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Biomedical subjects

L Bland

Publications and source records attributed to L Bland.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

A minority perspective in the diagnosis of child language disorders.

The effective diagnosis and treatment of persons from diverse minority language backgrounds has become an important issue in the field of speech and language pathology. Yet, many SLPs have had little or no formal training in minority language, there is a paucity of normative data on language acquisition in minority groups, and there are few standardized speech and language tests appropriate for these groups. We described a diagnostic process that addresses these problems. The diagnostic protocol we have proposed for a child from a Black English-speaking background characterizes many of the major issues in treating minority children. In summary, we proposed four assessment strategies: gathering referral source data; making direct observations; using standardized tests of non-speech and language behavior (cognition, perception, motor, etc.); and eliciting language samples and probes.

Black or African American

Protein serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae based on reactivity to six monoclonal antibodies.

Six monoclonal antibodies to proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae were tested in a dot blot assay for reactivity with 499 clinical isolates of pneumococci. Forty-four percent of the isolates reacted with at least one of the antibodies. Nineteen patterns of reactivity were identified and each designated as a provisional protein serotype. Protein serotyping identified pneumococcal strains independently of their capsular type and made it possible to differentiate strains within most capsular types. A protein serotyping system provides a new dimension to the phenotypic identification of S. pneumoniae and may eventually provide a basis for assessing the population structure of these organisms.

Animals

Hypertensive response to saline microinjection in the area of the nucleus tractus solitarii of the rat.

We investigated the blood pressure response elicited by microinjection of various hypertonic solutions into the area of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of the brainstem, an area rich in catecholaminergic neurons. Equiosmolar solutions of NaCl, dextrose, LiCl and KCl were employed. NaCl produced a prolonged blood pressure rise; LiCl and normal saline produced a similar rise of short duration; and KCl produced epileptic-type seizures with postictal hypertension. Dextrose had no effect and neither had NaCl microinjection in areas relatively distant from the NTS. The rise in blood pressure was not reversed by a vasopressin antagonist injected systemically, but was totally abolished by systemic alpha-adrenergic blockade with phentolamine. These findings suggest that sodium can cause hypertension by direct stimulation of the central sympathetic nervous system without participation of peripheral mechanisms such as fluid volume expansion or alteration of the vascular wall.

Animals

Hemodialyzer reuse: practices in the United States and implication for infection control.

Reuse of hemodialyzers has continued to increase dramatically. In 1983, 52% of the hemodialysis centers were reusing hemodialyzers. Use of hollow fiber hemodialyzers has paralleled this increase in hemodialyzer reuse with 63% of the hemodialysis centers reporting exclusive use of this type of hemodialyzer in 1983. Although reuse of hemodialyzers has not been associated with increased incidence of hepatitis B infection or pyrogenic reactions, an outbreak of nontuberculous mycobacteria in 27 chronic hemodialysis patients was probably associated with water used to reprocess dialyzers. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were isolated from the water in 83% of 115 hemodialysis centers surveyed across the United States and could constitute a potential infection risk because of the organisms' greater germicide resistance than most other naturally occurring water bacteria. Two percent formaldehyde is not an effective germicide for high level disinfection of hemodialyzers. Reprocessed hemodialyzers should be disinfected with 4% formaldehyde or an equivalent disinfectant.

Hepatitis B

Decrease in cerebral blood flow in rats after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage: a new animal model.

There continues to be a need for good animal models of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The rat would be an ideal subject in which to study SAH since it is inexpensive and easier to use than the larger laboratory animals. The present study was undertaken to determine if alterations of cerebral blood flow could be produced in the rat after experimental SAH, and thereby justify using the rat as a model for further study of SAH. Rats weighing between 450 and 500 grams underwent insertion of a cannula into the cisterna magna at least 5 days prior to physiological testing. One group of rats then received a 0.3 cc injection of fresh autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna to simulate a SAH. Another group of rats received injection of an equal volume of mock CSF (buffered saline) into the cisterna magna. A third group of rats had no subarachnoid injections. In all three groups, blood flow to the cerebral hemispheres was measured with the labeled microsphere technique. Rats with experimental SAH showed a 40% decrease of cerebral blood flow, whereas rats with saline injections showed only a 15% decrease. Control rats had no changes of cerebral blood flow. These studies demonstrate that the rat is a potential experimental model for investigations into SAH.

Animals