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Biomedical subjects

H E Ross

Publications and source records attributed to H E Ross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Secretion of plasminogen activator by cultured rat endometrial stromal cells from uteri differentially sensitized for the decidual cell reaction.

Endometrial stromal cells from rat uteri differentially sensitized for the decidual cell reaction in vivo and which undergo differing degrees of decidualization in vitro were cultured and plasminogen activator (PA) in the medium determined. The cells were obtained by enzymatic dispersion from the uteri of ovariectomized, steroid-treated rats at the equivalent of day 4, 5, or 6 of pseudopregnancy or on day 5 from rats treated on day 4 with 0, 0.3, or 1.0 microgram estradiol (low, intermediate, or high dose of estradiol, respectively) and cultured for 24, 48, or 72 hr. For cells from day 4, 5, and 6 uteri cultured under control conditions, PA activity in the medium was greatest for day 5 cells, which were from uteri maximally sensitized for decidualization both in vivo and in vitro. By contrast, for cells from low-, intermediate-, and high-estradiol uteri, PA activity in the medium was greatest for the high-estradiol cells; these cells do not undergo decidualization in vivo or in vitro to the same extent as intermediate-estradiol cells. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, reduced PGE2 accumulation to nondetectable amounts and for most cultures decreased PA activity in the medium, suggesting that endogenous PG production regulated in part PA secretion under control conditions. The addition of PGE2 with indomethacin increased PA activities above those under control conditions, but activities were still lower for day 4 and 6 cells compared with day 5 cells, and for low- and intermediate-estradiol cells compared with high-estradiol cells. This indicates that the differences in PA secretion are not explainable by differences in PGE2 production. Northern blot analysis of RNA from cells cultured for 72 hr under control conditions did not reveal significant differences in steady-state concentrations of mRNA for urokinase-type PA or plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, but those for tissue-type PA were lower in day 6 cells compared with day 4 and 5 cells. It is concluded that PA activity secreted by the cultured endometrial stromal cells, although controlled in part by the endocrine milieu to which they were exposed prior to culture, does not simulate decidualization in vitro and, therefore, that PA activity is not a marker for decidualization in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Temporal- and hormone-dependent changes in uterine sensitization for the decidual cell reaction and decidualization in vitro of rat endometrial stromal cells.

The ability of endometrial stromal cells from nonsensitized rat uteri to undergo decidualization in vitro was investigated. Cells were obtained by enzymatic dispersion from uteri of ovariectomized, steroid-treated rats at the equivalent of day 4, 5 or 6 of pseudopregnancy, or on day 5 from rats treated with 0, 0.3 or 1.0 microgram oestradiol (low, intermediate or high doses of oestradiol, respectively) on day 4, and cultured for 24, 48 or 72 h. Decidualization in vivo, as assessed by uterine mass 5 days after the unilateral intrauterine injection of 100 microliters sesame oil, was maximal for rats receiving the deciduogenic stimulus on day 5 and treated with the intermediate dose of oestradiol. Under control conditions in vitro, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, the increase in ALP activity with time, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) accumulation in the medium were greatest for cells from maximally sensitized uteri. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of PG synthesis, reduced PGE2 accumulation to barely detectable amounts, and decreased ALP activity, especially in cells from maximally sensitized uteri, indicating that endogenous PG production contributed to the increase in ALP activity in these cells. The addition of PGE2 with indomethacin increased ALP activities. However, ALP activities were lower for cells derived from nonsensitized uteri when compared with cells from maximally sensitized uteri. These results suggest that endometrial stromal cells from nonsensitized uteri have a reduced capacity to undergo decidualization in vitro, and that this reduced capacity is not explained by differences in PGE2 production.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1997

Retention in substance abuse treatment. Role of psychiatric symptom severity.

The authors investigated the association between psychiatric symptom severity and subsequent treatment retention among substance abusers. The Symptom Check List-90-R was administered, after admission to an addiction treatment facility, to 308 male and 106 female clients with moderate-to-severe substance abuse problems. Mean scores on nine symptom and three summary scales were computed. Controlling for other sociodemographic and treatment variables, somatization was significantly associated with dropout from specialized outpatient and inpatient treatment programs. This study, however, suggests that psychopathologic symptom severity at admission has only limited utility in predicting subsequent treatment retention among substance abusers with overall moderate levels of psychological distress.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Regulation of plasminogen activator in rat endometrial stromal cells: the role of prostaglandin E2.

The rat endometrium undergoes decidualization, a tissue remodeling process, during embryo implantation. Plasminogen activator (PA), particularly the urokinase-type PA (uPA), has been implicated in tissue remodeling. The present study determined whether rat endometrial stromal cells secrete uPA during decidualization in vitro and, if so, whether the secretion is regulated by prostaglandins that are required in decidualization. Endometrial stromal cells were obtained from rats that had been treated with estrogen and progesterone to sensitize their uteri for decidualization, and the cells were cultured for up to 72 h in a serum-free medium. PA activity in the conditioned medium, as determined by a chromogenic assay, increased steadily during the 72-h culture period. PA secretion decreased when endogenous prostaglandin synthesis was inhibited by the addition of indomethacin to the cell cultures. The inhibitory effect of indomethacin on PA secretion was reversed by prostaglandin E2, and much less effectively by prostaglandin F2 alpha. PA activity in the medium was due primarily to uPA because 1) PA activity was inhibited by a uPA-specific inhibitor-amiloride-and by an anti-mouse uPA antibody, and 2) the predominant PA activity in the medium, as identified in zymography, had a molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa, similar to that reported for uPA. Northern blot analyses of RNA from the cultured cells demonstrated that the steady-state levels of mRNA for uPA, but not for tPA and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, were decreased by indomethacin; this decrease was reversed by prostaglandin E2. Taken together, the data indicate that rat endometrial stromal cells secrete uPA during decidualization in vitro, and that prostaglandin E2 regulates uPA secretion by the decidualizing cells by directly increasing uPA gene transcription and/or stabilizing its transcripts. These findings may help to partially elucidate the mechanism of action of prostaglandin E2 in decidualization.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

DSM-III-R alcohol abuse and dependence and psychiatric comorbidity in Ontario: results from the Mental Health Supplement to the Ontario Health Survey.

The lifetime prevalence of DSM-III-R alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence and associated patterns of psychiatric comorbidity in the Ontario population aged 15-64 years are estimated from a survey of a representative household sample using the University of Michigan Composite International Diagnostic Interview (UM-CIDI). More than half (55%) of all individuals with an alcohol disorder have a lifetime comorbid disorder and comorbidity is more common in women than in men with an alcohol disorder. The odds of having other drug disorders and antisocial personality disorder are very high in individuals with an alcohol disorder compared to those without. Alcohol dependents, but not alcohol abusers, have significantly increased odds of mood and anxiety disorders compared to individuals without an alcohol disorder. Sociodemographic risk profiles, alcohol use patterns and course differ for alcohol abusers/dependents with and without a comorbid disorder. Primary anxiety and drug disorders are risk factors for subsequent alcohol disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Diagnosing comorbidity in substance abusers: a comparison of the test-retest reliability of two interviews.

This study examines the test-retest reliability of two interview schedules (computer- and clinician-administered) in diagnosing lifetime comorbidity in treated substance abusers. The Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule (C-DIS) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) were both administered to 173 substance abusers after random assignment to one of two groups. Within 1 to 2 weeks, subjects in the first group repeated the C-DIS and subjects in the second group were reinterviewed by a different clinician, blind to the results of the initial SCID. Both instruments showed good to excellent reliability for DSM-III-R psychoactive substance use disorders with kappas ranging from .50 to .89 for individual disorders. However, the reliability of comorbid other mental disorders was substantially poorer on both instruments, particularly the SCID. C-DIS kappas ranged from -.05 for generalized anxiety to .70 for simple phobia. SCID kappas ranged from .31 for panic disorder to .83 for antisocial personality disorder. Anxiety disorders as a category, some phobic disorders, and antisocial personality disorder showed acceptable levels of test-retest reliability on both instruments. There was a trend for borderline or threshold cases to account for some of the disagreement on the C-DIS. Differences of opinion between clinicians on organicity accounted for some of the disagreements on panic disorder and major depression. The C-DIS, unlike the SCID, tended to diagnose more disorders at initial interview, perhaps a result of its tedious probe structure. Neither instrument should be administered only once to provide a reliable lifetime diagnostic profile of comorbidity in substance abusers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The natural moon illusion: a multifactor angular account.

It is argued that the failure to explain the celestial illusion results from conceptual confusion about perceived size and from disregard of the observational evidence relating to the natural moon illusion. The evidence shows that the illusion consists of a perceived angular size enlargement of horizon objects, by a factor of about 1.5-2.0 in diameter in comparison with elevated objects. Most measurements of the illusion have been made in terms of angular size, although in some proposed explanations an illusion of linear size is assumed. The magnitude of the illusion varies, particularly with the detail of the horizon scene. The illusion can be explained as the sum of several factors that affect perceived angular size: size contrast, vergence commands and eye or head position, aerial perspective, and colour. The relative contributions of these factors are assessed.

Color Perception↗
PubMed1994

Diagnosing comorbidity in substance abusers. Computer assessment and clinical validation.

This study compares DSM-III-R lifetime diagnoses assigned to a sample of substance abusers in treatment made by the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule (C-DIS) with those made by clinicians on the basis of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) and patient chart information. A sample of 173 subjects were interviewed with the C-DIS and then by a clinician using the SCID. A second SCID was administered by a different clinician to 80 of the subjects 1 to 2 weeks later and consensus diagnoses were then made using all available information. With the exception of antisocial personality disorder and most psychoactive substance use disorders, the initial C-DIS showed poor diagnostic agreement with the initial SCID. As a potential screening instrument, the C-DIS did identify 30 of the 32 subjects with a consensus axis I (nondrug) disorder, but diagnosed twice as many positives as were confirmed by the consensus diagnoses. A negative C-DIS for comorbid disorders was confirmed in 9 out of 10 cases by clinicians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Effect of prostaglandin E2 on rate of decidualization in rats.

Based on morphology, it has been suggested that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) accelerates the process of endometrial stromal cell differentiation to decidual cells in the rat. The present study investigated this possibility, using changes in uterine weight and in endometrial alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity as indicators of decidualization. Rats were ovariectomized and treated with one of two steroid protocols; the first was identical to that previously used for the study of morphology, the second a modified protocol which results in greater uterine sensitization for decidualization, producing larger amounts of decidual tissue, thereby making it easier to detect differences between treatments. On the day of uterine sensitization, rats within each treatment protocol were given a unilateral intrauterine infusion of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or PGE2 plus indomethacin, and killed 24, 48 or 72 h later. The time-courses for the increases in uterine weight and ALP activity in uterine horns infused with PBS or PGE2 plus indomethacin differed between steroid protocols, but within a protocol were statistically indistinguishable. The results do not support the hypothesis that PGE2 accelerates the process of decidualization but do provide additional support for the notion that PGE2 is a physiological rather than pharmacological mediator of decidualization.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1993

Benzodiazepine use and anxiolytic abuse and dependence in treated alcoholics.

The prevalence and correlates of benzodiazepine use and anxiolytic abuse and dependence are examined in a sample of 427 patients in Toronto, Canada, who met lifetime DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence. The patients were evaluated with the NIMH-DIS and other standard psychiatric and substance abuse rating scales. Forty per cent were recent users of benzodiazepines and 20% had abused or been dependent upon anxiolytics, including benzodiazepines, during their lifetime. Patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) were at higher risk for an anxiolytic disorder as were women and the unemployed. Recent users of benzodiazepines showed more current psychological distress, depressive symptomatology and more severe substance abuse problems than other patients and were more likely to have a lifetime DSM-III anxiety disorder. Patients with anxiolytic disorders, even if ASPD was controlled for, showed more psychiatric impairment and drug abuse problems than the remaining patients. Of those with a positive urine screen, 46% did not report using benzodiazepines in the previous week. Nineteen per cent of the patients who did not report benzodiazepine use in the previous week had a positive urine screen and were more likely to be found in the detoxification unit.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1992

Orientation anisotropy: some caveats in interpreting group differences and developmental changes.

We tested 220 children aged 7-12 yr and 20 university students for visual contrast sensitivity at spatial frequencies of 1.2-21.9 c/deg for vertical, horizontal and oblique sinusoidal gratings. Males had higher mean sensitivity then females and adults had higher mean sensitivity than children. Sensitivity was greater for cardinal than oblique orientations, and this oblique effect increased with spatial frequency and mean sensitivity, and with age in children. Developmental growth of oblique anisotropy can be explained by growth in contrast sensitivity. Different sizes of oblique effect were found between groups living in different locations, but variations were mainly linked to differences in age and contrast sensitivity. Genetic or environmental interpretations of group differences should be treated with caution. Other anisotropies occurred (horizontal was better than vertical and right than left obliques), but these differences were small and irregular and may represent response biases rather than neurological effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Diagnostic validity of the MAST and the alcohol dependence scale in the assessment of DSM-III alcohol disorders.

The comparative validity of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS) in screening for current DSM-III alcohol abuse/dependence disorders is evaluated. These scales were administered to 501 patients presenting for treatment of alcohol or drug problems. DSM-III alcohol disorders are diagnosed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis is used to determine optimum threshold scores for the MAST and ADS and to compare the screening ability of the two instruments. Optimum cut points for the MAST and the ADS are 12/13 and 8/9, respectively. The overall accuracy of classification for both instruments using these threshold scores is 88%. The areas under the ROC curves are .91 and .90 (SD = .02) and there are no significant differences between the MAST and the ADS in their ability to screen for alcohol abuse or dependence in this population. The MAST and the ADS correlate highly with each other (.79). The results reported in our study should be applicable to the revised DSM-III since a field trial found a high level of agreement on alcohol disorders between the diagnostic systems. Categorical versus dimensional approaches to the assessment of alcoholism are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Diagnostic validity of the drug abuse screening test in the assessment of DSM-III drug disorders.

Diagnostic validity of the DAST was assessed using a clinical sample of 501 drug/alcohol patients. Various DAST cut-points were validated against DSM-III drug abuse/dependence criteria, as assessed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The DAST attained 85% overall accuracy in classifying patients according to DSM-III diagnosis. This accuracy was maintained between DAST score cut-points of 5/6 through 9/10. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis indicated that 5/6 was the optimum threshold score. The DAST was also correlated with demographic variables, psychiatric history, and drug use. The results showed very good concurrent and discriminant validity. This study concluded that fairly accurate estimation of DSM-III drug criteria could be made using a brief self-administered questionnaire (DAST). However, caution must be expressed when generalizing these findings to other contexts (e.g. the justice system) where subjects may have stronger motivation to under-report drug involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Alcohol and drug abuse in treated alcoholics: a comparison of men and women.

A survey of 229 male patients and 198 female patients who met lifetime DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence was carried out in Toronto, Canada. The patients were evaluated with the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule and other substance abuse rating scales. The prevalence of individual alcohol and drug symptoms, the patterns of abuse, and the prevalence of drug disorders were compared in the two sexes. The study patients were younger than previous treatment samples and were more likely to have other drug disorders. While the overall prevalence of drug disorders was similar in male and female alcoholics, women were more likely to abuse sedatives and minor tranquilizers while men were more prone to the abuse of cannabis and tobacco. Men continue to be more likely to have social and occupational problems resulting from alcohol abuse, to start abusing alcohol earlier in their lives, to have been abusing for longer, and to report higher quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption. With one or two exceptions, the sexes do not differ on other indicators of pathologic use, withdrawal or tolerance, medical sequelae or treatment history. While men have significantly more alcohol problems than women, as measured by the DIS and the MAST, these differences disappear when length of alcohol abuse history, antisocial personality disorder and employment status are controlled for. Similarly, when these variables are controlled for, women exhibit more symptoms of alcohol dependence as measured by the ADS. Women alcoholics come into treatment earlier in their alcoholic careers.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Psychiatric screening of alcohol and drug patients: the validity of the GHQ-60.

The 60-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) were administered to 501 patients presenting for assessment or treatment of alcohol or drug problems at the Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Canada. The GHQ proved to be a useful, if limited, instrument for routine screening for psychiatric disorders other than substance abuse in this population. The sensitivity or "utility" of the test at the optimum threshold score was considerably lower in this sample than in medical or community samples. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis suggests a need for an upward revision of the cut-off score to 23/24 inpatients with alcohol or drug problems. At this threshold, sensitivity was 69%, specificity 75%, positive predictive value 77%, negative predictive value 66%, and overall misclassification rate 29%. A definition of "caseness" was used that included all DIS Axis I disorders with the exception of substance use and "cognitive impairment." Sensitivity of the GHQ was highest for the affective disorders (79%). False negatives accounted for the bulk (61%) of the misclassification rate. At the threshold score of 23/24, positive predictive values were greater for the unemployed and for patients with either no current substance use disorder or with both alcohol and drug disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with alcohol and other drug problems.

A survey evaluated the lifetime and current prevalence of mental disorders in 501 patients seeking assistance with alcohol and other drug problems at an addiction research and treatment facility. Information was gathered using the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) and computer diagnoses were generated according to DSM-III criteria. Four fifths (78%) of the sample had a DIS lifetime psychiatric disorder in addition to substance use, and two thirds (65%) had a current DIS mental disorder. Excluding the unreliably diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder, the most common lifetime disorders were antisocial personality disorder, phobias, psychosexual dysfunctions, major depression, and dysthymia. Patients who abused both alcohol and other drugs were the most psychiatrically impaired. Patients with DIS psychiatric disorders had more severe alcohol and other drug problems. Barbiturate/sedative/hypnotic, amphetamine, and alcohol abusers were the most likely to have a DIS mental disorder.

Adult↗