Challenging our roles as nurses.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R DeSouza.
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Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). DNA damage was assessed in primary cortical neurons infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors expressing the familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) gene presenilin-1 (PS-1) or an FAD mutant of this gene, A246E. After infection, immunoreactivity for PS-1 was shown to be enhanced in infected cells. The infected cells exhibited no cytotoxicity, as evaluated by trypan blue exclusion and mitochondrial function assays. Quantitative analysis of cells that were immunohistochemically labeled using a Klenow DNA fragmentation assay or the TUNEL method revealed no enhancement of apoptosis in PS-1-infected cells. This result was confirmed using assays for chromatin condensation and for DNA fragmentation. Expression of PS-1 protected against induction of apoptosis in the cortical neurons by etoposide or staurosporine. The specificity of this phenotype was demonstrated by the fact that cortical cultures infected with recombinant HSV vectors expressing the amyloid precursor protein (APP-695) showed, in contrast, a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells and an increase in DNA fragmentation for all parameters tested. Our results indicate that overexpression of wild-type or A246E mutant PS-1 does not enhance apoptosis in postmitotic cortical cells and suggest that the previously reported enhancement of apoptosis by presenilins may be dependent on cell type.
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A patient cured of localized pulmonary phycomycosis occurring at the site of a previous lung abscess is described and the other survivors of this unusual entity are discussed. Whole-lung computerized tomographic (CT) scanning was useful in confirming the presence of a single localized lesion and led to the choice of surgical excision. A diagnostic and therapeutic approach including whole-lung CT scanning and preoperative and postoperative systemic amphotericin B therapy is suggested pending pathologic review of the tissues for possible fungal invasion beyond the resected area. The value of surgical excision when the disease appears localized is emphasized.
We describe a patient in whom a malignant pleural effusion accumulated with sufficient pressure to cause mediastinal compression resulting in acute respiratory distress, dysphagia, and massive edema of the lower extremities. Emergency thoracocentesis produced immediate relief to respiratory symptoms and dysphagia, with gradual disappearance of the edema and a weight loss of 6.8 kg (15 lb) without adjunctive medications. It is suggested that thoracocentesis is a life-saving measure in this circumstance and should be done immediately in patients with similar initial clinical findings, as further diagnostic evaluation or other therapy directed to the mediastinum will not releive the tension and will only delay removal of the fluid.