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Biomedical subjects

S Fitzpatrick

Publications and source records attributed to S Fitzpatrick.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Using the radionuclide salivagram to detect pulmonary aspiration and esophageal dysmotility.

That the radionuclide "milk" scan is insensitive for aspiration has been demonstrated. Here the authors review their experience with the radionuclide salivagram in its ability to detect aspiration in children. Tc-99m sulfur colloid, 0.5 to 1.0 mCi in less than 1 mL, is instilled into the mouth and sequential supine posterior images of the thorax are obtained for an hour with delayed images until the oropharynx is cleared of radiotracer. Fourteen studies have been performed in 13 patients aged 1 month to 6.5 years. There are scintigraphic findings consistent with aspiration in 4 of 14 studies (28%); dysmotility (prolonged retention of activity in the esophagus) in 7 of 14 studies (50%); and normal studies in 3 of 13 patients (22%). Eight of 13 patients had milk scans; all were negative for aspiration. One patient studied twice had aspiration on the first examination, and dysmotility on the second study. It is concluded that the salivagram can detect aspiration of oral secretions, is superior to the milk scan in detecting aspiration, and can demonstrate esophageal dysmotility.

Child↗
PubMed1992

The effects of television viewing on preoperative anxiety.

Previous studies have looked at the relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative course. However, few studies have looked at methods to decrease preoperative anxiety. To investigate preoperative anxiety and possible anxiety reduction strategies, the investigators devised a clinical study to examine the effects of television viewing on preoperative anxiety. The study compared patients who were not able to watch television in the preoperative setting with those who were. The investigators hypothesized that television viewing in the preoperative setting would decrease preoperative anxiety. A purposive sampling method was chosen so that the study population could be selected using certain criteria. The sample consisted of adult patients 18 to 77 years old who were admitted to the preoperative area at least 2 hours before surgery. A total of 76 subjects participated in the study. However, due to incomplete data on seven of the questionnaires, 7 of the subjects were rejected. Of the remaining 69 subjects, 39 had no television access and the remaining 30 did. Statistical comparisons of the two groups suggest that there was a significant difference in the anxiety levels of the two groups. As hoped, the hypothesis was proven correct: Those subjects who watched television in the preoperative area had significantly lower levels of anxiety than those who did not.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Purification and characterization of annexin proteins from bovine lung.

Calcium-dependent association with a detergent-extracted particulate fraction was used as the first step in the purification of a group of phospholipid binding proteins. Elution of the detergent-insoluble fraction with excess ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) resulted in the release of several soluble proteins, termed calcium-activated proteins or CAPs. In the present paper, we describe the simultaneous purification of these CAPs and characterize their interaction with phospholipid, actin, and calmodulin. Partial sequence analysis has identified the majority of the CAPs as members of the annexin family of calcium and phospholipid binding proteins. Two additional CAPs may be novel proteins, one of which appears to be an annexin protein. All CAPs demonstrated Ca2(+)-dependent binding to phosphatidylserine vesicles but did not bind to phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The majority of CAPs exhibited Ca2(+)-dependent binding to F-actin; however, only CAP-III affected the rate of conversion of G-actin to F-actin. The interaction of CAP-III and lipocortin-85 with F-actin resulted in a Ca2(+)-dependent increase in both light scattering and sedimentation of F-actin under comparatively low centrifugal force. In contrast, only lipocortin-85 caused the formation of F-actin bundles. Although all of the CAPs bound to a calmodulin affinity column in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner, attempts to demonstrate binding of CAPs to native calmodulin were unsuccessful. These studies therefore document the similar behavior of the CAPs toward phospholipid and calmodulin but clearly show that F-actin binding or bundling is not a general property of these proteins. The reported purification procedure should allow further comparative studies of these proteins.

Actins↗
PubMed1989

Using nurses for preventive activities with computer assisted follow up: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether an organised programme of prevention including the use of a health promotion nurse noticeably improved recording and follow up of cardiovascular risk factors and cervical smears in a general practice that had access to computerised cell and recall. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: General practice in inner London. PATIENTS: All 3206 men and women aged 30-64 registered with the practice. INTERVENTION: The intervention group had their risk factors ascertained and followed up by the health promotion nurse and the general practitioner, whereas those in the control group were managed by the general practitioner alone. END POINT: Recording and follow up of blood pressure and cervical smears after three years. Recording of smoking, family history of ischaemic heart disease, and serum cholesterol concentrations were also examined. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: When the trial was stopped after two years the measurements of blood pressure in the preceding five years were 93% (1511/1620) v 73% (1160/1586) (95% confidence interval for difference 17.5 to 22.7%) for intervention and control groups respectively. For patients with hypertension the figures were 97% (104/107) v 69% (80/116) (18.2 to 38.2%). For women the proportion who had had a cervical smear in the preceding three years were 76% (606/799) v 49% (392/806) (22.5 to 31.9%). Recording of smoking, family history of ischaemic heart disease, and serum cholesterol concentrations was also higher in the intervention group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: An organised programme, which includes a nurse with specific responsibility for adult prevention, is likely to make an important contribution to recording of risk factors and follow up of those patients with known risks.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Health care needs of Indochinese refugee teenagers.

Although 50% of Indochinese refugees are under 18 years of age, previous studies have emphasized the prevalence of parasites, anemia, tuberculosis, and hepatitis, with few addressing age-related health care needs. In this study the specific health care needs of 80 Indochinese refugee teenagers, evaluated during a 4-year period, were determined. The Centers for Disease Control's suggested screening measures were used, and it was found that 52% had positive purified protein derivative skin tests, 38% lacked immunizations, 35% had stool specimens positive for parasites (prevalence and number of parasites greatest among Cambodians), 14% had blood tests positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, and 10% were anemic. Additional evaluations showed that 19% had hemoglobinopathies, 14% were in or below the fifth percentile for height and weight, 12% had goiters, 12% had skin disorders, 8% had positive hepatitis B surface antigen, 5% had visual defects, 5% had hearing loss, 5% had psychosomatic illness, and 4% had idiopathic scoliosis. Although suggested Centers for Disease Control screening measures may be adequate for younger Indochinese children, these data suggest that additional studies are necessary for teenagers. For the sexually active adolescent, identification of and counseling for hepatitis antigenemia and hemoglobinopathies are crucial. In addition, early identification of emotional and physical problems during screening may enhance assimilation into a new society and facilitate completion of the psychosocial tasks of adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Pure brain-derived acidic fibroblast growth factor is a potent angiogenic vascular endothelial cell mitogen with sequence homology to interleukin 1.

Pure bovine brain-derived acidic fibroblast growth factor is a very potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells in culture and, in the presence of heparin, induces blood vessel growth in vivo. Partial amino acid sequence determinations confirm that this mitogen is a unique protein having amino acid sequence homology with human interleukin 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Purification and characterization of acidic fibroblast growth factor from bovine brain.

Acidic brain fibroblast growth factor has been purified a minimum of 35,000-fold to apparent homogeneity by a combination of differential salt precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, isoelectric focusing, and hydrophobic chromatography on a C4 reversed-phase HPLC column. Two microheterogeneous forms of the molecule are obtained with apparent molecular masses of 16,600 and 16,800 daltons. The mitogen is highly active with half-maximal stimulation of BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts at about 40 pg/ml in an assay using incorporation of [methyl-3H]thymidine into DNA.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1984

Nifedipine inhibits hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction during rest and exercise in patients with cystic fibrosis and cor pulmonale.

Nifedipine has recently been reported to reduce pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance during rest and exercise in adult patients with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. To determine whether nifedipine reduces pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with cor pulmonale from cystic fibrosis (CF), we studied 2 patients with severe CF lung disease during rest and exercise while breathing room air or receiving low-flow oxygen therapy. Nifedipine markedly lowered pulmonary vascular resistance and improved cardiac index and pulmonary pressure-flow relationships during all treatment conditions. Nifedipine did not substantially change arterial PO2, except for a slight decrease during exercise while receiving low-flow oxygen. Nifedipine, however, markedly increased oxygen delivery during rest and exercise. Both patients noted improved exercise tolerance with chronic nifedipine therapy. Nifedipine may be a useful adjuvant to supplemental oxygen in the treatment of patients with CF and cor pulmonale.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Safety of budesonide inhalation suspension (Pulmicort Respules) after up to 52 weeks of treatment in infants and young children with persistent asthma.

Three open-label extension trials evaluated the safety of budesonide inhalation suspension (BIS; Pulmicort Respules) in 670 children (8 months-9 years of age) with mild-to-severe persistent asthma. Patients were randomized to receive either BIS or conventional asthma therapy (CAT) for 52 weeks. The percentage of patients who discontinued because of clinical adverse events was low and similar among the CAT (0.4%) and BIS (0.7%) groups. After adjusting for length of time in the studies, there were no clinically relevant differences between the BIS and CAT groups in the type, incidence, or intensity of adverse events; vital signs or physical examination outcomes; or changes in clinical laboratory evaluations or oral fungal cultures.

Administration, Inhalation↗