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Biomedical subjects

J Weinberg

Publications and source records attributed to J Weinberg.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on neuromotor and cognitive development during early childhood: a series of case reports.

The purpose of this article is to present a series of case reports of infants and young children who were exposed to alcohol prenatally. The five infants and two 5-year-old twins in this series all presented facial features characteristic of prenatal alcohol exposure, and all had medical histories of maternal alcohol abuse. The neuromotor and cognitive development of these seven children is described by presenting results of standardized tests administered longitudinally. In addition, clinical observations of growth, behavior, feeding, and musculoskeletal development are provided. Following a discussion of these assessment results, implications for physical therapy intervention and the need for clinical research are provided. Because children with fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol-related birth defects present a spectrum of developmental differences that often include areas of concern to physical therapists, we need to increase our involvement in the assessment and treatment of these children as well as in research efforts to examine the efficacy of these interventions.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1993

Prenatal ethanol exposure: changes in regional brain catecholamine content following stress.

Previous studies have shown that fetal ethanol exposure (FEE) may have long-term effects on the function of catecholaminergic neurons in different regions of the CNS. The present study is the first to examine the effects of FEE on regional brain catecholamine responses following acute stress (a single 60-min restraint stress), repeated stress (single periods of restraint stress on 1, 5, or 10 consecutive days), and recovery from stress (recovery for up to 60 min in the home cage following a single 60-min period of restraint stress). Both male and female offspring from FEE, pair-fed (PF), and ad libitum-fed control (C) groups were tested in adulthood to determine catecholamine content in the cortex, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. A single period of restraint reduced cortical norepinephrine (NE) content in FEE and PF animals compared with that in the cortex of C animals, and reduced hypothalamic NE content in FEE female offspring below that found in animals in all other groups. In contrast, hippocampal NE content was higher in FEE than in C animals following a single period of restraint; PF animals had intermediate levels of hippocampal NE and did not differ significantly from either FEE or C animals. Following repeated periods of restraint, cortical NE content was lower in FEE than in C animals; PF animals once again had intermediate levels of NE. Importantly, basal (nonstressed) NE content did not differ among groups in any brain area examined. In addition, several significant changes in regional brain catecholaminergic responses to acute stress were observed in animals across all treatment groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition of drug-induced contractions of guinea-pig ileum by Annona crassiflora seed extract.

A hydro-alcoholic extract of dried Annona crassiflora seeds (AR.1) showed a non-specific inhibitory effect on drug-induced contractions of guinea-pig ileum. Maximum responses to histamine, acetylcholine and bradykinin were reduced increasingly with increasing doses of AR.1. Affinities of the gut to the above agonists, expressed as respective pD2 values were not changed by AR.1. Dose-response curves of calcium-induced contractions in depolarized preparations were shifted to the right but maximum responses were not changed by AR.1. It is suggested that the inhibitory effect of AR.1 is due to a decrease in membrane permeability to calcium. This inhibitory effect may be responsible for the effect of Annona crassiflora as a remedy against snake venom.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

Bilateral periorbital edema in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Periorbital edema is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We describe a patient with SLE who developed bilateral periorbital edema during her lupus flares. Conjunctival biopsy confirmed the presence of inflammation. Resolution occurred only after high doses of corticosteroids. The differential diagnosis of periorbital edema and possible etiologies of the edema are briefly discussed.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1993

A new nasal mask for nocturnal home ventilation in chronic neuromuscular disorders.

A new nasal mask for nocturnal, intermittent positive pressure ventilation was used by patients with symptomatic sleep hypoventilation due to chronic neuromuscular disorders. The custom-fabricated mask is cast in visible light curing acrylic from a plaster model. Air is delivered through plastic tubes cast in the mask. The treatment was introduced through close cooperation between a physiotherapist and a technician. Evaluation was performed after 4-34 months' regular use. The mask was well tolerated. All patients reported comfortable sleep and symptom relief. The effectiveness was confirmed by whole-night measurements of oxygen saturation and end-tidal carbon dioxide.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Endocrine mediation of psychosocial stressor effects on mouse mammary tumor growth.

We have demonstrated that differential housing alters the growth rate of the androgen-responsive Shionogi mouse mammary carcinoma (SC115). In the present study we wished to determine if changes in plasma levels of hormones or a shift in the responsiveness of the tumor cells to hormones was responsible for the differential tumor growth rates observed. Plasma testosterone and corticosterone levels were assayed 24 h, 3 days and 1 week post tumor cell/vehicle injection. Also 3 weeks post injection androgen and glucocorticoid receptor binding capacity (Bmax) and binding affinity (Kd) and the in vitro responsiveness of tumor cells to dihydrotestosterone and hydrocortisone were measured. At 24 h post injection, plasma testosterone levels were significantly increased in mice with large tumors, but remained low in mice with small tumors. Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly elevated in mice with small tumors compared to those of mice with large tumors at all time points measured. Androgen and glucocorticoid receptor binding capacity and binding affinity of tumor cells did not differ among groups. Further, all groups tested had the ability to respond to dihydrotestosterone and hydrocortisone in vitro. These data indicate that an effect of housing condition on plasma levels of steroid hormones may, in part, mediate the differential tumor growth rates observed in this model.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

The effect of anoxic submergence and recovery on circulating levels of catecholamines and corticosterone in the turtle, Chrysemys picta.

The ability of some freshwater turtles to tolerate prolonged anoxia is well known. The role of hormones in the regulation of the metabolic adjustments that occur during anoxia, however, is unknown. This study examined the changes in plasma glucose, lactate, catecholamine, and corticosterone levels during submergence anoxia and recovery at 22 degrees C in the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta. Plasma catecholamine levels increased greatly during anoxia, while corticosterone levels decreased. During recovery from anoxia, plasma catecholamine levels fell rapidly while corticosterone levels increased 10-fold over controls. The results are consistent with a role for the catecholamines and corticosterone in the regulation of glucose metabolism in the turtle during anoxia and recovery, respectively. We hypothesize that the catecholamines function to stimulate hepatic glycogenolysis during anoxia and thereby increase plasma glucose levels. Corticosterone may function in the recovery from anoxia by enhancing the resynthesis of liver glycogen from lactate.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

The influence of HIV status on single and multiple drug reactions to antituberculous therapy in Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To document the influence of HIV status on drug reactions occurring in patients on antituberculous therapy in Harare, Zimbabwe. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: City of Harare Tuberculosis Unit. PATIENTS: Records of 906 patients with tuberculosis, of whom 162 reacted to antituberculous therapy, were analysed. RESULTS: Reactions to antituberculous drugs were more frequent in HIV-positive (98 out of 363) than in HIV-negative (64 out of 543; P less than 0.0001) patients. The most common drug reaction was cutaneous hypersensitivity, occurring in 139 patients, 89 (64%) of whom were HIV-positive. Thiacetazone was implicated in 115 (82.7%) of the 139 cutaneous reactions and streptomycin in 10 (7.2%). Almost all cutaneous reactions occurred within 8 weeks of beginning treatment. Severe cutaneous reactions occurred more often in HIV-positive patients (P less than 0.001) and the only two deaths occurred in this group. Reactions to multiple drugs occurred in 18 HIV-positive and three HIV-negative patients (P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The use of thiacetazone and streptomycin in antituberculous drug regimens should be reassessed in those countries where coinfection with HIV and tuberculosis is common.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Roles of catecholamines and corticosterone during anoxia and recovery at 5 degrees C in turtles.

The roles of the catecholamines and corticosterone in glucose regulation during 28 days of submergence anoxia and air-breathing recovery at 5 degrees C in the turtle Chrysemys picta were examined. Anoxia resulted in an increase in mean plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels (from 42 and 49 to 966 and 3,826 pg/ml, respectively) and a decrease in hepatic glycogen levels. Despite the increase in plasma catecholamine levels, plasma glucose levels did not change, and the percent of the alpha form of hepatic glycogen phosphorylase was decreased compared with normoxic controls. Plasma levels of lactate increased from 1.5 to 95 mM, and corticosterone decreased during anoxia. During recovery in air, corticosterone returned to control levels within 1 day, and plasma lactate levels slowly decreased. In contrast to a previous study on anoxic turtles at 22 degrees C, at 5 degrees C the catecholamines do not stimulate hepatic glycogenolysis by increasing the level of glycogen phosphorylase alpha. The results do not support the hypothesis that corticosterone enhances lactate clearance from turtle plasma during recovery from anoxia.

Air↗
PubMed1992

Criteria for audit of annual reports on the public health: do they exist?

Production of an annual report is a statutory duty of the Director of Public Health; its production uses significant resources. Audit of reports may help in the effective use of these resources. For audit to be performed criteria need to be agreed upon which to set standards. The present study investigated whether Directors of Public Health agree on suitable criteria for the audit of annual health reports. Districts within North East Thames Regional Health Authority were paired; Directors of Public Health, who had produced the most recent report, interviewed each other using a semi-structured questionnaire. Reports were examined for the presence of the 'key indicators' from the common data set. The results show that there was little agreement on what were suitable criteria to evaluate reports. The criteria in the Toolbox produced by the Faculty of Public Health Medicine were thought to be unsuitable because of the diversity of Districts. Effective audit requires agreed criteria and standards but these were not identified. The Faculty criteria were not considered suitable. Directors of Public Health may develop criteria that they consider suitable for audit of their annual report in discussion, focusing upon their objectives in producing an annual report. This should be the first step in the audit process and an integral part of producing an annual report.

Annual Reports as Topic↗
PubMed1991

The febrile response to mild infections in elderly hospital inpatients.

We studied 74 patients whose temperature was normal according to nurses' temperature charts and who were not on antibiotic treatment. The subjects were inpatients whose condition had deteriorated on the ward, or patients admitted the previous day in whom no diagnosis had been established. One simultaneous set of measurements was made of sublingual, rectal, axillary and proximal auditory canal temperatures. A fever was recorded in 63 of 74 patients (85%); 54 febrile patients had a raised rectal temperature, and 54 had a raised proximal auditory canal temperature; 60 patients were febrile at one or both of these sites. A further three patients had raised sublingual temperatures alone. All patients who were regarded as being definitely or probably infected were febrile at one or more sites. Eighty-one per cent of those considered to be possibly infected, and 71% of those with no clinical evidence of infection were also febrile. Rectal and proximal auditory canal temperatures can each detect fever in approximately 86% of febrile patients, sublingual temperature in 66%, and axillary temperature in 32%. Rectal temperature is clinically the most useful temperature measurement in elderly patients. We conclude that significant infections in patients in a warm environment result in a fever which often remains undetected when only sublingual temperature is measured.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Suppression of immune responsiveness: sex differences in prenatal ethanol effects.

Exposure to ethanol in utero results in changes in the offspring's developing immune system, including thymus lymphocyte subpopulation shifts and functional lymphocyte changes that persist in adult animals. The present study was designed to define further the extent of changes in the immune system that result from fetal ethanol exposure and to compare effects in male and female offspring. In adulthood, male and female offspring from Sprague-Dawley dams fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet (alcohol, A), an isocaloric liquid control diet (pair-fed, PF), or laboratory chow and water (control, C) during pregnancy were tested for several measures of immune competency. Prenatal ethanol exposure differentially affected male and female offspring. Fetal ethanol-exposed males exhibited a decrease in thymocyte number as well as a decreased splenic lymphocyte proliferative response to the T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A (Con A), with a concomitant decrease in recoverable blast cells, when compared with PF and C males. Further, the defect in T-cell proliferation of A males was not due to an inability to produce the critical growth factor, interleukin-2 (IL-2), but to an inability of lymphoblasts to utilize exogenous IL-2. Fetal ethanol-exposed females showed some suggestion of lower thymocyte counts and decreased splenic T-cell proliferative responses to Con A compared to PF and C females. For most of the immune measures, however, no significant differences occurred among A, PF, and C females. In utero ethanol exposure did not significantly alter spleen cell counts or IL-2 production, splenic B-cell proliferation to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or thymocyte response to IL-2 in animals of either sex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on glucocorticoid receptors in rat hippocampus.

Animals exposed to ethanol in utero are typically hyperresponsive to stressors in adulthood as indicated by increased adrenocortical activation and/or deficits in response inhibition or recovery following stress. In the present study we reasoned that a deficit in feedback control of pituitary-adrenal activity might underlie this hyperresponsiveness in fetal ethanol-exposed (FEE) animals. Further, we hypothesized that a long-term decrease in hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor concentration, induced by prenatal ethanol exposure, might mediate such a deficit in pituitary-adrenal feedback regulation. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats from prenatal ethanol (E), pair-fed (PF), and control (C) treatment groups were tested in adulthood for determination of cytosolic hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor binding. No significant differences in specific binding (Bmax) or binding affinity (Kd) of either type I or type II glucocorticoid receptors were found among animals from E, PF, and C conditions. There were, however, significant sex differences in receptor concentration and binding affinity; females showed significantly greater maximal binding and significantly lower binding affinity than males. These data do not support the hypothesis that prenatal ethanol exposure induces a long-term decrease in hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors in animals tested under basal nonstressed conditions. However, these data do not preclude the possibility that receptor binding capacity may be differentially affected in E, PF, and C animals during stress.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1990

Alterations in splenic natural killer cell activity induced by the Shionogi mouse mammary tumor.

We have previously demonstrated that differential housing conditions alter the growth rate of the Shionogi mouse mammary carcinoma (SC115). The present study was undertaken to determine if natural killer (NK) cells are involved in mediating the effects of differential housing on SC115 tumour growth rate. Splenic NK cell activity was assayed at 24 h, 3 days and 1 week post-injection in both tumour- and vehicle-injected animals. Significant stimulation of splenic NK cell activity occurred 3 days post-injection of SC115 cells. However, no correlation was observed between the level of splenic NK cell activity and tumour growth rate induced by housing condition. We conclude that either splenic NK cell activity does not accurately reflect NK cell activity at the tumour site or that NK cells are not a significant regulator of the differential tumour growth rates seen in this model.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1990

Adrenocortical activity during conditions of brief social separation in preweaning rats.

Rat pups (18 days of age) placed into a novel test cage for 30 min exhibited greater concentrations of plasma corticosterone if alone than if with the biological mother regardless of whether she was conscious or anesthetized. Pups tested with a conscious nonlactating female had higher corticosterone levels than did pups tested with their own conscious mother. Anesthetizing the adult stimulus females eliminated this differential effect. Further, pups isolated in the home cage for 30 min exhibited corticosterone elevations as great as those of pups placed into a novel environment. However, pups left in the home cage with the mother for 30 min displayed corticosterone elevations similar to those of pups isolated in the home cage. In contrast, if pups were left in the home cage with both the mother and the littermates corticosteroid levels were reduced. These results indicate that, under certain conditions, brief separation from the mother can elevate plasma corticosterone levels in the 18-day-old rat. The differential effect of the biological mother and the nonlactating female appears attributable to differences in the behavior of the adult females. Finally, brief isolation from all littermates was also found to evoke a plasma corticosterone response.

Animals↗