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Biomedical subjects

A Foster

Publications and source records attributed to A Foster.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The synthesis of N-acetyl-leukotriene E4 and its effects on cardiovascular and respiratory function of the anesthetized pig.

The effects of the putative biliary metabolite of the peptido-leukotrienes, N-acetyl-leukotriene (LT) E4 has been investigated in the anesthetized pig. Intravenous bolus doses of synthetic N-acetyl-LTE4 produced minimal respiratory and cardiovascular actions in the pig. N-acetyl-LTE4 was approximately 100-fold less active than LTC4. The actions of N-acetyl-LTE4 were not blocked by pretreatment of the animals with indomethacin (5 mg/kg iv) or with a selective LTD4 antagonist L-649,923 (5 mg/kg plus 2 mg/kg/hr iv). In summary, N-acetyl-LTE4 exerts weak actions in the pig which is consistent with the acetylation process being a mechanism of detoxification.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Childhood blindness from corneal ulceration in Africa: causes, prevention, and treatment.

Corneal scarring is responsible for approximately 70% of blindness in children in African countries. Recent studies confirm that measles infection is a common predisposing factor and that vitamin A deficiency is responsible for the majority of bilateral corneal ulceration. Herpes simplex keratitis (caused by human (alpha) herpesvirus types 1 and 2), ophthalmia neonatorum, and the use of traditional eye medicines also constitute significant causes of corneal ulceration in children in Africa. Intervention strategies, the management of corneal ulceration in children, and areas for future investigation are discussed.

Africa↗
PubMed1986

A simple surveillance system for xerophthalmia and childhood corneal ulceration.

A simple cost-effective surveillance system is described for reporting cases of xerophthalmia and childhood corneal ulceration. The system is suitable for use by ophthalmic auxiliaries in developing countries.Presented are the results of a 2-year surveillance involving 15 hospitals in 11 areas of the United Republic of Tanzania. Cases of xerophthalmia in its early stages (characterized by night blindness or Bitot's spots) were found in all areas surveyed. Of almost 300 cases of unilateral and bilateral corneal ulceration, 46% and 79%, respectively, followed a recent infection with measles. The single most important cause of bilateral corneal ulceration was vitamin A deficiency. The surveillance system has proved to be particularly useful as a first step in defining the type and distribution of serious corneal disease in children.

Child↗
PubMed1984

Differential activity of leukotrienes upon human pulmonary vein and artery.

Responses to leukotrienes B4, C4, D4 and E4 were examined in human pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein preparations from surgical specimens. Leukotrienes C4 (LTC) and D4 (LTD) were potent contractants of pulmonary vein over the dose range of 10(-10) M to 10(-6) M, whereas they produced minimal contractions of human pulmonary artery only at concentrations of 10(-8) M or greater. Leukotriene E4 was less potent than LTC or LTD, and leukotriene B4 (LTB) at concentrations up to 10(-6) M had no effect upon either pulmonary veins or pulmonary arteries. Contractions of pulmonary vein by LTD were inhibited in a competitive manner by FPL 55712. Dose response characteristics of LTD and inhibition by FPL 55712 were similar for pulmonary venous and bronchial smooth muscle. We conclude that pulmonary vein smooth muscle has leukotriene receptors comparable to those of bronchial smooth muscle whereas pulmonary artery does not.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1984

In vitro responses of human asthmatic airway and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle.

Airway and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle was obtained from the surgically resected lobe of a human asthmatic allergic to grass pollen who presented with an endobronchial carcinoid tumor. Grass antigen induced sustained contractions of bronchial and pulmonary vein, but not pulmonary artery tissue. Capsaicin did not alter the bronchial response to grass antigen. Contractions to leukotrienes B4, C4, D4 and E4 and methacholine were equivalent to those seen in nonasthmatic human lung tissue, whereas those to histamine were strikingly greater and disproportionate to methacholine. The C3a octapeptide Ala-Ala-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg produced contractions of pulmonary vein and pulmonary artery. These findings are compared with those obtained using human lung samples from nonasthmatic individuals.

Allergens↗
PubMed1978

Professional flab fighting at district level.

A health care planning team set up in Harrow to tackle the problem of obesity has started a slimming club with ten-week courses. Authors explain the club's methods and review its progress so far.

Consumer Behavior↗
PubMed1978

The psychological and social effects of myocardial infarction on wives.

Eighty-two wives of men suffering a first myocardial infarction were interviewed while their husbands were in hospital, and again two months and a year after they went home. The wives had substantial and persistent psychological symptoms, and the husbands' illness had continuing effects on their work, leisure and social activities, and family life and marriage, their psychosocial disability being comparable to that of the patients. Measures of psychosocial adjustment before the illness and the quality of the marriage and of family life were good predictors of outcome for the wives. The women had a major role in the patients' readjustment during convalescence, and their attitudes and behaviour as well as the general quality of family life were important determinants of the rate and extent of the patients' recovery. The wives of patients with myocardial infarction should have more practical help and advice during the hospital period, and the whole family should be given advice and help throughout the convalescence.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1976

Attitudes and advice after myocardial infarction.

While medical opinion increasingly favours an active approach to rehabilitation after myocardial infarction, interviews with 40 patients and their relatives showed a low degree of understanding of medical advice and information. There was general satisfaction with treatment, but communication was seen as often being inadequate, vague, and conflicting.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Hospital-treated myocardial infarction and the general practitioner.

Patients who had a myocardial infarction were interviewed with their spouses in hospital and after returning home. Advice about rehabilitation, such as that recently recommended by the Working Party of the Royal College of Physicians, was often not received. General practitioners have great opportunities for organising a graded programme of rehabilitation and may often communicate ideas more easily to their patients than hospital staff. However, some practitioners are reluctant to do this work.

Family Practice↗