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Biomedical subjects

E F Ellis

Publications and source records attributed to E F Ellis.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Short-term efficacy and side effects of cloprednol in children with asthma.

Efficacy and safety of alternate-day prednisolone compared to single daily cloprednol were evaluated over a six-week period in 11 children with severe asthma requiring in-residence medical supervision and long-term corticosteroid therapy. Clinical indices of efficacy, including daily pulmonary symptom scores, number of asthma attacks, asthma severity scores, and bronchodilator usage, all favored cloprednol. Afternoon pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC, and PEFR) were all significantly improved during the cloprednol period. Although plasma cortisol values remained within the broad range of normal during the cloprednol period, mean values were consistent with partial pituitary-adrenal suppression similar in degree to that observed 24 hours after administration of an alternate-day program of prednisolone therapy. The results of this trial showed cloprednol in single daily doses to be more effective than prednisolone in alternate doses for the treatment of children with severe asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Vasodilation of cat cerebral arterioles by prostaglandins D2, E2, G2, and I2.

To determine the possible role that endogenously produced prostaglandins may play in the regulation of cerebral blood flow, the responses of cerebral precapillary vessels to prostaglandins (PG) D2, E2, G2, and I2 (8.1 X 10(-8) to 2.7 X 10(-5) M) were studied in cats equipped with cranial windows for direct observation of the microvasculature. Local application of PGs induced a dose-dependent dilation of large (greater than or equal to 100 microns) and small (less than 100 microns) arterioles with no effect on arterial blood pressure. The relative vasodilator potency was PGG2 greater than PGE2 greater than PGI2 greater than PGD2. With all PGs, except D2, the percent dilation of small arterioles was greater than the dilation of large arterioles. After application of prostaglandins in a concentration of 2.7 X 10(-5) M, the mean +/- standard error of the percent dilation of large and small arterioles was, respectively, 47.6 +/- 2.7 and 65.3 +/- 6.1 for G2, 34.1 +/- 2.0, and 53.6 +/- 5.5 for E2, 25.4 +/- 1.8, and 40.2 +/- 4.6 for I2, and 20.3 +/- 2.5 and 11.0 +/- 2.2 for D2. Because brain arterioles are strongly responsive to prostaglandins and the brain can synthesize prostaglandins from its large endogenous pool of prostaglandin precursor, prostaglandins may be important mediators of changes in cerebral blood flow under normal and abnormal conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Effects of prostaglandin cyclic endoperoxides on the lung circulation of unanesthetized sheep.

Although prostaglandins E(2) and F(2alpha) have been suggested as mediators of the pulmonary hypertension seen after endotoxin infusion or during alveolar hypoxia, their precursors, the endoperoxides (prostaglandins G(2) and H(2)) are much more potent vasoconstrictors in vitro. In this study we compared the effects of prostaglandin (PG)H(2), a stable 9-methylene ether analogue of PGH(2) (PGH(2)-A), PGE(2), and PGF(2alpha) on pulmonary hemodynamics in awake sheep. The animals were prepared to allow for measurement of (a) lung lymph flow; (b) plasma and lymph protein concentration; (c) systemic and pulmonary vascular pressures; and (d) cardiac output. We also determined the effect of prolonged PGH(2)-A infusions on lung fluid balance and vascular permeability by indicator dilution methods, and by assessing the response of lung lymph. Both PGH(2) and PGH(2)-A caused a dose-related increase in pulmonary artery pressure: 0.25 mug/kg x min tripled pulmonary vascular resistance without substantially affecting systemic pressures. Both were 100 times more potent than PGE(2) or PGF(2alpha) in this preparation. PGH(2)-A, as our analysis of lung lymph and indicator dilution measurements show, does not increase the permeability of exchanging vessels in the lung to fluid and protein. It does, however, augment lung fluid transport by increasing hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary circulation. We conclude: (a) that PGH(2) is likely to be an important mediator of pulmonary vasoconstriction; (b) its effects are probably not a result of its metabolites PGE(2) or PGF(2alpha).

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Prostacyclin: a potent stimulator of adrenal steroidogenesis.

The relative potencies of various prostaglandins were investigated in trypsin-dispersed cat adrenocortical cells. Prostacyclin proved to be the most potent steroidogenic prostaglandin, being 100-1000 times more potent than PGE2. This stimulant effect of prostacyclin was only partially dependent upon the presence of extracellular calcium and was associated with increased levels of cyclic AMP. These data suggest a possible role for prostacyclin in corticosteroidogenesis.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1977

Primary acquired cold urticaria. Double-blind comparative study of treatment with cyproheptadine, chlorpheniramine, and placebo.

Eight subjects with primary-acquired cold urticaria were treated with chlorpheniramine maleate, cyproheptadine hydrochloride, and placebo in a double-blind clinical trial. During three separate seven-day treatment periods, each patient took 4 mg of either active drug or lactose placebo three times a day. Objective measurements were made at the beginning and end of each treatment period by establishing the minimum time (MT) of cold stimulus application required to provoke urtication. In addition, the spontaneous appearance of cold urticaria lesions was recorded during each treatment period. The MT required for induction of urtication with a cold stimulus was significantly greater for eight patients receiving cyproheptadine as compared to chlorpheniramine or placebo (P less than .01). The study demonstrated that cyproheptadine had a significant suppressive action on experimental cold-induced urticaria, while placebo and chlorpheniramine proved ineffective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Coronary arterial smooth muscle contraction by a substance released from platelets: evidence that it is thromboxane A2.

When human platelets are aggregated by thrombin, material is released that rapidly contracts strips of spirally cut porcine coronary artery. Prevention of the contraction by indomethacin suggested mediation by a prostaglandin. The contraction produced by aggregating platelets was unlike those produced by prostaglandins E2, F2alpha, G2, or H2, but resembled that evoked by thromboxane A2, which is formed by platelets during aggregation.

Arteries↗
PubMed1976

Pharmacologic therapy of asthma.

Asthma is treated by avoiding the precipitants of symptoms, by a trial of hyposensitization (immunotherapy) if the precipitant cannot be avoided, and principally by pharmacologic therapy. Acute attacks have been most widely treated with epinephrine, but adrenergic aerosol bronchodilators and aminophylline are being used increasingly. When an acute attack of asthma does not respond to treatment, a diagnosis of status asthmaticus should be considered and the patient treated in a hospital intensive care unit because of the potentially life-threatening sequela of respiratory failure. Periodic mild episodes of asthma usually respond to administration of an oral bronchodilator. Chronic low-grade asthma is best treated with an around-the-clock regimen of theophylline. Patients whose asthma is not under satisfactory control with conventional bronchodilators may be given a trial of cromolyn sodium. Chronic severe cases may be treated with corticosteroids, but these drugs must be skillfully administered to avoid adverse effects.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

Pharmacokinetics of theophylline in children with asthma.

The pharmacokinetics of theophylline following intravenous injection of aminophylline, 4 mg/kg of body weight, were determined in 30 children with asthma and in 6 normal adult volunteers. The average total clearance of theophylline was 87 ml/hr/kg in the children and 57 ml/hr/kg in the adults. The biologic half-life of theophylline in the children ranged from 1.42 to 7.85 hours, reflecting mainly pronounced interindividual differences in the elimination rate constant of the drug. There was no significant difference between the children and adults with respect to the distribution rate constants and apparent volumes of distribution of theophylline, but the elimination rate constant of the drug was considerably higher in children than in adults. Thus, children eliminate theophylline more rapidly on the average than do adults and also show pronounced interindividual differences in the elimination of the drug. Compared to adults, children tend to require relatively larger amounts of theophylline per day and the doses may have to be given at shorter intervals of time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Effect of ethanol on theophylline absorption in humans.

This study was carried out to determine if ethanol, which enhances theophylline absorption from the rat small intestine, has a similar effect when administered orally to human subjects. Seven normal adults received 200 mg of theophylline/m-2 of body surface area, in 50 ml of either aqueous solution or hydroalcoholic solution containing 20% ethanol. There was no significant difference in the average plasma concentrations of theophylline produced by these two solutions, but three subjects (all female) experienced nausea after taking the aqueous solution while none became nauseous after taking theophylline in the hydroalcoholic solution.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1975

Growth of asthmatic children during treatment with alternate-day steriods.

The effects of specific doses of alternate-day treatment with prednisone on linear growth were evaluated in children with severe asthma. It was found that even the control patients who did not receive steroid therapy had heights that were significantly lower than those of normal children of the same age and sex. The average severity of growth suppression in children who received alternate-day or intermittent treatment with steriods did not differ from that of asthmatic control patients. However, evaluation of individual patterns of growth during the follow-up period revealed that children who received small doses of alternate-day treatment (mean dose of prednisone, 9 mg. q.o.d.; range, 2.5 to 14 mg.) had acceleration of growth, whereas children who received larger treatment doses (mean dose of prednisone, 30 mg. q.o.d.; range, 18 to 58 mg.) had further suppression of growth during the period of study. Additionally, patients who had previously been treated with daily corticosteroids failed to demonstrate "catch-up" growth after introduction of an alternate-day program (mean dose of prednisone, 17 mg. q.o.d.).

Age Factors↗