Showing papers by "University of Louisville published in 1986"

Enhancement of epidermal regeneration by biosynthetic epidermal growth factor.

Abstract: Epidermal regeneration depends on mitosis and migration of keratinocytes. Epidermal growth factor is known to stimulate growth of keratinocytes in vitro, thus it might be expected to promote wound healing. The results of this study show that topical application of biosynthetic human epidermal growth factor accelerates epidermal regeneration in split-thickness wounds and partial-thickness burns. The significant enhancement of epidermal regeneration suggests the potential for clinical use of epidermal growth factor for accelerating healing of burns, wounds from trauma, diabetic ulcers, skin graft donor sites, and others.

Alcohol use and abuse in college students. I. A review of individual and personality correlates.

Abstract: This review of alcohol use and abuse in college students presents a summary of the relationships between college student alcohol use and demographic and individual characteristics. A summary of the findings suggests two distinct patterns of alcohol use. For some demographic groups, heavy drinking may be most associated with personal problems, while for others it may be more associated with social and environmental factors. Suggestions for future research of this important issue are presented.

Fine-needle aspiration of breast cancer. Relationship of clinical factors to cytology results in 689 primary malignancies.

Abstract: Between 1980 and 1983, 689 women with primary breast cancer at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and associated Hospitals had fine-needle aspiration biopsies prior to definitive surgery. Clinical factors relating to the success of these aspirations were evaluated. The most significant factor was which physician performed the aspiration. Size of the lesion was also an important variable; however, size difference could not account for the marked variation between different individuals performing the aspiration. There was no difference between node-positive and node-negative patients when matched by tumor size. A significantly lower rate of positive aspirations occurred in the 45 to 55 year age group which could not be accounted for by tumor size. Location of the mass was not significant, although there was a persistent lower rate of positive aspirates from the upper inner quadrants. Aspiration cytology was positive or suspicious in 65 percent of patients with primary breast cancer who had clinical diagnoses of benign breast lesions. It is concluded that the most significant variable in the accuracy of breast aspiration biopsy is the size of the lesion and the proficiency of the individual performing the procedure. With a skilled physician, positive aspiration results were obtained in over 80% of breast cancers.

Rapid cooling in classic heatstroke: Effect on mortality rates

Abstract: The case records of 39 patients with classic (non-exertional) heatstroke presenting to an urban emergency department were reviewed. Eight of 39 patients died. Rapid cooling, defined as a rectal temperature of less than or equal to 38.9 degrees C (102 degrees F) within an hour of presentation, was achieved in 27 of 39 patients. Twelve patients had a temperature greater than or equal to 38.9 degrees C (102 degrees F) after one hour of treatment in the emergency department. The rate of mortality in the rapid cooling group was four of 27 (15%), while in the delayed cooling group, the mortality rate was four of 12 (33%) (P = 0.18). Factors such as advanced age, hypotension, altered coagulation status, and the necessity for endotracheal intubation on presentation dictated a poor outcome despite successful cooling measures.

Differential macromolecular leakage from the vasculature of tumors

Abstract: Tumor-induced neovascularization is essential for invasion, metastases, and exponential growth of solid tumors. The authors studied the differences in macromolecular leakage from the neovasculature of a fast-growing, early-metastasizing tumor, the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma, and a slow-growing, nonmetastasizing tumor, a rat chondrosarcoma. A 1-mm3 piece of the Walker 256 carcinoma or the chondrosarcoma was implanted in the cremaster muscle of rats. Five days after surgery the cremaster muscle with the implanted tumor was placed in a special bath containing Krebs solution such that the circulation and nerves from the animal to the cremaster were intact. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled rat serum albumin (FITC-RSA) was injected (intra-arterially) into each rat to permit visualization of the vasculature by fluorescent microscopy. A closed-circuit television system was used to quantitate macromolecular leakage as a change in interstitial fluorescent intensity. Data are given as a relative fluorescent intensity (mean ± standard error of the mean) in an area of the cremaster with tumor-induced neovascularization. These studies demonstrated that the vasculature induced by rapidly growing Walker 256 carcinosarcoma leak albumin freely when compared with the vasculature induced by the slow-growing chondrosarcoma. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in fluorescent intensity (albumin leakage) in the Walker tumor from 1 minute (24 ± 3.0) to 30 minutes (49 ± 5.6). In the normal cremaster area there was a significantly lower fluorescent intensity in the interstitium and a very slight increase with time (4 ± 1.5 at 1 minute vs. 7 ± 1.4 at 30 minutes). One interpretation of these data is that the mechanisms responsible for protein leakage from the vasculature of the Walker tumor may be involved in the fast growth and metastases of this tumor as compared with slower-growing tumors such as the chondrosarcoma.

Bactericidal effect of lactoferrin on Legionella pneumophila.

Abstract: Lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found in mucosal secretions and in specific granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, has been shown to be bactericidal for a variety of organisms. In this study, the effect of lactoferrin on Legionella pneumophila was investigated. Purified human apolactoferrin was bactericidal for the Knoxville 1 strain (serogroup 1), with a 4-log decrease in viability within 2 h at 37 degrees C. Killing was dependent on the iron-free state since iron-saturated lactoferrin had no activity. Guinea pig passage of this strain did not affect its sensitivity to lactoferrin. Treatment of the cells with dilutions of the lactoferrin resulted in correspondingly reduced killing. Activity was temperature dependent; there was no loss of viability at 1 or 22 degrees C and slightly enhanced killing at 41 degrees C. Addition of Mg2+ blocked bactericidal activity. In addition, mature human milk, a lactoferrin-containing mucosal secretion, was also bactericidal for L. pneumophila. As demonstrated with the purified lactoferrin, bactericidal activity was lost when the milk was iron saturated.

Factors influencing the stability of the tetragonal form of zirconia

Abstract: The p-italicH of the solution that zirconia is precipitated from defines the crystal phase formed after calcination of the material at 400 /sup 0/ to 600 /sup 0/C. A metastable tetragonal form is obtained for either low (less than about 5) or high (greater than about 13) p-italicH. The tetragonal phase formed at high p-italicH is much more stable at the calcination temperature than the material obtained at a low p-italicH is. For a material obtained by precipitation at a low p-italicH, monoclinic crystallites, determined by x-ray line broadening, were obtained that were smaller than the tetragonal crystals that produced them. A crystallite size effect, based on x-ray line broadening, is not responsible for the formation or stabilization of the tetragonal phase.

Reliability of the psychophysical approach to manual lifting of liquids by females.

Abstract: The psychophysical method for setting lifting standards was evaluated by having seven, female college students lift at four diiferent frequencies (1, 3, 6 and 12 lifts min−1). Only one lifting session was performed in a 24 hour period. During the 4 hour lifting task, subjects were asked to select the amount of water that they believed they could lift comfortably for 8 hours. Subjects were encouraged to make as many weight changes as they needed. Each time the weight was changed the carton was weighed and the time was recorded. At 15 min intervals, subjects were asked about their degree of confidence (DOC) that the current weight was the maximum acceptable one for an 8 hour shift. Oxygen consumption was measured at 30,120 and 240 min of the task. The weights chosen by the subjects at 30 min did not differ significantly from the 4 hour values for frequencies of 1, 3 and 6 lifts min−1. However, at 12 lifts min−1 the weight decreased with time such that the 4 hour value was 23% lower than the weight chosen af...

Research Guide to Applications of Fuzzy Set Theory in Human Factors

Abstract: The paper presents the literature related to application of fuzzy set theory to Human Factors and has 784 research papers listed in the bibliography which is given at the end. As in any other collection this literature list has a subjective viewpoint and may be in some sense incomplete. Analysis of these data provides interesting insights regarding the characteristics of articles of the applications of fuzzy set theory, literature trends and the future. This paper consists of two parts. In Part I, the methodology used to gather the information, language, citation, and descriptor analysis, and conclusions are described. Part II is the main bibliography.

Evaluation of size in prognosis of oral cancer

Abstract: Greatest surface diameter of a cancer, together with suspicion of regional node metastasis, forms the basis for prognosis through the clinical TNM staging system for many cancers. In oral cancer, however, surface size sometimes fails to correlate, or sometimes inversely correlates, with tumor aggressiveness. To shed light on the value of measuring size per se, 155 consecutive oral squamous cancers, treated by surgery, radiation, or a combination, were analyzed to find the degree of correlation between greatest surface measurement and pathologic nodal spread and control of cancer. In tumors less than 2 cm, size correlated with very few nodal metastases and with good prognoses; in tumors greater than 2 cm, increasing size did not show a corresponding increase in pathologic node metastasis or significantly worsening outcomes except for a few very large cancers invading adjacent structures. In conclusion, greatest surface diameter of an oral cancer, when greater than 2 cm, is an unreliable predictor of tumor behavior per se. A small pilot study suggests that tumor thickness may be a better predictor. A formal study of this is planned.

Biochemical and behavioral correlates of chronic stress: effects of tricyclic antidepressants.

Abstract: Using a chronic stress model of depression, the biochemical, hormonal, and neurochemical effects of chronic stress were determined in male CD-1 mice. The effects of chronic administration of three tricyclic antidepressants (TCA): chlorimipramine, amitriptyline and desmethylimipramine, as well as fluoxetine, a specific serotonin uptake inhibitor, were also evaluated. Exposure to acute noise/light stress dramatically increased motor activity (behavioral activation) in comparison with basal (unstressed) activity. However, animals with a history of chronic stress exhibited reduced basal activity levels as well as a decreased behavioral activation response to acute stress. There was also exaggerated corticosterone (CS) responding in both of these behavioral test situations attributable to prior chronic stress exposure. Chronic treatment with any of the TCAs significantly restored the behavioral activation response to acute stress and normalized CS responding in chronically stressed animals. Chronic fluoxetine treatment was ineffective. In chronically stressed, but behaviorally untested (quiescent) mice, there were no changes in CS levels, but norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were increased. However, chronically stressed mice tested for basal motor activity showed large NE decreases, while those receiving acute stress exposure prior to testing showed large NE decreases and further 5-HIAA increases. There were no alterations on neurochemical parameters due to any drug treatment which could be correlated with a possible mechanism for their efficacy, although evidence suggested NE involvement. It was further proposed that the chronic stress paradigm induced conditioned neuroendocrine and neurochemical responses.

Palliation of advanced pelvic malignant disease with large fraction pelvic radiation and misonidazole: final report of RTOG phase I/II study.

Abstract: Between October 1979 and June 1982 forty-six patients were entered on a non-randomized Phase I-II protocol for the evaluation of Misonidazole combined with high dose per fraction radiation for the treatment of advanced pelvic malignancies. Pelvic radiation consisted of 1000 cGy in one fraction repeated at 4-week intervals for a total of three treatments. Oral Misonidazole at a dose of 4 gm/m2 was administered 4-6 hr prior to radiation (total dose 12 g/m2). The distribution of histology consisted of 20 gynecologic, 24 bowel, and 2 prostate malignancies. Of the thirty-seven patients completing the three treatments; there were 6 complete responses (14% CR), 10 partial responses (27% PR) 19 minimal or no response (32% NR), and 4 unevaluable. One patient remains NED 5.5 years following radiation. Toxicity directly related to Misonidazole was minimal and consisted primarily of transcient Grade 1, 2 peripheral neuropathy (20% Grade 1, 4% Grade 2) and Grade 2 ototoxicity (4%). Radiation toxicity was significant for late bowel damage. There were 4 (11%) Grade 3 and 7 (19%) Grade 4 gastro-intestinal (GI) toxicities. Kaplan-Meier plot of GI toxicity showed a progressive increase in incidence with time for projected rate of 49% Grade 3, 4 by 12-month. GI toxicity (Grade 3, 4) was also related to tumor response. The complication rate was 80% (4/6) for CR, 30% (3/10) for PR and 26% (5/19) for NR or progression. Because of the GI complication rate, this protocol for palliation of advanced pelvic malignancies has been replaced by a protocol that uses 4 fractions over 2 days (b.i.d.) of 370 cGy per fraction repeated at 3-week intervals for a total of 3 courses.

Sampling and Interpretation of Algal Patterns for Water Quality Assessments

Abstract: Algal studies are valuable in water quality assessment because of their importance in aquatic ecosystems and sensitivity to changes in habitat conditions. Recent advances in algal ecology and sample analysis enable the designing of research that more directly reveals patterns of algal community structure and function that are pertinent to different kinds of environmental perturbations. In addition, advances in quantitative algal ecology enable more accurate interpretation of the importance of environmental perturbations on algal community structure and function. This paper incorporates recent advances in algal ecology into suggestions on how to design algal research for water quality assessment and methods for sample analysis, presents statistical techniques which can be useful for analyzing results, and reviews interpretations of the results.

Binding of 125I-epidermal growth factor in human uterus

Abstract: Quantitative light-microscopic autoradiography was used on five human uteri at two different phases of the menstrual cycle to ascertain the cell types with binding sites for epidermal growth factor (EGF). The results revealed that stromal cells, glandular epithelium of endometrium, elongated and circular muscle cells of myometrium, smooth muscle and endothelial cells of arterioles in the basal endometrium and myometrium contained numerous silver grains following incubation with 125I-EGF. Coincubation with 100-fold excess unlabeled EGF resulted in a complete disappearance of silver grains from all cell types. Quantitative grain analysis indicated that stromal cells contained the highest number of EGF-binding sites (P 0.05). There was no cyclic variation of EGF-binding to any of the uterine cell types. The present data demonstrate that all the cell types of human uterus, including arterioles, contain EGF-binding sites. This suggests that all the cells in human uterus subserving different functions are targets of EGF action.

Fuzzy concepts in production management research: a review

Abstract: SUMMARY The use of fuzzy methodologies is an efficient way of accounting for vagueness in human judgment. This paper illustrates potential applications of fuzzy methodologies to various areas of production management including new product development, facilities planning, human production management, production scheduling and inventory control, quality and industrial process control, and cost/benefit analysis. In addition, important areas for new research are discussed.

Alcohol use and abuse in college students. II. Social/environmental correlates, methodological issues, and implications for intervention.

Abstract: This review of alcohol use and abuse in college students presents a summary of the relationships between college student alcohol use and social/environment characteristics. A theoretical integration of the findings of this review with those of Part I of this series supports the prior paper's finding of two patterns of college drinking. This review further suggests that the two types may have differential predictive ability with regard to future problem drinking. Methodological issues in this type of research are reviewed and implications for intervention are considered.

Altered cardiac tissue gene expression during acute hypoxic exposure.

Abstract: Anoxia has been shown to induce the expression of one or more ‘stress proteins’ in mammalian cells and tissues. A less severe form of oxygen depletion, hypoxic hypoxia, occurs in response to hypobaric decompression which simulates high altitude conditions. Under these conditions mouse hearts accumulate mRNAs for at least two polypeptides at substantially elevated levels. The molecular weights of these proteins, 85 kDa and 95 kDa, are similar to those reported for other mammalian stress proteins or glucose-regulated proteins. Time course experiments suggest that mRNAs for these species increase continuously for up to 16 hours of treatment, while mRNA for 71 kDa and 79 kDa polypeptides are elevated early in the treatment, but later decrease to control values. Total heart mRNA template activity is also increased by the hypobaric treatment. These results demonstrate that mouse cardiac tissue is capable of mounting a cellular stress-like response when exposed to moderately stressful conditions. It also provides a model for studying the direct effects of acute hypoxic stress on cellular gene expression, and its relationship to physiological adaptation.

Changes in brain catecholamine mechanisms following perinatal exposure to marihuana.

Abstract: Adult female rats received daily oral doses of a crude marihuana extract (CME; equivalent to 20 mg/kg Δ9-THC) throughtout gestation and lactation. The offspring were sacrified at 10, 20, 40 or 60 days postpartum and tissue samples of cerebral cortex and striatum were dissected and assayed for α1-adrenergic and D2-dopaminergic receptors, respectively, and tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The body weight at birth and 10 days of age was reduced as was brain weight at 10 and 60 days of age in offspring exposed to CME. Perinatal exposure to CME reduced in the cerebral cortex was not altered at any age. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was significantly decreased in the striatum of 20 and 40-day-old offspring exposed to CME. The results indicate that chronic perinatal exposure to CME can selectively alter the development of specific catecholamine mechanisms in rat brain.