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Biomedical subjects

J Schouten

Publications and source records attributed to J Schouten.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The association of frequent headaches with personality and life events.

The associations between personality traits, life events and frequent headaches were studied in a sample of 5766 adult subjects between 20 and 65 years of age from the general population. Subjects with at least weekly headaches had more life events and higher inadequacy, social inadequacy, rigidity and injuredness than subjects with less frequent headaches. These relationships were not observed in subjects of 50 years of age and older, with the exception of the association with inadequacy. From the traits measured, inadequacy had the highest odds ratios for frequent headaches and showed a modest interaction with the presence of a life event. These findings are in agreement with Sarason's interactional model.

Adult

Influence of apo E polymorphism on the response to simvastatin treatment in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

In a group of 120 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) the influence of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism on pre-treatment plasma lipid levels and on the response to treatment with simvastatin was studied. The apoE phenotype distribution did not differ significantly between the FH group and a sample group of the Dutch population. Differences in pre-treatment lipid levels were not related to the apoE polymorphism in this FH population. After 12 weeks use of a daily dose of 40 mg simvastatin, the plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and plasma triglyceride levels were reduced on average by 33%, 38% and 19%, respectively. At the same time high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration increased on average by 7%. In the combined FH patient group (males and females) a considerable interindividual variation in response to simvastatin was observed, but was not related to the apoE polymorphism. However, considering males and females separately, we found that female FH patients with the apoE3E3 phenotype responded better on simvastatin treatment with respect to LDL-cholesterol than male FH patients with the apoE3E3 phenotype.

Adult

Cardiovascular effects of two xanthines and the relation to adenosine antagonism.

We hypothesize that the hemodynamic effects of xanthine derivatives depend on their ability to antagonize the vasodilating effects of endogenous adenosine. In a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study of 10 normotensive volunteers caffeine, a xanthine with in vitro adenosine antagonistic properties, increased mean arterial pressure by 5.6 +/- 0.9 mm Hg and lowered heart rate by 5.3 +/- 1.1 beats/min. After administration of enprofylline, a xanthine without adenosine antagonism, forearm vascular resistance decreased by 5.6 +/- 3.4 IU, heart rate increased by 10.6 +/- 2.6 beats/min, and plasma adrenaline, plasma noradrenaline, and renin activity increased by 178 +/- 86%, 14 +/- 8%, and 36 +/- 13%, respectively. Adenosine infusion alone induced a dose-related increase in pulse pressure and heart rate, and it increased plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline by 186 +/- 77% and 132 +/- 55%, respectively. This response to adenosine was reduced by pretreatment with caffeine but not enprofyline. Thus opposite circulatory responses to caffeine and enprofylline occurred, with signs of vasoconstriction and vasodilation, respectively. In addition, caffeine, but not enprofylline, reduced the cardiovascular response to exogenous adenosine.

Adenosine

Multimodality treatment of locally advanced breast carcinoma.

Forty patients with 41 locally advanced breast lesions at stages IIIA and IIIB and the inflammatory stage were treated with combined-modality therapy from July 1980 to August 1985. Treatment included induction chemotherapy consisting of three cycles of fluorouracil, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and cyclophosphamide, followed by mastectomy in those patients whose lesions were operable (n = 28), and resumption of chemotherapy. Nine patients received postoperative radiation therapy. The mean follow-up was 34 months. Greater than 50% reduction in tumor size was achieved in 72% of patients after three cycles of chemotherapy. Overall, local control was achieved in 85% of patients with 59% survival and 53% disease-free survival, while 10% of patients developed local recurrences. Excluding lymphedema of the upper extremity (n = 2) and inflammatory carcinomas (n = 4), local control was achieved in 96% of patients, with 75% survival and 68% disease-free survival, while 4% of patients developed local recurrences. The rate of disease-free survival was 71% in patients with partial response to chemotherapy, contrasted with 43% in patients who did not respond or only minimally responded to chemotherapy. Actuarial five-year survival, based on life-table analysis, was calculated to be 46% for the group overall, 58% for the group excluding lymphedema of the upper extremity and inflammatory carcinoma, and 56% for the 28 patients undergoing mastectomy.

Adult

Respiratory stimulant effects of adenosine in man after caffeine and enprofylline.

In a double-blind and randomized study the respiratory stimulant effect of continuous intravenous adenosine infusion was studied after previous administration of caffeine, placebo and enprofylline in 10 healthy young volunteers. After placebo, adenosine induced an increase of minute ventilation (from 6.3 to 12.5 l min-1), tidal volume (from 0.60 to 0.96 l), and breathing rate (from 11.0 to 14.8 min-1). Venous pCO2 fell and pH rose after adenosine. Caffeine significantly reduced the adenosine-induced changes of minute ventilation, tidal volume, venous pCO2 and pH, whereas no changes occurred after enprofylline. Our results suggest that adenosine stimulates respiration in man by binding with specific P1-purinoceptors, which can be blocked by caffeine, but not by enprofylline.

Adenosine

Indoor air pollution and its effect on pulmonary function of adult non-smoking women: II. Associations between nitrogen dioxide and pulmonary function.

The association between nitrogen dioxide levels in homes and pulmonary function of 97 non-smoking adult women was investigated in a rural area in the Netherlands. The study population was a sub-sample of a longitudinal field study on chronic non-specific lung diseases which was started in 1965. Pulmonary function tests were performed at three-yearly intervals. NO2 was measured for one week in the winter in kitchen, living room and bedroom of each home. Cross-sectional analyses showed negative associations between NO2 exposure and several pulmonary function parameters as measured in the 1982 study. No significant association could be found between NO2 exposure and pulmonary function decline since the start of the study.

Adult

Indoor air pollution and its effect on pulmonary function of adult non-smoking women: III. Passive smoking and pulmonary function.

The association between pulmonary function and exposure to tobacco smoke in the home was investigated in a sample of adult, non-smoking women living in a rural area. The women were all participants in a large longitudinal survey on the natural history and determinants of chronic non-specific lung disease. On cross-sectional analysis, several pulmonary function parameters were found to be significantly associated with exposure to tobacco smoke in the home. There was no association between exposure and pulmonary function decline.

Adult

Reduction of the complement activation capacity of soluble IgG aggregates and immune complexes by IgM-rheumatoid factor.

The influence of IgM-rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) on the activation of isolated C1 by soluble IgG aggregates (AIgG) and immune complexes was studied. IgM preparations obtained from the sera of four patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis markedly reduced the C1 activation capacity of AIgG, especially when large aggregates were tested. The results of parallel experiments with radiolabelled AIgG indicated that this inhibitory effect of IgM-RF was accompanied by a very large increase of the aggregate size. A comparable IgM preparation isolated from pooled normal human serum influenced neither the size nor the C1 activation capacity of AIgG. The inhibitory effect of IgM-RF on C1 activation was also demonstrated for soluble tetanus-anti-tetanus immune complexes. Thus, in spite of the established C activation ability of IgM-RF and the fact that, in general, larger IgG aggregates and immune complexes activate C1 more efficiently, cross-linking and size enlargement of soluble IgG complexes and aggregates by IgM-RF lead to a decrease of the C1 activation capacity. As a consequence, IgM-RF may reduce plasma complement activation by soluble IgG complexes in the circulation of patients with seropositive rheumatic diseases.

Antigen-Antibody Complex

Radiography of the pelvis in a series of 200 elderly patients.

Review of the findings of routine radiography of the pelvis in a series of 200 elderly patients admitted to a geriatric department shows that a great number of abnormalities are detected. It is suggested that this procedure is of equal value to routine chest radiography.

Aged