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Biomedical subjects

M Coleman

Publications and source records attributed to M Coleman.

390 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in erythrocytes of children with autism.

1. The activity of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was determined in the erythrocytes of normal and autistic children. 2. There was no difference in enzyme activity between the two groups, although in both the normal and autistic females the erythrocyte COMT activity showed considerable within-group variation. 3. When the erythrocyte homogenates were divided into particulate and soluble fractions, some differences were observed. The COMT activity in the soluble fraction was less in erythrocytes from autistic males than in those from control males, whereas that in autistic females was higher than in those from control females.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Purine seizure disorders.

Developing antiepileptic agents that are specifically tailored to a patient's individual biochemistry has long been a goal of neurology. Three patients who had hyperuricosuria combined with a seizure disorder that failed to respond to traditional anticonvulsants are described. The patients had the best control of their seizure disorder when a specific metabolic drug, allopurinol, was used as an anticonvulsant. All three patients had onset of the seizure disorder at 22 months of age, a finding possibly related to maturation of purine enzymes. Because elevated uric acid levels in the immediate postictal period may occur in seizure patients, the presence of an elevated uric acid clearance in seizure-free periods is needed to consider the diagnosis of an allopurinol-responsive seizure problem in any individual patient. In the two patients past the onset of puberty, lowering (one case) and cessation (other case) of the dose of allopurinol has been possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Activity quantitation in SPECT: a study of prereconstruction Metz filtering and use of the scatter degradation factor.

A study of activity quantitation with prereconstruction Metz filtering and use of the scatter degradation factor (SDF) to numerically correct for scatter was conducted. The ratio of the count rate per unit activity for source locations within a 30 x 23-cm water-filled tub phantom to the count rate per unit activity for Tc-99m point sources of known activity imaged in air was used to judge the accuracy of activity determination. The investigation was conducted for certain locations within the tub when it was uniformly filled with Tc-99m activity, and for the same locations at the center of 5, 4, 3, and 2-cm diam, hot spheres imaged in a cold background. The source locations were the center, and one-fourth, one-half, and three-fourths the major axis. Various methods of combining the conjugate views for use with prereconstruction attenuation correction (arithmetic and geometric mean), and extent to which the Metz filter followed the inverse filter before rolling off to suppress noise were investigated. Without Metz filtering, attenuation correction was performed using a transmission curve that included buildup. With Metz filtering, the good-geometry attenuation coefficient was used and the combined views were scaled by the SDF calculated for the average body thickness. Depending on the size of the sphere and the extent to which the inverse filter was followed, Metz filtering combined with use of the SDF improved the accuracy of activity quantitation.

Filtration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of sucrose application frequency and basal nutrient conditions on the calcium and phosphate content of experimental dental plaque.

A reduced pool of calcium in dental plaque would be expected to increase the ability of plaque fluid to dissolve the underlying enamel when the pH falls during sugar exposure. We have examined the relationship between frequency of sugar application and Ca and P(i) concentrations in artificial mouth plaque microcosm biofilms. Ten plaques were grown simultaneously from a human saliva inoculum using a continuous flow of simulated saliva, DMM, supplemented with either urea or glucose to modulate the resting pH. In addition the plaques received sucrose applications of varying frequency: 12-, 8-, 6-, or 4-hourly, or not at all. After 15 days the plaques were sampled by taking 4 full-thickness specimens of each, and acid-extractable Ca and P(i), and alkali-soluble protein and carbohydrate were determined. Ca and P(i) concentrations were in a range comparable with those in human plaque, except in the DMM + urea plaque receiving no sucrose, when concentrations were higher. Plaque Ca concentration decreased significantly as sucrose application frequency increased. Increasing sucrose application frequency also reduced the protein, i.e. the cell biomass, content of the plaques and, in the case of DMM + urea plaques, increased the water-insoluble hexose content, presumably extracellular polysaccharide. Reduced biomass was partly due to the bulking of plaque with extracellular polysaccharide, but the marked effect of urea on polysaccharide formation is not understood. This study shows that increasing frequency of sugar application alters dental plaque by reducing its mineral protection capacity.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Using workshops to implement supervision.

Clinical supervision is both topical and novel among many practice disciplines so it is important to consider how to take such an important initiative forward. This article describes a series of workshops designed to achieve this aim. The article focuses on the participants' perceptions of clinical supervision and its relevance to their practice environment. The authors also suggest ways to assist clinical staff further in this area.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nontraditional boys: a minority in need of reassessment.

Practitioners are often faced with a confusing state of affairs when working with nontraditional boys and their families. How existing theory, terminology, and assessment techniques contribute to this confusion is examined. Theoretical approaches and practical suggestions are offered to assist practitioners in working with these boys and their families.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phase II study of diglycoaldehyde in malignant melanomas and soft tissue sarcomas.

A phase II study of diglycoaldehyde was conducted in 42 patients with malignant melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma. All patients received diglycoaldehyde at a dose of 2 g/m2 iv over 6 hours daily for 3 days. This was repeated every 28 days. Major toxic effects included phlebitis and azotemia, requiring dialysis in one patient. Of the 42 patients, 38 were evaluable for response. One objective response occurred in a patient with malignant melanoma. Diglycoaldehyde at this dose and schedule appears to have no role in the management of malignant melanoma or soft tissue sarcoma.

Adult↗