Biomedical subjects

N D Storey

Publications and source records attributed to N D Storey.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1991

Ectopic pregnancy.

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been increasing for many years and currently is two to three times higher than it was 20 or 25 years ago. The reasons for this are complex and include increased rates of pelvic and tubal infection, the use of the IUD, surgery in the pelvis for infertility, sterilization and other surgical procedures, in vitro fertilization, and improved diagnosis. Normal tubal physiology, the findings in affected tubes, and the mechanisms of how the ectopic pregnancy develops and involves the tube are considered. The cardinal points of the history and physical examination are presented in considerable detail. Further, the evolution of the tools of diagnosis--curettage, culdocentesis, laparotomy, laparoscopy, hormonal tests, and ultrasound-is considered. The different approaches to therapy are presented. Salpingectomy was once the method of accepted therapy, but currently conservative management (salpingostomy) is the most acceptable approach. More recently, selected patients are being treated with observation and a small subgroup are being managed with methotrexate and other chemical agents injected directly into the ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is still a leading cause of maternal death despite improved diagnosis and therapy. It should be remembered, however, that the total number of women who die from this condition is less than ever before and this is despite the rising incidence of ectopic pregnancy. There is still much to be learned about ectopic pregnancy, its etiology, diagnosis, and management.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

The response of primary cultured adult mouse sensory neurons to ethanol, propanol, acetaldehyde and acrolein treatments.

Primary cultures of adult mouse sensory neurons maintained for 8 days in vitro (8 div), in both the presence of non-neuronal cell (NNC) outgrowth and in NNC-reduced cultures, were exposed to doses of ethanol, propanol, acetaldehyde and acrolein. The effects on cell viability were monitored: LD50's of 600 microM acrolein and 100 mM propanol were obtained after 24 h exposures and after 48 h with 1 mM acetaldehyde and 500 mM ethanol. Morphological effects were evident by scanning electron microscopy with sub-acute doses for each agent, using both lower concentrations and shorter exposures. Membrane pitting of the perikaryon and a reduction in the proportion of neurons bearing neurites were common signs of toxic insult. The neurites of treated cells were thicker and more irregular than those of untreated cells; this proved a good indicator of specific neurotoxicity rather than merely a cytotoxic response. Fetal calf serum in the medium lessened the response of neurons to ethanol treatments. Comparison with other in vitro studies suggests these primary cultures are a more sensitive system than established cell lines of neuronal origin for use in neurotoxicity testing.

1-Propanol↗

PubMed1989

Evidence for prazosin-resistant, rauwolscine-sensitive alpha-adrenoceptors mediating contractions in the isolated vascular bed of the rat tail.

1. The postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors mediating contractions in the isolated vascular bed of the perfused rat tail have been investigated, in the presence and absence of an increase in perfusion pressure by arginine vasopressin (AVP). 2. In the absence of AVP, bolus doses of noradrenaline (NA) and phenylephrine produced pressor responses of similar time course, while UK-14,304 was practically inactive. Responses to noradrenaline were inhibited more by 0.05 microM prazosin than by 1 microM rauwolscine, suggesting the presence of alpha1-adrenoceptors. 3. Following a sustained elevation in perfusion pressure by AVP, both UK-14,304 and NA (the latter in the presence of 0.05 microM prazosin to inhibit alpha 1-adrenoceptors) elicited dose-dependent pressor responses. The maximum response to UK-14,304 under these conditions was approximately 30% of the maximum response to NA in the absence of prazosin and AVP. Responses to phenylephrine were not affected by the AVP-induced increase in vascular tone. 4. In the presence of AVP, pressor responses to UK-14,304 were resistant to 0.05 microM prazosin and susceptible to antagonism by 1 microM rauwolscine (-log Kb 7.65 +/- 0.15). Similarly, responses to NA in the presence of 0.05 microM prazosin and AVP were inhibited by 1 microM rauwolscine. This represents the first demonstration of prazosin-resistant, rauwolscine-sensitive alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated responses in the vasculature of the rat tail. 5. These results suggest that in isolated vascular preparations, functional populations of postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors may be 'uncovered' by the presence of AVP.

Animals↗