Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Wilson.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Single-case methodology, using cross-lagged panel correlations, was applied to study the order of change in mood, cognition and cortisol concentration in eight in-patients with a diagnosis of major, endogenous depression. Daily measures included: two visual analogue scales measuring depressed mood and general feeling of unwellness; cortisol concentration in saliva (sampled four times a day) and in 24-h urine; two cognitive scales, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire and the Cognitive Style Test. The results relating to the temporal relationship between biological and psychological data were ambiguous as the pattern of change was inconsistent among individuals. Group data indicated that changes in feeling unwell preceded changes in early evening salivary cortisol and changes in negative automatic thoughts preceded changes in day and early evening salivary cortisol. Psychological variables and cortisol concentrations were generally negatively correlated within individuals indicating that over the short recovery period improving mood and cognition were associated with increasing levels of cortisol. A more consistent pattern of precedence of change was obtained for mood and cognition: negative cognitive style predicted changes in both mood measures and feeling unwell predicted changes in negative automatic thoughts.
We compared the efficacy of timolol maleate ophthalmic gel-forming solution 0.5% QD with that of levobunolol hydrochloride 0.5% BID, as measured by change in intraocular pressure (IOP), effect on heart rate, and ocular tolerability. The study had a positive-controlled, double-masked, randomized, multicenter, 12-week, two-period (6 weeks each), crossover design. One hundred fifty-two patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension were randomized to receive either timolol maleate gel-forming solution QD or levobunolol BID for 6 weeks, followed by a crossover to the alternate treatment. IOP and heart rate were measured at morning trough and peak during weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12. Timolol maleate gel-forming solution QD was comparable to levobunolol BID in reducing IOP at peak and trough. Although the effects on peak heart rate were similar between the two medications, the effect on trough heart rate of timolol maleate gel-forming solution QD was significantly less than that of levobunolol BID (P = 0.001). The incidence of ocular burning and stinging was comparable between the two treatments. Patients experienced significantly more blurred vision when using timolol maleate gel-forming solution than when using levobunolol (P = 0.013). Overall, more patients experienced at least one adverse event when using timolol maleate gel-forming solution. Timolol maleate gel-forming solution QD is as efficacious in reducing IOP as levobunolol BID.
AR-L57 and AR-L115 have been of interest as inotropic agents for management of heart failure. Although their physiological effects are well documented, their mechanism(s) of action are unclear. Both AR-L57 and AR-L115 increased contractile force of cat papillary muscles in concentration-dependent manners; these effects were independent of either alpha- or beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. To determine if these effects occurred via a cAMP-dependent mechanism, cardiotonic actions were studied in the presence of carbachol. Muscarinic stimulation of papillary muscles attenuated contractile responses to AR-L115 thus implying a cAMP-mediated response. By contrast, carbachol did not alter the dose-response profile to AR-L57. In addition, AR-L115 potentiated the inotropic actions of isoproterenol whereas AR-L57 was ineffective. Both AR-L57 and ouabain increased diastolic resting tension in papillary muscles--a phenomenon associated with a state of Ca2+ overload; AR-L115 was without effect. In anesthetized dogs, i.v. AR-L57 and AR-L115 increased contractility and heart rate while reducing mean arterial blood pressure. Both agents had similar rates of onset (10-15 s) and durations of action (40-60 min). Although in vitro studies clearly indicate that AR-L57 and AR-L115 enhance inotropic state by distinct mechanisms, their in vivo cardiovascular profiles are comparable.
There is general agreement that adverse environmental circumstances have a stunting effect on child development, even if account is taken of a possible genetic component in the variation of intelligence. A short account of relevant investigations is followed by a summary of some aspects of an interdisciplinary study recently completed by the authors which included interviews with parents as well as psychological tests and ratings on their children in school.
Intracranial haemorrhage in the fetus has been reported with associated mortality and morbidity. This case report describes idiopathic subdural haematomas diagnosed at 32 weeks of gestation, with delivery by caesarean section of a live male infant in good condition at 34 weeks.
The sympathetic nerve pathways to the nasal vasculature were examined in 8 cats by recoding the effects of section of the orbital nerves on vasoconstriction produced by cervical sympathetic nerve stimulation. No sympathetic fibres were found in the sphenopalatine and infraorbital nerves. The majority were conveyed by either the Vidian or ethmoidal nerves, the remaining fibres are believed to reach the nasal cavity by the periarterial plexus.
Unilateral preganglionic cervical sympathetic stimulation in the anaesthetized cat evoked vasoconstriction in both nasal cavities, dependent on stimulation frequency. Vasoconstriction in the contralateral cavity was 15--20% of that of the stimulated side. Similar findings were obtained on unilateral Vidian nerve stimulation. Vasoconstriction evoked in the sympathectomized nasal cavity by stimulating the opposite cervical chain was reduced but not abolished by sectioning the posterior nasal and ethmoidal nerves of the stimulated side. It is suggested that vasoconstrictor fibres reach the opposite cavity either in these nerves or by way of blood vessels, but more likely that sympathetic fibres from these pathways innervate blood vessels which supply both nasal cavities.
The influence of sympathetic nerves on nasal secretion was examined in anaesthetized cats. The results from experiments in which the Vidian nerve was stimulated supramaximally for 3 min show that vasoconstriction occurs in the nasal cavity during the production of nasal secretion. The amount of nasal secretion produced in the normal cavity on Vidian nerve stimulation was greater than that produced in the sympathectomized nasal cavity but only significantly so at 2 and 5 Hz. It is concluded that at these lower frequencies sympathetic activity induced by Vidian nerve stimulation increases nasal secretion.
Pulmonary artery (PA) calcification is unusual in children, reportedly occurring only in conjunction with severe underlying valvular disease. Three newborns were found by chest X-ray study to have thin calcified rings of the PA. Two were pump twins in twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequences, each with an acardiac cotwin, and the third was the recipient in a twin transfusion syndrome (TTS). Both twin pairs with TRAP sequence were premature, each pump twin presenting with cardiac decompensation. One remained well at 5 months of age, the other died at 5 1/2 months of age. The third, the premature recipient of twins with TTS, died at 24 h of age, and the donor cotwin died at 2 h of age. The two hearts were structurally normal at autopsy. Subtle intimal wrinkling was seen above the pulmonary valve leaflets, and the media was yellow and granular on cut section. Hyperplasia of the intima and media with disruption and calcification of the elastic fibers of the media was seen microscopically. These three cases of PA calcification occurring in utero were not related to structural valvular abnormalities but were presumably due to increased cardiac output in utero as each occurred in the volume-overloaded twin of the twin pair. Comparison of the weight differences between these three twin pairs with PA calcification suggests a relationship between the presence of PA calcification and the severity of the cardiac volume overload. In utero cardiac damage may contribute to the high morbidity and mortality rate seen in infants with TRAP sequence and TTS.
This report describes the use of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in four infants with very severe clubfoot deformity. The gastrocnemius and posterior tibial muscles were injected with BTX-A after the patients reached a treatment plateau in physical therapy. Significant improvement in foot dorsiflexion and foot flexibility was seen in two patients, and surgery was not required. Surgical intervention was necessary in the remaining two patients, both of whom were ultimately diagnosed with a demyelinating neuropathy. The use of botulinum toxin as an adjunct to conservative care in infants with clubfoot is discussed.
The responses of the nasal capacitance vessels of the cat were recorded following intra-arterial injections of beta-adrenoceptor agonists and histamine H1-and H2-receptor agonists. Isoprenaline evoked vasodilation and propranolol (beta-adrenoceptor antagonist) caused a parallel shift to the right of the isoprenaline log dose-response curve. Histamine, 2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine (H1-agonist) and 4-methylhistamine (predominantly H2-agonist) all evoked vasodilation. Metiamide (H2-antagonist) produced a further small parallel shift to the right of the histamine log dose-response curve after the administration of mepyramine (H1-antagonist). It is concluded that the nasal capacitance vessels of the cat contain beta 2-adrenoceptors and H1-and H2-histamine receptors.
Rubidazone, a new anthracycline antibiotic, is the benzoyl hydrazone derivative of daunorubicin. The Southwest Oncology Group carried out a phase II study of the drug in 126 patients with previously treated acute leukemia; 116 patients were evaluable. Good-risk patients were given doses of 450 mg/m2, and poor-risk patients were given doses of 300 mg/m2 approximately every 3 weeks. No complete response was observed in 25 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia blast cell transformation. In the remaining patients the overall complete response rate was 22% and the rate of complete plus partial response was 29%. In good-risk patients these rates were 27% and 35%, respectively. Toxicity was similar to that observed with other anthracyclines except that acute febrile reactions were more pronounced. On the basis of the results, there are plans for a large-scale comparison study of rubidazone versus doxorubicin, each in combination with cytarabine, vincristine, and prednisone.
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Fifty-one previously untreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil, methyl-CCNU, and Baker's antifol. Six of 34 fully evaluable patients achieved a response. There were no apparent benefits obtained with this combination compared to treatment with 5-fluorouracil alone.