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Biomedical subjects

R Tudor

Publications and source records attributed to R Tudor.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Zinc in health and chronic disease.

Zinc is a trace element essential for the optimal function of a variety of biochemical and physiological processes. Its role in healthy aging is particularly important as it prevents neo plastic cell growth, is involved in mitotic cell division, DNA and RNA repair. Although zinc is widely available in food, the daily intake in many persons may be suboptimal. Other causes of low zinc concentrations may be due to small bowel conditions that cause mucosal damage and thus decrease absorption. Chronic diseases associated with alterations in zinc status are bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer disease. At present it is uncertain if therapy with zinc would assist in the management of these chronic diseases. In view of the important cellular functions of zinc in the human body, a diet with an adequate zinc content is beneficial in promoting healthy aging and maintaining good health.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

Fusarium sp. growth inhibition by wheat germ agglutinin.

The antifungal role of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) isolated from a Romanian dihaploid variety of wheat against two pathogenic fungal species of Fusarium, F. graminearum and F. oxysporum, is demonstrated. WGA was prepared from unprocessed wheat germs by a new purification procedure using chitin and fetuin-Sepharose as affinity chromatography supports. SDS-PAGE and chitinase assay showed that the WGA preparation migrated as a single protein band and was devoid of any contaminating enzyme chitinase, well known for its antifungal effects. Based on its affinity for N-acetylglucosamine residues, WGA binding to the chitin-containing walls of the fungi was detected by fluorescence microscopy using WGA coupled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). In vitro testing of WGA action on early developmental stages of both fungal strains resulted in various modifications of the germ tubes, visualised by light microscopy: swelling, vacuolation of the cellular content and lysis of cell walls. Viability tests performed on potato tuber slices showed that the microbial infection was prevented from spreading by pretreatment of the fungal suspension with WGA.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1999

Transendoscopic laser treatment of rostral displacement of the palatopharyngeal arch in four horses.

OBJECTIVE: To document the use and clinical outcome of transendoscopic laser techniques for treatment of rostral displacement of the palatopharyngeal arch (RDPA) in horses. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Rostral displacement of the palatopharyngeal arch is a rare cause of upper respiratory noise and exercise intolerance in horses, and may be associated with abnormal laryngeal anatomy. There are few reports of successful treatment of this condition, and no reports of the treatment of RDPA using laser techniques. METHODS: The diagnosis of RDPA was based on the presence of palatal tissue covering the dorsal aspect of the arytenoid cartilages on endoscopic examination. Either a neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser noncontact technique (1060 nm, 100 W continuous mode) or a diode laser contact technique (808 nm, 14 W, continuous mode) was used. RESULTS: In 3 horses in which the Nd:YAG laser was used, displaced palatal tissue was not fully divided at surgery, but separated after latent thermal necrosis within 3 days. In the horse in which the diode laser was used, tissues were fully divided at the time of surgery. Two horses had abnormal laryngeal anatomy and laryngeal hemiplegia. One of these 2 horses was subjected to arytenoidectomy, and had limited success as a race-horse, while the other was retired as a broodmare. One of 2 horses with no other laryngeal abnormalities raced once unsuccessfully, while the other horse was never raced. CONCLUSIONS: Rostral displacement of the palatopharyngeal arch may be corrected in standing horses using transendoscopic surgery, but despite successful ablation of displaced tissue the prognosis for athletic performance is poor.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1997

Saquinavir-mediated inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in SCID mice implanted with human fetal thymus and liver tissue: an in vivo model for evaluating the effect of drug therapy on HIV infection in lymphoid tissues.

Treatment with protease inhibitors alone or in combination with inhibitors of reverse transcriptase potently suppresses levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA in plasma and thereby may significantly delay the progression of HIV-mediated disease. To investigate the effect of treatment with the protease inhibitor saquinavir on HIV replication in the lymphoid tissues, we used a SCID-hu mouse model that we developed, in which human thymic and liver tissues (hu-thy/liv) were implanted under both kidney capsules in SCID mice (thy/liv-SCID-hu mice). These mice are populated in the periphery with large numbers of human T cells and develop disseminated HIV infection after intraimplant injection. thy/liv-SCID-hu mice with established HIV infection that were treated for 1 month with saquinavir had a significantly lower viral load present in the implanted hu-thy/liv and mouse spleen than did the untreated HIV-infected thy/liv-SCID-hu mice. To examine the capacity of acute treatment with saquinavir to prevent HIV infection, some thy/liv-SCID-hu mice were inoculated with HIV and then immediately started on saquinavir. Although treated mice had markedly lower viral loads in the thy/liv implants and spleens, HIV infection was not completely prevented. Thus, the effect of antiviral therapy on HIV infection in the major site of HIV replication, the lymphoid tissues, can be readily evaluated in our thy/liv-SCID-hu mice. These mice should prove to be a useful model for determining the in vivo effectiveness of different therapeutic interventions on acute and chronic HIV infection.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Mucosal morphology, cell proliferation and faecal bacteriology in acute pouchitis.

A study was performed to investigate whether acute reservoir ileitis (pouchitis) is associated with specific changes in mucosal morphology, crypt cell kinetics and faecal bacteriology in the ileal pouch. Forty-six patients were studied (ileal reservoir, 36; end ileostomy, ten) using clinical grading, sigmoidoscopy and biopsy; 24 patients with a reservoir were restudied after therapy for 1 month with metronidazole 400 mg three times daily. An index of villus atrophy and crypt cell production rate (CCPR) were determined in all biopsy material. Faecal bacteriology was assessed in 12 patients with a pouch before and after metronidazole therapy. The mucosa of patients with pouchitis was associated with a lower villus atrophy index (P = 0.052), a higher CCPR (P = 0.03) and a higher grade of acute inflammation than that in those without pouchitis. There was no difference in faecal bacterial counts between patients with and without pouchitis. A low atrophy index correlated with a high CCPR (P < 0.001), worse functional score (P < 0.001) and more severe pouch mucosal acute inflammation (P < 0.001), but not with faecal bacteriology. Following metronidazole therapy there was resolution of acute pouch inflammation, increased villus atrophy index (P = 0.049), decreased CCPR (P = 0.049) but no differences in faecal bacterial counts apart from Bacteroides species. These data show that metronidazole therapy does not specifically alter the growth of common faecal bacteria in patients with pouchitis, apart from Bacteroides species. However, metronidazole causes resolution of the typical changes in pouch mucosal morphology and crypt cell kinetics associated with pouchitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A post-marketing surveillance survey on the use of dipotassium clorazepate in clinical practice in the Philippines.

A post-marketing surveillance survey of dipotassium clorazepate usage was carried out in the Philippines between July 1990 and April 1991. Data were analyzed on 562 patients suffering from conditions in which anxiety was a major component. The results suggest that the medication was prescribed in accordance with the generally accepted best practice for benzodiazepines. Overall, 85% of patients were reported to have recovered and only 2% reported minor side-effects. Dipotassium clorazepate was thus confirmed to be a highly effective and relatively safe anxiolytic agent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Antifungal properties of lectin and new chitinases from potato tubers.

We have purified from potato tubers, the lectin STA devoid of chitinase activity and two chitinases devoid of lectin activity. Both enzymes are 16 kDa glycoproteins, and probably belong to a new family of plant chitinases. The respective antifungal properties of lectin and chitinases were studied by following their effects against early developmental stages of Fusarium oxysporum, a fungal potato pathogen. Here we demonstrate that: (1) lectin does not inhibit mycelial growth but irreversibly inhibits conidia germination and alters the germ tubes; and (2) chitinases block mycelial growth as well as conidia germination and lyse germ tubes.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1991

[The early detection of diabetes mellitus and the active dispensary care of 1200 subjects with a genetic predisposition].

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease with a long-lasting chronic course, attending during its development by complications which affect the state of health and require additional measures from the social and economic point of view. The current strategy consists in the earliest possible detection of disease in groups of population selected according to the existent risk of developing a DM. This action is followed by an active dispensary care and by lessons of health education, aimed at preventing metabolic decompensations and the early occurrence of degenerative chronic complications. Taking into account these considerations in the present paper, authors analyse the possibility of detection of DM in 1,200 subjects genetically predisposed, a special stress being laid on the means of prevention, on the role of active dispensary care and on the place of health education in the therapy of DM and in the prevention of complications of this disease with an invalidating potential.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Clinical and radiographic features of simple and hydatid cysts of the liver.

The advances of hydatid chemotherapy and the non-operative management of simple (epithelial) hepatic cysts make a correct diagnosis of increasing importance. Twenty-six patients with hepatic hydatid cysts and eleven with simple cysts were reviewed. In both groups clinical presentation was most frequently due to pain. Sex, age and size of the cysts were similar. Hydatid serology was negative in six of the hydatid patients (23 per cent). None of the simple cyst patients had positive serology but one had a borderline titre. Ultrasound and computerized tomography identified daughter cysts within the main cyst in only 17 hydatid cysts (65 per cent) and considerable intra-cyst debris was also present in five of the simple cysts. Seven of the simple cysts were deroofed surgically and the remainder underwent percutaneous aspiration. Sixteen of the hydatid cysts were found to have a biliary communication whereas this was not found with any simple cyst. The difficulties in making a precise diagnosis in some patients with a liver cyst should deter the interventional radiologist and restrain the hydatid chemotherapist.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laser Doppler assessment of human colonic blood flow.

We have used laser Doppler flowmetry to assess human colonic blood flow in patients with healthy mucosa and in those with active proctitis. We report a significant correlation between colonic serosal laser Doppler flux readings and serosal tissue oxygen tension (n = 45: r = 0.671: p = 0.001). Mucosal blood flow was measured using the PF309 probe of a Perimed Pf2b set on 12 kHz frequency shift. There was no significant difference throughout the colon in healthy patients. The flow in rectal mucosa was significantly higher in patients with proctocolitis than in normal mucosa.

Colon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

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Antineoplastic Agents↗