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Biomedical subjects

H Lei

Publications and source records attributed to H Lei.

86 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Relationship between dietary fatty acid, selenium, and degenerative cardiomyopathy.

With the finding of an increasing number of cases of degenerative cardiomyopathy (DCM) amongst patients in Chongqing, Sichuan, People's Republic of China, an attempt has been made to delineate possible etiological factors. In this province endemic for Keshan disease and with considerable consumption of oils high in erucic acid, the latter does not appear to be an operative noxious agent in DCM. Additionally, it does not appear to be caused by excessive oxygen radicals, low levels of antioxidants or low selenium levels. However, lower omega-3 fatty acid levels along with higher serum lipids may be the mechanism, via higher thromboxane levels, of the production of the myocardial degeneration seen in DCM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Superior outcome of females over males after brief treatment for the reduction of heavy drinking.

UNLABELLED: Problem drinkers (52 males, 38 females) recruited through advertisements were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: GUIDELINES: three sessions of advice using a pamphlet outlining basic steps for achieving abstinence or moderate drinking. Manual: three sessions of instruction in the use of a 'self-help' manual presenting a step-by-step approach for attaining abstinence or moderate drinking. Therapist: six or more sessions of instruction in the methods outlined in the 'self-help' manual. At 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up, no significant differences were found among the groups in reduction of heavy drinking days (i.e. days when consumption exceeded four drinks, each containing 13.6 g/ethanol). Overall, the number of heavy days were reduced from an average of 43 at intake, to 20 over the 1-year follow-up period. Females, however, had significantly greater reductions than males (75% versus 35%). Three months after treatment the rate of successful moderate drinkers was significantly higher for females than males in the GUIDELINES (60% versus 33%) and the Manual condition (63% versus 18%), but not in the Therapist condition (25% versus 35%). At 1-year follow-up, females were more successful than males in all conditions. Mean changes in GGT and MCV levels lended support to the change in drinking status (from heavy drinker at intake to moderate drinker at follow-up), based on clients' self-reports.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

An evaluation of the deterrent impact of Ontario's 12-hour licence suspension law.

The deterrent impact of Ontario's 12-hour licence suspension law, a law intended to mete out swift punishment is evaluated. A process model of deterrence is included. Time series analyses of the monthly log odds of number of positive B.A.C. fatalities over the number of negative B.A.C. fatalities indicated a small, short-term effect. The intermediate measures of four surveys of media coverage, Toronto residents, Ontario residents, and police forces supported these results, and affirmed the potential validity of the process model of deterrence. The results suggest that laws to increase the celerity and certainty of punishment will have little deterrent impact without enforcement and publicity of the new laws.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1986

An analysis of the paradoxical effect of morphine on runway speed and food consumption.

A previously reported paradigm in which rats run down a runway for food reward followed by morphine injection was analyzed to assess the utility of the paradigm in studies of opiate reinforcement. One experiment replicated the original report that post-trial morphine caused both an increase in runway speed and a decrease in food consumption (taste aversion) over successive trials, and showed in addition that the increase in runway speed did not occur as a result of food deprivation alone, but required the animals to have consumed food in the goal box. A second study using the quaternary opiate antagonist methyl naltrexone to block the peripheral effects of morphine suggested that the increase in runway speed has a peripheral locus while the taste aversion has a central one. A third experiment in which morphine was microinjected into either the lateral ventricle or the ventral tegmental area supported these observations, in that intracranial morphine failed to result in an increased runway speed, but did produce taste aversion after microinjection into either site. These findings also suggest that the increase in runway speed caused by post-trial morphine in this experiment has a peripheral locus of effect, which is probably distinct from the central effect that supports morphine self-administration and conditioned place preference.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

The multidimensional assessment of stressful life events.

This study examined the multidimensionality of life event changes as measured by the widely used Schedule of Recent Events. A factor analysis based on 353 alcohol and drug abuse patients identified six distinct clusters: a) personal and social activities; b) work changes; c) marital problems; d) residence changes; e) family issues; and f) school changes. Significant correlations were found between the six factors and the Cornell Medical Index, measures of psychopathology, demographic characteristics, and alcohol and/or drug-related problems. Advantages of considering the six homogeneous factor scales over the Schedule of Recent Events total score were evident in higher correlations with substantively relevant variables. The six factors provided empirical support for the multidimensional assessment of life event changes. Future research should emphasize the use of multiple scale instruments that provide more specific indices of life changes.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Differential weights in life change research: useful or irrelevant?

The simple count of life event changes (SRE) and the differential weighting of these events (SRRS) were compared in a clinical sample (N = 353). Composite scores from the SRE and SRRS correlated almost perfectly at 0.97, and correlations from brief subscales (3 to 8 events) ranged from 0.93 to 0.99. Moreover, a virtually identical pattern of correlations for either composite was evident with external variables (demographic characteristics, physical symptoms, psychopathology). Under fairly general conditions, the use of differential weights in scaling life events makes little difference, since alternative schemas yield composite scores that are substantially correlated.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patterns of alcohol, cigarette, and caffeine and other drug use in two drug abusing populations.

Relationships were explored among the frequencies of use of various drugs by a sample of drug-abusing clients of the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF) in Toronto and by drug abusers volunteering to participate in research at the Addiction Research Center (ARC) in Baltimore. The two groups of drug-abusing individuals differed in a number of characteristics. Those from ARF were admitted primarily for diagnosis and possible treatment for alcohol and non-opioid drug problems, whereas those from the ARC were admitted for participation in research on other drugs of abuse, primarily involving opioids. Patterns of use of certain drugs tended to covary in both groups. Of particular interest was the finding that severity of alcoholism was directly related to various measures of tobacco and caffeinated beverage use. In contrast, there was little correlation between the frequency of use among other drugs of abuse (e.g., heroin, cannabis, glue) and the use of tobacco and caffeine. These findings suggest that dependence on nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol may be governed by the same factors and possibly should be considered jointly in the treatment of alcoholic persons. Frequency of use of other drugs examined may be controlled by other factors than those which determine level of use of tobacco and caffeine.

Adult↗