Guidelines for the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)
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Drug Utilization↗
Biomedical subjects
P Thompson
Publications and source records attributed to P Thompson.
Basal ganglia T2 relaxation times in schizophrenia: a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study in relation to tardive dyskinesia.
Transverse, or spin-spin, relaxation times (T2) from magnetic resonance images of basal ganglia structures were compared between control subjects and patients with schizophrenia, who were subdivided on the basis of the presence or absence of tardive dyskinesia. As a group, schizophrenic patients showed evidence of somewhat more prolonged T2 relaxation times in the right putamen and globus pallidus than did control subjects; there were no significant correlations between hemispheric T2 values and corresponding volumes of the lateral ventricles. Overall, there was little difference in T2 values between patients with and without tardive dyskinesia. These data extend the range of evidence for basal ganglia dysfunction in schizophrenia, but they do not support earlier reports of prominent T2 changes associated with tardive dyskinesia.
Adult↗
Seasonal variation in plasma L-tryptophan availability in healthy volunteers. Relationships to violent suicide occurrence.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the seasonal variation in levels of plasma L-tryptophan and competing amino acids (CAAs) in healthy humans in relation to climatic variables, total serum protein levels, and violent suicide occurrence. METHODS: Twenty-six healthy volunteers (13 men and 13 women; mean [+/- SD] age, 38.7 +/- 13.4 years) had monthly blood samplings for assays of L-tryptophan, valine, leucine, isoleucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine during 1 calendar year. RESULTS: Significant annual rhythms were detected in L-tryptophan, the L-tryptophan/CAA ratio, phenylalanine, valine, and leucine, and semiannual rhythms in L-tryptophan values and in L-tryptophan/CAA ratios. Plasma L-tryptophan and the L-tryptophan/CAA ratio were significantly lower in the spring than in the other seasons. The peak-trough differences in the yearly variation expressed as a percentage of the mean were 17.1% and 16.1% for L-tryptophan values and L-tryptophan/CAA ratios, respectively. The amplitude of the yearly variation in all CAAs was low, ie, less than 7%. An important part of the variance in L-tryptophan availability (ie, 12% to 14%) could be explained by the composite effects of present and past climatic factors; higher ambient temperature and relative humidity in the face of lower air pressure are the most important predictors of low L-tryptophan availability. Important and positive time relationships were noted between total serum protein level and all amino acid concentrations, and a significant time relationship was also noted between the seasonal variation in L-tryptophan availability and the occurrence of violent suicide in Belgium. CONCLUSION: Our results show a bimodal seasonal pattern in the availability of plasma L-tryptophan that matches seasonal patterns in the prevalence of violent suicide in the local population and depression in other studies.
Adult↗
Anterior chamber fluid contamination after uncomplicated phacoemulsification.
This study determined the rate of anterior chamber aerobic bacterial contamination in 103 eyes that had uncomplicated posterior chamber phacoemulsification. Anterior chamber fluid was aspirated on completion of surgery. Cultures of sterile balanced salt solution served as a control. Of 103 anterior chamber cultures, 4 (3.9%) showed contamination; however, 3 of 103 control cultures (2.9%) also grew micro-organisms. These findings suggest a very low rate of aerobic bacterial contamination after uncomplicated phacoemulsification and underscore the importance of control cultures when determining contamination rates.
Aged↗
Smooth pursuit performance in patients with affective disorders or schizophrenia and normal controls: analysis with specific oculomotor measures, RMS error and qualitative ratings.
Smooth pursuit performance in schizophrenia and affective disorders has generally been found to be abnormal using a variety of measures. The purpose of this study was to assess patients with these disorders and normal controls in order to compare the different measures across diagnoses. Smooth pursuit was assessed using quantitative specific measures (gain, catch-up saccade rate and amplitude, square-wave jerk rate, number of anticipatory saccades and total time scored), as well as two global measures: root mean-square error (RMS) and qualitative rating. As previously reported, patients with schizophrenia had low gain, increased catch-up saccade rate and spent less time engaged in scoreable smooth pursuit than normal controls. Patients with affective disorders were not statistically different from controls on any of these measures, and had significantly higher gain than patients with schizophrenia. RMS error and qualitative rating measures were highly correlated (r = 0.87). In linear regression analyses, the quantitative specific measures were highly significant predictors of both RMS error and qualitative ratings (P < 0.0001). Linear regression analyses and a modelling study indicated that one quantitative specific measure, the percent of time engaged in scoreable smooth pursuit (total time scored), was most related to global ratings. However, RMS error and qualitative ratings were less sensitive than total time scored to the difference between controls and patients with schizophrenia. These data indicate two smooth pursuit performance deficits in schizophrenia: patients spend less time engaged in scoreable smooth pursuit and have low gain (accompanied by increased compensatory saccades) when the smooth pursuit is engaged.
Adult↗
An outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator-associated respiratory infections due to contaminated food coloring dye--further evidence of the significance of gastric colonization preceding nosocomial pneumonia.
An outbreak of ventilator-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infections in an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital was found to be associated with contaminated food coloring dye. Serotyping and bacteriocin typing indicated that the same strain of Pseudomonas was isolated from the food dye and from the respiratory cultures of the majority of patients. This observation lends credence to the importance of gastric colonization preceding pneumonia in ventilated patients.
Cross Infection↗
Expression of the tumor necrosis factor gene by dermal fibroblasts in response to ultraviolet irradiation or lipopolysaccharide.
To examine the effects of different wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, we took advantage of mice carrying a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter transgene bearing the entire TNF promoter and 3'-untranslated region. Aside from constitutive expression in the thymus, CAT activity was detected only in locally UVB- or UVC-irradiated skin. After UVB irradiation, markedly greater amounts of CAT activity were traced to the dermis rather than the epidermis; by contrast, almost all CAT activity was localized to the epidermis after UVC irradiation. Fibroblasts have not been shown previously to express the TNF gene, i.e., the TNF gene is highly methylated and inaccessible to exogenous modulation in 3T3 fibroblasts. However, the present report reveals that cultured dermal fibroblasts are capable of producing both CAT and TNF in response to treatment in vitro with either UVB irradiation, UVC irradiation, or lipopolysaccharide. These findings indicate that dermal fibroblasts may serve not only as a target for but also as a source of TNF.
Animals↗
Low dose epidural infusions and forceps delivery.
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Analgesia, Epidural↗
Inheritance of CMT1A duplication from a mosaic father.
We describe a case with molecular duplication of chromosome 17 (p11.2-p12) whose duplicated chromosome was inherited from a mosaic father. The patient has clinical manifestations consistent with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A), while the mosaic father has minimal findings of CMT1A. The father was found to be homozygous with DNA markers VAW409R3A (D17S122) and p132G8RI (PMP-22) which are duplicated in CMT1A cases. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis with YAC clone 49H7 confirmed the duplication in the affected patient and diagnosed the mosaicism in his father. These findings based on clinical diagnosis and FISH analysis suggest that the mosaicism may have occurred early in embryogenesis leading to the disease in the father. This is the only reported case of CMT1A with transmission from a mildly affected mosaic father.
Blotting, Southern↗
Effect of phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine on acute toxic mastitis in dairy cows.
A double-blinded randomized prospective clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of flunixin meglumine and phenylbutazone for treatment of acute toxic mastitis in dairy cows. All cows were treated 4 times at 12-hour intervals by intramammary infusion of gentamicin (150 mg). A total of 45 dairy cows with toxic mastitis were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: group 1 (control), saline solution, IV; group 2, 1 g of flunixin meglumine, IV; or group 3, 4 g of phenylbutazone, IV. Physical examination and udder variables were assessed at initial examination and 24 hours later. Milk production was recorded at regular intervals from 1 week before until 10 weeks after development of mastitis. Rear quarters (34/45) were more commonly affected than front quarters. Thirty-five cows returned to the herd, 9 cows were culled, and 1 cow died. There were no significant differences among treatment groups in the need for further treatment or outcome. Klebsiella spp (18/45) and Escherichia coli (16/45) were the most common pathogens isolated by culture of milk from affected quarters. The overall bacteriologic cure rate on days 7 and 14 was 64 and 75%, respectively. At the time of initial examination, cows of the control group had higher rectal temperature than did cows of the flunixin group. At the examination 24 hours later, the rectal temperature of cows in all treatment groups was lower than the temperature at initial examination; at that time (24 hours), however, there were no significant differences in temperature among the treatment groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Acute Disease↗
1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the left temporal and frontal lobes in schizophrenia: clinical, neurodevelopmental, and cognitive correlates.
Twenty eight schizophrenic patients and 20 normal volunteers underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) on the left temporal and frontal lobe regions. Male patients showed a significant reduction in frontal but not temporal n-acetylaspartate (an intraneuronally distributed metabolite) in comparison with either male controls or female patients; frontal choline was raised in male patients relative to these groups. Putative neurodevelopmental indices, including obstetric complications, family history of schizophrenia, and minor physical anomalies, proved unrelated to MRS resonances. However, multiple aspects of memory function in patients were related to temporal but not frontal creatine, a pattern that was not apparent among controls. These MRS findings complement some previous structural MRI studies and much clinical and epidemiological evidence of important gender differences in schizophrenia. The findings also suggest that memory dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia may be associated with a particular pattern of temporal lobe metabolism on MRS.
Adult↗
What are doctors saying about the CMA? What do they want from it?
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Attitude of Health Personnel↗
Seasonal variation in peripheral blood leukocyte subsets and in serum interleukin-6, and soluble interleukin-2 and -6 receptor concentrations in normal volunteers.
This study has been carried out in order to investigate seasonal variation in peripheral blood immune cells, such as leukocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, CD3+ T, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, CD25+ T, CD20+ B, and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and sIL-2R levels in normal volunteers. Toward this end, 26 normal volunteers (13 men, 13 women) had monthly blood samplings during one calendar year for peripheral blood count, flow cytometric enumeration of peripheral leukocyte subsets and immunoassays of IL-6, sIL-6R and sIL-2R. It was found that most of the immune variables change rhythmically during the seasons as a group phenomenon. Statistically significant yearly variations with seasonal rhythms, i.e. annual rhythms or harmonics, such as semiannual, tetramensual and trimensual rhythms, were found in the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, CD25+ T, CD20+ B cells, in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and serum IL-6 and sIL-6R levels. It is concluded that the immune system is characterized by a multifrequency time-structure with significant high-amplitude yearly variations in the number of some peripheral blood leukocyte subsets.
Antigens, CD↗
A source of nuisance variance using the analysis of partial variance (APV) technique.
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Analysis of Variance↗
Deletion of the TSC2 and PKD1 genes associated with severe infantile polycystic kidney disease--a contiguous gene syndrome.
Major genes which cause tuberous sclerosis (TSC) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), known as TSC2 and PKD1 respectively, lie immediately adjacent to each other on chromosome 16p. Renal cysts are often found in TSC, but a specific renal phenotype, distinguished by the severity and infantile presentation of the cystic changes, is seen in a small proportion of cases. We have identified large deletions disrupting TSC2 and PKD1 in each of six such cases studied. Analysis of the deletions indicates that they inactivate PKD1, in contrast to the mutations reported in ADPKD patients, where in each case abnormal transcripts have been detected.
Adolescent↗
The role of intervening patterns in the storage of the movement aftereffect.
Wohlgemuth, having measured the duration of the motion aftereffect (MAE), instructed subjects to close their eyes immediately after adaptation for a period of time longer than the MAE. Upon opening their eyes the subjects reported a residual effect, albeit somewhat shorter than the original effect. Thus the decay of the aftereffect appeared to have been retarded by the period of darkness. This effect is known as 'storage' and poses a problem for any model of the MAE based on the fatiguing of direction-selective units in the visual pathway. A reexamination is made of storage of the MAE, again concentrating on the intervening stimulation between movement adaptation and aftereffect test. The results suggest that the nature of the intervening pattern between adaptation and test conditions is remarkably unimportant. A total of 11 different storage patterns were examined after adaptation to high-contrast drifting horizontal sinewave gratings. For 10 of these patterns large and robust storage effects were found. The exception occurred when the spatial pattern of the storage stimulus was identical to the adaptation and test stimuli. It is proposed that storage cannot be understood in terms of a simple fatigue model of the MAE and that one component of the effect may share similarities with contingent aftereffects.
Contrast Sensitivity↗
Synchronized annual rhythms in violent suicide rate, ambient temperature and the light-dark span.
To investigate whether violent and nonviolent suicide and homicide are related to atmospheric or geomagnetic activity, we investigated the relationships between weekly number of suicides or homicides for all Belgium for the period 1979-1987, and ambient temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, hours of sunlight and precipitation per day, wind speed and geomagnetic index. The occurrence of violent suicide was significantly and positively related to ambient temperature, sunlight duration, an increase in temperature over the few past weeks, and negatively to relative humidity. Higher ambient temperature and an increase in air temperature over the few past weeks were the most significant climatic predictors of violent suicide rate. A highly significant common annual rhythm with a common acrophase of 190 degrees was detected in violent suicide rate, ambient temperature and sunlight duration. No significant time-relationships between nonviolent suicide or homicide and any of the weather variables were found. It is concluded that i) violent suicide may be related to short-term fluctuations in the weather and in particular to temperature; and ii) the annual rhythm in violent suicide may be synchronized by the annual rhythms in ambient temperature and light-dark span.
Belgium↗