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Biomedical subjects

J Brannan

Publications and source records attributed to J Brannan.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Survival and cause of death after mitral valve replacement in patients aged 80 years and over: collective results from the UK heart valve registry.

OBJECTIVE: Over the last decade there has been an increasing number of patients aged 80 years and over undergoing heart valve replacement. However, literature on the outcome of mitral valve replacement (MVR) in this age group is still limited. METHODS: We conducted the present study by analysing data extracted from the UK Heart Valve Registry. From January 1986 to December 1994, 86 patients underwent isolated MVR and 10 underwent combined MVR with aortic valve replacement (AVR) and were reported to the Registry. RESULTS: The 30 day mortality was 10.4% (9/86) in the MVR group and 10% (1/10) in the MVR and AVR group. The actuarial survival was 79.8, 64.1 and 40.7% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively, in the MVR group. Of the 10 early (30 day) deaths, 8 were due to cardiac reasons and 19 of the 28 late deaths were due to non-cardiac reasons. A total of 55 (57.2%) patients received a bioprosthetic valve implant and 41 (42.8%) patients received a mechanical valve implant. There was no difference in survival between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The above results suggest that MVR in octogenarians produces a satisfactory early postoperative outcome and moderate medium-term benefit. There is no difference in survival between patients receiving bioprosthetic and patients receiving mechanical valve implants.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1997

A new method for bronchial-provocation testing in asthmatic subjects using a dry powder of mannitol.

We developed a bronchial provocation test (BPT) with a dry powder preparation of mannitol. The mannitol was inhaled from gelatin capsules containing 5, 10, 20, or 40 mg to a cumulative dose of 635 mg, and was delivered via an inhalator, Halermatic, or Dinkihaler device. We studied the airway sensitivity to inhaled mannitol, the repeatability of the response, and the recovery after challenge in 43 asthmatic subjects 18 to 39 yr of age who had a 20% decrease in FEV1 in response to inhaling a 4.5% NaCl. We compared this with the airway response to methacholine in 25 subjects. The geometric mean (GM) for the dose of dry mannitol required to reduce the FEV1 by 15% of the baseline value (PD15) was 64 mg, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 45 to 91. Subjects responsive to mannitol had a PD20 to metacholine of < 7.8 mumol, with a GM of 0.7 mumol (CI: 0.4 to 1.2). For the first of two challenges to mannitol the PD15 was 59 mg (CI: 36 to 97) and for the second the PD15 was 58 mg (CI: 35 to 94) p = 0.91 (n = 23). Spontaneous recovery to within 5% of baseline occurred within 60 min and within 10 min after 0.5 mg terbutaline sulfate was inhaled. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) remained at 93% or above during mannitol challenge. Subjects tolerated the inhalation of the mannitol well. A dry powder preparation of mannitol may be suitable to develop for bronchial provocation testing.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1996

Genetically engineered serine protease inhibitor for hemostasis after cardiac operations.

BACKGROUND: The serine protease inhibitor aprotinin has been widely reported for its beneficial action in limiting blood loss after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A potent human serine protease inhibitor known as protease nexin II or amyloid precursor protein has been recently isolated. A recombinant protein known as recombinant Kunitz protease inhibitor (rKPI; Scios Nova, Mountain View, CA) with sequence homology to the protease nexin II-amyloid precursor protein molecule has been manufactured. METHODS: Recombinant Kunitz protease inhibitor was assessed in an ovine model of CPB as a hemostatic agent after CPB. Sheep (n = 22) underwent CPB for 90 minutes. Two thoracic drains were sited and drain losses collected for a period of 3 hours after CPB. Wounds were subjectively assessed before closure for "dryness" using a visual analogue scale. Sheep were randomized to control (n = 8), aprotinin (n = 8), and rKPI (n = 6) groups. RESULTS: Control animals had a drain loss of 409.4 +/- 39.4 mL/3 h, compared with 131.3 +/- 20.3 mL/3 h for the aprotinin group and 163.7 +/- 34.3 mL/3 h for the rKPI group (p = 0.16). Hemoglobin loss was 11.6 +/- 3.6, 6.02 +/- 2.1, and 4.6 +/- 1.2 g/3 h for the control, rKPI, and aprotinin groups respectively (p = 0.25). The subjective analysis of the wounds at the end of CPB found aprotinin (1.25 +/- 0.16; p < 0.05) and rKPI (1.17 +/- 0.17; p < 0.05) animals to score significantly lower than control animals (2.63 +/- 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these in vivo findings, genetic modification may yield a more efficacious serine protease inhibitor with the inherent advantages of using a human-based protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Hypertonic saline challenge in an adult epidemiological survey.

Bronchial provocation tests using pharmacological agents such as methacholine or histamine are used in epidemiological studies to identify asthma despite recognition of limitations in specificity, positive predictive value and availability of reagents. Hypertonic saline (4.5%) bronchial challenge (HSBC), although less sensitive than pharmacological challenges, is reportedly highly specific in diagnosing current asthma. Added advantages are that reagents are cheap, stable and recognized by participants. Thus, HSBC may offer benefits over pharmacological tests in epidemiological surveys. This paper reports on the second field survey using the test, a study of 99 adults from the timber industry in Western Australia. The test is described and critically appraised as a practical epidemiological tool for assessing asthma prevalence. At a cutoff point of 20% FEV, fall, HSBC was positive in 8% of subjects, appeared specific for asthma, was safe, well-accepted and easy to use in the field.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on gut blood flow, oxygen utilization, and intramucosal pH.

Studies documenting rises in endotoxin after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have postulated gut mucosal hypoperfusion. We have investigated alterations in jejunal blood flow by laser Doppler flow measurement, intramucosal pH (pHi) by tonometry, and oxygen utilization in a canine model of hypothermic CPB (n = 11 dogs). After 10 minutes of hypothermic CPB, despite no major reduction in superior mesenteric artery flow, mucosal laser Doppler flow decreased to -38.2% +/- 9.3% of levels obtained before bypass (p = 0.008) and serosal laser Doppler flow, to -47.3% +/- 11.4% (p = 0.006). During the hypothermic phase, mesenteric oxygen consumption fell from 0.18 +/- 0.01 to 0.098 +/- 0.01 mL.min-1.kg-1 (p = 0.005), and mesenteric oxygen delivery fell from 1.97 +/- 0.39 to 1.14 +/- 0.12 mL.min-1.kg-1 (p = 0.05). There was no change in jejunal pHi. During the rewarming phase, there was a substantial increase in mucosal laser Doppler flow, peaking at +69.8% +/- 15.2% (p = 0.03), whereas serosal laser Doppler flow returned to values seen prior to CPB (-16.4% +/- 21.5%; p = 0.25). These changes coincided with a surge in oxygen consumption (0.33 +/- 0.042 mL.min-1.kg-1; p = 0.009), while mesenteric oxygen delivery remained depressed at 1.09 +/- 0.12 mL.min-1.kg-1 (p = 0.04). Jejunal pHi fell from a value of 7.36 +/- 0.04 before CPB to 7.12 +/- 0.07 (p = 0.02), thus indicating mucosal hypoxia. During the rewarming phase of hypothermic CPB, there is a disparity between mesenteric oxygen consumption and oxygen delivery with villus tip ischemia; these findings may explain the pathophysiology of endotoxemia during CPB.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Retinal periphlebitis in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The ocular and visual manifestations of multiple sclerosis are varied. The most uncommon is sheathing of the veins, periphlebitis. METHODS: A 39-year-old white female presented with primary visual complaints of contrast problems on a computer terminal. The patient was lost to follow up for 4 years, however, upon return a clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was confirmed. Six years after the initial presentation, ophthalmoscopic exam of both eyes revealed marked focal sheathing of the retinal veins in the periphery, and associated hemorrhages in the right eye. RESULTS: During follow-up, the left eye became further involved developing hemorrhages and a retinal hole, which was treated. The visual consequence of the multiple sclerosis as a result of further exacerbations were bilateral centrocecal scotomas and midly reduced visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple sclerosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with retinal periphlebitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Transfer of perceptual-motor training and the space adaptation syndrome.

Perceptual cue conflict may be the basis for the symptoms which are experienced by space travelers in microgravity conditions. Recovery has been suggested to take place after perceptual modification or reinterpretation. To elucidate this process, 10 subjects who repeatedly experienced a visual/vestibular conflict (Purkinje) over trials and days, were then tested in a similar but not identical perceptual situation (pseudo-Coriolis) to determine whether any savings in perceptual adaptation had occurred as compared to an unpracticed control group (N = 10). The practiced subjects experienced lessening dizziness and ataxia within and over sessions. Their response to the new perceptual situation was markedly less than the control group (p less than 0.001). Assessment of "adaptability," in addition to the provocative vestibular tests now in use, may improve prediction of susceptibility to the space adaptation syndrome. An adaptability trait may exist in humans which, properly measured, could be used to predict who would adapt more readily to visual/vestibular conflict and perhaps to environmental stressors in general.

Adaptation, Physiological↗