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Biomedical subjects

L Rankin

Publications and source records attributed to L Rankin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Heritability and Y-chromosome influence in the jack male life history of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

Jacking in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is an alternative reproductive strategy in which males sexually mature at least 1 year before other members of their year class. We characterize the genetic component of this reproductive strategy using two approaches; hormonal phenotypic sex manipulation, and a half-sib breeding experiment. We 'masculinized' chinook salmon larvae with testosterone, reared them to first maturation, identified jacks and immature males based on phenotype, and genotyped all fish as male ('XY') or female ('XX') using PCR-based Y-chromosome markers. The XY males had a much higher incidence of jacking than the XX males (30.8% vs 9.9%). There was no difference in body weight, gonad weight, and plasma concentrations of testosterone and 17beta-estradiol between the two jack genotypes, although XY jacks did have a higher gonadosomatic index (GSI) than XX jacks. In the second experiment, we bred chinook salmon in two modified half-sib mating designs, and scored the number of jacks and immature fish at first maturation. Heritability of jacking was estimated using two ANOVA models: dams nested within sires, and sires nested within dams with one-half of the half-sib families common to the two models. The sire component of the additive genetic variance yielded a high heritability estimate and was significantly higher than the dam component (h(2)(sire) = 0.62 +/- 0.21; h(2)(dam) = -0.14 +/- 0.12). Our experiments both indicated a strong sex-linked component (Y-chromosome) to jacking in chinook salmon, although evidence for at least some autosomal contribution was also observed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

Internet use amongst New Zealand general practitioners.

AIMS: To assess how extensively New Zealand doctors are using medical information on the Internet, and to examine how the new technology is affecting their practice of medicine. METHODS: All general practitioners (GPs) known to be working in Otago and Southland were asked to complete a postal questionnaire regarding their use of the Internet and their impressions of patient use of online medical resources. RESULTS: Of 259 questionnaires mailed out, 168 (65%) were returned by GPs currently in practice. Of those, 114 (68%) said they used the Internet at least monthly. A total of 71% of GPs had patients who indicated they had sought medical information from the Internet. Nearly half of respondents expressed concerns that the Internet could have unwelcome effects on the doctor-patient relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Internet use among New Zealand doctors and patients is widespread, and is likely to have significant impact on medical practice now and in the future. While the potential benefits of the new technology are numerous, the Internet may become a source of conflict between doctors and patients.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1995

Migraine prophylaxis with divalproex.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and safety of divalproex sodium (Depakote) and placebo in the prophylaxis of migraine headache. DESIGN: Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled investigation, having a 4-week, single-blind placebo baseline phase and a 12-week treatment phase (4-week dose adjustment, 8-week maintenance). SETTING: Eight headache/neurology clinics throughout the United States. PATIENTS: One hundred seven patients randomized to divalproex or placebo (2:1 ratio): 70 receiving divalproex and 37 receiving placebo. INTERVENTION: Divalproex and placebo dosages titrated in blinded fashion during dose adjustment period to achieve actual/sham trough valproate sodium concentrations of approximately 70 to 120 mg/L. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the treatment phase, the mean migraine headache frequency per 4 weeks was 3.5 in the divalproex group and 5.7 in the placebo group (p < or = .001), compared with 6.0 and 6.4, respectively, during the baseline phase. Forty-eight percent of divalproex-treated patients and 14% of placebo-treated patients showed a 50% or greater reduction in migraine headache frequency from the baseline phase (P < .001). Among those with migraine headaches, divalproex-treated patients reported significantly less functional restriction than placebo-treated patients and used significantly less symptomatic medication per episode. No significant treatment group differences were observed in average peak severity or duration of individual migraine headaches. Treatment was stopped in 13% of divalproex-treated patients and 5% of placebo-treated patients because of intolerance (P, not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Divalproex is an effective prophylactic drug for patients with migraine headaches and is generally well tolerated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Low cost, patient acceptable, local analgesia approach to gynaecological outpatient surgery. A review of 817 consecutive procedures.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to evaluate safety, cost effectiveness and patient acceptability, of performing a wide variety of gynaecological procedures, including endometrial resections, in a clinic using only local analgesia. Eight hundred and seventeen consecutive gynaecological procedures were performed under local analgesia only, with no sedation, including endometrial resections, cone biopsies, terminations of pregnancy, hysteroscopies, and local vaginal and plastic vulval procedures, as well as many combined procedures (figure 1) in a day-surgery ward annexe in the Department of Gynaecology, St John's District General Hospital, Chelmsford Essex. The main outcome measures were patient acceptability, safety and encountered side-effects of procedures performed under local analgesia as well as evaluation of cost-effectiveness and reduction in theatre waiting list times. A high degree of safety and patient acceptability was achieved, with other considerable benefits being short waiting times and much quicker recovery. The only complications were from the endometrial resection group, with only 8 (3.6%) of these requiring intravenous sedation intraoperatively, and 6 (2.7%) requiring overnight admission. No transfers to theatre during any procedure occurred. Savings per procedure, in cost and in patient's time, were very considerable. CONCLUSION: The local analgesia approach for a wide variety of gynaecological procedures in a combined outpatient theatre is safe and is highly acceptable to patients. There are also considerable benefits in cost and patient convenience, with a reduction in operating list waiting time, which in the current economic climate are worth considering.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1994

Transcervical resection of the endometrium using intracervical block only. A review of 278 procedures.

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety aspects of performing transcervical endometrial resection (T.C.R.E.) on a selected group of 278 patients with menstrual disorders under local analgesia (intracervical block) only. Patient acceptance of the procedure was high, with only 3 cases not completed due to insufficient analgesia (1.07%), although a further 9 (3.2%) were completed with the help of intravenous sedation. Patient satisfaction at 4 months was 90%. There were 4 perforations (1.4%), but no laparotomy was required. Five cases (1.7%) of haemorrhage required a Foley catheter, with 1 needing a transfusion. There was no case of clinically evident glycine overload. Twelve patients required an overnight stay. Patient acceptance of T.C.R.E. under local analgesia, and the incidence of major complications, compared favourably with other published series, including a series of 330 cases performed concurrently by the same operators under general anaesthesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Transcervical resection of the endometrium: a review of 400 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of transcervical resection of the endometrium (TCRE) in women presenting with menstrual disorders. DESIGN: A retrospective audit of 400 patients. SETTING: The Department of Gynaecology, St John's Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex. SUBJECTS: 400 consecutive referrals with various bleeding disorders which were suitable for treatment with TCRE. INTERVENTIONS: TCRE, either partially or completely. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction with procedure at 4 months. The procedure was initially recorded as a failure if any further therapy was required but satisfaction after a second procedure was assessed. RESULTS: 432 procedures were performed in 400 women. Major operative complications were rare with two (0.46%) uterine perforations, four (0.93%) primary haemorrhages requiring Tamponade to control bleeding and one (0.23%) secondary haemorrhage requiring hysterectomy to control it. Glycine toxicity was not clinically apparent. 85% were satisfied after the initial TCRE and 92% were satisfied if the procedure was repeated. CONCLUSION: TCRE is an advance in the management of menstrual disorders. Extensive training is required to minimise complications. The lack of long term follow-up is its major deficiency but this will be rectified in the future.

Endometrium↗
PubMed1984

Development of topical BAPN delivery system for acute spinal cord injury in dogs.

Topical sustained release of various medications by a subdurally implantable device at the site of spinal cord injury is considered advantageous in the treatment of early symptoms of tissue damage. A typical case is the interference with collagenous scar by beta-aminopropionitrile, inhibiting collagen polymerization. Four materials, silicone, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyacrylonitrile-based hydrogel were evaluated for biocompatibility in subcutaneous implantations. The hydrogel, the least reactive, was then compared with silicone sheets as subcural implants. The histology favored the hydrogel as the most inert material, which was then used for the construction of soft, pliable pouches, releasing the drug through the hydrated wall at a rate controlled by an osmotic pump.

Aminopropionitrile↗
PubMed1976

Familial risk and cancer control.

An intensive study of the family history of cancer in 4,515 patients screened consecutively by a multiphasic mobile cancer detection unit showed, after age correction, that cancer had developed in 8.9% of the probands when there was one cancer in a single first-degree relative, 16.2% had cancer with two family members affected, and 27.4% had cancer when three or more family members had been affected. This constituted a significant correlation between family and personal histories of cancer in these patients. Extrapolation to the United States population with cancer-control implications are given.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Early age of onset in familial breast cancer. Genetic and cancer control implications.

Although breast carcinoma is the most frequently occurring cancer in American women and has been the subject of extensive epidemiologic investigation, little attention has been devoted to use of risk-factor information in its control. Six of our 52 breast-cancer-prone families have at least one woman who has manifested breast cancer at age 30 or earlier. One such family had two women with breast cancer before age 30, and at least ten others affected by age 50. Transmission of this lesion was consistent with autosomal-dominant mode of inheritance. Ages of onset indicated a notably early peak, in contrast with the expected pre- and post-menopausal peaks in findings of the New York State Tumor Resistry and others. Genetic and epidemiologic information should be utilized to control breast cancer in certain families.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Aryl-hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in lymphocytes from lung cancer patients and normal controls.

A radiometric assay for the determination of AHH activity in lymphocytes is described. Subjects included eleven male patients with histologically verified lung cancer (nine squamous cell carcinoma and two adenocarcinoma) and eleven age- and sex-matched controls. Lung cancer patients exhibited considerably greater variation and elevated levels of both AHH activity per se and AHH activity adjusted for total cellular DNA than control individuals. Methodology for AHH determinations and implications for lung cancer epidemiology and control are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗