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Biomedical subjects

J R Lawrence

Publications and source records attributed to J R Lawrence.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Behavioral analysis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus variants in high- and low-viscosity microenvironments by use of digital image processing.

Digital image analysis and light microscopy were used to study and quantify the growth and behavior of two variants and selected flagellar mutants of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in glass flow cells under high- and low-viscosity conditions. The observations showed a series of surface-associated behaviors, including attachment, microcolony formation, migration, chemotactic movements, and aggregation, indicating a substantial degree of adaptive flexibility and multicellular behavior during growth of V. parahaemolyticus at interfaces.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed1991

Upholsterers' glue associated with myocarditis, hepatitis, acute renal failure and lymphoma.

A 20-year-old man with heavy exposure to upholsterers' glue presented with life-threatening acute myocarditis, and then rapidly developed acute hepatic necrosis and acute renal failure. He made a rapid and complete recovery from this florid acute illness, only to present three months later with supradiaphragmatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These illnesses have all been described in association with solvent exposure. The unique feature of this case is the occurrence of multiple manifestations which might be attributed to solvent exposure, both acute and chronic, in the same individual.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1991

Proteus mirabilis biofilm protection against struvite crystal dissolution and its implications in struvite urolithiasis.

Proteus mirabilis biofilm formation, struvite (MgNH4PO4.6H2O) crystal formation and dissolution in an artificial urine mixture were monitored using computer-enhanced microscopy (CEM) and a 1 x 3 mm. glass flow cell. Image analysis showed that P. mirabilis biofilm formation did not occur to any extent at macroenvironment flow rates greater than two mL/h (equivalent to a microenvironment flow rate of less than 5 microns./sec). Essentially, cells attached to glass surfaces, grew slowly and divided. Daughter cells were generally released directly into the medium where they could then presumably colonize other regions. Microcolonies formed by the adhesion of aggregates of cells from the medium, and over time grew into biofilms. Struvite crystallization due to urease activity and pH elevation above neutrality, was preceded by the deposition of organic matter on the glass surface, followed by the appearance of a number of tiny (one to two microns.) crystals. Crystals forming within a biofilm at low dilution rates took on a characteristic twinned or "X-shaped" appearance (crystal habit) indicative of a rapid growth rate. Those forming outside the biofilm took on a more tabular appearance reflecting their slower growth. When the macroenvironment flow rate of artificial urine (initial pH 5.8) in the glass flow cell was increased from two mL/h to four mL/h, struvite crystals not associated with biofilms dissolved within five to 10 min. Crystals entrapped within the P. mirabilis biofilm withstood flow rates up to 200 mL/h presumably due to the maintenance of an alkaline Mg-saturated microenvironment within the biofilm. These observations may suggest a mechanism by which struvite calculi can grow in spite of neutral or acidic urine pH and resist mild acidification therapy.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed1991

Optical sectioning of microbial biofilms.

Scanning confocal laser microscopy (SCLM) was used to visualize fully hydrated microbial biofilms. The improved rejection of out-of-focus haze and the increased resolution of SCLM made it preferable to conventional phase microscopy for the analysis of living biofilms. The extent of image improvement was dependent on the characteristics of individual biofilms and was most apparent when films were dispersed in three dimensions, when they were thick, and when they contained a high number of cells. SCLM optical sections were amenable to quantitative computer-enhanced microscopy analyses, with minimal interference originating from overlying or underlying cell material. By using SCLM in conjunction with viable negative fluorescence staining techniques, horizontal (xy) and sagittal (xz) sections of intact biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were obtained. These optical sections were then analyzed by image-processing techniques to assess the distribution of cellular and noncellular areas within the biofilm matrices. The Pseudomonas biofilms were most cell dense at their attachment surfaces and became increasingly diffuse near their outer regions, whereas the Vibrio biofilms exhibited the opposite trend. Biofilms consisting of different species exhibited distinctive arrangements of the major biofilm structural components (cellular and extracellular materials and space). In general, biofilms were found to be highly hydrated, open structures composed of 73 to 98% extracellular materials and space. The use of xz sectioning revealed more detail of biofilm structure, including the presence of large void spaces within the Vibrio biofilms. In addition, three-dimensional reconstructions of biofilms were constructed and were displayed as stereo pairs. Application of the concepts of architectural analysis to mixed- or pure-species biofilms will allow detailed examination of the relationships among biofilm structure, adaptation, and response to stress.

Image Processing, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMed1991

Tubular sodium handling and tubuloglomerular feedback in experimental diabetes mellitus.

Tubular Na handling and tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) activity were assessed using micropuncture techniques during the hyperfiltration phase of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in Sprague-Dawley rats. Three animal groups were studied, designated as having severe diabetes [blood sugar level (BSL) 18-25 mmol/l], moderate diabetes (BSL 13-18 mmol/l) and control (BSL less than 10 mmol/l). Single-nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) measured at both late proximal (LP) and early distal (ED) sites was elevated in severe diabetes compared with both other groups. TGF activity, determined as the difference between LP and ED measurements of SNGFR, was significantly increased in severe diabetes (46.4 +/- 6.6 vs. 30.1 +/- 6.5 vs. 14.8 +/- 1.9 nl/min). Tubular Na transport was higher in severe diabetes compared with control, as demonstrated by a decrease in fractional delivery of Na to the LP (42.9 +/- 3.0 vs. 52.9 +/- 1.9%), as well as to the ED site (4.5 +/- 0.4 vs. 12.3 +/- 0.9%). Administration of phlorizin to severely diabetic animals resulted in a BSL comparable to that observed in moderate diabetes, and whole animal GFR, as well as SNGFR, TGF activity, and tubular Na handling were also similar to those found in moderate diabetes. Studies performed during mannitol infusion demonstrated that osmotic diuresis alone was not associated with the changes in TGF and tubular Na handling observed in the diabetic state. These data suggest that the hyperfiltration occurring in early diabetes is associated with enhanced proximal and loop resorption of Na independent of Na-glucose cotransport and osmotic diuresis. Activation of TGF serves to limit the rise in GFR, which results from factors as yet unrecognized in the diabetic state.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Metolazone in treatment of severe refractory congestive cardiac failure.

17 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV congestive cardiac failure, refractory to conventional treatment, were additionally treated with oral metolazone (1.25-10 mg daily). 12 improved sufficiently to be discharged from hospital (NYHA class II or III, mean weight loss 8.3 kg), 1 of whom died at home 4 weeks later. The other 5 patients were treated with intravenous dobutamine for 72 h; 2 responded (average weight loss 4.4 kg), and 2 responded to subsequent reintroduction of metolazone. 4 of these 5 patients died, 2 in hospital of acute myocardial infarction. Overall, 15 patients with very severe refractory cardiac failure improved sufficiently to be discharged from hospital. Treatment was associated with mild transient hypokalaemia in 7 patients, and hyponatraemia and renal impairment in 1, for whom metolazone dosage had to be reduced. Failure to respond to the introduction of metolazone may indicate an especially poor prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

The protein binding of methotrexate by the serum of normal subjects.

The protein binding of methotrexate by serum from eight normal volunteers was assessed by continuous ultrafiltration at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. Methotrexate concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and the data analysed by the method of Scatchard. The major binding protein was albumin which bound 87.3% of the drug in serum. Analysis of the Scatchard plots indicated two distinct groups of binding sites. Class I was found to have 0.16 +/- 0.05 (S D) binding sites with an intrinsic association constant of 71.15 +/- 35.98 (S D) X 10(4) M-1: Class II had 2.01 +/- 0.93 (S D) binding sites and and affinity of 0.18 +/- 0.15 X 10(4) M-1. No great change in the percentage of methotrexate bound occurred until the total concentration of the drug exceeded 50 muMol 1-1.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1979

Idiopathic edema.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Body Water↗
PubMed1979

Alterations of phenytoin protein binding with in vivo haemodialysis in dialysis encephalopathy.

Protein binding of phenytoin was assesed in one patient with dialysis encephalopathy before and after haemodialysis. Phenytoin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and continuous ultrafiltration was used to assess phenytoin binding. At a serum concentration of 60 micromol.1-1 the percentage of phenytoin bound to serum albumin was considerably lower in the patient serum (79.95% predialysis; 92.09% postdialysis) than that in three normal sera (97.90 +/- 0.17%). Analysis of Scatchard plots indicated two classes of binding sites. In class I both the affinity and capacity for binding phenytoin were reduced in the pre and post-dialysis serum, whereas in class II the capacity of the uraemic serum was increased although the intrinsic association constant was greatly reduced. It was concluded that in vivo haemodialysis is associated with large fluctuations in the protein binding of phenytoin, in which the concentration of endogenous dialysible metabolites are strongly implicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Enhancement of methotrexate absorption by subdivision of dose.

A comparison was made in fasting patients between a single 100 mg oral dose of methotrexate formulated as its sodium salt in a palatable syrup and the same total quantity of drug administered in four divided doses of 25 mg taken at 2-h intervals. Allocation to the order of these treatment schedules was on a random basis. The area under the serum methotrexate concentration-time curve until 50 h was found to be considerably greater after the divided dose regimen, the mean ratio AUC 25 mg x 4/AUC 100 mg being 1.86 (+/- 0.90). There was no significant difference in peak serum methotrexate concentrations or methotrexate half-life estimates between the two regimens, however. The results of this study are consistent with saturation of an intestinal transport process when methotrexate is administered orally in a single large dose.

Half-Life↗
PubMed1979

Bioavailability of methotrexate: implications for clinical use.

The absorption of oral methotrexate in syrup form has been compared in six patients with that of an identical IV dose (50 mg/m2). There was variable absorption amongst the group with respect to maximum levels achieved and the time taken to reach those levels. The area under the time-concentration curve was always smaller when the drug was given orally than after IV administration. A total of 33 patients receiving methotrexate for a variety of tumour types were followed for response to treatment and toxicity. A significantly longer methotrexate half-life (t1/2) was found in nine partial responders (9.2 +/- 1.6 h) than in the nonresponders (3.8 +/- 0.7 h). Severe methotrexate toxicity was not seen though occasional mucositis, conjunctivitis, and diarrhoea occurred in seven patients. The side effects could not be predicted from the dose, the bioavailability data, or the serum creatinine. Measurements of serum and urine methotrexate levels are useful in the assessment of absorption and bioavailability of the drug the prediction of tumour response.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1979

Effect of acute alcohol intoxication on the metabolism and plasma kinetics of chlordiazepoxide.

1. The metabolism and plasma kinetics of chlordiazepoxide have been determined in a group of volunteers and in a group of patients with acute alcohol intoxication. 2. Using the SAAM 26 non-linear least squares fitting programme, all chlordiazepoxide plasma concentration v time data following oral administration could be analysed in terms of a one-compartment open model with metabolic conversion of chlordiazepoxide to desmethylchlordiazepoxide. 3. Acutely intoxicated patients showed a prolonged elimination of chlordiazepoxide and a reduced clearance when compared with alcohol-free volunteers. The elimination of desmethylchlordiazepoxide, on the other hand, appeared to be faster in the alcoholics. 4. Alcohol exerts significant effects on the metabolism of chlordiazepoxide in acutely intoxicated patients.

Adult↗