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Biomedical subjects

J Abraham

Publications and source records attributed to J Abraham.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The production and reception of scientific papers in the academic-industrial complex: the clinical evaluation of a new medicine.

The production and reception of scientific papers in the academic-industrial complex have been neglected in sociology. In this article the social processes which influence the nature of the scientific paper in that complex are explored in depth by taking a number of controversial medical papers as case studies. The empirical evidence is collected and discussed in the light of sociological theories of normative ethos, paradigm development, reward-induced conformity and social interests in science. It is concluded that within the medical-industrial complex conformity to industrial interests can be a major criterion in defining the kind of reception given to a scientific paper and the professional autonomy of the authors in the paper's production, rather than an ethos of scientific scepticism or commitment to paradigmatic conventions. This is seen to have implications for the production of scientific knowledge - implications that might be in conflict with the public interest. Consequently, the desirability of current British Government proposals to intensify its policy of making science more responsive to the needs of industry may have significant drawbacks, hitherto unacknowledged in official circles, and in need of more extensive sociological investigation.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1995

Thyroid disease and abnormal thyroid function tests in women with eating disorders and depression.

Forty-two female patients with an eating disorder and major depression were compared with 48 female patients with major depression in a retrospective chart study for the prevalence of thyroid disease and laboratory thyroid function abnormalities in the absence of thyroid disease. Eating disorder patients, aged 30-80 years, had a significantly higher incidence in thyroid diseases (53%) then those with major depression alone (17%). The incidence of thyroid disease did not differ between the two groups among patients aged 11-29 years. Abnormal thyroid screening values occurred in 40% of euthyroid eating disorder patients and 34% of those with major depression. While the overall prevalence of thyroid disease in depressed females (15%) was similar to that in the general population (10.5%), thyroid disease in the eating disordered/depressed patients was twice the rate expected (24%) in the general population. Female patients who require psychiatric hospitalization should be routinely evaluated for thyroid function, especially those diagnosed with an eating disorder and depression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Modulation of megakaryocytopoiesis by human basic fibroblast growth factor.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) may act to modulate hematopoiesis in addition to its effects on mesenchymal cells. We studied the effects of bFGF on human and murine primary marrow megakaryocytes. bFGF modestly enhanced the size of the human megakaryocyte colony-forming unit (CFU-MK) and cell numbers per colony, in combination with interleukin-3 (IL-3) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Adhesion of human megakaryocytes to bone marrow (BM) stromal fibroblasts was enhanced when either stromal fibroblasts or megakaryocytes were treated with bFGF. This resulted in significantly increased proliferation of megakaryocytes. In addition, bFGF augmented secretion of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-6 by human primary BM megakaryocytes. Immature murine megakaryocytes showed a significant growth response to bFGF as measured by the single cell growth assay. This effect was abrogated by specific antibodies for bFGF and combination of anti-IL-6 and anti-IL-1 beta antibodies. bFGF has no effect on murine CFU-MK formation, but significantly potentiated CFU-MK formation in the presence of IL-3 or GM-CSF. These results indicate that the effect of bFGF on various megakaryocyte populations is different and that bFGF may affect megakaryocytopoiesis via modulation of megakaryocyte-stromal interactions and via augmentation of cytokine secretion from megakaryocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Athermal physiological effects of microwaves on a cynobacterium Nostoc muscorum: evidence for EM-memory bits in water.

Athermal physiological effects of continuous wave and modulated microwaves were studied on a cynobacterium Nostoc muscorum. The study shows that different microwave frequencies in continuous wave and modulated modes produced significantly different physiological effects on the algae. Water-mediated bioeffects further present additional proof that water has the capability to remember the imposed electromagnetic field characteristics for an extended period of time.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1993

Appearance of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor in wound fluid as a response to injury.

Wound fluid was obtained from porcine partial-thickness excisional wounds and analyzed for heparin-binding growth factors. Two heparin-binding growth factor activities were detected, a relatively minor one that was eluted from a heparin affinity column with 0.65 M NaCl and a major one that was eluted with 1.1 M NaCl. These activities were not present in wound fluid 1 hr after injury but appeared 1 day after injury, were maximal 2-3 days after injury, and were not detectable by 8 days after injury. The heparin-binding growth factor eluted with 0.65 M NaCl was identified as a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-like activity by the use of specific anti-PDGF neutralizing antibodies. The heparin-binding growth factor eluted with 1.1 M NaCl was shown to be structurally related to heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF) by several criteria, including binding to heparin affinity columns and elution with 1.1 M NaCl, competition with the binding of 125I-EGF to the EGF receptor, triggering phosphorylation of the EGF receptor, immunodetection on a Western blot, and stimulation of fibroblast and keratinocyte growth. It was concluded that HB-EGF is a major growth factor component of wound fluid and, since it is mitogenic for fibroblasts and keratinocytes, that it might play an important role in wound healing.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1992

Microvascular morphometry in primate diaschisis.

Focal cerebral ischemia was produced in monkeys by transorbital occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Following this, in one group of animals the total microvasculature, including both perfused and nonperfused vessels of the opposite caudate nucleus and insula, was examined by alkaline phosphatase staining of the endothelium. In another group, the patency of the microvascular bed was visualized by india ink perfusion. The number, diameter, and length of visualized vessels were measured by means of a Wild ASBA image analysis system. The perfused patient microvascular bed was significantly reduced in both insula and caudate nucleus in the supposedly normal left side, although the total microvascular volume showed an increase at 4 and 12 hr in the insula and at 48 hr in the caudate nucleus. Reduced perfusion in the hemisphere opposite to the occluded middle cerebral artery provides an anatomical substrate for the phenomenon of "diaschisis."

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Assessment of buccal separators in the relief of bruxist activity associated with myofascial pain-dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of heavy (S2) Alastik separators in relieving bruxist activity as monitored through masseter muscle area EMG activity, muscle palpation, and self-reporting in 21 Caucasian subjects. The subjects, all of whom suffered from both bruxism and myofascial pain-dysfunction, were randomly assigned to one of three groups: experimental (separator group); placebo (separator placed and removed); and control groups (no separator). The findings from this study indicate that there were no observable differences in either subjective or objective responses to the pretreatment versus posttreatment questionnaire and clinical examination for tooth clenching or grinding, facial pain, and fatigue of the jaws. In addition, no statistical differences were found between pre and posttreatment data. The EMG data did not show any statistical differences between pretreatment and posttreatment evaluations or among the 3 groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Stenosis of the axis and cervical myelopathy. Case report.

A rare case is described of marked segmental stenosis of the axis secondary to developmental hypertrophy of the posterior neural arch causing cervical myelopathy. The patient made a remarkable recovery following decompressive laminectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of drug effects on spinal cord injury--an experimental study in monkeys.

Contusion injury is produced experimentally in anaesthetised monkeys by weight drop method. A group of animals having laminectomy alone served as sham controls. Drugs were administered 30 min after injury initially. Naloxone and nifedipine were administered as single dose administration immediately after injury. Dipyridamole and DMSO were administered daily for a period of 1 week. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) was estimated in 2 spinal tissue segments, S1-at the site of injury and S2-the segment above the site of injury, at the end of 1 week after sacrificing the animals. Contusion injury produced significant decrease in specific activity of AchE in the traumatised segment of the experimental animals. The non-traumatised adjacent segment did not show any significant change. Nifedipine, naloxone and DMSO produced a decrease in AchE activity in S1 and S2 segments. Monkeys developed paraplegia after contusion injury. A score 2+ was observed after 1 week as compared to the score of 4+ of sham controls. Single dose administration of naloxone seemed to reverse the motor deficit by getting a score of 3+; other drugs did not produce any beneficial effect on motor deficit.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Single small enhancing CT lesions in Indian patients with epilepsy: clinical, radiological and pathological considerations.

Thirty consecutive Indian patients with focal or generalised seizures and single, small (less than 10 mm), enhancing lesions on CT scans (SSECTL) were studied. Five patients (Group A) were treated with anticonvulsants alone and did not have a biopsy. In ten patients (Group B) a CT guided stereotaxic biopsy of the lesion was carried out and in the remainder (15-Group C) and excision biopsy of the lesion was carried out following CT guided stereotaxic localisation. In all patients in Group B the lesion were reported as "chronic nonspecific inflammation". In seven of 15 patients in Group C the lesions showed a cysticercus with a granuloma and in a further five the pathology was that of a "parasitic granuloma" but the parasite could not be identified. Biopsy did not reveal a tuberculoma or neoplasm in any of the patients. The lesions studied are the same as "disappearing" CT lesions reported in Indian patients, as in 12 of 15 patients in Groups A and B, who could be followed up for more than three months, the lesions had spontaneously disappeared or left calcific residues. It is concluded that in Indian epileptic patients with SSECTL cysticercosis is the commonest aetiology. A treatment protocol for these patients is suggested on the basis of the findings.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

Shunt surgery for hydrocephalus in tuberculous meningitis: a long-term follow-up study.

Hydrocephalus is a common complication of tuberculous meningitis. Case studies of 114 patients with tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalus, who underwent shunt surgery between July, 1975, and June, 1986, were reviewed to evaluate the long-term outcome and to outline a management protocol for these patients based on the results. Seven factors were studied in each case: 1) age at admission; 2) grade on admission (I to IV, classified by the authors; Grade I being the best and Grade IV being the worst); 3) duration of alteration of sensorium; 4) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell content at initial examination; 5) CSF protein levels at initial examination; 6) number of shunt revisions required; and 7) the necessity for bilateral shunts. During a long-term follow-up period ranging from 6 months to 13 years (mean 45.6 months), the mortality rate was 20% for patients in Grade I; 34.7% for patients in Grade II; 51.9% for patients in Grade III; and 100% for patients in Grade IV. Only the grade at the time of admission was found to be statistically significant in determining final outcome (p less than 0.001). Based on these results, the authors advocate early shunt surgery for Grade I and II patients. For patients in Grade III, surgery may be performed either if external ventricular drainage causes an improvement in sensorium or without selection. All patients in Grade IV should undergo external ventricular drainage and only those who show a significant change in their neurological status within 24 to 48 hours of drainage, should have shunt surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Screening for hemoglobins S and C in newborn and adult blood with a monoclonal antibody in an ELISA procedure.

To facilitate the screening of blood for the presence of hemoglobins S or C, we devised an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). The ELISA procedure incorporated a murine monoclonal antibody (mAb), beta s-1, which recognized both Hb variants but did not react with Hb A, Hb A2 or Hb F. Hemoglobins in cord or adult hemolysates were coated on the surface of wells of polystyrene microtiter plates and treated with beta s-1 mAb, followed by goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. After addition of tetramethylbenzidine substrate solution, a deep blue color developed, signifying the presence of Hb S or Hb C. The beta s-1 mAb ascites fluid could detect purified Hb S and Hb C when diluted to over 1/512,000 and cord blood hemolysates containing Hb/S or Hb C when diluted to 1/128,000. Although maximal reactivity was achieved using undiluted hemolysates, the ELISA system could easily detect Hb S and Hb C in cord blood hemolysates when diluted 10(-4). The sensitivity of the ELISA was 1%, which exceeds the lowest quantities of these variants normally found in cord blood. In addition, we found that the ELISA procedure was suitable for detecting Hb S/Hb C in whole blood as well. The entire assay could be conducted on multiple samples in less than 1 h, thus providing a specific, sensitive, rapid and simple screening technique for Hb S and Hb C in cord or adult blood.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The paradox of increased microvascular visualization with decreased perfusion in cerebral focal ischaemia in a primate model.

Microvasculature of the right caudate nucleus and insular cortex of monkeys with their right middle cerebral artery occluded was morphometrically measured with an image analysis system at 1/2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 hr and 2 weeks. A biphasic change in the microvasculature was observed. In the first phase up to 12 hr an increase in the number and length of the total microvasculature, visualized by alkaline phosphatase staining, along with a reduction in the number and length of the perfused part of the microvasculature, visualized by India ink perfusion, was observed. In the second phase after 48 hr, the number and length of the total microvascular bed as well as the perfused functional bed were significantly reduced.

Animals↗