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Biomedical subjects

J Morin

Publications and source records attributed to J Morin.

104 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of the oral administration of branched chain amino acids on hepatic encephalopathy in the rat.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-enriched diets after portacaval shunt (PCS) in rats. Fifty-one Sprague-Dawley male rats (200 gm) underwent PCS and 55 a sham operation. Half of the animals received BCAA 142 mg per day through a gastric tube; the other half underwent a sham procedure. Sleep disturbances were evaluated at 7, 14, and 28 days postoperatively by measurement of the excitability of the reticular brain-stem formation during the slow-wave sleep and paradoxical sleep. Animals were killed at the same intervals and liver/body weight ratio, plasma, and brain amino acids, brain norepinephrine, brain serotonin, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid and histamine were measured. Each group of animals was matched with a similar group of sham-operated rats, i.e., receiving or not receiving BCAA. After PCS (as compared to sham-operated animals) a significant hyperexcitability of the reticular brain-stem formation was found during the slow-wave sleep. The liver/body weight ratio was significantly lower. Tryptophan (free tryptophan in the plasma), phenylalanine, tyrosine, and histidine increased in the plasma and the brain. Leucine and isoleucine were decreased in the plasma. After PCS, an initial decrease at 7 days postoperatively of brain norepinephrine and blockade of the intracerebral metabolism of tryptophan were observed. These changes were transient and progressively disappeared at 14 and 28 days postoperatively. Brain histamine remained at a very high level through the experiment. A good correlation was demonstrated between modification of the sleep disturbance and tryptophan (or 5- hydroxyindolacetic acid) and histamine brain levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Educational and support needs of patients and their families awaiting cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and explore the learning and support needs of patients and families during the waiting period before cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional cohort survey design. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary cardiovascular care center in mideastern Canada. SUBJECTS: One hundred forty-seven patients currently on the cardiac surgery waiting list, and 125 family members of these patients. OUTCOME MEASURES: Needs Inventory for Patients who Wait. INTERVENTION: All patients were sent a survey for themselves and one for a family member that included: a demographic profile, subjective questionnaire, and the Needs Inventory for Patients who Wait. The survey was to be completed and returned to the investigators. RESULTS: The return rates were 77% (113) for patients, and 70% (87) for family members. For patients and their family members, item rankings were highly correlated for areas in which they wanted information (r = 0.84), and for areas that caused them the most concern (r = 0.91). Family members were also concerned about caring for the patient before and after surgery. The number of weeks on the waiting list (< 1 month to > 6 months) did not change the concerns of patients and family. CONCLUSIONS: This survey identifies some of the educational and support needs of patients undergoing cardiac surgery and their family members. Patients are concerned about their health and survival until the surgical procedure, as well as about the success of the procedure. Families share patients' concerns and have an additional concern regarding how to support the patient during the perioperative stage. The needs identified by patients and their families in this survey were found to be stable over time, and within the realm of nursing practice to address.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Inhibitory analysis of DNA polymerase of herpes simplex type 1].

The inhibitory potency of new analogs of nucleoside 5'-triphosphates modified at the sugar residue and or alpha-phosphate against herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA polymerase has been evaluated in a cell-free system containing M13mp10 phage DNA and a synthetic primer. Triphosphates of new acyclic nucleosides [1-(5-hydroxy-2-cis-pentenyl)nucleosides] were the most effective inhibitors among 15 types of nucleoside 5'-triphosphates under investigation, being threefold less active than acyclovirtriphosphate. 5'-Phosphonylmethyl-2'-deoxythymidine beta, gamma-diphosphate proved to be a poor substrate for DNA polymerase. Compounds with other modifications at alpha-phosphate were inactive. Constants of hydrolysis rate of acyclonucleosides incorporated into the 3' end of primer were determined.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Inhibitory analysis of DNA polymerases from human viruses using modified substrates].

A systematic analysis of DNA polymerase of human herpes simplex type 1 virus, cytomegalovirus, and human type 2 adenovirus with the help of a broad set of modified substrates of these enzymes has been carried out. It revealed compounds capable of inhibiting the DNA synthesis catalyzed both by all three enzymes and DNA polymerase alpha from human placenta. Compounds have been found which effectively and specifically inhibit the DNA synthesis catalyzed by some of the abovementioned enzymes. It has been shown that the molecular mechanism of inhibition consists either in the termination of DNA elongation or in inhibition without incorporation into the growing DNA chain.

Adenoviruses, Human↗