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Biomedical subjects

A Moses

Publications and source records attributed to A Moses.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Beta-adrenergic agonists regulate cell membrane fluctuations of human erythrocytes.

1. Mechanical fluctuations of the cell membrane (CMFs) in human erythrocytes reflect the bending deformability of the membrane-skeleton complex. These fluctuations were monitored by time-dependent light scattering from a small area ( approximately 0. 25 microm2) of the cell surface by a method based on point dark field microscopy. 2. Exposure of red blood cells (RBCs) to adrenaline (epinephrine) and isoproterenol (isoprenaline) resulted in up to a 45 % increase in the maximal fluctuation amplitude and up to a 35 % increase in the half-width of the amplitude distribution. The power spectra of membrane fluctuations of control and treated cells revealed that adrenaline stimulated only the low frequency component (0.3-3 Hz). Analysis of the dose-response curves of beta-adrenergic agonists yielded an EC50 of 5 x 10-9 and 1 x 10-11 M for adrenaline and isoproterenol, respectively. Propranolol had an inhibitory effect on the stimulatory effect of isoproterenol. These findings show a potency order of propranolol > isoproterenol > adrenaline. 3. The stimulatory effect of adrenaline was a temporal one, reaching its maximal level after 20-30 min but being abolished after 60 min. However, in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a partial stimulatory effect was maintained even after 60 min. Pentoxifylline and 8-bromo-cAMP elevated CMFs. However, exposure of ATP-depleted erythrocytes to adrenaline or 8-bromo-cAMP did not yield any elevation in CMFs. These findings suggest that the beta-agonist effect on CMFs is transduced via a cAMP-dependent pathway. 4. Deoxygenation decreased CMFs and filterability of erythrocytes by approximately 30 %. The stimulatory effect of isoproterenol on CMFs was 2.2-fold higher in deoxygenated RBCs than in oxygenated cells. 5. Exposure of RBCs to adrenaline resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in RBC filterability, demonstrating a linear relationship between CMFs and filterability, under the same exposure conditions to adrenaline. These findings suggest that beta-adrenergic agonists may improve passage of erythrocytes through microvasculature, enhancing oxygen delivery to tissues, especially under situations of reduced oxygen tension for periods longer than 20 min.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1999

Exposure to violence, depression, and hostility in a sample of inner city high school youth.

This study examines the prevalence of violence in a non-randomly selected population of 337 inner city school students, the relationship between exposure to violence and symptoms of depression and hostility, and demographic differences in exposure to and effects of traumatic violence. Students responded to an anonymous survey asking them to enumerate how many times they had experienced each of six types of traumatic violence. Sixty-two per cent of students were exposed to an average of 3.0541 of the six types of violence listed. Exposure to most types of violence were highly intercorrelated. Males experienced more exposure to violence than females. Exposure to violence was predictive of hostility for both gender groups, and predictive of depression for females. Implications of exposure to traumatic violence on adolescent development are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Olfactory dysfunction in type I pseudohypoparathyroidism: dissociation from Gs alpha protein deficiency.

The discovery of variably decreased olfactory ability in Type Ia pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP), a syndrome in which generalized hormone resistance is associated with deficiency of the alpha chain of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gs alpha) of adenylyl cyclase, has been used to support the hypothesis that Gs alpha plays a major role in human olfactory transduction. However, only a limited number of olfactory tests have been administered to such patients, and these patients have other problems that might cause or contribute to their olfactory dysfunction, including an unusual constellation of skeletal and developmental deficits termed Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). In this study, we administered tests of odor detection, identification, and memory to (i) 13 patients with Type Ia PHP; (ii) 8 patients with Type Ib PHP; (iii) 7 patients with pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP); and (iv) 3 sets of normal controls matched to these groups on the basis of age, gender, and smoking history. Although we confirm that PHP Type Ia patients evidence olfactory dysfunction, we also demonstrate that (i) patients with Type Ib PHP, who have no AHO, no generalized hormone resistance, and normal Gs alpha activity, also evidence olfactory dysfunction relative to matched controls; and (ii) patients with PPHP, who have AHO, no generalized hormone resistance, and deficient Gs alpha protein activity, have relatively normal olfactory function. These observations do not support the hypothesis that the olfactory dysfunction associated with PHP is the result of generalized Gs alpha protein deficiency and imply that other mechanisms (e.g. ones associated with PTH or PTHrP resistance) are responsible for the olfactory deficits of this disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Characteristics and sexual behaviour of individuals attending the sexually transmitted diseases clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Blantyre, Malawi.

Characteristics and sexual behaviour, knowledge of HIV and knowledge of attitudes to and use of the condom were assessed by a questionnaire survey of a sample of 734 patients attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. The male respondents had a mean age of 27.4 years compared with 24.5 for the women. Nearly two thirds of either sex reported more than one sexual partner during the previous year. Thirty one percent of the females and 43% of the males admitted having ever exchanged money directly for sex. Knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention, and the condom was generally good. Only 24% male and 45% female respondents reported having ever used the condom, with 27% and 43% respectively using it sometimes. No respondent used the condom always. The most common reported reason for not using the condom was partner refusal. Many of the respondents exhibited a high level of HIV risk behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Sexual behavior of homosexual and bisexual men attending an HIV testing clinic in Jerusalem 1986/7-1990.

We investigated whether the sexual practices of homosexual and bisexual men attending the Jerusalem AIDS Clinic had changed between 1986/7 and 1990. The responses of a group of 79 homosexual and bisexual men to a questionnaire in 1986/7 were compared to the responses of a group of 37 homosexuals/bisexuals in 1990. Consistent yet statistically insignificant differences in sexual behavior between the 1990 and 1986/7 groups were observed: More individuals were using condoms (53% vs 36% respectively), and at an earlier age. The practice of anal sex was less common (48% vs 67% respectively) and that of oral sex more common (46% vs 27% respectively). These differences were not confounded by the level of education between the two groups. Analyzed separately for homosexuals and bisexuals, the increase in condom use was more noticeable among homosexuals compared with bisexuals, while the decrease in anal sex was greater in bisexuals compared with homosexuals. These results may indicate a trend towards safer sexual behavior in this at risk population, but further studies are needed to support or refute these observations.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1993

Clinical, epidemiological and natural history study of HIV-1 infection among seropositive homo/bisexuals in Israel, 1986-92. A collaborative study in three medical centers.

The clinical and epidemiological aspects of HIV-1 seropositive homo/bisexuals at three AIDS screening clinics in Israel were analyzed retrospectively for the 4-year period 1986-92. Of 1,526 individuals who attended the clinics a total of 238 (15.5%) were found to be HIV-1 seropositive; 182 seropositives were followed for a mean of 3.3 (+/- 2.6) person-years. The incidence of AIDS in this cohort was 33% over 4 years, a rate of 9.8/100 person-years. Half of all HIV-1 seropositives are estimated to have been infected outside Israel. On initial presentation 144 (62%) were asymptomatic and 94 (38%) were symptomatic. CD4 levels were > 500 ml3 in 87 (36%), 200-500 ml3 in 66 (28%) and < 200 ml3 in 45 (19%) individuals. The pattern of clinical presentations was similar to that seen in the West, but mycobacterial infections were rare. A cohort of 86 homo/bisexuals with full-blown AIDS was followed for a mean of 2.2 person-years. The mortality rate in this group was 53.5% over 4 years, a rate of 26/100 person-years. Thus, HIV infection among Israeli homosexuals ceased to be a rarity as it took the pattern of AIDS in the West, with some special features such as the late presentation of patients for medical treatment and the paucity of mycobacterial diseases complicating the disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1991

The frequency and incidence of low back pain/sciatica in an urban population.

The frequency, incidence and severity of low back pain was assessed by a random telephone survey of 314 urban New Zealanders. Relationships between the severity and frequency of low back pain and referred lower extremity pain and other variables such as occupation, recreation, age, sex and predominant working posture was analysed. Point incidence was 17.5%, weekly incidence 33.4%, yearly incidence 63.7% and total incidence 79%. Some 28.3% get frequent minor episodes and 6.4% get frequent severe episodes of low back pain. Nearly 50% suffer the initial episode before the age of 30 years. Of those suffering low back pain within the last seven days, 14.3% experience reference below the knee and the total incidence of below knee pain was 13.7%. Over half (51.6%) have pain that has lasted seven days or less, but a third have had pain for longer than seven weeks. No correlation between the incidence of low back pain and referred pain and occupational posture was found. In conclusion, this telephone survey established that the incidence of low back pain in New Zealand is similar to that reported in overseas studies. The survey could not establish differences in low back pain characteristics across different social groupings, nor could a relationship between occupational posture and low back pain be established.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Biological activity of nasally administered insulin in normal subjects.

Nasally administered (IN) insulin has been advocated as a potentially useful alternative to subcutaneously administered regular insulin because of its more rapid onset and time to peak action and its shorter duration of action. This study further defines the pharmacodynamics of IN insulin by using a euglycemic clamp technique to determine the bioavailability of IN insulin as compared with intravenous (IV) insulin, and to ascertain whether multiple sequentially administered doses of IN insulin alter pharmacodynamics. Eight normal volunteers received 2 control doses of IV insulin (0.05 U/kg), and 3 high doses (0.7 U/kg) and 3 low doses (0.35 U/kg) of IN insulin with an absorption enhancer (tauro-24,25 dihydrofusidate) given sequentially over a 2 day period. A euglycemic clamp was performed with a Biostator (Ames) that infused dextrose to keep the subject's blood glucose at his fasting level. Analysis of dextrose infusion curves for the low and high doses of IN insulin revealed an onset of action of 9.4 +/- 0.4 and 10.5 +/- 0.3 minutes, time to peak action of 20.6 +/- 5.6 and 23.7 +/- 4.4 minutes and duration of action of 82.1 +/- 5.2 and 95 +/- 5.7 minutes respectively. Both the onset of action and time to peak action were slightly longer (P less than .05) for the high as compared with the low dose IN insulin, although this should not represent a clinically significant difference. The total dextrose requirement was 21.9 +/- 2.3 g for the low dose IN insulin and 34.1 +/- 3.3 g for the high dose IN insulin, the latter value being significantly greater (P less than .01) than the former.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1989

[An outbreak of hepatitis B associated with acupuncture].

2 clusters of between 5 and 11 cases of hepatitis B virus infection were associated with acupuncture by a physician late in 1986. The source of the infection is believed to have been an Ethiopian immigrant, a known HBsAg carrier. While he was being operated on a nurse cut her finger on a scalpel blade. During the prodromal period of hepatitis which followed, she was treated by acupuncture. The acupuncture needles were supposedly sterilized by dry heat for 80 minutes at 200 degrees. However, there were apparently breaks in technique which were responsible for the spread of the infection to at least 4 other women, ranging in age from 26 to 80 years. We stress the need for strict enforcement of correct sterilization procedures whenever needles are used to pierce skin. This should be performed only by licensed practitioners of officially recognized occupations, some of which are not as yet covered by our national health regulations.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1989

Chronic tuboovarian abscess due to Staphylococcus aureus: a case report and literature review.

A 40-year-old woman presented with a right adnexal mass. Laparotomy revealed a large tuboovarian abscess due to Staphylococcus aureus. The only significant past medical history was a Cesarean section and bilateral tubal ligation 10 years prior to admission. The tuboovarian abscess, due to this unusual organism, may have developed insidiously over a 10 year period. The patient recovered completely after excision of the abscess and antibiotic treatment.

Abscess↗
PubMed1989

Cholestatic liver injury after prolonged exposure to methyldopa.

We describe a 75-year-old patient who presented with severe cholestatic liver disease. He had been receiving methyldopa, 250 mg daily, for 6 years. An extensive evaluation failed to reveal extrahepatic obstruction or serologic evidence of viral hepatitis. A liver biopsy disclosed marked cholestasis, without hepatitis, and was compatible with a rare form of methyldopa-induced liver injury. Cessation of drug treatment was followed by a slow but complete recovery. Cholestasis is a rare manifestation of methyldopa hepatotoxicity. Although methyldopa-associated liver injury usually appears after about 4 weeks of treatment, a history of a much longer exposure does not exclude this entity.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Evidence of prolonged myocardial dysfunction in heat stroke.

Heat stroke is a life-threatening syndrome of multi-organ dysfunction caused by elevated body temperature. It may result from failure of the thermoregulatory mechanisms or from inadequate heat dissipation and affects members of several risk groups. A number of authors reported cardiac involvement in heat stroke, but heart failure rarely has been documented. We report the cases of two heat stroke victims, one of whom developed pulmonary edema and the other, peripheral edema. In both, RVG demonstrated dilatation and diffuse hypokinesis of the right ventricle, which persisted for several weeks. We conclude that the heart may be involved in heat stroke and that heart failure is a potential complication of the syndrome that can have a prolonged subclinical course. Fluid replacement in heat stroke should be done under careful observation, which may be facilitated by noninvasive assessment of cardiac function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome).

We describe a patient who displayed the classic features of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome): sudden onset of erythematous plaques, fever, arthritis, and characteristic histologic findings. Unusual findings in her case were the localization of the lesions mainly on the legs, absence of leukocytosis and preceding illness, and marked neutrophilic infiltration in the subcutis. In addition, the fever and eruption subsided on the day the results of pathologic examination were available, making any treatment unnecessary. The short course of the disease in this patient suggests the possibility of postponing steroid treatment for one week in all patients with acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

An acupuncture-associated outbreak of hepatitis B in Jerusalem.

Two clusters of between five and eleven cases of hepatitis B associated with acupuncture treatment by a physician occurred in Jerusalem in late 1986. The origin of the outbreak is believed to have been an Ethiopian immigrant surgical patient, a known HBsAg carrier, who infected an operating room nurse during a surgical procedure. This is the first recorded instance of transmission of HBV from an Ethiopian immigrant to the local Israeli population. We reiterate the need for the enforcement of correct sterilization techniques in all skin-piercing settings, a step which in many countries will require the licensing of a variety of occupations not presently covered by health regulations.

Acupuncture Therapy↗