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Biomedical subjects

J McLeod

Publications and source records attributed to J McLeod.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on substance P-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells.

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 1 to 30 ng/ml) produced a dose-related inhibition of substance P (SP)-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. TPA itself induced some histamine release over this concentration range (maximum release about 20% of total). Maximum inhibition of SP-induced release by TPA required preincubation with TPA for at least 10 min. The inhibitory action of TPA was observed in the absence as well as in the presence of extracellular calcium (0.4 mM). Inhibition of diacylglycerol kinase by R 59022 or of diacylglycerol lipase by RHC 80267 reduced SP-induced histamine release. Oleolylacetylglycerol (OAG, 50 microM) inhibited histamine release induced by SP but was less potent than TPA. It is concluded that protein kinase C activation in rat peritoneal mast cells is associated with inhibition of SP-induced histamine release.

Animals

Randomized, double-blind comparison of the efficacies, costs, and vaginal flora alterations with single-dose ceftriaxone and multidose cefazolin prophylaxis in vaginal hysterectomy.

A comparison of efficacies, costs, and effects on vaginal microflora of one preoperative and three postoperative 1-g doses of cefazolin versus those of one preoperative 1-g dose of ceftriaxone was done with 65 and 73 women, respectively, undergoing elective vaginal hysterectomy. Patient infection rates were not statistically different between the cefazolin group (six events in 6 of 73 patients [8.2%]) and the ceftriaxone group (11 events in 9 of 65 patients [13.8%]). Side effects, including diarrhea, were minimal and similar between the two groups. Significant shifts in the cervicovaginal microflora of the patients occurred postoperatively, with a marked increase in enterococci and a drop in nonenterococcal streptococci. No shifts among aerobic, facultative gram-negative rods and staphylococci were observed. Among the anaerobes, a significant decrease in the number of patients harboring nonsporulating, gram-positive rods and a less striking concomitant increase in Bacteriodes species and members of the family Peptococcaceae were noted. No qualitative differences were noted between the two groups that received prophylactic therapy. Aside from enterococci, cefazolin or ceftriaxone resistance among vaginal isolates (greater than or equal to 10(3)/ml) was minimal. Selection of resistant isolates was not different between the treatment groups. We could not detect a difference between a single 1-g dose of ceftriaxone and multidose cefazolin for infection prophylaxis in patients undergoing a vaginal hysterectomy. However, the total acquisition, preparation, and administration costs were greater for the ceftriaxone regimen than they were for the cefazolin regimen. Cefazolin should therefore remain the drug of choice for infection prophylaxis in uncomplicated vaginal hysterectomies.

Bacteria

Evaluation of a Fife 'Novopen' clinic held within a diabetes patient education centre.

In common with other hospitals throughout the United Kingdom, a diabetic patient education centre has been established at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. Many activities now take place within the centre including a 'Novopen' Clinic at which insulin requiring diabetic patients are converted to a multiple injection method of delivering soluble human insulin. An evaluation of the Novopen Clinic, including the first 60 patients attending, has demonstrated a statistically significant fall in random blood sugar estimations (mean fall 2.0 m.moles 1(-1), 95 per cent confidence intervals 1.5 m.moles 1(-1) to 2.5 m.moles) since conversion at the Novopen Clinic. Changes in mean daily insulin intake (mean increase of 1.6 units per day) and glycosylated haemoglobin (mean fall of 0.88 per cent) were not significant. One hundred per cent of patients surveyed described the Novopen Clinic as 'helpful' or very 'helpful'. Staff see the clinic offering significant opportunities for patient education. The estimated cost of the clinic per new patient was 147 pounds.

Diabetes Mellitus

Epidemic of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease in renal transplant recipients: a case-control and environmental study.

An outbreak of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia occurred in 6 of 49 new renal transplant recipients over the course of 13 months. We compared infected patients (cases) and uninfected patients (controls) with respect to potential risk factors. Corticosteroid use, need for hemodialysis and number of days of hemodialysis were significantly greater among the cases. Logistic regression analysis identified corticosteroid dosage and number of days of hemodialysis as independent risk factors. Lymphopenia and monocytopenia were correlated with the amount of corticosteroid administered and occurred to a greater degree in the cases. All clinical isolates were of L. pneumophila serogroup 1, subtype Philadelphia 1, which was also cultured from a recovery room sink outside the operating room where the transplants were done. Other areas of the hospital were colonized with other, heterogeneous strains of L. pneumophila. The organism was not eliminated from the hospital water supply despite shock chlorination and superheating of water tanks. The epidemic ended when new transplant recipients routinely received prophylactic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (160-800 mg given orally once daily) while in hospital after transplantation. Corticosteroid-induced monocytopenia and lymphopenia and the complement activation and monocyte depletion effects of hemodialysis may combine to increase susceptibility to Legionnaires' disease.

Adult

A study of the prostaglandin and thromboxane content of the central nervous tissues with the development of chronic relapsing allergic encephalomyelitis.

Levels of PGE, PGF2 alpha, 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane (TXB2) in spinal cords and cerebellums of guinea pigs at different stages of chronic relapsing allergic encephalomyelitis (CREAE) were compared with those in Freund's adjuvant-treated, age-matched controls. PGE and TXB2 levels were found to be increased in spinal cords during acute and relapse phases of the disease. The number of lesions in the spinal cord was similarly increased in acute and relapse stages. There was, however, no similar correlation between number of lesions and eicosanoid levels in the cerebellum with the clinical stages of the disease based on hind limb paralysis. In the acute phase and remission lesion numbers were low, and high levels, similar to those found in the spinal cord, were only found in the relapse phase. Eicosanoid levels were high in the acute phase and remission, and generally low in relapse. The spinal cord levels of eicosanoids in remission and relapse correlated well with previous data obtained from the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha

Significance of pharyngeal colonization with aerobic gram-negative bacilli in elderly institutionalized men.

The prevalence of pharyngeal colonization with aerobic Gram-negative rods was studied on three occasions during one year in 68 elderly males resident on two long-term care wards. For the three surveys, pharyngeal carriage was identified in 43%, 43%, and 37% of residents. Each resident tended to remain either colonized or noncolonized. Pharyngeal colonization was associated with resident incontinence, the development of infection, and increased mortality during the year of observation.

Aerobiosis

Arabian night.

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Female

Quiet night.

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Humans

Ventilatory abnormalities in hospital admissions.

The incidence of unrecognised ventilatory impairment was investigated in a group of 531 routine hospital admissions who had been considered to be free of significant respiratory disease. Using spirometric tests of FEV 1, FVC and FEV 1/FVC percent before and after sympathomimetic bronchodilator, it was found that 42 percent of these patients had abnormal ventilatory tests, and 47 percent were considered to have obstructive lung disease. Routine use of screening respiratory function tests would be useful in the assessment and management of general medical and surgical hospital admissions.

Adolescent

The sweet life.

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Attitude of Health Personnel