Biomedical subjects

M L Nichols

Publications and source records attributed to M L Nichols.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

A comparison of the KTP/532-laser tonsillectomy vs. traditional dissection/snare tonsillectomy.

This study compared tonsillectomy by potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP/532) laser with tonsillectomy by traditional dissection and snare. Eighty-three consecutive patients who were candidates for a tonsillectomy were randomly assigned to one of four groups in a prospective study. The four treatments were bilateral traditional dissection/snare tonsillectomy, bilateral KTP/532-laser tonsillectomy, left laser tonsillectomy and right dissection/snare tonsillectomy, and left dissection/snare tonsillectomy and right laser tonsillectomy. Intraoperative comparisons were made between the two methods with regard to blood loss and operating time. Postoperatively bleeding and healing time were also recorded. A questionnaire answered on a daily basis assessed the patient's pain. Disadvantages of the KTP/532 tonsillectomy included increased cost, increased total operating time as a result of increased setup time and laser malfunctions, delayed healing, and no statistically significant improvement in level of pain. The sole advantage associated with the KTP/532 laser tonsillectomy was decreased blood loss, which may be significant for patients with a coagulopathy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Isolated deficiency of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and lipotropins (LPHs).

A patient with hypoadrenocorticism was found to have low basal plasma concentrations of ACTH and lipotropins and deficient responses of these hormones to insulin-induced hypoglycemia and lysine vasopressin. The adequacy of secretion of other anterior pituitary hormones was assessed either directly, by measuring their concentration in plasma, or indirectly, by assessing end organ function, under basal and stimulated conditions. The responses of gonadotropins to LRH and of PRL and TSH to TRH were normal. The etiology of this rare condition of isolated deficiency of ACTH and lipotropins remains to be elucidated.

17-Ketosteroids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Morphine increases intake of beer among rats.

Rats were maintained on a daily regimen of 22 h of water deprivation followed by a 2-h opportunity to take water and sweetened alcoholic beverage containing 12% ethanol. After 30 days, the alcoholic beverage was changed to beer containing either 3% or 6% ethanol. After 20 daily sessions with beer, they received, before the next session, an injection of saline. On the next day, they received a 1.0 mg/kg injection of morphine before the session. Morphine reliably increased rats' mean intake of both kinds of beer. Subsequently, the concentration of ethanol in each groups' beer was changed. The 3% group's beer was switched to 6%, and the 6% group's to 3%. Both groups altered their mean intake of beer in an apparent attempt to maintain intakes of nearly the same amount of ethanol, but presentation of 6% beer resulted in greater intakes of ethanol.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tests of opioid deficiency hypotheses of alcoholism.

Eighty-three male rats were maintained on a daily regimen involving 22 h of deprivation of fluids followed by 2 h of access to water and a sweetened alcoholic beverage (12% ethanol, 5% sucrose). After about 3 weeks of such a regimen, rats eventually take considerable amounts of ethanol daily. In the present study, a series of injections of opioids was given subsequent to establishing stable daily intakes of ethanol. Specifically, before a day's opportunity to take fluids, some rats were given a small dose of morphine (2.0 mg/kg), while others were given a dose of naloxone (4.0 mg/kg). When morphine was given 0.5 h before the opportunity to drink, intake of ethanol was increased. However, when morphine was given 4.0 h before the opportunity, intake of ethanol was decreased. Nearly opposite effects were observed when naloxone was given. Other experiments tested the effects of giving morphine 4.0 h before the opportunity to drink plus the effects of a small dose of naloxone or plus the effects of a small dose of morphine. Morphine given 4.0 h before potentiated the effects of a small dose of naloxone and attenuated the effects of another dose of morphine. The effects of morphine were also shown to be similar among rats taking a solution of ethanol and water rather than a sweetened solution. These data provide support for the idea that surfeits, not deficits, in opioidergic activity increase propensity to take alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Early sensory-motor development and prenatal exposure to lead.

As part of a longitudinal study of the early developmental effects of exposure to lead, we administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at age 6 months to infants classified into three groups based on their umbilical cord blood lead levels ("low": mean = 1.8 micrograms/dl; "mid": mean = 6.5 micrograms/dl; "high": mean = 14.6 micrograms/dl). No infant had a cord blood lead level greater than 30 micrograms/dl, the level currently regarded as the upper limit of "normal" for young children. Multiple regression analyses indicated that high cord blood levels were associated with lower covariance-adjusted scores on the Mental Development Index. Scores on the Psychomotor Development Index were not significantly related to cord blood lead level. The level of lead in blood at 6 months of age was not associated with scores on either the Mental or Psychomotor Development Index. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that low levels of lead delivered transplacentally are toxic to infants.

Child Development↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Social support and coping in young adolescents with cancer.

The social support networks and coping mechanisms of adolescents with cancer were assessed in this study. Twenty 10 to 16-year-olds completed the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) and the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experience (A-COPE). Social support networks of youths with cancer were found to include the following: parents, siblings, other relatives, friends, other nonprofessionals, and professionals. Males and females listed a similar number of persons in their personal network (6.5 and 7.0 respectively). Overall, adolescents reported a high amount of perceived functional support (affect, affirmation, aid). They also reported being very satisfied with the general support and support specific for their cancer from different groups of people. Although the sample was limited in size, adolescents in this study reported using a number of coping behaviors that are similar to those reported in the normative data. Moderate positive correlations were found between functional support and specific coping patterns. Significant moderate negative correlations were found between the length of illness and specific coping patterns. Results of the study are discussed and recommendations for future research are made. Nursing implications are discussed as they pertain to clinical practice.

Adaptation, Psychological↗