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Biomedical subjects

J Harman

Publications and source records attributed to J Harman.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Event-related potentials and cognitive functions in epileptic treated patients.

Antiepileptic drugs as well epilepsy itself are known to induce some cognitive impairment. Thirty-six epileptic patients under unchanged and reduced therapy conditions were followed from a clinical (seizures' evaluation, reaction times [RTs], memory tests) and neurophysiological (EEG, BAEPs, ERPs) point of view, weekly as inpatients (mean stay 8.9 weeks) and after 1 and 3 months as outpatients. This study showed on one hand no clear correlation between RTs and ERPs components, and on the other hand an improvement of the most complex RT after reduction of polytherapy or stabilization of seizures by the introduction of carbamazepine-CR in newly treated patients. These data suggest that in epileptic patients there exists a slowing of cognitive processes between the stimulus evaluation time and the motor response and that this step is improved when a reduced but efficient therapy is given.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Oocyte donation: a review.

Oocyte donation provides an option for achieving pregnancy in women lacking functioning gonads, or in whom IVF techniques have failed to harvest adequate oocytes, or those who do not wish to use their own gametes because of hereditary disease. In agonadal women, artificial menstrual cycles are required before proceeding to gamete donation. A fixed cyclical steroid replacement schedule of oestradiol (E2) valerate and progesterone (P4) pessaries was initially used, but the need for synchrony between donor and recipient cycles, and the narrow window for implantation limited the transfer of fresh embryos. Donor-recipient cycle asynchrony can be overcome by using frozen-thawed embryos, or by extending the follicular phase in the recipient to widen the transfer window. Twenty-two pregnancies have now been achieved by the Monash/Epworth group, resulting in the birth of 13 healthy infants. There were no statistically significant differences in pregnancy rates (per transfer) between transfers in natural cycles (14%, four pregnancies) and steroid replacement cycles (24%, 16 pregnancies). Five pregnancies (36%) were established in women treated with 2 mg of E2 daily 13-18 days before embryo transfer with P4 starting on the day of or the day following oocyte retrieval. E2 was continued for a median of 85 days (range 49-110) and P4 for a median of 86 days (range 49-133) after the supposed last menstrual period. All but one delivery was by caesarean section. There were no perinatal deaths and no ectopic pregnancies.

Embryo Transfer↗
PubMed1988

Sister-sister in vitro fertilization surrogate pregnancy with donor sperm: the case for surrogate gestational pregnancy.

A case of surrogate pregnancy is described in the sister of a 40-year-old hysterectomized woman where two oocytes of the latter were fertilized in vitro with known donor sperm and transferred into the surrogate. A normal singleton pregnancy developed which was complicated after 24 weeks of gestation with recurrent antepartum hemorrhages due to grade 3 placenta praevia. A healthy female baby was delivered by elective cesarean section at 36 weeks of gestation. The legal, social, psychological, and ethical issues of surrogacy remain unsettled and are discussed in this case report.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Successful pregnancy in an ovulating recipient following the transfer of two frozen-thawed embryos obtained from anonymously donated oocytes.

A fertile woman suffering from mild dystrophia myotonica had undergone sterilization because of the 50% genetic risk of this disease developing in her offspring. In her second treatment cycle on the donor oocyte program, four anonymously donated oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed sperm of her husband. Three embryos were obtained and two surviving embryos were deep-frozen at the eight-cell stage and kept in storage for 9 months. These embryos were successfully thawed and transferred to the recipient 97 hr after the onset of her luteinizing hormone surge. A normal singleton pregnancy developed and a healthy male infant was delivered by cesarean section at 36 weeks of gestation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Metabolic changes in skeletal muscle and blood of greyhounds during 800-m track sprint.

The aim of this study was to examine some metabolic properties and changes that occur in skeletal muscle and blood of greyhounds after an 800-m sprint. Three prime moving fast-twitch muscles were selected: biceps femoris (BF), gastrocnemius (G), and vastus lateralis (VL). The amount of glycogen utilized during the event was 42.57, 43.86, and 42.73 mumol glucosyl units/g wet wt, respectively. Expressed as a function of race time (48.3 +/- 0.7 s, n = 3), the mean rate of glycogen breakdown was 53.48 +/- 0.5 mumol.g wet wt-1.min-1 during the sprint. This is equivalent to an ATP turnover of 160 mumol.g wet wt-1.min-1, assuming 100% anaerobic conversion to lactate. This represents a conservative estimate, since greyhound muscle is heterogeneous and comprised of a large percentage of fast-twitch oxidative fibers (Armstrong et al., Am. J. Anat. 163: 87-98, 1982). The large decrease in muscle glycogen was accompanied by a 6- to 7-fold increase in muscle lactate from 3.48 +/- 0.13 to 25.42 +/- 3.54 (BF), 2.54 +/- 1.05 to 18.96 +/- 2.60 (G), and 4.57 +/- 0.44 to 30.09 +/- 1.94 mumol.g wet wt (VL), and a fall in muscle pH from 6.88 +/- 0.03 to 6.40 +/- 0.02 (BF), 6.92 +/- 0.02 to 6.56 +/- 0.02 (G), and 6.93 +/- 0.02 to 6.47 +/- 0.01 (VL). Cytosolic phosphorylation potential in BF decreased 10-fold from 11,360 +/- 680 to 1,184 +/- 347, and redox potential decreased 5-fold, indicating a marked reduction in the cytosol at this time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1987

The donation of oocytes to known recipients.

The supply of donated oocytes from an in vitro fertilization programme has always been inadequate, especially following the successful cryopreservation of human embryos. There have been no previous reports of women donating their oocytes to known recipients. All of 7 women who donated all their oocytes to known recipients responded to a posted questionnaire. No differences in social characteristics between this group and another group of infertile women treated on an in vitro fertilization programme, who donated some of their excess oocytes anonymously were noted, except that the known donor group had a relatively high average parity, i.e. 3. No differences in attitudes towards donating oocytes were noted between these groups except that the known donor group felt a significantly greater connection towards the potential child.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Changes in Wolfe mammographic patterns with aging.

Mammograms of 212 women were examined at a mean interval of 15 (range 11-17) years, to determine whether there was any change in Wolfe mammographic pattern with age. The mean age of the patients at repeat mammography was 52 (range 32-75) years. The DY pattern tended to change to P2 or P1 with age. Those in whom the DY pattern remained tended to be younger (mean age 47 years) than those who changed to P2 (57 years), or P1 (55 years). Women whose pattern changed from DY to N1 had a mean age of 42 years. These findings support the hypothesis that the perilobular connective-tissue elements are the structures responsible for the dense appearance of the DY breast, as these elements would be most active between 15 and 45 years (peak reproductive period) and tend to regress later.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Localization of chlorotetracycline fluorescence in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Chlorotetracycline (CTC) has been used in many cells as a probe for membranous calcium. In polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), the changes in CTC fluorescence upon stimulation are considered to monitor an early event in the activation process. Using quantitative video-enhanced microscopy, we report that in resting cells about 80% of the CTC signal emanates from the perinuclear region of the cell, indicating that internal structures are labeled with CTC. Approximately 20% of the total CTC fluorescence is taken up in a compartment sensitive to mitochondrial inhibitors, which is not present in neutrophils depleted of nucleus and granules or cytoplasts. Upon stimulation PMN loaded with CTC exhibit a rapid, biphasic decrease in fluorescence that is dose dependent. The second phase of the response is not seen in neutrophil cytoplasts. These results suggest that internal stores of CTC are responsive upon stimulation and could account for the later decrease in CTC fluorescence, whereas the early phase of CTC changes represents the plasma membrane response.

Calcium↗
PubMed1986

Double appendix.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Attitudes toward egg donation of thirty-four infertile women who donated during their in vitro fertilization treatment.

The attitudes of anonymous infertile egg donors treated on an in vitro fertilization program toward the donation, the recipient, the potential children conceived, and the recording of information were explored by posted questionnaire. All donations were made for altruistic reasons and payment of eggs was not expected or given. The majority of donors (91%) wished to withhold their names from the recipient, but half of the donors would not mind if the child contacted them later. Most donors (94%) had told others of their donation and the keeping of records would appear essential for future possible identification. Some possible differences in attitudes between egg and sperm donors were noted but comparisons are difficult due to basic differences in fertility status and ease of gamete collection. The attitudes and characteristics of a control group of infertile women, who were in a position to donate excess eggs but declined, showed no significant differences from those of the donor group, except that they had a significantly greater number who already had one or more children and were less likely to discuss their possible donation with others.

Attitude↗
PubMed1986

Pregnancy established in an infertile patient after transfer of an embryo fertilized in vitro where the oocyte was donated by the sister of the recipient.

A successful pregnancy in a patient suffering from infertility due to severe tubal disease has been achieved following the transfer of embryos fertilized in vitro following the donation of oocytes by the sister of the recipient. Both sisters ovulated irregularly and asynchronously. The donor's menstrual cycle varied from 24 to 30 days and the recipient's cycle varied from 23 to 26 days. Synchronization of ovulation was achieved by matching the onset of their menstrual cycles prior to treatment by in vitro fertilization and by manipulating the follicular phase of both the donor and the recipient during the cycle of treatment. Ten oocytes were collected from the donor and all were inseminated with spermatozoa from the recipient's husband. Nine normal embryos developed and three were transferred to the uterus of the recipient sister, 55 hr after laparoscopic egg collection. A normal singleton pregnancy resulted.

Embryo Transfer↗
PubMed1986

The search for donor eggs: a problem of supply and demand.

Although seven babies who were conceived in vitro with donated oocytes have been born in the Monash-Epworth programme, the availability of this service is now threatened because of the scarcity of oocytes for donation. Previously oocytes were donated by infertile women undergoing oocyte collection in the in vitro fertilisation programme, but this supply has been severely curtailed since cryopreservation of their embryos has been made available to them. Other sources of donated oocytes have included collecting oocytes from women undergoing laparoscopic sterilization, infertile women finding their own (known) donors, and fertile women donating all their oocytes for altruistic reasons on an in vitro fertilisation programme. The latter two categories offer the greatest chance of collecting mature oocytes for donation.

Female↗
PubMed1978

Withdrawal from long-term high-dose desipramine therapy. Clinical and biological changes.

Investigation was undertaken on a patient whose long-term intake of desipramine hydrochloride was amongst the highest reported. Desipramine treatment instituted at a daily dosage of 75 mg for depressive equivalents of head, chest, and abdominal pain was increased to 1,000 mg daily over a 12-year interval with minimal side effects. Plasma desipramine level dropped immediately on withdrawal, and urinary metabolite values dropped over the subsequent five days. The electrocardiographic abnormalities of first-degree atrioventricular block and incomplete left bundle branch block rapidly disappeared on cessation of medication. Electroencephalographic changes with symmetrical generalized irregular 5- to 7-cps theta activity and 18- to 28-cps beta activity also improved. Longitudinal polygraphic sleep studies showed prolonged rapid eye movement rebound and increased delta sleep coincident with withdrawal. It took ten days after cessation of desipramine for urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol concentration to increase substantially. Although catecholamines are involved in growth hormone (GH) and cortisol regulation, no abnormalities were found in GH or cortisol levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Ultrasound as a new method of male contraception.

Twenty male cats were treated once or twice with 1 watt/sq cm of ultrasound for 10 minutes. Each of 24 male dogs received one to three treatments with 1 watt/sq cm for 10 minutes. Another six dogs were treated with 2 watts/sq cm for 15 minutes. Four Cebus apella monkeys were treated with the same dosage as that used for the cats and dogs. A dosage of 1 watt/sq cm for 10 minutes was also applied to four human patients without the use of anesthetics, and no pain or side effects were noted. In all treated animals as well as in human patients the results indicate that ultrasound significantly suppresses spermatogenesis according to the dosage and frequency of treatment, without any effect on Leydig cells or blood testosterone levels.

Animals↗