E A Armstrong

Publications (6)10.47 Total impact

• Article: Helpful communications during the diagnostic period: an interpretive description of patient preferences.

  S Thorne, J Oliffe, C Kim-Sing, T G Hislop, K Stajduhar, S R Harris, E-A Armstrong, V Oglov
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  ABSTRACT: With a diagnosis of cancer, life changes for patients in a profound manner. The window of time known as cancer diagnosis is one of considerable turbulence and distress for patients. Therefore, diagnosis constitutes a time during which communication with healthcare professionals is of particular importance in setting the stage for the way cancer illness will be experienced. Our research explores communications throughout the cancer trajectory from the perspective of patients themselves. We are following a sample of 60 cancer patients, representing a range of tumour sites, from the early diagnostic period through to recovery, chronic, or advanced disease. Using interpretive description analysis techniques, we document patterns and themes related to various components of the cancer journey. In this paper, we focus on themes related to perceived helpful communication during the diagnosis experience as reported by our study participants both at the time of being newly diagnosed patients, and as they reflect on that period 12 months later. These findings illuminate experiential issues of importance to patients in relation to cancer care communication and the manner in which helpful communications during this sensitive time may facilitate the subsequent experience living with and obtaining care for cancer.
  European Journal of Cancer Care 10/2009; 19(6):746-54. · 1.17 Impact Factor
• Article: Prolonged seizures exacerbate perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

  E C Wirrell, E A Armstrong, L D Osman, J Y Yager
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  ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to clarify whether seizures in the newborn cause damage to the healthy brain and, more specifically, to determine the extent to which seizures may contribute to the brain-damaging effects of hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Seizures were induced in 10-d-old rat pups with kainic acid (KA). Seizure duration was determined electrographically. HI was induced by common carotid artery ligation followed by exposure to 8% oxygen for either 15 or 30 min. Six groups of animals were assessed: 1) controls [neither KA nor HI (group I)]; 2) group II, KA alone; 3) group III, 15 min HI alone; 4) group IV,15 min HI plus KA; 5) group V, 30 min HI alone; and 6) group VI, 30 min HI plus KA. Animals were assessed neuropathologically at 3 (early) and 20 (late) d of recovery. KA injection without hypoxia resulted in continuous clinical and electrographic seizures lasting a mean of 282 min. No neuropathologic injury was seen in groups I (no HI or KA), II (KA alone), III (15 min HI alone), or IV (15 min HI and KA). Animals in group V (30 min HI alone) displayed brain damage with a mean score of 2.3 and 0.60 at 3 and 20 d of recovery, respectively. Animals in group VI (30 min HI and KA) had a mean score of 12.1 and 3.65 at 3 and 20 d of recovery, respectively. Compared with group V, the increased damage as a result of the seizure activity in group VI occurred exclusively in the hippocampus. Status epilepticus in the otherwise "healthy" neonatal brain does not cause neuropathologic injury. However, seizures superimposed on HI significantly exacerbate brain injury in a topographically specific manner.
  Pediatric Research 11/2001; 50(4):445-54. · 2.70 Impact Factor
• Article: Differential binding and internalization of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in cultured human trophoblast and JEG-3 cells: possible modulatory effect of IGF binding proteins (BP).

  B Bhaumick, E A Armstrong
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  ABSTRACT: The present study was undertaken to characterize and identify the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGF BPs) secreted by placental cells and their possible modulatory effect on IGF-I binding to cell surface receptors. The experimental approach taken was comparative characterization of binding and internalization of IGF-I and its analog, [Gln(3), Ala(4), Tyr(15), Leu(16) (QAYL)]IGF-I, with reduced affinity for IGF BP, in two different placental cell culture models. One was human placental trophoblast in primary culture and the other, JEG-3 cells, a human choriocarcinoma cell line, representing placental trophoblasts. Binding of [(125)I]IGF-I in both trophoblast and JEG-3 cells was time and temperature dependent. At 37°C, the plateau of [(125)I]IGF-I binding to both the cells (1-2% specific binding per 10(5) cells) was reached by 40-60 min. At 4°C, the time required to reach the plateau in both cells was increased to ∼4h. The maximum binding of [(125)I]IGF-I to trophoblasts, however, was ∼2 times higher than at 37°C, whereas in JEG-3 cells binding remained the same. Internalization of [(125)I]IGF-I in trophoblast cells was low and temperature independent. At both 37 and 4°C, ≤30% of the total cell-associated [(125)I]IGF-I was internalized. In contrast, internalization of [(125)I]IGF-I in JEG-3 cells was rapid and temperature dependent. At 37°C, ≥60% of the total cell-associated [(125)]IGF-I was internalized by 40-60min. At 4°C, internalization was slow and did not exceed 10% of the total cell-associated radioactivity. Binding of [(125)I-QAYL]IGF-I to trophoblasts, in comparison to [(125)I]IGF-I, was significantly different. The binding was undetectable at 37°C and it was low at 4°C. In JEG-3 cells, however, the binding and internalization of [(125)I]-QAYL]IGF-I at both the temperatures were comparable to that of [(125)I]IGF-I. Further characterization of the two [(125)I]IGF-I bindings to the different placental cells was achieved by binding competition studies using unlabelled IGF-I, [QAYL]IGF-I and [Leu]IGF-I, another analog of IGF-I, [Leu(24), 1-62]IGF-I with reduced affinity for the IGF-I receptor, and α-IR3, a monoclonal antibody to the IGF-I receptor. The different potencies of IGF-I and its analogs, and α-IR3 in competing binding of two [(125)I]IGF-Is in the different cells suggested that binding of IGF-I to JEG-3 cells was predominantly to IGF-I receptor, whereas to trophoblast cells it was to IGF BP. This was confirmed by affinity cross-linking studies. The major affinity cross-linked [(125)I]IGF-I complex in trophoblast cells was shown to be a protein of Mr. ∼43 kDa, corresponding to IGF BP-3. In JEG-3 cells, the major cross-linked [(125)I]IGF-I and-[QAYL]IGF-I complexes were proteins of Mr ∼130 kDa and >260 kDa, corresponding to the monomeric and multimeric forms of IGF-I receptor. The ∼43 kDa complex in trophoblast was confirmed to be IGF BP-3 by identification of the characteristics of the IGF BP secreted by trophoblast by Western ligand and immunoblots of the conditioned media. JEG-3 cells did not secrete IGF BP. In conclusion, the membrane associated IGF BP-3 in trophoblast cells, shown here, imply anin vivo modulatory effect of membrane bound IGF BP-3 on IGF-I action in placenta. JEG-3 cells, not secreting IGF-BP, offer an attractive model to study the interactive mechanism of IGF-I and IGF BP-3 actions on the placenta.
  Endocrine 09/1995; 3(9):677-83. · 1.42 Impact Factor
• Article: Role of cations and IgA in saliva-mediated aggregation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients.

  E A Armstrong, B Ziola, B F Habbick, K Komiyama
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  ABSTRACT: Oral colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa possibly precedes the pulmonary infection process in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. As bacterial aggregates may play a role in establishment of pulmonary infections, involvement of IgA and cations in CF patient saliva-mediated aggregation of P. aeruginosa was investigated. For colonized patients, P. aeruginosa aggregation correlated with bacterial-specific and total salivary IgA. Cation or IgA depletion reduced P. aeruginosa aggregation by saliva from all patients. However, if cations were removed before IgA, and saliva was then reconstituted with calcium, only colonized patient saliva showed reduced aggregation. Aggregation by IgA-depleted saliva was augmented by reconstituting with original IgA. CF patient saliva-mediated aggregation of P. aeruginosa thus is cation-dependent and enhanced by bacterial-specific IgA. Characterizing the interactions among bacterial aggregating factor(s), cations, and antibodies in CF saliva will help clarify the link between P. aeruginosa oral colonization and pulmonary infections in CF patients.
  Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine 06/1993; 22(5):207-13. · 1.63 Impact Factor
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  Available from: rsna.org

  Article: Renal cystic disease in childhood.

  C K Hayden, L E Swischuk, T H Smith, E A Armstrong
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  ABSTRACT: The authors present a comprehensive review of the diagnostic features of eight forms of renal cystic disease that occur in childhood. Sonographic findings are emphasized.
  Radiographics 02/1986; 6(1):97-116. · 2.85 Impact Factor
• Article: Long-term gastrostomy in children: caregiver coping.

  S E Thorne, M J Radford, E A Armstrong
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  ABSTRACT: As technologic interventions such as long-term gastrostomy in children with severe disability become commonplace, and increasing numbers of medically complex children are cared for in the home, nurses will require specialized knowledge to support families. In this article, the authors document findings from a longitudinal study of families caring for a child with a gastrostomy, specifically addressing the caregiver perspective on how families cope with this challenge. The findings reveal a complex set of effective coping strategies as articulated by family caregivers experienced in the management of long-term gastrostomy. Further, these caregivers reveal insights about gastrostomy's technical, social, and psychologic implications for both themselves and their children. In documenting an insider perspective on this phenomenon, this study provides nurses with a comprehensive orientation to the ways in which healthcare professionals can better support family caregiver coping.
  Gastroenterology Nursing 20(2):46-53. · 0.70 Impact Factor