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Biomedical subjects

L B Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to L B Wilson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Senior volunteerism policies at the local level: adaptation and leadership in the 21st century.

This study explores several key senior volunteerism policy issues that need to be addressed from a local perspective in order to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Using inputs from a national survey of Voluntary Action Centers, prominent volunteer agencies in the United States, this study examines the impact of the national economy on senior volunteerism, the status of funding, the relationship between local senior volunteerism and employment, the role of risk management, and the affect of an aging society of senior volunteerism.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Neurally mediated renal vasoconstriction during isometric muscle contraction in cats.

The aim of this study was to determine if the reflex increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) during static (isometric) muscle contraction evokes renal vasoconstriction and decreases renal blood flow. RSNA, renal blood flow velocity, and arterial pressure were measured simultaneously during isometric contraction of the hindlimb triceps surae muscle in eight chloralose-anesthetized cats. A 1-min contraction was evoked by stimulating the peripheral ends of the cut L7 and S1 ventral roots. RSNA and mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased 41 +/- 14% (SE) and 50 +/- 10 mmHg during static contraction, whereas mean renal blood flow velocity (MRBV) decreased 14 +/- 5%. Calculated renal vascular resistance increased 73 +/- 20% during the contraction. The increase in RSNA preceded the decrease in MRBV by 20 s. Passive mechanical stretch of the muscle increased RSNA 21 +/- 12% but did not alter MRBV. Renal denervation abolished the decrease in MRBV during isometric contraction but only attenuated the rise in MAP. Cutting the L4-S1 dorsal roots or muscle paralysis abolished the MRBV and MAP responses. Thus reflex stimulation of RSNA from the contracting muscle can induce renal vasoconstriction and decrease renal blood flow.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effect of spinal microinjections of an antagonist to substance P or somatostatin on the exercise pressor reflex.

The purpose of this study was to determine the heart rate and arterial blood pressure changes to isometric skeletal muscle contraction and muscle stretch before and after microinjecting an antagonist to substance P (SP) or somatostatin (SOM) into the L-7 dorsal horn region of the spinal cord of anesthetized cats. Anesthesia was induced by administering an anesthetic gas mixture and was subsequently maintained with alpha-chloralose. Triceps surae contraction was induced by electrically stimulating the L-7 ventral root. Three muscle manipulations (all 1 minute in duration) were performed: 1) continuous tetanic contraction, 2) intermittent tetanic contractions (1 second of contraction, 1 second of relaxation), and 3) passive muscle stretch. Saline microinjections had no effect on the cardiovascular responses to these muscle manipulations. However, both peptide antagonists blunted the pressor response to a continuous tetanic contraction as mean arterial pressure increased 47 +/- 4 and 44 +/- 4 mm Hg before and 28 +/- 3 and 28 +/- 4 mm Hg after microinjecting the SP or SOM antagonist, respectively. In contrast, neither antagonist influenced the increase in mean arterial pressure produced by passive stretch; values were 43 +/- 6 versus 41 +/- 6 mm Hg (SP antagonist) and 39 +/- 7 versus 42 +/- 7 mm Hg (SOM antagonist) before and after injections, respectively. Microinjecting the SOM antagonist attenuated the pressor response to intermittent tetanic contractions (44 +/- 4 mm Hg before SOM antagonist versus 26 +/- 4 mm Hg after SOM antagonist), whereas the SP antagonist had no effect (35 +/- 3 mm Hg before SP antagonist versus 32 +/- 4 mm Hg after SP antagonist).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Multiplicity of the afferent pathways mediating the exercise pressor reflex.

The cardiovascular responses to isometric contraction of the triceps surae muscle of one leg were determined before and after transecting the ipsilateral L7 or L6 and S1 spinal roots. Sectioning only the L7 spinal root slightly attenuated the pressor, but not the heart rate response induced by skeletal muscle contraction, while cutting the L6 and S1 spinal roots (L7 intact) had no effect on the cardiovascular changes. This indicates that there is multiplicity in neural afferent pathways that mediate the exercise pressor reflex.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The effect of static exercise on renal sympathetic nerve activity in conscious cats.

1. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RNA), heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (AP), and force development were measured simultaneously during voluntary static (isometric) exercise performed by conscious cats. The cats were operantly trained to press a bar with one forelimb. When the force applied to the bar exceeded a predetermined value (threshold), a sound was emitted by a buzzer for audio-feedback. If the cat continued to produce the appropriate force for a period of 26-55 s, food was given as a reward. 2. A total of eighty-nine exercise trials were performed by seven cats. The peak force applied to the bar was 468 +/- 28 g (mean +/- S.E.M.). RNA, HR, and AP increased significantly from the control value during static exercise by 102 +/- 14%, 23 +/- 2 beats/min, and 11 +/- 1 mmHg, respectively. 3. The increase in RNA had both an initial and a late component. The initial component occurred at or immediately before the onset of force development and lasted for 10 s, while the late component gradually increased 14 s after the onset of static exercise and was sustained until the exercise was terminated. 4. HR also increased at the beginning of static exercise with a similar time course as RNA. Then, HR returned to the control value and remained at that level during the remainder of exercise. The increase in AP was delayed by 10 s from the initial increase in RNA and then continued to rise throughout the period of exercise. 5. The sound of the buzzer was emitted during rest to determine any influence of anticipation or conditioning on the response. RNA and AP increased slightly, but HR did not change. The increases in RNA and AP were much smaller than the increases obtained during static exercise. Thus, the increases in RNA, HR and AP during static exercise appeared to be associated with the exercise itself and not due to anticipation and/or conditioning. 6. When AP was elevated by a bolus injection of noradrenaline, RNA during rest was almost abolished and the increase of RNA during static exercise was markedly inhibited. Thus the arterial baroreflex significantly influences RNA both during rest and during static exercise. 7. This study suggests that the initial increases in RNA and HR at the beginning of static exercise in conscious cats are caused by descending input from higher brain centres and not by afferent feedback signals from muscle receptors or by arterial baroreceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Static muscle contraction reflexly increases adrenal sympathetic nerve activity in rats.

Little is known about the mechanisms responsible for activation of sympathoadrenal function during exercise. We hypothesized that sympathoadrenal discharge is activated at the onset of exercise by a reflex arising in the contracting muscle. Adrenal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) was recorded during 1 min stimulation of the tibial nerve at two times motor threshold, before and during neuromuscular blockade, in 12 alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats. Static muscle contractions, induced by stimulation before neuromuscular blockade, were repeated during ganglionic blockade (n = 6) to specifically test reflex activation of preganglionic activity to the adrenal gland. During static contraction, adrenal SNA rapidly increased (P less than 0.05) to a maximum of 89 +/- 12% above basal and then declined, reaching basal levels after 30 s of muscle contraction. Tibial nerve stimulation during neuromuscular blockade had no effect on adrenal SNA. In most rats, adrenal SNA decreased with ganglionic blockade, indicating postganglionic as well as preganglionic innervation of the adrenal gland. During ganglionic blockade, static muscle contractions elicited a 140 +/- 21% increase in adrenal preganglionic SNA. In conclusion, static muscle contraction reflexly increases SNA to the adrenal gland, providing a mechanism for sympathoadrenal activation at the onset of exercise.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1990

Reflex responses of renal nerve activity during isometric muscle contraction in cats.

Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), arterial blood pressure (AP), and heart rate (HR) were measured during isometric muscle contraction of a hindlimb in chloralose-anesthetized cats. In 14 cats RSNA, AP, and HR increased during a 1-min contraction by 45%, 39 mmHg, and 11 beats/min, respectively; however, in three cats there was a brief initial decrease in RSNA followed by an increase. In 11 cats isometric contraction was maintained for 5 min by alternate stimulation of the L7 and S1 ventral roots. In the first 1 min of sustained contraction, there was a positive correlation (gamma = 0.58, P less than 0.005) between RSNA and tension development. Thereafter RSNA remained elevated despite a tension decrease, and there was no significant correlation between these changes. The RSNA response to contraction of both hindlimbs was greater than that to contraction of either hindlimb alone. Passive stretch of the hindlimb muscle significantly increased RSNA. Thus the initial increase in RSNA during sustained contraction is likely due to activation of muscle mechanoreceptors, whereas the later increase is probably caused by activation of the muscle metaboreceptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Chemoreflex blunting of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is vagally mediated.

We investigated the role of the autonomic nervous system in the arterial chemoreceptor attenuation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) using anesthetized dogs. Total pulmonary blood flow (Qt) and left pulmonary blood flow (Ql) were determined using electromagnetic flow probes. Carotid body chemoreceptors were perfused using blood pumped from an extracorporeal circuit containing an oxygenator. Four groups were used: 1) prevagotomy (control), 2) bilateral vagotomy, 3) post-atropine, and 4) post-propranolol. Left lung hypoxia decreased Ql/Qt from 42.9 +/- 2.9 to 28.1 +/- 3.0%, from 41.1 +/- 5.3 to 26.7 +/- 4.2%, from 38.6 +/- 1.3 to 22.2 +/- 2.4%, and from 48.2 +/- 4.2 to 28.5 +/- 3.7% in the four groups, respectively. Chemoreceptor stimulation during unilateral hypoxia increased Ql/Qt from 28.1 +/- 3.0 to 39.1 +/- 4.9% and from 28.5 +/- 3.7 to 40.6 +/- 3.7% in the control and propranolol groups. However, chemoreceptor stimulation had no effect on Ql/Qt during left lung hypoxia after vagotomy or atropine, as Ql/Qt went from 26.7 +/- 4.2 to 29.3 +/- 5.2% and from 22.2 +/- 2.4 to 24.1 +/- 1.5% in groups 2 and 3, respectively. Because chemoreceptor stimulation did not affect HPV in groups 2 and 3, we conclude that the chemoreceptor attenuation of HPV is mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Chemoreceptor stimulation interferes with regional hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Hypoxemia interferes with the diversion of blood flow away from hypoxic regions of the lung, possibly through activation of the arterial chemoreceptor reflex. The purpose of this study was to determine if selective stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors reduces the diversion of flow (hypoxic vasoconstriction) when normal systemic oxygen levels are present. Chloralose anesthetized dogs were paralyzed and each lung was separately ventilated via a dual-lumen endobronchial tube. Left pulmonary artery (QL) and main pulmonary artery (QT) blood flows were measured with electromagnetic flow probes. Chemoreceptors were stimulated by perfusion of the carotid sinuses with hypoxic, hypercapnic blood. QL/QT averaged 46 +/- 4, 29 +/- 2, and 36 +/- 4% during bilateral O2 ventilation (control), left lung N2 ventilation, and left lung N2 plus chemoreceptor stimulation in dogs treated with the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor meclofenamate. After vagotomy, QL/QT averaged 45 +/- 4, 27 +/- 3, and 28 +/- 2% during the same conditions. QL/QT decreased significantly from control (P less than 0.05) during left lung N2 alone but did not decrease during left lung N2 plus chemoreceptor stimulation in dogs with intact vagi. In contrast, QL/QT decreased significantly both before and during chemoreceptor stimulation in vagotomized dogs. The same responses were observed in dogs not treated with meclofenamate. These results indicate that selective stimulation of arterial chemoreceptors can interfere with regional hypoxic vasoconstriction and suggest that the vagus nerves may mediate this effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Survey of curriculum content related to geriatrics in physical therapy education programs.

We investigated the current status of the education of physical therapy students regarding elderly individuals. Data were collected through a questionnaire mailed to the directors of 101 accredited physical therapy education programs; the rate of return was 79%. Nearly all of the program directors (96%) affirmed a need to focus on the care of elderly individuals in their curricula. Currently, 92% of the programs teach aging-related material in six different course areas. The most frequently cited course area was professional physical therapy practice, followed by the behavioral-social sciences. Content on aging was incorporated primarily as parts of required courses, averaged 3 credits (representing 10-15 clock hours of study), and was taught primarily through didactic methods. The main obstacle to offering aging-related courses was a full curriculum. The results of our survey suggest that selective changes are needed, including additional course content that would enrich current education and provide physical therapy students with expanded capabilities to meet the health care needs of the elderly population.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1986

The effect of Hb F and alpha-thalassemia on the red cell indices in sickle cell anemia.

This study examines the effect of different levels of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) and the presence or absence of genes for alpha-thalassemia on the red cell indices and degree of anemia among 102 patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (S/S) between the ages of 15 and 62 years. Patients were divided into those with an average Hb F of less than 10 gm/L ("low" Hb F group) and those with greater than 10 gm/L ("high" Hb F group). alpha-Thalassemia was assessed by restriction enzyme analysis of DNA by the Southern blotting technique. Homozygosity for the beta(s) gene was confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis of DNA using the enzyme Mst II. There were 51 patients with four alpha-globin genes, 28 of whom had "high" and 23 "low" Hb F levels. Fifty-one patients had alpha-thalassemia, 38 of whom were heterozygous and 13 homozygous for the 3.7 kb alpha-thalassemia deletion. Nine had "high" and 31 had "low" Hb F. Irrespective of alpha-globin genotype, patients in the high Hb F group had a higher mean Hb, Hct, MCV, and MCH than those in the low HB F group. In patients without alpha-thalassemia Hb F was positively correlated with MCV and MCH (p less than 0.001), patients with high Hb F levels having macrocytosis confirmed by microhematocrit studies. Patients with alpha-thalassemia had a lower MCHC than patients with four alpha-globin genes and this was not significantly affected by the level of Hb F. The combination of alpha-thalassemia and high levels of Hb F appears to result in a distinctive S/S phenotype that is similar to the type of S/S disease described in Southern India.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The status of preventive care for the aged: a meta-analysis.

One response to the growing needs of the elderly is to expand the scope of preventive care from the younger and middle aged cohorts to include an emphasis on preventive care for older people. In the past it has been difficult to consider prevention and aging as concepts which could co-exist because we can neither cure nor prevent aging. The potential of preventive care to improve, maintain, or lessen decline in the quality of life of the elderly has not been included in the definition or mainstream of prevention activities. This study identifies and reviews research and programmatic activities which have been reported in the literature over the last ten years in the area of prevention and aging. Topical areas and methodological approaches are explored to define what has been considered appropriate preventive care for the elderly. An evaluation process, meta-analysis, is used to assess the therapeutic effect and overall effectiveness of techniques in prevention and aging. These findings can be used in formulating future initiatives related to aging and prevention.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Use of restriction endonucleases for mapping the allele for beta s-globin.

We have reported the direct analysis of the allele for beta 2-globin by using restriction endonuclease Dde I coupled with blot-hybridization analysis. In that report we predicted that a major use of our analysis could be for the prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell anemia. Here we present such an analysis. In addition, this report also describes the use of a new enzyme Mst II, which also distinguish the beta s allele from the normal beta-globin allele. Blot-hybridization analysis with restriction endonuclease Mst II shows the 5' end of the normal beta-globin gene to reside on a fragment of approximately 1.14 kilobases, whereas the 5' end of the beta s-globin gene resides on a fragment of approximately 1.34 kilobases. Because the fragment sizes generated by Mst II are significantly larger than those generated by Dde I, one can easily perform a prenatal diagnosis for sickle cell by standard blot hybridizations onto nitrocellulose filters.

Amniotic Fluid↗