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Biomedical subjects

J S McNeil

Publications and source records attributed to J S McNeil.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Anticipatory grief and AIDS: strategies for intervening with caregivers.

Anticipatory grief may have beneficial effects for caregivers of people with HIV infection or AIDS. However, the duration of the illness and the stigmatization and multiple losses associated with the disease may impede the caregiver's ability to effectively engage in the grief process. This article discusses the impact of these aspects of the disease on the anticipatory grief process and mourning tasks for caregivers at each stage of the illness. Intervention strategies developed to help the caregiver remain actively involved with the patient and simultaneously grieve losses and prepare for death are specified.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Prediction of carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung in splenectomized sheep.

The steady state diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was studied in 18 splenectomized adult ewes. Seven animals were anemic when studied. Weight (Wt) and, to a lesser extent, hemoglobin (Hb) level were the key predictive variables of DLCO. Sheep DLCO can be expected to range between 15 and 28 ml/min/mmHg in adult ewes which are not anemic. When DLCO measurements were repeated up to three times on the same day no significant decreases occurred. Thus, the data demonstrated no CO back-pressure caused by preceding DLCO determinations. This paper's importance is in defining a normal predictive range for this sensitive parameter of pulmonary function.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Studies of cobalamin as a vehicle for the renal excretion of cyanide anion.

To examine the ability of hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B12a, HO-Cbl) to counteract the toxicity of cyanide by promoting the renal excretion of cyanide anion, we studied the pharmacokinetics of HO-Cbl and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12, CN-Cbl) given in high doses to dogs. After administration of intravenous bolus doses of HO-Cbl and CN-Cbl (5, 10, 25 mg/kg) to female foxhounds, peak plasma concentrations were attained within 1 minute, after which the cobalamins disappeared from plasma in a manner consistent with two-phase distribution and elimination kinetics. While mean t1/2 measurements for the initial distribution phase were similar for HO-Cbl and CN-Cbl, the secondary excretion phase was more prolonged for HO-Cbl than for CN-Cbl (t1/2, 94.75 minutes vs 62.64 minutes, respectively). Pharmacokinetic data permitted the design of a HO-Cbl infusion schedule that resulted in stable plasma concentrations in test animals. When NaCN was then given intravenously to animals preloaded with HO-Cbl (20 micrograms/ml plasma), conversion of HO-Cbl to CN-Cbl in vivo, was documented by both thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of successive urine samples. Moreover, in dogs preloaded with HO-Cbl (20 micrograms/ml plasma), up to 10% of the cyanide administered as NaCN infusions was recovered in urine as CN-Cbl by 60 minutes, compared with less than 0.3% in dogs not treated with HO-Cbl. In addition, under these conditions of HO-Cbl loading, the minimum doses of NaCN required to produce sublethal signs of cyanide toxicity (hypotension, tachypnea, tachycardia) were found to be increased to levels that in some cases exceeded normally lethal doses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Blood volume determinations in sheep before and after splenectomy.

Using 51Cr labelled RBCs, total blood volume, red cell volume and plasma volume were measured in fifteen adult, female, domestic sheep both before and after splenectomy. Eight of the fifteen animals studied were anemic. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in blood volume parameters whether animals were grouped together or separated into normal and anemic groups. We observed: (a) splenectomy produced modest reductions in blood volume parameters in 12 of 15 animals, (b) preoperative variability in blood volume parameters caused by release of sequestered RBCs from the spleen was eliminated after splenectomy, and (c) equilibration of 51Cr required at least 30 minutes in intact animals, but only 10 minutes in splenectomized animals. After volume parameters were normalized to body weight, they were found to agree closely with values reported previously. This study demonstrates the dynamic function of the sheep spleen in the regulation of blood volume.

Anemia↗
PubMed1989

A steady state method of measuring carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung of sheep.

A method for measuring the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in sheep was developed. The test's usefulness and reliability was studied in ten, splenectomized adult ewes. Hemoglobin concentration and weight were found to affect sheep DLCO. This article describes a method of determining DLCO in sheep, gives preliminary results of limited testing, and discusses factors affecting DLCO in sheep.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Corticosterone is converted to 6 beta-hydroxycorticosterone in rat: effects of the metabolite on urinary electrolyte excretion.

This study was performed to determine whether corticosterone (B), the major glucocorticoid of rat, is metabolized to its 6 beta-OH derivative (6 beta-OH-B) and whether this derivatives has any effects on Na+ or K+ transport in rat kidney. Normal and adrenalectomized (adx) rats were injected with [3H]B and urine was collected for 5 h and examined for metabolites of B. Metabolites were collected by solid phase extraction on mu Bondapak C18 cartridges and fractionated by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Fractions coeluting with 6 beta-OH-B were rechromatographed by normal phase thin layer chromatography. Approximately 5% of the radioactivity recovered from the urine of both intact and adx rats cochromatographed with 6 beta-OH-B on the two systems. Mass spectra of this fraction were virtually identical to those of authentic 6 beta-OH-B, demonstrating that rats do metabolize B to its 6 beta-OH derivative. To evaluate the biological activity of this metabolite, adx rats were injected with NaCl and KCl and with varying dosage of either 6 beta-OH-B or reference steroids (aldosterone, B, 6 beta-OH-F). 6 beta-OH-B produced a significant antinatriuresis at all doses. Kaliuresis occurred only at the highest dose and creatinine excretion increased, suggesting increased glomerular filtration from a glucocorticoid effect. Although 6 beta-OH-B may simply be exerting mineralo- and glucocorticoid actions there are two unexplained findings. First, 6 beta-OH-B (10 micrograms/100 g) significantly decreased urinary K excretion with associated antinatriuresis, an effect which has not been seen with Aldo administration. Second, neither a kaliuretic nor antinatriuretic effect of 6 beta-OH-B could be demonstrated in experiments using a method to enhance mineralocorticoid induced K+ excretion (K+ deprivation and NaCl loading only). Yet, the dose used was clearly antinatriuretic in the initial bioassay. It is concluded that the rat is capable of metabolizing B to its 6 beta-OH-B derivative which appears in substantial quantity in the urine. This metabolite produces antinatriuresis in the adrenalectomized rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Independence levels and social adjustment of poststroke patients.

A study of 52 poststroke patients found that patients who lived alone reported more independence in their life-styles than those who lived with family members. Family members of male patients were more likely to experience guilt, irritation, restrictions, and relationship difficulties than family members of female patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1983

The role of prostaglandins in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in the dog.

The effects of chronic gentamicin administration on renal function was studied in dogs receiving 4 mg/kg i.m. of gentamicin b.i.d. for 28 days. Administration of gentamicin resulted in a bimodal change in renal function. A decrease in urine osmolality was first noted on day 6 and declined progressively throughout the study. This decrease in urinary concentrating ability was preceded by a steady rise in urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE) excretion and followed by a rise in plasma renin activity (PRA). Prior to an increase in azotemia, urinary PGE decreased precipitously while PRA continued to rise throughout the remainder of the study. The precipitous decrease in GFR was accompanied by a significant increase in FENa to seven times control. These studies suggest a dual effect of chronic gentamicin administration on renal function: (1) an early effect manifested by stimulation of urinary prostaglandin production with a concomitant loss of urinary concentrating ability and mild prerenal azotemia, and (2) a late effect, preceded by a decrease in urinary prostaglandin excretion while PRA continues to increase, and manifested by increase fractional excretion of sodium and progressive azotemia.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1982

Intestinal filtration-secretion due to increased intraluminal pressure in rabbits.

The mechanism of changes in small intestinal transport due to acutely increased intraluminal hydrostatic pressure (IHP) was investigated in detail using perfused in vivo rabbit intestinal segments. IHP affected passive transport in vivo by increasing effective mucosal surface area in the small intestine (indicated by 3HOH transport and tissue architectural changes) and increasing small intestinal permeability (indicated by a proportionately greater increase in mannitol than erythritol secretory clearance). IHP did not alter ileal blood flow rate measured by radioactive microspheres, despite grossly evident venous dilatation, or active intestinal transport in the ileum as measured by a) in vitro ion transport in the absence of elevated hydrostatic pressure, b) mucosal adenylate cyclase or Na-K-ATPase activities, and c) glucose-stimulated water and electrolyte absorption. Acutely increased IHP appears to influence the hydrodynamics of the mucosal microcirculation in the rabbit ileum to produce a driving force for passive filtration-secretion, which is associated with and possibly augmented by increased tissue permeability and effective surface area.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Uremia decreases nuclear 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine receptors in rats.

The maximal binding capacity (MBC) of hepatic T3 nuclear receptors was decreased in uremic rats (132 +/- 37 fmol/mg DNA) compared to sham-operated controls (212 +/- 44 fmol/mg DNA; P < 0.025), while the equilibrium affinity constants (Ka) remained unaltered (1.8 +/- 0.4 and 1.5 +/- 0.3 X 10(9) M-1 in the uremic and control rats, respectively, P = NS). There was also a reduction in the MBC of the kidney T3 receptors, from 73 +/- 14 fmol/mg DNA in the control animals to 32 +/- 7 fmol/mg DNA in the uremic rats (P < 0.10), while the Ka values were identical in both groups (1.9 +/- 0.5 X 10(9) M-1). In addition, there were significant reductions in serum T4 (1.5 +/- 0.7 microgram/dl) and T3 (92 +/- 10 ng/dl) in the uremic rats compared to control rats, whose T4 levels averaged 4.4 +/- 0.1 microgram/dl (P < 0.005) and whose T3 levels averaged 140 +/- 13 ng/dl (P < 0.005). Further, insulin levels averaged 83 +/- 21 microU/ml in uremic rats and 38 +/- 7 microU/ml in control rats (P < 0.025), while glucagon levels averaged 457 +/- 114 pg/ml in the uremic rats and 101 +/- 30 pg/ml in the control animals (P < 0.0125). These data suggest that 1) in addition to starvation and hepatectomy, uremia is another pathological condition associated with the modification of the number of T3 receptors, 2) the reduction in MBC observed may be generalized rather than organ specific for hepatic nuclear receptors, and 3) elevated glucagon levels are associated with reduced MBC in uremia, but it is indeterminate whether hyperglucagonemia is the etiology of the decrease.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Hemoglobin biosynthesis in individual bursts in culture: studies of human umbilical cord blood.

We cultured human umbilical cord blood erythropoietic precursors in methyl cellulose clonal assay and analyzed the synthetic rates of Hb A and Hb F in individual erythropoietic bursts. Hemoglobin was labeled with 14C-amino acids in culture, separated by slab gel isoelectric focusing techniques, and quantitated by fluorographic methods. Almost all bursts exhibited both Hb A and Hb F in varying ratios. Frequencies of the individual bursts differing in percentage Hb F biosynthesis had normal distributions. Natal erythropoietic precursors appeared to be randomly committed to Hb F synthesis.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1977

Natriuretic and phosphaturic response to diuretics after parathyroidectomy in dogs.

Intact and acutely parathyroidectomized (TPTX) dogs were studied during hydropenia, volume expansion (VE), volume expansion plus ethacrynic acid (EA), and volume expansion plus acetazolamide (AZ). In intact dogs, VE produced marked increases in both Na+ and phosphate (Pi) excretion; in TPTX dogs, Na+ excretion increased but phosphaturia was minimal. Addition of EA increased Na+ but not Pi excretion in both groups. Discontinuing EA and substituting AZ in intact dogs produced a marked increase in Pi excretion compared to both VE and VE + EA. In TPTX dogs, AZ failed to increase Pi excretion compared to VE alone. The results suggest that increased distal Pi absorption in acutely TPTX dogs is not associated with NaCl reabsorption in the thick ascending loop of Henle or may occur at an alternative nephron site. Furthermore, the increased distal Pi reabsorptive capacity revealed by TPTX can overcome the increased distal Pi delivery produced by the superimposition of AZ on VE.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1977

Effect of dithiothreitol on mercuric chloride- and uranyl nitrate-induced acute renal failure in the rat.

The current study was undertaken to examine the effects of dithiothreitol (DDT), a sulfhydryl-reducing agent and heavy metal chelator, on the course of heavy metal-induced acute renal failure in the rat. Groups of rats in metabolic cages received uranyl nitrate (UN) alone, UN plus DTT, mercuric chloride (HgCl2) alone, and HgCl2 plus DTT. UN injected alone produced azotemia, decreased creatinine clearance, and rising fractional sodium excretion over the 48 hr of study. These effects of UN on renal function were not observed when DTT was administered 30 min after UN injection. Qualitatively similar results were obtained with HgCl2-induced acute renal failure. Groups of rats were killed at 6 hr after UN plus DTT, HgCl2 alone, or HgCl2 plus DTT; and determinations of plasma renin activity (PRA) and renin activities of the superficial and deep juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) were performed. PRA's and JGA renins were increased in animals receiving either UN or HgCl2 alone, but not in the rats receiving both DTT and UN or HgCl2. The effect of DTT on distribution of 203Hg was also examined. Treatment with DTT did not alter the renal accumulation of 203Hg, suggesting that this agent does not act by limiting renal exposure to the heavy metals. Thus, DTT ameliorates the course of heavy metal-induced ARF, and this effect is associated with prevention of heavy metal-induced alterations in sodium excretion and renin-angiotensin system activity.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1976

Studies on the pathophysiology of acute renal failure. I. Correlation of ultrastructure and function in the proximal tubule of the rat following administration of mercuric chloride.

Acute renal failure was induced in male rats by the subcutaneous injection of 4 mg HgC12 per kg body weight. Changes in the proximal tubule were studied by light and electron microscopy at six time intervals from 15 min to 24 h. Renal function was monitored at 6 and 24 h. Between 15 min and 3 h changes were similar in all regions of the proximal tubule (pars convoluta and pars recta). Dispersion of cytoplasmic polysome groups was widespread and mitochondrial matrices were condensed in some cells. No changes were noted in the brush border but increased endocytotic activity occurred in some convoluted tubules at 1 and 3 h. At 6 h severe changes had occurred in the pars recta in the medullary rays. Microvilli of the brush border were focally absent, the mitochondria were swollen and the endoplasmic reticulum was dilated. At this time only subtle changes occurred in the pars recta in the outer stripe of the outer medulla. However by 24 h necrosis was widespread throughout the pars recta, yet changes in the proximal convoluted portion were minimal. A significant azotemia, decreased GFR and increased FENa+ and FEK+ occurred at 6 and 24 h after HgC12 injection. Thus HgC12 at 4 mg per kg body weight produced reproducible renal failure and necrosis involving the pars recta of every nephron but necrosis did not begin in the pars recta until after 6 h while acute renal failure was probably initiated much earlier. The following hypothesis is presented. HgC12 initially interacts with the entire proximal tubule. Although injury is sublethal in the pars convoluta it is responsible for greatly diminished sodium reabsorption and is related to the pathogenesis of the renal failure through feedback mechanisms involving the macula densa and release of renin. This results in renal hemodynamic alterations, decreased GFR and other functional disturbances associated with renal failure. The development of necrosis in the pars recta appears to be a relatively late event, possibly due to further accumulation of Hg++ in this region. In any case, the necrosis appears pathogenetically dissociable from the mechanism of acute renal failure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗