Scavenging hazard.
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Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
Biomedical subjects
S Phillips
Publications and source records attributed to S Phillips.
The onset of effect of the H1-antagonist acrivastine ("Semprex") assessed by histamine bronchial challenge in volunteers.
The onset of effect of acrivastine, a new H1-antagonist, has been assessed using antagonism of histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in sensitive volunteers. Acrivastine administered 30, 45, 60 or 90 min before challenge produced a right-shift of the histamine dose-response curve of at least 8-fold indicating that a clinically desired degree of H1-antagonism was present within 30 min of ingestion of the recommended therapeutic dose.
Administration, Oral↗
Magnetic resonance imaging in MELAS syndrome.
MELAS syndrome is a distinct clinical entity belonging to a group of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies characterized by the tetrad of myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings are reviewed in a patient with MELAS. Serial CT studies demonstrated multiple "migrating" infarcts in various stages of evolution involving primarily the posterior temporal and occipital regions. MR was more sensitive than CT in demonstrating the number and extent of cortical lesions in this disease entity.
Acidosis, Lactic↗
Laser assisted fusion of the rat stomach: preliminary studies.
The purpose of this study was (1) to determine whether rat gastrotomies could be securely closed without sutures by CO2 laser-induced tissue fusion alone and (2) to compare some characteristics (physical, biochemical, histological) of laser-fused gastrotomies with sutured gastrotomies. Following pentobarbital anesthesia a 1.5-cm longitudinal anterior gastrotomy was made in the forestomach of male Sprague-Dawley rats. This wound was closed using either a sutureless tissue weld created by a microscope-mounted CO2 laser (153 W/cm2) (Group I, N = 61) or with a running 6-O polypropylene suture (Group II, N = 58). Animals were sacrificed on Postoperative Days 1, 2, 4, 7, and 11 and the wounds were studied. Survival to scheduled sacrifice was 95% in Group I and 93% in Group II. Although bursting pressure of laser-fused gastrotomies was significantly lower than that of sutured controls on Postoperative Day 1, measurement on subsequent days showed comparable wound strength between the laser and suture groups. Wound hydroxyproline content was significantly higher on Postoperative Day 1 and lower on Postoperative Day 11 in the laser group. Histologic examination of the laser-fused wounds revealed less inflammation and earlier reepithelialization than the sutured wounds, giving the microscopic appearance of a "neater" healing wound. These results suggest that laser-induced fusion is a feasible method of gastrointestinal wound closure which may complement standard suture techniques.
Animals↗
Efficacies of US Food and Drug Administration-licensed HIV-1-screening enzyme immunoassays for detecting antibodies to HIV-2.
To determine the efficacy of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for antibodies against HIV-1 in detecting HIV-2-infected blood, we tested 55 HIV-2-positive sera with seven Food and Drug Administration-licensed EIA kits. The percentage detection of HIV-2 sera giving positive reactions with these kits varied between the various manufacturers from 60 to 91%. Observations based on a small number of sera (n = 13), suggest that HIV-2-positive blood collected from apparently healthy people (blood donors, prenatal clinics) are detected with a greater frequency (means = 89%) than blood from AIDS patients or patients (n = 32) hospitalized with other infectious diseases (means = 72%). Based on these results and the low incidence of HIV-2 infection observed in the USA, it was concluded that screening with HIV-2-specific tests would not significantly increase the number of HIV-2-positive people detected by current screening programs. However, due to the poor sensitivity of certain HIV-1 assays for HIV-2 antibodies, HIV-2 sera without cross-reacting antibodies will escape detection. Surveillance for HIV-2 might then be improved by the availability of HIV-1 and HIV-2 combination assays.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
New developments in the Life Table Analysis System of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
In the 1970s, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health developed a Life Table Analysis System to analyze occupational cohort studies. We have updated the original system by adding two new features: direct standardization with a test for linear trend, and analyses by lagged exposure (either duration of exposure or cumulative exposure). We have also updated US reference rates through 1989. The updated systems and documentation (version F) are available upon request. In collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, we have also developed multiple cause-of-death rate files, which consider contributory as well as underlying cause. These files (also available upon request) will enable investigators to derive the expected prevalence of diseases at death, which can then be compared with the observed prevalence in an exposed cohort. Work is currently underway to produce a personal computer version of the Life Table Analysis System.
Cause of Death↗
Literature summary of some Navajo child health beliefs and rearing practices within a transcultural nursing framework.
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Attitude to Health↗
Induction of ovulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone--life-table analysis of 50 courses of treatment.
Ovulation induction by means of the pulsatile subcutaneous administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone by way of an infusion pump is described. The clinical outcome in 50 courses of treatment, which totalled 116 treatment cycles, was analysed and was compared with the pregnancy rates that were obtained with the administration of human pituitary gonadotrophins. We found that the pregnancy rates for these two treatments were similar. We also have shown that for those women who ovulated as a result of such treatment the conception rates were similar to those in ovulatory women who had discontinued contraception. We conclude that gonadotrophin-releasing hormone has an important place among the ovulation-induction agents.
Actuarial Analysis↗
Xenopus laevis contains two nonallelic preproinsulin genes. cDNA cloning and evolutionary perspective.
We undertook the cloning of preproinsulin cDNAs from the South African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis, in order to study the role of insulin during embryogenesis in this species. We found that X. laevis contains two different preproinsulin cDNAs, both of which code for peptides containing 106 amino acids of typical structure but which differ by eight amino acids: one in the signal peptide, two in the B-chain, four in the C-peptide, and one in the A-chain. Southern blot analysis indicates that the two preproinsulin cDNAs identified correspond to two different nonallelic genes which we believe arose through a recent gene duplication within the amphibian radiation possibly during the development of tetraploidy in this species. Both genes are expressed, since we have recently identified the two corresponding insulins in pancreatic extracts of adult toads (Shuldiner, A.R., Bennett, C., Robinson, E.A., and Roth, J. (1989) Endocrinology, in press). These cDNAs represent the first amphibian preproinsulin sequences to be elucidated.
Alleles↗
Cyclic motility in canine colon: responses to feeding and perfusion.
To further characterize colonic motility in the dog and to examine the effects of intraluminal contents, motor activity in conscious animals was recorded by perfused intraluminal catheters. Animals were studied first with the bowel intact and, later, the colon was fashioned into an isolated loop. In the fasting state, cycles of motility recurred approximately each 30 min. These consisted of sequences of phasic contractions (bursts) that migrated variable distances in either direction; stationary bursts were also recorded. The fasting patterns recorded from intact bowel and isolated loops were not different. Feeding increased colonic motility, and the mean periodicity of cyclic bursts was reduced significantly to approximately 20 min. Moreover, differences were observed between intact bowel and isolated loops in the postprandial period. Diversion of chyme from the colon significantly reduced the motor response to food, but only in the late (2-4 hr) postprandial period, when the less frequent, fasting cycle returned to the loops. Perfusion of isolated loops with chyme or saline reestablished the postprandial pattern seen in intact bowel. The results suggest that the volume, but not the composition, of luminal contents modify postprandial motility in the canine colon. Additional experiments confirmed that, in particular, volatile fatty acids were probably not important determinants of colonic motility in the dog.
Animals↗
Transdermal delivery of levonorgestrel. VII. In vivo studies.
This paper describes the results of transdermal experiments performed in vivo using devices designed for delivery of levonorgestrel. To help evaluate the performance of the transdermal devices on rabbits, a constant infusion experiment was performed using osmotic pumps. Reservoir-type transdermal devices were prepared and tested on rabbits for their ability to deliver 30 to 35 micrograms/d of levonorgestrel. Ethyl acetate and ethanol (0.7:0.3) or neat ethyl acetate were used as permeation enhancers. The results indicated that for rabbits, a rate-limiting membrane was required to control the delivery of enhancer(s) to the skin so that constant plasma levels could be maintained. The devices induced mild erythema and very mild edema over the 24-hour exposure period. The potential use of such a transdermal delivery system in humans is discussed.
Administration, Cutaneous↗
A comparison of hemispheric asymmetries in speech-related brain potentials of autistic and dysphasic children.
In a previous study (G. Dawson, C. Finley, S. Phillips, & L. Galpert, 1986, Child Development, 57, 1440-1453) it was found that measures of hemispheric asymmetry during speech processing were predictive of level of language ability in autistic children. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a similar relationship between pattern of hemispheric asymmetry and language ability exists for language-impaired children without autism. Ten autistic children (8-13 years), 10 dysphasic children (6-15 years), and 10 normal children (8-13 years) were compared in terms of their patterns of hemispheric asymmetry in the averaged cortical evoked response to a simple speech stimulus, and the relationship between pattern of hemispheric asymmetry and language ability was assessed for each clinical group. It was found that, for both the autistic and dysphasic groups, the majority of subjects showed a reversed direction of hemispheric asymmetry from that characteristic of the normal group. A strong relationship between pattern of asymmetry and level of language ability was found for autistic subjects; autistic subjects with more severe language impairments were more likely to show reversed asymmetry than subjects with less severe language impairments. In contrast, no relationship between language ability and direction of hemispheric asymmetry in the evoked response was found for dysphasic subjects. Separate analyses of right and left hemisphere evoked responses indicated that language ability was related to right hemisphere activity for autistic subjects, and to left hemisphere activity for dysphasic subjects.
Adolescent↗
Monitoring vital sign changes in children.
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Blood Pressure↗
The use of stimulant medication with children.
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Attention↗
Amino-acid and cDNA nucleotide sequences of human Clara cell 10 kDa protein.
A human lung cDNA expression library was screened by using a rabbit antiserum specific for a human Clara cell 10 kDa protein. The cDNA from two positive clones was sequenced by the dideoxy chain termination method. The nucleotide and primary amino-acid sequence deduced therefrom are presented. The N-terminal amino-acid sequence of the Clara cell 10 kDa protein, purified from bronchoalveolar lavage, was also determined. The deduced and experimentally determined sequences were identical where data for both were available. From the amino-acid composition, deduced and experimentally determined amino-acid sequences, it was determined that the 10 kDa protein in bronchoalveolar lavage consists of two identical 70-amino-acid long polypeptide chains joined by two cystine residues. The size of mRNA for the protein was found to be about 0.6 kb and the monomeric nascent protein, obtained by in vitro translation of lung mRNA was about 7.3 kDa in size. The 10 kDa protein recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage has 61% sequence identity with rabbit uteroglobin, the two proteins have common predicted secondary structures with marked surface differences when comparing predicted and actual structure determined by X-ray diffraction. The differences imply similarity of structure but, not identity of function.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
How accurately does the Reflotron dry-chemistry system measure plasma total cholesterol levels when used a community-screening device.
This study compared the measurements of total cholesterol levels by means of a Reflotron dry-chemistry system and a standard laboratory method with the Hitachi 705 analyser. Simultaneous blood samples were collected by finger-prick and by venepuncture from 80 volunteers. The ranges of total cholesterol levels were 3.38-8.45 mmol/L (Reflotron) and 3.59-8.83 mmol/L (Hitachi). The mean (+/- standard deviation [SD]) difference between the two methods was 0.22 +/- 0.30 mmol/L. All the subjects provided a second finger-prick sample of blood on the next day to assess the reproducibility of the Reflotron system. The mean (+/- SD) cholesterol levels that were obtained by the Reflotron method on Day 1 and Day 2 were 5.38 +/- 1.17 mmol/L and 5.30 +/- 1.14 mmol/L, respectively. These results did not differ significantly (mean difference, 0.079 mmol/L; standard error, 0.045 mmol/L). Provided that the operator is trained appropriately, the Reflotron system gives rapid, accurate and reproducible results.
Adult↗
Reduced P3 amplitude of the event-related brain potential: its relationship to language ability in autism.
Several studies have found that P3 amplitude of the auditory event-related potential is smaller in autistic than in normal children. The present study investigated whether this characteristic bears any relationship to the degree of language impairment and/or level of intellectual ability of autistic persons. Seventeen autistic children, ranging from 8-19 years of age, and 17 age- and gender-matched normal children participated. Event-related potentials to phonetic ("Da") and chord (piano) stimuli were recorded from three scalp locations: vertex (Cz), right hemisphere (RH), and left hemisphere (LH), during a discrimination task. A battery of language tests was given to autistic children. Compared to normal subjects, autistic subjects showed a significantly smaller P3 amplitude to phonetic stimuli for Cz and LH recording sites. However, no group difference in P3 amplitude to the phonetic stimulus was found for the RH. Furthermore, no group differences in P3 amplitude were found for the chord stimulus at any recording site. Impaired language ability was related to greater RH P3 amplitude, particularly to the chord stimulus. The possibility of differential hemispheric involvement in the attentional deficits of autistic children is raised.
Adolescent↗