Parenthood and Medical Training: Challenges and Experiences of Physician Moms in the US

Phenomenon: Balancing the demands of medical training and parenthood is challenging. We explored perceptions of programmatic support, parental leave, breastfeeding, and self-reported biggest challenges among a large cohort of physician mothers in a variety of medical specialties and across the stage of training when they had their first child. Our goal was to inform strategies to help improve the physician parent experience. Approach: This cross-sectional, observational survey study was performed using a convenience sample from an online physician-mom support group from January to February 2018. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used to report results and examine relationships between career stage at first child and outcome variables. Responses to the open-ended question, "What is your biggest challenge as a physician mom?" were qualitatively analyzed. Findings: The survey received 896 complete responses. The most common specialties were obstetrics and gynecology (25.3%), pediatrics (19.9%), internal medicine or medicine/pediatrics (17.1%), and family medicine (10.2%). The majority of participants (63.9%) had their first child during medical training, including medical school (14.3%), residency (35.8%) or fellowship (13.6%). Medical students were less likely to perceive programmatic support than residents or fellows (44.1% vs. 63.1% vs. 62.3%, respectively), and only 19.9% of participants who became parents during medical training reported having a clear and adequate parental leave policy. Nearly 70% of participants breastfed for six months or more, with no statistical differences across career stage. Most participants (57.6%) delayed child-bearing for one or more reasons, with 32.3% delaying to complete training. The most common codes applied to responses for 'biggest challenges as a physician mom' were insufficient time, lack of work-life balance, missing out, and over-expectation. Insights: Physician mothers, particularly those who had their first child during training, continue to struggle with support from training programs, finding work-life balance, and feelings of inadequacy. Interventions such as clear and adequate leave policies, program-sponsored or onsite childcare and improved programmatic support of breastfeeding and pumping may help to ameliorate the challenges described by our participants.

Patient and Surgery Characteristics of Inpatient Hysterectomies Among Transgender Individuals

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to estimate population-based rates of inpatient hysterectomy and accompanying bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy by indication and evaluate surgical patient characteristics by indication, year, patient age, and hospital location. Methods: We used 2016 and 2017 cross-sectional data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to estimate the hysterectomy rate for individuals aged 18-54 years with a primary indication for gender-affirming care (GAC) compared to other indications. Outcome measures were population-based rates for inpatient hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy by indication. Results: The population-based rate of inpatient hysterectomy for GAC per 100,000 was 0.05 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02-0.09) in 2016 and 0.09 (95% CI = 0.03-0.15) in 2017. For comparison, the rates per 100,000 for fibroids were 85.76 in 2016 and 73.25 in 2017. Rates of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in the setting of hysterectomy were higher in the GAC group (86.4%) than in comparison groups (22.7%-44.1% for all other benign indications, 77.4% for cancer) across all age ranges. A higher rate of hysterectomies performed for GAC was done laparoscopically or robotically (63.6%) than other indications, and none was done vaginally, as opposed to comparison groups (0.7%-9.8%). Conclusion: The population-based rate for GAC was higher in 2017 compared to 2016 and low compared to other hysterectomy indications. Rates of concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were more prevalent for GAC than for other indications at similar ages. The patients in the GAC group tended to be younger, insured, and most procedures occurred in the Northeast (45.5%) and West (36.4%).

Closed-Incision Negative-Pressure Therapy in Obese Patients Undergoing Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background  Postcesarean wound morbidity is a costly complication of cesarean delivery for which preventative strategies remain understudied. Objective  We compared surgical site occurrences (SSOs) in cesarean patients receiving closed-incision negative-pressure therapy (ciNPT) or standard-of-care (SOC) dressing. Study Design  A single-center randomized controlled trial compared ciNPT (5-7 days) to SOC dressing (1-2 days) in obese women (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35), undergoing cesarean delivery between 2012 and 2014. Participants were randomized 1:1 and monitored 42 ± 10 days postoperatively. The primary outcome SSOs included unanticipated local inflammation, wound infection, seroma, hematoma, dehiscence, and need for surgical or antibiotic intervention. Results  Of the 92 randomized patients, 82 completed the study. ciNPT and SOC groups had similar baseline characteristics. Mean BMI was 46.5 ± 6.5 and no treatment-related serious adverse events. Compared with SOC, the ciNPT group had fewer SSOs (7/43 [16.3%] vs. 2/39 [5.1%], respectively; p  = 0.16); significantly fewer participants with less incisional pain both at rest (39/46 [84.8%] vs. 20/46 [43.5%]; p  < 0.001) and with incisional pressure (42/46 [91.3%] vs. 25/46 [54.3%]; p  < 0.001); and a 30% decrease in total opioid use (79.1 vs. 55.9 mg morphine equivalents, p  = 0.036). Conclusion  A trend in SSO reduction and a statistically significant reduction in postoperative pain and narcotic use was observed in women using ciNPT.

Asymmetric orbital-lattice interactions in ultrathin correlated oxide films

Using resonant x-ray spectroscopies combined with density functional calculations, we find an asymmetric biaxial strain-induced d-orbital response in ultrathin films of the correlated metal LaNiO3 which are not accessible in the bulk. The sign of the misfit strain governs the stability of an octahedral "breathing" distortion, which, in turn, produces an emergent charge-ordered ground state with an altered ligand-hole density and bond covalency. Control of this new mechanism opens a pathway to rational orbital engineering, providing a platform for artificially designed Mott materials.

High cognitive functioning and behavioral phenotype in Pallister-Killian syndrome

Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) is a rare syndrome of multiple congenital anomalies attributable to the presence of a mosaic supernumerary isochromosome 12p. The syndrome presents with a recognizable pattern of findings including: pigmentary skin changes, characteristic facial features (sparse anterior scalp hair, flattened midface, macrostomia, and coarsening of the facial features), and developmental delay. The developmental phenotype of PKS is quite variable, but most are considered to fall into the profound range of developmental retardation. We report on an individual with classical features of PKS with development significantly better than that reported in the literature. Developmental and behavioral testing in this individual alters the range of developmental expectation in PKS, and highlights the need for consideration of chromosomal analysis in individuals with normal or near-normal intelligence if other physical phenotypic features of PKS are present.

Blood lymphocyte chimerism associated with IVF and monochorionic dizygous twinning: Case report

We report on dizygotic (DZ) twins, conceived by IVF and ICSI with assisted hatching, who each had a mixture of 46,XX and 46,XY cells in blood lymphocytes. The female twin had mild genitalia abnormalities but further study revealed anatomically normal reproductive anatomy. Chromosome and fluorescence in situ hybridization studies of buccal, skin and ovarian tissue were normal, as were buccal tissue DNA studies. Fetal ultrasound and fetal membrane pathology were consistent with a monochorionic, diamniotic placenta (MCDAP). These twins thus have blood chimerism but are not chimeric in the other tissues studied. The mechanism for the chimerism could be due to either placental vascular anastamoses (after the development of the haematoblast stem cells) or due to an admixture of trophoblast cells during early blastocyst development. Such trophoblast cell admixtures would be restricted to the extraembryonic tissues so that general physical development in the fetus is normal and without somatic cell chimerism. This case in combination with others previously reported suggests that in IVF conceptions, the prevalence of blood chimerism associated with twinning, and the occurrence of DZ twinning associated with MCDAP, may be higher than previously thought.

A family with a grand-maternally derived interstitial duplication of proximal 15q

About 1% of individuals with autism or types of pervasive developmental disorder have a duplication of the 15q11-q13 region. These abnormalities can be detected by routine G-banded chromosome study, showing an extra marker chromosome, or demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, revealing an interstitial duplication. We report here the molecular, cytogenetic, clinical and neuropsychiatric evaluations of a family in whom 3 of 4 siblings inherited an interstitial duplication of 15q11-q13. This duplication was inherited from their mother who also had a maternally derived duplication. Affected family members had apraxia of speech, phonological awareness deficits, developmental language disorder, dyslexia, as well as limb apraxia but did not have any dysmorphic clinical features. The observations in this family suggest that the phenotypic manifestations of proximal 15q duplications may also involve language-based learning disabilities.

A non-sex chromosome marker in a patient with an atypical Ullrich-Turner phenotype and mosaicism of 46,X,mar/46,XX

The absence of a sex chromosome in conjunction with the presence of a marker chromosome generally implicates a sex chromosome origin for such marker chromosomes. These types of findings are frequently associated with Ullrich-Turner syndrome. We report a patient that presented with an atypical Ullrich-Turner phenotype and a cytogenetic mosaicism of 46,X,mar/46,XX. The marker chromosome was derived from chromosome 20, not from the X or Y chromosome. The patient's clinical features are described and discussed relative to the cytogenetic findings. This case further demonstrates the necessity of marker chromosome identification for accurate phenotype-karyotype correlation.

Culture of cytogenetically abnormal schwann cells from benign and malignant NF1 tumors

Dermal and plexiform neurofibromas are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors that arise in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). NF1 patients also have an increased risk of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), thought to arise in a subset of plexiform neurofibromas. Plexiform neurofibroma pathogenesis is poorly understood, despite the serious clinical problem posed by these tumors. The Schwann cell is hypothesized to be the cell type initially mutated and clonally expanded in plexiform neurofibromas. To test this hypothesis and search for genetic alterations involved in tumorigenesis, we established Schwann cell cultures from plexiform and dermal neurofibromas. Cytogenetic abnormalities were identified in 4/6 plexiform cultures (including one from a plexiform with a sarcomatous component) and 0/7 dermal neurofibroma Schwann cell cultures. There were no consistent chromosomal regions involved in the abnormal karyotypes, suggesting that plexiform tumors are heterogeneous and may bear a variety of primary and/or secondary genetic changes. This is the first study to show successful culturing of genetically abnormal Schwann cell lineages from plexiform neurofibromas. Thus, we present the strongest evidence yet to support the theory that the Schwann cell is the central component in the development of plexiform neurofibromas. This is a key finding for NF1 research, which will lead to further studies of the genetic and biochemical pathogenesis of these Schwann cell tumors. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 27:117-123, 2000.

Prevalence of 22q11 region deletions in patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect are all associated with hemizygosity of 22q11. While the prevalence of the deletions in these phenotypes has been studied, the frequency of deletions in patients presenting with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is unknown. We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization for locus D22S75 within the 22q11 region on 23 patients with VPI (age range 5-42 years) followed in the Craniofacial Clinic at the University of Florida. The VPI occurred either as a condition of unknown cause (n=16) or as a condition remaining following primary cleft palate surgery (n=7). Six of sixteen patients with VPI of unknown cause and one of seven with VPI following surgery had a deletion in the region. This study documents a high frequency of 22q11 deletions in those presenting with VPI unrelated to overt cleft palate surgery and suggests that deletion testing should be considered in patients with VPI.

Tumorigenicity of green turtle fibropapilloma-derived fibroblast lines in immunodeficient mice

Fibroblast lines derived from normal skin and spontaneous or experimentally induced fibropapillomas of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were established and propagated in medium composed of a combination of Dulbecco's minimal essential with F12 medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum at 30 degrees C. Fibropapilloma-derived fibroblasts were indistinguishable from normal skin fibroblasts in vitro. Tumor lines did not exhibit loss of contact inhibition, anchorage independence, or reduced serum requirements. Inoculation of primary and early-passage tumor cells into the medial margin of the pinna of C57BL/6J-nu/nu, C.B17-scid/scid, or NOD-scid/scid mice, however, resulted in fibroma formation, whereas inoculation of normal skin fibroblasts did not. Tumor-derived cells inoculated into the flanks of mice did not form tumors. The turtle origin of fibroblasts in tumors from mouse ears was confirmed by immunohistochemical and karyotype analysis. Fibroblast lines that were established from mouse ear fibromas had the normal karyotype (modal 2N = 55) of C. mydas. The cooler anatomic sites (ears) of immunodeficient mice are useful for confirming the tumorigenic (transformed) phenotype of green turtle fibropapillomatosis-derived fibroblasts. This mouse ear tumorigenicity test should facilitate studies of mechanisms of cellular transformation in green turtle fibropapillomatosis and other neoplastic diseases of poikilothermic vertebrates.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization assessment of the telomeric regions of jumping translocations in a case of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

We report a jumping translocation involving a donor chromosome 1 long arm in a case of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Conventional cytogenetic banding studies demonstrated a breakpoint distal to the heterochromatic region of the donor 1q chromosome. Characterization by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of the jumping translocation demonstrated an apparent telomeric sequence loss of the recipient chromosomes. Additional cytogenetic aberrations, including the t(18;22) translocation associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, were also observed in this case. Cytogenetically similar cases of jumping translocations reported in the literature have implicated a preferential involvement of the donor chromosomes' heterochromatic regions and the telomeric regions of the recipient chromosomes. Jumping translocations are still considered rare and their appearance is associated with a poor prognosis. The presence of these specific findings for this case are discussed and compared with those previously reported in other hematologic disorders.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in velo-cardio-facial syndrome: coincidence or unusual complication?

We report on two patients with velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). The first, a 9-year-old girl, presented with microcephaly, characteristic face, congenital heart disease, and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) study showed deletion of D22S75 (N25), confirming the diagnosis of VCFS. At age 7, she developed joint pain, and polyarticular JRA was diagnosed. Awareness of this case led to the subsequent diagnosis of VCFS (also confirmed by FISH) in another, unrelated 12-year-old girl with characteristic face, hypernasal speech, and obesity. JRA was first diagnosed in this case at age 5 years, and she subsequently developed severe polyarticular disease. Neither patient had clinical or laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency. This observation represents the first report of the association of JRA with VCFS and raises the question of whether this is a coincidental association or a rare complication of this condition.

Identification of a yeast artificial chromosome clone spanning a translocation breakpoint at 7q32.1 in a Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome patient

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a mental retardation/multiple congenital anomaly syndrome. The gene(s) involved has not been mapped or cloned, but, recently, a biochemical abnormality in cholesterol biosynthesis has been shown to occur in most SLOS patients. The defect is suspected to occur in the penultimate step of the cholesterol pathway, involving the enzyme 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, which has not been isolated. On the basis of the hypothesis that a de novo balanced translocation [t(7;20)(q32.1;q13.2)] in an SLOS patient directly interrupts the SLOS gene, positional cloning techniques are being employed to localize and identify the SLOS gene. We report the identification of a chromosome 7-specific YAC that spans the translocation breakpoint, as detected by FISH. This is the first study narrowing a candidate SLOS region and placing it on physical and genetic maps of the human genome.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome in a female with a de novo, balanced translocation involving 7q32: probable disruption of an SLOS gene

A 3-month-old infant girl had manifestations of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) including typical positional anomalies of the limbs, apparent Hirschsprung disease, cataracts, ptosis, anteverted nares, cleft of the posterior palate, small tongue, broad maxillary alveolar ridges, and abnormally low serum cholesterol levels. Chromosomal analysis showed a de novo balanced translocation interpreted as 46,XX,t(7;20)(q32.1;q13.2). We hypothesize that the translocation breakpoint in this case interrupts one SLOS allele and that the other allele at the same locus has a more subtle mutation that was inherited from the other parent. This case, as well as cytogenetic observations in other SLOS cases, suggests that SLOS could be due to autosomal recessive mutation at a gene in 7q32.

Clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular evidence for an infant with Smith-Magenis syndrome born from a mother having a mosaic 17p11.2p12 deletion

We describe an infant with del(17) (p11.2p12) whose deleted chromosome was inherited from a mosaic mother. The child had manifestations consistent with Smith-Magenis syndrome. The mother appeared to be of normal intelligence and she had minimal findings of Smith-Magenis syndrome. Separation of chromosome 17 homologues in somatic cell hybrids and molecular studies confirmed the cytogenetic diagnoses and the fact that the mother was mosaic. Furthermore, molecular analysis demonstrated novel breakpoints in this family, with the deletion extending into and completely encompassing the markers duplicated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Although this Smith-Magenis syndrome patient is completely deleted for the CMT region, her electrophysiological findings are different from those found in CMT. This is the only reported case of Smith-Magenis syndrome with transmission from a partially affected mosaic mother. Transmission of interstitial deletions from mosaic parents may be more common than thought; therefore, parental chromosomes should be examined when interstitial deletions are identified.

Preaxial acrofacial dysostosis (Nager syndrome) associated with an inherited and apparently balanced X;9 translocation: prenatal and postnatal late replication studies

We report on an infant with preaxial acrofacial dysostosis (Nager syndrome) who was diagnosed prenatally as having an apparently balanced X/autosome translocation [46,X,t(X;9)(p22.1;q32)mat] inherited from a previously diagnosed mosaic translocation carrier mother [46,XX/46,X,t(X;9)(p22.1;q32)]. Replication studies on amniocytes showed the normal X chromosome to be late replicating while the same studies repeated on the infant's lymphocytes showed the translocated X chromosome to be late replicating in most cells. Late replication studies of the mother's lymphocytes demonstrated that the normal X chromosome was late replicating in most cells. The presence of Nager syndrome in this infant may be the result of critical breakpoints and/or position effects on chromosome 9, inducing expression of a gene responsible for the syndrome.

Cytogenetic and molecular analysis in Angelman syndrome

We report on cytogenetic and molecular analyses of 29 Angelman syndrome (AS) individuals ascertained in 1990 through the first National Angelman Syndrome Conference. High resolution GTG- and GBG-banded chromosomes were studied. Standard molecular analysis with six 15q11q13 DNA sequences was used to analyze copy number and parental origin of 15q11q13. Concordance between molecular and cytogenetic data was excellent. The combined data showed that 23 of the 27 probands (85%) on whom we had definitive results have deletions of the chromosome 15q11q13 region. Two classes of deletion were detected molecularly: most patients were deleted for the 5 more proximal probes, but in 2 cases the deletion extended distally to include in sixth probe. In the 13 cases where the parental origin of the deleted chromosome 15 could be established, it was maternal. There were no cases of uniparental disomy. Cytological observations of the relative sizes of the heterochromatic regions of the short arm of chromosome 15 suggested that chromosomes with large heterochromatic blocks may be more prone to de novo deletion.

Interpretation of the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference in patients with hypercapnia

According to conventional wisdom the difference between alveolar and arterial O2 tensions, the AaPO2, should distinguish between hypoxemia caused by alveolar hypoventilation and hypoxemia caused by alveolar hypoventilation complicated by other abnormalities of gas exchange. To test this concept we have calculated the AaPO2 from arterial blood gas measurements, breathing air, in 23 patients with hypercapnia, hypoxemia, and advanced obstructive lung disease (mean FEV1 = 0.88 L). We found that AaPO2 varied inversely with PaCO2 (r = -0.83, p less than 0.001). In five of these patients with the most severely elevated PaCO2 (range, 59 to 81 mm Hg) the AaPO2 was within normal limits. We also calculated the difference between the O2 contents of "ideal" pulmonary capillary blood and arterial blood and expressed this as the venous admixture (QVA/QT) based on an assumed arteriovenous content difference of 4.5 ml/dl. In contrast to the AaPO2, the QVA/QT, was abnormal in all patients (mean = 41 +/- 8%). We conclude that the AaPO2 may be an unreliable indicator of abnormal gas exchange in the presence of alveolar hypoventilation. This finding can be explained by substantial changes in the position of the alveolar and arterial points on the oxygen dissociation curve for hemoglobin in the presence of alveolar hypoxia secondary to hypoventilation.

Maternal origin of 15q11-13 deletions in Angelman syndrome suggests a role for genomic imprinting

Six persons with the classical Angelman syndrome (AS) phenotype and de novo deletions of chromosome 15q11-q13 were studied to determine the parental origin of the chromosome deletion. Four of the 6 patients had informative cytogenetic studies and all demonstrated maternal inheritance of the deletion. These findings, together with other reported cases of the origin of the chromosome 15 deletion in AS, suggest that deletion of the maternally contributed chromosome leads to the AS phenotype. This contrasts with the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) in which a similar deletion of the paternally contributed chromosome 15 is observed. In deletion cases, a parental gamete effect such as genomic imprinting may be the best model to explain why apparently identical 15q11-q13 deletions may develop the different phenotypes of AS or PWS.

Effect of opposite changes in cardiac output and arterial PO2 on the relationship between mixed venous PO2 and oxygen transport

We examined the relationship between changes in systemic oxygen transport (SO2T) and mixed venous PO2 (PvO2) in nine critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure and analyzed the effect of like and opposite changes in cardiac output (CO) and arterial PO2 (PaO2) on this relationship. Paired measurements of oxygen consumption (VO2), SO2T, and PvO2 were obtained before and after changes in the level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) equal to or more than 5 cm H2O. VO2 was measured with a rebreathing circuit adapted to a volume ventilator, and SO2T was calculated from thermodilution CO, PaO2, SaO2, and hemoglobin. In eight studies, CO and PaO2 changed in the same direction, and the absolute change in SO2T averaged 48 +/- 38 ml/min/m2. In 12 studies, CO and PaO2 changed in opposite directions, and the absolute change in SO2T averaged 78 +/- 69 ml/min/m2. When PaO2 and CO changed in the same direction, PvO2 increased on the higher level of SO2T (average difference 3.0 +/- 3.7 mm Hg, p less than 0.05) and there was a strong positive correlation between the difference in SO2T on lower and higher levels of PEEP and the difference in PvO2 (r = 0.83). When PaO2 and CO changed in opposite directions, PvO2 was unchanged on the higher level of SO2T, and there was no correlation between the difference in SO2T on lower and higher levels of PEEP and the difference in PvO2 (r = -0.45). VO2 was not different at the lower and higher levels of SO2T in both groups, indicating that VO2 was not transport-limited in these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Incidence of 15q deletions in the Angelman syndrome: a survey of twelve affected persons

Prometaphase chromosome study of 12 persons with an established diagnosis of the Angelman syndrome demonstrated that 5 had a 15q12 deletion appearing similar to that commonly observed in the Prader-Willi syndrome. Phenotype-karyotype correlation did not show any obvious clinical differences between those with and those without the deletion and no clinical overlap between Angelman and Prader-Willi syndrome was apparent. Our survey suggests that 15q12 deletions are frequent in Angelman syndrome but presence of the deletion does not appear to distinguish different clinical phenotypes. Experience with the cytogenetic study of Prader-Willi syndrome predicts that considerable complexity will emerge between the presence of 15 chromosome abnormalities and clinical expression of Angelman syndrome.

Lung water measurements with iodo-antipyrine

131I labeled iodo-antipyrine and 99mTc labeled erythrocytes were used to measure water content in lungs. These radioactive tracers were injected into 10 rabbits with normal lungs and 11 rabbits with injured lungs. Blood samples were drawn and the subjects were killed. The lungs were removed, weighed and homogenized. Samples of blood and lung homogenate were assayed for 131I and 99mTc. Samples were also weighed before and after drying to a constant weight at 70-75 degrees C. Extravascular lung water was determined by the dual isotope technique and again by gravimetric analysis. The average ratio of the results from the 2 different methods is 1.03 +/- 0.15. The 2 methods were compared by regression analysis and the correlation coefficient was 0.92 +/- 0.09. Our investigation suggests the possibility of measurement of lung water with equilibrium distribution of iodo-antipyrine.

Perfusion distribution and lung thermal volume in canine hydrochloric acid aspiration

We investigated the effects of a brief period of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation or nitroglycerin (NTG) infusion on the distribution of pulmonary blood flow and extravascular thermal volume (ETV) in anesthetized dogs with unilateral HCl lung injury. ETV was determined by the thermal dye technique by use of a monoexponential extrapolation to exclude recirculating indicator, and regional blood flow was determined by a particle distribution technique (radiolabeled plastic microspheres). The lungs were weighted after the animals were killed, and extravascular lung mass (ELM) was determined with the use of hemoglobin to correct for trapped lung blood. Measurements were obtained before instillation of HCl into the right lung and repeated 3 h later before, during, and after PEEP ventilation or NTG infusion. Fractional perfusion of the severely injured portion of the right lung (Qinj/QT) fell from 44.3 +/- 11.1% at base line to 27.8 +/- 15.4% after the onset of lung injury. PEEP produced an acute reversible increase in ETV (63 +/- 37% over average of pre- and post-PEEP values), and the changes in ETV were closely correlated with changes in Qinj/QT (r = 0.91). NTG infusion produced insignificant increases in ETV (14 +/- 10% over average of pre- and postinfusion values) and Qinj/QT (59 +/- 35%), but the changes in ETV and Qinj/QT were strongly correlated (r = 0.92). The fraction of extravascular lung mass detected by the thermodilution measurement averaged 0.44 (range 0.24-0.77).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gliosarcoma with chromosome abnormalities in a neonate exposed to heptachlor

A neonate with a cerebral gliosarcoma was found to have chromosome abnormalities in tissue culture of the tumor, but normal karyotyping of peripheral blood. Similarities to and differences from chromosome abnormalities found in other human gliomas are noted. Unusual exposure of the child to heptachlor during prenatal development and the neonatal period suggests the need for further studies on the role of toxins in oncogenesis.

Rapid cell culture procedure for tissue samples

Cell culture is an integral part of genetic studies, including cytogenetic, metabolic, and DNA analyses. Standard culture procedures used today involve plating minced tissue explants in dishes and waiting 3 to 4 weeks for adequate growth. We describe a method that utilizes collagenase digestion of tissue biopsies, enabling cell harvest as soon as 3 days after culture initiation; this has been used successfully in our laboratory for cytogenetic and metabolic studies. Culture duration can be controlled by the cell plating density. Although collagenase digestion of tissues is commonly used in cytogenetics laboratories for tumor or chorionic villous dissociation, we have found that few labs have considered using this rapid and efficient procedure for routine tissue samples.

Psychotherapy and black women: a survey

A survey of black and white psychiatrists on the subject of nonpsychotic black female patients in psychotherapy yielded 93 usable responses. Among the findings are a profile of the average black woman in psychotherapy, responses to questions on clinical and therapeutic issues, and the role of racism as reported by the psychiatrists.THE PROFILE OF THE AVERAGE BLACK WOMAN IN PSYCHOTHERAPY THAT EMERGED WAS: she is married, in a technical or semi-professional occupation, with some college experience, in the age range of 26 to 40 years, and most often diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The most frequent presenting problem is depression, with family problems second in frequency. Developing new coping mechanisms was the most difficult stage of the treatment process. Self-esteem was the most frequent unconscious conflict. Racial discrimination was most often incorportated as a symptom. The impact of racism on the treatment process most frequently occurred in the area of working through conflicts.

Relationship between CO and transit times for dye and thermal indicators in central circulation

We investigated two factors that may influence the estimation of lung water by the thermal-dye double-indicator-dilution method: 1) changes in cardiac output (CO), and 2) thermal equilibration with cardiac tissue. In theory, the difference between mean transit times of thermal and dye indicators (delta MTT) is proportional to the extravascular volume of distribution of the thermal indicator (VODev) and inversely related to CO. The delta MTT also includes a time element DT due to the difference in response times of the measuring instruments such that delta MTT = VODev/CO + DT. In nine anesthetized dogs we recorded 286 aortic thermal and dye curves following left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) injections as CO was increased from 2.35 to 6.65 ml X s-1 X kg-1 by isoproterenol infusion, and a regression of delta MTT on CO-1 was performed. DT was measured in vitro for comparison with the y-intercept. In six of nine dogs the slope of the regression for LA injections was not different from zero, indicating that there is no measurable volume of distribution for thermal indicator in cardiac tissue. For RA injections the relationship between delta MTT and CO-1 was linear in all experiments, with an average correlation coefficient of 0.97 +/- 0.01 (SE), indicating that the VODev was constant over a threefold increase in CO. Although the in vitro measurement of DT agreed closely with the average of the y-intercepts of the regressions, small between-subject differences in DT can lead to apparent flow-related changes in extravascular thermal volume computed in the conventional fashion using the in vitro estimate of DT.

Spontaneous expression of fra(11)(q23) in a patient with Ewing's sarcoma and t(11;22)(q23;q11)

Cytogenetic analysis of a Ewing's sarcoma revealed a 46,XX,t(8;18)(q11;q21.3), t(11;22)(q23-24;q11-12) chromosome pattern. Observation of t(11;22) is consistent with other reported cases of Ewing's sarcoma. One breakpoint in this translocation, 11q23, coincides with the location of a folate-sensitive fragile site. Examination of peripheral blood leukocyte chromosomes from the patient revealed a 46,XX chromosome pattern with spontaneous, fluorodeoxyuridine-, and Bactrim-induced expression of fra(11)(q23). This may be the first demonstration of constitutional fra(11)(q23) expression in a patient with a neoplasm that exhibits a chromosome rearrangement involving this breakpoint and the first observation of spontaneous expression of this fragile site. These results provide a basis for discussion of the relationship between fragile sites and chromosome rearrangements.

Problems in diagnosing schizophrenia and affective disorders among blacks

In this country schizophrenia has been consistently overdiagnosed and affective disorders underdiagnosed, particularly among blacks and lower socioeconomic groups. The general causes of such misdiagnoses include overreliance on the classic thought disorder symptoms as pathognomonic of schizophrenia and, for affective disorders, lack of clearly defined boundaries between normal and abnormal mood and failure to realize that patients with affective illness can manifest cognitive symptoms. In addition to the above factors, misdiagnosis among blacks results from such factors as cultural differences in language and mannerisms, difficulties in relating between black patients and white therapists, and the myth that blacks rarely suffer from affective disorders. Clinicians and researchers must pay more attention to the effects of cultural differences on diagnosis, and baseline behaviors and symptomatology for blacks must be established.

Effect of PEEP and type of injury on thermal-dye estimation of pulmonary edema

We investigated the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on the extravascular thermal volume of the lung (ETV) determined by the thermal-dye technique in three canine models of pulmonary edema created by injection of alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU) or oleic acid (OA) into the pulmonary circulation or intrabronchial instillation of hydrochloric acid (HCl). ETV was determined before, during, and after ventilation with 14 cmH2O PEEP, and final ETV was compared with the extravascular lung mass (ELM) determined postmortem. Final ETV correctly estimated ELM in 12 animals with ANTU injury, ETV/ELM = 1.04 +/- 0.13, but underestimated after HCl injury (n = 5), ETV/ELM = 0.61 +/- 0.23, and OA injury (n = 6), ETV/ELM = 0.73 +/- 0.19. Whereas PEEP had no consistent effect on extravascular thermal volume in ANTU edema, there was a reversible increase in ETV during PEEP in animals with HCl or OA injury and underestimation of ELM. The increase in ETV during PEEP averaged 9.3 +/- 3.8 ml/kg (62 +/- 42%) over the mean of the pre- and post-PEEP values after HCl injury (P less than 0.01) and 6.7 +/- 4.4 ml/kg (47 +/- 35%) after OA injury (P less than 0.02). There was an inverse correlation between the change in ETV during PEEP and the ETV/ELM ratio for animals with HCl and OA injury (r = -0.94). We conclude that PEEP produces a reversible increase in ETV in some models of lung injury by allowing for distribution of thermal indicator through a larger fraction of the lung water and that this response may be useful to detect underestimation when gravimetric measurements are not available.

Thermodilution measurement of lung water

The detection and measurement of pulmonary edema by the thermal-dye method appears to be accurate and reproducible under specified laboratory conditions. The ETV, which represents the difference in distribution volumes of the diffusible (thermal) indicator and the intravascular (green dye) indicator, should closely estimate the ELM (ETV = 0.984 ELM). Experimental measurements of ETV have shown a very good correlation with ELM, with a tendency for overestimation in normal lungs and underestimation in severely edematous lungs. In contrast to previous measurements using isotopic water methods, thermal-dye measurements have revealed that the estimation of ELM by ETV in severe edema (alveolar flooding) does not plateau. The limitations of the thermal-dye technique reflect the evenness of lung perfusion. Depending on their size and number, emboli produce perfusion defects and reduce ETV. Airway injury also reduces ETV, apparently by redistribution of blood flow. Alterations of ETV by hemodynamic factors suggest that reduction in perfusion pressure may be more significant than changes in flow, although more data are needed. Atelectasis without a reduction in blood flow does not decrease ETV. PEEP may increase ETV when lung injury is not uniform, perhaps by redistributing blood flow, and this maneuver may be useful in detecting underestimation of ELM. Position of the thermistor produces the greatest degree of variability by distorting the thermodilution curve and prolonging the MTT. This results in an increased ETV and an overestimation of ELM. In laboratory studies, the measurements of ETV can be validated by gravimetric analyses of lung water. Since this method of validation is not possible in clinical studies, measurements of ETV in patients must be interpreted in light of limitations demonstrated in the laboratory. Suggestions for avoiding the most common errors in measuring ETV are listed in Table 3.

Black and white psychiatrists: therapy with blacks

This paper is one of a series of reports on the findings of a survey on psychotherapy with nonpsychotic black patients and black and white psychiatrists. The responses of the two groups of psychiatrists are presented and analyzed, focusing on their clinical experiences with their black patients. The differences between the two groups of psychiatrists on the presenting problems, unconscious conflicts, and role of racism with their black patients are among the clinical areas examined and discussed.The psychiatrists treated similar types of black male and female patients; however, the survey results indicate that a large proportion of white psychiatrists have little or no experience treating blacks. Although there were more similarities than differences in responses of black and white psychiatrists to clinical questions, there were differences in the frequency and order in which problems were rated. For example, both groups of psychiatrists rated developing new coping mechanisms as the most frequent problem in stages of the treatment process for both sexes. However, white psychiatrists rated a majority of the problems in stages of the treatment process as occurring more frequently than did black psychiatrists. The findings substantiate difficulties with clinical treatment by a therapist who has a racial, ethnic, or cultural background different from that of his patient.

Type of lung injury influences the thermal-dye estimation of extravascular lung water

To determine the effect of the type of lung injury on the thermodilution estimation of extravascular lung water, we produced pulmonary edema in 25 anesthetized dogs by injection of alloxan or alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU) into the pulmonary circulation or by instillation of hydrochloric acid (HCI) into the airway. HCl injury was bilateral, unilateral with tidal volume equal in each lung, or unilateral with equal airway pressure. Extravascular thermal volume (ETV) was measured at base line and 4 h after lung injury, and the final measurement was compared with the postmortem determination of extravascular lung mass (ELM). In 11 of 15 animals with HCl injury final ETV was less than the base-line measurement. The ratio of final ETV to ELM for all HCl animal (group I) averaged 0.31 +/- 0.14, which was different from the value for animals with alloxan or ANTU injury (group II), 1.04 +/- 0.14 (P less than 0.01). Extravascular lung water per gram of blood-free dry tissue was not different for the two groups (8.1 +/- 1.2 and 8.7 +/- 2.6 for I and II, respectively), indicating equally severe lung injury; however, shunt fraction was less in group I (P less than 0.01). ETV/ELM correlated with the shunt fraction for group I (r = 0.70) but not for group II (r = 0.32). These findings indicate that ETV underestimates lung water after HCl injury due to the redistribution of pulmonary blood flow away from edematous areas.

Effect of edema and hemodynamic changes on extravascular thermal volume of the lung

The extravascular thermal volume of the lung (ETV) has been measured in dogs as the difference between mean transit time (t) volumes for heat and indocyanine green dye across the pulmonary circulation, calculated as the product of thermal dilution cardiac output (CO) and the difference in t for aortic indicator-dilution curves generated by right and left atrial injections. ETV measurements were compared with the extravascular lung mass (ELM): in 21 normal dogs, ETV/ELM = 1.11 +/- 0.14 (SD); in 17 dogs with hydrostatic pulmonary edema (up to 21 g/kg), ETV/ELM = 0.90 +/- 0.11; and in 27 dogs with alloxan pulmonary edema (up to 51 g/kg); ETV/ELM = 0.93 +/- 0.13. For all 65 dogs the mean ETVELM was 0.98 +/- 0.15, and the liner regression was ETV (ml/kg) = 0.90 ELM (g/kg) + 0.86 +/- 2.25 (SEE; r = 0.96). Calculations based on measurements of lung specific heat predict that ETV/ELM should equal 0.984. With acute changes in pulmonary hemodynamics, ETV was reduced by reductions in pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) sufficient to produce zone 1 conditions at the top of the lung. However, ETV was not affected by increases in CO (mean = 50%) produced by nitroprusside or by increases in Ppa and pulmonary blood volume (mean = 27%) produced by partial mitral valve obstruction. Distortion of the thermal dilution curve due to position of the arterial thermistor appears to be the greatest source of variability and overestimation. Simultaneous measurements from pairs of thermistors differed by 14% (range 0.4-50%).

Similarities and differences in black men and women in psychotherapy

A survey of 93 psychiatrists concerning the psychotherapy of black men and women indicated that there were more similarities than differences between the men and women. Black male patients aged 31 to 40 and black women in the age ranges from 26 to 30 and 31 to 40 were most frequently seen for treatment. The patients were usually married and employed in technical or semiprofessional occupations. Both men and women had depression as the most frequent presenting problem, with work-related and family problems the next most frequent presenting problems.Black men were most often diagnosed as having affective (nonpsychotic) disorders, with anxiety disorders the second most frequent diagnosis. The reverse was true for women. Black men had aggression/passivity as the most frequent unconscious conflict and high/low self-esteem as the second. Again, the order of frequency was reversed for women. For both the men and the women, the psychiatrists felt racism was an important issue to consider in the treatment process and found that rage was related to racism.

Liquid and lyophilized quality-control materials compared for use in continuous-flow analysis

Using a Technicon SMAC continuous-flow instrument, we compared a liquid quality-control material ("Decision level 3," Beckman) with two different lyophilized quality-control materials. The variances for 19 analytes in the three materials were significantly greater for Decision than for the Ortho Abnormal and the Omega II lyophilized control sera (p less than 0.00001 for each comparison by the omnibus test). The imprecision for Decision was not due to incomplete mixing or carryover. The viscosity of Decision, however, was more than twice that of the two lyophilized control sera or of pooled human serum.

Liquid and lyophilized quality-control materials compared for use in continuous-flow analysis

Using a Technicon SMAC continuous-flow instrument, we compared a liquid quality-control material ("Decision level 3," Beckman) with two different lyophilized quality-control materials. The variances for 19 analytes in the three materials were significantly greater for Decision than for the Ortho Abnormal and the Omega II lyophilized control sera (p less than 0.00001 for each comparison by the omnibus test). The imprecision for Decision was not due to incomplete mixing or carryover. The viscosity of Decision, however, was more than twice that of the two lyophilized control sera or of pooled human serum.

Manic-depressive illness among poor urban Hispanics

Manic-depressive illness is reported to occur infrequently among some racial or ethnic groups and among lower socioeconomic groups. The authors investigated the incidence of manic-depressive illness among a random sample of 90 lower socioeconomic Hispanic patients admitted to the psychiatric inpatient unit of an urban hospital. They made a retrospective diagnosis based on DSM-III criteria and independent of the hospital diagnosis. Ten patients (11%) were diagnosed as manic-depressive--a rate three times the national admission rate. The authors discuss the significance of this finding and its relationship to sociocultural aspects of the Hispanic patient.

Canine thoracic electrical impedance with changes in pulmonary gas and blood volumes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate transthoracic impedance (Z) as an index of total lung liquid content at constant lung gas volume (LGV). To this end we produced rapid changes in pulmonary blood volume (PBV) in anesthetized, paralyzed, closed-chest dogs with the airway occluded at functional residual capacity. Changes in PBV produced by inflation of balloons on catheters positioned in the left atrium (LA) or inferior vena cava (IVC) were estimated from the changes in chest wall recoil pressure, using the chest wall as a plethysmograph after calibration with changes in LGV. Whereas Z increased linearly with decreases in PBV (1-6 ml/kg) produced by the IVC balloon (% delta Z/delta PBV = -0.43 ml/kg, r = -0.81), Z did not change significantly with increases in PBV (1-6 ml/kg) produced by the LA balloon. These observations indicate that changes in PBV are not the primary determinant of changes in Z and raise the possibility that other hemodynamic events are more important. Whereas aortic pressure decreased with both IVC and LA balloon inflations, right atrial pressure (Pra) increased with mitral valve obstruction and decreased with IVC obstruction. Changes in chest wall blood volume in response to changes in Pra could explain the changes in thoracic impedance. Thus, even at constant LGV, events in the systemic circulation appear to invalidate Z as an indicator of lung liquid content.