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Biomedical subjects

J L Watkins

Publications and source records attributed to J L Watkins.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Gastrointestinal manifestations of amyloidosis: a case of diverticular perforation.

Amyloidosis is an intriguing disorder. Its clinical presentation usually rests on the organ(s) infiltrated with the amyloid. We report a patient who presented with peritonitis secondary to a perforated large jejunal diverticulum and multiple small bowel diverticula. We believe the diverticula were a direct result of primary amyloid infiltration of the intestine in the antimesenteric location. This is the first reported case of small bowel diverticula caused by amyloidosis.

Aged↗

Complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in head and neck cancer patients.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been shown to benefit patients with resectable carcinoma of the head and neck. In order to determine whether patients with existing tumor or postresection anatomic changes of the upper respiratory tract can undergo this procedure with an acceptably low complication rate, 349 patients with attempted PEG were studied. The PEG procedure was successful in 114 of 122 carcinoma patients, as compared to 220 of 227 patients in a control group (patients with neurologic disease). Intraoperative complications preventing PEG placement included pharyngeal or esophageal obstruction, inadequate transillumination of the abdominal wall, and respiratory distress and occurred in 7% of carcinoma patients and 3% of controls. The incidence of airway obstruction during endoscopy was equal between groups (1%). Postoperative complications related to the gastrostomy tube were more frequent in the non-head and neck cancer group (14% versus 5%). Younger age, fewer concomitant medical problems, and better nutritional status may account for this difference. These findings suggest that preoperative, postoperative, and unresectable head and neck cancer patients are appropriate candidates for PEG, and postgastrostomy performance appears superior to that in other patient populations.

Aged↗

Regulation of macrophage lysosomal secretion by adenosine, adenosine phosphate esters, and related structural analogues of adenosine.

Zymosan particle-stimulated beta-galactosidase secretion by mouse peritoneal macrophages was found to be inhibited by micromolar concentrations of adenosine, AMP, ADP, and ATP. Inhibition by all four agents was increased to approximately 80% by adding erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA; 10 microM) an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, to the incubation medium. The inhibition of lysosomal enzyme secretion by ATP, ADP, and AMP was reversed by adding alpha, beta -methylene ADP (100 microM), a 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor, to the incubation medium. Inhibition by adenosine, however, was unaffected by alpha, beta -methylene ADP indicating that the inhibition by AMP, ADP, and ATP only occurred after they had been converted to adenosine by cell surface phosphohydrolases, including 5'-nucleotidase. Theophylline, a competitive antagonist of the binding of adenosine to plasma membrane adenosine receptors, failed to reverse the inhibitory effect of adenosine indicating the probable site of adenosine action to be intracellular. Other purine nucleosides, e.g., guanosine, and several purine and ribosemodified structural analogues of adenosine also inhibited zymosan-stimulated beta-galactosidase secretion, while xanthosine and certain pyrimidine nucleosides, e.g., thymidine, were inactive in this respect.

Adenine↗

Restriction of uterine space reduces litter size in feral Ossabaw swine.

The influence of uterine crowding on litter size and the fetal capacity of the feral pig uterus were examined in a control (C) group and three groups of surgically altered feral (Ossabaw) gilts. The altered groups were unilaterally ovariectomized (UOX), unilaterally tubally ligated (UTL), or unilaterally hysterectomized-ovariectomized (UHOX). Litter sizes of C, UOX and UHOX at 30 days of gestation were similar and larger than the UTL group. At 45 days, litter size was reduced (P less than 0.06) in UHOX gilts. These results indicate that uterine capacity of feral swine is limiting after Day 30, and that the maximum litter size for the feral pig is 8 to 10.

Animals↗

Biochemical differences in the mechanism of macrophage lysosomal exocytosis initiated by zymosan particles and weak bases.

By utilizing compounds with different inhibitory properties, discrete biochemical differences were found in the mechanism of selective lysosomal enzyme secretion by macrophages in response to stimulation with zymosan particles and methylamine. Pretreatment of macrophages with trypsin markedly impaired the capacity of the cells to respond to stimulation with zymosan particles, but had no effect on methylamine-stimulated lysosomal enzyme secretion. Similarly, the addition of phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride or EDTA to the incubation medium substantially inhibited zymosan-induced lysosomal enzyme secretion, whereas the methylamine-stimulated response was unaffected by these agents. The addition of 2-deoxyglucose to incubation media, however, strongly inhibited both zymosan- and methylamine-stimulated beta-galactosidase secretion. These findings are consistent with a mechanism for lysosomal enzyme secretion by macrophages, based on a receptor-dependent uptake of zymosan particles and a receptor-independent uptake of methylamine.

Animals↗

Home infusion service delivery system model: a conceptual framework for family-centered care in pediatric home care delivery.

The Home Infusion Service Delivery System model is presented as a conceptual framework for the delivery of pediatric home care. This bicycle-shaped model provides important insights into the interrelationships of available resources for parents seeking home health care for their child. The model is based on nine key elements of family-centered care. Discussions of the model identify the roles and relationships among the family system, four interdependent service delivery systems, the physician, and a total quality management program that coordinates the health care delivery for the child. Examples focus on the delivery of pediatric home infusion therapy. By supporting the family as the primary care giver, this model provides a better fit between consumer need and service delivery.

Community Health Nursing↗