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Biomedical subjects

T Stone

Publications and source records attributed to T Stone.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A matched study of primary scleral buckle placement during repair of posterior segment open globe injuries.

AIMS: To compare the visual and anatomical outcomes of patients who underwent primary scleral buckle (SB) placement during posterior segment open globe repair with matched control patients who did not undergo primary SB placement. METHODS: Patients who underwent open globe repair alone or with SB placement at Duke University Eye Center (November 1994-September 1997) and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (July 1993-July 1997) were identified. 19 open globe patients who received primary SB placement were matched with control patients who did not receive a primary SB based on three important prognostic factors: (1) visual grade; (2) zone of injury; and (3) mechanism of injury. The outcomes of interest were: (1) visual outcome; (2) anatomical outcome; (3) subsequent retinal detachment (RD); and (4) number of subsequent surgeries. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics between the groups were similar. Patients who received primary SB placement had a better final visual grade (p = 0.02), logMAR vision (p = 0.007), and anatomical grade (p = 0.01) compared with control patients. Primary SB patients had an average final vision of 20/270, whereas control patients had an average final vision of hand movement. Primary SB placement also resulted in fewer subsequent RDs (26% versus 53%), but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.10). There were no complications associated with primary SB placement. CONCLUSION: Primary SB placement during posterior segment open globe repair may decrease the risk of subsequent RD and improve final visual and anatomical outcome.

Adolescent↗

A comparative study of bovine pericardium (periguard) and homologous sclera as lower eyelid spacer graft analogs in New Zealand white rabbits.

PURPOSE: To compare bovine pericardium (Periguard; Bio-Vascular, Inc., St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.) and homologous sclera as spacer graft analogs in a rabbit model. METHODS: A nonrandomized experimental animal study was conducted. Elliptical subconjunctival implants were placed in one lower eyelid each of 10 rabbits. Five rabbits received homologous sclera implants, and five received bovine pericardium implants. The rabbits were killed 7 weeks later, and the lower eyelids were examined clinically and histopathologically. RESULTS: Rabbit eyelids implanted with Periguard had a more marked inflammatory reaction and more significant collagen lamellar disruption than eyelids implanted with homologous sclera, although clinically they appeared quite similar. CONCLUSIONS: Although bovine pericardium elicited a more intense inflammatory response at the histopathologic level, both implants were similarly tolerated at the clinical level. These findings are consistent with animal and human investigations of bovine pericardium in other parts of the body, and warrant further studies into its potential use in the human eyelid.

Animals↗

Interindividual heterogeneity in the hypoxic regulation of VEGF: significance for the development of the coronary artery collateral circulation.

BACKGROUND: The coronary artery collateral circulation may be beneficial in protecting against myocardial ischemia and necrosis. However, there is a tremendous interindividual variability in the degree of new collateral formation in patients with coronary artery disease. The basis for this interindividual heterogeneity is not understood. In this study we test the hypothesis that failure to generate collateral vessels is associated with a failure to appropriately induce with hypoxia or ischemia the angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We correlated the VEGF response to hypoxia in the monocytes harvested from patients with coronary artery disease with the presence of collaterals visualized during routine angiography. We found that there was a highly significant difference in the hypoxic induction of VEGF in patients with no collaterals compared with patients with some collaterals (mean fold induction 1.9+/-0.2 versus 3.2+/-0.3, P<0.0001). After subjecting the data to ANCOVA, using as covariates a number of factors that might influence the amount of collateral formation (ie, age, sex, diabetes, smoking, hypercholesterolemia), patients with no collaterals still have a significantly lower hypoxic induction of VEGF than patients with collaterals. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that the ability to respond to progressive coronary artery stenosis is strongly associated with the ability to induce VEGF in response to hypoxia. The observed interindividual heterogeneity in this response may be due to environmental, epigenetic, or genetic causes. This interindividual heterogeneity may also help to explain the variable angiogenic responses seen in other conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and solid tumors.

Cell Hypoxia↗

Prevention of muscimol-induced long-term depression by brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

1. The authors have recently reported a new protocol for inducing long-term depression through activation of GABAA receptors in the hippocampal slices. This long-term depression is reversed by bicuculline and potentiated by neurosteroids such as alphaxalone. It was also shown that glutamate receptor activity is not involved in the induction of this novel type of long-term depression. Brain derived neurotrophic factor is a member of the neurotrophins family widely expressed in the central nervous system. There is increasing evidence that indicate an important role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in synaptic plasticity. It has been reported that brain-derived neurotrophic factor level is downregulated by GABA system. The present study investigated a possible relation between muscimol-induced long-term depression and brain-derived neurotrophic factor level. 2. Extracellular recordings were made in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of rat hippocampal slices following orthodromic stimulation of Schaffer collateral fibers in stratum radiatum. 3. It was observed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor at concentration that did not have any effect itself on the population spike, prevents the induction of long-term depression by muscimol. In addition to this, K-252a an inhibitor of Trk type kinase blocked the prevention of muscimol-induced LTD by brain-derived neurotrophic factor. 4. The results suggest that there is an interaction between muscimol-induced long-term depression and brain-derived neurotrophic factor and may explain the post receptor mechanism of muscimol-induced long-term depression through a bilateral relation between GABAA activity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Animals↗

Bovine pericardium versus homologous sclera as wrapping materials for hydroxyapatite ocular implants: an animal study.

PURPOSE: We compared bovine pericardium and homologous sclera as wrapping materials for hydroxyapatite (HA) ocular implants in enucleated New Zealand white rabbits. METHODS: Eighteen rabbits were unilaterally enucleated and the sockets implanted with 10-mm HA spherical implants. Six implants were wrapped with homologous sclera, 6 with bovine pericardium, and 6 were not wrapped. The rabbits were killed 7 weeks later and the sockets were examined clinically for inflammation and implant exposure. Exenterated specimens were assessed histopathologically for inflammation and vascularization. RESULTS: No clinical evidence of implant exposure or extrusion was detected in rabbits receiving sclera or bovine pericardium wrapped implants. Histopathologically, the bovine pericardium displayed more inflammation in its outer portion, as well as more disruption of its lamellar arrangement than did the sclera. Fibrovascular in-growth was complete in all wrapped implants. CONCLUSION: Bovine pericardium behaves similar clinically to homologous sclera as a wrapping material for spherical HA ocular implants in a rabbit model, and may represent a reasonable alternative to sclera in such procedures in humans.

Animals↗

Preparation of horseradish peroxidase-labeled probes.

The direct labeling of nucleic acid probes with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) may be used in many membrane hybridization applications, including Southern blots, Northern blots, colony and plaque screening, PCR products detection/identification. This article describes the preparation method, which involves the labeling of a single-stranded nucleic acid probe with a positively charged HRP-parabenzoquinone-polyethyleneimine complex (labeling reagent). The associated hybridization and posthybridization protocols are relatively simple, which makes probes labeled directly with HRP particularly suitable for large scale screening, where tens or hundreds of blots are processed weekly.

Blotting, Northern↗

Hybridization of horseradish peroxidase-labeled probes and detection by enhanced chemiluminescence.

This article describes the use of probes directly labeled with horseradish peroxidase in conjunction with enhanced chemiluminescence, which allows a flexible approach to hybridizations and detections. This system may be used with the following applications: Southern blots, Northern blots, colony and plaque screening for positive clones, YAC clone screening, and PCR products detection. The major steps required for the use of directly labeled HRP probes are hybridization, stringent washes, and detection.

DNA Probes↗

Ro 15-4513 alteration of pentobarbital dependence.

This study investigated the ability of the benzodiazepine inverse agonist, Ro 15-4513, to alter the expression of physical dependence on pentobarbital. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were made physically dependent on pentobarbital by continuous. IP, infusion of escalating doses of pentobarbital for 12 days. In Experiment 1, pentobarbital dependent rats received either vehicle or Ro 15-4513, in doses of 5, 10, or 15 mg/kg, IP, periodically during the pentobarbital abstinence period. As expected, Ro 15-4513 produced a significant, dose-dependent, exacerbation of withdrawal signs in the pentobarbital dependent rats. In Experiment 2, either vehicle or Ro 15-4513, at a dose of 15 mg/ kg, was administered, IP, once daily during the 12 days of continuous pentobarbital infusion. During the subsequent pentobarbital abstinence period it was noted that the withdrawal signs were significantly reduced in the rats receiving the daily administration of Ro 15-4513. It is hypothesized that the benzodiazepine inverse agonist, Ro 15-4513, may inhibit the development of physical dependence on pentobarbital through an opposing action on the GABA-A receptor.

Animals↗

Deceiving others/deceiving oneself: four cases of factitious rape.

Although patients with factitious disorders typically seek the "patient" role through illness portrayals, some instead portray themselves falsely as "victims." We discuss the cases of four women who claimed to have been victims of rape; the allegations ultimately were disproved. Factitious rape may be prompted by a search for nurturance; by dissociation, leading individuals to believe that trauma earlier in life is ongoing; by a need to be rescued from real, current abuse; and by projection of anger onto specific male targets. Although dramatic, factitious rape is rare, we advocate thorough investigation of rape claims even when patients have known histories of deceptive behavior.

Adult↗