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Biomedical subjects

M J Watson

Publications and source records attributed to M J Watson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The acute effects of a dopamine antagonist (domperidone) on luteinising hormone, follicule stimulating hormone, prolactin and thyrotrophin secretion in polycystic ovarian syndrome: differential effect of ovulation.

An alteration of the hypothalamic dopaminergic regulation of LH secretion has been implicated in the abnormal LH secretion of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). To investigate this, the acute effect of dopamine (DA) receptor blockade on LH, FSH, PRL and TSH secretion was determined. No effect was observed on either LH or FSH secretion in the PCOS patients or in normal women and LH pulsatility appeared to be maintained. When the PCOS patients were divided into those who ovulated in the preceding cycle and those who were anovulatory, it was observed that the ovulatory patients had a normal PRL and TSH response; whereas in the anovulatory patients, the PRL rise was blunted and the TSH response was absent. We conclude that this study gives no evidence to support the hypothesis of altered hypothalamic DA regulation of LH secretion in PCOS. The lack of LH response to DA blockade suggests that a physiological role of DA in the control of LH secretion seems unlikely as determined under these experimental conditions. The differences in PRL and TRH response may reflect anovulation rather than a fundamental abnormality in PCOS.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The effect of bromocriptine in the polycystic ovary syndrome.

The effect of chronic administration of bromocriptine to 20 patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was studied. All patients had normal serum prolactin levels. Bromocriptine 7.5 mg daily was administered for up to 1 year and the biochemical and clinical responses assessed at 3-monthly intervals. Over a period of 3 to 12 months significant reductions in serum LH levels, LH/FSH ratios and in plasma testosterone were observed. In 14 patients, blunting of the previously enhanced LH response to LHRH was observed. Clinical improvement also occurred, most notably in menstrual function. In 12 out of 20 patients a monthly cycle was established and in a further three there was an increase in the frequency of menstruation towards normal. Eleven out of 20 patients ultimately noted a subjective improvement in hirsutism. We conclude that bromocriptine, given to patients with polycystic ovarian disease, inhibits LH hypersecretion, leading to restoration of cyclic ovarian function and reduced androgen synthesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The otolaryngologist's role in the craniofacial anomalies team.

The otolaryngologist has a multifaceted role on the craniofacial anomalies team. The diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders, both congenital and acquired; maintenance of communication through adequate speech and hearing; management of the airway and deglutition; and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck are the primary responsibilities to children and adults with craniofacial anomalies. The complete evaluation and treatment of these disorders can be both very challenging and very rewarding.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1983

Hyperprolactinemia. Long-term effects of bromocriptine.

Patients with hyperprolactinemia may be managed by pituitary surgery or irradiation, bromocriptine treatment, or a combination of these methods, and some patients remain untreated. Little is known of the long-term consequences of some of these therapeutic regimens. Forty-six hyperprolactinemic patients (40 female and six male) managed solely with bromocriptine or no treatment over a period of 12 months to six years were therefore evaluated in this study. Nine patients with radiologically normal pituitary fossae were untreated and 10 received bromocriptine, 7.5 to 10 mg daily, while 20 patients with radiologic evidence of a pituitary tumor were treated with bromocriptine, generally 10 to 20 mg daily. Patients were assessed clinically, biochemically, and radiologically before treatment and at least six weeks after discontinuation of therapy. A further seven patients were similarly assessed before and after eight bromocriptine-induced pregnancies. Symptoms persisted in the untreated group of nine patients, although menstruation returned in four of the females with previous amenorrhea; serum prolactin levels remained elevated, other pituitary function did not change, and pituitary fossae remained normal radiologically. In all patients treated with bromocriptine, symptoms improved irrespective of radiologic findings on the pituitary, and were abolished in 67 percent during treatment associated with a decrease in serum prolactin levels in all, and a return of levels to within normal limits in 80 percent of patients. Persistent side effects were usually dose-related, but remained troublesome in 13 percent. Bromocriptine-induced tumor regression was evident radiologically in all patients with suprasellar tumor tissue and in some with purely intrasellar adenomas. This effect occurred rapidly and persisted or increased throughout follow-up. On discontinuation of treatment, prolactin levels remained significantly lower than before therapy (mean 2,934 versus 5,052 mU/liter, p less than 0.05) but were within the normal range in only two patients. Other pituitary function was unaltered, or improved in some patients with definite tumors. Bromocriptine-induced pregnancy produced no permanent change in clinical, biochemical, or radiologic status. Long-term bromocriptine treatment for hyperprolactinemia is thus highly effective in alleviating symptoms and suppressing prolactin secretion, and induces persistent tumor regression on treatment without deterioration of other pituitary function in patients with macroadenomas. On discontinuation of therapy, however, hyperprolactinemia usually recurs, and treatment may therefore need to be continued for years.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Plasma cortisol levels. A comparison between sick patients and volunteers given intravenous cortisol.

The plasma cortisol levels of 30 very sick patients were measured to determine whether evidence of suprarenal failure could be found. Volunteers were given 100 mg hydrocortisone intravenously and their plasma cortisol levels were measured. The results suggest that suprarenal failure is a very uncommon occurrence. The results obtained from the volunteers imply that relatively small amounts of hydrocortisone given intravenously cause a marked elevation of plasma cortisol levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Absence of a therapeutic effect of zinc in the sexual dysfunction of haemodialysed patients.

The effect of zinc therapy and placebo on sexual function and endocrine status was investigated in a double-blind study of 14 male patients with chronic renal failure on regular haemodialysis. Zinc chloride was added to the dialysate of 7 patients for 6 weeks, raising the serum zinc concentration by 17% and placebo was added to the dialysate of the other patients. At the start of the trial 9 patients said they had decreased sexual function. Records of penile erectile activity during sleep confirmed the organic nature of the sexual dysfunction. Plasma testosterone concentrations were low or in the low normal range, basal serum luteinising-hormone levels were raised, and the early luteinising-hormone response to luteinising-hormone-releasing hormone was exaggerated, suggesting primary testicular failure. Zinc administration had no significant effect on any aspect of sexual function assessed by questionnaire or nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring. Plasma testosterone and basal and stimulated gonadotrophin levels were also unaltered by zinc administration.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Effects of ageing on the pharmacokinetics of pancuronium.

The effects of age on the pharmacokinetics of pancuronium were investigated. The distribution volume of pancuronium did not appear to be age-dependent, but elimination of the drug decreased with increasing age. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The pituitary-gonadal response to the gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue D-Ser (TBU)6-Des Gly10-LHRH-ethylamide in normal men.

We have studied the dose-response characteristics of the LHRH analogue D-Ser (TBU)6-Des Gly10-LHRH-ethylamide administered subcutaneously to five normal male volunteers. The relative potency of the analogue is about sixty times (FSH) and forty times (LH) that of the parent peptide and the increased potency and duration of action of the analogue lead to enhanced biological effect in terms of testosterone release. The prolonged duration of action of the analogue suggests that a single daily dosage regime could be used although further chronic studies with this potent analogue should be undertaken in normal volunteers to determine optimum dosage schedules.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Total and free thyroid hormone concentrations after elective surgery.

Changes in thyroid hormone concentration and distribution and plasma cortisol levels have been followed in 11 patients undergoing elective cholocystectomy. A significant rise in total and free thyroxine (T4) and fall in total and free triiodothyronine (T3) were noted after surgery. Reverse T3 concentrations rose substantially, suggesting that peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 is diminished and that there is preferential formation of reverse T3. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations did not change. There was no direct correlation between the change in cortisol and the change in thyroid hormone or reverse T3 concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

A pharmacodynamic model for pancuronium.

It has been demonstrated that a simple two-compartment kinetic model may account for the changes in plasma concentration of pancuronium after i.v. administration. However, it can be shown that this simple model does not account satisfactory for the observed changes in muscle twitch response. By the addition of a receptor (biophase) compartment, twitch response can be reconciled with model behavior and the characteristics resemble those predicted by animal studies. The complete model is applied to the problem of total renal failure, and shows that patients with this condition are likely to be marginally resistant to small doses of pancuronium, with a normal rate of recovery. However, larger doses are likely to result in delayed recovery, the duration of effect increasing in a dose-dependent manner.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Pancuronium and the placental barrier.

Maternal and cord levels of pancuronium were estimated using a fluorimetric method in a series of ten patients. Low concentrations of pancuronium (0-04--0-1 microng/ml) were found in all the cord samples analysed, indicating placental transfer of pancuronium.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Reduced 'gonadotrophin response to releasing hormone' after chronic administration to impotent men.

Ten endocrinologically normal men with secondary sexual impotence were given 500 microng LHRH subcutaneously every 8 h. After 4 weeks treatment the LH response to 500 microng LHRH was reduced from a peak of 35.7+/-5.2 to 16.8+/-3.5 mu/ml (P less than 0.01) and the FSH response from 4.2+/-0.93 to 2.39+/-0.4 mu/ml (P greater than 0.01). Circulating total testosterone, oestradiol, prolactin and sex hormone binding globulin showed no significant changes. Whether this inability of the pituitary to maintain it s response to LHRH is peculiar to impotent men requires further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Pharmacokinetics of pancuronium in patients with normal and impaired renal function.

Plasma concentrations of pancuronium were measured using a fluorimetric method in six patients with normal renal function and seven patients in chronic renal failure. A tow-compartment open model was used in the pharmacokinetic analysis of the data. With this model, the clearance of pancuronium was found to be reduced significantly in the patients with renal failure, and in these individuals the volume of the central (distribution) compartment was increased significantly. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

A double blind cross over trial of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (LHRH) in sexually impotent men.

A double blind cross over trial of 500 mug of gonadotrophin releasing hormone or placebo subcutaneously every 8 h for 4 weeks in ten men with secondary sexual impotence is reported. No obvious clinical improvement occurred but statistical analysis of a libido score showed some overall improvement, especially the spontaneous occurrence of erections during the treatment period (P LESS THAN 0-05).

Adult↗
PubMed1974

The action of nitrous acid on C-teichoic acid (C-substance) from the walls of Diplococcus pneumoniae.

1. C-teichoic acid (C-substance) from the walls of Diplococcus pneumoniae contained free amino groups accessible to attack by nitrous acid. Treatment with nitrous acid, followed by reduction with borohydride and hydrolysis with acid, gave ribitol, glucitol and their respective phosphates. 2. Hydrolysis of the polymer with alkali followed by treatment of products with nitrous acid yielded glucose. 3. When alkali hydrolysis was followed by treatment with a phosphomonoesterase, nitrous acid degradation of C-substance yielded glucose and a disaccharide identified as 2-O-(N-acetylgalactosaminyl)-d-ribitol. 4. A partial structure for C-teichoic acid was deduced in which the order of the constituent residues and the position of phosphodiester linkages were established.

Borohydrides↗
PubMed1974

The type-specific substance from Pneumococcus type 33B.

1. The type-specific substance, S. 33B, from Pneumococcus type 33B contains P, 2.89; hexose, 51; total sugar, 69; galactosamine, 18; and d-glucose, 20%. 2. After degradation with alkali, followed by enzymic dephosphorylation, S. 33B yielded a hexasaccharide. 3. The hexasaccharide was assigned the structure O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl- (1-->5)-O-beta-d-galactofuranosyl- (1-->3)-O-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-d- galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-O-[alpha-d- galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-alpha-d-galactopyranosyl- (1-->2)-ribitol. 4. Phosphate residues in S. 33B are located on the hydroxyl groups at position 5 of ribitol units and on the hydroxyl groups at position 6 of hexopyranose residues.

Chemical Phenomena↗