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S Griffin

Publications and source records attributed to S Griffin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Early results of direct repair of aortic interruption by the lateral approach.

Eleven consecutive patients were operated on for interruption of the aortic arch by direct aortoplasty through a lateral approach. Median age was 5 days and median weight, 3.52 kg. All received prostaglandin E. Four of the 11 required preoperative ventilatory and inotropic support. Diagnosis was by echocardiography with one confirmed by angiography. There were five type B and six type A interruptions. Aortic continuity was achieved through a left thoracotomy. The aorta and great vessels were mobilized, and after clamps were placed above and below the interruption, ductal tissue was excised and direct anastomosis performed. There was one death from sepsis. One patient died of pulmonary hypertension early after the second operation for correction of other anomalies, and 1 died of hypoplastic lungs after 6 months of ventilation. In 10 of the 11 patients there was no postoperative gradient. Palliative staged approach for correction of this malformation is advocated. The need for bypass and profound hypothermia is removed. This approach restores aortic continuity without sacrifice of the major vessels, use of ductal tissue, or use of prosthetic grafts that will necessitate reoperation.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1992

Murine melanoma cell differentiation and melanogenesis induced by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.

Murine melanoma cells treated with the melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) family of peptides undergo differentiation characterized by enhanced melanogenesis and altered morphology. These effects are mediated via the adenylate cyclase-cAMP pathway leading to activation of protein kinase A (PKA). We have discovered that inhibition of a post-translational modification of chromatin proteins, viz. poly(ADP-ribosylation), also induces melanogenesis and differentiation in these cells. A range of competitive inhibitors (benzamide and its derivatives) of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PADPRP; EC 2.4.2.30) was utilized, and their ability to induce melanogenesis reflected their potency as PADPRP inhibitors. These compounds induced melanogenesis at low doses (20 microM-2 mM) which did not affect cell growth or viability. Induction of melanogenesis was not attributable to inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by these compounds. MSH treatment caused a transient rise in cAMP levels (up to 200-fold by 5 min and returning to near basal levels by 5 h). It also stimulated PKA activity up to 5-fold, and the temporal kinetics of this activation mirrored the changes in cAMP levels. In comparison, the PADPRP inhibitors had no effect on either of these processes. These data constitute a novel demonstration of a cAMP-independent mechanism for the induction of melanoma cell differentiation, including melanogenesis.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1989

Factors influencing mortality and morbidity following oesophageal resection.

Operative mortality and morbidity following oesophageal resection has fallen in recent years. We have attempted to identify the factors responsible for this improvement by reviewing the results of surgery at this hospital over the last 6 years. Two hundred and two oesophageal resections were performed between January 1981 and June 1987 for carcinoma. Of these, 21 patients (10.4%) died before leaving hospital. Fourteen patients died of multisystem failure, 1 died of pure respiratory failure and 2 died of renal failure. Two died of surgical causes (other than anastomotic leak), 1 died of pulmonary embolus and 1 from a cerebro-vascular accident. No patient died of purely cardiac causes. The most significant risk factors in those dying (Chi-square test) were: postoperative respiratory failure, defined as reventilation after initial successful extubation, (P less than or equal to 0.001), reoperation as an emergency in the early postoperative period (P less than or equal to 0.001), anastomotic leak (P less than or equal to 0.01) and age over 70 (P less than or equal to 0.005). Less significant risk factors were chyle leak and histologically undifferentiated tumour. Of the 181 survivors, 103 left hospital with no complications of any kind. The mean stay in hospital for survivors was 15 days. Respiratory infection occurred in 22% of patients, prolonged gastric stasis in 8%, wound infection in 5% and empyema in 1%. As long as high risk groups are accepted for radical surgery, operation will carry a significant mortality in those groups. In others, we believe that perioperative monitoring and early aggressive treatment of complications can further reduce mortality and morbidity.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Outcome of surgery for obstructive jaundice is not associated with reduced levels of plasma fibronectin.

Reduced levels of plasma fibronectin have been implicated in the septicaemia and/or endotoxaemia that can accompany trauma or burns. Patients undergoing surgery for the relief of obstructive jaundice are also at risk of developing endotoxaemia or septicaemia. In this study, levels of plasma fibronectin were measured by immunoassay and bioassay in 16 such patients. No patient had a significantly reduced level of plasma fibronectin. Even in the case of patients developing a fatal septicaemia and general system failure there was no significant decrease in circulating fibronectin. It is concluded that measurement of plasma fibronectin is of no prognostic value and similarly infusion of fibronectin-rich cryoprecipitate would be of no therapeutic benefit.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A comparative study of the impact of education vs. process groups for families of patients with affective disorders.

This clinical project compares the relative impact of two types of multiple family groups on psychiatric inpatients and their families. Forty patients with a diagnosis of affective disorder, and their family members, were randomly assigned to a traditional multiple family group with a process orientation that emphasized support, destigmatization, and self-help about common problems; or to a psychoeducational multiple family group that emphasized the provision of information about the patient's illness and methods of coping with it effectively. Both groups, which met for four hours on a Saturday afternoon, were an integral part of an ongoing inpatient program specializing in the treatment of affective disorders. Pre- and post-measures were obtained regarding family and patient knowledge about affective disorders, level of personal distress, attitudes about the illness, and dyadic adjustment. In addition, both patients and family members were asked to rate their satisfaction with the group experience. A number of differences in knowledge, attitude and dyadic adjustment were found in the participants of both groups immediately following their respective group sessions, but there were only a few statistically significant differences between the two groups. Those who attended the psychoeducational session, however, reported significantly more satisfaction with the experience.

Adult↗
PubMed1968

'Judy-san'.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Japan↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthetic polymer tissue adhesive in the surgery of ascending aortic dissection. Report of two cases.

In Type A aortic dissection preservation of the aortic valve is an attractive proposition. Potential prosthetic valve endocarditis is avoided and there is a low reported incidence of late aortic regurgitation. We report a technique of resuspension of the valve using a synthetic polymer tissue adhesive. This technique allows for the two layers of the dissection to be firmly glued together leaving a good vessel wall for suture placement.

Adult↗