Megakaryocyte potentiator derived from mouse bone marrow has been shown to be immunologically similar to Interleukin-6 (IL-6). In this study the activity has been characterised by biochemical and immunochemical techniques. The activity is described as a O-linked glycosylated molecule with an apparent MW of 15 Kd and pl of the range pH 5.9-6.35. The data show that mouse bone marrow potentiator activity is a variant of IL-6 and with the potential to enhance megakaryocyte growth.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Effect of lateral sphincterotomy on internal anal sphincter function. A computerized vector manometry study.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the effect of lateral sphincterotomy on internal anal sphincter function in patients with chronic anal fissure. METHODS: Using an eight-channel perfusion catheter and computerized data analysis, a prospective manometric study was performed on patients with chronic anal fissure undergoing lateral sphincterotomy (LS). RESULTS: Mean resting pressure (MRP) in patients with anal fissure (85.1 mmHg) was significantly higher (P = 0.012) than control subjects (63.3 mmHg). One week following LS there was a significant reduction in MRP (50.0 mmHg; P = 0.0014), and this was maintained when reassessed five weeks later (MRP = 56.4 mmHg; P = 0.0019). There was no significant difference in coefficient of variation (a measure of the degree of manometric asymmetry of the anal canal) in the control group (mean, 8.9 percent) and in patients with anal fissure (mean, 7.7 percent; P = 0.43). LS created a significant increase in anal canal resting manometric asymmetry when assessed at one (mean, 17.3 percent; P = 0.0013) and six weeks (mean, 11.7 percent; P = 0.027) after the procedure. CONCLUSION: LS produces a global and symmetric decrease in anal canal resting pressure. In addition, it produces a significant increase in manometric asymmetry of the resting anal canal by creating a detectable segmental defect.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Manometric asymmetry in the anal canal in controls and patients with fecal incontinence.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to ascertain the existence of manometric asymmetry in the anal canal in controls and in patients with fecal incontinence. METHODS: A computerized manometric technique with an eight-channel perfusion catheter was used. Coefficient of variation (CV, a mathematical expression of the degree or magnitude of deviation of a set of data points from the mean) was developed in this study as an index of anal canal manometric asymmetry. RESULTS: At 1 cm from the anal verge, mean CV was 9.3 and 8.7 percent in asymptomatic control males and females, respectively. During a maximum voluntary squeeze effort, mean CV in control males was 9.3 percent and was not significantly different (P = 0.28) from that in control females (7.8 percent). In 14 consecutive female patients with fecal incontinence, mean CV at rest (1 cm from the anal verge) was 21 percent and was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in control females. Similarly, during a maximum voluntary squeeze effort, mean CV in patients with fecal incontinence was 20.5 percent and was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the female control group (7.8 percent). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that CV, a method of expressing anal sphincter manometric asymmetry, is a useful manometric parameter in the assessment of anorectal function.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The value of possessions in compulsive hoarding: patterns of use and attachment.

Hoarding behavior, patterns of use of possessions, and emotional attachment to possessions were examined among a sample of female undergraduates and a sample of community volunteers. Hoarding behavior was associated with a decreased frequency of use of possessions and excessive concern about maintaining control over possessions. Furthermore, high scores on the hoarding scale were associated with higher levels of perceived responsibility for: (1) being prepared; and (2) the well-being of the possession. Hoarding was also associated with greater emotional attachment to possessions and to the reliance on possessions for emotional comfort. The implications of these findings for the definition of hoarding are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Spinal anaesthesia for transurethral surgery: comparison of 2% lignocaine with hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine.

We have compared 2% lignocaine 3.5 ml with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 3 ml in a randomized, double-blind study in 30 patients undergoing subarachnoid anaesthesia for transurethral surgery. A sensory level of T10 was produced more quickly (P = 0.0001) and maximum height reached sooner (P = 0.0002) with lignocaine, although there was a greater reduction in systolic arterial pressure (P = 0.03) and a trend towards slower heart rates (P = 0.056). Return of full sensory and motor function occurred earlier with lignocaine (P = 0.00005 and P = 0.02).

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Absence of symptoms in silver refiners with raised blood silver levels.

Silver has been implicated as a cause of ill health, related largely to its use in the medical setting as a treatment for burns and in prosthetic cements. This report discusses occupational silver exposure in two workers with blood silver levels of 49 micrograms/l and 74 micrograms/l who were asymptomatic and showed no signs of argyric neuropathy which has previously been described at blood silver levels as low as 10 micrograms/l. One of the men showed non-characteristic clinical signs of argyrosis. The clinical findings, results of environmental monitoring and effects of environmental improvements on blood silver levels are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Association study of bipolar disorder using a functional polymorphism (Ser311-->Cys) in the dopamine D2 receptor gene.

Several pieces of evidence are consistent with the involvement of dopamine neurotransmission in the aetiology of bipolar disorder. We have tested the hypothesis that the functional mutation Ser311-->Cys of the dopamine D2 receptor gene confers susceptibility to bipolar disorder. There was no increased frequency of the mutation in 82 bipolar probands compared with 72 controls, showing that this mutation is not involved in the pathogenesis of (at least) the vast majority of cases of bipolar disorder. Our findings are consistent with other evidence from linkage and association studies against the involvement of the dopamine D2 receptor in bipolar disorder.

Alleles↗

PubMed1995

Persistent discharging wound sinus from retained gallstone fragments following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Pain and vomiting after vitreoretinal surgery: a potential role for local anaesthesia.

Periconal local anaesthesia with subtenon supplementation was used to provide anaesthesia for 94 patients having vitreoretinal surgery. Of these, 44 patients also received general anaesthesia with neuromuscular block. None of these patients received opioid or antiemetic before or during surgery. In comparison with a retrospective control group, patients who had received local anaesthesia as part of their anaesthetic technique were less likely to be given a parenteral opioid (P < 0.001) or to vomit (P < 0.001) within six hours of the completion of surgery. They also experienced significantly fewer bradycardic episodes during surgery (P = 0.001). For patients having general anaesthesia, administration of an intraoperative antiemetic reduced the incidence of vomiting within six hours of the completion of surgery (P = 0.008). For patients who did not receive local anaesthetic, shorter operating time was a factor associated with both reduced postoperative vomiting (P = 0.0015) and administration of parenteral opioid (P = 0.0014). It is suggested that the use of local anaesthesia as part of the anaesthetic technique for vitreoretinal surgery is associated with improved patient comfort.

Analgesics, Opioid↗