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Biomedical subjects

L Foley

Publications and source records attributed to L Foley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Late-onset interface keratitis after uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis.

Although there have been many proposed etiologies for interface inflammation after laser in situ keratomileusis, the causative factor(s) remains an enigma. This case of late-onset interface inflammation suggests that the many previously suspected interface contaminants from the surgical environment were not involved. Transformation of a previously inert material to an inflammatory stimulus is proposed as a potential cause; however, a sample of inflammatory focus was not obtained because of the immediate and complete response to frequent topical steroid drops.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cell-based screening approach for antitumor drug leads which exploits sensitivity differences between normal and cancer cells: identification of two novel cell-cycle inhibitors.

A cell-based in vitro screening approach for identification of antitumor drug leads that exploits the differential sensitivity between normal and cancer cells was developed. It is a three-step, high-throughput screen for antiproliferative and/or cytotoxic activity measured by a 7 day MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromidel assay using small panels of proliferating primary human cells and established cancer cell lines. Proof-of-concept experiments successfully identified 11 known cancer drugs randomly mixed with 5000 test compounds. Application of this screening approach to a library of 110000 compounds allowed for the identification of several novel chemical classes of compounds active against an expanded panel of cancer cell lines in vitro. Two of the compounds representing novel mitotic inhibitors with in vivo potency against established breast cancer xenografts (MDA-MB-435) are reported here.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1998

Spirituality in the lives of older women.

Little is known about the importance of spirituality in the older women. This study explores the role of spiritual in the lives of women 70 years of age and older. A convenience sample of 56 respondents responded to the JAREL Spiritual Well-Being Scale and a demographic data questionnaire. Using an analysis of variance, significance was found for those who did not attend school beyond high school and those who did. There were difference between Catholics and Protestants on the Faith Belief Dimension factor and the total spirituality score.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Atrial pacing leads following open heart surgery: active or passive fixation?

The right atrial appendage is often amputated at the time of cardiopulmonary bypass. Because of concerns regarding lead displacement, use of active fixation atrial leads has been recommended in patients who require permanent atrial or dual chamber pacing after open heart surgery. We evaluated the acute and chronic performance of active and passive fixation atrial leads implanted at our institution between 1985 and 1993 in patients with previous open heart surgery. Of 78 consecutive patients, 38 had an active fixation atrial lead, 28 had a passive fixation steroid-eluting lead, and 12 had a passive fixation lead without steroid-eluting properties. At implantation, sensed P wave amplitudes were similar in the three groups, but lead impedance and threshold were significantly higher for active fixation leads compared to all passive fixation leads. During follow-up, atrial pacing thresholds were significantly higher, and sensed P wave amplitudes significantly lower, in the patients with active fixation leads compared to those with passive fixation leads. Loss of sensing occurred in 6 of 38 (16%) patients with active fixation leads and 1 of 40 (2.5%) patients with a passive fixation lead (P = 0.027). Atrial lead displacement occurred in two patients with active fixation leads and one with a passive fixation lead. Comparison with a parallel group of patients without previous open heart surgery demonstrated that atrial lead performance was similar in the two groups. We conclude that, when permanent atrial or dual chamber pacing is necessary in patients with prior open heart surgery, it is appropriate to implant a passive fixation atrial lead except on the infrequent occasions when a stable atrial position cannot be obtained.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Cost savings with nonthoracotomy implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

We analyzed hospital and physician charges for 99 consecutive patients who underwent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation at our institution. Eighteen patients received an epicardial lead system and 81 were scheduled to receive a nonthoracotomy lead system, the generator being implanted either abdominally (n = 62) or pectorally (n = 19). The epicardial group had a significantly longer convalescent stay (11.6 +/- 2.5 days; mean +/- SEM) than the abdominal nonthoracotomy group, analyzed by intention to treat (4.6 +/- 0.5 days) or by treatment received (3.8 +/- 0.2 days; p <0.0001). Postoperative stay for the pectoral group was shorter still (2.9 +/- 0.4 days; p <0.033). Total charges for the epicardial group were $99,081 +/- $25,094, significantly higher than those for any of the nonthoracotomy groups (p <0.017). Total charges for the pectoral group were $44,128 +/- $2,465, significantly less than those for the abdominal nonthoracotomy group, analyzed by intention to treat ($59,961 +/- $1,369; p <0.05) or by treatment received ($56,679 +/- $635; p <0.05). Cost reductions in the nonthoracotomy groups were primarily due to decreased in-hospital convalescence period, lower surgeon and anesthesiologist fees, and lower procedure-day hospital charges in the pectoral group. The use of ICDs with nonthoracotomy leads can result in significantly shorter in-hospital convalescence and a reduction in total implant-related charges of 40% to 55%. The use of pectorally implanted ICDs results in further reduction in hospital stay and further cost reduction of 22% to 26%. The trend toward shorter convalescent stay without postimplant testing is likely to reduce further the overall costs of ICD implantation.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed1996

Initial experience with an implantable hemodynamic monitor.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of intracardiac hemodynamic parameters has been limited to brief periods in the acute care setting. We developed and evaluated an implantable hemodynamic monitor that is capable of measuring chronic right ventricular oxygen saturation and pulmonary artery pressure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The device consists of an electronic controller placed subcutaneously and two transvenous leads placed in the right ventricle (reflectance oximeter) and pulmonary artery (variable capacitance pressure sensor). Implantation was performed in 10 patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Average implant pulmonary artery pressures were systolic, 52 +/- 16 mm Hg; diastolic, 29 +/- 11 mm Hg; and mean, 40 +/- 12 mm Hg. The mean right ventricular oxygen saturation at implant was 51%. Provocative maneuvers, including postural changes, sublingual nitroglycerin, and bicycle exercise, demonstrated expected changes in measured oxygen saturation and pulmonary artery pressures over time. At follow-up of 0.5 to 15.5 months, there were no significant differences between pulmonary artery pressures or oxygen saturation values transmitted from the device and simultaneous measurement with balloon flotation catheters. Four of the pulmonary artery leads dislodged and three demonstrated sensor drift, whereas two of the oxygen saturation sensors failed. Four patients died and four received transplants. Pathological study did not demonstrate injury to the right ventricular outflow tract or pulmonic valve. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic measurement of hemodynamic parameters in the outpatient setting with implantable sensor technology appears to be feasible. The devices are well tolerated without significant untoward effects, and the sensors generally function well over time, providing reliable information. Clinical usefulness remains to be established.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Pholedrine: a substitute for hydroxyamphetamine as a diagnostic eyedrop test in Horner's syndrome.

Mydriatic responses to eyedrops containing the indirect acting sympathomimetic amines tyramine, hydroxyamphetamine, and pholedrine have been compared in 10 healthy subjects. Pholedrine, the n-methyl derivative of hydroxyamphetamine, at a concentration of 1% had effects similar to those produced by 0.5% hydroxyamphetamine itself. Pretreatment with topical guanethidine attenuated its responses and in 13 patients with unilateral Horner's syndrome it distinguished clearly those five patients who had preganglionic from the eight with postganglionic lesions. It is concluded that 1% pholedrine may be substituted for 0.5% hydroxyamphetamine, which is no longer available, as a diagnostic agent for use in Horner's syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of relative fertility of cryopreserved goat sperm.

This study was designed to compare differences in the in vivo fertility of cryopreserved goat semen assessed by heterospermic insemination with differences in in vitro analyses. Five groups of does were inseminated with mixed frozen-thawed semen from different pairs of bucks. The percentage of offspring sired by each buck in the pair was compared with the relative ability of spermatozoa from that frozen-thawed ejaculate to penetrate zona-free hamster ova, relative post-thaw acrosomal integrity, ability to undergo an acrosome reaction during in vitro capacitation, and assessments of sperm motility. In 4 of the 5 different insemination pairs, the ratio of offspring born was other than 1:1. Acrosomal integrity, ability of spermatozoa to undergo an acrosome reaction, and parameters of sperm motility were not correlated with differences in relative fertility in this experiment using ejaculates from fertile bucks. The ability of spermatozoa to fuse with the oocyte plasma membrane was highly correlated with relative in vivo fertility (R2=0.78, P=0.04). This suggests that fusion with the oocyte plasma membrane is an event in the fertilization process in which significant variation exists among fertile bucks. Assessment of ability of spermatozoa to fuse with zona-free hamster ova may contribute to analysis of post-thaw fertility of frozen-thawed buck semen.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Arginine vasopressin causes morphological changes suggestive of fluid transport in rat choroid plexus epithelium.

The experiments described herein use an in vitro preparation of choroid plexus to demonstrate that it is a vasopressin-responsive organ by morphologic criteria. Choroid plexus from rats was incubated for one hour in graded concentrations of arginine vasopressin (AVP). Within physiologic range of molar concentration, incubation in vasopressin induced a decrease in basal and lateral spaces in choroid plexus epithelial cells as well as an increase in number of dark cells. The number of cells with basal spaces decreased significantly from 82.7 +/- 9.2 in control tissue to 19 +/- 18 in tissue incubated in 10(-12) M AVP; similarly, the number with lateral cellular spaces decreased from 20 +/- 8.8 to 7.6 +/- 2.2 cells in 10(-10) M AVP. Dark cells increased in number from 3.8 +/- 2.6 in control conditions to 49 +/- 4 with 10(-9) M vasopressin. These data suggest important effects of arginine vasopressin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on choroid plexus, compatible with enhanced fluid transport across choroid epithelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and hydrocephalus after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The effects of three sequential injections of cisternal blood on ventricular size, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, CSF formation rate, and CSF absorption rate were evaluated in adult rabbits. Autologous blood was injected into the cisterna magna on Days 1, 4, and 8 and ventriculocisternal perfusion was done on Day 15. Control animals received artificial CSF injection at these intervals. For each rabbit, the mean CSF pressure was higher after three injections of blood than before: 13 animals after blood injection had a mean CSF pressure of 15.59 +/- 1.15 cm H2O (mean +/- SE); before blood injection, their pressure had been 11.14 +/- 1.43 cm H2O (all figures are means +/- SE). This is a significant increase in pressure (P less than 0.01, paired t-test). Further, the 13 rabbits with cisternal blood injection had a significantly higher CSF pressure than 5 control animals: 15.59 +/- 1.15 vs. 10.50 +/- 1.06 cm H2O. The animals with cisternal blood injection all developed some degree of hydrocephalus; the ventricle to brain percentage ratio was 9.84 +/- 0.56 in blood-injected animals and 2.38 +/- 0.21 in control animals (P less than 0.01, two-tailed t-test). CSF formation and absorption rates were not significantly different after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The CSF formation rates were 9.85 +/- 1.8 microliter/minute in the experimental group and 9.53 +/- 1.9 microliter/minute in the control group; CSF absorption at the animal's opening pressure was 13.30 +/- 2.06 microliter/minute in the animals with cisternal blood injection and 9.97 +/- 2.4 microliter/minute in the control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorption↗
PubMed1984

Changes in parenchymal and ventricular pressure with experimental epidural compression.

A rabbit model was used to study the changes in intracranial pressure and parenchymal morphology that accompany epidural compression. A catheter in the left lateral ventricle and an intraparenchymal moist wick in each cerebral hemisphere were used to monitor intracranial pressures. With the balloon uninflated, the pressures in 12 rabbits were similar: 67.8 +/- 34.9 mmH2O for the left lateral ventricle, 61.7 +/- 31.0 mmH2O for the right parenchymal wick, and 58.3 +/- 29.1 mmH2O for the left parenchymal wick (mean +/- S.D.). With inflation of a right parietal epidural balloon to 0.4 cm3, the left ventricular pressure rose significantly to 168 +/- 57.5 mmH2O (p less than 0.001, Student's t-test) and the right hemisphere parenchymal pressure to 114.3 +/- 52.1 mmH2O (p less than 0.001). The left frontal parenchymal pressure increased, but not significantly. There was no evidence of blood-brain barrier breakdown by the Evans blue dye technique 2 hours after compression. Similarly, there was no infarction as gauged by 235triphenyl-2M-tetrazolium chloride infusion at 2 weeks. These data demonstrate that significant pressure asymmetries between hemispheres occur with epidural compression. In the rabbit, a 0.4-cm3 mass is not enough to cause blood-brain barrier breakdown or tissue necrosis. In the first 2 hours of compression th ventricular pressure is higher than the parenchymal pressure, perhaps because of obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid flow around the convexities.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Experimental normal-pressure hydrocephalus is accompanied by increased transmantle pressure.

This research was directed at the pathophysiology of normal-pressure hydrocephalus. The experimental method consisted of accurate and simultaneous measurement of the pressure within the ventricle and over the cerebral convexity in cats with hydrocephalus but normal ventricular pressure. Hydrocephalus was induced by the intracisternal injection of kaolin. Prior to the induction of hydrocephalus, the difference between the ventricular pressure and the pressure over the convexity (the transmantle pressure) was small (0.27 +/- 0.31 cm saline, mean +/- standard deviation). After the induction of normal-pressure hydrocephalus in seven animals, there was a statistically significant elevation of the transmantle pressure to 3.4 +/- 3.9 cm saline (p less than 0.05, Student's paired t-test). There was no similar increase in animals injected with lactated Ringer's solution. This finding supports the theory that it is the transmantle pressure, and not the ventricular pressure, that is the physiological determinant of ventricular dilatation. The theory explains why hydrocephalus can develop and persist despite normal ventricular pressure.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Morphological changes of the basilar artery, ventricles, and choroid plexus after experimental SAH.

Experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was induced in adult rabbits by three repeated cisterna magna injections of autologous nonheparinized blood. One week after the last blood injection the animals were sacrificed and examined for morphological change. No vasculopathy was noted in the basilar arteries and no periarterial thrombus was seen around the majority of these arteries. Gross and microscopic changes were observed in both the ventricles and choroid plexus. Ventricular changes included dilation of the lateral ventricles, destruction of ciliated ependymal cells, and deposition of small amounts of blood throughout the ventricular system. These ventricular changes are similar to the pathological sequelae of SAH in patients. Choroid plexus changes included electron-dense cytoplasmic inclusions and dilation of the lateral and subcellular spaces. The ventricular surface and the choroid plexus are both affected by the intracisternal injection of blood. The hydrocephalus that follows SAH may be potentiated by ependymal disruption and loss of ciliated activity in the ventricles. Changes in choroid plexus function may also occur.

Animals↗