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Biomedical subjects

E M Smith

Publications and source records attributed to E M Smith.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Interleukin-10 (cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor) acts in the central nervous system of rats to reduce sleep.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10), originally designated a cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor, inhibits the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor by stimulated human and mouse monocytes/macrophages; these cytokines are involved in the regulation of sleep. To determine if IL-10 reduces spontaneous sleep, we injected murine recombinant IL-10 intracerebroventricularly into rats prior to light onset. Non-rapid eye movements sleep was reduced. The behavioral responses to IL-10 were abolished by heat-inactivation of this cytokine. We believe these to be the first observations of central nervous system actions for this cytokine. These results further support the hypothesis that cytokines are involved in the regulation of sleep, and suggest an additional mechanism whereby sleep may be altered in response to an activated immune system.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Perinatal transmission and maternal risks of human papillomavirus infection.

We conducted a prospective study to investigate whether human papillomavirus (HPV) could be vertically transmitted to neonates. Pregnant women (N = 203) were tested for HPV DNA infection during the third trimester and again during labor prior to delivery. Their newborns (N = 203) were tested 1 to 3 days after delivery. Among the mothers, 12.3% (N = 25/203) typed HPV positive at either or both maternal specimen collection periods, whereas only 1.0% of the neonates (N = 2/203) typed positive. This low transmission rate may be due in part to the fact that 65% of mothers who were HPV positive during the third trimester tested HPV negative by labor/delivery. The higher frequency of risks associated with maternal HPV infection were similar to those found in studies of cervical dysplasia and cancer: younger age at first intercourse and first pregnancy, number of sexual partners, and longer duration in use of oral contraceptives. In addition, those who were past smokers and had a shorter recency and latency period in smoking were more likely to be detected with HPV.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Arterial hypertension associated with topical ocular use of phenylephrine in dogs.

In 3 dogs scheduled for surgical removal of cataracts, systemic and topical treatment with antibiotics and topical ocular treatment with prednisolone, atropine, flurbiprofen, and phenylephrine were used to achieve maximal mydriasis, with minimal risk of pupillary constriction in response to surgery. Each dog developed arterial hypertension, with systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures ranging from 170 to 205, 90 to 112, and 123 to 148 mm of Hg, respectively. Hypertension was treated with acepromazine maleate (0.001 to 0.005 mg/kg of body weight) i.v., decreasing arterial pressures to reference values. Phenylephrine dosages for topical use ranged from 50 to 367 times greater than the i.v. dose required to increase arterial pressure by 50% in anesthetized dogs. Although adverse sequelae to these episodes of hypertension were not noticed, this report documents the uptake of phenylephrine from topical ocular application and suggests the need for dose-response measurements for this adjunct to mydriatic treatment in dogs.

Acepromazine↗
PubMed1994

Effect of topical pilocarpine treatment on tear production in dogs.

Tear production, evaluated every 2 hours from 8 AM to 8 PM by use of the Schirmer tear test over a 3-day period, was not significantly different between left and right eyes in 12 dogs. However, a significant diurnal pattern was evident. Tear production was lowest at midday and highest in the late afternoon/early evening. After pilocarpine HCl ophthalmic solution (0.25, 1.0, or 2.0%; 1 drop) was administered topically to the left eye of each dog at 7 AM on days 4, 6, and 8, respectively, tear production was determined for both eyes every 2 hours from 8 AM to 8 PM on the day of treatment. Analysis of tear values between eyes and between each eye's treatment and pretreatment values did not reveal significant change for the treated eye, but tear production was significantly less in the untreated eye, compared with its pretreatment values and with values in the treated eye. On day 10 (48 hours after the last treatment), tear production values were not significantly different between left and right eyes, and for both eyes, were not significantly different from the mean pretreatment tear production values. Topical application of 0.25, 1.0, or 2.0% pilocarpine HCl consistently caused blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, and miosis of the treated eye, without significant increase in tear production. We concluded that topical application of pilocarpine, at the concentrations used, may have little value in treating disorders involving reduced tear production.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Mercaptoacyl amino acid inhibitors of atriopeptidase. 1. Structure-activity relationship studies of methionine and S-alkylcysteine derivatives.

A broad series of N-(3-mercaptoacyl) amino acid derivatives was evaluated for their ability to inhibit atriopeptidase (neutral endopeptidase, EC 3.4.24.11) in vitro and in vivo. Structural parameters studied were (i) the substituent on the 2-position of the 3-mercaptopropionyl moiety, (ii) the amino acid component, (iii) the S-terminal derivative, and (iv) the C-terminal derivative. Optimum activity was observed for derivatives of methionine and S-alkylcysteines. N-[3-Mercapto-2(S)-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-oxopropyl]-L-methionine was identified as a highly effective inhibitor of atriopeptidase meriting evaluation as a potential cardiovascular therapeutic agent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Evidence for the production and action of interleukin-10 in pituitary cells.

1. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has a wide range of activities in the immune system such as modulation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and antibody production. The neuropeptide hormone corticotropin (ACTH) has similar activities, suggesting that a bidirectional communication mechanism operates between the immune and the neuroendocrine system involving these two substances. 2. Murine pituitary tumor cells (AtT-20) were found to produce up to 3 ng/ml of IL-10. 3. Pituitary cell corticotropin production was enhanced by IL-10 treatment. 4. IL-10 induced the production of ACTH in mouse splenocytes. 5. Authenticity of pituitary-derived IL-10 was shown by the demonstration of identical nucleic acid sequences of reverse-transcribed, polymerase chain reaction amplified fragments of cDNA obtained from murine splenocytes, a murine pituitary tumor cell line, and freshly isolated murine pituitaries.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1994

Violence and the homeless: an epidemiologic study of victimization and aggression.

The present study is a random, systematic study of 900 homeless subjects in St. Louis that describes violence in their lives, both in terms of victimization, by specific violent traumatic events, and victimizing with recognized aggressive behaviors. Many subjects had experienced a traumatic event, and post-traumatic stress disorder was very common. Substance abuse and other Axis I disorders were associated with a history of a traumatic event. The majority of men and a substantial proportion of women also had a history of physically aggressive behaviors, often beginning in childhood. Aggressive adult behavior was associated with substance abuse and major depression. The aggressive behaviors usually predated homelessness, and about half continued after the individual had become homeless. Therefore, it is seen that violence is very much a part of the lives of the homeless, and it seems to be part of a broader picture of problems associated with risk for and experience of homelessness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Not all homeless women are alike: effects of motherhood and the presence of children.

Previous work suggests that the population of homeless women is a heterogeneous group, and that motherhood and the presence or absence of children define sub-groups that may be distinct. The current study is a systematic study of 300 homeless women (90% of whom were mothers) according to these suggested sub-groupings. Mothers whose children were with them, compared to other women, were younger and often unemployed and welfare dependent. Mothers without their children had higher rates of nonsubstance Axis I disorders (48%) and alcoholism (33%), and 72% had a lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. Homeless mothers whose children are not with them represent a deviant subgroup with more personal (and fewer social) vulnerabilities to homelessness and may represent a target population for focus of psychiatric treatment efforts. Mothers with their children may benefit more from increased attention to social services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Double antimicrobial prophylaxis in girls with breakthrough urinary tract infections.

OBJECTIVE: Some girls receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) experience breakthrough infections. The clinical characteristics of girls experiencing a breakthrough UTI and the efficacy of an antimicrobial combination was studied. METHODS: Girls were managed by frequent timed voiding, anticholinergic medication for bladder instability, and double antimicrobial prophylaxis consisting of nitrofurantoin (NFN) 2 mg/kg every morning and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) 2/10 mg/kg at bedtime. RESULTS: A total of 31 girls had experienced sixty-four UTIs during three hundred sixty-seven months (17.4 UTIs/100 patient-months) while receiving TMP/SMZ and/or NFN as single-drug prophylaxis. Of the girls, 21 (68%) had reflux, 15 (49%) had detrusor instability/voiding dysfunction, 8 (26%) had both reflux and voiding dysfunction, and 3 (10%) had neither voiding dysfunction nor reflux. While receiving double antimicrobial prophylaxis, 8 girls (26%) experienced a UTI and only 3 (10%) showed a UTI resistant to both TMP/SMZ and NFN. There were only sixteen breakthrough UTIs during four hundred thirty-nine months of double prophylaxis (3.6 UTIs/100 patient-months) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Girls with breakthrough UTIs usually have voiding dysfunction and/or reflux, and in these girls double antimicrobial prophylaxis and attention to voiding dynamics were effective in preventing further UTIs.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of mental illnesses in adult offspring of alcoholic mothers.

Recognition of maternal alcoholism as a risk factor for mental illness in adult offspring is important. Using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), adult offspring of a clinical sample of alcoholic mothers were assessed for selected lifetime psychiatric disorders. Elevated adjusted odds ratio (OR) of alcohol abuse/dependence (OR 6.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-19.02), and drug abuse/dependence (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.13-12.34) were observed for daughters of alcoholic mothers compared with a group of women who reported no history of alcoholism in their parents. Prevalence rates of alcohol abuse/dependence, drug abuse/dependence, affective disorders, general anxiety disorder, panic disorder and schizophrenia were higher in sons of alcoholic mothers than in a male comparison sample who reported no history of parental alcoholism, however, these increases were not statistically significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction secondary to periureteral lipoma.

We report a unique case of extrinsic ureteral obstruction secondary to a periureteral lipoma discovered during pyeloplasty for an apparent ureteropelvic junction obstruction. We discuss the importance of preoperative recognition of rare extrinsic causes of ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Whole body composition and regional bone mass in women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Reduced bone mass has been reported in adult patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus but there are few data on bone density in the axial skeleton or on whole body composition in this group. The aim of this study was to determine whether whole body and regional bone mass are normal in middle-aged women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Total and regional bone mass were measured in 24 post-menopausal women aged 43-69 years (mean 56.3) with insulin-dependent diabetes, recruited during routine clinic attendance. Results were compared with those obtained from 24 age and weight-matched community-based post-menopausal women. MEASUREMENTS: Whole body bone mineral content and bone mass in the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry on a Lunar DPX. RESULTS: Whole body bone mineral content was significantly lower in the diabetic women than in community-based controls (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between the two groups in whole body bone density or lumbar spine bone density. Mean bone density in the femur was lower in the patient group at all sites assessed (femoral trochanter P = 0.003, femoral neck, P = 0.057). Values for all regional bone density measurements in the diabetic women were within the Lunar reference range (mean +/- 2 SD) and at all sites the mean value was close to 100% of the sex and age-matched reference value. There was no correlation between duration or control of diabetes and bone mass at any site. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in middle-aged women is associated with small reductions in total body bone mineral content and in femoral bone density; the clinical significance of these findings in terms of subsequent fracture risk remains to be established. No evidence was found in this study for a reduction in whole body or lumbar spine bone density.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Gender differences in lifetime psychiatric disorders between sons and daughters of alcoholic mothers: a pilot study.

Lifetime prevalence of selected psychiatric disorders was assessed in 24 independent pairs of adult siblings (brother-sister) with an alcoholic mother, using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Adult females were as likely as adult males to have had one or more lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorder. Lifetime prevalence of affective disorders was the same in male and female siblings. Although not statistically significant, compared with their sister, men were 3 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence, and 3.5 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of general anxiety disorder. When compared with their brother, women were 1.66 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of drug abuse/dependence, 3 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of panic disorder, and 6 times more likely to have been diagnosed with phobia; however, these differences were not significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Predictors of mortality in alcoholic women: a 20-year follow-up study.

Very little is known about the factors that predict mortality in female alcoholics. This study investigates these predictors in 103 female alcoholics who were psychiatrically hospitalized between 1967 and 1968 and followed for over 20 years. The findings showed that age, benders, and/or delirium tremens, comorbidity, and 3-year posttreatment drinking status were associated with time to death. That older alcoholics and those with pathological drinking within 3 years after treatment had a significantly shorter time to death was not surprising. However, the association of benders with mortality indicated that women may be very sensitive to short periods of high concentrations of alcohol. Comorbidity also had an intriguing effect in that women with a history of depression were more likely to survive. The predictors of mortality in these female alcoholics differed from those of the male alcoholics in this sample. These differences will be discussed in future publications.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Adult offspring of alcoholic women as family history informants.

Eighteen years after their mothers had been hospitalized for alcoholism, adult offspring were asked if any of their 1st-degree relatives had ever had a drinking problem. Proband and informant characteristics that affect the validity of reports of maternal drinking problems given by adult offspring of alcoholic women were identified. A history of alcohol-related medical problems in the mother was associated with reporting maternal alcoholism. Being African-American, having a history of suicide attempts in the mother, and having a good maternal posttreatment outcome were associated with false-negative reports. Adding multiple offspring informants increased sensitivity to 86%. Female alcoholic offspring tended to underreport maternal alcoholism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Posttraumatic stress disorder in survivors of a mass shooting.

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been best studied among combat veterans. Less is known about PTSD among civilian populations exposed to traumatic events. A recent mass murder spree by a gunman in a cafeteria in Killeen, Tex., has provided a unique opportunity to study acute-phase civilian responses to a combat type of experience. METHOD: Approximately 1 month after the disaster, 136 survivors were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule/Disaster Supplement. RESULTS: In the acute postdisaster period, 20% of the men and 36% of the women met criteria for PTSD, which was the most prevalent psychiatric disorder. Most subjects who developed PTSD had no history of psychiatric illness. Rates of preexisting PTSD were relatively high and did not predict the presence of PTSD after the disaster. A history of other predisaster psychiatric disorders predicted postdisaster PTSD in women but not in men. One-half of the women and one-fourth of the men with postdisaster PTSD also met criteria for another postdisaster psychiatric diagnosis, especially major depression. Psychopathology was infrequent in subjects without PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Disaster intervention workers may be able to most effectively use limited mental health provider resources in the acute postdisaster period by focusing on screening for acute PTSD, which will identify the majority of cases with psychiatric disorders following this kind of disaster. Survivors who have no history of psychiatric disorder should be screened along with those who do because in the present study, they represented the majority of the PTSD cases. Subjects with a history of major depression and women with preexisting psychopathology may be especially vulnerable to posttraumatic syndromes. Individuals with PTSD should be further examined for additional psychiatric diagnoses that may complicate recovery, especially major depression. PTSD among survivors of civilian combat-like experiences does not appear to present in the same way that it has been described in Vietnam veterans.

Adult↗