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Biomedical subjects

C Harrington

Publications and source records attributed to C Harrington.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

An examination of the involvement of phospholipases A2 and C in the alpha-adrenergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor modulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in rat brain slices.

Experiments were undertaken to define the role of two calcium-associated enzyme systems in modulating transmitter-stimulated production of cyclic nucleotides in rat brain. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation was examined in cerebral cortical slices using a prelabeling technique. The enhancement of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production by alpha-adrenergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) agonists was reduced by exposing the tissue to EGTA, a chelator of divalent cations, or quinacrine, a nonselective inhibitor of phospholipase A2. Likewise, chronic (2 weeks) administration of corticosterone decreased the alpha-adrenergic and GABAB receptor modulation of second messenger production. Neither cyclooxygenase nor lipoxygenase inhibitors selectively influenced the facilitating response of alpha-adrenergic and GABAB agonists. Other experiments revealed that although norepinephrine and 6-fluoronorepinephrine stimulated inositol phosphate (IP) production in cerebral cortical slices with potencies equal to those displayed in the cyclic nucleotide assay, selective alpha 1-adrenergic agonists were less efficacious on IP formation and were without effect in the cAMP assay. Conversely, a selective alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist facilitated the cAMP response to a beta-adrenergic agonist without affecting IP formation. The rank orders of potency of a series of alpha-adrenergic antagonists suggest that IP accumulation is mediated solely by alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, whereas the augmentation of cAMP accumulation is regulated by a mixed population of alpha-adrenergic sites. The results suggest that the alpha-adrenergic and GABAB receptor-mediated enhancement of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP formation appears to be more closely associated with phospholipase A2 than phospholipase C and may be mediated by arachidonate or some other fatty acid.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1986

Estimating undersupply of nursing home beds in states.

This examination of nursing home bed supply estimates undersupply in each of the states for the purpose of identifying the states with the greatest undersupply of beds. New data on state nursing home bed supply for the period 1979-1982 are used. The study employs selected independent variables in two different types of analyses to estimate bed supply for each state. Where a state is found to have a bed shortage, state public policymakers may wish to employ policies that differ from those suitable for states with an adequate supply of beds. Because of limitations in the data, issues of oversupply and of the extent of undersupply could not be examined.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Skin testing in the investigation of reactions to intravenous anaesthetic drugs. A prospective trial of atracurium and tubocurarine.

Intradermal skin testing is widely used to determine the causative drugs of presumed anaphylactic anaesthetic reactions. This paper sets out to evaluate the usefulness of skin tests, both intradermal and prick testing, in the prediction of anaesthetic reactions. The muscle relaxant drugs tubocurarine and atracurium were chosen for study since they are known to produce a high incidence of minor histaminoid reactions. A trial was conducted in 22 female patients about to undergo elective gynaecological surgery for non-malignant conditions. In intradermal tests, positive wheal and flare reactions to one or other relaxant (diluted 1 in 1,000) occurred in 17 patients and reactions to both drugs in 11 patients. Despite this high incidence of positive reactions, none of the patients had received either drug previously, a view confirmed by the negative results of prick testing. Likewise, when anaesthetized for surgery using atracurium or tubocurarine allocated randomly, the minor histaminoid manifestations observed showed no correlation whatsoever with the intradermal tests results. The results of the trial, combined with external reports to this centre, indicate that intradermal testing of anaesthetic drugs, particularly muscle relaxants, produces a high incidence of false positive results. This probably reflects their pharmacological activity rather than antigenicity. It is recommended, therefore, that skin testing should be reserved for situations in which there are strong indications from laboratory tests, backed by case history, of immune sensitization.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Generalized histiocytosis X in the elderly: a light and electron microscope and monoclonal antibody study.

Two elderly female patients are described with generalized histiocytosis X (Letterer-Siwe disease). In each case, a definitive diagnosis was not established until ultrastructural and immunoperoxidase investigations had been performed. The histopathological findings in skin biopsies from each patient were similar. Light microscopy demonstrated a bandlike epidermotrophic cellular infiltrate which included large atypical cells (histiocytosis X cells). Electron microscopy showed that these cells contained Birbeck granules. Monoclonal antibody studies demonstrated the presence of T6, T4 and HLA-DR surface antigens. Lysozyme and alpha-I-antitrypsin were absent from the cells. The associated cellular infiltrate included T4 and T8 positive lymphocytes. It is possible that more cases of generalized histiocytosis X in adults will be identified with the increasing use of specialized histopathological techniques and that the disease is more common than currently believed.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Public policy and the nursing home industry.

The nursing home industry is a multibillion dollar business in the United States, characterized by rapid growth in profits and large chain-owned corporations. The industry, while private in nature, is effectively a public program defined by public policies, particularly by the Medicaid program. Demand for services is artificially inflated because of the absence of community-based alternatives and favorable nursing home reimbursement policies. The effectiveness of regulatory activities in protecting consumers is questionable, where poor quality is commonly found. Although the structure of the nursing home industry requires radical change, the politics and economics of the current situation reinforce continued expansion of the industry and the use of institutionalization as the primary modality of treatment for the frail aged.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Medicaid nursing home reimbursement policies, rates, and expenditures.

Nursing home expenditures, along with those of hospitals, have been a target of cost containment efforts because they constitute a growing share of overall public expenditures for health. Of the total $287 billion spent on personal health care in 1982, $27 billion (9.5 percent) was spent on nursing home care (Gibson, Waldo, and Levit, 1983). Nationally, nursing home expenditures increased at a rate of 17.4 percent between 1980 and 1981 and 12.9 percent between 1981 and 1982, more rapidly than overall health care expenditures (Gibson, Waldo, and Levit, 1983).

Medicaid↗
PubMed1981

An evening on call.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1975

Medical ideologies in conflict.

During the 1960s, the growing dissent within the medical profession heightened the ideological differences among physicians. This paper focuses on the ideological differences among three groups within medicine: traditionalists, liberals, and radicals. A content analysis of selected medical editorials and articles during 1972 was used to identify differences in ideological content for the following areas: professional unity; authority; self-regulations; self-education; the role of health professionals; manpower; medical education; research; health care; financing health care; and governmental relations.

American Medical Association↗