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Biomedical subjects

L E Morris

Publications and source records attributed to L E Morris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Autologous graft-versus-host disease: a novel approach for antitumor immunotherapy.

Autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a therapeutic option for the treatment of lymphohematopoietic malignancies and solid tumors. Despite the intensive cytoreductive therapy, however, the rates of tumor recurrence after autologous BMT remain unacceptably high. Current studies suggest that the administration of cyclosporine (CsA) disrupts the reconstitution of self-tolerance following autologous BMT leading to the induction of an autoimmune graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Studies in a rat tumor model and preliminary clinical trials suggest that this autoimmune or autologous GVHD provides a significant antitumor effect. Moreover, the antitumor effect of autologous GVHD can be enhanced by administration of gamma-interferon, which upregulates the antigen recognized by the autoreactive effector cells of autologous GVHD. These studies indicate that the induction of an autoimmune GVHD after autologous BMT may be a promising immunotherapeutic approach for treatment of certain neoplastic diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Protective value of a liver initiation-promotion regimen against the lethal effect of carbon tetrachloride in rats.

This study was designed as one test of the hypothesis that an early sequence of steps in hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat, with the production of hepatocyte nodules, may be a special form of adaptive response that has survival value for the host. Fischer 344 rats were initiated with a single dose of diethylnitrosamine. Hepatocyte nodules were rapidly generated by selecting for resistant hepatocytes by a brief exposure to 2-acetylaminofluorene coupled with partial hepatectomy, a procedure that leads to liver cancer without any further treatment. Most animals with hepatocyte nodules were completely resistant to single doses of CCl4 that induced 100% mortality in control animals. The demonstration of this protective effect is consistent with the proposed hypothesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Double-blind comparison of butorphanol and morphine in patient-controlled analgesia.

In this study, the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) technique was used to compare the suitability of butorphanol with that of morphine in relieving postoperative pain. Twelve patients, 19-77 years old, who had abdominal surgery, used the PCA device through the first 24-hour postoperative period. Results showed that all patients expressed satisfaction with the PCA technique. Analysis of the degree of discomfort according to the verbal description scale, recordings of respiratory rate, and assessment of sedation status showed no significant differences between patients who received butorphanol and those who received morphine. Patients were able to maintain acceptable analgesia with minimal sedation. There were no adverse side effects reported with butorphanol.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Busulfan-induced hepatitis.

A 61-yr-old man with chronic myelocytic leukemia treated continuously for 8 yr with busulfan presented with fever, abdominal pain, and elevated liver enzymes in a cholestatic pattern. Evaluation of his liver and biliary tract with ultrasound and computerized tomography disclosed no structural abnormality. A percutaneous needle liver biopsy revealed cellular cholestasis with focal liver cell necrosis accompanied by a mild inflammatory infiltrate. Busulfan was discontinued, with subsequent normalization of liver enzymes and resolution of fever. These findings are interpreted as being compatible with busulfan-induced hepatitis.

Busulfan↗
PubMed1984

Inspired humidity in anaesthesia breathing circuits: comparison and examination of effect of Revell circulator.

Humidity levels of respired gases in spontaneously breathing patients were measured with a quadrupole mass spectrometer (Medishield Model MS-2) and compared between various anaesthetic systems during clinical anaesthesia. In studies of high flow rebreathing non-absorption systems the mean inspired absolute humidity averaged approximately 16 mg X l-1 (range 14.7 to 16.1 mg X l-1) compared to a semiclosed circle absorption system (BOC MK III) in which values for absolute humidity varied from 6.8 +/- 5.1 mg X l-1 for children through 9.5 +/- 3.0 mg X l-1 for adults), and the closed circle absorption system in which values of 20.5 +/- 2.3 mg X l-1 were only gradually reached. Addition of a functioning Revell circulator to the circle absorption system provided immediately markedly higher levels of inspired humidity during clinical use, either semiclosed (15.4 +/- 5.1 mg X l-1 in children to 18.8 +/- 2.4 mg X l-1 in adults), or closed (23.3 +/- 1.8 mg X l-1 in adults). These markedly higher inspired levels of absolute humidity were attained during forced circulation of respired gas provided by the Revell circulator without the concomitant disadvantages of rebreathing or the potential hazards associated with some humidifying devices.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Risk factors for breast cancer in women in northern Alberta, Canada, as related to age at diagnosis.

A population-based case-control study involving interviews with 577 female breast cancer patients and 826 controls in northern Alberta. Canada, revealed that some determinants of breast cancer varied according to age. Among women under age 45, risk factors included a younger age at menarche, late age at last birth, high parity, and recent use of oral contraceptives. At older ages risk was related to natural as opposed to surgical menopause, late age at first birth, low parity, late age at natural menopause, and tonsillectomy. At all ages there was an increased risk of breast cancer associated with difficulty in conceiving, benign breast disease, not having breast fed, and a history of breast cancer among mothers or sisters. For some variables the age differences were pronounced; the combination of low parity and late age at first birth was associated with a sevenfold increase in breast cancer risk at risk at ages 55-80 but a slight decrease at ages under 45. The effect of tonsillectomy steadily increased with age and represents a new lead, but certain features of the data suggest that the link to oral contraceptives among among younger women and the inverse relation to breast feeding at all ages may not be causal. Even though design limitations (cases interviewed in a different setting from controls) appeared not to influence conclusions, the results may have been subjected to interview bias and thus should be interpreted cautiously.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Esophageal cancer among black men in Washington, D.C. I. Alcohol, tobacco, and other risk factors.

A case-control study involving interviews with the next of kin or close friends of 120 black males who recently died of esophageal cancer and 250 similarly aged black males who died of other causes was undertaken to discover reasons for the exceptionally high mortality from this cancer in Washington, D.C. The age-adjusted annual death rate in Washington, D.C., for nonwhite males, 1970-75, was 28.6/100,000, far higher than the national rate of 12.4/100,000 and the rates in other metropolitan areas of the country. The major factor responsible for the excess was alcoholic beverage consumption, with an estimated 81% of the esophageal cancers attributed to its use; high use of alcoholic beverages was also found among the controls. The relative risk (RR) of esophageal cancer associated with use of alcoholic beverages was 6.4 (95% confidence interval=2.5, 16.4). The RR increased with amount of ethanol consumed and was highest among drinkers of hard liquor, although the risk was also elevated among consumers of wine and/or beer only. The RR associated with cigarette smoking was 1.9 (1.0, 3.5) when controls with smoking-related causes of death were excluded but declined to 1.5 (0.7, 3.0) when adjusted for ethanol consumption. Significant differences of approximately twofold were found between low and high levels of a) consumption of fresh or frozen meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products and eggs and b) relative weight (wt/ht2). The inverse trends with these general measures of nutritional status were not explained by alcoholic beverage consumption or socioeconomic status as measured by educational level.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Esophageal cancer among black men in Washington, D.C. II. Role of nutrition.

A case-control study of esophageal cancer was conducted among the black male residents of Washington, D.C., to find reasons for the exceptionally high risk in this population. The next of kin of 120 esophageal cancer cases who died during 1975-77 and of 250 D.C. black males who died of other causes were interviewed. Five indicators of general nutritional status--fresh or frozen meat and fish consumption, dairy product and egg consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, relative weight (wt/ht2), and number of meals eaten per day--were each significantly and inversely correlated with the relative risk of esophageal cancer. Associations with other food groups were not apparent. The least nourished third of the study population, defined by any of these five measures, was at twice the risk of the most nourished third. None of these associations was markedly reduced by controlling for ethanol consumption, the other major risk factor in this population; smoking; socioeconomic status; or the other nutrition measures. When the three food group consumption measures were combined into a single overall index of general nutritional status, the relative risk of esophageal cancer between extremes was 14. Estimates of the intake of vitamin A, carotene, vitamin C, thiamin, and riboflavin were inversely associated with relative risk; but each micronutrient index was less strongly associated with risk than were the broad food groups that provide most of the micronutrient. Thus no specific micronutrient deficiency was identified. Instead, generally poor nutrition was the major dietary predictor of risk and may partially explain the susceptibility of urban black men to esophageal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Can naloxone inhibit the cardiovascular effect of acupuncture?

Forty dogs were studied during MAC-1 halothane anesthesia with a chronically implanted electromagnetic flow probe on the ascending aorta. Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure and total peripheral resistance were determined in addition to Pao2, pH, Paco2 and base deficit. Acupuncture moxibustion with electrocautery at Jen Chung (Go-26) produced a significant (five per cent level) increase in the cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure and a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance during a 120-minute period of observation in dogs under halothane anaesthesia. Acupuncture moxibustion at Go-26 following pretreatment with the narcotic antagonist naloxone (1 mg.kg-1) produced a significant increase in cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial pressure. It is concluded that naloxone, which inhibits the analgesic effects of acupuncture, does not inhibit the symphathomimetic effect of acupuncture or moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) in dogs under light MAC-1 halothane anaesthesia.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1979

Modification by propranolol of cardiovascular response to hypercapnia during halothane anaesthesia.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of propranolol on the cardiovascular response to carbon dioxide (0-20%) during anaesthesia with 1% halothane in oxygen (blood level 16.3 mg/100 ml S.D. +/- 5) in dogs each with a chronically implanted electromagnetic flow probe on the ascending aorta. Cardiac output, stroke volume; heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were obtained and paired with arterial blood gas determination after each step of increased concentration of carbon dioxide with or without propranolol. Propranolol (0.06-0.9 mg/kg) prevented the response to elevation of inspired carbon dioxide of increased heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output, TPR and MAP were reduced by CO2 and only slightly changed in the propranolol series.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1976

Inhibition of the cardiovascular effects of acupuncture (moxibustion) by propranolol in dogs during halothane anaesthesia.

Acupuncture by electrocautery, moxibustion, at Jen Chung (Go-26) acupoint produces a sympathomimetic effect on the cardiovascular system of dogs under halothane anaesthesia (MAC I). This effect is manifest by significant increase in cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure while total peripheral resistance is significantly decreased during a two-hour period of observation. Pretreatment with the beta blocker, propranolol, caused a significant decrease in cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure while total peripheral resistance is significantly increased. Similar responses were observed when propranolol was administered without moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26).

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1975

Cardiac output response to altered acid-base status during diethyl ether anaesthesia.

The effects of acid-base changes on cardiac output during diethyl ether anaesthesia were studied in 25 mongrel dogs prepared by surgically implanting a plastic encased non-ferrous core electromagnetic probe on the ascending aorta. The findings are: (1) Metabolic acidaemia produced only slight decrease in cardiac output but a more marked fall became evident with decreasing pH(2) Respiratory acidaemia led to a slight rise in cardiac output. (3) Respiratory alkalaemia decreased cardiac output. (4) Metabolic alkalaemia also produced a decline in cardiac output.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗