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Biomedical subjects

J Cochran

Publications and source records attributed to J Cochran.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Beneficial effects of interleukin-6 in neonatal mouse models of group B streptococcal disease.

Previous studies have shown that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a pathophysiologic role in sepsis induced in rat pups by group B streptococci (GBS). In this model, TNF-alpha is also partially responsible for the induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6). The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of IL-6 in neonatal BALB/c mice infected with type III GBS. The effect of anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies and recombinant IL-6 on lethality and TNF-alpha production was investigated. In mouse pups infected with GBS strain COH1, plasma IL-6 reached levels of 3,067 +/- 955 and 1,923 +/- 891 U/ml when measured at 22 and 48 h, respectively (P < 0.05 compared with uninfected controls). Pretreatment with 25 micrograms of anti-IL-6 antibodies totally prevented the increase in circulating IL-6 bioactivity at both 22 and 48 h after infection (P < 0.05). Treatment with anti-IL-6 also induced a moderate decrease in survival time of mice infected with lethal doses of strains COH1 and COH31, as evidenced by increased lethality (P < 0.05) at 24 to 48 h but not at 96 h. Mouse recombinant IL-6 (12,500 U) given 6 h before challenge with strains COH1 and COH31 consistently increased survival time, as evidenced by decreased (P < 0.05) lethality at 48 to 72 h but not at 96 h. The effects of IL-6 pretreatment were dose dependent, since no protection was observed with doses lower than 12,500 U. In addition, no effects on lethality were noted when IL-6 was given at the time of challenge or at later times. TNF-alpha elevations (P < 0.05 compared with uninfected controls) were measured at 12, 22, and 48 h after challenge with strain COH1 (68 +/- 28, 233 +/- 98, and 98 +/- 34 U, respectively). Pretreatment with IL-6 significantly (P < 0.05) decreased plasma TNF-alpha levels at 12 and 22 h, with 55 and 69% inhibitions, respectively. Anti-IL-6 had an opposite effect, as evidenced by a 145% increase (P < 0.05) in TNF-alpha levels at 48 h after challenge. Collectively, our data are compatible with the hypothesis that IL-6 is involved in negative feedback regulation of plasma TNF-alpha levels in experimental GBS sepsis. In this model, IL-6 pretreatment can increase survival time. Future studies will be needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying this effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The prevalence of autoantibodies among right and left handed schizophrenic patients and control subjects.

Sera from schizophrenic patients (n = 186) and healthy control subjects (n = 346) were tested for the presence of seven common autoantibodies by standard immunological methods. The association between handedness and autoantibodies was tested in a multi-way contingency table using a log-linear model. For men, but not women, nondextrals (patients and controls) were twice as likely to test positive for autoantibodies than dextrals (p = 0.0002). Although more women (33%) than men (24%) tested positive for autoantibodies, handedness was not a distinguishing factor among women. These data suggest that sinistrality and gender are associated with autoantibodies in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients and healthy control subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Non-right sidedness: an association with lower IL-2 production.

Using a laterality questionnaire, 138 normal healthy individuals were classified as right-sided and 25 as non-right sided. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was generated from whole blood obtained from these subjects using mitogen (PHA) stimulation. IL-2 was quantitated in picograms/ml using an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Additionally, sera from these subjects were tested for 7 autoantibodies by standard serological methods. As compared to right sided subjects, non-right sided individuals had significantly lower IL-2 production. Non-right sided individuals with autoantibodies had significantly lower IL-2 production than right sided subjects with or without autoantibodies, but did not differ significantly from their non-right sided counterparts without autoantibodies. These data support the increasing evidence for the differential and lateralized regulation of immune functions by the right and left cerebral regions.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hemispheric priming: effect of response mode on a position replication task.

Ten male and ten female dextral subjects performed a kinesthetic position replication task under two response mode conditions; in one block, subjects indicated their decision by a lateralized verbal response and in the other block, by a midline chin-lift response. Response mode was found to interact with arm, excursion length, end position, and sex. This interaction is interpreted to reflect the influence of verbal preparation on the relative balance between a left hemisphere-biased strategy of kinesthetic positioning and a right hemisphere-biased strategy involving a spatial reference system.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of nurses' and patients' perceptions of intensive care unit stressors.

This study was designed to compare intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' and patients' perceptions of the stressfulness of items in the environment for patients in an ICU. The sample consisted of 20 ICU patients and 23 registered nurses employed in the medical and surgical ICUs at a large midwestern university hospital. The patients were contacted 1 to 2 days after transfer from an ICU and asked to complete the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor Scale (ICUESS), a Likert-type questionnaire designed to measure the stressfulness of commonly occurring items in the ICU environment. The nurses were asked to complete the same questionnaire as they believed an ICU patient would complete it. They were asked to complete the questionnaire after the completion of a shift worked in an ICU. A series of one-way ANOVAs were done to compare the patients' and nurses' responses. In every comparison, nurses rated the items as being significantly more stressful than did the patients. Items with the highest mean ratings by patients were: (1) having tubes in your nose or mouth; (2) being stuck with needles; (3) being in pain; (4) not being able to sleep; and (5) being thirsty. Patients and nurses also were asked to list the three most stressful items from the ICUESS. These responses were compared using chi-square tests for homogeneity. Nurses mentioned 'being tied down by tubes' and 'not being in control of oneself' significantly more times than did patients. The items 'being in pain', 'having tubes in your nose or mouth', and 'not being able to sleep' were listed most often by both nurses and patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Refining a patient-acuity system over four years.

Four years ago St. Joseph Hospital, Albuquerque, developed a patient acuity system to be used in staffing and budgeting for the hospital's nursing service. Since then the service has continuously maintained and refined the system; and nursing management thinks the system has raised staff morale, clarified budgeting and saved money within the service, and helped maintain consistently high-quality patient care.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

A technique of nasolabioplasty.

There are several techniques available for the improvement of the deep nasolabial folds. The standard face-lift operation is the most acceptable and popular technique as it leaves no scars on the face. Occasionally, the aesthetic surgeon encounters patients who, because of economic or health reasons, cannot undergo the face-lift operation. They may also be too old to want a full face-lift. In these individuals, a nasolabioplasty has been found very useful. The operation may also be used as an adjunct to rhytidectomy in patients with persistent sagging of the cheeks and deep nasolabial folds after a face-lift operation. Two incisions are placed on each side; one precisely on the nasolabial groove and the other lateral to the groove. The amount of skin outlined between the two incisions is proportional to the degree of pull desired. The island of skin between the incisions is not removed. Instead, it is de-epithelialized, rolled on itself into a tube and left in situ under the nasolabial fold to minimize recurrent deepening with time. Other techniques of nasolabioplasty are reviewed. The results of the operation in 14 patients are analyzed, and complications are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Otomycosis due to coccidioidomycosis.

The course and treatment of two patients with otomycosis due to Coccidioides immitis, believed to be the first such cases reported, are described. Both infections appeared due to reactivation of hematogenously disseminated foci. Local and systemic chemotherapy plus surgery resulted in remission, and host immune response also appears to be an important factor. One patient, with systemic lupus erythematosus, required more extensive surgery, more chemotherapy, and reduction in steroid dose to arrest the disease. A combined surgical and chemotherapeutic approach appears necessary when otomycosis is due to invasive fungi such as C immitis.

Adult↗