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K Lowry

Publications and source records attributed to K Lowry.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Neurotrophin receptor expression and responsiveness by postnatal cerebral oligodendroglia.

The low affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) is implicated in promoting oligodendrocytic death after nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulation but NGF and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) can also potentiate oligodendrocytic survival. We show regional variability in p75(NTR) expression within the central nervous system of the postnatal rat; expression is readily detectable by immunohistochemistry upon a subset of CNPase-positive oligodendroglia in optic nerve but not within the cerebrum. Nevertheless, oligodendroglia isolated from the cerebrum and cultured for 16 hours express p75(NTR) as well as the trkC but not the TrkA gene. Viability was not, however, influenced by exposure to either NGF or NT-3. Cells overexpressing p75(NTR) remained unresponsive to NGF but exhibited potentiated survival with NT-3, correlating with the differential expression profile of their high affinity receptors.

Adenoviridae↗

There is no loss of motor neurons in the rat spinal cord during postnatal maturation.

Motor neurons are lost during embryonic development, but it remains controversial whether motor neuron cell death occurs during postnatal life. In this study we investigated the effect of postnatal maturation on the number of intact spinal motor neurons in the rat using retrograde labelling with model-based counting, and an unbiased stereological counting technique. To determine the number of motor neurons innervating a specific forelimb muscle in rats of different postnatal ages FluoroGold was injected into the flexor carpi radialis. Before postnatal day 21 there were higher numbers of retrogradely labelled motor neurons than in adult rats, suggesting a 'loss' with postnatal maturation. This loss may be attributed to tracer diffusion to adjacent muscles and to the permeability of the muscle spindle capsule in younger animals. To obtain an unbiased estimate of the number of motor neurons in the C7 and C8 segments of the postnatal rat cervical spinal cord the fractionator/optical disector counting technique was used. This method did not show a loss of spinal motor neurons between birth and adulthood. The main conclusion from this study is that there is no loss of spinal motor neurons during postnatal maturation.

Animals↗

Radiologic case study. Pigmented villonodular synovitis.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis is a benign, locally aggressive disorder characterized by a unique clinical radiographic, and histopathologic presentation. While it is considered to be a rare disorder, a delay in diagnosis and treatment can potentially result in severe disruption of joint function due to subchondral invasion. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment should consist of complete synovectomy. Recurrence is common, but malignant transformation is rare. The etiology of PVNS is still unknown, and perhaps its future discovery will assist in the definitive treatment of this disorder.

Adult↗

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British Columbia↗

Course and outcome of IVF pregnancies and spontaneous conceptions within an IVF setting.

The study determines mortality and morbidity levels during pregnancy and the perinatal period in those conceiving through IVF in the Republic of Ireland in comparison with other parts of the world and a peer infertile group conceiving spontaneously whilst on the IVF clinic books. Six hundred and sixty couples had 187 IVF pregnancies from whom 220 babies were born to 151 deliveries. There were also 78 spontaneous conceptions which produced 78 offspring from 73 deliveries. The majority had trouble free pregnancies. The incidence of all complications was less than has been reported elsewhere. Of the IVF group, 16.5% aborted completed as did 5% of the spontaneous conceptions. A further 7% and 3.8%, respectively, aborted one sac of a multiple pregnancy. Of the IVF deliveries, 35.8% were multiple as were 6.8% of the spontaneous conceptions. Higher order multiple presence detrimentally influenced delivery mode, gestational age and birth weights in the IVF group. Of IVF patients, 55.7% were section deliveries as were 10.9% of the spontaneous conceptions. Incidence of IVF-group significant congenital abnormality was 1.8%. The perinatal mortality rate was 4.2 per 1000 births. This series suggests the final take-home baby outlook of 81% from conception by IVF is not as poor as previously portrayed. However, attention should be given to abortion, section and multiple pregnancy rates.

Adult↗

Selective decontamination of the digestive tract: a stratified, randomized, prospective study in a mixed intensive care unit.

To evaluate the use of selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) (polymyxin, amphotericin, tobramycin, and intravenous cefotaxime) in a mixed intensive care unit, we performed a stratified, randomized, prospective study. The 331 patients were recruited over an 18-month period, with 256 patients remaining more than 48 hours. Stratification by acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) preceded randomization to control (standard antibiotic therapy) or treatment (SDD) groups. Nosocomial infection was significantly reduced in the SDD group (16.7%; 21 of 126 patients) compared with the control group (30.8%; 40 of 130 patients; p = 0.008). No difference was found in overall mortality rate or length of stay between the two groups. Those patients with admission APACHE II scores 10 to 19 demonstrated the most significant reduction in nosocomial infection (23 of 70 control vs 13 of 76 SDD; p = 0.03) and mortality (15 of 70 control vs 8 of 76 SDD; p = 0.07). Emergence of multiresistant microorganisms was not a clinical problem, but a definite change occurred in the ecology of environmental and colonizing bacteria. With the exception of cefotaxime, a reduction was noted in systemic antibiotic usage in the SDD group. We conclude that SDD is useful in selected patients in a mixed intensive care unit.

Adolescent↗