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Biomedical subjects

E C Grant

Publications and source records attributed to E C Grant.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of concentrations of some trace, bulk, and toxic metals in the hair of normal and dyslexic children.

Hair from dyslexic children, analyzed by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry, showed significantly higher concentrations of magnesium and copper than did hair from control subjects. The hair from dyslexic children also contained significantly higher concentrations of aluminum and cadmium than that from control children; the cadmium concentration exceeded the normal acceptable range. There were no significant differences in the case of lead, calcium, selenium, or mercury. Our results indicate that excessive cadmium burden could be implicated in this form of learning disorder.

Adolescent↗

Food allergies and migraine.

60 migraine patients completed elimination diets after a 5-day period of withdrawal from their normal diet. 52 (87%) of these patients had been using oral contraceptive steroids, tobacco, and/or ergotamine for an average of 3 years, 22 years, and 7.4 years respectively. The commonest foods causing reactions were wheat (78%), orange (65%), eggs (45%), tea and coffee (40% each), chocolate and milk (37%) each), beef (35%), and corn, cane sugar, and yeast (33% each). When an average of ten common foods were avoided there was a dramatic fall in the number of headaches per month, 85% of patients becoming headache-free. The 25% of patients with hypertension became normotensive. Chemicals in the home environment can make this testing difficult for outpatients. Both immunological and non-immunological mechanisms may play a part in the pathogenesis of migraine caused by food intolerance.

Adolescent↗

The effect of ginseng on lifespan and stress responses in mice.

It has been suggested that ginseng can increase long-term resistance to stress and disease and therefore affect the lifespan. We set out to investigate this idea by testing whether the continuous administration of ginseng could affect the lifespan of mice and/or their behavioural responses to stress. 270 mice of strain LACa were divided into three groups: one group which was given ginseng from 8 weeks of age, a second group which was given ginseng from 52 weeks of age and an untreated control group. The mice were generally healthy. Their weights remained stable throughout their lifespan and were not altered by ginseng. Ginseng administration did not significantly alter the lifespan. However, ginseng did cause an exaggeration of the behavioural responses to mild stress. This effect was noticeable soon after ginseng administration and subsequently was maintained.

Animals↗

[Effect of hormones on headaches in women and the associated endometrial patterns].

Headaches appear to be a reaction to changes in either exogenous levels. We are now investigating serum immunoglobulins in women with menstrual migraine and have found that in 22 women, 6 have low immunoglobulin A levels, all below the normal range, and 5 have high immunoglobulin M levels, above the normal range. The hereditary aspect of migraine may depend on inheriting a particular immune pattern which might cause a special sensitivity to hormone effects on blood vessels. This might account for the suppression of menstrual migraine by cortisone or large doses of progesterone. Deficiency of progesterone is unlikely to be responsible for the premenstrual syndrome as the week following menstruation is usually the time which is most often free from symptoms and at this part of the cycle there are very low levels of progesterone. The most reactive women are also the most sensitive to the side effects of drugs or hormones given to treat migraine, which makes the treatment of migraine difficult.

Adult↗

[The influence of hormones on headaches in women and the associated endometrial patterns (author's transl)].

Headaches appear to be a reaction to changes in either exogenous or endogenous levels. We are now investigating serum immunoglobulins in women with menstrual migraine and have found that in 22 women, 6 have low immunoglobulin A levels, all below the normal range, and 5 have high immunoglobulin M levels, above the normal range. The hereditary aspect of migraine may depend on inheriting a particular immune pattern which might cause a special sensitivity to hormone effects on blood vessels. This might account for the suppression of menstrual migraine by cortisone or large doses of progesterone. Deficiency of progesterone is unlikely to be responsible for the premenstrual syndrome as the week following menstruation is usually the time which is most often free from symptoms and at this part of the cycle there are very low levels of progesterone. The most reactive women are also the most sensitive to the side effects of drugs or hormones given to treat migraine, which makes the treatment of migraine difficult.

Adult↗