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Biomedical subjects

T Chambers

Publications and source records attributed to T Chambers.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Questionable ethics--whistle-blowing or tale-telling?

Renal biopsy is a potentially hazardous procedure, generally performed for therapeutic reasons. An open renal biopsy was performed when there appeared to be no accepted clinical indication and its results published in a specialty journal, whose editors declined publication of subsequent correspondence, questioning the ethical propriety of such a procedure. The implications for clinical practice, authors, editors and readers are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as congenital nephrotic syndrome.

A male Caucasian infant developed nephrotic syndrome at 10 weeks of age. He had high titres of antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double-stranded DNA antibody, with hypocomplementaemia, antiplatelet antibodies and anticardiolipin antibodies. There were no detectable antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). His mother was consistently seronegative for anti-ENA (anti-Ro) antibodies and ANA. He developed severe, progressive multisystem involvement, however renal function has remained stable. Immunosuppression has been the mainstay of therapy in this rare presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1996

Dax redacted: the economies of truth in bioethics.

Most ethicists have paid little attention to the rhetorical features of case presentations. In order to examine the constructed nature of bioethics cases, this paper examines the literary characteristics of four presentations of Donald "Dax" Cowart's story. By comparing tellings of the same case, a pattern of redaction is revealed by which the tellers conceal the very features that would challenge the perspectives taken in their arguments. In conclusion, the issue of the applied nature of bioethics is examined.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mesopontine neurons in schizophrenia.

Findings reported here show that there is a significant increase in the number of neurons in the pedunculopontine nucleus in most schizophrenic patients compared to age-matched controls. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase histochemistry was used to label putative cholinergic neurons in the pedunculopontine nucleus and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, while noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons were labeled immunocytochemically using an antibody to tryosine hydroxylase. Cell counts of these neuronal groups were carried out using a Biographics image analysis system. We found significantly increased cell numbers in the pedunculopontine nucleus of schizophrenic patients compared to controls. The number of laterodorsal tegmental nucleus neurons was increased but this was not statistically significant. However, the total cell counts for pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei were significantly higher in schizophrenic subjects. The number of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons was similar in both groups. These results implicate the brainstem reticular formation as a pathophysiological site in at least some patients with schizophrenia. In addition, these findings suggest a developmental etiology for the disease and account for some, but not all, of the symptoms of schizophrenia, including sensory gating abnormalities, sleep-wake disturbances and, perhaps, hallucinations. Overdriving of thalamic and substantia nigra function by cholinergic afferents from the midbrain may account for some of the symptoms seen in schizophrenia. These findings suggest that, at least in some schizophrenic patients, there is an increased number of neurons in the cholinergic arm of the reticular activating system. This may explain some of the symptoms of schizophrenia and points to a prenatal disturbance as one of the possible causes of the disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Generation and characterization of putative monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase.

The generation of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) may aid development of a serological immunoassay for this marker of bone resorption. The lack of MAbs to TRAP largely reflects the difficulty in obtaining sufficient antigen for in vivo immunization strategies. We have circumvented this problem by using in vitro immunization, requiring a small amount of TRAP isolated from osteoclastoma tumor. Two MAbs designated 312D and 310A were generated that exhibited weak anti-TRAP activity in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunocytochemistry. A polyclonal antibody to TRAP (Ab8023) was also raised in rabbit, using synthetic peptide. Ab8023 and MAbs 310A and 312D exhibited no activity against TRAP in dot-blotting experiments. Further characterization in enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay showed that Ab8023 was remarkably specific for TRAP whereas MAb 312D cross-reacted with another metalloenzyme, human prostatic acid phosphatase.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1994

Use of a bisphosphonate (pamidronate) to modulate fracture repair in ovine bone.

Bisphosphonates influence the morphology and mechanical properties of bones in growing rats, but their effects on fracture repair are not well documented. This study tests the hypothesis that bisphosphonates will modulate the remodelling phase of fracture repair, influencing the mechanical properties of healing bone. The effects of a bisphosphonate (pamidronate, Aredia) on the healing of a 3 mm osteotomy gap in the mid-diaphysis of the tibia, under rigid unilateral external fixation, were evaluated using 2 groups of 6 skeletally mature sheep. The repair process was evaluated weekly for 12 weeks using conventional radiographs, dual photon absorptiometry, and fracture stiffness measurements. The animals were then killed and the torsional stiffness and strength of the tibiae measured. More prolific callus formation, with an associated rise in the rate of bone mineral content, was observed in the treated group. There were no differences in in vivo fracture stiffness or postmortem torsional stiffness between the 2 groups, but torsional strength was greater in the treated group. Callus remodelling was reduced but not arrested in the treated group. Bisphosphonates act to reduce callus remodelling, leading to an increased amount of bridging callus and therefore strength. This study indicates that pamidronate has no adverse effects on the restoration of the mechanical integrity of a long bone after fracture.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The Paediatric Board of the Royal College of Physicians of London: its role in the college.

Conscious of its responsibilities to its Fellows and Members who are paediatricians, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is anxious to play its part, along with others, in maintaining and improving standards in paediatrics. Recognising the importance and prominence of the specialty within the generality of specialist medicine, and alongside general internal medicine, it has established a Paediatric Board, reporting directly to Council, which will deal with and advise on all matters concerning paediatrics and child health, and thus enhance the autonomy and influence of the specialty both within the College and on medical affairs in general. It will do this in close association with the British Paediatric Association (BPA) which will nominate members of the Board. In particular the RCP will continue to set standards in paediatrics through examinations, accreditation, representatives on consultant advisory appointment committees, and its membership of the GMC and the Conference of Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties, to which the Paediatric Board will make a substantial contribution. The network of regional paediatric advisers to the RCP will ensure that the Board is kept in touch with paediatric opinion throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Relationships with Scottish paediatrics and paediatricians will be important, for example, in the organisation and development of the MRCP(UK) examination and its paediatric Part II. Links with paediatricians in the Irish Republic exist through the Joint Committee on Higher Medical Training.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1990

Protection against membrane-mediated cytotoxicity by calcium and zinc.

Injection of S. aureus alpha toxin or ultraviolet-inactivated Sendai virus into the mammary gland of lactating mice leads to cytopathic changes in the alveolar cells compatible with a breakdown of their permeability barrier. Simultaneous administration of Ca2+ or Zn2+ prevents such changes, as it does when added to alveolar cells in vitro. It is concluded that increased levels of Zn2+ (and under certain conditions of Ca2+) may exert a protective role that is clinically significant.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Transient idiopathic hyperammonaemia in adults.

Transient severe hyperammonaemia developed in the absence of serious liver dysfunction in three patients being treated for acute leukaemia. The onset of the biochemical disturbance was abrupt and led rapidly to acute encephalopathy, fatal in two cases. In the third patient, prompt initiation of aggressive haemodialysis and intravenous sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate infusion successfully controlled plasma ammonium levels until they spontaneously resolved. The cause of the disorder remains to be determined, but urinary nitrogen partition studies suggest temporary impairment of ureagenesis in a catabolic setting as a major pathophysiological feature of this disorder. The absence of liver disease, the normal mitochondrial ultrastructure seen in two cases, and the plasma aminoacid profiles observed serve to distinguish this disorder from others such as Reye's syndrome.

Acute Disease↗