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Biomedical subjects

J Elliott

Publications and source records attributed to J Elliott.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Congenital limb deficiency: maternal factors in pregnancy.

Maternal factors in pregnancy were examined in a case-control study of 155 children with limb deficiencies (longitudinal and transverse) born 1970-1981 inclusive and 274 matched normal controls. Vomiting of pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of longitudinal limb reduction defects. Gestational bleeding has long been known for its association with perinatal mortality, low birth-weight and prematurity; limb deficiencies have also been noted. In the present study the pattern of bleeding differed between women in the transverse and longitudinal groups, with the possibility of a causal role for bleeding in the aetiology of longitudinal but not transverse defects. There was a significant statistical risk associated with respiratory infections comparable with the reported association of congenital limb deficiency and influenza from Finland.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Meeting family needs following severe head injury: a multidisciplinary approach.

Families of neurotrauma patients experience significantly increased stress during the acute phase of injury. It is important to recognize each family's needs during this period in order to enhance the potential for recovery. Assessment of individual needs, communication with the health care team, and genuine concern are necessary. One successful approach to the group process is "The Family Huddle", a technique which has enjoyed positive results at one institution.

Brain Injuries↗
PubMed1984

The innocent bystander. Doxylamine/dicyclomine/pyridoxine and congenital limb defects.

The antinausea drug combination, doxylamine/dicyclomine/pyridoxine (Debendox or Bendectin [US] ), has been withdrawn from the market because of litigation based upon charges that it causes congenital limb defects. To investigate this allegation, the pregnancy histories of mothers of 155 limb-deficient children, born between 1970 and 1981, have been compared with those of mothers of 273 matched normal controls. There was no significant difference between the pregnancy histories of mothers of case children and those of mothers of control children in respect of reported frequency of morning sickness, the use of doxylamine/dicyclomine/pyridoxine, the date of commencement of its intake, the duration of intake, or its dose. The relative risk of limb deficiency in children of mothers exposed to this drug is estimated to be 1.1 with confidence limits of 0.8-1.5. No risk of congenital limb defects was found to be associated with the use of this drug.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1984

Morphine diesters. I. Synthesis and action on guinea pig ileum.

3,6-Dipropanoylmorphine (DPM), 3,6-dibutanoylmorphine (DBM), and 3,6-dihexanoylmorphine (DHM) were prepared as prospective long-acting narcotic analgesics. The purity and structure of these compounds were authenticated by high pressure liquid chromatography and direct probe mass spectrometry. In aqueous solution the stability of the HCI salts of these compounds decreased with increasing alkyl chain length such that DHM underwent rapid hydrolysis to 6-monohexanoylmorphine (MHM). A comparison of DPM, DBM, and MHM with morphine (MO) and 3,6-diacetylmorphine (DAM, heroin) in the electrically stimulated guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus longitudinal muscle strip preparation (GUPIL) revealed similar potencies and efficacies for all compounds, but marked differences in the onset of drug action (MO greater than DAM greater than MHM greater than DPM greater than DBM, faster to slower). In a periodically washed GUPIL preparation DBM and MHM were five times longer acting than MO, DAM or DPM.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The sympatho-adrenal system and vasopressin in cardiovascular responses to A1 lesions.

We have studied the mechanisms contributing to the characteristic cardiovascular response produced after lesions of the A1 noradrenaline cell area in the ventrolateral medulla of the rabbit, at and below the level of the obex. Forty-five minutes after the A1 lesions there were dramatic increases in plasma adrenaline and plasma vasopressin (AVP) levels, which rose more than forty-fold, accompanied by smaller increases in plasma noradrenaline concentration and plasma renin activity (PRA) which were approximately doubled. Administration of an AVP antagonist did not effect the pressor response to A1 lesions but did reduce the bradycardia whereas administration of phentolamine, an alpha adrenoceptor blocker, completely prevented the increase in blood pressure after lesions. Administration of propranolol and methylscopolamine together, reduced the magnitude of the bradycardia by blocking cardiac efferent mechanisms mediating baroreceptor reflexes, but left a persistent residual fall in heart rate which was independent of baroreflexes; on the other hand when the AVP antagonist was given simultaneously with propranolol and methylscopolamine the bradycardia was completely abolished. Furthermore, infusion of AVP producing plasma levels similar to those seen after A1 lesions, caused a fall in heart rate and cardiac output with only a minor degree of vasoconstriction and no change in mean arterial pressure. An inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme had no effect on either heart rate or blood pressure. The rise in blood pressure observed after lesions of the A1 noradrenaline cell region is principally due to activation of the sympatho-adrenal system. The bradycardia is partly reflex due to stimulation of arterial baroreceptors. There is a marked rise in plasma AVP which exerts a minor vasoconstrictor effect but contributes directly and more substantially to the fall in heart rate.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Antagonism of enkephalin action on acetylcholine release by methylxanthines: lack of a purine link.

Theophylline (Theo) and caffeine antagonized the inhibitory effect of methionine (Met)-enkephalin, leucine (Leu)-enkephalin and morphine on the twitch height of the field stimulated myenteric plexus longitudinal muscle (MPLM) preparation of the guinea-pig ileum. Antagonism by Theo was observed only in tissues stimulated submaximally, but that by caffeine was observed in tissues stimulated submaximally and supramaximally. Injection of Theo (20, 40 mg kg-1) or caffeine (40 mg kg-1) reversed or blocked the inhibitory effects of Leu-enkephalin (50 micrograms i.c.v.) and a systemically active enkephalin FK 33,824 (0.5 mg kg-1) on the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the rat cortex in vivo. Injections of morphine (2.5, 5.0 mg kg-1 i.v.) did not modify the in vivo release of radiolabelled purines from the cerebral cortex prelabelled with [3H]-adenosine (2.8 X 10(-7) M). Application of K+ (60 mM) to the cortex readily stimulated this release. Injection of morphine (5.0 mg kg-1 i.v.) increased the spontaneous release of radiolabelled purines from the cortex prelabelled with a higher concentration of [3H]-adenosine (10(-4) M) in six out of eleven experiments. Under similar conditions neither Leu-enkephalin (50 micrograms i.c.v.) nor FK 33,824 (0.5 mg kg-1 i.v.) stimulated purine release. It is concluded that methylxanthines can antagonize the inhibitory action of opioids on the peripheral and central release of ACh. However, this antagonism does not reflect an intermediary purine step in the action of opioids on the release of ACh.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1983

Pulmonary compliance in sick low birthweight infants. How reliable is the measurement of oesophageal pressure?

Measurements of dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) were made on 42 occasions in a group of 15 intubated very low birthweight infants with respiratory distress syndrome, using an oesophageal balloon and pneumotachograph system. Values of Cdyn were compared with those of total respiratory system compliance (Crs) using an occlusion technique. Ten very low birthweight infants with no respiratory disease were similarly studied while breathing through a facemask. The occlusion tests for oesophageal balloon assessment were unsatisfactory in 14 of 15 intubated infants, but in only 3 of the 10 normal infants. Values of Cdyn were poorly reproducible and correlated poorly with Crs. We conclude that in sick intubated preterm infants oesophageal pressure (and hence Cdyn) cannot be reliably measured, but that Crs may be a useful parameter of lung stiffness.

Esophagus↗
PubMed1982

Metastatic endophthalmitis due to Salmonella typhimurium.

A 48-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had endophthalmitis as the first sign of generalized sepsis due to Salmonella typhimurium. The organism grew from the anterior chamber aspirate as well as from the blood cultures. The eye required enucleation, and pathologically identifiable organisms were present in the vitreous cavity. To our knowledge, a case of metastatic endophthalmitis due to S typhimurium has not been previously reported. Salmonella is an opportunistic organism and should be considered in cases of endophthalmitis occurring in an immunocompromised host.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1981

Ames testing of Direct Black 38 parallels carcinogenicity testing.

Studies have established that Direct Black 38 and two other benzidine-based dyes are carcinogenic. The carcinogenic effect has been generally considered attributable to the metabolic release of benzidine from Direct Black 38 and similar dyes. However, Ames tests indicated that when Direct Black 38 is reduced with sodium dithionate it is more mutagenic than can be accounted for by complete release of all the benzidine present in the dye molecule. While most dyes are not mutagenic when tested with S-9, a series of benzidine congener dyes were all found to be mutagenic with either TA 98 or TA 100 strains, if the dyes were first reduced with sodium dithionate. Unreduced dyes were not mutagenic. Neither anaerobic conditions nor addition of riboflavin induced mutagenicity of these dyes under the condition of our experiments.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1981

Effects of tomato pomace and mixed-vegetable pomace on serum and liver cholesterol in rats.

The effects of tomato pomace and mixed-vegetable pomace, vegetable processing by-products, on serum and liver cholesterol were compared against pectin, wheat bran, cellulose, and lignin. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (100 g) were fed high sucrose, semi-purified diets containing basal (0), 5% or 10% of the fiber source and either 0, 0.5% cholesterol or 0.5% cholesterol + 0.125% sodium cholate. After 28 days, there were highly significant differences (P less than 0.001) in serum and liver cholesterols due to fiber source, dietary cholesterol and the interaction. The effect of fiber source level was significant (P less than 0.05) for liver cholesterol only. Pectin groups had serum and liver cholesterol levels lower (P less than 0.05) than the others. At the 10% level, tomato pomace, wheat bran and lignin (Indulin AT) groups had serum cholesterols higher (P less than 0.05) than basal; the mixed-vegetable pomace and cellulose groups were not different from basal. Liver cholesterols of tomato pomace, mixed-vegetable pomace, wheat bran and lignin groups were not different at the 10% level, but were higher than the pectin, cellulose and basal groups (P less than 0.05). In a second experiment, serum cholesterols of rats fed pectin were lower (P less than 0.05) than for those fed cellulose or two types of lignin (Indulin AT, Reax 27).

Animals↗