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Biomedical subjects

K Graham

Publications and source records attributed to K Graham.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Analyses of use of tranquilizers and sleeping pills across five surveys of the same population (1985-1991): the relationship with gender, age and use of other substances.

The present study used analyses of data from five surveys of the same population over a 6-year period to examine the relationship of use of tranquilizers/sleeping pills with gender, age and use of other psychoactive substances. Part of the study involved identifying methodological issues in using surveys to study tranquilizer/sleeping pill use. Across surveys and within all age groups, females were more likely to use tranquilizers and/or sleeping pills than males, with an average ratio overall of a little higher than three to two (varying across surveys from 1.4 to 2.1; mode of 1.6). Prevalence rates for both females and males were strongly affected by timeframe over which use was measured. Use of tranquilizers/sleeping pills increased with age; however, the relationship with age was different for tranquilizers than for sleeping pills. For tranquilizers, the high correlation between age and use was largely attributable to the low rate of use by those aged 34 and younger. For sleeping pills, on the other hand, the relationship is based more on the high rate of use by those aged 65 and older. In addition, age was a major factor in nonmedical use of tranquilizers/sleeping pills, with nonmedical use decreasing dramatically with age. Use of other types of psychoactive medications was significantly higher among tranquilizer/sleeping pill users than among non-users. The results pertaining to concurrent use of tranquilizers/sleeping pills and alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, however, showed some trends, but findings were not consistent across all surveys. Further analyses suggested that this lack of consistent findings might be attributable to survey design issues, in particular, the extent that the format of the survey question tended to exclude nonmedical users. The implications of these results for future research on tranquilizer/sleeping pill use are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Current directions in research on understanding and preventing intoxicated aggression.

The present paper describes promising research directions that emerged from a recent international conference on intoxication and aggression and from the scientific literature generally. In this overview, intoxicated aggression is seen as arising from an interactional process involving multiple contributing factors or causes. This model helps to define research directions that can further understanding and prevention. First, the societal/cultural framing of intoxication and aggression exerts a powerful influence on drinking behaviour and needs to be better understood. Another important area for research is the moderating role on alcohol-related aggression of personal factors such as predisposition to aggression and individual differences in expectations about alcohol and aggression. Research on the role of basic pharmacological effects of alcohol in increasing the likelihood of aggressive behaviour is also a critical aspect of understanding intoxicated aggression. Drinking contexts and environments play a considerable role in the relationship between intoxication and aggressive behaviour and need to be better understood. Another critical direction for future research is the study of intoxicated aggression as a process involving the interaction of the person, the situation and the effects of alcohol in natural and experimental settings. Finally, the paper highlights promising directions for research on interventions to prevent intoxicated aggression and violence.

Aggression↗
PubMed1998

Blame and punishment for intoxicated aggression: when is the perpetrator culpable?

AIM: To systematically test the hypothesis that intoxicated individuals are viewed as less culpable than relatively sober individuals for engaging in aggressive behaviour. DESIGN: A series of experimental vignettes depicted alcohol use in the context of unwanted touching, date rape, assault and rape, vandalism and common assault. Each vignette manipulated drinking of the perpetrator and selected contextual variables using between-subjects experimental designs. SETTING: A stratified random sample of 994 Ontario residents responded to these scenarios in the course of a telephone interview. MEASUREMENTS: Three measures were analysed in this study: (1) judgements of the causal role of the perpetrator's drinking in leading to each outcome, (2) perceived blameworthiness of the perpetrator, and (3) appropriate punishment for the perpetrator. FINDINGS: Drinking was believed to play a greater causal role in leading to each outcome when the perpetrator was portrayed as "drunk" as opposed to merely "feeling the effects". However, intoxication did not attenuate perceived blameworthiness and only inconsistently reduced punishment assigned to perpetrators. Instead, intoxication interacted with premeditation, criminal history and gender to determine perceived culpability of perpetrators. In some scenarios, victim intoxication reduced perceived culpability of the perpetrator. CONCLUSIONS: Legal, anthropological, and attributional accounts may overestimate the extent to which perpetrator intoxication--in and of itself--determines perceived culpability for alcohol-related aggression.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Drinking patterns, psychosocial characteristics and alcohol consequences.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate (a) the potential mediating role of alcohol consumption in the relationship between psychosocial variables and adverse consequences of drinking, and (b) the possible moderating role of psychosocial variables in the relationship between alcohol consumption and adverse consequences. DESIGN: Multi-stage sampling procedures were used to select households for a general population survey. Interviews were conducted with one member in each of 35, 479 households and self-administered questionnaires were left for all residents aged 12 years and older (N = 49 164, response rate: 77.2%). SETTING: Data were collected as part of the Ontario (Canada) Health Survey. PARTICIPANTS: The present study included 33, 568 current drinkers aged 18 or older. MEASUREMENTS: Analyses included the following variables: alcohol consumption, adverse consequences related to drinking, sex, age, marital status, self-rated health, perceived stress, income, education, employment status and family dysfunction. FINDINGS: Alcohol consumption appeared to mediate the relationship of adverse consequences with age, sex, marital status, education, income and employment, but not with health, stress or family dysfunction which were independently associated with adverse consequences. The relationship between alcohol consumption and adverse consequences was moderated by age, marital status, education and employment. CONCLUSIONS: These results help to clarify the interrelationship of alcohol consumption and psychosocial characteristics in experiencing adverse consequences related to drinking.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Should alcohol consumption measures be adjusted for gender differences?

Because of biological differences between men and women, the same quantity of alcohol consumed over the same time period produces higher blood alcohol levels (BALs) in women than in men. Some alcohol researchers have proposed that quantity and volume measures of alcohol consumption (e.g. usual number of drinks per drinking day and overall amount of alcohol consumed) should be adjusted to reflect these biological differences. To date, no standard adjustment for biological gender differences has been adopted. In this paper, we review the literature on biological and behavioral differences related to alcohol consumption and effects and discuss the implications of these differences in terms of adjusting alcohol consumption measures. Our review suggests that adjusting measures of alcohol consumption to compensate for biological sex differences is most appropriate for research or policy applications involving the short and long-term physiological effects of alcohol in contexts where gender differences in how alcohol is consumed can be assumed to be minimal. In other circumstances, non-biological gender differences relating to alcohol use, such as pace of drinking, may moderate the relationship between alcohol consumption and biological gender differences, making an adjustment less defensible. We also identify areas where more knowledge is needed not only to address the issue of adjusting alcohol measures for gender differences but also to understand better the relationship between alcohol consumption and effects.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1998

The effects of drinking on health of older adults.

As part of a larger health-promotion project focused on safer use of alcohol and medications by older people, 826 persons living in a small community in Eastern Ontario participated in a survey conducted by nurses in the participant's home. The survey interview varied in length from 30 to 210 minutes and covered alcohol use, medication use, health status, and other aspects of life. This report examines the relationship between drinking practices and self-reported health (overall rating of health, hospital admissions, etc.) as identified by the survey. Among survey participants who abstained from alcohol during the 12 months prior to the survey, former drinkers reported significantly poorer health than did lifetime abstainers and previous drinkers who happened to abstain in the previous year but considered themselves to be infrequent drinkers rather than former drinkers. Among current drinkers, poorer health was associated with drinking more on each occasion of drinking and with a greater total overall volume of alcoholic beverages consumed (as estimated from the drinker's usual weekly consumption), but not with more frequent drinking. Even when controlling for sex, age, education, and depressant medication use, quantity of alcoholic beverage consumption per occasion and overall volume consumed were found to contribute significantly to predicting perceived health. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the best ways to assess the risk level of alcohol use among older people, and with recommendations for safer alcohol use.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Cholecystadenocarcinoma in a cat.

A malignant neoplastic process originating from gall bladder epithelium was diagnosed in a 14-year-old, spayed female, domestic shorthair cat. The tumor produced widespread pulmonary and lymphatic metastases. The clinical and pathological manifestations are described. Neoplasia arising from the gall bladder epithelium is rarely reported in animals.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Fingertip reconstruction with a dorsal island homodigital flap.

A distal dorsal island homodigital flap has been used for reconstruction of fingertips in nine patients who sustained traumatic amputations either obliquely or transversely through the middle of the distal phalanx. Seven of the nine patients attended for follow-up. All the flaps survived with the exception of a small area of partial necrosis in one patient. Fingertip reconstruction with this flap is a one-stage procedure, safe, easy to perform and provides durable tissue support for the nail to regrow undeformed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The purified myxoma virus gamma interferon receptor homolog M-T7 interacts with the heparin-binding domains of chemokines.

The myxoma virus T7 protein M-T7 is a functional soluble gamma interferon receptor homolog that has previously been shown to bind gamma interferon and inhibit its antiviral activities in a species-specific manner, but gene knockout analysis has suggested a further role for M-T7 in blocking leukocyte influx into infected lesions. We purified M-T7 to apparent homogeneity and showed that M-T7 is an N-linked glycoprotein that appears to be a stable homotrimer with a molecular mass of approximately 113 kDa in solution. M-T7, in addition to forming inhibitory complexes with rabbit gamma interferon, was also shown to bind to human interleukin-8, a prototypic member of the chemokine superfamily. Moreover, M-T7 was able to interact promiscuously with all members of the CXC, CC, and C chemokine subfamilies tested. Binding of human RANTES to M-T7 can be competed by rabbit gamma interferon and also by cold RANTES competitor with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 900 nM. Although M-T7 retains binding to a number of interleukin-8 N-terminal (ELR) deletion mutants, binding to mutants containing deletions in the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of interleukin-8 is abrogated. Furthermore, heparin effectively competes the interaction of M-T7 with the chemokine RANTES but not with rabbit gamma interferon. We propose that this novel M-T7 interaction with members of the chemokine superfamily may be facilitated through the conserved heparin-binding domains found in a wide spectrum of chemokines and that M-T7 may function by modulating chemokine-glycosaminoglycan interactions in virus-infected tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Resolution of cavopulmonary shunt-associated pulmonary arteriovenous malformation after heart transplantation.

A child with heterotaxia, azygous continuation of an interrupted inferior vena cava, single ventricle, and pulmonary atresia underwent the Kawashima modification of the Fontan procedure, which excluded hepatic venous return from the pulmonary blood flow. After the operation, the patient had development of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, increasing cyanosis, and ventricular dysfunction. He underwent orthotopic heart transplantation at 7 years of age with prompt resolution of the pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗
PubMed1996

Virus-encoded serine proteinase inhibitor SERP-1 inhibits atherosclerotic plaque development after balloon angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent atherosclerotic plaque growth, restenosis, is a significant clinical problem after interventional procedures. Initiation of restenosis involves activation of inflammatory and thrombotic cascades, which are regulated by serine proteinase enzymes and inhibitors. We have investigated the use of a viral serine proteinase inhibitor, SERP-1, to reduce plaque development after primary balloon angioplasty. This is the first experimental report of the use of a viral anti-inflammatory protein for the prevention of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy-four cholesterol-fed rabbits were treated with either local or systemic infusions of SERP-1 protein (or control solutions) after balloon-mediated injury. Sites of SERP-1 infusion in rabbits had dramatically reduced plaque compared with control infusions at the 4-week follow-up. At low-dose infusions (30 to 300 pg), only the primary infusion site had a demonstrable decrease in plaque, whereas at higher-dose infusions (> 3000 pg), a generalized reduction in plaque development was detected. An associated decrease in mononuclear cell infiltration of the arterial wall was detected after SERP-1 infusion within the first 24 hours. Infusion of an active-site mutant of SERP-1 (P1-P1', ala-ala) lacking serine proteinase inhibitory activity failed to prevent plaque growth. CONCLUSIONS: Purified SERP-1, a virus-encoded secreted glycoprotein, reduces plaque growth after primary balloon-mediated injury. Plaque development is decreased by inhibition of serine proteinase activity and is associated with a focal reduction in macrophage infiltration immediately after injury. Investigation of serine proteinase inhibitors may provide new insight into the regulation of arterial responses to injury.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed1996

Ancillary follicle and secondary corpora lutea formation following exogenous gonadotropin treatment in the domestic cat and effect of passive transfer of gonadotropin-neutralizing antisera.

A combination regimen of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was used to stimulate ovarian follicular development in domestic cats. The rate of elimination of eCG from circulation was estimated, and, following follicular aspiration, the formation of ancillary follicles and secondary CL was characterized. The effect of gonadotropin-neutralizing antisera on the development of secondary ovarian structures, CL function and humoral immune responses also was evaluated. After intramuscular injection, initial serum eCG concentrations were variable, with the elimination half-life estimated at 39 to 55 h and eCG persisting in circulation for several days. Following follicular aspiration, queens formed CL equal to the number of aspirated follicles and exhibited a rapid increase in progesterone concentration but developed high numbers of ancillary follicles by 5 d post aspiration. By 15 d post aspiration, all ancillary follicles had luteinized to form secondary CL. Treatment with neutralizing antisera at the time of follicular aspiration slowed (P < 0.05) CL formation but did not decrease (P > 0.05) the number of ancillary follicles or secondary CL. Progesterone concentrations did not differ (P > 0.05) from control queens while secondary humoral immune responses to eCG were qualitatively similar between groups. In summary, eCG was eliminated slowly from cats following intramuscular injection and this persistence in circulation may have contributed to the development of ancillary follicles and secondary CL. However, the administration of neutralizing antisera at the time of follicular aspiration was ineffective in preventing the formation of these secondary ovarian structures.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Mapping of Reis-Bücklers' corneal dystrophy to chromosome 5q.

PURPOSE: Recently several autosomal dominant corneal stromal dystrophies have been mapped to chromosome 5q. Therefore, we tested whether Reis-Bücklers' corneal dystrophy, an autosomal dominant trait, was also linked to the same region. METHODS: Five generations of a single family with Reis-Bücklers' corneal dystrophy were ascertained. Twenty-two family members were examined, and 11 were found to be affected. Blood was obtained for genetic linkage analysis. RESULTS: Several genetic markers on chromosome 5q were strongly suggestive of linkage or confirmed linkage (LOD score > 3.0). Multipoint analysis generated a maximum LOD score of 4.25 between D5S414 and IL-9. CONCLUSIONS: Reis-Bücklers', lattice type 1, Avillino, and granular corneal dystrophies all map to the same genetic locus. This suggests that one of the following might be true: (1) that a corneal gene family exists in this region; (2) that these corneal dystrophies represent allelic heterogeneity (that is, different mutations within the same gene manifest as different phenotypes); or (3) that these are all the same disease.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed1996

A controlled field trial of group versus individual cognitive-behavioural training for relapse prevention.

Results are presented of a randomized field trial comparing two aftercare regimes, namely individual versus group delivery of a structured relapse prevention approach. Two addictions treatment programs (one a 12-Step 26-day residential program, the other an evening group counselling program) implemented structured relapse prevention in either group or individual format as part of the first three months of aftercare. Process measures (e.g. attendance, client satisfaction) indicated that both group and individual formats were delivered very successfully at both sites. Follow-up rate at 12 months across both programs was 74%, and drinking and drug use at the 12-month follow-up was substantially less than use at entry into treatment. However, there were no significant differences in outcomes between individual and group delivery on any of the alcohol or drug use measures. Only one psychosocial outcome measure (social support from friends at 12-month follow-up) showed a significant difference for format and it favored the group format. These findings suggest some important directions for future research.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Kinetics of the humoral immune response to multiple treatments with exogenous gonadotropins and relation to ovarian responsiveness in domestic cats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate ovarian responses and kinetics of gonadotropin-binding immunoglobulin production in domestic cats repeatedly treated with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at short or long treatment intervals. DESIGN: Queens were treated 3 or 4 times with a standard eCG/hCG regimen at short (49 to 57 days) or long (130 to 135 days) intervals and subjected to laparoscopy after each treatment to evaluate ovarian follicular development. Serial serum samples were assessed by ELISA for the presence of eCG-binding immunoglobulins. ANIMALS: 11 clinically normal sexually mature female cats. RESULTS: Queens repeatedly stimulated with eCG/hCG at long intervals typically had no decrease (P > 0.05) in ovarian follicle production or in maturity of recovered oocytes, whereas queens treated at short intervals had reduced (P < 0.05) follicular development and compromised oocyte maturity by the third stimulation. For both interval groups, ELISA data indicated individual variability in seroconversion after eCG/hCG challenge exposure. In general, queens treated at short intervals had higher peak anti-eCG immunoglobulin titer than did queens treated at long intervals; high titer at the time of eCG/hCG injection, or rapid increases in titer immediately after injection were predictive (P < 0.05) of poor ovarian responses. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that individual variability in immune responses and intervals between repeated gonadotropin treatments determine whether queens develop immunologically mediated ovarian refractoriness to exogenous gonadotropins. Intervals of at least 4 months between successive eCG/hCG treatments are recommended for assisted reproductive procedures in domestic and nondomestic cats.

Analysis of Variance↗