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Biomedical subjects

J Irvine

Publications and source records attributed to J Irvine.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

A prospective analysis of antibodies reacting with pancreatic islet cells in insulin-dependent diabetic children.

Islet cell cytoplasmic and cell surface antibodies along with other autogenic tissue antibodies were determined prospectively from the day of diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes in a group of children and adolescents. Prior to the initiation of insulin therapy 30 out of 33 were antibody-positive, 67% having islet cytoplasmic antibodies and 67% islet cell surface antibodies. Among 74 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic individuals 1% had islet cell cytoplasmic antibodies and 3% had islet cell surface antibodies. A prospective analysis in 17 patients showed a diminishing prevalence of islet cell antibodies with increasing duration of diabetes. Islet cell cytoplasmic or cell surface antibodies were found independently of each other or in combination and with various patterns of persistence. The results indicate a strong association of islet cell antibodies with the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes in childhood and adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Ontogenesis of spontaneous activity and habituation of activity in the rat pup.

Individual components of activity and habituation of activity were determined throughout the 1st month of life in the rat pup. Total activity increased from 25% at 8 days of age to 68% at 22 days before declining to 49% at 26 days. Total slight activity (predominantly sniffing) increased to a maximum of 33% at 15 days whereas total very active behavior (predominantly ambulation) reached its maximum of 38% at 22 days. Habituation of activity expressed as the mean slope of decrement of activity over the 1st 30 min of the observation period was observed in rats as young as 8 days of age. By 12 days, habituation of total activity had increased significantly reflecting a 3-fold increase ihabituation of slight activity, an effect observed at 15 days as well. However, by 19 days the slope of activity decrement had declined to half of its 15-day value, indicating an impairment of habituation and reflecting the attenuation of very active behavior, predominantly ambulation. This decline in habituation continued through 22 days but by 26 days habituation of activity had increased again reaching a maximum for the 1st month of postnatal life. Our results suggest that the phenomenon of behavioral arousal observed in the developing rat pup 19 days of age reflects an inability of the organism to modulate his activity as effectively as the 15-day- or 26-day-old animal.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Variations in acute multifocal histoplasmic choroiditis in the primate.

Experimental histoplasmic choroiditis was produced in primates by intracarotid injections of living H. capsulatum organisms. The severity of the choroiditis varied with inoculum size, as well as with site of injection (common carotid vs. internal carotid artery). A reproducible model of histoplasmic choroiditis in primates was produced with an internal carotid injection of 5,000 to 10,000 organisms/lb. The clinical and histopathological course of this acute choroiditis over the first 30 days is presented.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of neonatal cocaine exposure on two measures of balance and coordination.

This study examined the effects of third trimester cocaine exposure on motor coordination and balance using a rodent model. The subjects were Sprague-Dawley rats that had been artificially reared (AR) and fed through gastrostomy tubes from postnatal days (PND 4-11). The AR groups included two groups given either 20 mg/kg/day or 60 mg/kg/day cocaine hydrochloride and a control group. A suckled control group raised by its natural dam was also included to control for artificial rearing. In Experiment 1, neonatal exposure to the high dose of cocaine resulted in impaired performance on parallel rods at 19-21 days of age. Exposure to the lower dose of cocaine impaired parallel rod performance on 20 and 21 days of age. In Experiment 2, walking gait was examined in 38-48-day-old subjects. Neonatal cocaine exposure was associated with a narrower stance width, however, there were no differences across neonatal treatment groups on step angle or stride length. These data suggest that third trimester cocaine exposure results in balance and coordination impairments. These findings support preliminary data suggesting motor impairments in infants with prenatal cocaine histories.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Poor adherence to placebo or amiodarone therapy predicts mortality: results from the CAMIAT study. Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Arrhythmia Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between adherence, mortality, and psychosocial factors. METHODS: Subjects were 1141 patients participating in the Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Arrhythmia Trial. Poor adherence to study medication (amiodarone or placebo), measured by pill count over 2 years, was defined as the lower 20th percentile of the pill count distribution. Predictors of adherence were also studied and included demographic and cardiac variables and, in a subset of participants (N = 671), measures of depression, distress, hostility, and social support. RESULTS: In survival analysis controlling for cardiac and demographic variables, poor adherence in the placebo and amiodarone groups was associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (relative risk (RR) = 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-4.56, p < .05; and RR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.34-7.44, p < .01, respectively), total cardiac mortality (RR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.12-3.72, p < .02; and RR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.32-4.72, p < .01, respectively), and all-cause mortality (RR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.27-3.97, p < .001; and RR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.32-4.17, p < .004, respectively). Logistic regression analysis identified two predictors of poor adherence to placebo: age > 70 years (odds ratio = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.11-4.29, p < .03) and social activities in the month before the index heart attack (odds ratio = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.00-1.04, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Poor adherence is associated with a greater risk of mortality. The relationship between adherence and social activities suggests a higher motivation to adhere to treatment in individuals more engaged in enjoyable activities.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Depression and risk of sudden cardiac death after acute myocardial infarction: testing for the confounding effects of fatigue.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the impact of depressive symptoms and social support on 2-year sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk, controlling for fatigue symptoms. METHODS: Myocardial infarction (MI) patients (N = 671) participating in the Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Arrhythmia Trial completed measures of depression, hostility, and social support. RESULTS: After controlling for significant biological predictors, psychosocial predictors of increased SCD risk in the survival analysis were greater social network contacts (RR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01-1.06; p < .007), lower social participation (RR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.96-1.00; p < .05), and, in placebo-treated patients, elevated depressive symptoms (RR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.14-5.35; p < .02). Fatigue was associated with SCD (RR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.11-1.53; p < .001), and, when included in the model, diminished the influence of depression (RR = 1.73; 95% CI = 0.75-3.98; p = .20). When the cognitive-affective depressive symptoms were examined separately from somatic symptoms, there was a trend for an association between cognitive-affective symptoms and SCD in placebo-treated patients after controlling for fatigue (RR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.99-1.19, p < .06). CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of depression and fatigue overlap in patients with MI. The trend for the cognitive-affective symptoms of depression to be associated with SCD risk, even after controlling for dyspnea/fatigue, suggests that the association between depression and mortality after AMI cannot be entirely explained as a confound of cardiac-related fatigue. The independent contribution of social participation suggests a role of both depressive symptomatology and social factors in influencing mortality risk after MI.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Aftercare services.

The author discusses the need for postplacement or "aftercare" services for youth leaving placement to live on their own, and explains how a statewide pilot project is helping to meet that need.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Promoting social health in northern Saskatchewan.

In response to concern about social health problems in Northern Saskatchewan, a Working Group on Social Health was established in 1989 in the Research and Development Committee of Northern Medical Services. The Group formulated a concept of mental health in social terms; found and interpreted indicators of the extent of social health problems; identified major determinants of social health problems, barriers to effective coping and problems in providing adequate support and services; and identified strategies and program models that could be more effective in promoting social health in this region. Indicators of problems and underlying determinants are discussed, along with strategies for change. These strategies are based on a community development model, and incorporate innovation and reaffirmation of values and ways that have traditionally given people strength.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adherence to management of high blood pressure: recommendations of the Canadian Coalition for High Blood Pressure Prevention and Control.

Adherence or compliance, in the context of medical treatment, refers to how well a patient follows and sticks to the management plan developed with her/his health care provider, which may include pharmacologic agents as well as changes in lifestyle. Adherence is of great concern in asymptomatic conditions such as hypertension, where lack of control may have serious ramifications including end organ damage and premature mortality. To address this issue, the Canadian Coalition for High Blood Pressure Prevention and Control established a national Advisory Committee on Adherence to the Management of High Blood Pressure. The Advisory Committee consisted of 11 members from different disciplines of health care providers. The Committee reviewed all evidences to date and drew up four practical recommendations with respect to patient, provider and environment. Based on Canadian Task Force on Periodic Health Examination's guidelines, all four recommendations can be classified as 'level C' with a quality of evidence of II.

Canada↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adherence to non-pharmacologic therapy for hypertension: problems and solutions.

The efficacy of a number of non-pharmacologic interventions in the therapy of primary hypertension has been firmly established. Most prominently, weight reduction, sodium restriction, and alcohol restriction have significant effects on lowering blood pressure. Increased physical activity contributes to management of hypertensive patients in a variety of ways: apart from having a direct impact on blood pressure level, it is an important supportive factor in a weight-reducing regime. The success in applying these non-pharmacologic measures in standard patient population is rather limited. A salient example is the lack of success in weight reduction. Reduction of sodium in the diet is somewhat more successful, however, the problem is that most of the salt intake is non-discretionary. Adherence to physical activity regimes is in the range of what has been observed in pharmacologic therapy. Research and experience in the past few years are providing a better understanding of the factors determining compliance with prescribed therapeutical regimes. Further research is needed to develop innovative strategies for providing efficacious non-pharmacologic measures to hypertensive patients.

Alcohol Drinking↗