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Biomedical subjects

J Ferrante

Publications and source records attributed to J Ferrante.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Biomedical versus cultural constructions of abnormality: the case of idiopathic hirsutism in the United States.

From an examination of (1) psychological and social stresses documented by the medical profession of women with amounts of hair departing from what is considered to be the "feminine" distribution of hair (idiopathic hirsutism), (2) biomedical information about male and female hair growth and distribution, (3) definitional influences of society, and (4) instrumental maneuverings of depilatory industries, this paper offers insights about the alteration of natural female facial and body hair to conform to a social construct of gender status. Although the hair problem is interesting in itself, its implications are much broader, for what lies behind conceptions of abnormality is a biological reality mediated by social constructs and classificatory schema.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The actions of peppermint oil and menthol on calcium channel dependent processes in intestinal, neuronal and cardiac preparations.

The activities of menthol and peppermint oil were determined in guinea-pig ileal smooth muscle, in rat and guinea-pig atrial and papillary muscle, in rat brain synaptosomes and in chick retinal neurones by pharmacological 45Ca2+ uptake and radioligand binding assays. Menthol is a major constituent of peppermint oil and is approximately twice as potent as peppermint oil as an inhibitor of K+ depolarization-induced and electrically stimulated responses in ileum and electrically stimulated atrial and papillary muscles. IC50 values in the ileal preparation ranged from 7.7 to 28.1 micrograms ml-1 and in the cardiac preparations from 10.1 to 68.5 micrograms ml-1. Similar potencies were demonstrated against K+ depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake in synaptosomes and against K+ depolarization and Bay K 8644-induced uptake in chick retinal neurons. IC50 values for menthol inhibition of K+ and Bay K 8644 responses in the retinal neurons were 1.1 x 10(-4) M (17.2 micrograms ml-1) and 1.75 x 10(-4) M (26.6 micrograms ml-1), respectively, and for peppermint oil were 20.3 and 41.7 micrograms ml-1 respectively. Both menthol and peppermint oil inhibited specific [3H]nitrendipine and [3H]PN 200-110 binding to smooth and cardiac muscle and neuronal preparations with potencies comparable to, but slightly lower than, those measured in the pharmacological and 45Ca2+ uptake experiments. Binding of menthol and peppermint oil, studied at 78 micrograms ml-1, was competitive against [3H]nitrendipine in both smooth muscle and synaptosome preparations. The data indicate that both menthol and peppermint oil exert Ca2+ channel blocking properties which may underlie their use in irritable bowel syndrome. Ca2+ channel antagonism may not be the only pharmacological effect of menthol and peppermint oil contributing to intestinal smooth muscle relaxation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The actions of diazepam and diphenylhydantoin on fast and slow Ca2+ uptake processes in guinea pig cerebral cortex synaptosomes.

The activities of diazepam and diphenylhydantoin as inhibitors of the fast and slow phases of 45Ca2+ uptake in response to K+ depolarization and of [3H]nitrendipine binding were examined in guinea pig cerebral cortex synaptosomes. The slow phase of 45Ca2+ uptake was abolished in Na+-free media (choline substitution) and was more sensitive to inhibition by 3,4-dichlorobenzamil and represents a Na+-dependent Ca2+ uptake process. The fast component of uptake represents activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Diazepam (to 300 microM) was selectively active against the fast component of 45Ca2+ uptake. The benzodiazepines Ro 11-3624 and Ro 11-3128 were similarly selective with a modest stereoselectivity against the fast component of 45Ca2+ uptake. Diphenylhydantoin (100 and 200 microM) blocked nonselectively both fast and slow phases of Ca2+ uptake. Diazepam (60 microM) and diphenylhydantoin (200 microM) blocked [3H]nitrendipine binding in a competitive manner. Diazepam and diphenylhydantoin probably exert at least part of their anticonvulsant activity by inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The ontogeny of [3H]nitrendipine binding sites and 45Ca2+ uptake processes in brain synaptosomes from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Potassium-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake into rat brain cerebral cortex synaptosomes was measured in spontaneously hypertensive rats at ages two days to 140 days. The fast and slow phases of 45Ca2+ uptake were measured. The slow phase was abolished by replacement of Na+ by choline, was more sensitive to 3,4-dichlorobenzamil and likely represents Na+:Ca2+ exchange. The fast and slow phases of 45Ca2+ uptake developed at different rates, the slow phase developing more rapidly and being more prominent at younger ages, but both phases were at a maximum at 5 weeks. [3H]Nitrendipine binding increased from 2 days (Bmax = 39 +/- 1 fmol mg-1 protein), without change in Kd (mean = 130 +/- 7 X 10(-12) M). Development of [3H]nitrendipine binding paralleled that of the fast phase of 45Ca2+ uptake. Neither 45Ca2+ uptake (both phases) nor [3H]nitrendipine binding (Bmax) changed between 5 weeks (prehypertensive) and 20 weeks (established hypertensive) of age.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bilateral giant cyst of the shoulder.

The case of a 61 year old white female with a rapidly progressive rheumatoid arthritis who developed bilateral giant cyst of the shoulder is described here. Arthrographic investigation indicated that these giant cysts were true synovial cysts rather than "pseudocysts".

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Learner contracts.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Clinical Clerkship↗