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Biomedical subjects

E Harris

Publications and source records attributed to E Harris.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

The acute effect of cigarette smoking on the neutrophil elastase inhibitory capacity of peripheral lung lavage from asymptomatic volunteers.

Cigarette smoke-induced emphysema is thought to involve reduction of antielastolytic capacity, resulting in elevated elastase activity and lung tissue damage. Peripheral lavage collected from ten asymptomatic subjects immediately before and 20 min after smoking two high tar cigarettes was analysed for neutrophil elastase (NE) inhibitory capacity (IC), alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (PI) function, elastolytic activity and immunoreactive levels of PI and bronchial inhibitor (BI). The only change found was a small fall in mol immunoreactive PI/mol albumin after smoking (approximately 17%, p less than 0.05) which did not affect NEIC, since PI contributed less than 50% of the NEIC. There was often more NEIC than mol BI + functional PI, suggesting the presence of other NE inhibitors. Thoracic computerized tomography scans of eight of these subjects highlighted two with emphysematous regions of lung; lavage from these two subjects contained either undetectable BI or inactive BI and this suggests a protective role for BI in emphysema.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Heterogeneity of [3H]neurotensin bindings: studies with dynorphin, L-156,903 and levocabastine.

The binding of [3H]neurotensin (NT) to membranes from rat forebrain was complex, exhibiting 'high' affinity (Kd approximately 0.5 nM) and 'low' affinity (Kd approximately 5.0 nM) binding components. Dynorphin A(1-13) (DYN A(1-13] and L-156,903 (N-oxo-3-(10H-phenothiazine-10-yl)propyl-1- arginyl-1-prolyl-1-phenylalanine) potently inhibited [3H]NT binding to brain with shallow biphasic competition curves. Saturation binding studies conducted in the presence or absence of DYN A(1-13) or L-156,903 indicated that these compounds, like levocabastine, exhibited substantial selectivity for 'low' affinity NT site. Structure-activity studies indicated rigid structural requirements for the NT binding activity of DYN A(1-13) and L-156,903. In contrast to the results using brain tissue, DYN A(1-13), L-156,903 and levocabastine were very weak or inactive to inhibit [3H]NT binding to rat uterus. These studies further characterize the heterogeneity of [3H]NT binding in vitro and demonstrate clear tissue differences in binding within a given species.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Inpatient family intervention: a randomized clinical trial. II. Results at hospital discharge.

Although family intervention is practiced in most psychiatric hospitals, to our knowledge, no adequately controlled studies of its efficacy exist. This study was designed to answer, in part, the question of the relative efficacy of hospitalization with family intervention as compared with hospitalization without family intervention for patients (1) with major psychiatric disorders, (2) in need of hospital treatment, and (3) for whom both treatments are judged clinically feasible. This article compares treatment results at the time of hospital discharge for 169 patients randomly assigned to the inpatient Family Intervention or comparison conditions. Inpatient Family Intervention had greater efficacy than the comparison treatment, mostly attributable to its effect on female patients, especially those patients (and their families) with affective disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Subacute infantile mountain sickness.

A description is given of a disease of infants occurring in Lhasa, Tibet at an altitude of 3600 m. Typically if affects infants who have been born at low altitude and subsequently brought to residue in Lhasa, and it is usually fatal within a few weeks or months. There is extreme medial hypertrophy of muscular pulmonary arteries and muscularization of pulmonary arterioles, together with dilatation of the pulmonary trunk and massive hypertrophy and dilatation of the right ventricle. The disease is distinct from acute or chronic mountain sickness and appears to be the human counterpart of 'brisket disease' in cattle.

Altitude Sickness↗
PubMed1988

Is neutrophil elastase associated with elastic tissue in emphysema?

To test the role of elastase in the pathogenesis of emphysema human neutrophil elastase (HNE) was localised by electron microscopy using an immunogold staining technique. Specific localisation of HNE to elastic tissue in emphysema did not occur, but non-specific binding of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to elastic tissue in emphysematous and normal lung tissue, which was completely blocked by the non-immune serum that was homologous to the gold labelled second antibody, was found. HNE was also present, however, in the granules of neutrophils in the same sections. Non-specific labelling associated with elastin was probably due to binding of IgG to the high numbers of hydrophobic and charged regions known to be present in this molecule, and it is concluded that our findings do not support the existence of high concentrations of elastase in association with elastin in emphysematous lung tissue.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

A randomized clinical trial of inpatient family intervention, III: Effects at 6-month and 18-month follow-ups.

This paper focuses on the follow-up results of a randomized clinical trial of inpatient family intervention (IFI) that emphasized psychoeducation. Results for the sample of 169 psychiatric patients suggested that adding family treatment to standard hospital treatment was effective; however, the statistical interactions indicated that this therapeutic effect was restricted to female patients with schizophrenia or major affective disorder. The effect of family treatment on male patients with these diagnoses was minimal or slightly negative. In a group of patients with other diagnoses, the Treatment by Sex effect was reversed: male patients did better with the family treatment.

Affective Disorders, Psychotic↗
PubMed1988

The antipsychotics.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1986

Pulmonary haemodynamics of the yak, cattle, and cross breeds at high altitude.

The pulmonary arterial pressure of Ladakhi yaks, at an altitude of about 4500m, was not significantly different from that found in yaks bred at low altitude. The pulmonary arterial resistance, however, was slightly but significantly increased in the high altitude group. It is concluded that the yak has adapted genetically to high altitude by largely eliminating the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response. The pulmonary arterial pressure and resistance were significantly higher in indigenous Himalayan cattle than in the yaks. The dzo (cow X yak) had pulmonary haemodynamics similar to those of the yak. Half of the stols (dzo X bull) had pulmonary haemodynamics similar to those of the yak, while in the other half the findings resembled those in the cow. The results suggest that the genetic attenuation of the hypoxic vasoconstrictor response is transmitted as a simple autosomal dominant.

Altitude↗
PubMed1985

A controlled evaluation of inpatient family intervention. I. Preliminary results of the six-month follow-up.

Although family intervention is practiced in most psychiatric hospitals, there are no adequately controlled studies of its efficacy. This study was designed to answer, in part, the following question: What is the relative efficacy of hospitalization with family intervention as compared with hospitalization without family intervention for patients with major psychiatric disorders who are in need of hospital treatment and for whom both treatments are judged clinically feasible? This is our first report, presenting preliminary data on six-month follow-up for the first three quarters of the total sample of 144 patients (80 with schizophrenic disorder and 64 with major affective disorder).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Rotator cuff tears: evaluation using double-contrast shoulder arthrography.

To determine the accuracy of double-contrast arthrography in complete rotator cuff tears, we studied 805 patients thought to have a complete rotator cuff tear who had undergone double-contrast shoulder arthrography (DCSA) between 1978 and 1983. The results of this study indicate that DCSA is exquisitely sensitive and as accurate as the single-contrast examination. The site of disruption was directly visualized in 93% of cases, and the size of the defect and status of the torn tendon edges were reliably predicted. Such information may influence the surgeon in patient selection for operative repair as well as surgical approach.

Arthrography↗
PubMed1985

Unusual syndrome among premature infants: association with a new intravenous vitamin E product.

Eight small, premature infants developed an unusual symptom complex of pulmonary deterioration, thrombocytopenia, liver failure, ascites, and renal failure. Five infants died; the health of the other three infants improved and they were discharged from the hospital. This unusual syndrome occurred after introduction of a new intravenous vitamin E product (E-Ferol, alpha-tocopherol acetate) for routine use in the intensive care nursery. Even though no definite conclusion was reached as to its cause, the administration of this intravenous vitamin E product appears to be a significant risk factor.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1984

Factor V deficiency and antenatal intraventricular haemorrhage.

Serial obstetric ultrasound showed the development of asymmetrical ventricular dilatation between 28 and 32 weeks' gestation. After delivery at 38 weeks, progressive ventricular dilatation required a ventriculo-atrial shunt. Investigation of postoperative bleeding into the cerebral ventricles consistently showed factor V values of only two per cent.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1983

Bone disease after jejuno-ileal bypass for morbid obesity.

Fifteen patients who had undergone a 14 inches X 4 inches jejuno-ileal bypass operation for obesity, 3 to 4 years earlier, were investigated by iliac bone biopsy, radiology and routine biochemistry, including 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and parathyroid hormone estimations. Two patients had histological osteomalacia which was mild in one. A further 9 patients had abnormal bone biopsies, there being an excess of trabecular bone surface covered by osteoid with a normal or reduced amount of calcification front. Six of these 9 showed an increase in trabecular resorption, although in none were there excessive numbers of osteoclasts. The likely explanation for these findings is that these 9 patients had early osteomalacia with mild hyperparathyroidism, making a total of 11 patients out of 15 with osteomalacia. Radiology and blood chemistry were poor predictors of histological bone disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The 'shrinking man' syndrome.

3 men presented with loss of height. Quantitative bone histology revealed all the features of hyperparathyroidism, yet the plasma calcium and hand radiographs were normal. 2 of the patients had been on maintenance haemodialysis for over 10 years (a group in whom osteopenia is described) and the third was elderly. It is probable that in these 3 patients the loss of height was due to wedging of vertebrae as a result of the hyperparathyroidism. It is suggested that in all 3 the disease became manifest clinically because the vertebrae may have been osteopenic for other reasons.

Adult↗