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Biomedical subjects

E Shapiro

Publications and source records attributed to E Shapiro.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Health locus of control beliefs of healthy children, children with a chronic physical illness, and their mothers.

Scales to measure health locus of control beliefs have been developed for both adults and children to assess the degree to which individuals believe their health to be the result of self-actions, the actions of "powerful" adults in their environment, or random events or fate. We have investigated how these locus of control beliefs differ at different ages and in relation to different illness experiences. Health locus of control beliefs vary consistently according to age and illness experience. Beliefs in the control of their health by chance and by powerful others are stated to be significantly stronger by younger than by older children, by children with certain chronic physical illnesses than by healthy children, and by parents of children with certain chronic physical illnesses than by parents of healthy children. The developmental trend suggested here confirms previously reported data regarding locus of control beliefs in children. The differences among children with and without a chronic physical illness, and especially among their parents, suggest that learning occurs from the experiences related to illness, resulting in an increased external orientation in locus of control beliefs. Health care professionals should be aware of the tendency for young children and for children with a chronic illness and their families to rely heavily on providers, perhaps to the detriment of their learning effective skills for independent health-related decision making.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Down regulation of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor of the rat prostate following castration.

Prostatic secretion is dependent upon the integrity of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems and is dramatically influenced by muscarinic cholinergic analogs. In this study, we have used radioligand receptor binding methods on whole tissue homogenates and slide mounted tissue sections of rat prostate to determine whether androgens regulate the density of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the prostate. The muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding affinities (Kd) of [3H] N-methylscopolamine in prostatic homogenates obtained from intact, castrate, and castrate rats receiving testosterone replacement (castrate + T) were similar (0.07 to 0.10 nM). The muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding capacity decreased 73 per cent following castration. Testosterone administration restored the density of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in castrate rats to intact levels. In order to ensure that the loss of receptor density was not due to a decrease in the epithelial: stromal cell ratio, the number of muscarinic cholinergic receptors per unit area of epithelium was determined in the 3 treatment groups using autoradiography on slide mounted tissue sections. The density of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in a unit area of epithelium was decreased 91 per cent following castration. Testosterone administration restored the density of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the castrate rats to intact levels. The modulation of neurotransmitter receptors by steroid hormones may be a mechanism by which sex steroids regulate biological responsiveness of target tissues.

Androgens↗
PubMed1985

Muscarinic cholinergic receptors in bladder exstrophy: insights into surgical management.

The surgical management of classical bladder exstrophy (functional bladder closure or urinary diversion) should be influenced by the inherent detrusor function of the exstrophied bladder. Cystometrograms performed previously on individuals with successful exstrophy closures demonstrate normal bladder function. The biochemical and neurophysiological properties of the exstrophied bladder have otherwise not been investigated. In this study radioligand receptor binding techniques were used to compare the density and equilibrium dissociation constant of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in control and exstrophy bladders. The density of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the control and exstrophy groups was 1.97 plus or minus 0.29 and 1.44 plus or minus 0.21 fmol. per microgram deoxyribonucleic acid (mean plus or minus standard error of mean), respectively. The dissociation constant of the control and exstrophy groups was 0.15 plus or minus 0.02 and 0.14 plus or minus 0.02 nM. (mean plus or minus standard error of mean), respectively. These data show that the muscarinic receptor density and binding affinity in control and exstrophy bladders are similar. Therefore, the neurophysiological composition of the exstrophied bladder is not grossly altered during the anomalous development.

Bladder Exstrophy↗
PubMed1985

Computer application in a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit.

A computerized system for accurate recording of endoscopic findings in the gastrointestinal tract is described. This system is easy to use, permits rapid retrieval of data of previous examinations, and permits collection and compilation of data for any purpose. A similar system can be adopted for use in any endoscopy unit.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMed1985

Eye-blink rate in Tourette's syndrome.

Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome is a hyperkinetic movement disorder in which an etiological role for dopaminergic hyperactivity has been proposed. Blink rate, a putative correlate of central dopamine activity, is commonly held to be elevated in Tourette's syndrome, a finding that would be consistent with the "dopamine" hypothesis of this disorder. In 19 patients who had Tourette's syndrome, however, blink rates during placebo treatment were identical with those of 49 index controls during reading and quiet sitting. Blink rate did correlate, however, with both the number and severity of tics. Pimozide treatment did not reduce blinking in the patients. It should be noted that nine of the patients were adolescents for whom there were not adequate age-matched controls, a fact which could obscure a blink rate elevation in this group. Insofar as blink rate is a putative correlate of central dopamine activity, these results are not consistent with elevated brain dopamine activity in adult patients who have Tourette's syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Elderly nonusers of health care services. Their characteristics and their health outcomes.

Sociodemographic, health, and health care utilization data on a large representative sample of elderly and multiple logistic regression were used to compare persons making no visits to physicians for 2 years with those making few (one to three) visits but in contact with health practitioners. Results suggest that elderly nonusers are more likely than low users to be single, to have some degree of mental impairment, and to have low educational attainment. Using Cox's proportional hazards model to compare outcomes over the next 7 years, no differences were found in the subsequent hospitalization rate of the two groups, but nonusers were at greater risk of a hospitalization episode of 16+ days and appeared to die sooner than low users. However, they were at no greater risk of poor health outcomes than elderly making four or more physician visits in 2 years. The policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Effects of fractionated irradiation of endocrine aspects of testicular function.

We have examined the hormonal alterations of testicular function in 27 males (14 to 67 years of age) with soft-tissue sarcoma who were treated with surgery and high-dose radiation to the tumor bed. The testicular dose from scatter radiation ranged from 1 to 2,500 rad. There was a dose-dependent increase in the median per patient difference from baseline in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values following irradiation, with the maximal difference seen at 6 months. Recovery of serum FSH level was biphasic with a decline in the median difference in values between 6 and 12 months, followed by a gradual descent toward baseline. Only patients receiving less than 50 rad show early complete recovery 12 months after radiation therapy. Radiation injury also induced dose-dependent increases in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration, with the maximal median difference from baseline level occurring at 6 months. Only those patients receiving greater than 200 rad showed statistically significant LH changes from baseline levels at each time interval up to 30 months. No significant changes were observed in total testosterone values. These data provide quantitative guidelines for predicting seminiferous tubule injury and germ cell depletion in men exposed to fractionated radiation. The effects on seminiferous tubule and Leydig cell function, as judged by serum FSH and LH concentrations, suggest that subtle Leydig cell dysfunction, in addition to germ cell depletion, may also occur at exposures greater than 200 rad.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Physician use by the elderly over an eight-year period.

Investigation of ambulatory use of physicians by older persons over an eight-year period reveals that 60 per cent visited physicians with similar frequency for six or more years; 22 per cent regularly made two or less visits and 14 per cent made seven or more visits each year. Analyses reveal cohort effects rather than age effects to be of primary importance in determining an individual's regular pattern of physician use.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Reduced glomerular sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphatase activity in acute streptozocin diabetes and its prevention by oral sorbinil.

To explore metabolic changes associated with the sorbitol accumulation and myo-inositol depletion observed in glomeruli of rats with experimental diabetes, we examined total and ouabain-inhibited adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in glomeruli isolated from control and streptozocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Glomerular Na/K-ATPase activity (ouabain-inhibited) was significantly reduced in diabetic animals, while total (composite) ATPase activity remained unchanged. Treatment with insulin partially restored the Na/K-ATPase activity. Administration of the aldose reductase inhibitor, sorbinil, which normalizes glomerular contents of both sorbitol and myo-inositol in diabetes, completely prevented the diminution of Na/K-ATPase activity. These results establish that glomerular Na/K-ATPase activity is reduced in acute experimental diabetes. The ability of sorbinil to prevent this decrease suggests that it is related to polyol accumulation and/or myoinositol depletion, although an effect of the drug unrelated to its aldose reductase inhibiting property has not been excluded. Since increased polyol pathway flux, decreased myo-inositol, and reduced Na/K-ATPase activity have also been described in peripheral nerve, another tissue in which typical diabetic complications characteristically occur, the consequences of these metabolic changes may be implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1984

Enzyme activity in Tourette's syndrome.

Activity levels of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO), plasma amine oxidase (PAO), erythrocyte catechol-o-methyltransferase, and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase were measured in 24 drug-free patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and in 24 normal control subjects matched for age and sex. Only MAO and PAO activity levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Activity of the four enzymes was uncorrelated with age, sex, age of onset of illness, severity of illness, family history of tics and Ts, and ethnic-religious background. The hypothesis that probands with heavily loaded pedigrees or with Ashkenazi ethnic-religious background would be more biochemically deviant was not supported.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Effects of prostaglandins on rat calvarial bone-cell calcium.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) over the concentration range 10(-5)-10(-7) M stimulated calcium uptake in osteoclastic-enriched populations isolated by sequential collagenase digestions of newborn rat calvaria. This effect was on initial calcium uptake occurring at 5 min at 37 degrees C but was not present when isotopic equilibrium was approached (60 min). Prostacyclin (PGI2, PGE1 and PGF2 alpha) stimulated osteoclastic calcium uptake in a similar manner, but with slightly smaller effects than PGE2. Under identical conditions, significant effects of PG were not observed in osteoblastic cells isolated from the same bones by extended collagenase digestions. Combined treatment with PGE2 and parathyroid hormone (PTH) at concentrations which produced no individual effects resulted in a significant increase in calcium uptake in osteoclastic cells. During a 48-h culture period, osteoblastic populations released significantly greater amounts of PGE2 than osteoclastic populations. Pre-incubation for 1 h at 37 degrees C with the prostaglandin cyclo-oxygenase antagonists, indomethacin and flufenamic acid, had no effect on calcium uptake in osteoclastic cells, but resulted in significant decreases in osteoblastic cells. The PGE2-induced increase in calcium uptake on osteoclastic cells was not altered by indomethacin or flufenamic-acid pretreatment. However, after treatment with these inhibitors, a significant response to PGE2 was observed in osteoblastic cells.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1984

The inheritance of the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

The inheritance pattern of the exstrophy-epispadias complex was investigated by a combined literature review and a survey of the personal experience of pediatric urologists in North and South America, and Europe. Bladder exstrophy recurred in only 9 of approximately 2,500 families (1 in 275) with bladder exstrophy or complete epispadias. The recurrence of the exstrophy-epispadias complex in offspring of parents with bladder exstrophy or complete epispadias has never been described previously. We identified 215 offspring produced by parents with bladder exstrophy or epispadias, and bladder exstrophy was inherited in 3 of the offspring (1 in 70 live births). The recurrence of bladder exstrophy in offspring of parents with the exstrophy-epispadias complex is greater than previously assumed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of alpha1 adrenergic receptors in human benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Bladder outlet obstruction in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia is decreased following administration of prazosin, a selective alpha1 adrenergic antagonist. Prazosin presumably binds and antagonizes alpha1 adrenergic receptors on the smooth muscle cells of the prostatic adenoma. This study represents the first identification and characterization of alpha1 adrenergic receptors in the prostate using radioligand receptor binding methods. The binding of [3H] prazosin in homogenates obtained from human prostatic adenomas was saturable and a single high affinity prazosin binding site was identified (Kd = 0.29 +/- 0.09 nM). The alpha1 adrenergic receptor concentration in these homogenates ranged between 0.28 to 2.05 fmol./ mg. wet wt. prostate. The equilibrium dissociation constant and density of prazosin binding sites were similar in different regions of an enucleated prostate suggesting homogeneity of receptor density and receptor binding sites within an adenoma. The receptor density was not directly proportional to the weight of the surgically removed adenoma. The pharmacology of the prazosin binding sites was characterized by competitive binding experiments using [3H] prazosin and several unlabelled adrenergic analogs. The IC50's determined from competitive binding experiments using [3H] prazosin and alpha-methylnorepinephrine, rauwolscine and corynanthine were characteristic of alpha1 adrenergic receptor binding.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1984

Urethral reconstruction in boys with classical bladder exstrophy.

A total of 24 boys with classical bladder exstrophy underwent initial urethral reconstruction at our hospital between 1975 and 1982. Penile reconstruction in male patients with classical bladder exstrophy includes penile lengthening, release of the dorsal chordee and reconstruction of the urethra. The former 2 procedures are performed during the primary bladder closure and urethroplasty usually follows bladder neck reconstruction. A modified Young urethroplasty was done in 22 of the 24 patients. Preputial pedicle grafts of free full thickness skin grafts were used for urethroplasty in 2 boys with insufficient penile skin. Fistulas requiring surgical revision developed after urethroplasty in 21 per cent of the patients. A prior osteotomy was associated with a decreased fistula rate. The cosmetic and preliminary functional results of the penile reconstruction were assessed by parental interviews. The definitive assessment of the penile reconstruction will be determined when these boys reach sexual maturity.

Bladder Exstrophy↗