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Biomedical subjects

T J Wall

Publications and source records attributed to T J Wall.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Nicorandil-induced peripheral vasodilatation during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Nicorandil is an antianginal agent with actions at epicardial coronary arteries and arterioles, systemic arterioles, and veins. We report our experience with 7 patients taking oral Nicorandil who had severe vasodilation and hypotension requiring significant vasoconstrictor support after cardiopulmonary bypass. Although the mechanism for this phenomenon remains unknown Nicorandil might be interacting with other factors present during cardiopulmonary bypass, as it has relatively mild hemodynamic effects outside this situation.

Administration, Oral↗

Results of the 1992 association of residents in radiation oncology (ARRO) survey.

In 1992 the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) conducted its ninth annual survey of all residents in training. The survey identified perceived strengths and shortcomings of training. Factors influencing the choice of Radiation Oncology as a medical specialty were identified. Residents raised concerns over the adequacy and preparation of training. Factors influencing the decision to enter private practice or academic medicine were also identified. Future surveys are planned to expand this important database.

Adult↗

Brain neuronal chromatin responses in acute soman intoxicated rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200 g) were injected subcutaneously with soman, a potent neuronal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, at doses of 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 LD50 (1 LD50 = 135 micrograms/kg) before decapitation at 1 and 24 h post-exposure. Correlative data were obtained on the severity of brain AChE inactivation and physicochemical changes in nuclear chromatin of cerebrocortical (layer V) and striatal neurons using Feulgen-DNA (F-DNA) cytophotometry and ocular filar micrometry. Decreased lability of neurons to F-DNA acid hydrolysis (reduced F-DNA yield), nuclear shrinkage and chromatin aggregation (decreased chromophore area) were used as indices of suppression of genomic template activity; conversely, increases in F-DNA yield and chromophore area signify enhanced neuroexcitation. At 1 hr post-soman there was a dose-dependent inactivation of AChE with a moderate increase in chromatin activation, i.e., nuclear hypertrophy and chromatin dispersion. At 24 hr post-soman there was a partial restoration of AChE activity, notably in striatal neurons, with a suppression in chromatin template activity. These data indicate that actions of soman on neuronal functioning are time-dependent. The absence of any dose-related neuronal chromatin changes may signify existence of non-cholinergic mediated events.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Effects of diazepam on soman-induced brain neuronal RNA depletion and lethality in rats.

Studies were conducted to determine effects of the benzodiazepine anticonvulsant diazepam on soman induced brain neuronal RNA depletion and lethality in rats. Quantitative azure B-RNA cytophotometry was used to monitor RNA responses of cerebrocortical (layer V) and striatal neurons following dosages of 0.5, 0.9 and 1.5 LD50 soman (LD50 = 135 micrograms/kg, sc), whereas mean time of death and 24-h survival following 0.8, 1.2 and 1.5 LD50 were used to assess the antidotal efficacy of diazepam (2.2 mg/kg, im) pretreatment. Soman produced dose-dependent RNA depletion in both brain regions. This RNA impairment was almost completely prevented by diazepam, although neuronal RNA contents were generally slightly lower than corresponding control values. However, diazepam pretreatment was not associated with any change in mean time of death or in 24-h survival. The overall data suggest that excessive neural activity per se may underlie the genesis of soman-induced central metabolic impairments, but also appear to effectively dissociate epileptiform activity from lethal actions of soman.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Relationship between lymph nodal status and primary tumor control probability in tumors of the supraglottic larynx.

A retrospective review of 248 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx was undertaken to determine the relationship between the probability of control of the primary lesion, the extent of neck nodal disease at initial presentation, and its ultimate control. All patients were treated at the U.T. M. D. Anderson Hospital between 1960 and 1980, and had a minimum of 3 years follow-up. The primary lesion was staged T1 in 38 patients, T2 in 132, T3 in 50 and T4 in 28. The initial volume of neck nodal disease was scored on a scale of 0 (no palpable nodes) to 9 (bilateral neck nodes greater than 6 cm in diameter). All primary lesions were treated definitively with megavoltage radiation therapy. Treatment to the neck varied according to the extent of lymph node involvement. There was no significant difference in the range of total radiation doses delivered to the primary lesion, stage for stage, in patients who presented with clinically negative or positive nodes, or in those with controlled versus uncontrolled neck disease. Analysis of the probability of primary tumor control was made by life table methods because of the poorer survival expectation in node positive patients. For T1 and T2 primary lesions, any positive node decreased the probability of primary tumor control (p = 0.06). For T3 and T4 lesions, a single node less than 3 cm in diameter did not worsen the chance of primary tumor control, but any greater degree of lymph node involvement did (p = 0.03). For both T stage groupings, the probability of primary tumor control at 5 years decreased progressively with increasing neck nodal disease. Primary tumor control probability was also significantly associated with control of the neck disease, independent of the modality of neck treatment. No correlation could be demonstrated between the histological grade of the primary tumor and initial lymph node status or tumor control probability. Possible interpretations of this manifestation of biological heterogeneity are discussed.

Biopsy↗

Brain neuronal RNA metabolism during sustained low-level soman toxication.

Quantitative azure B-RNA cytophotometry was used to monitor metabolic responses of cholinergic elements of the rat brain during sustained low-level administration of soman (0.25-0.50 LD50, sc). RNA contents of caudate and cerebrocortical (Layers III and V) neurons were measured 60 min following 1-5 soman dosages given at 24 h intervals. Marked and progressive RNA depletion was evidenced after 1-4 soman injections, whereas partial or complete restitution of RNA levels was observed following the fifth injection. These data indicate that repetitive soman toxication is associated with metabolic correlates of impaired rather than accentuated activation of CNS cholinergic systems, and that tolerance is developed to CNS actions of the agent. It is postulated that impaired neuronal activation is related to soman or ACh-induced transmission block, and that the same adaptive processes responsible for recovery during acute poisoning may underlie the development of tolerance during repetitive administration of organophosphates.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Soman toxication in hypoxia acclimated rats: alterations in brain neuronal RNA and survival.

Effects of prior hypoxia acclimation (14-day at 380 mm Hg) on soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) induced brain neuronal RNA and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) depletion and lethality were monitored in rats following their return to ambient oxygenation. Quantitative cytochemical techniques were used to measure RNA and AChE changes in individual cerebrocortical (Layer III) and striatal (caudate plus putamen) neurons. In ambient Po2 controls, soman eventuated in a moderate diminution of neuronal RNA in both brain regions and severe, dose-dependent suppression of AChE activity. Hypoxia acclimation per se induced RNA alterations as manifested in cortical RNA depletion and increased variability of striatal neuron RNA contents. In hypoxia acclimated rats, the extent of neuronal RNA depletion following soman injection was attenuated in both brain regions, yet there were no discernible differences in saline control AChE levels or in the extent of soman-induced AChE inhibition in ambient control versus hypoxia acclimated treatment groups. Hypoxia acclimated rats, however, were found to be even more susceptible to lethal actions of soman as assessed using 24- and 48-hour survival following a three-point treatment regimen. These data indicate that while compensatory systemic and central metabolic adjustments associated with 14d acclimation to reduced oxygen availability may retard soman-induced neuronal RNA depletion, resistance to lethal or near-lethal soman exposure is not enhanced. It is postulated that hypoxia acclimation is associated with complex adaptive and maladaptive neurophysiological alterations influencing CNS responsiveness to soman toxication, and that detrimental consequences exceed protection afforded by metabolic adaptation.

Acclimatization↗

Effects of HI-6 on brain neuronal RNA and acetylcholinesterase: metabolic responses during acute soman intoxication.

Quantitative cytochemical techniques were used to monitor effects of the bis-pyridinium oxime HI-6 with and without atropine sulfate (AS) on soman-induced cerebrocortical (layer V) and striatal neuron RNA and acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE) impairments. In addition, plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity was measured to determine the extent of peripheral enzyme reactivation. Antidotal pretreatment effected complete (HI-6) or partial (AS) amelioration of neuronal RNA depletion evidenced following 1.5 LD50 (195 micrograms/kg) soman, whereas combined HI-6 + AS treatment only partially restored (cortical) or did not change (striatal) neuron RNA contents. HI-6 produced appreciable plasma ChE reactivation but brain AChE activity was not significantly altered. In rats treated only with antidotes, HI-6 or AS alone significantly reduced neuronal RNA in both brain regions. These data indicate that HI-6 influences the metabolic status of central cholinergic compartments and can completely protect against soman-induced neuronal RNA depletion. However, there are no precise relationships among RNA restitution, AChE reactivation or the protective potency of antidotal treatments. Effects of HI-6 on neuronal RNA may signify central cholinolytic activity in vivo, but indirect effects mediated by peripheral mechanisms can not be excluded at present.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Cytophotometric analyses of brain neuronal RNA in soman intoxicated rabbits.

Quantitative azure B-RNA cytophotometry was used to monitor metabolic responses of individual neurons of the motor cortex (layer V) and caudate nucleus of soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) poisoned rabbits. Time- and dose-dependent RNA responses were related to the extent of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inactivation of these 2 brain regions and to overt behavioral manifestations of toxication. A complex pattern of RNA responses was evidenced, with RNA depletion occurring at both arousal and convulsive doses of soman. In general, RNA changes paralleled previously reported metabolic responses observed in soman toxicated rats and mice: (1) linear dose-dependent suppression of RNA was evidenced during the depressant phase but not in the acute excitatory phase of toxication; and (2) RNA depletion was more severe following than during the appearance of excitatory symptoms. These data indicate that soman poisoning results in metabolic correlates of impaired rather than excessive CNS activation. It is postulated that metabolic disturbances are related to blockade of central cholinergic excitation, and that disruption of functionally integrated synaptic activity forms a critically important aspect of toxication.

Acetylcholinesterase↗