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Biomedical subjects

A Francis

Publications and source records attributed to A Francis.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Rapid loss of nicotine-cholinergic receptor binding activity in the deafferented avian optic lobe.

The levels of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BuTX) sensitive receptor sites were investigated in the optic lobe after optic deafferentation in the neonatal and adult chicken. Within two days a 30% loss of alpha-BuTX binding sites per optic lobe is observed in the neonatal chick after enucleation. The results are similar with the adult chicken in experiments where the receptor binding activity is measured in the optic lobe and in the optic tectum after enucleation. The possibility that acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter in the vertebrate retinotectal pathway is discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Recovery of tectal nicotinic-cholinergic receptor sites during optic nerve degeneration in goldfish.

The concentration of cholinergic nicotinic-like sites as measured by alphabungarotoxin (alphaBuTX) binding, decreased in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) optic tectum after optic nerve disconnection. Initially, the rate of loss of sites is greater than the rate of tissue or protein degradation in experiments where disconnection was achieved either by unilateral optic nerve crush or by enucleation of one eye. When the crushed optic nerve is allowed to regenerate and form behaviorally potent connections, the number and concentration of these sites appears restored. Pharmacological studies indicate that the alphaButTX binding site in the goldfish optic tectum has a drug binding profile similar to that seen at central or peripheral alphaBuTX sites in other species.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Activity of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in the goldfish optic tectum after disconnection.

Activities of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were investigated in the goldfish optic tectum after disconnection of the optic afferents. Permanent disconnection was achieved by eye removal, and optic nerve crush produced a temporary disconnection until regeneration. There was a rapid loss in total activity per tectum for both enzymes under the two disconnection conditions. At longer intervals after optic nerve crush the levels of total activity for both enzymes returned toward control levels, as regeneration of the nerve proceeded. Total activity for both enzymes remained depressed after eye removal, however. Variable results were obtained in specific activity data, expressed per unit protein, although there was a 10% loss in specific activity of CAT at early intervals after eye removal. The data are interpreted as consistent with the possibility that at least a fraction of the axons in the retinotectal pathway of goldfish are cholinergic, and parallel our previous observations showing similar rapid losses of nicotinic-cholinergic receptor activity in this system.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1976

Personality and meditation.

The relationship of psychoticism, extraversion-introversion, and neuroticism to the practice of Transcendental Meditation was studied. Male meditators (n = 39) were more introverted and more neurotic than the normal population, whereas the female meditators (n = 27) had a higher mean psychoticism score. Over a 6-mo. period of meditation, the males (n = 24) became less neurotic; the degree to which they did so was related to the frequency of meditation. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Survival of colorectal cancer patients in relation to duration of symptoms and other prognostic factors.

The effect of duration of symptoms and other prognostic factors on survival was studied by interview using a population-based sample of 154 colorectal cancer patients. The authors found that symptom durations of up to approximately one year before diagnosis had no effect on survival. In addition, it was found that the total number of symptoms was a statistically significant predictor of survival, although no single symptom had a significant effect. Stage, sex, and site also were found to be significant predictors of survival, whereas age, socioeconomic status, and other factors were not predictive.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Catatonic signs in neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

The study assessed catatonic signs in neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Records of inpatients meeting both stringent research criteria and DSM-IV criteria (n = 11) or only DSM-IV criteria (n = 5) for NMS were identified. The records were systematically rated on a 23-item rating scale for the presence of catatonic signs. Scores for NMS severity were related to the number of catatonic signs. Fifteen patients met both research criteria for catatonia and DSM-IV motor criteria for organic catatonia. The severity scores of NMS correlated with the number of catatonic signs (Spearman rho = +.71, P < .005). We conclude that multiple catatonic signs are present in NMS and the severity of NMS predicts the number of catatonic signs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Consistency of symptoms in recurrent catatonia.

This study examined the consistency of symptom profiles across episodes of catationia. A recently developed standardized examination and symptom scale systematically rates 23 motor signs of catatonia, permitting symptom analysis of recurrent illness. Patients from the emergency room or inpatient unit were prospectively examined using the 23-item Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), both on initial presentation and during a later episode of catatonia. Five cases were identified, with a variable interval (mean, 10.7 months; range 4.5 to 20) between episodes. All five met DSM-IV motor criteria for catatonia (293.89) and research criteria of more than two BFCRS signs. They showed a mean of 9.6 (range, 7 to 15) catatonic signs in the first episode, and 9.6 (range, 4 to 14) signs in the second. Of the 23 individual BFCRS motor signs, a mean of 16.6 (range, 13 to 21) showed agreement of signs (absence or presence) between the two episodes. The catatonic syndrome shows consistency of motor symptoms on recurrent episodes and the BFCRS facilitates the systematic study of catatonia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Can delirium relieve psychosis?

A delirium presages a poor prognosis in hospitalized patients, but an incidental delirium is a feature of some psychiatric treatments. We report five cases in which delirium preceded the relief of affective and psychotic symptoms of a major mental illness. The experience stimulated a review of the literature on delirium in psychiatric treatments. Five inpatients (aged 53 to 69 years) with an exacerbation of chronic mental illness developed deliria from medications (n = 4) and electrolyte disturbance (n = 1). The deliria were managed with medication washout or correction of electrolyte imbalance. The progress of the patients was noted clinically and summarized. The clinical signs of delirium such as confusion, disorganized speech, sleep-wake cycle changes, and hallucinations persisted for 24 to 72 hours. As the delirium cleared, psychotic and affective symptoms improved or resolved. The improvements persisted for 1 to 5 months, with low doses of medications in two of the cases. A delirium may precede clinical improvement in affective and psychotic symptoms. Historically, some treatments for mental illness induce an incidental delirium (e.g., electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] and insulin coma). Why a delirium should presage a beneficial effect on psychosis is unclear, but the emergence of delirium may herald a beneficial pathophysiology.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the computed tomographic whole body scanner to stage and follow patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Advanced ovarian carcinoma continues to be a difficult tumor to evaluate noninvasively. Recent developments in chemotherapy have enhanced response rates in this disease, thus improving the likelihood of tumor regression. Computed Tomography (CT) allows the noninvasive estimation of tumor extent in patients with ovarian carcinoma. Seventeen patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma had 22 whole body CT scans performed either just prior to or following laparotomy. For determination of tumor involvement, when the CT was positive, a high pathologic correlation was found at liver, ascitic, peritoneal, mesenteric, and omental sites (sensitivity). When the cT was negative, high pathologic correlation was found at ascitic and mesenteric sites (specificity). Lower and negative correlation at other disease sites is attributed to difficulty of CT detection of small (1 cm) tumor nodules on visceral surfaces. Eighteen patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma were followed prospectively during treatment with repetitive CT scans. CT results were compared with physical examination, other radiologic studies, and clinical status. In 83% (15/18) of patients and 88% (59/67) of CT scans performed, CT was found to contribute useful management information. Clinical decisions were made on the basis of CT alone in 43% (29/67) of scans performed. These data suggest that CT scanning is very useful in the staging and follow-up of patients with ovarian carcinoma and can replace other radiologic procedures, but it is not completely accurate and needs to be correlated with physical examination and in cases without tumors visible with CT, with laparotomy.

Female↗