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Biomedical subjects

J M Allen

Publications and source records attributed to J M Allen.

291 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
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The regional distribution of NPY-, PHM-, and VIP-containing nerves in the human female genital tract.

The regional distributions of neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide histidine-methionine (PHM), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivities in the human female genital tract have been estimated by specific radioimmunoassays, and their molecular forms determined by chromatography. The localisation and distribution of these three peptides was carried out by immunocytochemistry. The vagina and cervix contain high concentrations of NPY- and VIP-immunoreactive nerves, mainly localised around the vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle. VIP-containing nerves were, in addition, seen beneath the cervical and, in particular, the vaginal epithelium. A comparatively high level of immunoreactive NPY is found in the fallopian tube, mainly around the circular muscle coat. There is evidence that VIP is a neurotransmitter in the female genital tract, and these results suggest a similar role for NPY and PHM.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Relevance of stimulation parameters to neurophysiological and hypoalgesic effects.

Although Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) has become a popular modality in pain management over the past 20 yr, there is still debate over its mechanisms of action and the precise relevance of stimulation parameters to its hypoalgesic effects. Thus, confusion still surrounds the selection of optimal stimulation parameters. Two separate studies (total n = 88) were carried out to investigate the effect of four combinations of TENS pulse durations (50 microseconds & 200 microseconds) and frequencies (4 Hz and 110 Hz) on nerve conduction in the human superficial radial nerve and on Mechanical Pain Threshold (MPT) within the associated sensory distribution of the nerve over the dorsum of the hand. Results showed that application of one combination of TENS parameters (110 Hz, 200 microseconds) directly over the course of the nerve produced a significant increase in both peripheral nerve conduction latency (P < or = 0.05; analysis of variance (ANOVA)) and MPT (P < or = 0.01). In addition, there was a high correlation (r = 0.9) between shifts in MPT and negative peak latency for the groups treated with this combination of TENS parameters. The results of this study thus illustrate that combinations of TENS parameters are important to the peripheral neurophysiological effects of this modality and, further, its associated hypoalgesic effects, at least on the model of pain used here.

Action Potentials↗