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Biomedical subjects

L J Perrot

Publications and source records attributed to L J Perrot.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Measuring student motivation in health professions' colleges.

Active, independent, self-directed learning requires motivation, or a willingness to exert high levels of effort toward educational goals, conditioned by individual need. Motivation may be a function of individual differences or induced by situational constraints. Archer (1994), who used goal orientation to conceptualize university student motivation, theorized that students would exhibit a preference for either mastery orientation (desire to develop competence/increase understanding), performance orientation (desire to demonstrate competence/ability), or academic alienation (no concern for developing competence or demonstrating achievement). The purpose of this study was to identify and validate an instrument that would measure goal orientation preferences of students in health professions programs. The authors administered Archer's survey to a sample of medical, nursing, and pharmacy students to determine if the instrument was appropriate for this population. Results demonstrated that goal orientation preference could be measured in these students and confirmed the instrument's reliability and valid use for these populations.

Goals↗

Malignant hemangioendothelioma: a case of sudden unexpected death in infancy.

A case is reported in which an unsuspected multifocal malignant hemangioendothelioma indirectly caused the sudden, unexpected death of a 5-month-old girl because of its location. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of sudden, unexpected death associated with this type of tumor. The findings of this unusual case are presented along with a review of relevant literature.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Glial cytokines as neuropathogenic factors in HIV infection: pathogenic similarities to Alzheimer's disease.

The mechanisms by which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection provokes progressive neurodegeneration and dementia in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remain obscure. In HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals, we found that the brain cells preferentially infected by HIV, viz. the microglia, were abundant, activated, and intensely immunopositive for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), an immune response-generated cytokine that increases the synthesis and processing of beta-amyloid precursor proteins (beta-APP) and promotes proliferation and activation of astroglia. We also found an increase in the number of activated astroglia expressing elevated levels of S100 beta, a cytokine that increases intraneuronal calcium levels and promotes excessive growth of neuronal processes (neurites). These glial changes were accompanied by increased expression of beta-APP immunoreaction product in neurons and overgrown (dystrophic) neurites. In addition, some neurons contained monoclonal antibody Tau-2 immunopositive, neurofibrillary tangle-like structures. Our findings provide evidence that glial activation with increased expression of IL-1 alpha and S100 beta may be important in the neuropathogenesis of AIDS dementia. We propose that HIV infection promotes excessive microglial IL-1 alpha expression with consequent astrogliosis and increased expression of S100 beta. Overexpression of these two cytokines may then be involved in AIDS neuropathogenesis by inducing gliosis, growth of dystrophic neurites, and calcium-mediated neuronal cell loss in AIDS.

Adult↗

Brain interleukin 1 and S-100 immunoreactivity are elevated in Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease.

Interleukin 1, an immune response-generated cytokine that stimulates astrocyte proliferation and reactivity (astrogliosis), was present in up to 30 times as many glial cells in tissue sections of brain from patients with Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease compared with age-matched control subjects. Most interleukin 1-immunoreactive glia in Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease were classified as microglia. The number of interleukin 1 immunoreactive neurons did not appear to differ in Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease compared with control brain. Numerous temporal lobe astrocytes in Alzheimer disease and postnatal Down syndrome were intensely interleukin 1-, S-100-, and glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive and had reactive structure. Interleukin 1 levels in Alzheimer disease temporal lobe homogenates were elevated, as were the levels of S-100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein, two proteins reportedly elevated in reactive astrocytes. These data suggest that increased expression of S-100 in Down syndrome, resulting from duplication of the gene on chromosome 21 that encodes the beta subunit of S-100, may be augmented by elevation of interleukin 1. As a corollary, the astrogliosis in Alzheimer disease may be promoted by elevation of interleukin 1.

Adult↗

Nonnatural death masquerading as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

This article relates our experiences with accidental and homicidal deaths in reported sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases. Our intent is to alert personnel in medical and health-related professions as well as death investigators (coroners, law enforcement officials, etc.) that a thorough scene investigation and history need to be obtained when a child's death has been reported, since this may modify the type of autopsy to be performed. It should not be assumed that all children less than 1 year of age who die suddenly die from SIDS.

Accidents, Home↗

Spontaneous expression of fra(11)(q23) in a patient with Ewing's sarcoma and t(11;22)(q23;q11).

Cytogenetic analysis of a Ewing's sarcoma revealed a 46,XX,t(8;18)(q11;q21.3), t(11;22)(q23-24;q11-12) chromosome pattern. Observation of t(11;22) is consistent with other reported cases of Ewing's sarcoma. One breakpoint in this translocation, 11q23, coincides with the location of a folate-sensitive fragile site. Examination of peripheral blood leukocyte chromosomes from the patient revealed a 46,XX chromosome pattern with spontaneous, fluorodeoxyuridine-, and Bactrim-induced expression of fra(11)(q23). This may be the first demonstration of constitutional fra(11)(q23) expression in a patient with a neoplasm that exhibits a chromosome rearrangement involving this breakpoint and the first observation of spontaneous expression of this fragile site. These results provide a basis for discussion of the relationship between fragile sites and chromosome rearrangements.

Child↗

Liposarcoma arising within a cystosarcoma phyllodes.

A liposarcoma arising within a cystosarcoma phyllodes in a 17-year-old black female was treated by total mastectomy without the need of radiation and/or chemotherapy. The patient is alive and well with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis at 20 months recent follow-up. The clinicopathological features of malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes-liposarcoma are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Benign mediastinal teratoma with immature elements exhibited clonal growth and motility in the human tumor clonogenic assay.

The human tumor clonogenic assay has been used to study the growth and drug sensitivity of a wide variety of malignant and a limited number of benign tumors. We conducted detailed studies on a multipotential benign teratoma from a young child that gave rise to colonies in soft agar culture. The colonies separated themselves from the surrounding agar and exhibited rapid rotary movement (15 r/min). Morphologic, ultrastructural, and immunologic studies showed the colonies to be comprised exclusively of ciliated respiratory epithelium. The uniform beating of the cilia resulted in a constant rolling motion of the colonies in a single direction.

Cell Differentiation↗

Bone marrow emboli versus fat emboli as the cause of unexpected death.

Thromboemboli were found diffusely throughout the pulmonary vasculature system of a 76-year-old white female who died unexpectedly 3 days following injury and repair of a left hip intracapsular fracture. A diffuse chronic nonspecific myocarditis with marked fat atrophy, an acute myocardial infarct of the posterior left ventricular papillary muscle, and an acute right lower lobe bronchopneumonia are believed to be the cause of death.

Aged↗

Neurofibromatosis cerebral vasculopathy in an infant: clinical, neuroradiographic, and neuropathologic studies.

An infant with neurofibromatosis developed recurrent cerebrovascular accidents beginning at 3 months of life. Cerebral arteriography demonstrated large-vessel occlusive disease and bilateral severe moyamoya. At autopsy these lesions were apparent on gross examination, and advanced intimal and medial dysplasia was seen on microscopic examination of both the anterior and posterior circulations. Although rare, neurofibromatosis cerebrovasculopathy may occur in young infants and may account for some strokes in this age group.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

The caudal regression syndrome in infants of diabetic mothers.

Ultrasonography as part of the pre-natal diagnosis in high risk pregnancies may detect a number of fetal malformations that need to be re-evaluated for continuation or termination of pregnancy. Two fetuses, in two different patients with diabetes mellitus, were found to have significant intrauterine malformations detected by ultrasonography at 18 and 20 weeks gestational age, respectively. Post-mortem examination on both fetuses demonstrated the findings known as the caudal regression syndrome. The clinico-pathological features and obstetrical management of diabetic mothers whose pregnancies are complicated with this rare malformation are discussed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗