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Biomedical subjects

M Mills

Publications and source records attributed to M Mills.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Cerebral microcirculatory changes during exposure to hypoxia.

Changes in the red blood cell content of the cat cerebral cortical vessels were monitored using reflecting light during a decrease in PIO2. The following observations were made: 1) the capillary bed red blood cell content increased during hypoxia prior to the arteriole response at an arterial oxygen tension of 52.0 mmHg; 2) at arterial oxygen tensions below 52 mmHg the red blood cell content increased in all vessels simultaneously; 3) as the PIO2 decreased, the increase in red blood cell content occurred earlier in all vessels. Capillaries, therefore, can respond to hypoxia independently of the arteriole in cat cerebral cortical tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Amelioration of murine lupus nephritis by dimethylsulfoxide.

Dimethylsulfoxide was given to NZB/W F1 female mice from age 10 weeks to see if proteinuria and glomerular injury could be reduced. Twenty mice were randomly assigned to saline or DMSO treatment groups and the following studies were done: urine protein determination, serum concentrations of creatinine, IgG, C3, and albumin; and ANA titers. Kidney tissue were studied by light, immunofluorescent and electron microscopy. DMSO-treated mice had significant reductions in protein excretion at 5 and 6.5 months of age; in urine protein/creatinine ratio at 6.5, 7, and; 7.5 months; in serum C3 at 7.5 months; and in serum creatinine concentration. There were no significant differences among serum IgG, nor among the ANA titers. Histopathologic studies revealed nearly normal kidneys in 5/6 DMSO-treated mice whereas 4/8 controls had severe mixed membranous and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Ultrastructural studies revealed mesangial, subendothelial, and subepithelial deposits and membranous transformation of the glomerular capillary wall. DMSO therefore appears capable of ameliorating glomerular injury in NZB/W F1 mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Multiple cardiac myxomas with multiple recurrences: unusual presentation of a "benign" tumor.

A 20-year-old woman with a two-week history of palpitations and constitutional symptoms was found to have right atrial and left ventricular myxomas. The myxomas were excised, but the patient had two recurrences of the tumor in the left atrium four and a half years after the initial presentation. The recurrent myxoma was locally aggressive, and removal required excision of the aortic valve. This patient demonstrates the need for careful follow-up for recurrences of myxoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The impact of maternal depression in young children.

An urban working class sample of depressed mothers with two-yr-old children was compared with a control group of non-depressed mothers using maternal interviews, home observation of mother/child interaction, and developmental assessment of the children. Measures were repeated after six months. Children of depressed mothers showed more emotional and behavioural disturbance and delay in expressive language development. Depressed mothers had more past and current adverse experiences, particularly in close relationships. In general depressed mothers were less responsive to their children and less able to sustain social interaction: their children were more often distressed, but there was a big variation in quality of mother/child interaction within the depressed group.

Child Rearing↗
PubMed1987

Colchicine reduces proteinuria in passive Heymann nephritis.

Colchicine was given to rats in the heterologous phase of passive Heymann nephritis to see whether this drug could reduce proteinuria. Treatment with 0.06 mg/day for 14 days caused significant reductions in proteinuria and albuminuria. Administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) alone or in combination with colchicine also reduced protein and albumin excretion. In a long-term experiment, rats treated with colchicine had significantly less proteinuria. After stopping therapy, urine protein excretion was similar to controls. No differences in glomerular C3 and IgG deposition were found between treated and control rats 24 h, 3,7 and 14 days after immunization. Depressed serum C3 levels were measured at 24 h in colchicine-treated rats. No difference in serum-circulating immune complexes was detected between the two groups. Concurrent administration of indomethacin and colchicine to rats with passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) partially reversed the reduction in proteinuria and albuminuria seen in rats treated with colchicine alone. The G.F.R, however, was significantly reduced in colchicine-treated rats as well as in rats treated with colchicine and indomethacin. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in colchicine-treated rats than in controls. Serum cholesterol concentrations in rats given both colchicine and indomethacin were similar to control values. These findings suggest that colchicine reduces urine protein and albumin excretion, and hyperlipidemia in PHN. The finding that indomethacin partially blocks the effects of colchicine suggests that renal prostaglandin stimulation by colchicine may have been involved in the reduction in proteinuria.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Analysis of the Heymann nephritogenic glycoprotein in rat, mouse, and human kidney.

Passive Heymann nephritis is induced in rats by intravenous administration of antiserum raised against antigens of the renal proximal tubule. Evidence by Kerjaschki and Farquhar indicates that the critical nephritogenic is a high molecular weight glycoprotein (HMWgp) of rat renal brush border membrane. Their immunocytochemical studies also localize the nephritogenic antigen to the glomerular epithelial cell surface and may explain in situ formation of immune complexes at this locus in Heymann nephritis. We have confirmed the observations of Kerjaschki and Farquhar by demonstrating the HMWgp in extracts of rat brush border membrane and isolated glomeruli on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide (SDS-PA) (5%) gels. An antiserum raised to purified rat HMWgp identifies the antigen from rat or mouse kidney on Western blots. However, unlike rodent kidney, we were unable to detect a comparable HMWgp in extracts of human kidney on SDS-PA gels and found no cross-reactive material on Western blots of human brush border membrane proteins. Our observations suggest that human kidney lacks the nephritogenic antigen critical to initiation of Heymann nephritis in rodents.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Process analysis of judges' commitment decisions: a preliminary empirical study.

The current debate over the "police powers" versus parens patriae rationales for involuntary hospitalization of the mentally ill underscores the need for empirical study of the process of judicial decision making in civil commitment and determinations of competence. The authors report the ratings on 26 descriptive variables made by five Massachusetts district court judges for 35 patients in civil commitment hearings. Nearly all of the hearings resulted in commitments. These findings suggest that psychiatrists may be setting too high a threshold for petitioning for commitment. Experienced judges appeared to be sensitive to the kinds of clinical issues that earlier studies have shown to contribute significantly to the psychiatrist's decision to petition for commitment.

Attitude↗
PubMed1986

Interactions of dimethyl sulfoxide and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in passive Heymann's nephritis.

The effect of treatment with indomethacin on the ability of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to reduce proteinuria in rats with passive Heymann's nephritis (PHN) was studied. PHN rats treated with DMSO alone excreted significantly less protein by day 14 than PHN rats treated with buffer or with indomethacin alone. Rats treated with DMSO excreted 19 +/- 6.0 mg protein/24 hr, and those treated with DMSO and indomethacin excreted 161 +/- 27.4 mg protein/24 hr (P less than 0.001). Rats treated with DMSO alone had significantly higher serum albumin and significantly lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations than those given the two drugs together. Glomerular deposits of C3 were reduced in DMSO-treated rats, but serum C3 concentrations and rat antirabbit serum antibody titers were similar in the two groups. When a higher dose of indomethacin (5 mg/kg) plus DMSO was used, protein excretion was significantly reduced. Rats treated with DMSO and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (37 mg/kg/day) or DMSO and meclofenamate (5 mg/kg/day) did not have a significant reduction in protein excretion compared with untreated controls. High-dosage indomethacin alone did not reduce proteinuria. Low doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents therefore appear to block the effect of DMSO on proteinuria. This was in marked contrast to the finding of reduction of proteinuria induced by larger doses of indomethacin (5 mg/kg) plus DMSO. DMSO did not reduce proteinuria in rats with nephrosis induced by puromycin of aminonucleoside.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Recidivism of the criminally insane in France: a 22-year follow-up.

Characteristics of 1096 recidivistic mentally ill criminal offenders admitted to a specialized hospital in France are described. All subjects were mentally ill and had been judged nonresponsible for an act of crime. Crimes against persons (murder or assault) accounted for 42% of the crimes for which these patients were admitted. The remaining causes of admission were crimes against property (theft) and "victimless" crimes. Subject files indicated a wide difference in cause of admission for violent acts among the different diagnostic categories. Although the frequency of readmission and violent acts at readmission did not change for the group as a whole, they did change between admissions for the different diagnostic groups. Results indicate that differences exist between diagnostic categories of mentally ill offenders in terms of not only the type of crime committed but also the likelihood of recidivism.

Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗
PubMed1985

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in childhood mortality in Boston.

We examined racial and income-related patterns of mortality from birth through adolescence in Boston, where residents have high access to tertiary medical care. Childhood mortality was significantly higher among black children (odds ratio, 1.24; P less than 0.05) and low-income children (odds ratio, 1.47; P less than 0.001). Socioeconomic effects varied for different age groups and causes of death. The largest relative disparity occurred in the neonatal and postneonatal periods, and the smallest in adolescence. Of the total racial differential in neonatal mortality (6.88 deaths per 1000 live births), 51.2 per cent occurred in premature infants, 13.4 per cent in term infants who were small for their gestational age, and 25.9 per cent in neonates who were both premature and small for their age. Black neonatal mortality was elevated at all income levels. Beyond the neonatal period, mortality from respiratory disease, fire, and homicide had strong inverse relationships with income, and mortality from injuries to the occupants of motor vehicles was directly related to income. These data suggest that despite access to tertiary medical services, substantial social differentiation in mortality may exist throughout childhood. Equity in childhood survival will probably require policies that emphasize preventive goals.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1984

Intraoperative retrograde balloon-catheter dilatation to augment myocardial revascularization.

When bypass graft surgery is planned, it is appreciated that sequential coronary artery stenoses often entrap the origins of arterial branches that have a significant, but subgraftable, diameter. These branches are routinely not perfused by saphenous vein grafts implanted beyond the second lesion. Data are presented on improving perfusion of such branches in 26 patients by the technique of retrograde intraoperative balloon-catheter dilatation. During coronary artery surgery, specially designed angioplasty catheters, 2 to 3 mm in diameter, were introduced through the coronary arteriotomy and passed retrogradely across the distal lesion. Balloon inflation was performed two to four times at 4 to 7 atm. Lesion size was assessed before and after angioplasty with the use of graduated coronary probes. Probe-determined lesion diameter increased from 1.1 +/- 0.4 to 2.0 +/- 0.4 mm (percent increase, 109 +/- 8). In selected patients, intraoperative balloon-catheter dilatation is a promising technique adjunctive to coronary surgery. Clinical significance and long-term effectiveness of this procedure require further evaluation.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

The effect of calcium ions on the responses to motoneurons to substance P and eledoisin-related peptide in the toad and rat spinal cord.

The effects of changes in the external calcium ion concentration [Ca2+]0 on segmental reflexes and the responses of motoneurons to bath applied agonists have been studied in the toad and rat spinal cords in vitro. Reducing [Ca2+]0 enhanced polysynaptic reflexes in the toad, with maximal discharges occurring at 0.3 mM. Monosynaptic reflexes in the rat were reduced by lowering [Ca2+]0. Responses of toad motoneurons to substance P and eledoisin-related peptide were enhanced by lowering [Ca2+]0, maximum responses occurring at 0.3 mM. Lowering [Ca2+]0 also enhanced responses to L-glutamate but the effect was smaller and less consistent. This effect of Ca2+ was abolished by the addition of tetrodotoxin to the bathing solution. Toad motoneuron responses to gamma-aminobutyrate and glycine were not affected by alterations in [Ca2+]0. Rat motoneuron responses to substance P and eledoisin-related peptide were also enhanced by reductions in [Ca2+]0 but the effect was more pronounced in younger (less than 5 days post partum) than older (5-10 days post partum) animals. These results are consistent with the idea that motoneuron responses to peptides in normal solutions result from activation of receptors on both motoneurons and interneurons: enhancement of the responses by lowering [Ca2+]0 results from the potentiation of the transynaptic component.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Myocardial beta-receptors in experimental renal and aortic coarctation hypertensive rabbits.

We investigated the effect of inducing two-kidney, one clip (2K, 1C) and aortic coarctation (AC) hypertension in rabbits, on myocardial beta-adrenoreceptor number and affinity, using 3H-dihydroalprenolol as a beta-ligand. Six weeks after surgery, mean arterial blood pressures were: sham-operated controls C, 75.6 +/- 2.3 mmHg (n = 11); 2K-1C 96.3 +/- 2.5 mmHg (n = 6, P less than 0.005); and AC, 114.1 +/- 4.8 mmHg (n = 10, P less than 0.0005). Bmax values at six weeks for C, 2K,-1C and AC were 234.5 +/- 35.7, 139.0 +/- 10.3 (P less than 0.05) and 121.0 +/- 12.8 (P less than 0.005) fmol/mg protein respectively. There were no differences in KD. Both 2K, 1C and AC hypertension significantly decreased myocardial beta-receptor density; this may be a 'down-regulatory' response to increased circulating or myocardial catecholamine concentrations or to enhanced sympathetic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Homicide by psychotics in France: a five-year study.

Records were reviewed for all psychotics who had been found not responsible for a homicide and admitted to a French state hospital for the criminally insane over a 5-year period (N = 109). Subjects were diagnosed primarily as schizophrenic (N = 64) or paranoid (N = 37). Paranoids were more likely than schizophrenics to have killed a relative or friend rather than a stranger or another mental patient (p less than .05), whereas schizophrenics were more likely than paranoids to have killed a parent than another relative or a friend (p less than .01). Homicide by schizophrenics commonly involved enmeshed parental relationships of delusional proportions; themes of jealously and megalomania predominated in homicides by paranoids.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Properties of gamma-aminobutyric acid synthesis by rat renal cortex.

Substantial synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid occurs in rat renal cortex. Renal glutamate decarboxylase activity (24.3 +/- 2.9 (S.E.) nmols/mg protein per h) is 15% of that in brain; renal gamma-aminobutyric acid content (39.5 +/- 5.3 (S.E.) nmols/g wet wt.) is 5% of the whole brain concentration. Properties of glutamate decarboxylase were studied in homogenates of rat renal cortex and rat brain under conditions for which gamma-aminobutyric acid formation from [2,3-3H]glutamate and CO2 release from [1(-14)C]glutamate were equal. Several properties of renal glutamate decarboxylase distinguish it from the corresponding brain enzyme: (1) renal glutamate decarboxylase is selectively inhibited by cysteine sulfinic acid (Ki = 5X10(-5) M); (2) renal glutamate decarboxylase is less sensitive (Ki = 3-5X10(-5) M) to inhibition by aminooxyacetic acid than is the brain enzyme (Ki = 1X10(-6) M); (3) brain but not renal glutamate decarboxylase activity can be substantially stimulated in vitro by the addition of exogenous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate; (4) renal glutamate decarboxylase is significantly decreased in renal cortex from rats on a low-salt diet. Proximal tubules are enriched in glutamate decarboxylase compared to the activity in whole renal cortex or glomeruli (42, 22 and 14 nmols/mg protein per h, respectively). We speculate that renal gamma-aminobutyric acid synthesis does not reflect the presence of GABAergic renal nerves, but may serve a function in proximal tubular cells.

Animals↗