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Biomedical subjects

K E Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to K E Thompson.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Low-dose oral lorazepam administration in Alzheimer subjects and age-matched controls.

Ten patients with Alzheimer's disease and ten age-matched normal controls were studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled acute trial of 1 mg PO lorazepam to test the effects of low-dose benzodiazepine on memory and behavior in a mostly older population. Cognitive effects differed somewhat between Alzheimer patients and normal controls, with Alzheimer patients revealing predominantly "attentional" impairments and age-matched controls showing possible "disinhibition." Specifically, Alzheimer patients made more omission errors on a continuous performance task, whereas controls made more commission and intrusion errors with lorazepam versus placebo. This low dose of lorazepam (1 mg), which was associated with mild but statistically significant sedation in both groups, also produced no significant decrease in recent memory or in access to semantic memory. These cognitive findings contrast markedly to the reported effects of scopolamine on recent memory; therefore, supporting the idea that cholinergic interruption has a more specific effect on human memory and on learning than that of low-dose benzodiazepines. Further studies with a wider dose range of benzodiazepines are necessary to evaluate the possibility of differential sensitivity between Alzheimer patients and normal elderly controls.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Community responses following suicide, homicide, and other deaths: the perspective of potential comforters.

To determine whether actual responses of potential comforters in the community differ according to cause of death, 83 college students participated in a structured, individual interview. They were asked demographic questions about themselves, the bereaved, and the deceased, and then about various aspects of how they, and others in the community, responded to the death. Students were grouped by their reports of the cause of death (suicide, homicide, accident, natural anticipated death, or natural unanticipated death). When the death was by suicide or homicide, others were perceived as relatively less supportive of the bereaved person. When the death was by suicide, respondents themselves tended more to blame the bereaved person. When the death was by homicide, the bereaved person was perceived as reacting relatively worse. Potential comforters were relatively more shocked when the death was by homicide or accident.

Accidents↗
PubMed1987

Dementia of the Alzheimer type: clinical and family study of 22 twin pairs.

We studied 22 twin pairs in which one or both twins had dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). In four twins, diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy. Seven monozygotic (MZ) pairs were concordant for DAT; 10 MZ pairs were discordant. Two dizygotic (DZ) pairs were concordant for DAT, and 3 DZ pairs were discordant. The current concordance rate was 41% for MZ twins and 40% for DZ twins. The study supports the belief that, etiologically, DAT cannot be entirely accounted for by a single autosomal dominant gene. The data also suggest that in certain genetic circumstances, disease expression may be delayed in females.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ovarian toxicity of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide: a mechanistic model.

Female mammals are born with a finite number of ovarian primordial follicles that cannot be regenerated; thus, chemicals that destroy oocytes contained in these follicles can produce premature ovarian failure (early menopuase in women). Exposure of women to known ovotoxicants, such as contaminants in cigarette smoke, is associated with early menopause. Thus, the potential risks posed by ovotoxic chemicals is of concern. Our studies have focused on the environmental chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH), which is produced during the manufacture of rubber tires, flame retardants, insecticides, plasticizers, and antioxidants. Dosing of female rats and mice with the ovotoxic diepoxide metabolite of VCH, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), for 30 days destroyed the majority of ovarian primordial follicles. Using VCD in rats as a generalized model for ovotoxicity, we determined that 1) repeated daily dosing is required, 2) cell death is via apoptosis, and 3) altered expression of specific genes is involved. An integrated approach at the morphologic, biochemical, and molecular level was used to support these conclusions. Studies in isolated rat small preantral follicles (targeted for VCD-induced ovotoxicity) focused on the role of cell death genes, mitochondrion-associated events, and VCD metabolism. We also evaluated how this information relates to human risk for early menopause. These animal research results provide a better understanding of the potential risk of human exposure to environmental ovarian toxicants and greater insight as to the impact of these toxicants on reproductive health in women.

Animals↗