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Biomedical subjects

J Morris

Publications and source records attributed to J Morris.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The effectiveness of smoking cessation methods for smokers in public health maternity clinics: a randomized trial.

Little insight is available in the literature on how best to assist the pregnant smoker in public health maternity clinics to quit during pregnancy. A randomized pretest/posttest experiment was used to evaluate the effectiveness of two different self-help cessation methods. Three hundred and nine pregnant women from three public health maternity clinics were assigned randomly to one of three groups with one-third assigned to each: a control group; a group receiving the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking Manual; and those receiving A Pregnant Woman's Self-Help Guide to Quit Smoking. Using a saliva thiocyanate (SCN) and behavioral report at mid-pregnancy and end of pregnancy to confirm cessation or reduction, 2 per cent in the control group quit and 7 per cent reduced their SCN levels substantially. Of the women assigned to the ALA method, 6 per cent quit and 14 per cent reduced their SCN levels substantially. Of the women who used the Guide, 14 per cent quit and 17 per cent reduced their SCN levels substantially. Results of this trial indicate that health education methods tailored to the pregnant smoker are more effective in changing smoking behavior than the standard clinic information and advice to quit and/or the use of smoking cessation methods not tailored to the needs of the pregnant smoker.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Closed head injury in spinal cord injured patients: retrospective study of loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia.

Previous studies of trauma-related spinal cord injured patients suggest that 25% to 50% of these patients sustain a concomitant cranio-cerebral trauma. A loss of consciousness (LOC) of 20 minutes' duration or a post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) lasting 24 hours has been associated with deficits in concentration, attention, memory, and higher-level cognitive functions. These may present as significant factors influencing learning and adaptation during and after the formal rehabilitation process. A systematic review was performed of the medical records of 101 trauma-related spinal cord injured patients who were admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago within seven days of injury. The reported incidence of LOC and PTA in spinal cord injured patients was evaluated, and these data were compared with the level and etiology of injury, and with radiographic work-up, if any, for head injury. Eighty-seven percent of all emergency room admissions and 67% of all rehabilitation admissions were assessed for LOC. Fewer than 25% of all patients in both settings were assessed for PTA. Forty-two percent of all patients reported LOC, PTA, or both occurring simultaneously with the spinal cord injury. Assessment and incidence were unrelated to level of injury but were influenced by etiology. One-third of the patients who reported LOC, PTA, or both underwent further evaluation with computed tomographic (CT) scan or radiography of the skull. Assessment of LOC is conducted more consistently in the ER than in the rehabilitation setting. Assessment of PTA is performed infrequently despite its relevance to the rehabilitation process. Head injury may frequently be associated with traumatic spinal cord injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Cognitive dysfunction and mild closed head injury in traumatic spinal cord injury.

Previous investigators have reported that 25%-50% of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients sustain loss of consciousness (LOC), posttraumatic amnesia (PTA), or both concurrently with their SCI. A LOC of 20 minutes or less, or a PTA of 24 hours has been associated with prolonged time off work, and deficits in attention, concentration, memory, and judgment. Consequently, many traumatic SCI patients may also be the victims of a concomitant closed head injury (CHI) with cognitive sequelae. To test this hypothesis, a prospective study was conducted of 30 consecutive trauma-related SCI patients admitted to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to determine the incidence of CHI and cognitive dysfunction (CD). The Halstead Category Test (HCT) was administered to each patient between 8 and 12 weeks after injury, and was considered abnormal if the patient committed 51 or more errors. Fifty-seven percent (n = 11) of all patients had abnormal HCT scores suggestive of higher level cognitive dysfunction. Patients with a new CHI had a mean HCT score of 65.2, as compared to 63.5 for patients with a premorbid CHI, and 46.3 for patients without a history of CHI. Although there was a trend toward higher HCT scores in patients who had any history of CHI, these differences did not reach statistical significance. The results of this study suggest that many trauma-related SCI patients are at risk for CD eight weeks after injury. Such cognitive abnormalities would be expected to impede rehabilitation and retard the requisite learning of new skills.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Nucleotide sequence of the gene for the P680 chlorophyll alpha apoprotein of the photosystem II reaction center from spinach.

The DNA sequence of 2210 nucleotides including the gene for the "51 kd" chlorophyll alpha-conjugated thylakoid membrane protein associated with the photosystem II reaction center of spinach has been determined. This protein is functionally identical with the P680 chlorophyll alpha apoprotein that catalyses the primary light-induced photochemical processes of photosystem II (Camm, E.L. and Green, B.R. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 724 291-293). The only large open reading frame in the sequence consists of 508 triplets encoding a protein of molecular mass of 56,246 kd. The deduced amino acid sequence shows clustering of hydrophobic residues into seven core regions which probably traverse the membrane, and a large hydrophilic domain of about 200 amino acids interspersed between span VI and VII. Potential transcription promotor and terminator signals flanking the structural gene show prokaryotic-like features. Seven discrete RNA species ranging in size from 2.0 to over 5.0 kilobases display complementarity to apoprotein coding sequences implying that the region can be polycistronically transcribed. The primary transcript includes information for at least two further genes coding for subunits of the cytochrome b/f complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Women's satisfaction with partners' penile implant. Inflatable vs noninflatable prosthesis.

We evaluated 49 women whose sexual partners were organically impotent and subsequently received either an inflatable or noninflatable penile prosthesis. The women comprised three groups, based on the type of prostheses their partners had received: inflatable (n = 34), noninflatable (n = 11), and a double implant group (n = 4). The comparisons made were (1) dimensions of sexual satisfaction, (2) emotional stability, (3) satisfaction with the prosthesis, and (4) relationship changes. Two special questionnaires and the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory were utilized in this evaluation. Women in the inflatable prosthesis group were found to be significantly more satisfied with the quality of their sexual relations and with their partner's prosthesis than were the women in the noninflatable prosthesis group. There apparently is a general advantage to women whose partners have received an inflatable prosthesis compared with the noninflatable alternatives.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Long-term reactions following a stillbirth with a congenital abnormality: a preliminary report.

Just over half of the sixty women who were interviewed ten and twenty years after they were delivered of a stillborn malformed baby, seem to have resolved their grief completely and have accepted the stillbirth. The remainder have become clinically depressed or have shown physical symptoms typical of anxiety states. Factors contributing to their unresolved mourning were: 1) failure on the doctor's part to explain, comprehensively, the reason for the stillbirth; 2) lack of emotional support during and after the stillbirth.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1984

A method for the synthesis of [14C]-kynurenine.

A new method is described for the synthesis of [14C]-labelled L-kynurenine from [14C]-L-tryptophan, using extracts of tryptophan-adapted cells of Pseudomonas marginalis. It is based on the selective, rapid inactivation of kynureninase by a newly discovered inhibitor of this enzyme, 3-chloro-L-alanine. The yield of [14C]-kynurenine produced in this manner is 76% theoretical.

Hydrolases↗
PubMed1984

The clinical features of isolated left circumflex coronary artery disease.

The clinical characteristics of 84 patients with isolated circumflex disease (greater than or equal to 70% luminal stenosis) were reviewed. A total of 66 patients had angina pectoris (mean duration 17.3 months), and 60 had suffered a myocardial infarction. Risk factors averaged 2.2 per patient. In the 84 patients there were 103 discrete circumflex stenoses; 51 stenoses were central (proximal circumflex, obtuse marginal, and intermediate branches), and 52 were peripheral (distal circumflex, posterolateral, and posterior descending branches); 48 were total and 55 were subtotal. Left ventricular function was normal in 21 patients and abnormal in 63 patients, but the mean left ventricular ejection fraction of the group was normal (59 +/- 12%). Eighty-two patients had abnormal electrocardiograms: there were Q waves in 25, RV pattern in 43, ST-T wave abnormalities in 19, left bundle branch block in two, and pacemaker rhythm in one. Inferior abnormalities on the electrocardiogram correlated with peripheral stenoses (p less than .02), and lateral abnormalities on the electrocardiogram correlated with central stenoses (p less than .01). The RV pattern of true posterior infarction was seen in both central and peripheral stenoses. In the 32 patients who underwent thallium scanning, lateral defects were more common with central stenoses, but posterolateral defects occurred similarly in central and peripheral stenoses. Prognosis was good. There were two deaths during the mean follow-up time of 17 months (range 1 to 49). The cumulative survival rate was 100% at 12 months, 97.5 +/- 2.9% at 24 months, and 97.5 +/- 3.6% at 30 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The efficacy of drug delivery by a pear-shaped spacer and metered dose inhaler.

The efficacy of terbutaline delivered via a 750 ml spacer device (Nebuhaler) compared with a metered dose inhaler alone was studied by means of an open cross-over trial in eight patients with stable asthma. The FEV1 and FVC response curves with cumulative doses up to 8 mg were shifted significantly to the left using the device, whilst side effects were not significantly increased. These results indicate that the spacer significantly improves aerosol drug delivery from a pressurized inhaler, even in patients whose inhalation technique was considered adequate.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Temperature-sensitive reversible loss of [3H]imipramine binding sites: evidence suggesting different conformational states.

Previous studies have indicated that the tertiary tricyclic antidepressant imipramine binds with high affinity to a site related to the serotonin uptake mechanism. We have further characterized this site with regards to the effects of temperature, pH and calcium ions on both rat cerebral cortex homogenates and outdated human platelets. The binding of [3H]imipramine to these sites is maximal at 4 degrees C. When the assay temperature is increased to 23 degrees C, there is approximately a 50% decrease in the maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) with no apparent change in the affinity for the ligand. On further raising the temperature to 37 degrees C there is no further decrease in Bmax but there is an increase in the dissociation constant (KD). These temperature related changes are reversed when the assay temperature is again lowered to 4 degrees C. Decreasing the pH of the incubation mixture from 7.5 to 7 (which is the pH change also observed upon changing the temperature of the incubation mixture from 4 to 37 degrees C) decreased [3H]imipramine binding by 10-20%, an amount which does not account for the changes observed. Similarly, neither calcium nor EDTA altered these reversible changes. Irreversible loss of binding sites was observed on prolonged incubation at 23 or 37 degrees C. After 20 h preincubation at 23 or 37 degrees C, 15 or 30% of the binding respectively could not be restored by lowering the temperature to 4 degrees C. This permanent loss was enhanced by calcium and inhibited by EDTA. These results suggest that reversible conformational changes in the [3H]imipramine binding site can be observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Cortical hearing deficit. A deaf brain.

Deafness occasionally results from bilateral lesions of the temporal lobes. Conventional methods of assessing hearing are not helpful in the diagnosis of this condition. We describe the case of a patient who exhibited the hallmark of a cortical hearing disorder--he was able to hear simple sounds, but could not make sense of complex sounds such as speech and music.

Audiometry↗
PubMed1983

Vaccine reactions.

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Brain Diseases↗