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Biomedical subjects

J Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to J Solomon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Impulse-control disorders in alcoholics are related to sensation seeking and not to impulsivity.

Impulse-control disorders (ICD) include intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, trichotillomania, pyromania and pathological gambling. Several studies have suggested that the incidence of pathological gambling and impulsive violent behavior is substantially higher in alcohol-dependent patients than in the general population. The association between ICD and alcoholism, as well as personality characteristics such as sensation seeking and impulsivity, has never been systematically studied. The present study compared the levels of impulsivity and sensation seeking in age- and sex-matched groups of alcohol-dependent patients with concomitant ICD (ICD+, n = 30), alcohol-dependent patients without ICD (ICD-; n = 30) and control subjects (n = 30). All the alcohol-dependent patients (ICD+ and ICD-) were hospitalized for alcohol detoxification. Diagnoses of ICD were based on DSM-IV criteria and the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview. All patients completed the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Rating Scale (BIS). Mean scores on the SSS general factor, the SSS disinhibition subscale, and the SSS experience-seeking scale were significantly higher in ICD+ patients than in either ICD- patients or control subjects. By contrast, total scores and subscale scores on the BIS showed no significant differences among the three groups. Thus, it appears that measures of sensation seeking, rather than impulsivity, are relevant in distinguishing between alcohol-dependent patients with and without concomitant impulse control disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Multidrug-resistant gene expression in small-cell lung cancer.

The development of drug resistance can contribute to treatment failure in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this report, we investigate p-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in these patients. Tumor tissue was obtained prior to treatment and at relapse if possible, short-term culture was carried out, and these tumor cells were analyzed for MDR gene expression by slot blot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and northern blot analysis. Three cell lines were also established from short-term cultures. Twenty-four patients with MDR(-) and seven with MDR +(++) were available for survival analysis. Median survival for MDR (-) patients was 10 months, whereas for MDR +(++) patients it was 2 months. This was statistically significance (p < 0.0007). The presence of MDR1 gene expression also correlated with the lack of response to chemotherapy (p < 0.001). Increased MDR1 gene expression is usually present in patients with more tumor burden at initial diagnosis. Furthermore, loss of MDR1 gene expression can occur in intrinsically MDR(+) SCLC cells after multiple passages in drug-free media. We concluded that increased MDR1 gene expression is present in a small number of SCLC both before and after chemotherapy and usually signifies poor survival and no response to chemotherapy.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1997

Study of compulsive buying in depressed patients.

BACKGROUND: Compulsive buying is defined by the presence of repetitive impulsive and excessive buying leading to personal and familial distress. Patients with this disorder also suffer from mood disorder in 50% to 100% of the cases studied, and antidepressants help to decrease the frequency and the severity of uncontrolled buying. To define the correlation between compulsive buying and depression, we assessed this behavior among 119 inpatients answering to DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive episode. Additionally, we evaluated for comorbidity in the patients suffering from compulsive buying and in those free from this disorder. Impulsivity and sensation seeking were also compared in the two groups. METHOD: Diagnosis of compulsive buying was made using standardized criteria and a specific rating scale. Diagnosis of depression and assessment of comorbidity were investigated using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and a modified version of the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview. All patients answered the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale and the Barrat Impulsivity Rating Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of the disorder was 31.9%; 38 of the 119 depressed patients were diagnosed as compulsive buyers. Patients from the compulsive buying group were younger in age, more often women than men, and more frequently unmarried. They presented more often than others with recurrent depression (relative risk = 1.4), disorders associated with deficits in impulse control such as kleptomania (relative risk = 8.5) or bulimia (relative risk = 2.8), benzodiazepine abuse or dependence disorder (relative risk = 4.7), and two or more dependence disorders (relative risk = 1.99). Subscores for experience seeking using the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale were significantly higher (p = .04) and scores of impulsivity were much higher (p < .0001) than corresponding scores in the group without compulsive buying behavior. CONCLUSION: Compulsive buying is frequent among depressed patients. In most cases, the behavior is associated with other impulse control disorders or dependence disorders and a high level of impulsivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Phase II trial of mitoxantrone and cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Because in vitro data suggest that mitoxantrone may be synergistic with cisplatin, a Phase II trial of mitoxantrone and cisplatin was conducted in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSLC). Twenty-four patients were evaluable for response. Toxicity was tolerable. Partial response occurred in three patients (13%). This response rate is similar to that reported for cisplatin alone in NSLC. Mitoxantrone did not improve the response rate when combined with cisplatin for patients with advanced NSLC.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Phenomenology and psychopathology of uncontrolled buying.

OBJECTIVE: Uncontrolled buying, defined by the presence of repetitive impulsive and excessive buying that leads to personal and familial distress, is a psychiatric disorder that has only recently been recognized. This review focuses on the prevalence, clinical features, and etiology of this disorder. METHOD: All published articles on the topic were collected and reviewed. The literature concerning the typology of normal consumerism was also reviewed. RESULTS: The prevalence of the disorder in the general population is reported to be 1.1%. The main clinical features of uncontrolled buying are impulsivity and repetition of buying, the invasive need to buy, unsuccessful attempts to control spending, and the existence of tangible negative consequences of buying (marked distress, interference with social or occupational functioning, or financial problems). Uncontrolled buying may be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, addiction, or impulsivity. CONCLUSIONS: In most cases, uncontrolled buying can be understood as "compensatory buying" that temporarily alleviates depressive symptoms and can thus be associated with the results of antidepressant treatment in cases in which uncontrolled buying is symptomatically associated with depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Shifting boundaries in professional care.

The nature of the work undertaken by different health professionals and inter-professional boundaries are constantly shifting. The greater knowledge of users of health care, and the increasing technical and organizational complexity of modern medicine, have partly eroded the control of health professionals over the substance of their work. The definition of a field of work as lying within the province of any one profession is culturally rather than scientifically determined. It is evident that care of good quality should be delivered at the lowest possible cost. This might include delivery of care by a less trained person than heretofore, or by someone with limited but focused training. Sharing of skills is a more sensible subject for discussion than transfer of tasks. We review a number of studies which show the effectiveness of inter-professional substitution in various care settings, and also the effectiveness of substitution by those other than health professionals. The views of users of health services on inter-professional substitution need to be considered. Health professionals and others need to work together to devise innovative ways of delivering effective health care. The legal issues need clarification.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1996

On the other side.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of a human chromosome 22 enriched bacterial artificial chromosome sublibrary.

Selection of chromosomal sublibraries from total human genomic libraries is critical for chromosome-based physical mapping approaches. We have previously reported a method of screening total human genomic library using flow sorted chromosomal DNA as a hybridization probe and selection of a human chromosome 22-enriched sublibrary from a total human bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library (Nucleic Acids Res 1995; 23: 1838-39). We describe here further details of the method of construction as well as characterization of the chromosome 22-enriched sublibrary thus constructed. Nearly 40% of the BAC clones that have been mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis were localized to chromosome 22. By screening the sublibrary using chromosome 22-specific hybridization probes, we estimated that the sublibrary represents at least 2.5 x coverage of chromosome 22. This is in good agreement with the results from FISH mapping experiments. FISH map data also indicate that chromosome 22-specific BACs in the sublibrary represent all the subregions of chromosome 22.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Biochemical and genetic characterization of a competence pheromone from B. subtilis.

We have purified and characterized a modified peptide pheromone that accumulates in culture medium as B. subtilis grows to high density. This pheromone is required for the development of genetic competence. When added to cells at low density, the pheromone induces the premature development of competence. The peptide moiety of the pheromone matches nine of the last ten amino acids predicted from a 55 codon open reading frame, comX. comX and comQ, the gene immediately upstream of comX, are required for production of the pheromone. Response to the pheromone requires the comP-comA two-component regulatory system and the oligopeptide permease encoded by spo0K. Spo0K could transport the pheromone into the cell, or function as a receptor, binding the pheromone and sending a transmembrane signal, leading to activation of the ComA transcription factor and induction of competence development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Responses to repeated days of light work at moderate temperatures in protective clothing.

This study assessed workers' ability to sustain work output over four consecutive workdays in encapsulating protective clothing (PC). Six subjects wearing a two-piece PC ensemble cycled at a work rate of 38 W in a 29/22 degrees C (dry/wet bulb) ambient temperature. Work continued until rectal temperature (Tre) reached 38.3 degrees C, or volitional fatigue. Subjects then rested without PC in a 21 degrees C room until Tre reached 38.0 degrees C to simulate micro- or macro-environmental cooling during rest. Work was alternated with rest for four hours total. Contrary to expectations, mean work time did not diminish on succeeding days. Subject responses to the repeated exposures was highly variable and in no case changed significantly (p > .05) from day one to day four. Subjects tolerated well repeated four-hour exposures with controlled elevations in Tre. There was no clear evidence of either increased or decreased tolerance of this work-rest paradigm across days.

Adaptation, Physiological↗