Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Weiner

Publications and source records attributed to B Weiner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Hemodynamic effects of antidysrhythmic drugs.

Antidysrhythmic medications, when administered in the clinical setting, demonstrate a variety of effects on cardiac electrophysiology, inotropy, and peripheral vascular smooth muscle. The resultant hemodynamic effects may be of profound importance to the clinical well-being of the patient being treated for dysrhythmias. The following review will discuss the hemodynamic effects of the Class I agent moricizine; Class IA agents: quinidine, procainamide hydrochloride, and tocainide hydrochloride; Class IC agents: flecainide acetate, encainide hydrochloride, and propafenone; Class II agents: propranolol hydrochloride, esmolol hydrochloride, and acebutolol; Class III agents: bretylium tosylate and amiodarone hydrochloride; as well as the Class IV agent verapamil. Adenosine, an unclassified antidysrhythmic indicated in the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia will also be discussed. Specific attention will be directed toward the use of these agents in patients with left ventricular dysfunction or history of congestive heart failure.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed1990

Coronary artery bypass surgery: outcome assessment.

Improvement in quality of life following coronary artery bypass surgery is a function of a number of complex variables. This outcome, based on objective medical and subjective social criteria, must be assessed to determine the success of this financially expensive surgical intervention for management of patients with coronary artery disease. The majority of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery demonstrate, at least early on, an improved quality of life. Subsets of patients have also been shown to have improved survival. With new surgical techniques aimed at improvement in flow to the areas of ischemic myocardium, even better results can be expected. Future studies will determine the extent of this improvement in quality of life over time and will serve to predict for which patients early surgical intervention will be most beneficial.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗
PubMed1989

Testing some attribution-emotion relations in the People's Republic of China.

We conducted a questionnaire study to test the generality of attribution-emotion relations to individuals in the People's Republic of China. Replications of prior findings of studies conducted with American subjects were reported: (a) High effort and success enhanced interpersonal evaluations when ability, effort, and outcome information were provided; (b) affective communications of pity, anger, and guilt were respectively used to infer low ability, lack of effort, and teacher as causes of failure; (c) effort and ability levels were inferred from the presence or absence of anger reactions; and (d) controllable causes of a broken social contract were expected to result in anger from others. Chinese and American respondents also indicated what situations would arouse the affects of anger, guilt, pity, pride, and shame. We found no evidence for the characterization of Chinese as (a) emphasizing effort over ability as a cause of achievement outcomes or (b) de-emphasizing the importance of personal achievement and stressing group goals and accomplishments.

Achievement↗
PubMed1989

Distinguishing elation, gladness, and joy.

On the basis of a structural analysis of the emotions, descriptive items were created that were postulated to discriminate between elation, gladness, and joy. The items described the situation of each emotion, the different ways in which the body was transformed, the propensity to behave in particular ways, and the different manner in which the emotions functioned to improve the person's life. In the first study, the items were given to subjects who had been asked to recall an instance of elation, gladness, or joy. Ss noted the extent to which each of the items pertained to their particular experience. Analyses of the data establish clear distinctions between elation and gladness and suggest that there may also be a distinct structure for joy. In the second study, the situations for elation and gladness were experimentally created, and objective measures of bodily transformation and behavioral propensity were taken while subjects were in the different emotional states. The results confirmed the structural differences suggested by the retrospective accounts.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Second generation antidysrhythmic agents.

Several new antidysrhythmic agents have been or are about to be approved for the prevention and/or treatment of life-threatening or symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias. Prior to use in clinical practice, however, their relative risk/benefit ratio must be assessed. Whereas relief of bothersome symptoms of ventricular dysrhythmias may improve the patient's return to a more active role in society, one must be aware, at the same time, that these antidysrhythmics have adverse effects of their own that may significantly limit their effectiveness. None of these new antidysrhythmic agents has been shown to prevent suddent cardiac death in controlled trials. At the present time, studies are being conducted to assess the efficacy of these agents in preventing sudden cardiac death. The new antidysrhythmic agents are highly effective in treating a wide variety of ventricular, and in some cases, supraventricular dysrhythmias. These agents are orally effective and, because of their unique pharmacokinetic profile, can often be prescribed less often per day than first generation antidysrhythmics. Side effects, for the most part, are predictable and involve the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. In most cases, such side effects are reversible with dosage reduction. Upon treating a patient for a potentially lethal dysrhythmia, a Class IC agent such as encainide, flecainide, or propafenone, may be considered as the first-line therapy. Class IB agents, although less effective when used alone, show augmented antidysrhythmic efficacy with a reduction in side effects when administered concomitantly with a Class IA agent, such as quinidine or procainamide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed1988

Intravenous labetalol for the control of hypertension following repair of coarctation of the aorta.

Paradoxical hypertension is a relatively common complication of surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta. An early phase of systolic hypertension has been ascribed to elevated levels of norepinephrine. Activation of the renin-angiotensin system from sympathetic stimulation has been implicated in a later phase of systolic and diastolic hypertension that can result in mesenteric arteritis. The use of a rapidly acting, titratable intravenous alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocker, such as labetalol hydrochloride, addresses both of these neurohormonal mechanisms. In the intravenous form, it would appear to be an excellent choice for the management of early postoperative hypertension and it can be converted to the oral form in cases of persistent hypertension. We report for the first time the use of labetalol in two young patients for the control of paradoxical hypertension following coarctation repair.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cefamandole pharmacokinetics during standard and pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass.

The pharmacokinetics of cefamandole during standard or pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass were studied in 13 adult cardiac surgery patients. All patients received 20 mg/kg of cefamandole intravenously at midnight before surgery, 6 AM on the morning of surgery and just prior to the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. Serum, skeletal muscle, and fat samples were taken at the beginning of CPB and at 30-minute intervals thereafter and assayed for cefamandole concentration. The average elimination rate constant and elimination half-life for cefamandole in patients undergoing standard CPB were 0.73 +/- 0.09 hour-1 and 0.94 +/- 0.11 hour, respectively. In contrast patients undergoing pulsatile CPB had significantly slower elimination rate constants (0.50 +/- 0.1 hour-1 and 1.4 +/- 0.28 hours, respectively; P less than or equal to .05). Area under the curve (AUC) values for cefamandole in fat and muscle tissue were higher in patients undergoing pulsatile CPB, but the differences were not statistically significant. Prolonged elimination from the serum, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, as compared with normal subjects, is seen with both pulsatile and standard CPB but is greater for the pulsatile method. Intraoperative dosing of cefamandole is required to maintain adequate serum and tissue levels for operations lasting longer than 4 or 6 hours in which standard or pulsatile CPB, respectively, are used.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1988

An attributional analysis of reactions to stigmas.

In two experiments, we examined the perceived controllability and stability of the causes of 10 stigmas. Guided by attribution theory, we also ascertained the affective reactions of pity and anger, helping judgments, and the efficacy of five intervention techniques. In the first study we found that physically based stigmas were perceived as onset-uncontrollable, and elicited pity, no anger, and judgments to help. On the other hand, mental-behavioral stigmas were perceived as onset-controllable, and elicited little pity, much anger, and judgments to neglect. In addition, physically based stigmas were perceived as stable, or irreversible, whereas mental-behavioral stigmas were generally considered unstable, or reversible. The perceived efficacy of disparate interventions was guided in part by beliefs about stigma stability. In the second study we manipulated perceptions of causal controllability. Attributional shifts resulted in changes in affective responses and behavioral judgments. However, attributional alteration was not equally possible for all the stigmas.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Purification and functional properties of simian virus 40 large and small T antigens overproduced in insect cells.

The insect baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus was used as an expression vector for the simian virus 40 (SV40) small t (t) and large T (T) antigens. Spodoptera frugiperda (SF9) cells infected with recombinant viruses encoding these proteins produced approximately 1 to 2 micrograms of t and up to 30 micrograms of T per 3 X 10(6) cells. The former was highly soluble after Nonidet P-40 extraction of the infected cells, unlike its Escherichia coli-produced counterpart. Both SF9-produced proteins were of authentic size and could be readily immunoprecipitated by specific antibodies. Single-step immunoaffinity chromatography was used to purify the two proteins to near homogeneity, with yields averaging 70% in each case. Experiments to test the biological activity of the baculovirus SV40 proteins showed that SF9 t was capable of associating with two of the cellular proteins reported to bind to t in SV40-infected mammalian cells. Moreover, SF9 T had ATPase activity comparable to that of T produced in monkey cells, exhibited helicase activity and SV40 origin-specific DNA binding, and was active in the SV40 DNA replication assay in vitro. Thus, the SV40 T antigens produced in insect cells can be used in future studies of their biochemical roles in vitro and in vivo.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1987

Methemoglobinemia from intravenous nitroglycerin: a word of caution.

The dose of intravenously administered nitroglycerin (IV NTG) used to control ischemic chest pain usually is limited by hypotension from decreased preload. Herein we describe 2 patients who tolerated IV NTG without hemodynamic compromise but in whom severe impairment of blood oxygen content developed from methemoglobinemia noted during coronary bypass surgery. Methemoglobinemia must be suspected if chocolate-brown blood is encountered despite a normal arterial oxygen tension and calculated oxygen saturation. Before a methemoglobin level is available, the extent of hypoxemia can be determined by an oximetric oxygen saturation and therapy begun with intravenous administration of methylene blue. These case reports focus attention on the potential deleterious effects of undetected hypoxemia from methemoglobinemia in patients being stabilized with high-dose IV NTG for urgent cardiac surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

An attributional analysis of excuse giving: studies of a naive theory of emotion.

We conducted four studies that pertained to excuses given for a broken social contract. In an initial field investigation, participants recalled occasions in which they had given true and false reasons for not fulfilling a social obligation. Communicated reasons tended to be external to the person, uncontrollable, and unintentional (e.g., "My car broke down"), whereas withheld reasons tended to be internal, controllable, and either intentional (e.g., "I did not want to go") or unintentional (e.g., "I forgot"). The external uncontrollable excuses were anticipated to lessen the anger of the wronged party. In a subsequent simulation study, excuses based on the categories detected in Experiment 1 were manipulated and related to anger ratings. The same pattern of results was displayed, with intent and negligence provoking the highest anger ratings. The final two studies involved laboratory manipulation of a communicated reason for coming late to an experiment. In Experiment 3, a confederate conveyed either an internal controllable, an external uncontrollable, or no reason for making a subject wait, whereas in Experiment 4, subjects were detained and created their own good, bad, any, or no excuse for being tardy, which was communicated to a second, waiting subject. A consistent pattern of good excuse/external uncontrollable reason and bad excuse/internal controllable reason was displayed; offering no excuse resulted in the same judgments as giving a poor excuse. Relative to the external uncontrollable reasons, internal controllable excuses for being late augmented aversive emotional reactions, increased negative personality ratings, and resulted in a desire for no further social contact.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Achievement↗
PubMed1987

Acute bacterial endocarditis due to Hemophilus parainfluenzae. Response to ceftizoxime in an ampicillin-allergic patient.

Endocarditis secondary to Hemophilus parainfluenzae is an uncommon entity that appears to be increasing in frequency, perhaps due to improved laboratory isolation techniques. Although controversial, most of the published literature recommends a penicillin, with or without concomitant gentamicin, as definitive therapy. We report the first successful use of the third-generation cephalosporin ceftizoxime in an ampicillin-allergic patient. A 55-year-old white female was hospitalized after 5 days of experiencing fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. A cardiac echocardiogram revealed a large mitral valve vegetation, and the patient was treated with intravenous ampicillin, gentamicin, and clindamycin. Two weeks after emergency mitral valve replacement the patient developed spiking fevers and a macular, erythematous rash while receiving ampicillin. Ceftizoxime was initiated and continued to complete a 4-week period of intravenous antibiotics. Follow-up at 14 months showed no further evidence of infection. Ceftizoxime appears efficacious in eradicating H. parainfluenzae in patients allergic to penicillin.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

The influence of pindolol and hydrochlorothiazide on blood pressure, and plasma renin and plasma lipid levels.

After three weeks' administration of placebo, three groups of eight patients with moderate hypertension were randomly assigned to single daily dose, double-blind treatment with either pindolol 15 mg, hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg, or a combination of both for eight weeks. All determinations were made 24 hours after ingestion of a dose. Reductions in supine, sitting, and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure were greater in patients receiving hydrochlorothiazide than in those administered pindolol; however, the greatest reductions were registered in individuals receiving combination therapy. Mean basal plasma renin activity rose significantly from 0.45 +/- 0.44 to 1.42 +/- 1.31 ng/mL/hr and from 0.67 +/- 0.46 to 1.27 +/- 0.83 ng/mL/hr in patients receiving hydrochlorothiazide and combination therapy, respectively, but there was no change in those administered pindolol. Hydrochlorothiazide and combination therapy increased mean total cholesterol levels from 247 +/- 25 to 263 +/- 37 mg/dL and 198 +/- 36 to 211 +/- 33 mg/dL, respectively, at eight weeks, and both increased mean triglyceride concentrations at two weeks. Pindolol did not show any tendency to alter lipid levels. Pindolol should be given twice daily. At 15 mg daily, it has little or no effect on basal plasma renin activity or plasma lipid levels.

Adult↗