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Biomedical subjects

T C Arnold

Publications and source records attributed to T C Arnold.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Cell column chromatography: a new research tool to quantify cerebral cell volume changes following chemically-induced anoxia/re-oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE: The roles of individual types of cerebral cells in contributing to brain edema are undefined. The objective of this study was to determine the role of cerebral cell-column chromatography in quantifying cell volumes of individual cerebral cell lines, under chemically-induced anoxia/re-oxygenation (A/R). METHODS: Cerebral endothelial cells (4 experiments) or type II astrocytes (4 experiments) were cultured to confluence on microcarrier beads. A chromatographic cell-column of 1.5 cm height was filled with non-treated cell-covered beads. The column was perfused at 1 ml/min with a balanced perfusate for one hour (Baseline). The perfusate was then switched to that containing 5 mM thioglycolic acid for one hour (Anoxia). Then the column was perfused with the normal perfusate for another two hours (Re-oxygenation). The total free space in the column, reversely reflecting cell volumes, was determined by averaged transit time (TTa) of a non-permeable flow tracer blue dextran. Decreased TTa means that cells swell, and vice versa. RESULTS: TTa in endothelial cell columns increased with a peak at 60 minutes of re-oxygenation. TTa in astrocyte columns decreased with a nadir at 30 minutes of re-oxygenation. CONCLUSION: Cell column chromatography can be used to determine the cerebral cell volume changes following chemically-induced anoxia/re-oxygenation.

Brain Edema↗

Ifenprodil treatment is associated with a down-regulation of brain aquaporin 4 following cardiac arrest in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Ifenprodil, a NMDA receptor polyamine site antagonist, reduces experimental cardiac arrest (CA)-elicited brain edema, which is associated with an up-regulation of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), a brain water-selective channel. However, the interacting roles of NMDA receptors and AQP4 in CA-elicited brain edema are unknown. The objective of this study was to test our hypothesis that ifenprodil treatment is associated with a down-regulation of brain AQP4. METHODS: Twenty-five rats were assigned to normal controls (group 1, n = 6) or subjected to eight minutes of asphyxial CA treated with placebo (group 2, n = 9) or ifenprodil (group 3, n = 10). Ifenprodil at 10 mg/kg or normal saline of equal volume was given intraperitoneally, 5 minutes before CA. The density of AQP4 protein and actin bands was scanned and expressed as the ratios of the optical density of AQP4 relative to that of actin. The ANOVA analysis was used to compare the group differences. RESULTS: The ratios of the optical density of AQP4 to that of actin were 0.88 +/- 0.06 in group 1, 1.11 +/- 0.08 in group 2 (p < 0.05 vs. group 1), and 0.78 +/- 0.04 in group 3 (p < 0.01 vs. group 2; NS vs. group 1). CONCLUSION: Ifenprodil given before CA is associated with a downregulation of brain AQP4 in rats.

Animals↗

Peripheral neuropathy in workers exposed to nitromethane.

BACKGROUND: Two workers from a headlight subassembly plant developed severe peripheral neuropathy. These workers had extensive, but brief (1-2 months) dermal and inhalational exposure to nitromethane, a solvent. METHODS: Environmental sampling was performed for nitromethane and ethyl cyanoacrylate. Medical records, including electrodiagnostic studies, were reviewed. Literature on nitromethane, ethyl cyanoacrylate, and other exposures in the workplace was reviewed. RESULTS: Electromyography and nerve conduction studies performed on these patients were consistent with a severe, axonal neuropathy. No etiology was discovered despite an extensive medical evaluation. Environmental sampling revealed exposure to nitromethane at the threshold limit value. CONCLUSIONS: The history of acute onset of severe peripheral neuropathy temporally associated with exposure to nitromethane is suggestive of a toxic neuropathy. While it cannot be definitively concluded that these two workers developed peripheral neuropathy secondary to exposures at work, occupational exposure to nitromethane appears to be the most likely etiology.

Adult↗

Aspiration of activated charcoal elicits an increase in lung microvascular permeability.

BACKGROUND: Gastric decontamination with orally administered activated charcoal is the recommended treatment for many poisonings. However, ingestion of central nervous system depressants resulting in loss of protective airway reflexes may result in pulmonary aspiration of activated charcoal. Although activated charcoal has been reported to be an inert substance, evidence suggests that pulmonary aspiration of charcoal is associated with lung edema formation and pulmonary compromise. This study tested the hypothesis that intratracheal instillation of activated charcoal disrupts the integrity of the lung microvascular barrier. METHODS: The capillary filtration coefficient (Kf,c), a sensitive measure of lung microvascular permeability, was determined isogravimetrically prior to and after intratracheal instillation of activated charcoal 0.04 g/kg (12% weight/vol solution, pH 7.4) or an equal volume of sterile water in isolated, perfused rat lungs. Arterial blood gas analysis was determined prior to and after tracheal instillation of activated charcoal or sterile water in a separate group of animals. RESULTS: Intratracheal instillation of activated charcoal resulted in a significant increase in pulmonary microvascular permeability compared to lungs treated with sterile water or control lungs (delta Kf,c = +0.21 +/- 0.076; -0.014 +/- 0.04; and -0.041 +/- 0.02 mL/min/cm H2O/100 g lung tissue, respectively, p < 0.05 ANOVA). There was no significant difference in baseline blood gases in the 3 experimental groups. There was a significant decrease in arterial Po2, bicarbonate, and pH in animals administered activated charcoal compared to time-matched controls and animals administered sterile water. CONCLUSIONS: Intratracheal instillation of activated charcoal is associated with a significant increase in lung microvascular permeability and arterial blood gas derangements. The effects of activated charcoal on pulmonary microvascular barrier integrity may contribute to the lung edema formation and pulmonary compromise observed following clinical aspiration of activated charcoal.

Animals↗

Overdose with sustained-release lithium preparations.

Two cases of overdose with sustained-release lithium preparations are presented. Initial serum lithium levels were in the therapeutic or subtherapeutic range. Subsequent levels were in the toxic range. These cases illustrate the potential danger of delayed toxicity with ingestion of these agents.

Adult↗