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Biomedical subjects

R Moran

Publications and source records attributed to R Moran.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Rotatory atlantoaxial subluxation following pharyngoplasty.

Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation often presents in childhood as a stiff, painful neck with associated torticollis. It can occur spontaneously following minor trauma or an inflammatory process in the cervical tissues. Failure to recognise the condition may result in a fixed rotatory subluxation which can be difficult to treat. The authors report on two cases of atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation which occurred following pharyngoplasty and discuss the clinical presentation and management of these cases. The literature on this subject is briefly reviewed.

Atlanto-Axial Joint↗

Scaphoid fractures treated by Herbert screw fixation.

Forty-one scaphoid fractures had Herbert screw fixation. There were three acutely displaced fractures (Type B), nine delayed unions (Type C), and 29 non-unions (Type D). All procedures were carried out by the senior author between December 1983 and May 1987. The average time from injury to surgery was 19 months. All Type D fractures were bone-grafted. Six of the 29 Type D fractures failed to unite radiologically following surgery. Incorrect screw placement was a factor in two cases. The average time from injury to surgery in three of the others was seven years. Radiological evidence of screw loosening was present within two months of mobilising these cases. We feel that Herbert screw fixation may not be adequate when dealing with longstanding scaphoid non-unions, and stronger fixation or prolonged cast immobilisation may be necessary.

Adolescent↗

Synthesis and pharmacological activity of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: N-(mercaptoacyl)-4-substituted-(S)-prolines.

The synthesis of a series of N-(mercaptoacyl)-4-substituted-(S)-prolines (2 and 3) is described. These compounds were evaluated in vitro for inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and selected compounds were evaluated in vivo for ACE inhibition. The most potent compounds in vitro are 108, 109, 111, 114, and 116, having relative potencies of 1.0, 1.0, 1.3, 1.1, and 2.6 as compared to the potency of captopril. The most potent compounds in vivo intravenously are 108, 111, 114, 116, 117, and 97.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

The diagnostic value of facet joint injections.

This study evaluates the specificity of facet joint injections in diagnosing symptomatic facet joint pain. Fifty-four patients had 143 facet joint injections performed in a prospective study. Pain provocation and pain relief were used to confirm the diagnosis. All patients had symptoms and signs considered suggestive of facet joint pain. Less than 1.5 ml of bupivacaine was injected into each joint to prevent extravasation. Only nine patients (16.7%) had the diagnosis confirmed, significantly lower than most published results. An anatomic study performed suggests that extravasation into the epidural space occurs following rupture of the joint capsule. This provides an explanation by which good therapeutic results can be obtained if large volumes of therapeutic agent are used.

Adult↗

Childhood Menetrier's disease: four new cases and discussion of the literature.

Four cases of childhood Menetrier's disease are presented and their clinical and laboratory findings are compared with the other childhood cases reported in the literature. Children with Menetrier's disease usually present with abdominal pain or nausea and vomiting associated with peripheral edema, ascites, or pleural effusion; these symptoms are due to gastrointestinal protein loss and resultant hypoproteinemia. There is no evidence of urinary protein loss. The favorable clinical course as well as distinctive laboratory and roentgenologic findings distinguish this entity from other causes of these symptoms. Supportive therapy is normally all that is required since the symptoms resolve spontaneously in weeks to months. Surgery may be needed in rare cases of active gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Child↗

The drooling patient: team evaluation and management.

Drooling is a common problem in neurologically damaged individuals. A surgeon, speech pathologist, physiotherapist and dentist created a "team" to evaluate affected patients. Management by consensus involves both non-surgical and surgical modalities. Bilateral submandibular duct relocation has become the surgical procedure of choice.

Behavior Therapy↗

Simultaneous MR imaging of both breasts using a dedicated receiver coil.

We have designed and built a dedicated magnetic resonance (MR) coil that images both breasts simultaneously with the patient in a prone position, incorporates imaging advantages of surface coils, and benefits from having separate transmitter and receiver coils. This coil is compatible with a 0.15-T (6.3 MHz) resistive-magnet unit. It works as a simple plug-in replacement for the standard receiver coil. The unit's triple-coil structure consists of two outer coils that lie close to the lateral surface of the right and left breast and a central coil positioned between the breasts. A two-chambered box supports the coils. Breast-coil image-reception sensitivity is three to seven times greater than values obtained with a whole-body coil and shows a smooth spatial variation without oscillatory or sharply breaking behaviors. Increased sensitivity for breast tissue allows us, with a given imaging time, to use thinner sections (5 mm thick) than are possible with the whole-body coil. Since the coil is insensitive to organs such as heart and lung, motion artifact is eliminated, and image quality and resolution are further increased. Simultaneous imaging of both breasts allows direct comparison and increases patient throughput.

Breast↗

Detection of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation by monoclonal antibodies: role of the DNA denaturation step.

Immunochemical detection of cells that incorporate 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) requires prior denaturation of DNA in situ to make BrdUrd binding sites accessible to the antibodies. A technique is described in which the DNA denaturation step is facilitated by a) prior dissociation of histones from DNA and b) the use of low ionic strength buffer in which the cells are suspended during heating. Dissociation of histones is achieved by cell treatment with 0.08N HCl at 0 degree C, which a) increases accessibility of DNA to propidium iodide (and following the denaturation to the antibodies); b) lowers stability of DNA to thermal denaturation; c) decreases differences between various cell types due to variability in chromatin structure; and d) ensures more complete DNA denaturation. Cell heating (80-95 degrees C) at low ionic strength (1 mM Na+) eliminates the need for formamide and results in extensive and rapid DNA denaturation. The method was applied in Friend leukemia, L1210 and HL-60 cell lines, and to bone marrow, experimental animal tumor and primary human tumor cells.

Animals↗

Formulae for determination of chlorophyllous pigments extracted with n,n-dimethylformamide.

The extraction of chlorophylls in higher plant tissue using N,N-dimethylformamide expedites the process and enables the determination of small samples with low pigment level.Absorption spectra of Chl a, Chl b, and Pchl and of their acidified derivatives, the phaeophytins, were recorded. Conversion of Chl b to its corresponding acidified product occurs much more slowly than that of Chl a and Pchl. When acidified, Pchl differs from Chl a and Chl b by the disappearance of the red band in the absorption spectrum. Specific extinction coefficients were determined and formulae for quantitative determination of pigments concentrations were developed. When concentrations of pigments are low, as in etiolated plant material, the absorption spectra of the chlorophylls can be distorted due to the presence of other substances simultaneously extracted; formulae for pigment determination under such circumstances were also derived.

Journal Article↗

Estrogen receptor heterogeneity and the relationship between estrogen receptor and the tritiated thymidine labeling index in human breast cancer.

Tissue from 54 patients with breast cancer was analyzed for estrogen receptor (ER). From 38 patients, tissue from multiple tumor sites was analyzed to determine ER heterogeneity. In 13 patients (34%) both positive and negative ER values were obtained. ER negative (ER-) results were observed more frequently in metastatic lesions. In 28 patients both the ER and [3H]-thymidine labeling index (LI) were measured in the metastatic lesion. [3H]-Thymidine was administered in vivo. There was a positive correlation between ER positivity and low LI. The mean LI of 8 ER positive (ER+) tumors was 3.4 in contrast to a mean LI of 10.0 for 14 ER- tumors (p less than 0.01). LI of 6 mixed ER tumors (ER+/-) was intermediate (mean 5.7). High LI (greater than or equal to 8) was associated with decreased survival regardless of the stage of disease at the time of study. ER with LI may provide an improved basis for treatment selection.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Chemotherapy and cyclic radiation therapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Nine patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (4 squamous, 4 adenocarcinoma, 1 large cell) were treated with a combination of radiation therapy and cyclic chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and platinum. Four previously untreated patients had stage III, 2 having distant metastases, 5 previously treated patients were restaged as stage III with distant metastasis in one. Moderate hematologic toxicity was noted. Objective responses occurred in 67 per cent, regardless of previous treatment or performance status. Responders survived for a median of 11 months with one complete response patients surviving at 14 months while 5 partial response patients survived for a median of 10 months. This regimen is feasible and its utility as the initial treatment of locally advanced disease should be further investigated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Influence of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition with captopril on blood pressure and adrenergic function in normal and sodium restricted rats.

Observations with both captopril and teprotide suggest interplay of the renin angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems during sodium depletion. We therefore examined adrenergic responses in normal or sodium restricted (8 days low sodium chow; trichlormethiazide 3 mg/kg, p.o., days 5-7) normotensive rats orally pretreated with placebo and captopril (3 or 10 mg/kg; twice on day 7, once on day 8) and pithed 2 hrs after the last dose. Consistent hypotension in conscious intact animals was observed only in sodium-depleted groups receiving captopril. Pressor responses to low frequency (2.5 Hz--5 sec) sympathetic stimulation and phenylephrine were reduced in normal sodium, pithed normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats receiving 10, but not 3 mg/kg captopril and low sodium animals receiving both doses. Suppression of phenylephrine by captopril was accentuated in sodium-depleted groups. Pressor responses to angiotensin II were less in all salt-depleted animals receiving either placebo or captopril. Captopril failed to reduce tachycardia to either sympathetic nerve stimulation or isoproterenol. These effects of captopril suggest that angiotensin plays a role in maintenance of vascular, but not cardiac adrenergic function. This role is manifested at a post-junctional site and becomes critical in the sodium deficient state.

Angiotensin II↗

Chlorophyll determination in intact tissues using n,n-dimethylformamide.

Photosynthetic pigments from etiolated cucumber (Cucumis sativus var. Beit Alpha improved, Hazera Co., Gedera) cotyledons were extracted by direct immersion of the intact cotyledons into the solvent N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The solvent is especially efficient when pigment concentration is low; time and tools are saved and the loss of pigment that usually occurs in more complicated extraction procedures is prevented. The specific absorption coefficient of chlorophyll a in DMF was also determined.

Journal Article↗