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Biomedical subjects

M Mills

Publications and source records attributed to M Mills.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparative effects of fenoldopam mesylate and nitroprusside on left ventricular performance in severe systemic hypertension.

To compare the effects of fenoldopam (n = 15), a selective dopamine-1 agonist, and nitroprusside (n = 14) on left ventricular (LV) function in severely hypertensive subjects (diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 120 mm Hg), both agents were infused to reduce diastolic BP by 40 mm Hg (or less than 110 mm Hg). Indexes of LV systolic and diastolic functions were obtained using gated radionuclide angiography before the initiation of treatment and after targeted BP was achieved. Both fenoldopam and nitroprusside effectively reduced systolic and diastolic BP to target levels. Changes in heart rate, peak filling rate and relative end-diastolic volume were similar with both agents. Baseline ejection fraction increased after infusion of both drugs. The magnitude of the increase in ejection fraction was far greater with fenoldopam than with nitroprusside (+22% vs +8%; p = 0.04), despite a lesser reduction in systolic BP (-12 vs -22%, p = 0.002). Furthermore, the reduction in relative end-systolic volume (-35 vs -20%; p = 0.04), and increase in the ratio of peak systolic pressure to relative end-systolic volume (+43 vs +6%; p = 0.007) were greater after fenoldopam than after nitroprusside. The greater increment in parameters of LV systolic function produced by fenoldopam than by nitroprusside suggests an effect on LV performance that is independent of afterload reduction.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling: results from a multicenter collaborative registry. The Western Collaborative Perinatal Group.

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling has become an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of fetal health. Although recent reports have established the safety of this procedure, most have arisen from single centers with extensive experience. The Western Perinatal Collaborative Group has maintained a continuous registry of percutaneous umbilical blood sampling performed at the 13 member institutions for the years 1986 through 1990. During this period 302 procedures were performed. Primary indications for percutaneous umbilical blood sampling included Rh and non-Rh isoimmunization, intrauterine growth retardation, nonimmune hydrops, fetal anomalies, immune thrombocytopenia purpura, and rapid fetal chromosome analysis. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling was successfully performed in 93.7% of cases with a sample withdrawn by a single puncture in 80.5% of attempts. In the majority of cases a 22-gauge needle was used. Postprocedural fetal death resulted in six cases (2.1%) and was most often associated with fetal anomalies or an abnormal karyotype. In conclusion, evaluation of the fetal state by percutaneous umbilical blood sampling is a safe and easily performed procedure, as demonstrated by a collaborative multicenter study.

Blood Specimen Collection

Gender influences on age cognitions and preferences: sociocultural or sociobiological?

The present article reviews research concerned with gender effects on cognitions and evaluations of people varying in age. Sontag's (1979) article on the double standard of aging--the purportedly more negative consequences of aging in women in contrast to men--serves as a point of departure for the review. Research using attitude-scale, semantic differential, and person-perception methodology points to sex-of-target, sex-of-subject, and target-subject interaction effects in response to a diversity of age-relevant stimuli. Though the reported studies are not completely consistent, there is much suggestive evidence that age is a more salient dimension for men than for women when judging others. Furthermore, men exhibit a stronger youth bias. The overall evidence is consistent with an evolutionary hypothesis, but further research that focuses on the proximal determinants of the observed effects is urged.

Aged

Plaque-induced inflammation around implants.

This article is a review of plaque-induced inflammation around dental implants. The microflora around successful implants is similar to healthy sulci, while that associated with failing implants is similar to periodontally diseased sites. Implant microflora is similar to the tooth microflora in the partially edentulous mouth. The microflora of implants in partially edentulous mouths differs from that in edentulous mouths. This seems to indicate a bacterial reservoir around the teeth and the possibility of reinfection of the implant sulcus by periodontal pathogens. The maintenance of a tooth microflora consistent with periodontal health in partially edentulous mouths may lead to maintaining an implant microflora consistent with peri-implant health. Thus, periodontal and implant maintenance are linked and neither can be overlooked.

Animals

Clinical parameters of evaluation during implant maintenance.

This paper reviews investigations concerning the clinical parameters of evaluating dental implants during the maintenance phase of therapy. Clinical parameters that are discussed include mobility, gingival alterations, tissue movement, probing and attachment level measurements, bleeding upon probing, occlusion, and microbial monitoring. The role of implant radiology is discussed and encompasses radiographic interpretation, interval, and technique.

Alveolar Bone Loss

Expression of calcyclin, a calcium-binding protein, in the keratogenous region of growing hair follicles.

Changes in calcium levels control the differentiation of skin epithelial cells and thus may also affect the epithelial cells of the hair follicle. We have isolated a murine cDNA clone, pCAL-F559, for the calcium-binding protein calcyclin by differential screening of a cDNA library made from RNA isolated from hair follicles of 6-d-old mice. The identity of our cDNA clone was established by comparing the DNA sequence with the sequence of the human calcyclin gene. That the authentic calcyclin mRNA encoded by pCAL-559 is present in skin of 3-d-old mice was confirmed by S1 nuclease protection assays. As measured by RNA dot blots, calcyclin mRNA levels in the skin change in accordance with the hair cycle and reaches a peak a few days prior to the mRNA for structural hair proteins. Although we can demonstrate by in situ hybridization that mRNA for calcyclin is localized in the post-mitotic keratogenous region of the hair follicle we can only assume that this calcium binding protein is involved in the control of differentiation of these cells by regulating their Ca++ levels.

Animals

Evaluation of a home visiting and befriending scheme for young mothers: Newpin.

Befriending schemes to support families with young children are now widespread in the United Kingdom. One such scheme, Newpin, which aims to prevent child abuse is described. Evaluation compared those recruited to befriend as well as those befriended. Assessments at baseline and 6 months' follow-up comprised interviews with mothers, developmental assessments of the children and observation of mother-child interaction using video tapes. All assessments were conducted in the home and similar measures were applied to a control sample in an area where a Newpin scheme was planned. Newpin recruits, whether befrienders or befriended had high rates of adverse early experiences, but depression was more common amongst those referred for befriending. Approximately a third did not sustain involvement in the scheme, but those that did were more likely to have had training as volunteers and mental health problems of more than 2 years' duration.

Child Abuse

Implant maintenance: debridement and peri-implant home care.

Although implant maintenance is one of the most frequently overlooked areas in implantology, the success of an implant can hinge on maintenance performed at regular intervals. Prevention of peri-implant disease should be a prime motivating factor for patient and therapist involvement in a regular maintenance program.

Dental Devices, Home Care

Serine-rich ultra high sulfur protein gene expression in murine hair and skin during the hair cycle.

To study the regulation of hair differentiation, a murine genomic clone, gUHS-SER-M16, was isolated that contained two members of the family of serine-rich ultra high sulfur protein genes. One of the genes, gUHS-SER-1, encodes 230 amino acids with 40% cysteine and 23% serine; the other gene, gUHS-SER-2, encodes 223 amino acids with 41% cysteine and 21% serine. The similarity between the two genes is 73%, and both have several 10-amino acid repeats within their coding regions. In the prospective promoter region, there are several regions of similarity including a "TATA" box, with neither gene having a "CAT" box. At the 3' untranslated region, there is no similarity, and thus a fragment from this region was used as a hybridization probe for RNA dot-blots and for in situ hybridizations. The RNA dot-blot showed elevated levels of mRNA during the active phases of hair growth and low levels during the resting phases. In situ hybridizations show that mRNA for the ultra high sulfur protein gene is found during the active phases of the hair cycle not only in the medulla and the inner root sheath of the forming hair but also in upper layers of the epidermis of skin.

Amino Acid Sequence

Nine cases of heterotopic pregnancies in 4 years of in vitro fertilization.

The incidence of simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy increased after wider use of ovulation induction and the advent of techniques of assisted reproduction. Nine cases of heterotopic pregnancies are reported after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) between September 1984 and November 1988. The incidence of heterotopic pregnancies in clinical IVF pregnancies was 9 of 312 (2.9%). Superovulation and IVF-ET appear to predispose to heterotopic pregnancy, particularly after tubal disease.

Adult

The validation of a new ambulatory spike and wave monitor.

The reliability of a new pocket-size ambulatory monitor designed to automatically detect, indicate, measure and store spike and wave episodes in the EEG was determined. Eleven teenage children with epilepsy were studied. All had spike and wave episodes that were around 3/sec in frequency. A double-blind trial was carried out in which 2 experienced encephalographers scored independently the simultaneous records of the monitor and EEG. Correlation coefficients were calculated and, taking into account any inconsistencies between the 2 scorers' sets of data, a validation based on unity was determined for the monitor's record for each child. Of the 11 children studied only one had a validity measure that was less than 0.9, suggesting that when correctly adjusted for each child the monitor gave a reliable automatic indication of the duration and number of spike and wave events.

Adolescent