Biomedical subjects

W C Fuller

Publications and source records attributed to W C Fuller.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Quetiapine: a new atypical antipsychotic.

Quetiapine has recently been approved for treatment of psychotic disorders. In short term (6 weeks) trials this atypical antipsychotic was shown to be as efficacious as the standard antipsychotics for the treatment of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia without causing any extrapyramidal symptoms or increase in the prolactin levels. Its efficacy for treating the negative symptoms was variable. Preliminary observations suggest its potential to improve the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. It is metabolized by the p450 CYP 3A4 system with an estimated elimination half life of 6 hours. The optimal treatment is 300 mg to 400 mg/day in two to three divided oral doses. The most common side effects include dizziness, hypotension, somnolence and weight gain. Changes in the ECG, the thyroid hormone and hepatic enzymes levels appear to be clinically insignificant. Quetiapine interacts with phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, rifampin and glucocorticoids; and coadministration with these drugs may require dosage adjustment. Doses need not be adjusted when fluoxetine, imipramine, haloperidol and resperidone are coadministered. Quetiapine may enhance the effects of antihypertensive agents and may antagonize those of levodopa and dopamine. Long term efficacy of quetiapine has not been determined. Also undetermined are its effectiveness for treating the first episode and treatment-refractory schizophrenia. Data suggest that quetiapine may be used for the management of psychotic disorders in patients who may not tolerate the side effects of the typical antipsychotics and clozapine. It may also be helpful in patients whose psychotic manifestations did not adequately respond to risperidone and olanzapine.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed1997

Anxiety disorders and insomnia in geriatric patients.

Anxiety and insomnia are among the more frequently encountered problems in geriatric cases. The effective clinical approach identifies underlying diagnostic syndromes or general medical conditions. An integrated approach to management combines pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions as appropriate. Overall the prognosis for most patients is excellent.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Improving job satisfaction of rural South Dakota mental health providers through education: a pilot study.

Many underserved rural areas of South Dakota are plagued by high turnover of mental health providers, and need to develop retention strategies through improving job satisfaction. A major source of job dissatisfaction in rural areas is professional isolation (lack of continuing education opportunities and inadequate number of peers available for professional interaction). The authors developed and implemented interdisciplinary educational programs to improve job satisfaction (and possibly job retention) of rural mental health providers (RMHPs) through reduced professional isolation. The outcome data showed a significant improvement over the 3 year project period on measures of professional isolation. We suggest that strategic educational programs can be successful in reducing turnover of mental health professionals.

Community Mental Health Services↗

PubMed1995

Mental Health Service Deficit: the South Dakota experience.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

The case for managed cooperation (not competition): South Dakota Mental Health Linkage Project.

Promotion of collaboration among rural health providers is a needed strategy to improve integration, accessibility, and quality of mental health care. To support this viewpoint, pertinent outcome data from the authors' South Dakota (SD) project is presented. The data indicated that the project was successful in improving coordination of mental health care in south-central South Dakota. The authors feel that rural mental health care reform should emphasize rural cooperation and not managed competition. They support the recommendation that any health care reform should include training funds for the health care providers from underserved rural areas.

Community Mental Health Centers↗

PubMed1988

Prostaglandin synthesis and release by subpopulations of rat interstitial macrophages.

Recent data indicate that interstitial macrophages are not functionally homogeneous, but are heterogeneous with several subpopulations that differ both morphologically and functionally. Furthermore, interstitial macrophages are believed to be precursor to alveolar macrophages, which have recently been shown to be heterogeneous in their ability to synthesize and release prostaglandins. Considering the apparent importance of prostaglandin synthesis and release in inflammatory and immune responses, the current study was undertaken to determine if interstitial macrophage subpopulations differ in their ability to synthesize and release prostaglandin (PG) E, PGI2, and thromboxane (Tx) A2 after stimulation by calcium ionophore A23187, zymosan, or aggregated IgG. Interstitial macrophages were harvested and separated into 18 density-defined fractions. Density-defined interstitial macrophages (DD-IM) showed marked heterogeneity in prostaglandin synthesis and release. Maximal PGE synthesis and release was seen as a single broad peak after calcium ionophore A23187 and zymosan stimulation. In contrast, no peak in PGE synthesis was seen after aggregated IgG stimulation. PGI2 synthesis also was seen as a single broad peak generated by the lower density interstitial macrophage subpopulations after all stimuli. Similarly, TxA2 synthesis and release was maximal from a broad range of various DD-IM after calcium ionophore A23187, zymosan, and aggregated IgG stimulation. Furthermore, the synthesis and release of TxA2 correlated with the presence of zymosan and IgG receptors on DD-IM. The results demonstrate that DD-IM are heterogeneous in ability to synthesize and release prostaglandins, which are dependent on the stimuli.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Fractionation of rat alveolar macrophages by isopycnic centrifugation: morphological, cytochemical, biochemical, and functional properties.

Studies on alveolar macrophages have usually been performed on a single cell suspension obtained by lung lavage. However, recent evidence on the diversity of functions of the alveolar macrophage suggests that the macrophage is not a single population, but one composed of several subpopulations of macrophages. One approach toward determining if alveolar macrophages are heterogeneous would be to separate subpopulations based on density. To accomplish this, we developed a continuous gradient of iso-osmotic colloidal silica (Percoll) that separated alveolar macrophages from Fischer 344 rats into 18 density-defined subpopulations. The density-defined alveolar macrophage subpopulations were then characterized and were shown to be significantly different based on morphological, cytochemical, biochemical, and functional analysis. The results of this study suggest that alveolar macrophages are heterogeneous and that a continuous iso-osmotic gradient of colloidal silica is an efficient and reproducible method for separating subpopulations.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Studies of membrane receptors and phagocytosis in subpopulations of rat alveolar macrophages.

Recent data suggest that alveolar macrophages may be a heterogeneous group of cells with several subpopulations. This study was undertaken to determine if there is heterogeneity among rat alveolar macrophages with respect to receptors for zymosan, immunoglobulin, and complement. In addition, avidity for the immunoglobulin IgG was defined by opsonizing sheep red blood cells (SRBC) with different amounts of IgG. Alveolar macrophages were harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage and separated into 18 density-defined fractions by centrifugation through a continuous isosmotic gradient of colloidal silica. All density-defined alveolar macrophages exhibited similar abilities to attach zymosan and SRBC opsonized with a high level of IgG. In contrast, macrophages of a density of 1.046 g/ml to 1.075 g/ml exhibited high receptor activity capable of attaching and phagocytizing SRBC opsonized with small amounts of IgG. Similarly, attachment indices for complement-coated SRBC exhibited a peak activity among fractions exhibiting similar high avidity receptors for IgG. These results demonstrate the functional heterogeneity with respect to IgG and complement receptors among density-defined rat alveolar macrophage subpopulations.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

The effect of bleomycin on lung metabolism of prostaglandin E2 in hamster.

Lung is a major site of prostaglandin synthesis and degradation. One site of metabolism has been shown to be the endothelial cell. Metabolism of prostaglandins has been shown to be influenced by both physiological and pathological mechanism. Furthermore, it has been suggested that a relationship might exist between pulmonary disease and the lung's ability to synthesize and/or degrade prostaglandins. Therefore, we evaluated if bleomycin-induced fibrosis, a model of human pulmonary fibrosis, affects the ability of lung to metabolize prostaglandins. Single pass metabolism of prostaglandin E2 was evaluated in an isolated, perfused and ventilated lung of hamsters at 5 and 500 nM concentrations 4,7,14,21 and 28 days after intratracheal bleomycin. The metabolism of prostaglandin E2 was not changed at the 5 nM level, but was significantly decreased at 500 nM level on day 14 and day 28 after intratracheal bleomycin. The results suggest that intratracheal bleomycin causes alterations in prostaglandin metabolism; the mechanism(s) is unknown but may be related to endothelial cell damage and possible changes in alveolar-capillary surface area.

Animals↗

PubMed1982