining the normal properties of collagen. The decreased plasma AA concentration and granulation tissue PRLase activity in diabetes can also be normalized by the aldose reductase inhibitor tolrestat. We conclude that in diabetic animals there is a true deficiency of AA that may be responsible for some of the changes of collagen observed in diabetes. Treatment with AA or an aldose reductase inhibitor may prevent some of the diabetic complications with underlying collagen abnormalities.

Aldehyde Reductase

Pseudoaneurysm: a complication of faulty technique in femoral arterial puncture.

Pseudoaneurysm is a well-documented but rare complication of retrograde femoral arterial puncture. We present six patients in whom pseudoaneurysm complicated this procedure. The pseudoaneurysm arose from the superficial femoral artery in five patients and from the profunda femoris artery in one. An arteriovenous fistula also arose from the superficial femoral artery in one patient. In no patient did the pseudoaneurysm arise from the common femoral artery. Two mechanisms are postulated as to why pseudoaneurysms rarely complicate puncture of the common femoral artery.

Aneurysm

Hepatoma, arterioportal shunting, and hyperkinetic portal hypertension: therapeutic embolization.

Four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, shunting of blood from the hepatic artery to the portal vein, and hyperkinetic portal hypertension were treated by transcatheter embolization of the hepatic artery. In three acutely bleeding patients variceal hemorrhage was controlled by the embolization. Following embolization hepatofugal portal venous flow became hepatopetal in all four patients. No serious complications were encountered. When hepatoma is complicated by arterioportal shunting and hyperkinetic portal hypertension, occlusion of the fistula by transcatheter embolotherapy can reduce the portal pressure.

Aged

A survey on the 'premedical syndrome'.

The "premedical syndrome" has been widely discussed but only anecdotally described. To learn whether the syndrome exists in the South Carolina schools and which traits compose it, the authors surveyed faculty members and students of 13 undergraduate colleges in the state. Premedical students were perceived as differing from nonpremedical students in being excessively competitive, academically, overspecialized , overachieving , more highly motivated, more highly self-disciplined, goal-oriented, and proud of their career choice. The perception by students and faculty members of the premedical syndrome may have important effects on the undergraduate curriculum and students' choices of major areas of study. Only 3 percent of the premedical students who responded to the survey were majoring in the liberal arts, and only 9 percent of the nonpremedical students were majoring in the natural sciences. These data suggest that the natural science departments in U.S. colleges may have become training grounds for premedical students to the exclusion of others. Modification of medical school admissions policies may be able to reverse some features of the premedical syndrome and some of its effects.

Achievement

Continuing education needs assessment in dentistry: the SNAP system.

Needs assessment has become an integral step in planning for continuing education. This article describes a computer-based needs assessment system that has been used successfully in planning continuing dental education in South Carolina. The Statewide Needs Assessment Program (SNAP) provides a general purpose system for collecting and analyzing continuing education needs data for large populations. Needs assessment data from 489 practicing dentists in South Carolina are presented and analyzed.

Computers

Eczema herpeticum: atopic dermatitis complicated by primary herpetic gingivostomatitis.

Various aspects of eczema herpeticum are discussed, and a case of eczema herpeticum secondary to atopic dermatitis complicated by primary herpetic gingivostomatitis in a young adult is presented. The lesions cleared, and the patient was discharged after treatment via a multiphasic approach directed at the management of pyrexia, prevention of secondary bacterial infections, symptomatic and supportive care for the effects of the viral infection, and close monitoring for evidence of visceral viremia.

Adolescent

Antineoplastic agents and their oral manifestations.

The use of antineoplastic agents is rapidly increasing. A general classification of these drugs and their mechanisms of action is presented. Many of the drugs have an adverse effect on oral tissue, and the practicing dentist today must be well acquainted with these effects. A discussion of the features of these reactions and their management is presented.

Antineoplastic Agents

Using the computer to prepare multiple-choice examinations: a simplified system.

Program TEST offers a quick, easy, and efficient way to produce objectively-scored exams from an established item bank. It is especially useful in situations where frequent testing is utilized and secretarial help is scarce. The capability of constructing a customized exam the day before its administration should make the exam more reflective of the instruction. The provision for keyed copies has been found to be a useful tool for feedback to the student after the exam. Lastly, use of the program requires little computer assistance.

Computers

Hypospadias: results of surgical treatment and perspectives in management.

An institutional experience with the repair of hypospadias over a fifteen-year period is reviewed. The 119 patients treated surigcally serve as the substance of this report. Recommendations concerning options in surgical treatment are predicated on this experience and the contemporary literature.

Child

Appraisal, validation, and evaluation utilized in the assessment of instructional materials.

To maintain the highest standards of instructional quality, it is essential that self-instructional materials used in the teaching effort be systematically assessed. This paper has presented three types of assessment that have proven effective for the Office of Education, College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina. The commitment to a regular assessment program has resulted in a more informed selection of materials and a more appropriate use of self-instructional materials by the faculty. Obviously, all of the approaches described may not be appropriate for all institutions. However, all institutions utilizing self-instructional materials have an obligation to assess the effectiveness of the materials to the best of their ability and resources.

Educational Measurement