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Biomedical subjects

R Gibbons

Publications and source records attributed to R Gibbons.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Preoperative and postoperative CT staging of rectosigmoid carcinoma.

This study reports a 4 year experience using CT for preoperative staging and for evaluation of patients with rectal and sigmoid carcinoma after surgery. All patients were evaluated on a GE 8800 scanner using 1 cm contiguous slices. Only 15 of the 25 preoperative patients were staged correctly. The other 10 patients were understaged by CT. The accuracy of detecting local invasion was 70%, but only seven (35%) of 20 patients had accurate assessment of lymph nodes. The overall accuracy of CT staging in the 46 postoperative patients was 87%, with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 72%. Most recurrences were found in the pelvis; 16 patients had liver metastases, and metastatic disease obstructing the ureters was detected in eight patients. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that CT should not be used routinely to preoperatively stage patients with rectosigmoid carcinoma. However, all patients who have undergone resection for rectal or sigmoid carcinoma should have aggressive CT evaluation including a baseline study at 2-4 months and then follow-up studies at every 6 months for at least 2 years. All new or enlarging masses should have CT-guided biopsies. This approach may prolong survival by detecting early asymptomatic recurrences.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Evaluation of host resistance and immune function in cadmium-exposed mice.

Adult female B6C3F1 mice received distilled water only or water containing 10, 50, or 250 ppm of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) for 90 days. Body weights were measured weekly. On selected days during exposure and on Day 91, Cd tissue concentrations were measured along with changes in primary antibody responses. On Day 91 mice also received a primary challenge with various infectious agents. T- and B-cell mitogenesis, natural killer (NK) cell function, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) as well as macrophage bactericidal activity, and phagocytosis were measured. There was no change in body weight gain, organ weights, or in humoral immunity during treatment even though cadmium had accumulated in significant quantities in the tissues. Compared with controls, exposure to cadmium had no statistically significant effect on mortality and mean survival time following primary or secondary challenge with any of the infectious agents. However, there was a dose-related, increased susceptibility to Herpes simplex type 2 virus. T- and B-lymphocyte proliferation was significantly reduced, and macrophage phagocytosis was significantly increased following cadmium exposure. NK cell activity was augmented, but not significantly. Macrophage bactericidal activity and DTH were not significantly altered.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The effect of dimethylnitrosamine on host resistance and immunity.

Adult female B6C3F1 mice were injected ip with 0.2 ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) only or PBS containing 1.5, 3, or 5 mg dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)/kg body wt daily for 14 days. On Day 16, mice were evaluated for changes in immune status as measured by the antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), blastogenesis to T- and B-cell mitogens, natural killer (NK) cell function, delayed hypersensitivity, and alveolar macrophage (AM) bactericidal activity; and for changes in host resistance following challenge with various microorganisms or tumor cells. DMN-exposed animals exhibited reduced humoral antibody responses, T-cell mitogenesis, and AM bactericidal activity. B-cell mitogenesis, NK cell activity, and delayed hypersensitivity were increased. Resistance to challenge with Listeria monocytogenes, Trichinella spiralis, or Herpes simplex types 1 or 2 virus (HSV-1, HSV-2) was not significantly impaired, while that to Streptococcus zooepidemicus and influenza virus was significantly reduced. Resistance to B16-F10 tumor challenge was enhanced following DMN exposure. The data show that DMN treatment altered humoral immunity and antibody-mediated host defense mechanisms. Increased NK cell activity may account for the increased resistance to challenge with Herpes virus and B16-F10 tumor cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Intrathecal triiodothyronine administration causes greater heart rate stimulation in hypothyroid rats than intravenously delivered hormone. Evidence for a central nervous system site of thyroid hormone action.

To determine whether intracerebrally localized iodothyronines produce thyroid hormone-related functional effects, heart rate responses were compared in conscious hypothyroid rats given triiodothyronine (T3) by either the intrathecal or the intravenous route. A significant increase in heart rate occurred within 18 h after 1.5 nmol T3/100 g body wt was delivered intrathecally through a cannula previously placed in the lateral cerebral ventricle. Injection of the same T3 dose intravenously through an indwelling jugular catheter or injection of vehicle only by either route produced no significant increase in heart rate during the 48-h postinjection period of observation. These differences were observed even though integrated serum T3 concentrations were significantly lower after intrathecal than after intravenous T3 injection. The results indicate that thyroid hormone effects on heart rate are exerted within the brain as well as within the heart.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

ECT: an assessment of mental health professionals' knowledge and attitudes.

The attitudes of four groups of mental health professionals (psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, and social workers) toward ECT were compared to their levels of clinical experience, knowledge about ECT, and professional background. In each of these four groups a more positive attitude about ECT correlated with increased levels of clinical experience and knowledge.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1983

Biologic markers and antidepressant response.

The use of biologic markers to predict antidepressant treatment response may lead to more rational selection of specific drugs for individual patients. Several biologic markers being developed as potential predictors of antidepressant treatment response are reviewed. Although research in this area is primarily concerned with predicting response to drug treatment, it may also prove useful in predicting which depressed patients may respond best to psychological treatments or combinations of biologic and psychologic treatments.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1976

Determinants of regional distribution of a bolus inhaled from residual volume.

The volume of lung at residual volume (RV) which fails to receive an inhaled tracer bolus (EXV) was quantitated in 13 normals by comparison of a scintigram of the distribution of a tracer bolus inhaled from RV (BORV) with a scintigram at RV of lung equilibrated with the tracer (EQRV). EXV was found in the dependent lung in the erect position in all subjects but also occurred to a lesser degree at the apex in 11 of 13 subjects. Basal EXV ranged from 1 to 7% of TLC, and unlike apical EXV increased with age (r= 0.91, P less than 0.01). EXV in the decubitus position shifted largely to the dependent lung with none remaining in the original erect apical and basal locations, demonstrating that gravity determined EXV location. Nitrous oxide, which is highly diffusible, failed in four subjects to carry the tracer to basal EXV even though perfusion was documented to persist to this area, implying basal EXV airways were closed, not narrowed. In one of the four subjects apical EXV was readily definable. Nitrous oxide carried tracer into this region, implying patent apical EXV airways.

Adolescent↗