PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Bellamy

Publications and source records attributed to M Bellamy.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

The stuck central venous catheter: beware of potential hazards.

Many complications of attempted central venous access have been described, most related to insertion. Larger and stiffer catheters are being used more often for dialysis or massive transfusion. This case report details how one catheter was damaged during the insertion of a second catheter. The problem was discovered when the catheter could not be removed, and was subsequently removed after dissection. The reason for the difficult removal and the likely consequences of excessive force are illustrated.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Protein 4.1 in forebrain postsynaptic density preparations: enrichment of 4.1 gene products and detection of 4.1R binding proteins.

4.1 Proteins are a family of multifunctional cytoskeletal components (4.1R, 4.1G, 4.1N and 4.1B) derived from four related genes, each of which is expressed in the nervous system. Using subcellular fractionation, we have investigated the possibility that 4.1 proteins are components of forebrain postsynaptic densities, cellular compartments enriched in spectrin and actin, whose interaction is regulated by 4.1R. Antibodies to each of 4.1R, 4.1G, 4.1N and 4.1B recognize polypeptides in postsynaptic density preparations. Of these, an 80-kDa 4.1R polypeptide is enriched 11-fold in postsynaptic density preparations relative to brain homogenate. Polypeptides of 150 and 125 kDa represent 4.1B; of these, only the 125 kDa species is enriched (threefold). Antibodies to 4.1N recognize polypeptides of approximately 115, 100, 90 and 65 kDa, each enriched in postsynaptic density preparations relative to brain homogenate. Minor 225 and 200 kDa polypeptides are recognized selectively by specific anti-4.1G antibodies; the 200 kDa species is enriched 2.5-fold. These data indicate that specific isoforms of all four 4.1 proteins are components of postsynaptic densities. Blot overlay analyses indicate that, in addition to spectrin and actin, postsynaptic density polypeptides of 140, 115, 72 and 66 kDa are likely to be 4.1R-interactive. Of these, 72 kDa and 66 kDa polypeptides were identified as neurofilament L and alpha-internexin, respectively. A complex containing 80 kDa 4.1R, alpha-internexin and neurofilament L was immunoprecipitated with anti-4.1R antibodies from brain extract. We conclude that 4.1R interacts with the characteristic intermediate filament proteins of postsynaptic densities, and that the 4.1 proteins have the potential to mediate the interactions of diverse components of postsynaptic densities.

Actins↗

A test of processing efficiency theory in a team sport context.

In this study, we tested some key postulates of Eysenck and Calvo's processing efficiency theory in a team sport. The participants were 12 elite male volleyball players who were followed throughout the course of a competitive season. Self-report measures of pre-match and in-game cognitive anxiety and mental effort were collected in groups of players high and low in dispositional anxiety. Player performance was determined from the statistical analysis of match-play. Sets were classified according to the point spread separating the two teams into one of three levels of criticality. Game momentum was also analysed to determine its influence on in-game state anxiety. Significant differences in in-game cognitive anxiety were apparent between high and low trait anxiety groups. An interaction between anxiety grouping and momentum condition was also evident in cognitive anxiety. Differences in set criticality were reflected in significant elevations in mental effort, an effect more pronounced in dispositionally high anxious performers. Consistent with the predictions of processing efficiency theory, mental effort ratings were higher in high trait-anxious players in settings where their performance was equivalent to that of low trait-anxious performers. The usefulness of processing efficiency theory as an explanatory framework in sport anxiety research is discussed in the light of these findings.

Adult↗

High-dose ondansetron regimen vs droperidol for morphine patient-controlled analgesia.

We have performed a randomized, double-blind study comparing droperidol and high-dose ondansetron mixed with morphine for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). To detect a reduction in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting from 55% to 20% with a power of 80% at the P < 0.05 level, 29 patients per group were required. We studied 60 healthy women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, anaesthetized using a standard technique. Group D received a bolus dose of droperidol 1.25 mg at induction followed by droperidol 0.1 mg per 1 mg of morphine from the PCA system. Group O received a bolus dose of ondansetron 4 mg at induction followed by ondansetron 0.32 mg per 1 mg of morphine. This dose of ondansetron is more than double that studied previously. Mean nausea and vomiting scores at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h, mean time to first vomit, sedation scores, incidence of side effects, and doses of prochlorperazine did not differ between the groups. In group D, 24 patients did not vomit compared with 23 in group O. The only significant difference between the groups was increased morphine consumption in the ondansetron group up until 12 h after operation (P < 0.05), but by 24 h this difference was not significant. The ondansetron regimen was more expensive (at local prices) by a factor of 27, and our results suggested no clinical advantage over droperidol.

Adult↗

A randomized trial of solvent/detergent and standard fresh frozen plasma in the treatment of the coagulopathy seen during Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Viral transmission remains a residual risk in single unit blood component therapy. Virus inactivation of pooled fresh frozen plasma (FFP) by the solvent/detergent (SD) method can be used to reduce this risk but results in some loss of factor activity including factor VIII and (2-antiplasmin. This study was aimed at assessing the clinical effectiveness solvent/detergent treated pooled fresh frozen plasma (SDFFP) in the correction of the coagulopathy seen during Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (OLT) as compared with standard FFP. METHOD: Twenty eight patients with an underlying derangement of coagulation and who were due to undergo OLT were randomized to receive either FFP or SDFFP. They were assessed for side effects, correction of coagulopathy, and seroconversion for viral markers. RESULTS: Patients undergoing OLT showed equal correction of clotting factors and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) when treated with FFP or SDFFP. There was also a similar time course to return to baseline values in each group. There was no significant difference in correction of INR in either group. Usage of other blood components during the operation was identical in the two groups. No seroconversions were seen for HIV, HBC or HCV but only 12 patients were available for long term follow-up. CONCLUSION: SDFFP is an efficacious and safe source of coagulation factors for patients with liver disease undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation. No adverse effects were seen during its administration. Further work is required to ascertain long term possibilities of seroconversion.

Adult↗

Androgen and sleep-related erections.

Sleep-related penile erections provide a unique opportunity to objectively study erectile physiology in man. Testosterone is one of several factors involved in normal sexual function and testosterone reduction can be achieved by administering luteinizing-hormone releasing-hormone agonists (LHRH-A). In this study, ten healthy, young adult males were administered LHRH-A or placebo for a 12-week period. Subjects taking LHRH-A had a marginally significant decline in sleep-related erection duration at week 4 and significant reductions at weeks 8 and 12. By contrast, no statistically reliable change was found for the number of erections over the course of study. Maximum circumference increase during sleep erections showed mixed results. These results indicate that, whereas androgen reduction adversely affects sleep-related erections, it does not eliminate them over a 12-week trial in healthy young adult men. Further study in a larger sample is needed. Nonetheless, these preliminary findings support androgen having an important role in sleep-related erections.

Adult↗