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Biomedical subjects

E W Larson

Publications and source records attributed to E W Larson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Disulfiram treatment of patients with both alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders: a review.

In treatment of alcohol dependence, disulfiram is most useful in conjunction with a structured, supervised, aftercare program. However, it has been reported to cause psychiatric side effects and to interact with various psychiatric medications. Many patients with alcohol dependence suffer from other psychiatric disorders and are treated with such psychiatric medications. This paper reviews the pertinent clinical pharmacology of disulfiram and the literature on potential psychiatric complications and drug interactions of disulfiram. At the usual dosage, about 250 mg/day, disulfiram does not appear to increase significantly the risk of psychiatric complications or of psychiatric drug interactions. Therefore, it can be considered a treatment option for patients with alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1991

Structure-antinociceptive activity of neurotensin and some novel analogues in the periaqueductal gray region of the brainstem.

Neurotensin, an endogenous tridecapeptide, produces a potent, naloxone-insensitive antinociceptive response when it is microinjected into the periaqueductal gray region of the rat brainstem. In the present study, the ED50 for neurotensin in inducing antinociception was 1.5 nmol, two times more potent than morphine. We sought to find whether neurotensin's antinociceptive effects were mediated by the same receptor that mediates its other functions. We found that the structure-activity relationship of neurotensin-induced antinociception was different from that required for the stimulation of intracellular cyclic GMP production in neuroblastoma clone N1E-115 and the binding to N1E-115 cells, human brain tissue, or rat periaqueductal gray. These data suggest there exists a subtype of neurotensin receptors in neural tissue that mediates its antinociceptive actions.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1991

Selectivity of antimuscarinic compounds for muscarinic receptors of human brain and heart.

Seven antimuscarinic compounds, used mostly for the treatment of extrapyramidal problems, were tested in vitro in radioligand binding assays for evidence of selectivity for two different pharmacological subtypes of the human muscarinic receptor, M1, a predominant form in brain, and M2, a predominant form in heart. Although biperiden, scopolamine, procyclidine, and benztropine showed significant selectivity in the in vitro assays, it is likely that in clinical practice biperiden would be the drug of choice to avoid any antimuscarinic effects on the heart.

Brain↗
PubMed1991

Development of type II pneumocytes in rat lung.

At a late stage of fetal development, the mammalian alveolar epithelium undergoes an abrupt differentiation as a part of the preparation of the lung for the postnatal demands of gas exchange. Some of the most striking changes occur in the type II pneumocytes as they lose their glycogen and start to produce the lamellated inclusion granules that contain pulmonary surfactant. Premature birth before adequate type II cell maturation results in the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, which is frequently fatal. We have used serial ultrathin sectioning, electron microscopy, and three-dimensional reconstructions to study the ultrastructural features of maturation of rat type II cells from a single rat each at age gestational day 20 through adult stages. We found evidence over this time span for compartmentation of several secretory granule precursors within type II cells. Changes in the polarization of lamellar bodies were observed over the time period studied. We also found marked gestational changes in the number and morphology of type II cell cytoplasmic processes that perforate the basement membrane. Type II cell mitochondria changed in shape during postnatal development from single, spherical to complex, branched structures. Volume composition obtained from serial sections of a small number of type II cells agreed closely with published morphometric data, indicating that throughout the animal's lifespan, type II cells are a homogenous population.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Electrooculogram in central retinal vein obstruction.

The electrooculograms (EOGs) of 24 patients with central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO) were correlated with fundus appearance and with the electroretinogram (ERG) b/a wave ratio. Of the 24, 17 (70.8%) showed abnormal EOGs [light peak versus dark trough ratio (Lp/Dt) of less than 1.85]. The EOG Lp/Dt ratio was abnormal in 64.7%, although the ERG b/a ratio was within normal limits. Though the exact mechanism is still not entirely clear, the EOG became abnormal in most patients with CRVO and correlated well with the severity of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Organic causes of mania.

Manic syndromes have many neurologic, toxic, and metabolic causes. It is important for clinicians to be able to distinguish these organic disorders from primary idiopathic mania (bipolar disorder). The cardinal symptom of organic mania is an abnormally and persistently elevated or irritable mood. Organic mania usually develops in patients who are older than 35 years of age, whereas bipolar disorder generally has its onset between late adolescence and age 25 years. In patients with the first episode of mania, the clinician should thoroughly elicit information about current symptoms, recent infections, use of drugs, and past or family history of psychiatric disorders. In addition, a complete medical examination, computed tomography of the head, electroencephalography, and screening for drugs and toxins should be done. Treatment of organic mania includes correcting the underlying disorder when possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Treating the hearing-impaired in a standard chemical dependence unit.

Treatment of deaf chemical-dependent patients is considered difficult except in special facilities. We summarize the treatment of three such patients in a standard chemical dependence unit. The deaf patients were involved completely in the unit, with as few concessions as possible made to their deafness. One of the three deaf patients achieved complete sobriety through treatment. However, it was thought that all patients had gained in quality of life and productivity. We recommend techniques to modify standard facilities when specialized programs for deaf patients are unavailable.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A new method to measure the pattern reversal visual evoked response in infants and young children.

A modification was made of the conventional method of recording the pattern reversal visual evoked response (VER) to study the VER in infants and young children. Application of this modified method to 36 patients, the majority of them with retinopathy of prematurity, showed that this method is useful in the evaluation of the visual function in infants and young children, and also in a 12-year-old mentally retarded girl.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome: electrophysical and psychophysical findings.

Four cases of Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome were studied through electrophysiological and psychophysical examinations, and findings were correlated with those of fluorescein angiography. In all cases the macula showed degenerative changes, including a bull's eye appearance. The fundus periphery could be devoid of clumps of pigmentation, but all cases showed profound functional abnormalities that affected the macula and the periphery, impairing both the cone and rod systems equally. Bull's eye macula associated with severe, diffuse functional abnormality of the macula and peripheral retina, along with obesity and mental retardation, help establish the diagnosis of Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Risk factors for aortic dissection: a necropsy study of 161 cases.

Among 161 necropsy cases of aortic dissection, 87 (54%) were type I, 34 (21%) type II, and 40 (25%) type III, and an intimal tear was identified in each. Systemic hypertension had been present in 63 of 121 cases (52%) with type I or II dissection and in 30 of 40 (75%) with type III dissection. Aortic dissection involved 7 of 16 cases (44%) with the Marfan syndrome. In the 154 cases without the Marfan syndrome, grade 3 or 4 medial degeneration (cystic medial necrosis) was observed in the ascending aorta in only 27 (18%). The risk of aortic dissection in persons with congenitally bicuspid and unicommissural aortic valves, respectively, was 9 and 18 times that in subjects with tricuspid aortic valves. The mean age of those with aortic dissection and tricuspid, bicuspid and unicommissural aortic valves was 63, 55 and 40 years, respectively, and aortic dissection was more common in men than in women. Grade 3 or 4 atherosclerosis involved the intimal tear in only 11 of 121 type I or II dissections (9%) but 32 of 40 type III dissections (80%). Accordingly, the major risk factors for aortic dissection were systemic hypertension, the Marfan syndrome, and, for type I and II dissections, congenitally bicuspid or unicommissural aortic valves. Aortic medial degeneration was a less important risk factor. Rupture of ulcerocalcific aortic atheromas may have initiated the intimal tear in some type III dissections.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Effect of environmental factors on aerosol-induced Lassa virus infection.

Previous studies suggested that the most frequent means of transmission of Lassa virus was by either direct or indirect contact with infectious material. Aerosol stability and respiratory infectivity of the Josiah strain of Lassa virus were assessed to determine the effect of environmental factors on aerosol-induced infection. The stability of the virus in aerosol, particularly at low relative humidity (30% RH), plus the ability of the virus to infect guinea pigs and monkeys via the respiratory route emphasize the potential for aerosol transmission of Lassa virus. Biological half-lives at both 24 and 32 degrees C ranged from 10.1 to 54.6 min, and were sufficient for aerosol dispersion of virus to considerable distances in natural situations. Infectivity of Lassa virus in small particle aerosol was demonstrated in outbred guinea pigs and cynomolgus monkeys using dynamic aerosol equipment. Monkeys exposed to inhaled doses to 465 PFU were infected and died. The median infectious dose (ID50) for guinea pigs was 15 PFU, yet a definitive median lethal aerosol dose (LD50) could not be established. Organ tropism of aerosol-induced Lassa virus infections in outbred guinea pigs was similar to that previously reported for inbred guinea pigs infected by subcutaneous inoculation.

Aerosols↗