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Biomedical subjects

H Moss

Publications and source records attributed to H Moss.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effects of adinazolam and diazepam, alone and in combination with ethanol, on psychomotor and cognitive performance and on autonomic nervous system reactivity in healthy volunteers.

Effects on psychomotor and cognitive performance of adinazolam (15 or 30 mg), alone and in combination with ethanol (0.8 g/kg), were studied in healthy male volunteers and compared to effects of 10 mg diazepam. Adinazolam 30 mg produced relatively long-lasting impairments on tests of tracking, attention, verbal and nonverbal information processing, and memory. Adinazolam 15 mg resulted in descreased visual information processing. Adinazolam decreased supine mean arterial pressure, but only the 15 mg resulted in a tendency for decreased plasma norepinephrine concentrations. After standing for 5 min, 30 mg adinazolam was associated with increased heart rate. Although ethanol consumption produced additive decrements on a continuous performance task, there was little evidence to support a synergistic effect. Adinazolam 30 mg was accompanied by increased self-reports of side effects, especially drowsiness.

Adult↗

Effects of single doses of alprazolam and diazepam, alone and in combination with ethanol, on psychomotor and cognitive performance and on autonomic nervous system reactivity in healthy volunteers.

Effects of alprazolam, alone and in combination with ethanol, on psychomotor and cognitive performance were studied in healthy male volunteers and compared to effects of diazepam. Alprazolam 2 mg produced relatively long-lasting impairments on tests of tracking, verbal and nonverbal information processing, and memory, and decreased blood pressure without a change in heart rate or plasma norepinephrine levels. Although ethanol consumption was demonstrated to produce additive decrements in performance on certain tasks, there was little evidence to support a synergistic effect. Alprazolam 2 mg was accompanied by increased self-reports of side effects, especially drowsiness. Low dose alprazolam, diazepam, and ethanol produced significantly fewer side effects than 2 mg alprazolam, but significantly more than placebo.

Adult↗

Effect of continuous-infusion zidovudine therapy on neuropsychologic functioning in children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Neuropsychologic function was assessed in 13 children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus disease (Centers for Disease Control Class P2), ranging in age from 14 months to 12 years. Before the initiation of treatment, eight patients were classified as having encephalopathy. Psychologic tests were administered both before and after 6 and 12 months of continuous-infusion azidothymidine (AZT; zidovudine) treatment. After 6 months of treatment a significant increase of 15.5 (+/- 3.3) IQ points was demonstrated in general cognitive functioning (p less than 0.001). Follow-up for 10 of these patients indicated that after 12 months of AZT therapy, they had maintained their gains in IQ points. Improvements in adaptive behavior after 6 months of therapy, assessed with a standardized interview, paralleled the findings on the IQ data. No significant differences in the amount of change was observed for the different subgroups. The magnitude of these improvements could not be explained by practice effects, environmental changes, or general improvement in physical state. We conclude that neuropsychologic function was significantly improved with continuous infusion AZT treatment.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Exposure to a chloride-deficient formula during infancy: outcome at ages 9 and 10 years.

A school-based survey of the 1978 to 1979 birth cohort of two metropolitan Washington, DC, counties was conducted to find children who had been exposed to the chloride-deficient formulas Neo-Mull-Soy and Cho-Free during infancy. Children who had ingested other soy formulas that had an adequate chloride content were also found and matched to the exposed children by sex, race, birth weight, the age of the child, the mixed feeding status of the child, and maternal education. One hundred seventy-one of the exposed children and 261 soy control children were given a battery of psychologic tests in their homes to determine whether there had been any effect on intellectual development as a result of exposure to the chloride-deficient formulas. There were no differences in scores between the groups on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, the Boston Naming Test, the Rey-Osterrieth Test, or the FAS Verbal Fluency Test. There was no correlation between duration of exclusive exposure to the chloride-deficient formulas and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Full-Scale IQ Score (Pearson product-moment r = -.0825, P = .28). These results cannot be extrapolated to exposed children with documented hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis. It is concluded that in children without documented evidence of hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, exposure to the chloride-deficient formulas Neo-Mull-Soy or Cho-Free during infancy has not resulted in any long-term adverse effects on cognitive development.

Child↗

Properties of the herpes simplex virus type 2 trans-inducing factor Vmw65 in wild-type and mutant viruses.

A temperature-sensitive mutant (ts13) of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) has a mutation which causes in vitro thermolability of the virion. This mutation lies within the gene encoding a virion structural protein of Mr 65K which is known to stimulate immediate early transcription (the trans-inducing factor, 65KTIF). The results presented here show that the structural role of 65KTIF is essential. The electrophoretic mobility of the 65KTIF encoded by ts13 and a revertant of ts13 differed from that of the wild-type HSV-2 parent. Two monoclonal antibodies directed against 65KTIF were shown to react with two different epitopes on this polypeptide, one of which was altered by the mutation in ts13. No differences were observed in the phosphorylation status of 65KTIF from mutant- and wild-type-infected cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Effect of continuous intravenous infusion of zidovudine (AZT) in children with symptomatic HIV infection.

To produce concentrations of zidovudine (AZT) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid that would provide constant inhibition of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we gave AZT by continuous intravenous infusion to 21 children ranging in age from 14 months to 12 years who had acquired HIV infection through transfusions or perinatally. All patients were symptomatic before AZT treatment (Class P2 of the Centers for Disease Control); 13 (62 percent) had evidence of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio was 0.18; 11 patients had CD4 counts below 0.2 x 10(9) per liter. We administered AZT at four dose levels: 0.5, 0.9, 1.4, and 1.8 mg per kilogram of body weight per hour. The plasma drug concentrations achieved at the respective dose levels were 1.9 +/- 0.3, 2.8 +/- 1.4, 3.1 +/- 1.1, and 4.5 +/- 1.0 microM. The steady-state cerebrospinal fluid:plasma ratio was 0.24 +/- 0.07. The only evidence of toxicity was bone marrow suppression. Transfusion was required in 14 patients because of low levels of hemoglobin (5 mmol per liter [less than 8 g per deciliter]). Dose-limiting neutropenia (less than 0.5 x 10(9) polymorphonuclear leukocytes per cubic millimeter) occurred in most patients who received doses of 1.4 mg per kilogram per hour or more. Improvement in neurodevelopmental abnormalities occurred in all 13 children who had presented with encephalopathy before treatment. Serial measurements of IQ before therapy and after three and six months of continuous therapy with AZT showed that IQ scores, including those for verbal and performance IQ, rose in these 13 patients and in 5 other children who had no detectable evidence of encephalopathy before treatment. Most patients also had increased appetite and weight, decreased lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly, decreased immunoglobulin levels, and increased numbers of CD4 cells. In some patients the improvement in the features of encephalopathy occurred despite the absence of immunologic improvement. We conclude that AZT is beneficial in children with symptomatic HIV infection, especially those with encephalopathy (which may be subclinical), and that the optimal continuous intravenous dose of AZT in children is between 0.9 and 1.4 mg per kilogram per hour.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Impact of cirrhosis on the neuropsychological test performance of alcoholics.

Alcoholics and nonalcoholics with biopsy-proven cirrhosis were compared to each other and to a normal control group on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. No systematic differences were found between the two liver disease groups. These results indicate that a history of alcoholism does not substantially contribute to the manifest neuropsychological deficits beyond that due to a coexistent hepatic encephalopathy.

Adult↗

DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse: associations with alcohol consumption behavior.

DSM-III criteria for diagnosing alcohol abuse in a sample of hospitalized alcoholics highly correlated with each other and were poorly correlated with self-reported drinking pattern, quantity, and consequences of alcohol consumption. These findings question the specificity and the construct validity of the DSM-III criteria for diagnosing alcohol abuse.

Adult↗

The herpes simplex virus type 2 alkaline DNase activity is essential for replication and growth.

A mutant of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which is temperature-sensitive (ts) for the induction of an alkaline DNase activity, was examined at a number of different temperatures. Induction of DNase activity by this mutant resembled that of wild-type (wt) virus at 31 degrees C but was greatly reduced at 38.5 degrees C and barely detectable at 39.2 degrees C. Virus DNA synthesis showed similar patterns, exhibiting wt levels at 31 degrees C, reduced levels at 38.5 degrees C and very little incorporation at 39.2 degrees C. Similarly, virus growth in cells infected with this mutant was equal to that of wt at 31 degrees C, slightly reduced at 38.5 degrees C but considerably reduced at 39.2 degrees C. Marker rescue of the ts DNase lesion restored wt levels of virus DNase activity, of virus DNA synthesis and of virus growth, thus providing direct evidence that HSV DNase activity is essential for virus replication.

Animals↗

Mutant of herpes simplex virus type 2 with temperature-sensitive lesions affecting virion thermostability and DNase activity: identification of the lethal mutation and physical mapping of the nuc-lesion.

We had previously shown that a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of herpes simplex virus type 2 strain HG52, ts13, induced a heat-labile DNase activity in infected cells (B. Francke, H. Moss, M. C. Timbury, and J. Hay, J. Virol. 26:209-213, 1978). Earlier work indicated that the mutant also possessed temperature-sensitive infectivity (I. W. Halliburton and M. C. Timbury, J. Gen. Virol. 30:207-221, 1976). In this study temperature-stable revertants of ts13 have been isolated; examination of them revealed that ts13 is a double mutant, with genetically distinct temperature-sensitive lesions affecting nuclease activity and particle stability. The lethal mutation, in the cell system studied, is the latter. Revertants, which all maintain the nuclease lesion, grew well at a high temperature. Physical mapping of the nuclease lesion placed it between 0.12 and 0.21 (fractional length) on the virus genome, quite distant from the lethal mutation at 0.64 to 0.70.

Animals↗

E.s.r. of spin-trapped radicals in aqueous solutions of peptides. Reactions of the hydroxyl radical.

The reactions of hydroxyl radicals with 30 dipeptides and several larger peptides were studied in aqueous solutions. The OH radicals were generated by U.V. photolysis of H2O2. The short-lived peptide radicals were spin-trapped using t-nitrosobutane and identified by e.s.r. For dipeptides containing the amino terminal residues glycine, alanine and phenylalanine, abstraction of the hydrogen from the carbon adjacent to the peptide nitrogen was the major process leading to the spin-adducts. Such radicals will be referred to as backbone radicals. Dipeptides with a carbonyl terminal serine residue and also glycylglutamic acid form both backbone and side-chain radicals, with the latter being formed in larger quantities. For dipeptides, side-chain radicals were detected on either the carboxyl or amino terminal residues of both. The effect of pD on the e.s.r. sectrum of the spin-adducts of glycylglycine was studied and the pK of the carboxyl group of this radical was determined to be 2.5. For (Ala)3 and (Ala)n, with an average value of n = 1800, backbone and minor side-chain radicals were observed. For ribonucleases-S-peptide, containing 20 amino acid residues, both backbone and side-chain radicals were detected.

Dipeptides↗

E.s.r. study of the post-radiolysis growth of spin-trapped radicals in gamma-irradiated aqueous solutions of thymine.

The post-irradiation growth of the spin-adduct nitroxide radical produced by the addition of the thymine--OD radical to t-nitrosobutane (tNB) in gamma-irradiated, de-aerated D2O solutions was investigated by e.s.r. The thymine--OD radical was formed by the addition of an OD radical to the C(5) position of thymine. Growth reached a greater maximum value and was more rapid with increasing dose. At a fixed dose, growth was also greater and more rapid if oxygen was present after gamma-radiolysis. The addition of a second radical to the spin-adduct nitroxide during radiolysis to give a diamagnetic intermediate, which can regenerate the spin-adduct radical during storage in air-free and in air-saturated solutions at room temperature, was inferred to be responsible for post-irradiation growth. U.V. photolysis at 260-280 nm of a solution containing the diamagnetic intermediate rapidly regenerates the spin-adduct nitroxide. The longer lifetime of the diamagnetic intermediate in oxygen-free solutions may be relevant to an understanding of the anoxic sensitization by nitroxides in cellular systems.

Cyclic N-Oxides↗

Alkaline DNase activity in cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of herpes simplex virus type 2.

BHK cells infected with the temperature-sensitive mutant ts13 of herpes simplex virus type 2 at a nonpermissive temperature lack the alkaline nuclease activity, which is induced by the mutant at a permissive temperature and by wild-type virus at either temperature. For ts13, enzyme activity could be induced by a temperature shift to permissive conditions, but not in the presence of cycloheximide. After a shift from permissive to nonpermissive conditions in the presence of cycloheximide, the activity was stable in wild-type, but not in mutant-infected, cells. After extensive purification, the wild-type nuclease was fourfold more heat stable in the presence of substrate than was the mutant enzyme. Mixtures of both purified enzymes showed the predicted intermediate stabilities. The results strongly suggest that the enzyme is virus coded and that the mutant possesses a lesion in the structural gene of the enzyme.

Cell Line↗

A minimum clearance molded scleral cosmetic-refractive contact lens.

The author describes the prescribing of a minimum clearance, molded fenestrated cosmetic scleral contact lens with a 2 mm lens in the iris section in front of an optical iridectomy. The lens was designed to improve cosmesis, and to restore a blind eye to 20/90.

Contact Lenses↗

E.s.r. of spin-trapped radicals in aqueous solutions of amino acids. Reactions of the hydroxyl radical.

The radicals produced by reactions of hydroxyl radicals with amino acids in aqueous solutions have been investigated. Hydroxyl radicals were formed by U.V.-photolysis of hydrogen peroxide and the short-lived amino acid radicals were spin-trapped by tert-nitrosobutane and identified by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Nineteen amino acids were studied, and several radicals were identified which have not been observed previously by other methods. Only side-chain radicals were identified for alanine, threonine, aspartic acid, asparagine, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, proline and hydroxyproline; whereas for glycine the C(2) carbon radical was spin-trapped. Both C(2) carbon radicals and side-chain radicals were assigned to valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, glutamic acid, glutamine, arginine and methionine.

Amino Acids↗