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Biomedical subjects

C Gray

Publications and source records attributed to C Gray.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

The effects of ovine growth hormone on protein turnover in rainbow trout.

Ovine growth hormone (oGH) was administered to rainbow trout via an intraperitoneal cholesterol implant. After 21 days, plasma oGH levels were recorded as control group, less than 2 ng ml-1, i.e., not detectable, and oGH group, 19.2 +/- 2.8 ng ml-1. oGH-treated fish exhibited significantly increased whole-body growth rates, whole-body protein accretion rates, stimulated tissue protein synthesis, and tissue protein accretion rates. A dramatic decrease in white muscle protein concentration was also observed after oGH treatment. In some tissues (liver and stomach), elevated protein synthesis rates were the result of higher RNA/protein ratios. However, in other tissues (gill and ventricle), increased RNA activity accounted for the differences in rates of protein synthesis. The growth promoting effects of oGH on both whole-body and tissue protein turnover were generally accompanied with no change in the efficiency of deposition of newly synthesized protein. For the same ration size, the oGH group showed higher retentions of ingested nitrogen. It is concluded that oGH significantly enhances whole-body growth rates as a result of the stimulatory effect on protein synthesis rates with little effect on protein degradation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The emotional phases of marital separation: an empirical investigation.

The emotional process of marital separation was investigated via the application of Bowlby's theory of loss. Physical separation was found to entail the three phases--wish to recover the lost object, disorganization, and reorganization--proposed by Bowlby. Length of time separated appeared the most powerful factor in emotional resolution. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of a comprehensive assessment battery for stroke patients.

The authors describe their experience of evaluating a battery of tests to assess function in patients with stroke and head injuries. They consisted of the Abbreviated Mental Test Score, Ravens Progressive Coloured Matrices, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), Motricity Index, Shortened Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery (RPAB), Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test (FAST) and Barthel's Activities of Daily Living Index. These were applied to 50 patients, six of whom had had a head injury and 44 a stroke. Over 80% of subjects were able to complete the battery. Reasons for failure amongst the remainder were language problems, poor concentration and short term memory loss. Abnormalities in one aspect of cerebral function often compromised tests designed to assess another aspect of this. For example, upper limb incoordination interfered with RPAB, language difficulties affected the Abbreviated Mental Test, and HAD, and hemianopia compromised both RPAB and FAST tests. The battery can usually be completed within 1h, and could be performed by a wide range of professionals. It is likely to be particularly useful in screening for abnormalities requiring more detailed evaluation by particular professionals, and in monitoring the progress of patients during the course of treatment.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

The effects upon helping behaviour of wearing pro-gay identification.

Shoppers were approached either by an ostensibly pro-gay person, wearing a tee-shirt bearing a pro-gay slogan, or by a person wearing an unmarked tee-shirt, asking for change of a pound. Help was less likely to be given to the ostensibly pro-gay person. This effect was not attenuated when the request was justified by a socially acceptable reason for needing change (although, overall, help was more likely to be given when requests were so justified). There were no effects of the sex of the subject or the sex of the person asking for change; nor were there any interactions involving those variables. The results suggest that the negative attitudes towards homosexuals reported in other studies have clear behavioural correlates and that 'homophobia' may be widespread in the general population.

Attitude↗
PubMed1991

Driving in Parkinson's disease.

Altered motor or mental skills in Parkinson's disease (PD) could adversely affect driving ability. We interviewed 150 patients regarding their driving habits and compared them with 100 controls. Thirty patients had stopped driving because of PD. PD patients had no more lifetime accidents than controls. With increased disability, however, there was a smaller percentage of patients still driving with fewer miles traveled and with proportionately more accidents occurring. Though disability scores did not correlate well with driving ability, there were significantly more accidents in subjects with more severe PD. The presence of cognitive impairment was associated with an increased accident rate. We conclude that driving in PD may be a public health problem and that some PD patients should not drive.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1990

Phenotypic characterization of macrophage subpopulations and localization of factor XIII in the stromal cells of carcinomas.

The infiltration of macrophages both within and at the margin of malignant neoplasms can be extensive, but their functions are not well defined. Definitions of the antigenic phenotype defined by various monoclonal antibodies may allow insight into macrophage function. Single and double immunoenzymatic labelling techniques were used to characterize sub-populations of macrophages both within and at the margin of breast carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma using a panel of antibodies. Factor XIII, previously identified in macrophage cytoplasm, was localized at the same sites. Two major groups of tumour-associated macrophages were identified; class II MHC+, CD11c+ macrophages predominated within the neoplasm, whereas CD14+ macrophages were the major population at the invasive margin. Factor XIII+ macrophages were also seen predominantly at the invasive margin. Phenotypic variation between macrophage sub-populations may reflect functional variation such that macrophages may be beneficial or detrimental for neoplastic growth. Factor XIII derived from macrophages may be important in stabilization of fibrin deposits associated with the neoplasm.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Long-term sequelae of treatment for testicular germ cell tumours.

Seventy-four patients previously treated in our department for germ cell tumour of the testis underwent a series of tests to determine the frequency of long-term therapeutic complications. All had received cisplatin-based chemotherapy as part of their treatment. There was a significant deterioration in renal function throughout the group. Eighteen (24%) had supine blood pressure greater than systolic 140 mmHg or diastolic 90 mmHg after treatment but hypertension did not correlate with renal impairment. Raynaud's phenomenon was common after chemotherapy (26/74) as was persistent sensory neuropathy (23/74). Although 34% had testosterone levels below the normal range, only six patients had a low free testosterone index with one testis still in situ; 18 patients have fathered children after chemotherapy. Approximately half of the patients completed a psychosexual questionnaire and some 30% of them admitted to sexual problems which they attributed to their treatment. Long-term sequelae of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for testicular malignancy are frequent and persistent, and follow-up of these patients should include prospective measurement of changes in blood pressure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Failure of fixed-dose, fixed muscle injection of botulinum toxin in torticollis.

We studied the effect of botulinum toxin injection in 30 patients with torticollis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. A fixed dose of toxin was injected into the contralateral sternocleidomastoid and both trapezius muscles. Clinical improvement was assessed by a rating scale and by patient self-evaluation. Subjective rating noted improvement in some patients, but there was no change in objective measures. The use of larger doses and injection of additional muscles may be necessary to achieve increased efficacy of botulinum toxin in the treatment of torticollis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The written recall of printed stories by severely deaf children.

The written recall of printed stories by a sample (N = 16) of severely deaf children (mean age 13:3) was compared with that of a slow-reading hearing sample. The deaf children recalled as much, or more, of the story content. In general, however, their recall contained more distortions of the kind that indicates a break-down of the temporal structure of the story. The writing of one story in Sign word order proved to have a facilitatory effect on close recall by the deaf children, but not upon their free recall (as measured by either the amount recalled or the number of distortions), thus clarifying a well-confirmed finding in the literature. The deaf had even more difficulty than the slow-hearing in employing a "top-down", schema-driven strategy at the whole passage level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Environmental risk factors in Parkinson's disease.

To investigate possible risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD) we conducted a case-control study of 150 PD patients and 150 age- and sex-matched controls. We interviewed and examined all 300 subjects. We collected demographic data including lifetime histories of places of residence, source of drinking water, and occupations such as farming. Subjects completed a detailed questionnaire regarding herbicide/pesticide exposure. Rural living and drinking well water were significantly increased in the PD patients. This was observed regardless of age at disease onset. Drinking well water was dependent on rural living. There were no significant differences between cases and controls for farming or any measure of exposure to herbicides or pesticides. These data provide further evidence that an environmental toxin could be involved in the etiology of PD.

Aged↗