Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Ceftazidime On Systemic Cytokine Concentrations In Rats, Khalid M. Alkharfy, John A. Kellum, Reginald F. Frye, Gary R. Matzke

Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science Publications

The effect of a single dose of ceftazidime on circulating concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in a rat model of sepsis was studied. IL-6 concentrations were significantly elevated (100 to 200 times the baseline) 6 h after ceftazidime administration in both septic and nonseptic (control) rats. TNF-α concentrations increased significantly in nonseptic (∼40 times the baseline) rats but not septic (∼2 to 3 times the baseline) rats. Ceftazidime administration was not associated with an increase in endotoxin concentrations. These findings suggest that ceftazidime modulation of proinflammatory cytokine concentrations may be independent of its antimicrobial properties.

The Phantom Burster Model For Pancreatic Β-Cells, Richard Bertram, Joseph Previte, Arthur Sherman, Tracie A. Kinard, Leslie S. Satin

Pharmacology and Toxicology Publications

Abstract

Pancreatic β-cells exhibit bursting oscillations with a wide range of periods. Whereas periods in isolated cells are generally either a few seconds or a few minutes, in intact islets of Langerhans they are intermediate (10–60 s). We develop a mathematical model for β-cell electrical activity capable of generating this wide range of bursting oscillations. Unlike previous models, bursting is driven by the interaction of two slow processes, one with a relatively small time constant (1–5 s) and the other with a much larger time constant (1–2 min). Bursting on the intermediate time scale is generated without need …

Determinants Of Ceftazidime Clearance By Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration And Continuous Venovenous Hemodialysis, Gary R. Matzke, Reginald F. Frye, Melanie S. Joy, Paul M. Palevsky

Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science Publications

Although several dosage adjustment regimens have been proposed, there is little quantitative information to guide the initiation of ceftazidime therapy in patients who are receiving continuous renal replacement therapy. To determine the clearance of ceftazidime by continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) and continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD), we performed controlled clearance studies with stable hemodialysis patients with three hemofilters: a 0.6-m2 acrylonitrile copolymer (AN69; Hospal) filter, a 2.1-m2 polymethylmethacrylate filter (PMMA; Toray) filter and a 0.65-m2 polysulfone (PS; Fresenius) filter. Subjects received 1,000 mg of ceftazidime intravenously prior to the start of a clearance study. The concentration of ceftazidime in multiple plasma …

Peginterferon Alfa-2a In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C And Cirrhosis, E. Jenny Heathcote, Mitchell L. Shiffman, W. Graham E. Cooksley, Geoffrey M. Dusheiko, Samuel S. Lee, Luis Balart, Robert Reindollar, Rajender K. Reddy, Teresa L. Wright, Amy Lin, Joseph Hoffman, Jean De Pamphilis

VCU Health Publications

Background

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with cirrhosis is difficult to treat. In patients with chronic hepatitis C but without cirrhosis, once-weekly administration of interferon modified by the attachment of a 40-kd branched-chain polyethylene glycol moiety (peginterferon alfa-2a) is more efficacious than a regimen of unmodified interferon. We examined the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis or bridging fibrosis.

Methods

We randomly assigned 271 patients with cirrhosis or bridging fibrosis to receive subcutaneous treatment with 3 million units of interferon alfa-2a three times weekly (88 patients), 90 µg of peginterferon alfa-2a once …

Adult Daycare: Sharing The Caring, Having A Life, Lory Phillippo Osorio

Case Studies from Age in Action

Objectives

1. Demonstrate the role of adult daycare in community-based services for older adults.

2. Illustrate the diversity of services provided in adult daycare/day health care centers in Virginia.

3. Encourage public policy and funding to expand quality adult daycare in the Commonwealth.

The Aging Woman And Hiv/Aids: Increasing Risk And Incidence, Loretta Brush Normile

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Discuss the increasing incidence of HIV in the aging population.

2. Describe the ways HIV affects the aging person.

3. Identify implications for HIV education and risk assessment of the older population.

Pace: Program Of All-Inclusive Care Of The Elderly, A. Leigh Peyton, Wendy Boggs, Bill Miller, Nancy Allan

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. To describe the origin of PACE.

2. To identify essential services provided by the PACE model.

Aging With Cerebral Palsy: A Consumer’S Perspective, Bryan K. Lacy

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. To illustrate the necessity of an holistic approach to addressing the changing health care needs of adults with Cerebral Palsy.

2. To show the necessity of dealing honestly and creatively with the intimacy/sexuality concerns of older adults with Cerebral Palsy.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 1, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 3, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 2, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Outcomes Of Pregnancy In Women With Cystic Fibrosis, Bethany Jean Geldmaker

Theses and Dissertations

Medical advances in disease management has improved quality of life for women with cystic fibrosis (CF) and now enables them to consider pregnancy. The purpose of the study was to examine women's perceptions of how the demands of having CF influenced their ability to care for their children and continue to meet their own health needs. The study design was grounded theory methodology with a complementarity research technique to incorporate qualitative and quantitative data collection. Participants were 12 women recruited over the Internet and through an adult CF newsletter who completed questionnaires for demands of illness (DOlI) and self care …

Kinetics And Mechanisms Of Macromolecular Disposition In The Rat Lung, Masahiro Sakagami

Theses and Dissertations

The kinetics and mechanisms of macromclecular absorption from the airways of the rat lung were studied in vivo and in vitro, following identical solute administration methods. The isolated perfused rat lung (IPRL) was used as an in vitro model, and the disposition of 7.4 and 4.3 kDa fluorophore-labeled polyhydroxyethylaspartamide (F-PHEA) and other small and macromolecular reference solutes was investigated across doses and in the presence of a variety of biochemical inhibitors.

Absorption profiles of F-PHEA, and the solute's lung distribution at different times after administration, were statistically identical in vivo and in vitro, showing that the IPRL possessed a viable …

Excisional Wound Healing And The Role Of Homeobox Genes, David Allen Lanning

Theses and Dissertations

The biochemical and physiologic mechanisms responsible for excisional wound contraction have been extensively studied but are not completely understood. Furthermore, the genes that regulate these processes are unknown. As a result, there are limited treatment options available for patients with diseases or conditions characterized by abnormal tissue contraction. In an attempt to improve our understanding of these mechanisms and identify some of the putative regulatory genes, we studied excisional wound healing in the mid-gestational fetal rabbit. These wounds normally do not contract nor are they associated with inflammation, fibrosis, or scar formation. However, we have been able to induce contraction, …

Study Of P53 Gain Of Function Mutations In P53-Null Astrocytes, Sang H. Choi

Theses and Dissertations

A number of recent studies suggest that expression of mutant p53 with mutations in certain codons show a gain of function and some of the characteristics of an oncoprotein. In order to study gain of function mutation and eliminate the potential of a dominant negative interaction with endogenous wild type p53 protein, p53 knockout mouse astrocytes were used. A retrovirus system was used to introduce mutant p53 genes into these p53-null astrocytes. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot experiments showed the expression of mutant p53 protein in these cells after infection with the mutant p53 retroviruses. Cell growth experiment did not …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 4, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

The Determinants Of Post-Discharge Healthcare Utilization And Outcomes For Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Social Ecological Perspective, Shyuemeng Luu

Theses and Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a persistent nature: PTSD troubles patients

even decades after the occurrence of traumatic events. The “health behavioral model” is

adopted to examine the effects of external environmental, predisposing, enabling, and

need for care factors on the use of VA post-discharge ambulatory care and readmissions.

Data were obtained from the Patient Treatment File (PTF) and the Outpatient Care File

(OPT), the Area Resource File (ARF), American Hospital Association data sets (AHA), and the Uniform Crime Report (UCR).

The use of VA post-discharge ambulatory care is analyzed by using structural equation modeling (SEM). The readmission to VAMCs …